Atlanta Horse Connections Edition 14 2016

14 TH EDITION - 2016

RIDING THROUGH

THE AGES

Clayton Frederick’s

BUILDING CONFIDENCE cross country

artist

ALICIA FRESE KLENK

and much more!

Penny Morse Editor

Heidi Caldwell Creative Director

It is a New Year, and personally I could not wait for it to get here. 2015 was not the best of years, and yet this year has started off with some extreme sadness. To anyone that has lost a loved one this year, 2 legged or 4 legged, may I wish you our heartfelt condolences. I cannot explain why these things happen, but sadly a fact of life that we deal with periodically in our lives.

Anyone that knows me is use to my constant remarks on safety. I want to print a magazine that you can read, not one that writes about you. I would like to address riding alone either at the barn or at home. It’s not safe! Yes you, and I mean you, are just as capable of falling off and landing on your head, just as easily as the next person. Now anyone that does not wear a helmet, well you know the statistics and it that does not make you reconsider, then I cannot help you. However, accidents happen. Horses trip. Horses spook. Yes even that wonderful guy that takes care of you so well, he still just might see that boogie man in the bushes and he wants to get away from it as fast as possible. There are many of you that ride during the day, alone. If you live close you need to buddy up. Yes it will take time out of the day, but let’s compare that hour to the alternative of possibly breaking your neck and you cannot walk again let alone ride. You cannot live each day in fear, but you can get smart. There are several items on the

Atlanta Horse Connections Magazine is now a part of City Horse Connections, an equestrian network bringing the equine world together, one city at a time.

market, some better than others designed to keep you safe. We are presently testing new safety gadgets that address this situation, and we will be designating one issue to all forms of safety equipment. Western or English, trail riders or

/atlantahorseconnections

jockeys, we will find various alternatives to keep you safe. It is a personal choice, however if something should happen to you, your loved ones take on the task of caring for you, and they never chose for you to be in this situation. If there is not any doubt, ask yourself, would you give up everything in your life to take care of a family member, because they did

think anything could happen to them?

Now for a happier topic! We welcome several new columnists to the magazine this year. Amber Cavalier Spiler, Emma

For more information or to request a media kit Please contact Penny Morse designonpenny@yahoo.com 770.316.8655 On the cover...

Keller, Maureen Foreman, M. Callahan, Scott Armour and Natalie Wise. The next issue, you will meet a few more partners! We have added a new Children/Teen section called Short Stirrups and we are developing a section on beauty, makeup, hair and fashion, including in the barn and outside the barn! We are looking forward to a very exciting year, opening the magazine to more sections and more writers.

We appreciate the support you have shown us in 2015 and our goal is to make 2016 an even better year here at Atlanta Horse Connections!

Penny Morse

Alicia Frese Klenk “Fluidity”

All articles and pictures are owned and copyrighted by City Horse Connections, a subsidiary of JJP Group, Penelope Morse and Heidi Caldwell.

Reproduction of copyrighted material, without prior permission of the copyright owner, is illegal according to 17 U.S.C. Reproductions of copyright materials apply not only to traditional works such as books, photographs, drawings, etc., but also digital media such as music, movies and software. ©2016.

4 9 14

what’s HUNTER JUMPER Style Your Ride

DRESSAGE

Riding Through the Ages Ray’s Corner

18

INSIDE 34

EVENTING Building Confidence

20 22 24 28 30 32 34

INTERNATIONAL

Taken for a Ride in Greece, Part V

WESTERN Over-Bridled?

WELLNESS

A Few Questions About our Little Horse Farm

SHORT STIRRUPS The Blackwatch Stable Book Series Silly Gil Junior Riders Teen Style

Alicia Frese Klenk “Ebony and Ivory”

36 40 42 44

TEEN ST YLE

EQ ST YLE

Putting Your Best Show-Face Forward

ART S & ENTERTAINMENT From LA to GA

How to Host a Blind Wine Tasting Artist Alicia Frese Klenk

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Style your Ride A bout

our

J udge

SCOTT ARMOUR has taught professionally in the Atlanta area for over 20 years. He trained with Olympic Gold Medalist Tad Coffin and Raul de Leon at the Westmoreland-Davis Equestrian Institute in Leesburg, Virginia. With a background in dressage, eventing, and Hunter/Jumpers, Scott emphasizes the importance of dressage work and gymnastic jumping for both horse and rider.

Scott’s business, Hawkwood Farm is located in Senoia, Georgia at Willow Dell Equestrian Center. When he is not training and showing with his busy barn, Scott will often judge for local schooling shows in the Atlanta Metro area.

If you would like to be considered in an upcoming issue for this column for evaluation, please email a high-res photo (300dpi) in no less than 4 x 6” in size to Penny Morse at designonpenny@yahoo.com. Please include your name, horse’s name, age, breed and level jumping.

1

Her back is perfectly flat, but she needs to open her hip angle a bit and

HUNTER JUMPER

stay taller with

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her upper body.

1. The rider in this photo has a leg that is under her body and perpendicular to the ground, but she’s pushing against her stirrup instead of allowing the weight to sink into her heel. By placing the stirrup on the ball of her foot and letting the thrust of her horse’s jump sink into her heel, she would have a more secure leg contact and steadier base of support. Her back is perfectly flat, but she needs to open her hip angle a bit and stay taller with her upper body. Doing so would put her seat closer to the saddle and improve her balance. These changes would also make it easier to do a shorter release with less of a broken line to the horses mouth. In the photo, her hands are floating above the horses crest with a sharp break at the elbow. The rider looks very game and focused with eyes up and concentrating on the next jump.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

2

To be more in balance with her horse, she needs to wait for the horse’s jump to put her into two point position and let him jump up to her.

2. In this photo, the horse is still leaving the ground and has not reached the peak of his jump.

The rider has a nice deep heel, but her stirrup is too close to her toe. She has jumped ahead of her horse, pivoting on her knee. She has a nice flat back, but is laying over her hands making her release restrictive. To be more in balance with her horse, she needs to wait for the horse’s jump to put her into two point position and let him jump up to her. Small jumps without stirrups is a great way to learn how to wait for the horse. The pair is nicely turned out. Both horse and rider are polished and show ring ready.

3

Her release should maintain a straighter line to the horses mouth, with her hand just on either side of the neck – not on top.

HUNTER JUMPER

3. This rider has a nice leg position with heel down and leg anchored at the girth. However, her upper body is laying on the horse’s neck and her release shows a very broken line from bit to elbow.

Shortening her stirrup one hole may give her more support and make it easier to hold her upper body taller off of the neck. Her release should maintain a straighter line to the horse’s mouth, with her hands just on either side of the neck – not on top. They look like a confident, workmanlike pair. The horse has nice square knees over the jump.

