Price reductions on our green beans!

OK, one of our regular riders is out for several months, so we have several horses that are for sale at reduced prices which do not reflect their quality and potential. It is the reality that they need to be in training and our days are too full to fit more riding into the schedule.

Westerleigh WF (aka Joy) - $14,000 until May 1st (then I will have figured out cloning with a good ankle and she could get the jump schooling she needs to go on as a show hunter). Last Fall she was WTC, single flying changes, lateral work and doing small grids and cavaletti.

Wallstreet Rose (Gretta) - $2500
Last year she was WTC, lateral work, had XC training prior to being a super broodmare for us. Fancy, light to the aids and smart. Easy keeper, easy breeder, not an Alpha, superb mother.

Wendolyn WF (Lynnie) - $8000 firm

Started last summer/fall with 60 days undersaddle. WTC, lunging, basic chute work, still growing at 15.3, should mature to 16.1 +/-. Went back to work this week and it's like she never missed a day. Very, very smart and fancy.

Windrose WF (Bailey) - $7000

Started last fall (60 days), needs an experienced rider as she is a talented athletic horse with big gaits. Massive stride and powerful hind end, good prospect for top levels. Still maturing at 16.0 hands, should max out 16.2.

Waverleigh WF (Izzy) - $3500

Has basic ground work but growing like a lanky girl can. Needs maturing time - should finish 17.0 hands. Elegant and powerful mover with strong character. 

Others available. Contact Anne@watermark-farm.net for details and scheduling appointments. New video & photos to be added to their individual pages on the website pronto. 

2 FEI Schoolmasters Available for on-site Lease/Half Lease

 Do you want to advance your skill set as a rider? Consider a schoolmaster lease!

Full or half lease on site option available for Artesian. Currently schooling 3rd-4th level, no maintenance and barefoot. Lesson packages also available.

Lease option for Atreo. On-site. Full or half lease option available. Lesson packages options available. Currently schooling 3rd level, no maintenance and barefoot.



Both geldings could return to full competition fitness and help you work towards your Bronze Medal scores.

A Legend, some Armor and Timing...is this a war zone????

As some of you may know, Mom trained at the USET back in the early days of dressage in the US. The renewed trainer Jack Le Goff was in residence and had an accent as well as a habit of speaking bluntly. One of the quotes that has been passed down through the years is, "You do not win zee battle without zee weapon!" as he would wave a whip. Translation - go into every ride prepared to help your horse understand your commands clearly. That is what I want to talk about in this blog and I figured it might carry some additional weight if I quoted a famous person...

What do I mean by "winning"? To begin with - I do not think that we are at war with the horses. I believe it is our job to help develop a language of touch and communication that allows the horse to react to subtle requests in a relaxed and confident manner. Winning is have quicker, more expressive and precise reactions to the most subtle of aids. Over time, the aids become more and more invisible to the untrained eye and the horse becomes more brilliant.

"Zee Weapon" - Could be a whip. It could also be a pair of spurs or a bit that produces the relation of jaw, poll and neck better than a previous choice. The answer may not be bigger, stronger, sharper...and that is something to get professional help with in the 'what if' scenarios! I like to think of the whip as a music conductor's baton - it helps generate better, more consistent rhythm of the hind legs.

"Battle" - each and every stride of every single ride is a training opportunity. I swear. From the moment your horse's toe touches the floor outside the stall, you are training him/her. Be aware of what you allow to happen and how it might affect your relationship.

Stella in ASB boots 

I also mentioned armor in the title. I am huge proponent of using protective legware for the horse. Bell boots, splint boots, polo wraps...all are in use on the horses I ride and only come off for competition. There are many schools of thought on the use and choice of which kind of protection to use and numerous studies have been done on the temperature effects of all of them. Bottom line - I want my horses to be confident that they will not feel pain when they are training. Since I am working on high level exercises as well as training young horses, knocking a fetlock is bound to happen with lateral work and transverse movements. They will learn where their feet go without interfering but it is extremely important that they have confidence while they build the dexterity and strength to do so.

Wyatt wears polos and bell boots

For what it is worth - I like boots for the young horses as they are a bit tougher and can take a bigger whack without much damage. The ASB boots are my favorite for the cost and durability.
I like polo wraps for the upper level horses - customized fit trumps the heat accumulation. If I have a ULH that interferes when lunging (for an example), that horse wears polos under the boots for lunging and the boots come off for riding. VAC makes a nice polo and they are very reasonably priced.
My personal preference for bell boots are the very soft rubber boots. They sometimes have double velcro, but as long as the coronet band and heels are protected, we're set to go.

