New Zealand Horse of the Year Show

Endurance Competition at New Zealand Horse of the Year Show

For the first time in the history of the Horse of the Year Show, 20 of New Zealand's best endurance riders will be joining the competitors of the other 12 equestrian sports in this year's Horse of the Year Show.
The race will begin at 3pm with all riders departing on horseback from the Premier Arena of the Showgrounds, to return five hours later. "

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Al Fahad Endurance Championship - 22 Feb in Kuwait

Endurance riders set for challenge

THE Bahrain national endurance horseride team is set to take part in the Al Fahad Endurance Championship which takes place today from 7am at Al Wafra area in Kuwait.
The team, which is led by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, is gearing up for a winning performance in this race which will cover a distance of 120km.
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ILPH: Brazil 2004 Challenge

Brazil 2004

The ILPH Brazilian Challenge will provide you with the opportunity to explore the largest country in South America. Since its colonisation by the Portugese in the 16th century, the country has held a constant fascination for foreigners. Brazilian culture has been shaped not only by the Portugese, who gave the country it religion and language, but also the country's native Indians, the large African population and other settlers from Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The state of Rio is one of the smallest in Brazil, but probably has the greatest diversity with its mountain ranges, coastline and forests.

Using Mangalarga Marchador horses (an orginal Brazilian breed), this Challenge follows the Imperial route from Penedo to Petropolis. The itinerary is truly exciting and challenging, incorporating the stunning mountainous region north west of Rio de Janeiro. It is a unique itinenary and one that we are sure will appeal to those with an adventurous spirit who want to "do their bit" for the ILPH, and be rewarded with the experience of a lifetime.
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ILPH Online - Mongolian Camel Challenge 2004

ILPH: Mongolian Camel Challenge 2004


Itenerary

Mongolia has always had a ring of unreachable mystery about it - one of those places so far away that it's hard to imagine that it really does exist!

The Mongolia Camel Challenge offers the participant the chance to sample one of the oldest cultures in the world at first hand, by spending 5 days crossing the Gobi Desert riding the 2-humped Bactrain camels.

You will experience the nomadic lifestyle of the Mongolians and will see the Gobi Desert in all its glory; the canyons, dunes, plains and "

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2004 HH Presidents Cup: Al Juneibi shines for Al Wathba

Al Juneibi shines for Al Wathba

By Amith Passela



20 February 2004



ABU DHABI - Abdul Rahim Hilal Al Juneibi clinched the President's Cup for Shaikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Al Wathba Stables to complete a hat-trick of the coveted title here at the Emirates International Endurance Village yesterday.
Juneibi was also recording his third win of the season after claiming the first round of the Triple Crown Series in Dubai and the AGCC championship a fortnight back at Abu Dhabi.

Juneibi completed the Dh1 million Al Jaber sponsored 160km CEI three-star race in seven hours and 20 minutes on 10-year-old gelding Super to win from Mubarak Khalifa bin Shaya on Comes The Dawn and Al Reef Stables' Yousef Ahmed Al Baloushi onboard 10-year-old Arabian stallion El Hadzin Deleyre, a former consistent performer on the flat."

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The Star : Equestrian Centre to be built in Terengganu

Equestrian Centre to be built in Terengganu Indonesia

KUALA TERENGGANU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the RM54mil Equestrian, Sport and Recreational Centre at the Kuala Ibai Lagoon here which is expected to be ready in 2006.
The ceremony was performed by the Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, who is an avid equestrian and endurance rider, on Saturday.

Also present at the function were Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and leaders from Umno and PAS.
In his speech, Sultan Mizan thanked the Federal Government for sanctioning the funds and the state government for approving the 19ha site. "

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GN Online: Marzouqi rides Misty Reyn to President's Cup triumph

Marzouqi rides Misty Reyn to President's Cup triumph

Abu Dhabi | 21-02-2004

Marzouqi, finishing first during the HH The President's Cup for Juniors at Al Wathba. Young Hussain Ali Mohammed Yusuf Marzouqi's passion for horses was fully evident in his superb win on Misty Reyn in the His Highness The President's Cup for Children & Junior Riders here yesterday.


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Gulf Daily News

Gulf Daily News: "Shaikh Nasser congratulated


HIS Majesty King Hamad sent a cable congratulating honorary president of the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for winning the rights to host the 2005 World Juniors and Youth Endurance Championship."