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Care

TRAINER

HARRISON FORD 678.857.8164 www.hillfordfarmga.com

GEORGIA HORSE PARK CALENDAR OF EQUESTRIAN EVENTS JANUARY 2016 Mon 11 - Thu 14 Sat 16 Sun 17 Sun 24

GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event A Step Away Equestrian Team IEA Horse Show Brick Store Stables IEA Show Middle GA Equestrian Teams-Winter Wonderland High Point IEA Show

FEBRUARY 2016 Sun 7 Sat 13 - Sun 14 Sat 27 - Sun 28

GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event IEA Region 3 & Region 11 Finals

MARCH 2016 Sat 5 - Sun 6 Sat 5 - Sun 6 Sat 5 - Sun 6 Sat 12 - Sun 13 Sat 12 Sat 19 - Sun 20

The Good Horseman Spring Schooling Show GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event Horse Show Ventures - The Southeastern Hunter/Jumper Series South Region Dressage Rally GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event GHF/Massey Ferguson Annual Dressage Show

Sat 19 - Sun 20 Tue 22 - Sat 26 Wed 30 - Thu 31

Newton County Saddle Club Open Horse Show Atlanta Spring Classic I Atlanta Spring Classic II (Ends Apr 3)

APRIL 2016 Fri 1 - Sun 3 Sat 2 Sun 10 Sun 10 Wed 13 - Sat 16 Sat 16 - Sun 17 Sat 23 Sat 30

Atlanta Spring Classic II (Begins Mar 30) GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event South Eastern Regional Championship Series GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event Newton County Saddle Club Open Horse Show Gwinnett 4-H Spring Open Horse Show GHF/Massey Ferguson Dressage at the Horse Park (Ends May 1)

MAY 2016 Sun 1 Thu 5 - Sat 7 Sat 14 - Sun 15 Sat 21 Sat 28 - Sun 29

GHF/Massey Ferguson Dressage at the Horse Park (Begins Apr 30) Dixie Cup Spring Classic Southern Strides Pleasure Walking Horse Show GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event Horse Show Ventures - The Southeastern Hunter/Jumper Series

JUNE 2016 Fri 10 - Sat 11 Sat 11 - Sun 12 Wed 15 - Sun 19 Wed 22 - Sun 26

2 016 E V E N T D A T E S 2/13.................................................. Schooling Show 2/24, 2/28............................. Show Jumping Elite SJ 3/12.................................................. Schooling Show 4/9-10........................ Eventing USEA Collegiate Show 4/22-24.......................................... Eventing USEA 3* 5/21-22........................................................ Eventing 5/28-29............................................. Dressage Show 6/8-11.............................Southern Regional PC Camp 6/11.......................................... Regional Connemara 6/12.................................................. Schooling Show 6/20-24............................. Area lll Young Rider Camp 6/25-26..............................................Dressage show 7/2-3.................................................. Eventing USEA 7/9-10................................................. Eventing USEA 7/16-17.............................................. Dressage Show 7/30................................................. Schooling Show 8/4-21....................Hunter Jumper Series JP Goddard

GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event GHF/Massey Ferguson Annual Dressage Show Atlanta Summer Classic I Atlanta Summer Classic II

8/27-28.......................................... Eventing USEA 2* 10/15-16................................... Hunter Jumper SGHA 10/29-30............................................. Eventing USEA

JULY 2016 Sat 30 - Sun 31 Sat 30 - Sun 31

GHF/Massey Ferguson Summer Dressage Show Horse Show Ventures - The Southeastern Hunter/Jumper Series

AUGUST 2016 Fri 19 - Sun 21 Sat 20 - Sun 21

GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event The Good Horseman Foundation Summer Schooling Show

SEPTMEBER 2016 Sat 10 - Sun 11 Sat 10 Sat 17 - Sun 18

GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event Arion SportHorses American Hanoverian Society Inspection GHF/Massey Ferguson Fall Dressage Show

OCTOBER 2016 Sat 1

GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event

NOVEMBER 2016 Wed 9 - Sun 13 Sat 12 Wed 16 - Sun 20

Atlanta Fall Classic I GIHP Horse and Mountain Bike Trails Closed Due to Event Atlanta Fall Classic II

11/5................................................... Hunter Jumper 11/19-20........................................... Schooling Show

SEE YOU THERE!

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We are happy to share with you a personal journey as spoken by Gigi Nutter. Gigi is a USDF Gold Medalist and trainer. Although now focusing mostly on dressage herself, her background is diverse. She

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

EVER WONDER HOW YOUR TRAINER got to where they are?

has competed successfully in hunters, jumpers and dressage and owned a large scale equestrian center in Pennsylvania with 66 stalls running 150 lessons a week. Things have calmed down a bit for Gigi now living with her husband Scott on a private farm in Whitesburg, Georgia. She teaches and trains locally and continues to hold clinics all over the country. She has loyal ing Gigi nical hold Deanie Fe horse at l o o h er, a sc ble on Rang d ri ing sta kill Falls sh u B ir e th

clients wherever she goes and it’s easy to see why.

Riding Through Wisdom is born from experience.

So is caution.

the

Looking back, I don’t think I had a choice about living a life with horses. My parents owned a trail riding business in the Pocono mountains. My mother led the trail rides and continued to do so until nine hours before I was born. As an infant, I slept in a hay manger where Tony the Pony would bite the nipples off my bottles when I was feeding. For me, living with horses was natural and I loved it. Not all siblings share this genetic trait because my two older sisters worked on the hack string for years but never rode a horse again once they got married and left home.

Gigi’s home made jum ps

Thunderhead and I could do what Elizabeth Taylor and Pie did on screen. I had no idea what I was doing. Old barrels served as jumps. Cinderblocks on top of the barrels made the jumps higher. To say I rode by the seat of my pants is an understatement.

Without a clue about jumping aids, position or spotting I would fearlessly steer Thunderhead towards a jump and encourage her on. Sometimes she jumped and sometimes she stopped. Either way I wound up on the other side of the jump. Falling was part of the challenge.

DRESSAGE

Although released 10 years before I was born, the movie National Velvet changed my life. That film ignited a desire to jump horses.

Despite a complete lack of formal training, I was convinced that

Ages Gigi Nutter

9

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Around age seven my parents allowed me to go to a local boarding facility for a month in the spring and fall to take formal lessons and ride with other kids. We didn’t have a trailer so I would go to shows with the trainer in their nine-horse van. It was then that I discovered that courage and a lack of common sense could lead to success in the jumping arena. Other kids wouldn’t even try to jump anything higher than 3 feet. I couldn’t understand their fear. With a good-natured dare I would try to shame them into going higher whether they were ready for that

Gigi aboard Buttercup (AKA Touchngo) in a jumper class. This was the the horse that gave name to her farm, Touchngo.

with youthful exuberance and lacking a normal sense of selfpreservation I gladly rode them all and spent a fair amount of time dusting myself off after an unplanned tumble.

At 19, I became manager at Hob Nob Hill Farm and started teaching professionally. Necessity dictated that I learn to read rider’s feelings as well as my horse’s. Students came in many types. Some wore their fear on their face while others tried to conceal it. It was rare to find a kid as crazy as I was. In my early 20s, I was driven to succeed and relished every challenge. I had a bit more common sense but still pushed riders over their limits because I did so myself. I still had more confidence than common sense.

First horse show on 17 hand school horse, Tiffany

or not. My juvenile mind couldn’t grasp why anyone would be afraid to ride or fall off a horse. Falling was just part of riding.

DRESSAGE

During that time, I recall the farm owner calling my parents for support. I had a habit of jumping the 3 ½ foot fence that surrounded the riding arena instead of going through the end gate. She asked them to tell me to stop that risky behavior before I or my horse got hurt. To me it was fun and I didn’t have to get on and off my horse to pass through the end gate.

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As I got older and succeeded in competition, people began to invited me to show their horses. Even though only a teenager, I was asked to ride and compete some really difficult horses. Filled

Riding Jim’s Pacemaker on the

I couldn’t understand their fear... My would be afraid to ride or fall off a horse.

It wasn’t until age 36 while going through a divorce that I realized that a serious injury would impact my ability to support myself. That’s when I first began considering the risks involved with riding anything with four legs. Boldness still dominated my riding but common sense had taken root and began to grow.

I remarried in 1994 and had my first and only child one day before my 41st birthday. My first thought was “I have to get back on a horse as soon as possible” and did so 19 days after a C-section. Shortly thereafter I realized that a serious fall would impair my ability to be a good mother. Stark recognition of that fact shook me to my core and brought the concept of caution

In the mid-90s, few local riders followed the northeast show circuit or national rankings. Despite having over 20 years of competitive and teaching success, I found myself being offered rank horses to train. That problem compounded when these horses did well and I earned a reputation for “fixing” tough horses. I wrestled with the desire to be more cautious for my husband and daughter’s sake with the need to earn a living.