So there you have it. Like a fairy tale we've put on some armor, dressed for battle and had the weapons at our disposal to emerge victorious!

~Happy Riding!~

Naked legs for a show!

Need an indoor? Need a measured large (or small) dressage arena? Ring Use Packages Available!

OK, the indoor is a measured small arena! The outdoor has a measured large set up! There are some jump materials available for use. If you find yourself in need of a riding space, schedule an appointment and come on over! Please bring a copy of your Coggins and a healthy horse. We have horses in the arena most days from 9AM-4PM, so if you need company - you're not alone when you ride.

WF Club Membship - unlimited use of the indoor & outdoor (by appointment so as to not conflict with lessons).

Single Horse: $100 per month    Family: $300 per month (limited to 4 horses)

Fees:

Indoor arena: $20.00 (loose school with or without jumps)

With our assistance: $40.00 per hour

Outdoor arena: $20.00

Replace broken jump poles: $20.00
Replace broken standard: $50.00

Contact info@watermark-farm.net for more information or to schedule your ride time(s). 

Video Day! Video Day!

It' may be Friday April 3rd in some people's lives, but it is Spring Video Weekend here at Watermark Farm! That means the camera will be out, braided horses will be in abundance and many jumps will be jumped! And that is just today!

We're setting up a jump chute in a few minutes and then getting the polish on several horses that are seeking new riders and new homes! Check back here, on Facebook or our You Tube channel for the newest footage.

©A&A Photography

Technology and coordinating schedules...always a challenge!

So here goes, I tried an online scheduling software program so that students could sign up for lessons here on the farm. About 2 hours into the process of entering available time slots and having them disappear, it occurred to me it would just be easier to continue with my current system of texting, emailing and taking phone calls, using iCalendar to block out my time and life would be fine. But then there is the side of the coin which has busy people who need to know what's available for them...

This is a mini-attempt at setting up a plan for April -

Monday afternoons starting the 6th - I'm on the road teaching from 3pm until dark.
Wednesdays are booked solid.
Fridays are full from 2pm on - unless I have several days notice to make other arrangements.
Saturdays and Sundays are open after 1pm unless I'm competing.

That leaves openings on T/TH and mornings on M/F open for trailer in lessons. If you would like me to come to your facility to teach, please email me and we can work out a day & time.

Maybe this will help those interested in scheduling a lesson. Maybe not. Either way it was way easier to type this than fight with software that wasn't working for me! ;)

Big Congratulations!!

Congratulations to owner Judith Gartland and Susan Sisco and Wilona WF for their win in the Silver Fox Challenge and wining all their classes to earn the Side Saddle Champion at the Aiken Horse Show in the Woods. Thank you all for all of your hard work!

Waldaire would be very proud of this talented daughter!

Last Chance to Save on the Spring Training Packages!

Payment is due today!


Last chance to take advantage of sizable discounts on training with Ellie!
Full - $227.50 (-30% off)
Light - ($170 (-15% off)
Private Lesson - $65 on site, your horse only.

Pop an email to Ellie to book your times!

Paypal is available as a payment option - contact for address.

Let's discuss Horse Shopping!

A great time of year is fast approaching in the mid-Atlantic region - prime horse shopping season!! What is this 'horse shopping season' that I speak of??? Well, the days are a bit longer since the clocks changed (stupidest tradition ever btw), so that means more light to ride after work and school! Also, the competition calendar is chocker block full of fun stuff to do for every level and ambition of rider each and every weekend from now until October! The weather is getting better, well, or at least in theory it is! :/  This is a winning combination - better roads, good weather, more daylight...yeppers, you need a new horse! So rather than mutter and rant about the lousy winter we've just had, I'll get to the point of this blog...

How do you go about choosing your new partner? Here are some thoughts that are very important - http://www.horsecollaborative.com/why-i-have-the-perfect-horse/

That article touches on a a policy that Mom and Dad have had for years. "There is no such thing as a perfect horse." Nope. No way. No how. Nobody is going to convince me there is a 100% perfect horse. Here's why - all horses are individuals, like people are. Each one is a bit different with their own likes and dislikes, challenges and gifts. It is up to trainers and coaches to help nurture the talent and personality of each horse to be an acceptable equine partner for a new rider.