Bahrain International Open Endurance Championship

Gulf Daily News: SHAIKH FAISAL WINS IN STYLE



SHAIKH Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa claimed the title yesterday in the Bahrain International Open Endurance Championship sponsored by Batelco and held at the Endurance Village.

The championship was attended by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) honorary president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and honorary vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Shaikh Faisal, riding Abouxer Aheer from the Al Talia Stables, completed the 120 kilometres course spread over five stages in five hours, 50 minutes and 14 seconds. to claim the top prize BD3,500.

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News from Gulf-Daily-News.com

Message from John Teeter:

John Teeter wants you to read the following News.

This article can be found at Gulf-Daily-News.com

World endurance race in Bahrain

BAHRAIN will host the Juniors and Young Riders World Endruance Championship in 2005. Bahrain singed a contract in this connection with the world endurance governing body FEI yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel. Honorary president of the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Ian Williams of FEI signed the contract. Growing "Endurance sport in Bahrain is growing rapidly and by hosting the world championship next year we will cross another milestone," said Shaikh Nasser. "Bahraini riders are putting in a lot of effort at training and that is being reflected in the encouraging results we have had recently. "We train on different horses, spend a lot of time improving in every aspect of the game. But we still have a lot of hard work to do," added Shaikh Nasser who is also the captain of the Royal Team which includes Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Shaikh Faisal bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Italy, Britain and France were also in the running to host the 2005 championship but Bahrain was awarded the rights because of the keen interest shown by them, added Williams. "We look into the popularity and maturity of the sport in a particular region before awarding the rights to host a major event," said Williams. General Organisation for Youth and Sports president Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and BREEF committee head Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa were also present on the occasion.

Copyright © 2004, Gulf Daily News

GN Online: Strong UAE line-up in President's Cup

Strong UAE line-up in President's Cup
Abu Dhabi |By M. Satyanarayan, Staff Reporter | 19-02-2004
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Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Mindari Aenzac and Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum on Shah together lead a strong team of UAE riders in today's prestigious His Highness The President's Cup 160-km endurance ride.

Also joining these two top riders, who will be on two of the best horses from the Al Reef barn, are reigning world champion Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum on Grafiti du Vermont and a hat-trick seeking Shareef Mohammed Abdullah Al Baloushi on Joost.

Leading the foreign challenge is two-time world champion Valerie Kanavy who is partnering In The Cards, a half-brother to one of the world's best Purebred Arabian race horse, Al Anudd."

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News from Gulf-Daily-News.com

Message from John Teeter: Bahrain Endurance Championship same day as UAE Presidents Cup

John Teeter wants you to read the following News.

This article can be found at Gulf-Daily-News.com

Endurance riders set for challenge

Local stables are getting ready for the Bahrain International Open Endurance Championship which starts on Thursday at 5.45am at the endurance village. The championship is being organised by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) and sponsored by Batelco. Registration is open for the event which covers a distance of 120 kilometres divided into five phases. The event is open to all categories of horses that includes juniors, adults and qualifiers. Veterinary tests for the horses must be completed before the races begin with the first three phases covering 20 kilometres each and the fourth and fifth 30 kilometres each.

Copyright © 2004, Gulf Daily News

News from Gulf-Daily-News.com

Message from John Teeter: A test news post

John Teeter wants you to read the following News.

This article can be found at Gulf-Daily-News.com

Cash bonanza for top 10 riders

Cash prizes will be given away to the top 10 finishers of the Bahrain International Open Endurance Championship, according to directives of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The championship, which begins tomorrow at 5.45am at the endurance village, is being organised by Breef and sponsored by Batelco and will be held for three categories - a 120km race for seniors, an 80km qualifying race and a 60km qualifying race. The winner of the 120km race, which will be divided into five stages, will be richer by BD3,500, with BD2,500 going to the second placed rider, and third-place finisher getting BD2,000. The prize money for the other seven places are as follows: BD1,500 (4th), BD1,300 (5th), BD1,100 (6th), BD1,000 (7th), BD800 (8th), BD700 (9th) and BD600 (10th). BREEF committee head Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa added that other cash prizes have also been allocated to riders who complete the following distances - BD300 for 120km, BD200 (85km) and BD150 (60km). The event is open to all categories of horses that included juniors, adults and qualifiers. Veterinary tests for the horses must be completed before the race begins with the first two stages covering 30km each, the third 25km, fourth 20km and the final stage 15km. Stables in the kingdom have made their preparations for the event with 40 riders representing 20 stables taking part in the 120km event for adults including Royal Endurance Team, Al Khalidiyah stable, Al Talia stable, Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid AL Khalifa, Ahmed Al Fateh stable, Al Asayel Stable, Bahrain Riding School, Ministry of Interior and many others. Ten riders will be taking part in the 80km qualifying race and 21 taking the start in the 60km race.