Eventually my business grew and the horseflesh improved.

e AQHA circuit

No stirrups, no helmet, no fear, no sense.

juvenile mind couldn’t grasp why anyone Falling was just part of riding.

Anxious Mom teaching daughter to jump

During the first two years of my daughter Cassidy’s life, I realized how reckless my youth had been. I could not imagine letting my daughter do most of the things I had done on a horse as a child.

My equestrian mothering technique was a study in contradictions.

My parents let me have free reign at the farm. I supervised Cassidy’s every trip to our little barn. I never rode with a helmet unless forced to by competition rules. Cassidy’s little head wobbled under the weight of the best safety helmet I could find. I spent long exciting days riding 16+ hd. Saddlebred cross Buttercup miles from home pretending that I lived on the Ponderosa ranch in Bonanza. Cassidy rode her 12 hd. geriatric pony Caitlin in a fenced arena with the end gates closed and her mother watching every movement of both horse and rider.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

to the forefront of my mind. I struggled with the notion that I might not be as daring as in the past. That notion was eventually overcome by simply acknowledging that I no longer had to prove my riding ability as I had to in my youth…or so I thought.

Chasing my heart over a fence

I never encouraged Cassidy to jump but she inevitably asked and I taught her the basics. It’s with great humility that I admit that those lessons were conducted with my stomach tied in knots and a bottle of Valium at the ready. Mommy had to have a post-lesson adult beverage while Cassidy breathlessly described how much fun she had. How had all the mothers of students I taught done it? Obviously they were just as big a wreck as I was. I just never appreciated their fear and concerns.

In 18 years, I can count on my fingers the number of times Cassidy fell. I fell that many times or more during a single ride in my careless adolescence. What a difference a generation makes.

DRESSAGE

In 2012, I got a total hip replacement. I was shocked when the x-ray clearly showed a long metal rod in the middle of my femur.

My muscles tightened and I became flush at the thought of a taking a fall with that inside me. I asked the doctor if an impact

11

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

“Regardless of style or discipline, the basic skills of riding never change.” on my right hip would break the femur more easily following the operation. He nodded, “Yes.” For the past four years I’ve mounted with a nagging, “I hope I don’t fall off ” in the back of my mind.

That thought never entered my thinking before the operation.

Fast forward to 2016 and I find myself on the wrong side of 60 and well into my fifth decade of riding. Caution and wisdom won out over blind courage quite a while ago. I now limit training horses other than my own. During lessons and clinics, I won’t sit on a horse if I don’t know them well.

Paralleling my riding, my teaching matured over the years as well.

As a new instructor at Hob Nob Hill in 1973, I expected all riders to share my single-minded desire to jump without a thought of risking life or limb. When that notion was quickly proven wrong, I began my career as amateur psychologist and motivational coach.

I learned that different people need different approaches when learning and most need help overcoming their fears. Good riding instructors help students learn their limits as well as their horses’. I’ve always tried to teach to the limit but my technique is now more cautious as those limits approach. Students shut down and learning stops when fear becomes overwhelming.

DRESSAGE

For many years I found it difficult to sympathize with students’ parents. Mothers stood at the rail with their hands over their eyes as their child dropped the reins and

12

went over jumps with their arms straight out from their sides in a gymnastic exercise. Some couldn’t watch at all and sat in their cars until the lesson ended. Having a child moved me from a general lack of sympathy to complete and total empathy. I considered parent’s fears as I matured as a teacher and let them know I understood and appreciated their concerns.

Fear isn’t limited to young riders. Adult amateurs vary greatly in their levels of knowledge and experience. A middle age woman may ride her long-time mount with confidence in the warm up area but slip into a panic when a trainer approaches with whip and longe line for work in hand. A skilled instructor will manage the fear and apprehension before it inhibits learning.

A famous trainer once told me to “throw your heart over the fence” when jumping. I always loved that phrase and used it with students to encourage them to overcome their fears. I still love the sentiment of the phrase, but also temper it by remembering not to “throw caution to the wind” at the same time.

how

photo by June Brewer

All of us have a personal story with horses. It includes when we started riding, why we started, what discipline we ride, and the peaks and valleys of our journeys with these special animals. My story as a rider, trainer and teacher includes a voyage of self-discovery. Over the years I have learned the difference between courage and recklessness; fear and caution; apathy and empathy. Unlike the rider of my youth, I have a healthy respect for the risks associated with riding and understand they can be managed. At this stage of my career I feel compelled to impart that understanding to people who share my love of riding so they can enjoy horses as long as I have.

Far above: Gigi acting as groom and nervous mother with her daughter Cassidy. Left and above: Gigi and her KWPN gelding Vinny curently compete at the Intermediare level I and II and are well on their way to the Grand Prix ring!

April 7-10, 2016 Greater Atlanta Dressage Southern I/II and CDI3*/AM/J/Y/U25 Georgia International Horse Park Conyers, Georgia

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Ray’s

CORNER

Yvonne Barteau

GP Raymeister shares his unique world...

DRESSAGE

ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF in as humble a manner as possible. My name is GP Raymeister and I am a sixteen year old Holsteiner stallion, dressage competition horse... and equine exhibition performer. I am a three time USDF Horse of the Year, a Young Rider National Champion and NAJYRC Gold Medal winner, and I just learned that I have won more year end awards than any other horse in USDF history! My trainer thinks that qualifies me to share some of what I have taught her, these many years, with you folks. So that’s what I will do.

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Since it is my column, I will start where I want to and that is right in my bedroom. You might call it a stall but to me it is home. I like my room to be kept neat and tidy, lots of shavings to lay down and take a nap in, and fresh water every day that I can dunk my hay into if I like. I prefer three or four small meals a day because that way I know someone is coming to look at me and check on me and they will notice if all is not right in my

world with just a glance. I like to be able to put my head out into the barn isle and see what everyone is doing if and when I choose to. I also want all the people who take care of me to do so in as consistent a manner as possible and to not bring their emotional baggage to the barn with them. When someone is around me, I want them to be in my world and then I might... venture into theirs. Also, because I became totally blind in my left eye these past two years I want whomever handles me to be considerate about not leading me into trouble when I am with them.

I like my tack and blankets to fit me but not as much as I insist that anyone who rides me MUST sit properly and use the reins as conversation tools, not lifelines. Also, I like whomever puts my wraps on to pay attention and not put them on too loose or too tight. I LOVE rolling in the sand after I work each day. Lucky for me, my trainer knows this and I always get to throw myself in

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

the dirt, even when we are at a horse show. Rolling in the sand also brings me to my other favorite thing which is my bath and I love that too. Warm water rinse, soap me all up and then rinse me again. Scrape then towel my face and neck for sure but I love being rubbed on so whenever someone has time I get a whole body rub down as well. My trainer, actually loves grooming me the most. When she has time, she takes great care of me and would prefer to feed me herself when her schedule allows. At the very least, she visits me with a banana, carrot, or apple each day.

Of course I do realize my purpose here is not to tell you all about how I want things to be but instead give you tips as to how your relationship both on the ground and in the tack might improve. Which is why I began as I did. Treat your horse as if he is the best in the country and he might just prove to be. I was tricky at the beginning and could still be now if I chose to.

Cold backed, athletic, a good bucker, quite a combination.

I was seven when I met the trainer who saw what I was capable of and God bless her she kept her sense of humor

through my most difficult times. For the first few years, we survived and succeeded on my athleticism and her perseverance.

Then I worked with her daughter Kassie in the tack and her on the ground. Now it is just she and I again. Here is why I try for her. She loves horses. Me in particular but all horses, and any horse she works with knows that. More important than that, she is fair. By equine not human standards and if you want respect from a horse you must be fair as well. So, to be a good rider or trainer you must be fair and you must care!

