Photos from Springdale!

So about 2 weeks ago we ventured over to Springdale Farm for an off the farm school. Technically, the horses were IN the show but as they are the only ones in their respective classes, I think of it as away from home training time! :)

In any case, Karin generously allowed me to school her lovely Adamant daughter - Adelaide WF for some mileage. Addie is coming along very, very nicely in her work and really fun to ride! From a professional's standpoint, an outside ride is always sweeter when it is a horse that you knew as a youngster and you can see/feel their development.

Mom rode Atreo WF as a buddy for Wyatt and also enjoyed the unfamiliar surroundings on a horse that she knows very well. Dad was there as our head cheerleader and coat holder, so he also enjoyed a bit of a day away from home.

Wyatt was a bit over the top from the acoustics in the arena but some things are showing signs of great progress! There is still quite a bit for me to work on in regards to my position and timing but overall I could not be more pleased with how we are doing.

And Wyatt got quite a bit of camera time from the ever-so-awesome Bill Alphin. All of these images are his and if you ever want a photographer who can do amazing things with a challenging lighting situation - call Bill!!! He is a WIZARD when it comes to equipment and lighting!

We did have a bit of winter weather arrive over the weekend, so there has been a slight shift to 'winter training mode' here on the farm. The horses are still being worked and making progress but it has taken a bit of the spring out of our steps to be so cold all the time. Enjoy the photos that I took and cross your fingers that this is the last of the cold & snow that we have until next year.

Happy Riding!

Milestones!

We're about to hit 500 posts here on the blog! It is a bit frightening to think that I have had so much to yammer about...then I remember, out of all the posts, there have been about 5 that dealt with my own personal opinions, so that makes it easier to swallow the big 5-0-0.

Ah, well. In any case, there is a bit of news - the Farm Page just rolled past 5700 Fans last night. So a very big milestone is fast approaching...6000. With the current pace, that should happen over the weekend. Six thousand people makes me pause for a minute. I know there are billions of people on the planet but still...six thousand is a big number for a small breeding farm. :)

I must say we love technology! Facebook, the internet, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Canon, Apple, DSL, Select Breeders, MVE, Equitainers, all the little things that go into assembling the products of our labors! Pretty cool stuff! Please take a moment and scroll down our Links Page as we have some updates that have gone up there.





Speaking of technology, I shot a few clips of Hansel (aka Wall Street WF) a few days ago from atop Wyatt WF! (Kids - don't try this at home!) Just a bit of fun, of course, and Wyatt is a settled kind of a guy, so he was thoroughly unimpressed by Hansel toiling away with his buddy Francisco...




So I think that's a recap of what's gone on for the past few days. We're about to have a bit of more seasonal weather with cold temperatures and perhaps some accumulating snow. If all of that happens, there is a chance my house will be cleaned and organized for spring or I might just find myself outside with the big camera for a change! Who knows, right?

Happy riding!

Dressage Royal news from Europe!

Thank goodness for Eurodressage! That website keeps us abreast of some of the latest news of what's happening across the pond! This post is going to be a bit of read, hunt down the story and then come back to read what else I have to say...sorry! :)

On the tragic news front - Dressage Royal's grandson ERA Dancing Hit (by UNO Don Diego) broke his pastern during a lounging session on Monday. The full story can be found HERE. If you are having trouble remembering who he is, here's the skinny - a 2008 stallion who won the Danish Licensing by a landslide margin. Apparently, the veterinarians were able to put some pins in, so we wish Dancing Hit and all of his connections the very best during his recovery. This is a LINK to the post surgical radiograph...how tragic!

The finalized schedule for the Nurnberger Burgpokal Qualifying series is published! Last years winner Desperado OLD (by Dressage Royal) is the featured photo if you click HERE. And if you are up for a bit more scouting around the internet, the Oldenburg Verband Homepage has a lovely slideshow running as the intro. The first horse is none other than Desperado OLD and Carola Koppelmann winning the NBFinals a few weeks ago!!

And last but not least is a photo album on Facebook. I know, I know, some people are not going to join as there are invasive qualities to the website but...if you would like to see a few new photos of Damsey (by Dresage Royal), please click HERE. These photos were shot at the Privately Owned Stallion Show for the Hanoverian Verband.

