Mette is Hosting Another Webinar on October 24--NOTE TIME CHANGE to 6PM PST

This first one was a big success!  Her second Webinar, entitled "Developing Horses to the Second Level,"  is October 24 at 6:00pm PST. You can sign up for it on Dressage Meeting Online.

See the flyer below for more details (click for a larger view):

Glowing Feedback from the Clinic in Utah!

After a clinic Mette gave in Utah during the Spring, the clinic organizer collected feedback from riders and auditors. Comments from these participants included:

• Mette had a lively and interesting approach to teaching; she presented her methods in an easy to understand format.  She also worked very hard with the student and the horse and showed genuine interest in helping the clinic participants and the auditors.
• Mette was a great clinician, very clear and precise, but also had a sense of humor.  She knew the names of all the riders and their horses, and encouraged questions from the audience.
• Mette is a very thorough clinician and I enjoyed her humor.  She was helpful in the finer points of riding a test and improving the movement.

Read the complete survey results!

Please Join Mette for an online Webinar on 9/4!

Join Mette for an online Webinar on Wednesday, September 4th at 5-6pm PST/8-9pm EST entitled Exercises for Developing Horses to First Level.  Don't miss out on this great opportunity to hear Mette live where she will discuss exercises and strategies for the progression and strengthening on a young horse moving on to First Level.  You can sign up in advance at Dressagemeetingonline.com or http://www.dressagemeetingonline.com/educator/?educator=15.  Please do so today so you don't miss out on this great event!

Flintridge

Photos from the Flintridge Dressage Show.

Flintridge dressage show

So the 10 horses came back to Mill Creek yesterday after, some really good days at the Flintridge dressage show!

The show ran well, and the rings had good footing. Cornerstone dressage are in charge of this show, and I think I have been there for the last 25 years!! WOW!!!

So it feels home to bring horses and clients to this show!  So I'm planning on to be back next year again!
This time; I rode 4 horses.  My great Finally won both GP and GPS. He was really good, but sure enough I had to have two bubbles in the GP, that was so sad, because it was so unnecessary!!   Other then that everything I normally think is hard worked super. I'm so glad I had two good rides on him.

Sokrates also called Sox, did his first PSG and Int 1. I won both PSG and Int one. The last time he was out (once in Florida) I rode third level, so this was a great leap forward. He is so fun to ride, and he has so much more to give, I'm absolutely not there yet! So cool!!!

Hertzregent my 6 year old did Third level. He thinks in the test:.....MOM I know, I know, so he gets a little exited about his changes, and after that he looses his relaxation. What to do??? Great horse, I just have to wait him out. He was placed twice in second place. Another Cool horse!!!

Acilla is a mare that belongs to Anne Solbrakke. A very talented horse, that I showed for the first time. I did third level, and she won 2, and was second in one. Her scores were high, so keep on looking for her in the future. She handle everything so well, and I'm so proud of her. She will be (is) great!

My student Anna Dahlberg with her own and home bred Lourdes, Anja Ibsen with Cory Walkey's Coby, was really on a go! Not only did they take care of me, my horses, my clients and all the rest...They also rode well. Both girls rode third level. Both won, and if they didn't; they were second. Beautiful test, great scores and very clean! Great job! Anna also rode Terry Holbrook's mare Nana of Nobel, in second level. Again wins and well executed tests. Very pretty!

Tracy Ryan rode Piet. The first day was a tuff one. Second day really good and the third day a very nice test! Tracy rode PSG and that is not always so easy!! Sometimes you need to ask the judge: if you could just come one more time, because you know you can do it better..BUT... it is what it is!! We are all in the same boat, but it's still hard sometimes. We keep the last day! Tracy was placed and did really good!
Adrienne Bessey rode her two horses Di Do and Winston. Dido did PSG and won!!!Great scores in a good group of other riders! So much fun!!

In the developing test, just like PSG they ended up 4th. Still very good. Beautiful pair, great future...This is only the beginning. Just wait.

Winston did Int 1. Pretty tests, and better then before ,and you can tell that Adrienne is very "hungry" to get the job done! She is ready!!

I also have to mention Roberto!  What a super good man, that worked and worked to make it all perfect! He took care of  10 horses from early morning to late afternoon, and then back again! Love you so much, and a BIG Thanks' from all of us.