The next most important thing is consistency. That is as important, or more so, than your procedure. We learn by association and if you take spoken words out of the picture, horses are much better communicators than people are, in my opinion. We read you better than you give us credit for, and, we will listen and react to you, if, you too, are aware of these most important things. Your signals, either intended or not, become the beginning middle and end of our conversations with you.

You must understand

Treat your horse as if he is the best in the country and he might just prove to be.

DRESSAGE

that your concentration and awareness of your own energy and your movements will give you the control over us that you seek.

In general, the biggest problems we, as horses, have with most riders, is that people are often not still enough inside. That, is job one, in communicating. Find that relaxed place inside of you, where you are focused and able to control your body and emotions, and that is where you must be as a person in order for us to respond and react to you the best way possible. Then, pay attention to what we do when you do something and build a reliable communication pattern from there one action at a time.

16

There is much more specific information to come these next months and if you have any questions for either me or my trainer we might be able to work that into the column as well. For now, find neutral, be fair and care and we will see you next time!

CLINICS AND COACHING WITH CLAYTON FREDERICKS Clayton’s career highlights

FREDERICKS Equestrian International fredericksequestrian.com lisa@fredericksequestrian.com Lisa – 352-895-2144 clayton@fredericksequestrian.com Clayton – 352-299-3213

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IMPORTED QUALITY HORSES Book to try your dream horse today.

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• FEI World Cup Champion 2005, 2008 • Individual silver and team bronze World Equestrian Games, Aachen (2006) • Winner Lexington Kentucky CCI4* (2007) • Team silver medal Hong Kong Olympic Games (2008) Clayton’s international coaching experience extends across all levels of the sport around the world. He regularly travels to teach in Germany, Australia, Hong

Kong, Canada and around the US. Many of his pupils have gone on to compete at the CCI 4* level.

You can book individual or group training sessions with him at his top-notch facility in Ocala, FL. If you can’t make it to Florida, you can host a clinic at your facility. Give riders in your area the chance to train with one of the world’s top riders. He is happy to teach all levels of riders in any discipline.

CONNECTING RIDERS WITH EXCEPTIONAL HORSES Results are the proof For over 15 years Clayton Fredericks and Eckart Siewert have been the source of numerous top horses and had the pleasure of watching them ride to victory, time and time again all over the world.

Whether you are a seasoned professional or an amateur seeking a quality mount, we have access to an abundance of European horses/ We can source one specifically for you, like we have for many clients, including the following:

• Leopin (Micheal Jung’s 4* Winner) • FBW Chico (Alex Hua Tian of China’s First Olympic Mount) • Bendigo (Winner 3*, Placed 4*, Clayton’s 2012 Olympic mount) • Catchascatchcan (Sarah Kozumplik Murphy) • RF Smoke on the Water (Marilyn Little’s “Superstar Event horse”) • Bentley’s Best (Jessica Phoenix’s winning CCI1* horse and rising star) • Chatwin (Frankie Thieriot) • and the list goes on....

We welcome the opportunity to work with you.

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Cross Country schooling is all about confidence for the horse and rider. It’s not about going out there and jumping the biggest jumps. It’s about structuring your training so that you and your horse finish the session with the confidence to tackle the same obstacles in a competition.

building

CONFIDENCE cross country schooling

Clayton Fredericks

EVENTING

WHEN I START A CROSS COUNTRY schooling session, there are a couple of key principles that I apply to all my horses.

Can my horse stop and go? Is the horse in front of the leg? Am I giving my horse the freedom to use their head and neck? The majority of riders find it hard to let the reins go. The horse needs his head and neck to balance. Interfere with his head and you interfere with his balance. Train the horses to look to the jump.

Every rider needs to learn the skill of presenting the horse to the obstacle.

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Begin your session warming up over some basic obstacles such as logs, coops and generally any ramped fences. Concentrate on rhythm. If you see an extra stride or see an early take off, get into position and help keep the horse confident. The quickest way to ruin your horse’s confidence is to interfere with their balance by getting caught out of position. Once jumping these obstacles in a calm, relaxed manner, it’s time to move onto the more technical questions.

WATER JUMP This is really a test of whether your horse is in front of your leg. Start by riding through the water in walk and trot. Once your horse is relaxed and comfortable in and out of the water it is time to introduce a small drop. The most important thing in

is come to a skinny fence wrestling, not riding, pulling the horse backwards and the horse is looking everywhere but the fence.

You want to accelerate the last few strides and allow the horse the freedom to look and work out the fence. When the horse is looking back at the rider, they stop thinking forward and run out.

The more you give, the more your horse will relax, just get them on their line and let them go, and let your horse think about the fence.

THE DROP FENCE All you have to do is stay in the middle of your horse, don’t look down, hold the reins at the buckle and allow the horse to stretch.

Be ready to have your leg on, take a deep breath and let go! As above, the most important thing is for the rider to be in the right position so the horse can use their head and neck to balance.

Visualize three quarters of the horse in front of you.

THE DITCH This really is the same question again - is my horse in front of my leg? Begin with a small ditch that can be comfortably jumped from a stand still. Approach the ditch from a walk and trot and accelerate for the last 3 strides. Once again, let the horse’s head go so they can see where to leave the ground and have the freedom of their head and neck for balance.

THE SKINNY This fence is all about straightness and accelerating at the last few strides. Use acceleration as the way to straightness. When you de-accelerate you get wobbly. The last thing you don’t want to do

Applying these principles to your Cross Country schooling will help develop you and your horse into a relaxed, confident partnership ready to compete!

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

riding this fence is to be in the right position. Don’t go forward with your body, sit behind, get your shoulders behind and let the reins get longer. When riders have their reins too short that is when horses will stop or cat-leap. You have to keep the horse straight and accelerating, but not fast, you are riding to a drop.

The rider must look to the horizon and let the horse do the jumping.

EVENTING 19

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Carolyn Haward FEI International Show Jumping Judge, Greece

taken for a

RIDE in GREECE PART FIVE

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Hard Times, Hats and Horses

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THE OFFICIAL GREEK EQUESTRIAN season takes a break from mid-June, when the weather usually becomes too hot for both the riders and the horses. Perhaps this is also what happens in the southern states of the USA? I am sure the heat and humidity must be a problem in, for example, Georgia and Florida, as it is here. Horses can only be ridden early in the morning or late in the afternoon. For us, the competition season restarts at the beginning of September when the temperatures are more bearable, whereas, in comparison, for most of the rest of Europe summer is the busiest time for outdoor events.

The hot dry weather also means that there is no pasture for the horses to graze so they feed only on hay, various grains and dry food. This puts up the cost of livery and in these difficult times of austerity, high taxes and cuts in salaries and pensions, some riders have had to leave the sport. It’s rare for individuals to

keep a horse in a private field, meadows being in short supply, so most riders stable at a riding club. Those who can afford it participate during the summer in competitions in other parts of Europe. Some lucky horses even get transported to cooler climes in Northern Europe, where they enjoy the luxury of a summer holiday in a green field.

Many of you may be wondering how else the equestrian world in this country has been affected by the difficult economic situation it finds itself in. Well, when the second part of the competitive season takes off in early autumn, the highlight of the equestrian jumping year invariably used to be eagerly awaited at the beginning of October: a CSIO 4 star event.

Sadly, as the economic situation became more and more dire, the sponsors gradually dropped away. The 4* show became a 3* one! then it was a 2* event, due to lack of funds until finally it stopped altogether. The last international competition was held in 2012 until this past September, when thankfully the Balkan Championship was held in Porto Carras in northern Greece. However, we are still waiting for our annual CSIO to

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

be revived. All of us here in the equestrian world hope that the worst of the doldrums is over and that the help of the European Union to recapitalize our faltering banks may lead to a new future...........and not only for riding! It is such a shame that the wonderful facilities of the Equestrian Centre, built especially for the 2004 Olympics, are not used more frequently for international events, rather than just for the national shows and championships, as they are at the moment.

