New family member

After all harm at beginning of this year (spring) something good happened in june. There were a foal born on Schanzenhof the 10.6.2009 which I liked from the photo and as I went to the Schanzenhof few days later the little girl went straight into my heart.
Actually Martina wanted to name her Gletta but I asked her to name her Dimma instead. We are not sure about her real colour but she seemed to be dark and I love the name Dimma (darkness) since many years but never had a dark horse to use the name. The origin of this name is a dog which I met in Iceland 2005. I really loved this dog and using her name is keeping her always in my mind. My regards to everybody in Iceland at this place ;o)
My plan was to buy a fourgaited LBI (note for Parelli-students) which I can use for ranch work but riding in tölt, too. But as I met Dimma, all plans had gone. She had to be my horse - nevermind which gaits she has! Accidentally (or just fortune) she is fourgaited. Using a lot of trot and gallop but also showing clear tölt.
At our first meeting (14.06.2009) we came in contact easily although her mother were very shy and always escaping. Of course Dimma followed her. But she was curious enough to check me from time to time.
It followed a long period of thinking, calculating and discussing and although I never winned the discussions and got a clear NO of my "government" I decided to buy Dimma. Actually we planned a holiday tour northwards and accidentally the day of the retourn journey should be the 15.09.2009 - the date of Dimmas foal show. But unfortunately Jens got injured on his shoulder so we canceled the plans and the free days. I was very sad not to be with Dimma on this date but luckily Dagmar went to the Schanzenhof and came back with pictures for me! The whole day I was nervous waiting for a call of Martina which marks Dimma got. The phone call arrived me in the evening as I were cleaning the stable.
Dimma got 7,8 for building, 8,0 for character and 8,0 for gaits, total: 7,96
Furthermore she became the winner of the show! Judicial decision in german: Feines Stutfohlen mit guter Ausstrahlung und geschmeidigen Bewegungen im Trab und Galopp bei deutlichen Töltansätzen in den Übergängen.
Try of a translation into english: Fine filly with good charisma and smooth movements in trot and gallop with clear Tölt-attemptions in the transitions.

Yesterday I went to the Scahnzenhof to congratulate my foal to the successful show and we found her sleeping on the ground. I also felt sleepy so I took the place beside and spend some wonderful time with her.

We enjoyed the time together but soon we got disturbed by her brothers and sisters:

v.l.n.r. Vör, Sabine, Brynja, Dimma, Paul

Now I have to work but maybe we can make a colour-quiz together in my next blog. I'll show you some details and you speculate about the colour. Good idea?

News

Our Trainer Klaus Neuhaus came on 4. position in Cutting at the European Championships and became German Champion! Congratulations!!!

In the meanwhile I was busy as a bee and taking photos at the breeding-show on Basselthof. There were 64 grown horses and some foals and youngsters. I still uploaded the pictures of few horses. You can find them here: http://skinfaxa.net/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=26029

After it - on Friday morning - I had my first riding-lesson with Teresa. I still want to learn from Klaus but he is too far away for permant lessons so Teresa and me checked if we can find together. We had a lot of fun and Teresa find many things to correct :o) Anyhow we got a praise for our loose way of ride! Now we got some home work to do and I plan to have the next riding lesson in two weeks.

Since the last cutting clinic I trained Baga to carry her head down. It worked fine but before she is learning only to walk on the forehand I am now asking for more collection. I am very satisfied with our progress. This was the best year of all - regarding training success.

After the riding-lesson I went to the Basselthof again to take photos in the competitions of the OSI. Same on Saturday. But today I stay at home and work with the pictures from Wednesday until Saturday. A new work week starts tommorrow and there will be less time to care about the pictures. On Tuesday is a foal show on the Schanzenhof in the Lueneburg Heath and I am unspeakable sad that I can not be there to take photos of the foals. Anybody there who can do this for me?????? Antje? Dagmar?

