Our Facebook Page just topped 4900 Fans over the weekend!!! Thank you so much for all the support, kind words, comments and interest! You guys are the best!!!
A bit of ringside reporting on the events and news from the dressage stable of Watermark Farm in Oxford, PA. We offer lessons, training, sales and competition services for all levels of horse and rider. The main website is www.watermark-farm.net
Monday, November 28, 2011
4900 Fans!!! Wow!!
Our Facebook Page just topped 4900 Fans over the weekend!!! Thank you so much for all the support, kind words, comments and interest! You guys are the best!!!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Farm photos, musings, a bit of this and that...
I'll start with a few images of the Master of All He Surveys - Oreo
Then we'll move on to the silly riding mares that thought nothing of a chilly afternoon and had a bit of a swim -
We have had quite a bit of rain over the past few weeks, so they had been restricted to small(er) paddocks and on the worst of days - just some time in the indoor arena...so perhaps that explains the gusto they put into getting wet? Silly girls!
Stubben N.A. was also kind enough to send the ever-so-awesome certified saddle fitter Keith Brooks to the farm for a few hours this week! Keith did a number of fittings - both dressage and jumping saddles for clients and everyone was quite pleased with how the time was spent, the knowledge they gained and how the horses improved!
Lastly, please enjoy some images of the paper mill ruins on the east of our property (hence the watermark in Watermark Farm) -
Then we'll move on to the silly riding mares that thought nothing of a chilly afternoon and had a bit of a swim -
We have had quite a bit of rain over the past few weeks, so they had been restricted to small(er) paddocks and on the worst of days - just some time in the indoor arena...so perhaps that explains the gusto they put into getting wet? Silly girls!
Stubben N.A. was also kind enough to send the ever-so-awesome certified saddle fitter Keith Brooks to the farm for a few hours this week! Keith did a number of fittings - both dressage and jumping saddles for clients and everyone was quite pleased with how the time was spent, the knowledge they gained and how the horses improved!
Lastly, please enjoy some images of the paper mill ruins on the east of our property (hence the watermark in Watermark Farm) -
Friday, November 25, 2011
Featured Horse ***Wolfgang WF***
"Puck" is for sale to an approved home. Contact Anne@watermark-farm.net for pricing and terms.
Puck's album on Facebook has a lot more images and links to his videos!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Alrighty history buffs - sit back and enjoy!
Everyone knows that I am a huge fan (cough understatement of the century cough) of Waldaire!
Well, one of the reasons is because of his stellar mother line! His maternal lines are a consolidation of some of the best performance blood in Germany with the results to back up the bragging rights! His grandmother
Daktary was a very successful Grand Prix horse here on the East Coast from the late 80's through the 90's.
Her full brother was Cindy Ishoy's Olympic mount Dynasty!
So you can all imagine how happy I was to find a video on the Willi Schulteis (Reitmeister) page on Facebook! I'm not sure the video will link directly but if you have time, take the 15 minutes out of your day, go to the Farm Page and enjoy the master riding a bit of our equine 'family'!
And now people can understand why I love riding with my mom and Catherine on our horses. It all flows seamlessly from generation to generation of horses to riders! :) The training system from Mr. Schultheis worked on the ancestors, so of course it works on the current horses! They are relatives and very similar in their minds...it a wonderful example of the full circle of training techniques! :)
Happy riding!
Well, one of the reasons is because of his stellar mother line! His maternal lines are a consolidation of some of the best performance blood in Germany with the results to back up the bragging rights! His grandmother
So you can all imagine how happy I was to find a video on the Willi Schulteis (Reitmeister) page on Facebook! I'm not sure the video will link directly but if you have time, take the 15 minutes out of your day, go to the Farm Page and enjoy the master riding a bit of our equine 'family'!
And now people can understand why I love riding with my mom and Catherine on our horses. It all flows seamlessly from generation to generation of horses to riders! :) The training system from Mr. Schultheis worked on the ancestors, so of course it works on the current horses! They are relatives and very similar in their minds...it a wonderful example of the full circle of training techniques! :)
Happy riding!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Some farm photos, a sad loss and some reminders...
We have several saddles that have gone to a local consignment shop so if you are in the market for a wonderful saddle that fits a variety of horses with little to no adjusting, please get in touch with Crossroads Tack Shop in Lebanon, PA. Steph and her mom run a great business and we are quite excited to see the saddles go into 'good homes' where they will get more use!
Our sincere condolences go out to the entire International Dressage Team on the loss of Catherine Haddad Staller's Cadillac 35. He was a brilliant star that has left far too soon. There are really no words that can explain the devastating loss of a equine partner, so I will just leave the topic with I am so sorry for your loss.
Speaking of Catherine - Stubben N.A. will be on site on the 22nd, so if you would like to schedule a fitting or test ride, please contact Ellie@watermark-farm.net
Friday, November 11, 2011
Stubben Saddle Fitting 11/22/11 at 10AM!