As judges, we need to keep our hand so that we can remain competent in the skills we have learnt and developed over a number of years. At least Greek events are run under FEI rules, giving us plenty of practice in our sport at national level. We international judges, four in number, plus three candidate international Judges, are dependent on invitations to international events abroad or on appointments from FEI. In addition, I personally take advantage

this show, FEI appointed Foreign Judge. When caught by a sudden downpour and stranded in the Tribune, either facing a long wait for the storm to pass or else a drenching with a quick dash to the waiting transport, Jon used his inventive genius to find an original solution.

Grabbing an empty cardboard box, he placed it on his head! I caught the moment on camera and called it “ The Judge’s Box!” Nations’ Cup day arrived and we were all dressed up to the nines in our finery, hats and all. Number one fence had been placed behind a mound on the outdoor course, rendering it almost impossible to see from the judges’ viewpoint. As luck would have it, I was asked, as a member of the Ground Jury, to position myself out on the

The whole show in Dublin, Ireland – the Nations Cup – enjoys a festive character! of the FEI Exchange Programme for a further opportunity to work abroad at international level and thus paying part of the travel expenses myself. It was on this programme that I was invited to the great Dublin Show, a CSIO 5* event always held in August, the competition dead period in Greece, so very welcome to me. And what a wonderful experience it was!

course in order to signal any possible faults that might occur at that obstacle. Out I stepped in my flimsy little pink summer suit and with a fashionable fascinator balanced on the top of my head, flags in hand ready for use in gesturing towards the other judges. I soon discovered that August temperatures in Ireland are not quite what they are in Greece. It wasn’t long before I was beginning to show the early signs of frostbite as I stood virtually inert during the two rounds of the Nations’ Cup. Much later and job done, I wandered back to the relative warmth of the Judges’ Box, my teeth chattering and my lips blue. Ah! What we all do for the love of our sport!

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The whole show in Dublin, Ireland, enjoys a festive character, with abundant stalls plying their wares, numerous food outlets to succour the hungry and thirsty, displays ranging from side saddle riding to children’s gymkhana competitions, educational demonstrations to even a dress competition for spectators. On Ladies’ Day, the women parade around the venue in all their finery, not forgetting to mention the very glamorous men in drag costumes and also the cross- dressers!

The best dressed lady, whatever her orientation, is awarded a prize.

Then again, the dress code changes on Nations’ Cup day, when all of the Ground Jury, Appeal Committee and other Officials are clothed in either a top hat and tails for the men or in a smart suit with a hat or fascinator to top the outfit for the women. Even the male stewards are in dark jackets and bowler hats. But the funniest item of clothing over the whole show, which literally capped them all, came from Jon Doney, a top British international judge, course designer and, at

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Bosal, snaffle, bitless or shanked... Finding the right bit is an important key in the relationship with your horse.

OVER-BRIDLED?

WESTERN

MUCH DISCUSSION HAS OCCURRED regarding bits in Western Dressage, and there are several options available.

For a young horse or a senior horse, you can show in a Bosal, bitless bridle, snaffle bit (the classical dressage bit of choice) or a shanked (leverage) bit.

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Cheryl Freda Pritchard

of the bit in the horse’s mouth. When you go watch a Western Dressage competition, you will see some horses with a snaffle, that are tense and non-accepting. Some horses will have shank bits and be over bridled. Some horses are relaxed and willfully guided by a person with soft hands. In working with horses of

A rider who has soft and yielding hands will be able to ride If a traditional snaffle bit is used, the rider MUST ride two handed. a horse in a frame, regardless of the bit in the horse’s mouth.

If a shanked bit is used, the rider can use one hand (the traditional Western Pleasure method) or different ages, breeds and training backgrounds, I have realized can use two hands. Using two hands on a shanked bit is where that finding the right bit for each horse depends entirely on the the controversy occurs. person who will be riding the horse. The use of two hands on a shanked bit, allows the rider to become soft and giving while Several people are concerned about the use of a shanked bit using the subtlest of cues. in two hands being too harsh. This could be true in some circumstances, but not in most. The shanked bit applies leverage In Classical Dressage, the upper level riders can graduate to the to the bars of the mouth and also the top of the horse’s mouth. double bridle, it is based upon the training of the horse and The bit is only as harsh as the rider’s hands. A rider who has soft the rider together. This is similar to the shanked bit in Western and yielding hands will be able to ride a horse in frame, regardless Dressage. Just as an upper level horse with a double bridle should

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Riding a horse entirely based upon a bit is the same as driving a car entirely by the steering wheel.

WESTERN

not be handed to someone who does not know how to ride in a double bridle, a highly trained Western Dressage horse in a shanked bit should not be given to someone who does not understand that the bit is only a small part of how you ride this horse.

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Bill Harris

a few questions

about our little

HORSE FARM

Tom and Susan live on 9 acres with a 6-stall barn. With two horses of their own and four empty stalls, they have decided to take on boarders to share expenses and generate extra income.

WELLNESS

John and Mary stable their four horses at home. Mary wants to turn decades of equestrian experience into a part-time job teaching riding lessons – on her own schedule at her own farm.

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The Johnson’s no longer have horses of their own, so they have decided to lease their barn, arena and paddocks to a trainer who operates a boarding and lesson stable. It seems a perfect fit to have horses and happy on the farm and let someone else take on the responsibility for maintaining the premises.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

What if a riding student is thrown from a horse and seriously injured?

Riding instruction is a business pursuit, and there is no coverage or defense for this activity under a Homeowner policy. If the injured party alleges that negligence contributing to the incident, the property owners will have to fund their own legal defense and pay all damages for which they are responsible.

DO THESE SITUATIONS SOUND FAMILIAR? These families have more in common than a love for horses. All three have created business risks which their Homeowner and Personal Umbrella policies will not cover. To illustrate how, let’s examine a few “What if ” questions…

What if a barn is destroyed in a fire or a storm? If the barn is used in whole or in part for business, it is no longer covered by Homeowner insurance. The owners will have to clear the debris and rebuild with their own money, if they can.

Equine Farm policies can protect a wide range of Property risks, to include: • Dwellings and Contents • Valuable items like jewelry, silverware, guns, antiques and fine arts • Tenant Dwellings • Tractors, equipment and Tack • Stables, barns, sheds and pasture fencing

WELLNESS

What if a boarded horse escapes and is struck by a passing vehicle? In this case, the property owner has two problems – a vehicle owner with collision damage and potentially-serious injuries, and an innocent boarder with a dead or injured horse. A Homeowner policy will not cover or defend a claim from either party.

The marketplace recognizes these problems and has designed a flexible solution. Equine Farm policies combine a wide range of personal and commercial insurance that can be tailored to fit most horse farms. This helps avoid dangerous gaps and needless duplication often found between different policies with separate insurers.

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Every farm is unique, and Equine Farm policies are tailored to fit each one with coverages and limits that are as broad as required and as deep as needed.

Equine Farm policies are designed to include several types of Liability insurance, including: • Personal Liability for your residence(s) and private family pursuits • Commercial General Liability for risks of owned horses, boarding, breeding, training, riding instruction, equestrian camps, clinics and shows. If a third party suffers bodily injury or property damage as a result of your insured activities, the policy will pay to investigate the circumstances, fund your legal defense and to settle the claim.

Care, Custody or Control Liability protects against damage to non-owned horses in your care, in your custody, or under your control. If you cause an accident while hauling a client’s horse, or if you leave a gate open and a boarder’s horse escapes, CCC will pay to defend you and settle a claim for the killed or injured horse.

Umbrella Liability provides an additional layer of liability insurance above your “underlying” coverages. If your Farm, Auto, Boat or other liability coverage is not sufficient to settle a claim, Umbrella Liability insurance can step in with its additional layer of coverage (from $1,000,000 to $10,000,000 or more, as selected).