Copyright © 2004, Gulf Daily News

Wired News: Cool New Ideas to Save Brains

"From 'cool helmets' that chill the brain to miniature roto-rooters that retrieve blood clots, medical devices are finally making waves in the world of stroke treatment, long a technological backwater. " More ...:

AERC 100 Mile National Championship

http://www.endurance.net/rides/2003aercchampionship/


On-line coverage of the North American 100 Mile Equine Endurance Championships.

[RC] THE NC ROCKS!

On Behalf Of Maggie Mieske


Hi all,
My fingers are freezing. Kudos to Cindy, Ruth and Carol....they are
wonderful. All of the people are wonderful here. I am looking forward to
being vetted under all of these wonderful and talented people who care
about our horses. There is some tough competition here. Some people
didn't show but it'll still be tough. We pre rode the trail
today...BEAUTIFUL!!! It's windy and chilly tonight though. Will blanket
the horses!!
Max and Malik vetted in with all As and have been eating and drinking like
piglets. :) This is an experience...country like we have never seen! The
big rocks make Malik snort and blow but he can't wait to see what is on the
other side of those hills! :) He's like that bear that went over the
mountain to see what he could see! :)
OK, ride meeting over, fingers freezing (I'm outside doing this!) so must
go and get some sleep and brief the crew and settle the horses in for
the night. Oh, and get some sleep. Yeah, right.
THANK YOU to everyone who made the NC possible. Oh, and we received the
prize for travelling the farthest...a basket of shampoos and Cowboy Magic
stuff. :) We'll need it after riding in all this dust!!
Good night, all....tomorrow!
Miles of smiles,
Maggie

The turkeys have landed!

>On Behalf Of Maggie Mieske
>OK, well, I thought it sounded arrogant to say the eagles have
>landed. :) But we have arrived safe and sound in Red Rock! Malik and
>Max "know" this is it and have promptly begun eating and drinking
>EVERYTHING. I was concerned about Max for awhile but his attitude has
>improved. I think Malik GAINED weight on this trip as he ate and drank
>everything we ever gave him! :) I might have mentioned that I caught him
>napping a few times, too. :) He took it all in stride. Max is a little
>tucked up but I think he will improve with lots of water and CARROTS... I
>bought about 50 # of carrots at a grocery store today. He loves
>carrots. We will rehydrate him one way or another! :)
>Anyway, Carol will have a line in tomorrow and if she lets me, I'll hook
>up my laptop and send in a few notes!! :)
>Oh and thanks to Jennifer who is letting me retrieve my homework
>assignments and get a ridecamp fix from her house
>nearby! :) WoW! :) People are so great out here!! :)
>More later when I can!
>Miles of smiles (like about 2250!),
>Maggie

2003 Pan American Endurance Championship: Final Results

On Behalf Of Lori Stewart



CIA REIS (USA) WINS PAN AMERICAN ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Cia Reis of Pennsdale, PA (USA), won the individual Gold Medal at the 2003
Pan American Endurance Championship which took place on 13 September 2003 in
Trout Lake, WA. A member of the USA East squad, Reis rode Catch A Wave to
the Gold and also the Championship's Best Condition Award.

A member of the US Team that competed in last year's World Equestrian Games
in Jerez de la Frontera, Reis finished the ride time of 9:14.13. Heather
Reynolds of USA Pacific South, the defending Pan Am Gold Medalist, won the
Silver Medal with a time of 9:37:40 on Aleclipse. Vicki Crance of USA East,
won the Bronze Medal on RA Jestic Diamond in 9:43:13.