So I think that is all of the most recent news from Europe that involves Dressage Royal. We still have high quality frozen in storage at Select Breeders. He is offered with a limited LFG (6 dose maximum). We have had very good success breeding to him here on our farm over the years and are enjoying his youngsters as the develop into excellent riding horses -

A fun day with good friends!

Mom and I took Atreo and Wyatt to SFM's second schooling show Combined Test yesterday for an off the farm school. Before anyone gets super excited - we never had any intentions of jumping! We wanted to take advantage of their spacious indoor facility that is still unknown territory for our horses. Karin graciously allowed me to show her lovely Adelaide WF in First Level 1, so Addie can benefit from my show mileage and gain some confidence in the arena. It was really fun to show Addie as Karin has worked consistently to improve her fitness since the last competition in January and the test improved greatly with more swing out of her back, power and a better connection from back to front. Wyatt's Second Level test 2 had moments of brilliance with some extra flying changes thrown into the canter work. He was intimidated by the acoustics but the trot work earned high marks and his walk work was outstanding...so definite progress with things to improve upon for the next outing!

The ever so awesome Bill Alphin of A & A Photography was on hand to shoot photographs with his fantabulous cameras, so we shall have lots of photos to share with everyone in a few days! Bill is one of the kindest souls we have ever dealt with and I can only say the best things about his work. He was a very good sport to give up the majority of his Saturday to wait for our rides. I will post photos soon so everyone can see the horses!

There was one more show listed on the Entry Form - March 10th, in case anyone is interested. I can forward a copy along or you can check out the DVCTA website/calendar for more information. The dressage ring is a small, the jumping course looked challenging, the facility is BIG!

There is also a dressage schooling show on April 21st down at Blue Waters Farm in Chesapeake City. Full size arena, great footing, lovely people - and it is one of the most friendly places to show that we've ever been to! I really can't say enough good things about them! Just an all around great experience down there each and every time!

Last year it was Don William's first show and they do everything possible to make it a safe and fun experience for both horse and rider. The judge is Grand Prix rider and trainer Timothy Mellot, so we look forward to hearing his thoughts and comments in a few weeks!

5500 Fans! New video! New photos!

Goodness, this week is flying by! Especially when we consider it's only February and the 'slow' time of year!

Our Fan Page on FB is up to 5500 Fans! Amazing. Simply amazing to think that 5500 people all over the world know the name "Watermark Farm"! :) We thank you all for the support, the likes, the comments and feedback about our horses. Sincerely. You are all amazing people and we appreciate the time you take to include us in your day.


Here is a video of Wall Street WF from yesterday -



And then some photos from today's ride -

There is extensive video footage from today -



I left it in its unedited state for one reason. Any misbehaving is in reality quite minor. If I had cut out the bits of cross cantering or the scoot and flying changes as he started to canter the first time, it might appear as though there was some genuine BAD behavior going on. So whatever your opinion might be of leaving it intact - good, bad, indifferent - there is the rationale.

And as always, Oreo eventually got up from his restful state and came out to ask why we went in for lunch at 2:30PM...silly cat!

Holy Smokes! Who needs to go south for the winter????

So yesterday was the 1st of February. It was quite warm out, the footing was perfect in the outdoor, Wyatt and Oz got a bath, some manes got pulled...all in all it was like Spring! Hopefully Mother Nature will give us a break and we can make some serious training progress with the horses in the next 60 days!

But I'll need to rewind a tad - we're putting some of the growthy young horses back to work. Their knees are no longer scary looking with a lack of muscle everywhere. And as a bonus, a few are starting to build a topline! The Neck Fairy is due to swing through any day now and leave some of her finest work for the 2008 and 2009 youngsters. :)

And Wizard WF enjoyed some serious camera time!

Wyatt WF wrapped up the day's shooting with a bit of fun in the bright sunshine!

Hopefully we can have some moderate weather until April. That would be lovely and very beneficial to all the horses here on the farm! More time outside, more serious training rides, happier people...it would all just be fantastic!

Happy Riding!!