Merry Christmas!!!

Hi everyone,

Wanted to write and wish everyone a very Happy Holiday season. Things have been going really well here and I have so much to be thankful for in my life. Wistar is such a blessing to me and he has been absolutely outstanding these past two months. We recently finished a clinic with Janet Brown and I ran through the Grand Prix for the first time. He scored a 67% and we worked on many movements there after that could easily go from 6's to 7's or 7's to 8's. His piaffe and passage are getting so strong I am very excited for his debut in CA this coming March. We will continue to focus on strength building and health for the coming months. I will be leaving in February and will be down south for quite a few months this time. Thanks to all of my fabulous sponsors and all of you that have supported me these last couple of years. We have a really solid financial base to get us started in CA for 2008

One huge benefit financially this year is that the USET Festival of Champions/Olympic Trials will be held in San Juan Capistrano, CA this year as opposed to Gladstone, NJ where we attended in 2005 and 2006. This will allow the money we currently have to go further and help fund the training aspect more thoroughly. If any one is interested in supporting Wistar and I please feel free to contact me on our website www.summervalefarm.com. Your donation is now tax deductible when given to the 501c3 "Assured Steps" and earmarked for Jennifer and Wistar.

Many blessings to you and your family and have a wonderful Christmas!
Give your horse a treat for me and I will post again in February before I head off.

Jen

2007 Regional Championships

Hello,

Well the season is finally winding down. We just finished with our regional championships. Warado was wonderful despite some nasty weather and mucky footing. He was a little star behaving beautifully and working hard through the less then ideal conditions. We had a wonderful group of friends, students and supporters to cheer everyone on.

The weekend started out with our Northwest 1st level championship class. We had a super warm up and over all a solid test. The mud puddles proved a bit difficult in our canter work with a couple of balance problems and a break into the trot. We ended up with 69% and a fourth place. Saturday we had our Great American 1st level Championship which for me was a real disappointment. Warado felt great and as I went down center line I had a sick feeling about how deep the footing had become due to the rain. I started my first lengthening and pulled up. I asked the judge for permission to withdraw and she completely understood. I just couldn't risk him in it. It was a tough decision but in the end I knew it was the right one.

Later that day we had our 2nd level NWDC test and he was very well behaved no major mistakes just a little lack of expression. He scored a 67% and was again fourth.

Sunday was a little more exciting. The rain was really pouring and huge lakes had developed in the arena's. Fortunately the arena I was in on Sunday was wet but firm.
We were aloud to warm up with in the arena because of the lack of space now around the outside due to the addition of a third dressage court with in the enclosed sand arena. I spent about two minutes cantering through the lakes to get Warado accepting of the new obstacles. We went down center line and he did a super job. One little cross canter in one of my movements and the rest was very nice. He ended up Reserve Champion with a 73% in his Great American 2nd Level. Receiving a 76% from one judge and 69% from the other.

Paula and Solo did a beautiful job as well taking 3rd in her PSG with a 64.7%
Paige and Dan-o Had a super weekend winning there NWDC 1st level, NWDC 2nd Level, Great American 2nd Level, and was reserve in her Great American 1st level Championship in the junior/yr division
Diana and Elegancia were Reserve Champions for both there NWDC and Great American 3rd level AA classes
Kimmie and Princess were very satisfied with their 1st level AA classes
Meghan and Poet, Teresa with Durk and Marika, and the rest of the gang made for a really enjoyable weekend.

Special thanks to Lucas for staying at the show to watch the horses over night and give Warado and extra carrot good night!

Janet Foy Clinic

Well the weeks are flying by this year. I can't believe it is already September. Wistar and I went to the Janet Brown-Foy clinic the weekend which was inspirational and great fun. We worked a lot on the quality of the transitions into and out of Piaffe and Passage. Wistar was a champ. He has gained so much strength in the last couple of months. His rhythm has improved (my rhythm) and he is very active behind. I still just need a bit more lift with his front legs. We also worked on the quality of his schooling canter. Being able to stay consistent and controlled within a working pirouette. It was really fun.