The team Gold Medal was won by the USA Pacific North team of Sharon
Westergard on MCM Phantazem "Taz", Pat Murray on CR Flash Gordon, Michele
Roush on PR Tallymark, and former World Champion Cassandra Schuler on ELD
Triton.

The team Silver went to USA Mountain and the Bronze went to Canada West.
Full results of the 2003 Pan American Endurance Championships are available
on line at http://www.endurance.net/2003pac

AERC National Championship 100 Mile Entrants

On Behalf of - Connie Caudill - Enduroride@aol.com
======================================================================
Listed below are the riders/horses that are entered in the
100 mile AERC National Championship to date.

It will be updated soon. Will also list the 50 milers before long.

Don't miss out on the fun, it's not too late for you to enter call today!

RIDER NAME HORSE NAME Home
=====================================================================
100 - M RICHARD DAWSON JS BACH HAMMIL VLY, CA
101 - L LINDA DOLLAR CA MISTY MYVANWY MARIPOSA,CA
102 - F DABNEY FINCH ORZO MURIETA, CA
103 - F KAREN FRANCIS OMR ASAP SISTERS,OR
105 - L DEAN HOALST LDJ PHANTUM WALLA WALLA,WA
106 - F MERIDITY MAYEROFF CS KHALIENTE RENO,NV
107 - L LINDA MORELLI OSO ETYLEAN WINCHESTER,CA
108 - H GREG PRYOR SQR QAMAAR WEST POINT,CA
109 - L TAMMY ROBINSON TR SHARKEE SAUGUS,CA
110 - F SHELLI SEXTON ALWAYS A STAR RIVERSIDE,CA
111 - M CHARLENE STUEVE TR WHYATT SAUGUS,CA
112 - F BONNIE TOBIAS MURCURY'S RAHINA WAYLAND,MI
113 - F DEBBY LYON ARCADE SAN LUIS OBISPO,CA
114 - M ROBERT RIBLEY SHIFTY GRASS VALLEY,CA
115 - L JENNIFER BRUHMULLER MAXIMUM POTENTIAL NAPERVILLE,IL
116 - M DOUGLAS SANDLIN OMARS APATCHEE FRANKLIN,TN
117 - H MAGGIE MIESKE MASHALLA ALMALIK EVART,MI
118 - L LINDA GLAZIER TAMARRON REO RAPTURE GEORGETOWN,CA
119 - M DAVE COOTWARE TALASMANS CRUZER RENO,NV
120 - F BEVERLY GRAY PALADIN PARK CITY,UT
121 - L JENNIFER NIEHAUSE CHEYENNE XII CLOVERDALE,CA
122 - H JOAN ZELNEY INDIANA RED RIVER PETALUMA,CA
123 - L GAIL ZECK HK CONTENDER POINT BLANK,TX
124 - M JACKIE BUMGARDNER ZAYANTE BRIDGEPORT,CA
125 - L KAREN BOTTIANI MOVIN' ON BLUES LAFAYETTE,CA
126 - J/NQ KATIE ALTON HY TYME SAN JOSE,CA
127 - L/NQS ELISE GRESKE KABIR PETALUMA,CA
128 - L JAZON WONDERS GANDTII PETALUM,CA
129 - L SUSAN OBERMEYER DEVOSION ASPEN,CO
130 - M BRENDA BENKLY WINDSWIFT TAABI CLAYTON,CA
131 - F JUDY HOULE FELEX PILOT HILL,CA
132 - L JAN WORTHINGTON KORBEZ SCALES MOUND,IL
133 - H GUS POLITIS OUZO MARSHALL,VA
134 - M CHRISTOPH SCHORK MOAB,UT
135 - H CROCKETT DUMAS ESCALANTE,UT
136 - L STEPHANIE TEETER OREANA,ID
137 - H JON NEIHAUSE HP TANTTARI CLOVERDALE,CA
138 - L JOYCE MOCILAN LOUIS LAFITE BLOOMINGTON,IL

Horses in Alberta

>On Behalf Of Mike Sherrell

August horse news

We spent August around Edmonton in Central Alberta, at the northern end of
the Great Plains, looking for flat pretty gaiting out of the heat of the
California summer, hoping for archetypal grasslands to wander or endless
dirt tracks through the north woods into our dreams as the ends of our lives
get nearer.