And last but not least: Jenna that had to stay home and take care of the horses and client's that did not go to the show! All went perfect! I love to come back to the barn after a show or clinic, when everything is clean, organized and well taken care of! You did it! Thanks!

Mette

Mette returns home from Florida

Unfortunately my adventure to Florida had to come to an end! I'm so glad I did it and so Thankful for everyone who made my stay so great! First of all, I'm grateful that everything was running perfect at Mill Creek, thanks to Anna Dahlberg and her staff, Anja and Henrietta. Thanks to my supportive and loyal clients--without all of you stepping up to the plate, this could not have worked! I'm also thankful for Robert Dover in Florida,who put his heart and soul into me and my horses. He was very inspiring, pushed me to ride better and asked for more from me, as well as my horses. His friendship and support was fantastic! I really miss my days with Robert!!

Thanks to all at Stillpoint: Tuny Page and all good, hardworking riders, grooms, and friends. You all made my stay very special! Thanks to Evelina Karlsson who came from Sweden to help me with all my horses! I will treasure this trip forever! Thanks!

The last couple of weeks were as busy as all before. The fun was that I won Grand Prix Special, the last class of my stay. It was the Derby so it was extra fun. I just had Finally at this show, so it was easy with only one horse. The week after the show I had the opportunity to ride with Hubertus Schmidt who came from Germany for just a couple of days of work! Great work again from a world class rider and trainer. My "bag" is filled with info, knowledge, and inspiration. Super end of my stay!

The last Saturday Brook Ledge came to pick up my 5 horses to drive them back to L.A. Great staff and equipment! My horses were back in L.A. after 48 hrs on the road. They traveled in a box stall and my cool horse Regent laid down in his bed made out of straw and shavings.He is a "cool cat." All horses got off looking good but tired and now a week later all are back in work, happy to be home at beautiful Mill Creek.

I am happy to be home again, too and sometimes I have to think...Did I really do all this? I will ride Finally in a CDI show the last weekend of March and the weekend before that I have 7 horses going to a local show. My students will ride everything from First level to Int one. So here we go...Florida or California, we all are in the fast, fun lane! In April I will start my clinics again and life here in L.A. is just back; just like that!

But in my heart, I will keep all I learned, all the the fun days, great people, excitement, crazy moments!! All that will stay forever.

Hope all of you are well! Spring is coming!

mette

More News from Florida

It doesn't matter where I am in the world,...time is going by so fast and so much is happening!! Fun Fun! But PUH! The days are filled to the brim!!

I'm not sure where I left off the last time I wrote, but here I am again. About a week ago, I did ride Finn in a Grand Prix and a Grand Prix Special. I was third in the GP and I won the Special. Lots of fun and a very good start on my Florida journey!

But here you never rest on your success.... My starting time at that show was on Sunday 11:00 am. Here you can pay and have your stall cleaned up or you totally strip it yourself and no fee. So after my ride we had to take care of Finn, clean out and pack, go back to the stable with Finn, and I had to be back in the saddle at 1:00 for a lesson/workout with two other horses. So by 3pm I was finally out of riding a horse.....Do I love it?? You bet!!!

On Monday the horses that were home during the show days had to be worked and again, like every week, I have to buy shavings, order hay and go to the market, do laundry and prep for the coming week. I left on Wednesday with Finn, and also Rico this time. Finn had to jog in front of the panel that day and Rico's jog was on Thursday. Both ran perfect, so I was ready to go!

Finn was out in Grand Pix on Thursday and was ok. I did, for example 17, ones instead of 15 and that cost me about 20 points and in this competition you can't have a mistake--it costs you way too much!!!! Rico did PSG and was 5th. One mistake and that took me out of first! Finn was 4th in GPS--still great, but 2 mistakes! On the last day in INT 1, Rico was in the lead for over two hours and the last rider beat me with a point! Darn!! So we were second that day.

So 3 times this weekend I got to go in for an honor round and that is really fun! This last weekend has been so great! SO many people from America and Europe and god knows from where have been here! No wonder they like to leave Europe where it is -25 C. Most of them came to be part of the Masters. It was a fun competition and the Swedes were the best. In the Freestyle Tinne had a super good ride on a lovely horse and won!!! She rode great and had a super cool outfit: dark, really dark grey coat, with a hat in exactly the same shade. The music was put together by Cees Slings from Holland--the guy that always did Anky's music. Patrick Kittle was second and Steffen was third!