Just an update since the last blog. WEC was a lot of fun for Paige, Paula, and Ashley. Paige and her pony Dan-O did a great job with their 2-4Q with a 66.9% and winning the class. She also won her very first 3-3. She did a great job through the weekend and ended up qualifying for second level at championships. Paula had a fantastic ride on Phirst Solo taking nd in her FEI class with a 65.5% at Intermediare One. Way to go Paula!!! Ashley and Little Dub (Windtalker) had a great 2nd show. Ahsley took 3rd in her T-4 class and we were all very proud of the pair. Everyone did great and now we look forward to the championships.

Summer fun

Hi there,

Hope you are all well. Wistar and Warado are doing really well. We are heading to the last show before championships up at Whidbey Is. this weekend. Warado is doing a couple of second level test to finish up his year end award requirements. He is all qualified for first and second level this year. Championships will held at Donida Farm Equestrian Center the last weekend of September.

Also coming to the show with us is Paige who will be attempting her first third level 3 test with her pony Dan'O. Paula will be showing Solo at I-1 and Ashley is showing her boy at training and first level. We will get some pictures and post. Should be a fun show.

Wistar is doing great. He is getting so strong. we took this picture of he and I the other day after doing a new photo shoot of Warado. He is so adorable!!!

Jennifer

Getting back to it!

Hi guys,

Hope you are all well. It's been quite some time since my last update. I'm sorry about that. A lot has happened in the last couple of months. Back in April right before the big LA CDI Wistar and I had a couple of road blocks. Two weeks or so before our show he had the untimely misfortune of a hot nail in his left front foot. We fixed the problem as quickly as we could but it did not seem to get better and eventually abscessed. We were very careful to keep him quiet and low key until we could continue to get him checked out and grow his feet out a bit. For the past couple of weeks we have just been focusing on getting him as healthy as possible. It has been tough but I am happy to say that he and I are up and running and doing great. He is my bud and I love him. Every day with him is such a treat.

I will keep you posted on our show season when it is determined and we hope to get back down to LA to train with Krissy Harrison this winter and/or to Idaho with Debbie McDonald. Next Spring I hope to take a big group down with me to show and train. It should be a lot of fun.

A quick update about Little Man. He has been wonderful. Taking up quite a bit of breeding slack for Wistar(Poor Guy). He went to WEC last month and won his classes at first and second level. He is getting very strong. We will be showing this weekend at Champagne Classic. Also Ashley(my assistant)will be competing her horse Windtalker and Paula Helm will be debuting her I-1 test this weekend on Phirst Solo. I have to tell you that she did her first set of PSG's two weeks ago at Whidbey and she scored a 64% and a 65.25% and achieved her silver medal. I was so proud of her. We will have a big great group there this weekend at Champagne and would love it if you can make it out to say hi and help cheer everybody on.

Well that about covers it for now. Hope you and your ponies are all well.

Talk to you soon,

Jennifer

Warado wins his first time out at second level

Hello again,

All and all it was a good show and I am happy to report that "Little Man" won his second level test with a 72.1 % He was very forward and in front of my leg. I thought he did a wonderful job with the more difficult movements. I am working hard to develop more strength with him and more consistent cadence in the trot work .

The US League Final was taking place during the weekend. Paula, Keshia, Ashley, and I had a great time watching the Grand Prix on Saturday. On Sunday we helped Paula and Keshia pack up and they headed toward home. We were sad to see them go. We were fortunate to make it back to the show in time to see Krissy get a 66% in the Grand Prix Special with Rociero. She had a beautiful test. Then it was the freestyles. We got to see who would represent the US at World Cup in Vegas this coming April. It looks like it will be Steffen Peters, Courtney King, Leslie Morse, and Wild card Cathrine Haddad.