Never Before

Tonight I received an email about the actual Parelli Celebrations in USA.

http://enews.parelli.com/emailings/FortWorth/cowworking/cows.html

It would be soooo great if I could see it. Instead of this I am on the Basselthof the rest of this week to take photos of the breeding show and competitions. Today Klaus and Patrick are competing at the European Championshipds in Working Cowhorse and Cutting. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

See you...

Last weekends

Sorry for the long news-break! I still owe you an overview from the shooting on 29.08. It was very versatile and funny:

Nice landscape

Jumping horse

Cowboy

Feelings

and friends.

News from our stable: a new horse arrived. Welcome Blakkur (and Romy).

Baga is doing fine. I try to keep her well trained just in case for a further chance to work with cows this year :o) (Of course I would also train her otherwise.) Klaus and Patrick are competing at the European Championships in Cutting these days. Unfortunately I can not attend them but I wish them best of luck and success!!!!

Last two weekends

Unfortunately I found no time to tell you about the cutting clinic on 15./16.8. Of course it was great and we learned a lot. Now I only hope that we can keep this knowledge until the next time we'll get the chance to work with cows. Hopefully we don't have to wait until next year...

More photos of Baga in the cutting clinic are in her gallery: http://skinfaxa.net/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=877
One week later I had a "date" with 10 labradors again. They were so cute and lovable ;o)

And on Sunday I got the chance to take some pictures of Teresa with her lovely mare Randalin.

Cow Work Sunday

Baga and me came on fourth position of six participants in ranch cutting!


Here you can have a look at the whole gallery of this day: http://skinfaxa.de/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=25489

Cutting clinic

There is a cutting clinic on 15./16.8. that's why we decided that Baga should stay at the Seven-Gate-Ranch these week. Sina was working a little bit with her and yesterday I came for a riding-lesson and was surprised about the progress she had done! We also worked a little bit on the cutting-machine and I had the feeling as if Baga realized what she has to do. She turned excellent and the stops were great. On Saturday I will drive again to my friends at the Seven-Gate-Ranch and on Sunday we will possibly take part at a small fun-competition with cows (it's not yet sure if the competiton will happen).
Amendment: the competition will happen. Click for details: Cow Work Sunday

18.07.2009 at home

21.07.2009 Friendly game with rope

06.08.2009 living at the Seven-Gate-Ranch

Found this cute, old fencebroker-picture on my mobile-phone. We miss you Sonnie...

Weekend

Long time no blog...
I had a great weekend at the Seven-Gate-Ranch with:

Baga

Cats

Dogs


Dream Horses (1. pic "Boots", 2. pic "Olly")

Great People

Hawks

Roping and...

Soccer on Sunday (Jens).

Photo session

Yesterday we had an offhanded photo session in our barn. The weather was mixed but anyhow it was funny. Here you can see one picture of Christiane & Askja

and one of Julia & Chinook:

After the rain stopped Robin, the boyfriend of Christiane, took some pictures of Baga and me.



On Saturday we started with the pattern "Question Box". That's what we will exercise the next week. Further I want to improve my roping skills and have to learn not to hit Baga with the rope during sitting on her ;o)

Busy weeks

Hey all.

We are still alive but I was too busy to blog ;o) Baga is doing fine and her sweet itch is still light. No wounds, just some scratches. But at the moment she is fighting a lot with another dominant mare about the leading position in the herd. That's why she is sometimes a little bit injured. We are still working on following the rail and figure8. Since yesterday it is confirmed that we will take part at a basic riding clinic in 4 weeks and a cutting clinic two weeks later. How exciting, I'm so happy!!!!!!!!!!
Until I can tell you about these clinics you can spend some time with my newest pictures. Yesterday I was at the Ranch Horse Competition like last year. Here you can find the first pictures. More will follow during the next days: http://skinfaxa.net/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=23779

And have you already found the pictures which I took as I visited Martina at her farm Schanzenhof? Check it out: http://skinfaxa.net/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=23352