Nice while it lasted. Jutta had high score for the day until a training level rider went her some better.

When we arrived on Friday morning for the first ride, it was clear that our friends at this South Woodstock equine institution had been hard at work over the winter. New parking arrangements for the countless trailers were available, the rings were in very good shape, grooming crews were clearly ready for a long day, and there were plenty of staff members and volunteers on hand. 

Arne had a weekend of ups and downs. A school overnight meant that he was very sleepy for his mid-morning Friday ride. It took some effort on his part to get a good ride, a 62.4% for Training Level, test 3. Saturday was a very different affair. He was riding Training Level, test 4, as a qualifying test. In every respect, he was far better than the day before: he warmed up very well, was fully focussed during his ride, and did very well. All the greater was his disappointment when his lively and clean ride resulted in a 57.2%. Sunday was better to a large part because he got Nandalino to work better in his First Level, test 1: 61%. This was a deserved result and a better indicator of what this pair can accomplish.

Jutta's weekend was a busy one. In addition to helping Arne get underway, she had her Glory to deal with as well as Cathy Stern's Frodo and Lucky. On Friday, Frodo competed in his first real test in two years, a Second Level, test 2, and showed what he is capable of with a 70.8%, one of the highest scores of the weekend outside of some training level scores by open riders. Glory followed with his Second Level, test 4, in the White Ring as well. For once, he lived up to his full name and kept his head together. His 72.0% was the high score of the day for some time. Jutta continued in this vein on Saturday with a 67.6% on Frodo in a Second Level, test 4. 

And then came Sunday, suddenly threatening and wet after two warm and glorious days. Arne's third ride came first with the result above. We all then had a deserved break before the last two rides of the show, FEI Young Horse tests for Glory and Lucky. After a sound warm up, Jutta entered the White Ring with Glory ready and began the test on time. After about 45 seconds, the judges rang the bell, because she was off course. But she wasn't. She was doing a preliminary test and they had the sheet for the final test. Getting this straightened around took longer than anyone wanted, including Glory who faded in the heat. After a 20-minute delay, he started again and finished with a respectable 69.4%. He was faulted for not enough impulsion, which came as no surprise. Upon leaving the ring, Jutta was approached by a member of the drug control team who informed her that Glory was the subject of a random test. Taking a urine sample proved not to be possible in the stall set aside for this purpose, so Glory was taken back to the truck, which was converted to a single stall for him, and the wait began. Sue volunteered to wait with Glory.

By this time, we were way behind schedule for the next horse, Lucky. Everyone pitched in to get him tacked up, but  there was very little time for lunging and a warm-up ride. Because of a scratch, her time was moved by 7 minutes, but this did not get to the judges on time, and the bell rang at the moment she came near the ring. An explanation did not help; the judges rang again as soon as Lucky reached A on his way out for a warm-up round. Without having time to familiarize him with the surroundings - it was only his second test under any conditions - Jutta rode the test. 

By the time we got to the truck, nerves were a bit frazzled there as well. It had started to rain, and Glory was uncomfortable with the noise and the unfamiliar people. After another 45 minutes, blood was finally taken and we could head home. 

Overall, this was a great show both in terms of the organization and the results. The unfortunate Sunday could not take away from the great rides for Glory, Frodo and Nandalino. And Lucky too! Jutta got some high score ribbons, and Arne was consoled by the fact that he knew he had ridden very well on Saturday and Sunday.

Many thanks to our crew of Jill, Cathy, Linda, Candy, Sue, and Fleur for all of their help and moral support. The weekend would have been much longer without them.

Arne and Jutta with Nandalino and the truck

Both mother and son were very pleased with their starts after a long winter of training in our arena. Nandalino made good progress again since last fall in his campaign to become an upper level pony. Glory has also matured and did not regard the GMHA facility has a threatening foreign country anymore. New additions to the troupe were Cathy Stern's Lucky Luke and Frodo, who both did well on their first outings. Frodo got highest score honors for Jutta.

Please have a look at our gallery of impressions here. 

We would like to open these sessions to others. Auditors may attend for free. If we know in advance that several auditors will be here, we will provide limited translation during a session.

Riders may also take instruction during Theo's free time. This must be arranged in advance. Translation will be provided for non-German speakers. 

Riders and auditors, who would like to attend, can call us at 802 436 3121 or contact us by e-mail at info@appledore-farm.com. 

Arne competes in his second test at the NEDA Spring Dressage Competition on May 10, 2009

One week later, Arne and Jutta traveled to Marshfield, Massachusetts with Jill Goodwillie for his first 'real' tests. Each day provided a special challenge: on Saturday a spooked horse dumped his rider in the warm-up ring and Sunday gusting winds, which led some competitors to ask to be excused. Arne rode solidly each day with a third in both of his tests.

Dressage clinic with Arthur Kottas Heldenberg: April 6-8, 2009, at Appledore Farm.

About the Clinician

Arthur Kottas Heldenberg joined the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria, in 1960 at the age of 15. He remained there for 42 years, rising through the cadre until he was made First Chief Rider in 1980, and thus becoming the youngest holder of this position in the school’s 400 year history. Since leaving the Spanish Riding School in 2002, Arthur has devoted his time to training and instructing riders and horses at all levels up to the Olympics. 

Arthur uses classical schooling methods, which emphasize the development of a strong bond of trust and respect between the rider and horse where the rider does not depend on the use of force to achieve the ease and beauty appropriate for riding dressage.