Monday morning we head off to Redding for our first lay over. We had a wonderful stay at "The Paddock" in LA. Krissy and Debbie were fantastic and I can't wait to work with them in the future. Right now the plan is to rest a little in April and focus on getting the Grand Prix really solid with Wistar and hopefully compete later this season at that level. Warado will continue to train and we will think about what competition is next. Thank you for all of your support and I can't wait to get home and see everybody.

Jen

Festival of the Horse

Hi there,

Well some unfortunate news to report. I had to cancel Wistar from the CDI this weekend. He unfortunately developed a hoof abscess in his left front hoof that we were not able to remedy before the show. He has been fantastic and I was very disappointed especially with all of the progress we have made. I am very thankful that it is a short term problem and that we will be back on track here shortly. We are heading home after the show back to Roy and everyone is very excited to get home and get back to work.

On the brighter side. "Little Man" is being so super at the show. Friday we did a 1st level test and he came in 1st with a 68.7%. Today Saturday he was very in front of my leg and expressive and won his first level test with a 71.7%. Tomorrow we are doing are very first second level test. He has been getting stronger and stronger since I have been down here and he is really understanding the concept of sitting in the canter. We will see how he does. He has been a real trooper.

Kiesha made it down safely yesterday and has been helping Ashley, Paula and I at the show and will be helping drive home with Paula tomorrow. They should be home on Tuesday night and have been so much fun having down here with us. I will let you know how Warado does tomorrow. Until then I hope all of you are well and I will see you soon.

Jennifer

Update!

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the delay in updating the blog. The horses are doing great. Chris Butanko was here again last Monday to shoe the boys and that went well. Thanks Chris for spending two days down here away from your business to help us out.

Wistar had his first warm up show of the season. We decided to start th season in the small tour being that it is a Pan Am year. We are working diligently on the Grand Prix at home hoping he will be ready to bring out the 2nd half of the year. We will see how the first two shows go and update our plan accordingly. In our PSG we had a somewhat consistent test which brought in a 65% from the panel of three judges. He was a little high especially in our medium canter down the long side. Yee-Haw he was feeling good. He needed a bit more relaxation in the canter work.

The next day in the I-1 I was absolutely thrilled with his performance. He was fantastic. He scored an overall score of a 66% which put us in 7th of the 24 entered for the day. All and all it was a very good first show out. It let me know what I had to work on for the next month and I feel really good about the CDI coming up in the next two weeks which is what will really count. I have been implementing some changes in my training since working with Debbie McDonald and Chrissy Harrison and we are still working on developing a more subtle connection. So that first show really helped us all know where we lack strength.

Little Man was a very super boy at the show as well winning his first class of the weekend with a 70.7% at first level. On day two he was able to get a 69% and finished third. On Sunday I took a lesson with Chrissy and Wistar and schooled Warado before packing up and taking them back to the farm. We had a great time. Paula pulled into the show on Saturday evening with Solo. Just arriving from Summervale Farm. Solo was tired but looked great and was very perky.

Well that's all for know. Next show is March 30, 31, and 1st. It is a CDI at the LA Equestrian Center. Charlene was planning on flying down for it. Kiesha who helps out with some riding at the farm will be flying down to help out at the show and drive back home with Paul and all of us. Thanks Kiesha. And we can't wait to see you Char (and Kiesha).

Jen

Doing Well!

Hi everyone,

Hope everything is going well. We are all doing great here. Nancy Dotti of Contact Saddles came and visited us yesterday. She did a check up on my two Albion saddles. Wistar is in a SLK Ultima and Warado is in the new Platinum Ultima model which was sponsored by Nancy. I also am in an Albion KB double bridle and the Ultima girth sponsored by Nanci. She flocked them both and got them fitting the boys just right. You can schedule a saddle fitting yourself by going to www.contactsaddles.com Nanci does travel. She also left me with a beautiful 18" Platinum Ultima 18" narrow twist, narrow seat, med/wide tree that I will have available for sale when I get back if it of coarse has not alrady sold. I head over to the LA Equestrian center on Tuesday for our first competition with Wistar on Friday and Saturday. Wish us luck...