Here’s a question we didn’t ask…

What if an employee hurts his back, or rolls a tractor, or gets kicked in the face by a horse? That is a topic for another day.

Bill Harris is a Risk Advisor with The Harbin Agency, Inc., an independent insurance agency with a major specialty in Equine Mortality and Farm as well as Commercial, Personal and Life & Health insurance. Bill can be reached at billh@harbingency.com.

Every farm is unique, and Equine Farm policies are tailored to fit each one with coverages and limits that are as broad as required and as deep as needed. An experienced and knowledgeable risk advisor can identify the land mines that lie ahead and help negotiate safe paths around them

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WELLNESS

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

WELCOME TO SHORT STIRRUPS! With a growing number of riders in the Atlanta area, under the age of 18, we think you deserve your own section! Let us know what you would like to see. Amber Cavalier Spiler is the Editor of this section, and Emma Keller will be looking for great outfits, whether riding or watching. If you would like to be featured in our ‘Meet our Junior Riders’ section, email a short description of yourself, your horse and a really nice photograph to designonpenny@yahoo.com. We hope you enjoy your junior section, and let us know on our FaceBook page if there are any particular topics you would like to see!

Blackwatch Stables Series New Series Fuses the Horse World with Fantasy.

WRITTEN BY adult amateur Equestrian, Amber Cavalier Spiler, the ‘Blackwatch Stables Series’ takes young readers deep into the magical relationship between owner and pony. The first book in the series, ‘The Secret of Blackwatch’ launched on December 6th, 2013. The series is inviting all to experience a literary ride laced with love, trust and adventure.

‘Blackwatch Stables Series’ explores the magical relationship between owner and pony as they as they conquer life-changing events.

SHORT STIRRUPS

Maggie has always wanted a pony, but with the recent death of her mother those dreams had been put on hold. Her dream comes true when her father surprises her with a trip into the mysterious world of Blackwatch Stables. Lead by the meticulous Ms. Cavalieri, Maggie learns that owning a pony is a bit different than she imagined.

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Guided by the other girls at the barn, she learns that caring for her pony, Bella, is hard but rewarding work. As her adventures at Blackwatch Stable begin, she and Bella quickly develop a

magical relationship full of love and trust that carry them through some fantastic adventures.

As the author explains, releasing the first book in her series is a dream come true.

“I’ve always dreamed of publishing a book that young people will cherish. I hope my readers enjoy absorbing the story as much as I did writing it. There are plenty more volumes in the works – so stay tuned!” says Spiler.

About the Author: Amber Spiler began her equestrian career at age 5 in the horse country of Ocala, Fla. Inspired and supported by her mother, Trish Cavalier, she began working with Mary Rivers where she developed extensive knowledge that covered many breeds and styles of riding. “She was my idol and second mom. She was one of the most important role models in my life.” Amber earned the title of National Champion Equitation rider in the Paso Fino breed as well as four other national championships and several regional and state championships. Life took her away from horses for 20 years.

As life allowed, Amber rekindled her passion while watching her daughters, Bella and Lily, learn to ride and experience the excitement that had consumed her as a young girl. Then she found Toby, her current horse, through CANTER Mid-Atlantic (an organization that places thoroughbreds into good homes when their racing career ends). “Toby helped me find my soul again!” It is with this enthusiasm for horses that Amber decided to pen Blackwatch Stables Series, weaving her own experiences into this delightful story for the tween and adult audience.

Amber Cavalier Spiler’s newest book, ‘The Secret of the New Rider’ quickly drags readers back into the mystery and magic of Blackwatch Stables with changes at the barn that no one – not even Ms. Cavalieri – saw coming. Rumors of a new rider create excitement among the girls but also introduce new challenges, and the growing tension with Stephen and his dragons tests their courage and strength. In the midst of these changes and challenges, Maggie and Bella together must cope with the memories of Dragon Mountain and with the consequences

Excerpt from ‘The Secret of Blackwatch’ Her pony galloped full speed toward the darkness, white mane whipping in her face as she bent closer and whispered words of encouragement. Suddenly they were in the air, flying straight toward danger. She couldn’t see the source of the danger, but she knew it was there. She could feel it.

Even smell it. She reached for the weapon at her side. Weapon? She had never even held a knife before, but her hand automatically knew what to do. It was a sword of sorts. No, maybe not a sword, it was like the skinny swords she’d seen people use in fencing. A foil. How did she know that? The rain was pouring down on them, making it hard to see the way, but she trusted her pony. There it was! Out of nowhere! She struck out at it but couldn’t quite see it. The next thing she knew, she was tumbling through the air, falling again.

CONGRATS TO OUR LATEST BOOK WINNER!

Excerpt from ‘The Secret of the New Rider’ Look!

Maggie heard Bella in her head. She squinted ito the darkness of te trees, trying to see what her pony could see.

There!

She saw it! Just a few Yards aways in the darkness of the woods stood a dragon! She snorted as he realized that Maggie saw him; his body glimmered deep bronze in the shadows. She could swear that smoke came from his nose. Bella was frozen in fear. Maggie’s eyes moved up and locked on to none other than Stephen! They all stood absolutely still for a few heartbeats. Then Stephen gave a crooked smile and raised his sward up in a mock salute. The dragon backed slowly into the shadows of the woods.

WANT TO WIN A COPY? We are giving away a copy of Amber’s new book “The Secret of Blackwatch” to one lucky reader. To enter, please send an email with your name and address to designonpenny@ yahoo.com. Winner will be contacted by end of February and announced in the next issue of AHC. Good Luck!

SHORT STIRRUPS

We gave away a copy of Yvonne’s new book “The Dressage Horse Manifesto” to our lucky reader, Bernadette Ackley.

Conragtulations and we hope you enjoy this book as much as we do!

of a mysterious birthday present Maggie receives. Adventure, mystery, and friendships new and old provide comfort, guidance, and phenomenal entertainment for all as the story of Blackwatch Stables continues to unfold.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Blackwatch Stables Series: The Secret of the New Rider weaves a tale that reminds us that we all have a little magic in us…and we all have a bit of darkness.

It’s up to us to choose our path.

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Silly Gil

Amber Spiler

My name is Gil. I am apparently the cutest pony in the world. I don’t know what color my face is but my legs are dark, almost black and my body is gray with big polka dots on my rump. My girl calls them dapples. My tail is unfortunately always sparkly white because my girl’s mom makes her shampoo it all the time. I don’t mind much when it’s warm, but I am not a fan of cold, wintery tail washings.

I live in a green, grassy field on top of a hill that overlooks everything. We also have a small forest and that’s where I am usually found snoozing in the shade and munching on low hanging leaves. My girl calls me a giraffe. She must think I’m very tall but I am the smallest in my herd.

I have a big sister named Cricket who lives in the neighboring field and I’m okay with that because she is very bossy. I also have a little brother named Puck. He is not a pony, he is a pup but my girl tells me that he is my brother just the same. She got him at a shelter, but he doesn’t know he’s adopted. My girl calls him a Jack Russell Terrier Mutt I’m not sure if that’s an important thing but he thinks it is and brags about it all the me. Puck is always in trouble and somehow I get dragged into his messes.

But not today. Today I am going to stand here in my cool, quiet forest until it is time for dinner. I am not going to turn around even though I can hear Puck tearing down the road from the house. I am not going to...

KIDS’ CORNER

“Gil! Gil! Gil!”

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“Gil, I have an idea!” I shake my head and turn in the other direction. “You know that long gravel road on the other side of the back gate.”

Nope, not falling for it. Hmmm, but I have always wondered what is at the end of that road.

“See! Viola! It’s open!”

Puck was doing his little tail chasing dance.

I looked around to see if anyone was watching us. Nope. We are home free. We walked and walked. We probably walked for at least 10 minutes and then it happened.

Yep. Exactly what my girl always said would happen if I walked down the gravel road. I stepped on a rock.

