Wow, last week was really crazy!! Not once did I have time to plug my laptop in and update the website. Martin and I left around 4pm last Sunday afternoon. We drove through the night stopping many times at rest stops and truck stops to offer Gran Casso water and make sure he had hay. He travelled like a pro. We arrived at our temporary home in Versailles, KY after 19.5 hours on the road. Gran Casso settled in really well.
In the evening, we met up with my parents, Bob & Karin, and headed west to Louisville for a sunset tour of Churchill Downs. It was really a neat experience. We toured the museum and even did a race simulator! We were able to see the jockeys locker room and the clubhouse. We took our picture with an authentic Kentucky Derby trophy and then headed back to the museum where we met and took our picture with Ron Turcott, Secretariat's jockey!
Tuesday was the team dressage competition. The gold medal was won by The Neterhlands, the silver by Great Britain and the Bronze medal was won by Germany. After the competition, I schooled Gran Casso while Martin coached me. I wasn't sure how he would be after his long trip and the fact that he was stuck in a stall most of the day. At home he is used to lots of turnout but he was really great. Very relaxed. Wednesday was the individual competition in the Grand Prix Special. This was a really fun day and it was cool to see the judges marks during the test. We saw some good riding and some not so good riding. I was impreseed by the British silver medalist, Laura Bechtolscheimer. Edward Gal won the gold and Steffan Peters won the bronze. For dinner the four of us went to Jean Farris winery hand had a delicious dinner with some wonderful wines!
Thursday morning we worked Gran Casso again and then headed to the convention center for the International Equestrian Festival. We had a lot of fun shopping and watching the demos. We explored the events dowtown and then went to a restaurant called Portofinos for dinner with a few clients of mine; Amy Denny, Dawn Dugan, Katie Hadden and Martha Murgia.
Friday morning we worked Gran Casso again and then explored the horse park prior to the evening's freestyle. The Spanish rider on Fuego was the most fun ride of the night and received a standing ovation from the crowd! Moorland's Totilas had a lovely freestyle as well and again I was really impressed with Laura Bechtolscheimer. In my opinion, the gold medal could have gone either way. Steffan Peters and Ravel won the bronze medal again. It was a very enjoyable evening and I'm very excited to get my freestyle with Gran Casso together this winter!!
Saturday was cross country day and what a beautiful day it was! Sunny and in the 70s it was a perfect day to walk around the cross country course at the horse park. The jumps were huge and it was really amazing to watch these atletic horses work! In the evening, Martin and I attended the Trakehner Foundations wine tasting and auction at the beautiful Spindletop Hall. We had a very enjoyable evening, it was nice to get dressed up!
Today we worked Gran Casso again. We are in Lexington until Tuesday when we will head to Batavia for the stallion testing. He is working extremely well and I'm excited about the test!! We had a really great time at the World Equestrian Game
In the evening, we met up with my parents, Bob & Karin, and headed west to Louisville for a sunset tour of Churchill Downs. It was really a neat experience. We toured the museum and even did a race simulator! We were able to see the jockeys locker room and the clubhouse. We took our picture with an authentic Kentucky Derby trophy and then headed back to the museum where we met and took our picture with Ron Turcott, Secretariat's jockey!
Tuesday was the team dressage competition. The gold medal was won by The Neterhlands, the silver by Great Britain and the Bronze medal was won by Germany. After the competition, I schooled Gran Casso while Martin coached me. I wasn't sure how he would be after his long trip and the fact that he was stuck in a stall most of the day. At home he is used to lots of turnout but he was really great. Very relaxed. Wednesday was the individual competition in the Grand Prix Special. This was a really fun day and it was cool to see the judges marks during the test. We saw some good riding and some not so good riding. I was impreseed by the British silver medalist, Laura Bechtolscheimer. Edward Gal won the gold and Steffan Peters won the bronze. For dinner the four of us went to Jean Farris winery hand had a delicious dinner with some wonderful wines!
Thursday morning we worked Gran Casso again and then headed to the convention center for the International Equestrian Festival. We had a lot of fun shopping and watching the demos. We explored the events dowtown and then went to a restaurant called Portofinos for dinner with a few clients of mine; Amy Denny, Dawn Dugan, Katie Hadden and Martha Murgia.
Friday morning we worked Gran Casso again and then explored the horse park prior to the evening's freestyle. The Spanish rider on Fuego was the most fun ride of the night and received a standing ovation from the crowd! Moorland's Totilas had a lovely freestyle as well and again I was really impressed with Laura Bechtolscheimer. In my opinion, the gold medal could have gone either way. Steffan Peters and Ravel won the bronze medal again. It was a very enjoyable evening and I'm very excited to get my freestyle with Gran Casso together this winter!!
Saturday was cross country day and what a beautiful day it was! Sunny and in the 70s it was a perfect day to walk around the cross country course at the horse park. The jumps were huge and it was really amazing to watch these atletic horses work! In the evening, Martin and I attended the Trakehner Foundations wine tasting and auction at the beautiful Spindletop Hall. We had a very enjoyable evening, it was nice to get dressed up!
Today we worked Gran Casso again. We are in Lexington until Tuesday when we will head to Batavia for the stallion testing. He is working extremely well and I'm excited about the test!! We had a really great time at the World Equestrian Game