Wizard WF has gone to be started!

Little Oz got a quick brush and dust removal and then eagerly climbed into the trailer to begin a new phase in his life today. He has gone to Sport Horse Training Inc. for a few weeks to learn all about being a riding horse with 'uncle' Roddy. Oz has been bored with being out in the pasture, bored with being in the stall, bored with being groomed, just bored bored bored with this life of not being a riding horse. Even though he won't be 3 until the end of May, it is time to be more busy...he loose schools and jumps really well, lunging is no biggie and wearing tack has lost its novelty as well. So that leaves being a riding horse on the 'To Do' list for the spring.

As You Wish WF's (Kitty) photo finally arrived from Full Gallop - courtesy of HoofClix photography...


I think it is safe to say that she loves to jump and Baby Novice is no big deal! :)

On the weather front, we survived the blizzard that brought in the month of March. It was near 40* today and hopefully the snow will all melt tomorrow. Perhaps we will be riding in the outdoor over the weekend??? YAY in advance is the best way to express how I feel about getting back outside!!!!

Young Horse & Competition News

I was doing a bit of surfing today on the web (it is bloody cold out with a wind chill of 12*) and I found a bit of Sally's schedule with our mare Kitty! They are competing this weekend at Jumping Branch Farm (March 6-8th) at the Novice level. I will keep you posted with how things are going as Sally usually calls after every phase! Fingers crossed and lots of good luck vibes go out to Team Cousins!

The link to the competition is here - http://jbfarm.com/index.php?page=Entry-List so if you are in the area, please keep an eye out for Sally & Kitty!

Speaking of competition & Kitty - I am still waiting on the delivery of the photos from Full Gallop. Apparently the package has arrived in NJ but that is not Watermark Farm. As soon as it arrives, I will scan it & post the lovely shot! :)

Kitty is also entered at the March 15th Sporting Days Farm Event. The website is here - http://www.sportingdaysfarm.com/Entry%20Status.htm and I will post more when the times are listed.

On the home front, we are busy getting the young stock ready for their spring show debut here in PA as well as some of the FEI horses heading south to Morven Park's April dressage show. The recent snow and frigid temperatures do make showing seem like a faraway dream in many ways. Supposedly, the temperatures will climb towards 50* later this week. We shall see.

Waldaire turns 20!

March has arrived with a blizzard warning for this evening!

Waldaire is celebrating his 20th birthday today!

We had a lovely ride in the outdoor. You all must excuse my lack of fancy attire...it was 32* and incredibly damp.





However, that does not excuse my elbows being out and other bad habits.


Please focus on how handsome Wally still is and how happy he was to be outdoors!

There is a bit of young horse news to report but it is not going to go here as today is Wally's big day...

Competition and Young Horse News from the US & Germany!

Thanks to the search function via the USEA website - http://useventing.com/competitions.php?id=831&horse_id=127948 we can happily report that Kitty (As You Wish WF) was 8th at her debut at Full Gallop. She is continuing to earn praise from Sally in their adventures and has several entries in for the months of March & April. As soon as the photograph arrives from FG I will scan it in and then everyone can enjoy seeing her in action!

Also, it is worth mentioning that she is enjoying a great deal of positive feedback for her gaits & movement - consistent 8's on the collective marks of her tests! Thanks and congratulations to Sally for all of her hard work!

Back here on the farm we are preparing our first entries for the 2009 season with the dressage horses. When those go into the mail, I'll let you know where you can see them in action!

Now in Germany Desperado has been awarded the title of 'Best Young Horse' along with the OLD suffix! He is the first dressage horse to win this title which is based on career earnings over a pile of show jumpers!!! Congratulations to Pferde 24, Dorit & Hermann and Dressage Royal!!!!

On the importation front ---

Don Dressage & Damsey Royal have arrived safely at their new home here in the US!!!! How exciting is it to have Damsey's full brother as a US Citizen???? We will keep you informed on their growth & development! Congratulations to their new owner J!

I have other news on the young horse front but it is very much time to get out to the barn!!

Some snapshots from today...

The light wasn't great but Dillon (Avebury WF) was! Mom snagged the camera from the house while I was riding and shot a few new photos of the young star today...

We were just working on suppling exercises, nothing too exciting but we both realized that there are NO photos of me riding him anywhere! So please excuse my puffy vest and everyday attire...it seemed more important to get a few photos of Dillon & me together!


We'll get some more when we are finally back out in the outdoor arena. Just a few more weeks in the 'metal box' and then the warmer weather will be here! :)

Update on Kitty in Aiken!