Sunday Tinne's sponsor had a brunch put together at their beautiful, impressive home/barn for all of the important people, riders, officials and me. It was so nice, so incredibly beautiful with all the details! The barn, the ring, just everything--I wanted to move in right away!

Anna came out on Thursday to be part of this fun weekend and I can't tell you how much I missed her! She is a pearl and she knows what I'm thinking, need, and how I want everything! Unfortunately, she has to fly back home tomorrow to take care of the business at home, which she does with flying colors!

The Dressage Forum will be held on Monday and Tuesday and there are riders, trainers and knowledgeable people from all over the world who will talk, demonstrate and whatever. It's starting at 1:00 and will end 10pm and the same format on Tuesday. They start late so we all can train in the morning. Here you don't miss a minute!

Hope all of you are well where ever you are. In my thoughts!

mette

Update from Florida

Dear all of you!

I'm writing not only to just say hi, but also to get back to all of you who contacted me to ask how things are going. I can now tell you more.

My computer got sick, so it took some time to make it work...but here I am! We all got to Florida ok! It was a huge puzzle to make all the pieces fall in place and I was very very tired when I finally got here. I think I'm the only one that has not done this year after year.So Some of my questions seem very strange to most!!! Everything is so different.

You rent a dry stall. After that you have to find shavings,hay ,grain and so on. We clean stalls, feed, do water buckets..you name it! But the stuff needs to be ordered, stored (no space), and the job has to be done 7 days a week, all day long.

My horses are doing great!!!!! Finn is a star. Robert Dover thinks he is world class, but we are not there yet! Regent is getting better and is now working in the big boys' classroom. Super fun!

Rico is doing one CDI in PSG and INT 1 and will then leave that chapter and move into Grand Prix. I'm riding him with Robert and I have the ones and the passage done, though the piaffe needs time. One day Rico did 23 ones--just like that! What a clever boy!

Acilla and Rico are not at the same barn as the other three, so that is time consuming when it's just two of us. But..they are so happy. Each day they are out in beautiful paddocks with grass, beach sand and trees.They are out for over one hour.They are so content and Acilla is coming along very well.

I can choose between indoor, outdoor and a HUGE, HUGE green polo field. I can ride on a soft manicured beautiful field for ever. Ask how I feel about that!!!.........

Sox is the only one who didn't like the long trip. He is slowly coming back to work and will be ok to go back to work by next week.

Today I went out to the show ground where I will compete this coming weekend. Fun friends from all over. There was Tinne and Lussan from Sweden, and Patrik Kittle--Sweden or Germany what ever you like!?  Weird and super fun to meet them all in America! Next week Edward Gahl and Hans Peter will be here as well, as so many others for the Masters.

So all is well! I stay in a beautiful home that belongs to Lisa and Steve the owner of Hielo More. Maybe just a little to far from the barn, but that's they way it is. Great place!

Talking of great homes!!!! Holy Smoke. Most of the stables are just not to be believed. I'm not sure how to even explain what they look like. Money makes the world go around......the world go around.....People are nice! All is great;even if I get up 5 am to be in the saddle at 7 (not every day). Lots of good riding. Very inspiring!! I ride two or three lessons a day, when it works, and the rest on my own.

Fun days, but no shopping, beach laying, or bon bons on the couch! Hope all is well whereever you are.

To all of you at Mill Creek...I know all of you are doing great! I talk to Anna every day. Keep it up! I'm so Thankful to Anna and my staff and for all of you to be such great clients doing a great job!

Keep in touch! Love to all!!!

Mette

CDS LA Chapter Year end Awards 2012

Mette and her students had a very successful show year 2012! 

On January 6th an award ceremony was held to recognize the great show results from 2012 for the LA Chapter and the California Dressage Society (CDS).
Mette won the High percentage award for PSG open with Anne Solbraekkes horse Mosegaards Rico. Mette also had four of her students earning awards for great performances, very impressive Team Mette!

From the left: Tracy Ryan-Johnson; Reserve High point champion in 4th level amateur with Piet, Anna Dahlberg; High percentage champion in 1st level open with Hielo Mor, Adrienne Bessey; High point champion in PSG amateur with Winston and Margie Cochrane; High point champion in 2nd level amateur with Dresden.
Since Mette is in Florida she was not able to attend the award ceremony but she was well represented by her students.
Congratulations to all the success and best of luck in 2013!