Thunderstorms roll through almost weekly, it seems, so in August when
California's dessicated yellow is getting as tiresome as the snow of
February must be in Canada, it's an inviting green, huge lawns of mown crops
and roadsides that make English country estate grounds seem like cramped
wannabes. The footing is excellent to good, lovely black alluvial dirt. But
the grasslands are cut into rectangles, sides running north-south and
east-west, in 80- and 160-acre blocks. Around many of them are fences to
keep the cattle, horses or sheep in, and around almost all of them are roads
for cars, often paved and in almost every other case wide, graded and
gravelled. West of Edmonton I did find the Jack Pine Provincial Grazing
Reserve, a big unfenced section of land to ride, and with a lot of effort
could imagine the freedom of riding as Arnold Rojas says the Spanish found
the New World, "half a world to ride across." But the cattle had had their
way with it, the brush and low tree limbs chewed, cow pies strewn across the
ground, bare dirt showing through the stubble. Not as bad as the grazed
parts of Pt. Reyes, because it was rolling and allowed riding in any
direction.

On the edge of the grasslands, between the prairie and the boreal forest,
as the ecologists call it, there is a zone called the aspen parklands. We
have never found more beautiful riding. Tall, slender, white-barked trees,
sometimes half golden in the long evening sun ­ at the solstice it sets at
10:30 ­ with a trail or track winding through like Hansel and Gretel or the
dream of our forgotten ancestors. Have you ever noticed that the paso gaits
at about the speed of a butterfly? The forest has elk and foxes and wild
strawberries and blueberries, and other berries you can pick from horseback.

We haven't found the endless trail, but we found some that were longer than
the horses were yet conditioned to ride, at Ft. Assiniboine Sandhills
Wildland Provincial Park, Cooking Lake/Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area,
Old Edmonton Trail in Sherwood Park, and (so far the best) Miquelon Lake
Provincial Park, where the trails are wherever there are no trees, and you
either need a GPS to get home, a lot of spare daylight, or an exceptional
sense of direction (and where the skull of a missing, presumed murdered,
prostitute was turned up last week).

The undergrowth in the aspen woods is impassible, but frequently there is a
lake or pond to be seen near the trail, often created by a beaver dam, their
lodge visible in the middle of it. The view then, just yards away, is
beautiful and inaccessible. These unattainable sights, sacred in their way,
framed by the white pillars of the aspen, reminded me of European church
architecture, unreachable ceilings and altars, gilt or marble, carved or
painted by masters, to be gazed at, to inspire longing for their beauty,
proffering the prospect of a union with the holy. I should have seen the
forest before going to Europe, because man learned what was beautiful from
looking at nature first, and the medieval church builders were much closer
to nature than we are, and it would be better if the churches reminded me of
the forest rather than vice versa.

At Ft. Assiniboine part of the trail system follows the old Yukon Trail.
But this is where it starts to get hilly, and the only ideal, flat part is a
few miles along the Athabasca River. We stabled the horses for a night at
the Horse Creek Ranch, a dude ranch which caters to Dutch and Belgian
tourists the owner picks up from training stables he's connected to in the
Low Countries. The people we met there had all been taking riding lessons in
Europe and were adequate to the quiet quarter horses of the ranch, but were
intrigued by our Peruvians. We let some of them ride, and one beanstalk of a
guy with legs too long for the stirrups and who said he'd taken the Pat
Parelli clinic, apparently very modish in Europe just now, was immediately
whizzing along on Grandiosa in fine gait, his legs dangling and not bouncing
at all.

Southeast of Ft. Assiniboine is the Whitecourt area, where the guide book
says there's lots of hiking but nowhere to hike to. That grabbed my
attention, because it sounded like all there was to do was wander through
the woods, in hopes of which I came all this way. Whitecourt bills itself as
the Snowmobile Capital of the World, and has scores of miles of snowmobile
track cut through the aspen forest. We scoped it out for future reference,
and found all kinds of entrances to the forest beckoning from alongside the
road. Some of these possible routes were "cutlines": Alberta is hydrocarbon
country, and the forest is sliced through with what are also sometimes
called seismic lines, straight lines cut through the woods for a couple of
miles, apparently at random, I gather as part of the oil prospecting
procedure. (It is said that oil prospectors are the profession most likely
to be grizzly fare.)