That's right! Our Certified Saddle Fitter will be here from 10 AM - 2:30 on Tuesday November 22nd! He is bringing a variety of saddles, models and sizes here to the farm so that people can see the latest innovations for the master saddlemakers of Stubben! We are offering several of our horses up as "test rides" but if you would like to bring your own horse, have it and yourself fitted for a new saddle, please contact me directly to set up a time***.
Keith is being quite generous - as we are all going to be in one location, he is reducing the standard $125 fitting fee to $75 - and this can be applied to the saddle price if you order within 7 days! He is working on assembling a wide selection of saddles for all heights, sizes and disciplines! If there is a particular model you are interested in trying, please email me - Ellie@watermark-farm.net and I will be sure to let him know exactly what you are interested in having a sit in! I was lucky the last time he was here and had a brief ride in the Zaria (and while jumping isn't in my future...ooooooh, it was fantastic!) and another saddle that I'm having a Rick Perry moment - can't remember the name!
I am happy to give feedback on what the Genesis Special D has done for my own riding, the horses and their training progress. My sincere gratitude goes out to Stubben, Catherine Haddad Staller and my mother Anne Rawle for all their hard work in improving my riding! Hopefully things will continue in a positive direction and in early 2012 we will venture southward and knock out some big scores in the FEI levels! Oh and mom gets an extra boost of thanks - she has bred my super fantabulous horses that are shining as bright stars for the future!
So if you are interested in learning more about what Stubben has to offer, please be here bright and early on the 22nd. We will have some breakfast type of snacks and coffee available on site as well as the sanctuary of the little house and bathroom facilities.
Hope to see everyone there!
****Helmets are required when mounted!****
Keith is being quite generous - as we are all going to be in one location, he is reducing the standard $125 fitting fee to $75 - and this can be applied to the saddle price if you order within 7 days! He is working on assembling a wide selection of saddles for all heights, sizes and disciplines! If there is a particular model you are interested in trying, please email me - Ellie@watermark-farm.net and I will be sure to let him know exactly what you are interested in having a sit in! I was lucky the last time he was here and had a brief ride in the Zaria (and while jumping isn't in my future...ooooooh, it was fantastic!) and another saddle that I'm having a Rick Perry moment - can't remember the name!
I am happy to give feedback on what the Genesis Special D has done for my own riding, the horses and their training progress. My sincere gratitude goes out to Stubben, Catherine Haddad Staller and my mother Anne Rawle for all their hard work in improving my riding! Hopefully things will continue in a positive direction and in early 2012 we will venture southward and knock out some big scores in the FEI levels! Oh and mom gets an extra boost of thanks - she has bred my super fantabulous horses that are shining as bright stars for the future!
So if you are interested in learning more about what Stubben has to offer, please be here bright and early on the 22nd. We will have some breakfast type of snacks and coffee available on site as well as the sanctuary of the little house and bathroom facilities.
Hope to see everyone there!
****Helmets are required when mounted!****
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Some schooling photos and a couple of reminders
I'll start with the boring stuff - reminding people of things to put on the 'To Do List'!
First, as competitors, it is our job to know the rules of the Governing Body (USEF) and to make sure that our horses comply with them as well. There are changes in the Drugs and Medications Rules for 2012 and the new competition year begins in just a few weeks! So read up on a few of them HERE and go to the USEF for the entire rule book.
Second, the election may have come and gone but as citizens it is our responsibility to hold those elected officials accountable for their promises, pledges and commitments. Keep the pressure on with letters, emails and phone calls if you have time...there is no better way to get things done than to make sure your voice is heard!! If they are drawing a salary from the government - they owe us some fiscal responsibility and accountability!
As for the $12,000,000 Elephant on the Coffee Table at the bottom of our road - well, as far as I know - the project is still a go. So with that in mind, I'll shift over to the equine side of my brain...we have to prepare to lose the training facility and raising pastures here on the farm as it is all in close proximity to the bridge. With that in mind, we have numerous riding horses for sale, the prices are negotiable to competition homes and the broodmares and young horses will have to be either sold or relocated. We will be reduced to 1 large pasture (currently the retirees field), 1 stallion paddock, 2 small paddocks and a 3 acre pasture - essentially a third of the turnout space we have currently and a complete loss of the outdoor arena. All training will be done in the indoor arena year round (and you all can see me just smiling away at THAT idea on a hot airless August day), so we will have quite a shift in how business is conducted here on a daily basis. With the typical high humidity and temperatures, it is possible I will shift into night mode and do my training after dark when the construction workers are gone...but even the thought of that makes my mind rebel - nighttime is for sleeping! I'm no vampire!! I would love to say that the project is a non-issue and the business will be fine, but the liability of large construction, noise pollution, environmental damage and unpredictable nature of equines leaves us with no option at this time. So if you are considering an equine purchase - a riding horse, a youngster to bring along...please consider coming to the farm to see them in the flesh. The project is supposed to being in 2013, so we do have a bit of time but I would rather see the horses go into good situations and make people happy in their show homes. Some of the horses are very amateur suitable with their movement (very good), their minds (calm and reliable) and talent (well above average) and the workable mindset that if the rider is talented and dedicated - the upper levels are well within reach while some of the others are more suited to riders who lean more towards professional status (ride more than 2 horses per day 5 days each week and have experience bringing babies along). The horses that fall into either category are all very enjoyable to work with and have great potential...but as it says on the Sales Page we try to place our horses into appropriate situations that match their rider's skill level and ambition rather than just making a sale and pocketing the money. Ethics I suppose...