So The Typical Horse Shopper Experience goes like this -
1. You have $xxxxx to buy a horse. Let the fun begin!!!!
2. Begin the search
3. You find "The One" or TO for short
4. You request more photos, information and about 10 hours of video
5. OMG TO is PERFECT on all the 'must have's on your list
6. You go try TO, schedule the PPE, the PPE happens and...
7. Something, somewhere is amiss with TO and your list between steps 1 and 6
8. Dispair, heartbreak and a sense of indignation towards the seller and TO as you feel betrayed
9. You walk away from TO and The Dream and start over with a sense of futility and hurt with a bruised wallet.

So now what would be a good solution for this situation?

The Mom & Dad Horse Shopping Protocol might be helpful -

Waldaire - 1st ride!
He checked 5/12 boxes! No regrets!

1. Make a list of 12 qualities/traits/features/skills that you want in your new horse.
2. Assemble a group of 3-4 horses that check at least 10 of the boxes.
3. Get more information on all of them, i.e. go try them in person. Bring a friend and/or your trainer.
  3A. If these horses are 3000 miles away, make sure your budget can flex enough to afford multiple visits, your vetting costs and/or shipping.
  3B. If the budget is tight, start over in a more local area or adjust your finances.
4. If the horse checks 6 of the boxes, consider yourself blessed. Buy the horse.
5. If the horse checks 4 of the boxes - Buy the horse and with proper training and care, mold it into a 6 out of 12.
6. If the horse does not check 4 of the boxes, move on.
7. If your search takes more than 6 months, go back and revise your list.

That's it. A checklist and prioritizing your list of important qualities in a new partner. M&D are smart people, really.

A few side notes -
If the vetting finds alarming details, talk to your vet in a rational calm manner about possible scenarios.
   There is no crystal ball and horses are resilient, fragile, tough and delicate creatures wrapped into 1,200 pound endearing packages. They can not read radiographs. They are athletes - just like you, The Rider, are!
   Talk to the owner/seller/current trainer/rider, if you have established a relationship with them. Try not to feel betrayed/hurt/disillusioned - more than likely, whatever the detail is - it was a surprise to the seller as well.
   If there was negotiation room or a counter offer, weigh your options. Look into insuring your purchase perhaps. If you have a queasy feeling, walk away in a courteous manner with polite communication with the seller.

If you are new to horse shopping, read the article that is linked above several times. You would be wise to have a trainer or more experienced friend be your wingman in this adventure.

If you have a budget of 30K, look at horses that are not at the top of the budget. Set aside 15-20K and look for horses that with a bit of training (because you're a good rider) will become the 30K horse. Also, in shopping slightly below your maximum, you are leaving a good amount for competition fees, training and the 'in case' scenario.

  What is this 'in case' scenario? Well, I'm going to tell a few tales of the unscrupulous horse trader...here goes with some fictional characters for reference.
Suzy = Shopper    Harry = Horse Dealer
#1. Suzy was diligently going through her M&D List and found "Fred" on Harry's website for 25K. Fred was checking 8 of the 12 boxes. Suzy makes an appointment to go try Fred. Suzy likes Fred quite a bit and schedules a vetting. Nothing alarming pops up on the vetting, but Suzy has a feeling that that pretty black horse "Tom" that was being schooled while she rode Fred was The One. Tom was priced significantly higher (45K) than Suzy was planning on spending. Suzy ends up buying Tom for 45K.
In reality, Harry had found out what Suzy's budget was and wanted to maximize his profit.

#2. Suzy finds "Tom" on Harry's website for 45K. Suzy flies to try Tom over a weekend. Tom is great. He checks all the boxes, is vetted w/ radiographs and full vet history that Harry can send on to her vet for review. But at every trial ride, Betty, (the BMW driver with lots of jewelry) is parked ringside watching. As Suzy leaves the stable to catch her flight home, she hears Betty say to Harry (loudly), "Whatever Suzy offers, I'll pay 10K more!" Suzy buys Tom for $57K as she really fell for Tom over the weekend and she knew Betty was planning on snaking Tom.
In reality, Harry had scheduled Suzy's rides on Tom with Betty as well as the amount of the "offer" and timing of the announcement.

#3. Suzy finds "Dick" on Harry's website. Dick is fancy. Dick is pretty. Dick priced well within Suzy's budget. Dick has a prestigious pedigree. Dick is priced very inexpensively for his age and in contrast to his Sales List cohorts that are not nearly as pretty, well bred or imported.
Suzy smells a rat and walks away from Dick and Harry. Suzy is a smart cookie.

So that is enough story telling for today. It's my birthday and I want to get out and ride. It is almost above freezing, so that means it is warm...I think. Maybe.

~Happy Riding!~