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

The horses are doing really well. Everyone has settled into their routines and we have been working diligently every day. I have been really thinking a lot about how much I appreciate all of you that have supported me through this journey. I feel so blessed to have you all in my life and really couldn't be living this dream without you. Every day I am so thankful to have such wonderful horses to ride and be in this position of learning and bettering myself in my riding skills.

Last weekend I was able to travel home and see many of my clients and husband and it was so wonderful how welcoming everyone was. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Alex for your never ending emotional support and pep talks, Charlene for you amazing horses, your life lessons and your friendship, Ashley for your hard work and dedication to me and the horses that you groom everyday and make look immaculate every time they step out of there stalls, Terry for you support through all of the years and your United Airlines passes when we need them, Chris for taking time out of your very busy schedule to come down and shoe my boys so I can keep them at their best, Marli for your beautiful Newsletter that you did for us that was so well written, Paula for your constant friendship, dedication and endless hours of hard work in trying to get me funding so that I may stay down here long enough to reach my goals, Belynda and Kiesha for keeping the horses and the farm going while I am away, Jenny and Sue for all of your help with the grant writing, to Debbie McDonald and Kristina Harrison for your acceptance and your teachings, and to all of my friends, family, sponsors, and clients that support me everyday I can't tell you enough what you mean to me. Thank you for everything that you do. I am so blessed to have you in my life.

Sincerely,

Jennifer

Weekend Complete

Hi There,

Well the weekend is complete and we are resting today. The horse's hand walked a couple of times and everybody relaxed. We moved to the farm where we will be staying for the next two months, "The Paddock". It is very nice and safe. Sunday ended nicely at the show. "Little Man" was a little tired but put in a very nice test. He finished with a 65% and I was happy. It got up to 90 degrees and he was a little doggy.

Wistar was super in our lesson with Debbie. He is really getting the idea now of the hotter reaction to my aids. We kept it short because of the heat which he I am sure appreciated.

Tomorrow the other three boys arrive. They left this morning and should be here about 9:00 AM tomorrow morning. We are all ready for them and I will take pictures so you can see them as well. I also will get pictures of Warado up so you can see all of our group. The picture up is Ashley with her boy Windtalker. That's all for now.

Jen

First Day of a New Season

Hi all,

Well the season has officially started for me this year. I had a first level ride on our Warado today or "little man" as we like to call him. He was very well behaved and did an excellent job for his first time out this year. He won his class with a 70.258%. I will work on more expression from him through out the season and see if I can get him to second level by May or so. He will be five later this year and he is extremely easy to train. I won't push it with him and see what develops.

This weekend I will continue to work with Debbie on Wistar. We had another wonderful lesson today. Reinforcing all of those pesky little half halts. We had him sitting nicely today in the canter and the trot work. She is really emphasizing to make him extremely forward thinking to my leg when we work on any sort of Piaffe work. That he is not to lean on my hand and must think more trot when my legs go back and off for the Piaffe aid. Then I can work him down in the neck to make him lift up in the back for a more correct positioning. That's all for now. I show "Little man" again tomorrow and will lesson again with Wistar. I will let you know how it goes.
Talk to you soon.

Developing Riders Clinic at LA Equestrian Center

Hi There,

Well we finished our third day of the Developing Riders Clinic today. I feel like I learned a lot and got a really good feel for how the connection needs to feel in the piaffe and how I still need to further develop better self carriage and hold a more consistent rhythm. It can be overwhelming at times at how much there is to learn but I felt like I got a real good grasp on where things need to go. I primarily worked with Debbie McDonald for the last three days and Klaus oversaw things. She is a wonderful instructor and I highly recommend if any of you ever have the opportunity to work with her you jump on it.

The first couple of days we worked on getting Wistar more supple in his body and not me trying to supple him only in the mouth. We did a lot of bending exercises and she really emphasized half halting more often but much quicker and then immediately activating the hind legs in the moment of releasing the half halt. It was like "Get of my hand but keep your hind legs moving." We worked on this quite a bit until he automatically would activate behind even when I was patting him on the neck. It was a great feeling.