Ouch.

“Gil, I heard there is garden at the end of the gravel road!”

I stood there for a moment before Puck realized I was not beside him.

our dinner. I walked gingerly up to my feed bin and the other horses looked at me and snorted, shaking their heads. They knew that we had been up to no good. That silly pup always got me into trouble. My girl was standing there with the feed tub and she watched me with squinty eyes.

“Gil? Is there something wrong with your leg?” She bent down and felt up and down my leg. Then she asked me to pick up my foot. I buried my nose in the feed bin and pretended like I didn’t understand her.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

I try to ignore him but he’s hopping up and down, nipping at my muzzle.

“Gil.” She shook her finger at me.

I don’t care.

“A carrot garden!”

“What are you doing?” Puck stood there looking at me with his large bat-like ears perked up.

Okay, now he’s got my attention. After all, I am a pony and all ponies LOVE carrots. At least the smart ones do.

Obviously I had a rock in my foot. I stood there holding it up for him to see.

“I think that I can open that gate and slide you right on through before anyone notices.”

“No worries, Gil! I’ll have that out in no time.”

Carrots.

Well, apparently Jack Russell Terrier Mutts are not very good at picking hooves. He chewed at it. He grabbed a stick to try to pry it out but then forgot what he was doing and tried to get me to play tug-o-war. But the rock stayed firmly lodged in my hoof.

“Gil? Gil! Are you listening?”

I was already walking to the gate, Puck is bouncing beside me eager to go on a new adventure and yapping incessantly about how he was going to just slip the chain off the hook and then…

Phew.

Sure enough we heard the rumbling of the old truck. A sure sign that it was time for

“Gil, did you sneak out of the field again?”

I shook my head and snorted staring at Puck who had suddenly become very occupied with chasing an invisible squirrel.

“Gil, you are very lucky that I check you out every time I feed. Who knows how long you would have been hobbling around with that stone?”

I rubbed my head into her chest and she laughed and straightened my forelock.

“Silly Gilly. I love you so much. Now be a good boy and stay out of trouble.”

She patted me on the neck and climbed back into that rumbling truck. Puck sat looking at me with that look in his eye.

“Hey Gil….”

I turned my back on that pup and walked over to my favorite shady spot to munch on some leaves.

Not today, Puck…not today.

SHORT STIRRUPS

“We will never make it to the carrot garden at this rate Gil!” Puck plopped his hind end firmly on the ground. “We had best turn back before we are missed.”

Slowly we made our way back down the gravel road. It must have taken 15 minutes to get back with all the hopping and hobbling I had to do, but eventually we managed to slip back into the field unnoticed.

I sighed and took a deep breath as I licked my foot. My girl is so smart. She pulled a hoof pick out of the old rumbling truck and had that stone out in no time.

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Georgia Properties

L isa Byer

Realtor®

Cell: 678-588-6791

Email: Lisa.Byer@BHHSGA.com www.LisaByer.com

Specializing in Fine Equestrian Properties, Luxury Homes, and Residential Sales Visit my website today to find out an instant estimate of your home’s value. Contact me any time to discuss the results and how I can help you with your most important investment.

©2015 An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® If your property is currently listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation.

Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Amber Spiler

junior riders

kelly ellis MY NAME IS KELLIE ELLIS and this is my horse Gwen. I was given Gwen as a Christmas present. We have tried several disciplines but Eventing is where we are both happy. Cross Country is what we do best. If it is raining, Gwen goes really fast so she can get back to her stall, as she doesn’t like to get wet. Gwen’s show name is ‘No Doubt’ and our favorite color is blue. She was used as a therapy horse at the Calvin Center Equestrian Center in Hampton, GA. for a while, but now she lives at my home. I belong to the Woodbine chapter of the US Pony Club. My trainer is Ashley Giles. I am currently working with my next competitive horse, Lucky Jazz, an off the track gelding who is super sweet and loves to jump.

sydney stayton

SHORT STIRRUPS

MY NAME IS SYDNEY STAYTON and this is my horse Sox or ‘Ultimate Payoff ’. I have been riding since I was 6 years old and I am now 13. Sox is 5 years old, and he was started off by my Mom, as a western pleasure horse, but he is also good at Hunter under Saddle, trail riding and as a ranch horse. Even though he was meant to be my Mom’s horse, Sox and I were always connected, so he became mine.

I can ride him bridle less, which is quite unusual for a young horse. We are lucky to live on our family farm called KS Equestrian in Canton, GA. This is a dream come true for my Mom and me.

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Emma Keller

teen STYLE Equestrian clothing for the under–18s!

MY NAME IS EMMA KELLER and I am an Eventer.

I love to ride, and I love fashion. I am going to keep you up to date and informed on all the new colors and styles that are available for each season, whether it is for riding, going to Rolex or just hanging out straight from the barn. Whether you ride western or English I will be finding the best looks and keeping the prices down so that Moms and Dads do not go crazy!

The weather may be damp, cold and dreary but we can make the days brighter by wearing some fun colors while we are riding. These are my selections for the next few months. They are available from Dover and HKM Georgia.

The spring styles will be out very soon, so look out in the next issue to see what we will all want to be wearing this year!

OUTFIT #1 Full seat breeches (HKM 5888-3300) in a

bright purple floral pattern teamed up with this pretty Goode Rider polo sweater from Dover (RB-200756CO).

Who said we couldn’t look pretty in the arena!

OUTFIT #3

SHORT STIRRUPS

Even when it is cold, a lovely soft sweater in black and gray, (HKM 5828-9591) worn with a beautiful pair of blue breeches from Dover by Tuff Rider (RB-35995), makes you feel like spring is not far away!

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OUTFIT #2 Bright red breeches (HKM 7130-3069) with a stylish navy long sleeve polo shirt (HKM 5895-6900 Laura Garrelli). Perfect for a lesson, and a great color combination, for anyone going cross country.

Congratulations Kat Fuqua Kat 2015 Championships Championships Kat Fuqua Fuqua 2015 Small Pony Hunter Small HunterDivision Division Winter Championwith withRafael Rafael WinterEquestrian Equestrian Festival Festival Grand Champion (owner/rider) PowderPuff Puff(o/r) (o/r) (owner/rider)&&Reserve ReserveChampion Champion with with Powder Southeast Champion SoutheastPony Pony Medal Medal Gold Gold & & Silver Silver Champion Georgia Hunter Jumper Ass. Small Pony Hunter Champion Georgia Hunter Jumper Association Small Pony Hunter Champion GHJA Finals Small Pony Hunter Champion GHJA Finals Small Pony Hunter Champion Horse Show Ventures Pony Champion & High Point Champion Horse Show Ventures Pony Champion & High Point Champion

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

putting your

BEST w o h s FACE forward Natalie Wise

I’M NOT A HORSE PERSON, I can’t tell a correct lead from a cross canter. Don’t even ask me about a hock or a stifle. No, I love animals but am definitely more comfortable watching others ride horses. I am, however, a fashion, makeup, and hair person. I have modeled extensively in Nashville prior to relocating to Georgia. Currently, I do television work as a paid extra and work as an assistant for a concierge company catering to entertainment industry professionals. I happen to live on a horse farm, and have made many friends that are adult riders. Although I’m not an equestrienne, I am intrigued by the passion my friends have for the sport. I’ve learned that one of the most important attributes a rider needs is confidence. For many, putting your best face forward is the first step in gaining a bit of self-confidence. For many of us, that’s where

EQ ST YLE

makeup comes in.

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

As I am an extremely supportive friend, I braved many “Hotlanta” days this past summer attending some horse shows. As there is a lot of down time for a spectator, and there is only so much horse show food I can eat with a good conscious, I found myself examining the riders’ makeup. Some of the riders had on light makeup, some had heavy makeup, and some had no makeup on. It made me curious to find out what judges considered to be appropriate makeup for the show ring.