Sally and Kitty are doing GREAT! When we opened the mail the other day, there was an envelope from Sally with Kitty's latest dressage test...Kitty got a '30' for her dressage effort with an 8 for gaits & movement and lots of 8's in the body of the test too!!! All the hard work on the flat is paying off!!

Here is a link to the cross country & stadium photos - http://hoofclix.smugmug.com/gallery/7329927_V4Pkd#472384735_PTwLY

When we purchase a few of them, I'll load the images directly!

Yay for Kitty & Sally!

More Videos!

Christine Mohn was kind enough to loan me her DVD's of Wynona & Windlass from their foal inspections in 2008. I am in the midst of loading them both up onto You Tube...in the end they'll be on our account & Christine's.
Wynona PF - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKP5I5hVVyo
Windlass PF - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqS5CObmsLg

Mom & I also went over to Roddy's the other day (cold, windy and very cold with a 50 MPH wind) to take a few photos of Alexis and shot some video also.

That will be the most recent addition to the You Tube account. I just loaded the whole video straight through with no editing..she is a very good girl and is regaining her balance.


It was cute to see Roddy (5'5") on her - a solid 17+ hands...but she is a very obedient girl and pays close attention to where her feet are going at all times.


So even with the wind and lots of stuff to see on that cold afternoon, it is a treat to have such a nice horse to look forward to riding in the very near future! Thanks Roddy for getting another horse started so nicely! :)


Here is Lexy's video link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_4oJw0yey0

Great news from NJ, SC & MD!

Several months ago we helped match Willy & Susan together! They have had a few months to get to know one another and are doing great at their new barn...



Can you guys all see how CLEAN Willy is???? Wow, we all need to give Susan some major props for getting him so sparkly clean!



And if those 2 pictures don't convince you of how happy they are together, well this one will definitely chase any doubts away! How cute are they????


In a recent note Susan said that there are plans afoot for Willy to show some this summer at 2nd & 3rd level and how happy she is with him! It is just great to hear that they are such a good pair and really like one another!

Congratulations Susan and please give Willy a big kiss from all of us!

We got a very encouraging phone call from Aiken, S. C. As You Wish WF just completed her first three phase very successfully. Sally Cousins said Kitty was second in dressage, very steady and focused with cross country and the start and finish close by. She was clean in stadium , and also very steady. The black clouds were rolling in as she started cross country, but Kitty jumped everything very well, and only had one glance by at a jump next to an intermediate jump. Sally kept saying she is very impressed by her talent and demeanor, so we are very optimistic for the season. A very auspicious beginning--Thank You Sally and Nat.

We also were just notified by SBS that Waldaire is the featured stallion on their websites for the week of February 13-19th. They have some extremely good articles on reproduction on their site, so please take a few minutes and read over some of the information... http://selectbreeders.com/

The Maryland Network for Injured Equestrians is having a benefit evening at the Manor Tavern in Monkton, Md. next month. Anyone interested in supporting the effort or attending can find out more on the link below.
There are lots of items being donated. (We donated some lessons to this fund raiser)...It should be a fun evening!
http://www.mnie.net/Home.html

So lots of good news right before Valentine's Day!

More videos are going up on You Tube!

With the recent cold snap we were able to take some time and make new videos of the horses! (thanks Karin & Bill for your help!)

Wilona WF (Waldaire x As You Wish WF)
Wakanda WF (Waldaire x Abracadabra WF)
Avebury WF (Adamant x Dynasty WF)
Wizard WF (Waldaire x Abracadabra WF)
Atreo WF (Adamant x Dynasty WF)
Artesian WF (Again & Again x Aly Alice xx)
Adelaide WF (Adamant x Aly Alice xx)
Wallace WF (Waldaire x Aly Alice xx)
Wyncote WF (Waldaire x Southern Leigh WF)
Wall Street WF (Waldaire x Wallstreet Rose)
Wichita Rose WF (Waldaire x Amelia WF)
Daylily WF (Dressage Royal x Achtung Again WF)
Don William WF (Dressage Royal x Savannah WF
Waterlily WF (Waldaire x Achtung Again WF)
Wylie WF (Waldaire x Amelia WF)
Wei WF (Waldaire x Sabrina WF)
Dream Girl WF (Dressage Royal x Savannah WF)
Dreamcatcher WF (Dressage Royal x Abracadabra WF)
Westerleigh WF (Waldaire x Southern Leigh WF)
Wolfgang WF (Waldaire x Sabrina WF)

And for whatever reason, the direct links will not post...so please go to

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=watermarkfarm&view=videos

And I am sorry that you have to cut & paste that link...silly computer is not cooperating AT ALL!!!