Speaking of horses - check out the photos of Wyatt (by Weltmeyer) and Wizard (by Waldaire). Also take note of the T-shirt from yesterday!!! It was gorgeous outside and an amazing day for November!
Wizard is coming along like gangbusters! I can't articulate how awesome this young stallion really is...but here's a quick attempt - flying changes are sooooo easy and just another gait in his mind. His half pass is coming along nicely. The trot is getting a lot more swing and suspension and his medium trot is starting to sparkle. Oh and he's only 5! Each ride he reminds me more of Waldaire - only better!! (ssssssh, don't tell Wally!!!) :)
So I think that's everything...weather, the elections, the rules changes for 2012, horses for sale, where some of the riding horses are in their training...
Happy riding!!
First, as competitors, it is our job to know the rules of the Governing Body (USEF) and to make sure that our horses comply with them as well. There are changes in the Drugs and Medications Rules for 2012 and the new competition year begins in just a few weeks! So read up on a few of them HERE and go to the USEF for the entire rule book.
Second, the election may have come and gone but as citizens it is our responsibility to hold those elected officials accountable for their promises, pledges and commitments. Keep the pressure on with letters, emails and phone calls if you have time...there is no better way to get things done than to make sure your voice is heard!! If they are drawing a salary from the government - they owe us some fiscal responsibility and accountability!
As for the $12,000,000 Elephant on the Coffee Table at the bottom of our road - well, as far as I know - the project is still a go. So with that in mind, I'll shift over to the equine side of my brain...we have to prepare to lose the training facility and raising pastures here on the farm as it is all in close proximity to the bridge. With that in mind, we have numerous riding horses for sale, the prices are negotiable to competition homes and the broodmares and young horses will have to be either sold or relocated. We will be reduced to 1 large pasture (currently the retirees field), 1 stallion paddock, 2 small paddocks and a 3 acre pasture - essentially a third of the turnout space we have currently and a complete loss of the outdoor arena. All training will be done in the indoor arena year round (and you all can see me just smiling away at THAT idea on a hot airless August day), so we will have quite a shift in how business is conducted here on a daily basis. With the typical high humidity and temperatures, it is possible I will shift into night mode and do my training after dark when the construction workers are gone...but even the thought of that makes my mind rebel - nighttime is for sleeping! I'm no vampire!! I would love to say that the project is a non-issue and the business will be fine, but the liability of large construction, noise pollution, environmental damage and unpredictable nature of equines leaves us with no option at this time. So if you are considering an equine purchase - a riding horse, a youngster to bring along...please consider coming to the farm to see them in the flesh. The project is supposed to being in 2013, so we do have a bit of time but I would rather see the horses go into good situations and make people happy in their show homes. Some of the horses are very amateur suitable with their movement (very good), their minds (calm and reliable) and talent (well above average) and the workable mindset that if the rider is talented and dedicated - the upper levels are well within reach while some of the others are more suited to riders who lean more towards professional status (ride more than 2 horses per day 5 days each week and have experience bringing babies along). The horses that fall into either category are all very enjoyable to work with and have great potential...but as it says on the Sales Page we try to place our horses into appropriate situations that match their rider's skill level and ambition rather than just making a sale and pocketing the money. Ethics I suppose...
Speaking of horses - check out the photos of Wyatt (by Weltmeyer) and Wizard (by Waldaire). Also take note of the T-shirt from yesterday!!! It was gorgeous outside and an amazing day for November!
Wizard is coming along like gangbusters! I can't articulate how awesome this young stallion really is...but here's a quick attempt - flying changes are sooooo easy and just another gait in his mind. His half pass is coming along nicely. The trot is getting a lot more swing and suspension and his medium trot is starting to sparkle. Oh and he's only 5! Each ride he reminds me more of Waldaire - only better!! (ssssssh, don't tell Wally!!!) :)
So I think that's everything...weather, the elections, the rules changes for 2012, horses for sale, where some of the riding horses are in their training...
Happy riding!!
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