Today (the third day) Debbie got on him herself and wanted to work this exercise a bit more thoroughly. He looked lovely and she got him really up in the neck and kept his hind legs very underneath him in the piaffe with the croup honestly lowering. It was very inspiring. She had many good things to say about him. I will continue to work with Debbie through the weekend. I had contemplated doing his first Grand Prix this weekend but I would rather utilize this time with Debbie before she heads back further north. I feel that I have many little things that I would like to perfect before I take him into his first GP test. All and all I am very thrilled with the week. Wistar worked very well especially after his long journey. I will work him very light tomorrow to give him a little break. Take care.

Jennifer

Arrived safely

Hi There,

Wanted to let you know that Wistar, Warado, Windtalker, Ashley, my dog Katie, and I all made it down safely to the LA Equestrian Center. We arrived about 11:00 PM last night after a grueling 13 hour day. It was tough but the horses look wonderful and are already bucking in there stalls.

We left a bit late on Thursday morning after some technical difficulties and made our way to Ashland, OR where we stayed at a wonderful farm, Ashland Hills Stable. Allen the owner as always was so accommodating and wonderful making sure we were all taken care of. We had originally planned to make it three hours further south to Redding but we felt it was too late to start over the pass on Thursday night. So this left for a long day on Friday. We made it though and are all set up and ready for the Developing riders clinic which will start on Tuesday and go through Thursday. This clinic will be with Klaus Balkenhol and Debbie McDonald. I will let you know how that goes and post pictures.

The other three horse, Perno, Wachter, and Andiamo will be arriving the 2nd of February. I will post some pictures of them as well when they come. Talk to you soon.

Heading South

Well it's the 26th already and were almost packed. It seems like it came up so fast. Wistar and I are doing well. He has been working wonderfully and we are both excited to be getting into our competition season. I don't know about my internet situation once I get down there but I hope to update every couple of days.

I will be taking six horses down with me this year. Big man on campus, Wistar of coarse along with his five year old son Warado who will be showing first level and maybe a couple of the FEI five year old classes. Another Wistar son, Windtalker whom my wonderful groom Ashley owns and will be riding and showing later this year. Perno, a 16.2h black imported Dutch gelding with lot's of personality who is schooling fourth level. Wachter a 17.2h brother to Wistar who is big, black and amazingly beautiful with a perfect blaze down his face, and last but not least Andiamo an Oldenburg bay gelding that is coming six and is always looking for who will give him a little attention. A wonderful group of horses and we are very much looking forward to our journey. I hit the road tomorrow with Wistar, windtalker, and Warado. The other three boys will meet me down south by way of Charlie Gibson horse transport on the 2nd of February. I will let you know how the trip down was in a couple of days.

Getting ready to go!

January 14

Wow! Another year has passed.Today is my husband Alex and my first wedding anniversary. Hard to believe how time flies. He has been with me through a lot of new adventures with Wistar and competitions. Especially considering I was away almost four months in 2006. I was lucky though, he got to come see me a couple of times during competitions and I tried really hard to get home to see him and help my students a couple times as well.

Plans are starting to come together as far as preparation's for the 2007 season. Recently I learned that the Klaus/Debbie clinic has been moved up to the end of January so that has put a rush on things a bit. We are waiting to see how the weather and the pass conditions will hold up. They will play a large role as to when I can leave. If I can get everything confirmed then I will leave the 25th of January to head down south. If not then more likely the 15th of February. I am very excited for Klaus to see Wistar again. He has been going really well and I am feeling much more confident with his piaffe now. He is getting stronger and more consistent. I am looking forward to getting him back to the warmer weather. I know we both work better when it's above 20 F.

I Hope everyone had a wonderful New Year's celebration and thank you to all of your continued support and encouragement. It really means a lot!