Canadian horse news: Grandiosa got galled by the cinch, so we've been
switching cinches and saddlepads ­ it's possible that once the sore was
opened, it was kept open by irritation from the square front corners of the
Peruvian saddlepad we'd been using under Jean's expensive endurance saddle ­
and learning about different balms and antibiotics and salves and ointments
and potions and nostrums. Aquaralia started fighting the bit, perhaps
because she hadn't had a gradual enough introduction to it, perhaps because
this particular bit had something about it that bugged her, perhaps because
she's a horse that is just idiosyncratically unsuited to bitting, perhaps
because I'm not sensitive enough with bitted horses. I put her in Dale
Downey's hand-knotted Peruvian rope bozal, and she immediately became calm.
Now it remains to be seen whether a) she'll stay calm, and b) I can keep her
collected and in gait. She immediately started carrying her poll two or
three inches below where it was when she wore the bit and is understepping a
good eight inches. This is truly a difficult horse, but willing and sturdy
and worth a lot of trouble.

I may find the open grasslands or endless trail yet, in Wood Buffalo
National Park, home of the biggest free-ranging buffalo herd in the world,
or in Peace River country. The winter road from Ft. McKay to Ft. Chipewyan
is 100 unpaved miles, but I found out it's all sand, which would make it too
much of a slog for me, and in any case is heavily traveled by ATVs,
apparently since the big oil sands projects opened and brought up all these
blue collar motorheads. Too bad; the main roadside attractions are
apparently Indian villages.

But our last weekend, since we'd finally got the girls shod front and back,
I was able to try Aquarelia on 6 or 8 miles of the quiet, lightly travelled
gravelled roads that grid the entire agricultural zone of the province. The
gravel is marble size and smaller, and rounded, not jagged. You can almost
always find a line that keeps you in half an inch of gravel or deeper, so it
's not concussive and is conducive to the foot sliding when it hits ­
Aquaralia's hind shoes soon got sanded smooth and shiny. At the gait the
farmscape drifts by picturesquely ­ big sunshiny bales, vast undulating
fields of yellow wheat or golden something ­ safflower?, combines mowing,
trains, windbreak lines of trees, cattle, horses, flocks of crows pecking up
grasshoppers, etc., etc. From the map I think I could pick out at least 50
and possibly several hundred continuous miles of this sort of road, and
there are at least some little towns with motels that might be accessible ­
even the paved roads usually have huge shoulders, a hundred feet wide and
more, usually mown grass or crops that can be negotiated. There are
farmsteads every mile or so, almost always with livestock and thus feed. It
seems that the ingredients for horseback travel may be present.

On one of the very first rides, to the Blackfoot Trail, we encountered a
thoroughbred that was dancing around uncontrollably, and which swung around
suddenly and kicked Aquaralia. The kick was so hard that Aquaralia was
driven into my opposite thigh hard enough to bruise the inside of it.
Unfortunately Aquarelia was shielded by my ankle, which had to go into a
cast for the rest of the month. I brought the stirrup in to the doctor to
make sure the cast wouldn't be too big to go in, and fortunately the doctor
left enough of my toes free to let me spring into the saddle as usual, once
I'd got used to it. Every horse person I met asked me what happened, so I
was glad it was a horse accident. Anyway, the kick took place several miles
out in the woods, and gave me the curiously pleasureable realization that I
unable to get home except on my horse.

Back home in California, the bad news is that Grandiosa is still, after 12
months, lame in her left hind. DLSD is not ruled out, but the fact that it's
so far not bilateral would seem to militate against it. Julio Soto Jr. has
restored Traveller's gait, so all that remains is for me not to destroy it
again. Sherry Fairchild let me ride Dancer, who we bred 8 years ago and who
I like very much. She needs to have her head brought up; I could force her
into collection and make her gait, but it was hard for her and she got tired
and really didn't like it after just five or ten minutes. If Traveller weren
't all ready to go I'd love to work on Dancer. She's real smart,
hypersensitive and huge for a mare.


Mike Sherrell
Grizzly Analytical (USA)
707 887 2919/fax 707 887 9834
www.grizzlyanalytical.com