I interviewed two R judges on the subject.

I was determined to figure this out!

Gardner Powell is an R judge with an extensive show career. She has Fox Hunted, done US Pony Club, and Jr. Hunter and Jumper competitions. Shes competed in national Medal and Maclay finals as a junior. She was the winner of the Governor’s Trophy Equitation Championship at Saratoga St. Clement in 1979. Gardner graduated from Tufts University in 1985 and turned professional in 1989. She trained State, Zone, and PCHA year end champions. She also coached at national Medal and Maclay Finals. She was promoted to R judge in 2001. She’s judged at Arabian Sport Horse Nationals, Pebble Beach, Sonoma Horse Park, Elite Show Jumping, and Equus shows as well as IEA, IHSA, and NCEA Equitation shows.

riders in the country- as well as world class jumpers. Today Kathleen owns Wildflower Farm in Oxford, GA. When she is not judging, she trains a group of dedicated riders. She ensures her riders are also horsemen – or horsewomen. She instills her work ethic into each and every one of them.

After speaking with both judges they both agreed that less is more when it comes to wearing makeup in the show ring. In the hunter ring as well as the equitation ring, heavy makeup can be distracting. You don’t want to draw attention away from performance. In the hunter ring, attention

EQ ST YLE

Kathleen Stamps hails from Gates Mills, Ohio and rode at the Chagrin Valley Hunt (CVHC) with legendary horseman Mr. Howard Lewis. She is a another well regarded R judge with many hours spent in the judges box!

In addition to a rigorous riding regiment, Kathleen learned everything from the ground up- from caring for horses as a working student, to braiding horses at shows. Kathleen

showed in Hunters and Equitation division all over the Midwest and Northeast and of course, Finals were in the fall and the winter, showing indoors. After graduating from college, she was at Ox Ridge Hunt Club with a then “up and coming” Hunter rider, Mr. Scott Stewart. She moved over to Fairfield County Club and worked for two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Leslie Burr-Howard as well as the well known pony trainer, Emerson Burr. She traveled to the top shows in the country; from Lake Placid to WEF and all of Indoors.

Kathleen has worked with some of the best hunters, ponies, equitation horses/

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

In the hunter ring, attention should be on your horse, not you! Heavy makeup can be distracting... stick with a more conservative and traditional look. Keep it understated.

EQ ST YLE

should be on your horse, not on you. Riders should stick with a more conservative and traditional look. Keep it understated.

Also, perspiration is something you have to consider. Heavy makeup and sweat could ultimately end in a disaster. As far a jumpers go, they are scored objectively. People tend to wear more bling and that’s acceptable to my panel of experts.

The first thing judges notice when a rider walks into the Equitation ring is (depending on the class) rider and poise. For Hunters, they first notice overall elegance and the movement of the horse. Judges won’t necessarily deduct points on makeup, but it could potentially be a tiebreaker. Considering what I learned from my new found judging gurus, I have a list of products that will help create a more natural, conservative look – something that judges desire.

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Instead of a heavy foundation, try a “BB Cream” It’s light, but provides great coverage and also has sunscreen in it. Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector, SPF 20 BB cream is the best. I’m also a fan of self tanners. They will achieve a glowing look. My favorite tanning product is L’Oreal Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Salon Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist. I also highly recommend waterproof mascara. MAC has a fantastic mascara called Zoom Waterfast Lash which is a tear, sweat, humidity, and a waterproof formula. The perfect lipstick for a horse rider is MAC Pro long wear Lipcolour - just go for a neutral shade. It’s long-wearing and smudge proof. Ulta has a really good bronzer called Ulta Baked Bronzer. Subtle but effective! My ultimate product is IT Bye Bye Pores HD Finishing Powder. Your skin

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

MAKEUP TIPS FOR COMPETITION DAY 3 Concealer. Imagine a triangle under the eye. Starting at the inner corner of the eye, down the side of the nose, then diagonally to the corner of the eye, and return back under the eye, to the bridge of the nose. This is the concealer ‘zone’.

3 Bronzer. When using your bronzer, remember the higher points of your face that would get the most sun. Tops of cheeks, across the bridge of the nose, chin, and forehead.

Do not overuse the bronzer in these areas! If Bronzing, put a little bronzer in the crease of the eye. This will give a candlelight effect.

3 Blush. Always smile, when applying your blush.

Softly brush on the apple of the cheek and buff out to make a natural flush.

3 Eyeliner. Apply to the upper lash line and smudge into the lashes and to the outer corner, with a small ‘flick’. Or – apply to the outer half of the eye, blending out and up to give the illusion of a cat eye. Use a light wash of a neutral brown all over the lid, just above the crease.

looks airbrushed and even after application! Even if you aren’t a make up person, this powder will make you a believer.

I fully understand many riders who are showing are full of confidence, I am awestruck when I watch them memorize a course and jump an enormous animal around like it’s effortless.

Let’s face it, we all want to look our best and it’s a bonus to be able to walk from the show ring into social setting putting one’s best face forward!

Morgan can be contacted via email or cell for a consultation, reach her at morgonl@mac.com, 770-500-6684

EQ ST YLE

Natalie Wise (pictured here with George Morris). Special thanks to our makeup models Elisabeth Yeager and Sarah Griffin, and Morgon Lindskög, Atlanta-based professional makeup artist for film and TV.

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

The entertainment industry has been migrating to the Atlanta area in droves. The tax incentives offered

by Georgia make the state an attractive location for profitability. Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson Airport has been cited as being the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic for nearly two decades. Let’s face it. Atlanta is a great place to live. As the industry migrates, so does the workforce.

Maureen Forman with Margie Engle

from LA to

GA

M. L. Callahan

hollywood hits home

ART S & ENTERTAINMENT

SUSAN BURIG IS THE POSTER CHILD for this migration.

Susan is a sought-after graphic designer in the film business, and has worked in the industry for many years. Her CV is riddled with big budget films – “blockbusters” as they say in the biz.

The twenty plus years and over forty five movies on her resume betrays her flawless, porcelain features. Walking into her home for the interview was like being transported to a chic home in the Pacific Palisades. Unique artwork that can only be described as “cool,” grace the walls in an uncluttered and sophisticated manner. Her personality and love of horses are demonstrated in eclectic verses- if her home was described as a style of poetry one may think of Haiku; thought provoking in its simplicity.

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Susan first came to Georgia in 2012 to work on the movie, “The Internship” with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. She lived in the Virginia Highlands during the shoot, and when she had free time she explored the city independently. Susan liked Atlanta, but was not invested in it. She was ‘dating’ Atlanta but not wanting a commitment. She worked on several film before being called back to Atlanta two years later to work on Marvel Comic’s “AntMan”, filming at the USA branch of the renowned Pinewood

Belgium Warmblood mare, Favorite. This time she enlisted the help of LA2GA, a concierge service based out of Senoia, Georgia, with an office in Los Angeles. They have a proven track record of assisting entrainment industry professionals relocating to Georgia.

She says the decision to work with LA2GA made all the difference this time around. Susan becomes animated as she speaks about LA2GA, expressing that they understood her immediately, addressing both her needs and her horse’s needs. In fact, she says, they anticipated things before she realized what it was that she wanted. They found perfect accommodations for her, a barn that understood full

Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia. The job was going to be for an extended period of time, so she decided to bring her impressive

care and training, and most importantly, LA2GA introduced a social element that was missing – not only in Georgia, but in

MAUREEN FORMAN, a Los Angeles transplant living in Georgia, is the driving force behind LA2GA. She is very lucky to have KRISTEN HOUGHTON JOHNSON managing the West

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

LA2GA Team

Coast. Their relationship spans nearly a decade, and they both Maureen Forman

have the same instant likability factor. This shared gift puts their clients at ease immediately.

Having resources on both coasts has been key to the success of the company. Kristen is a powerhouse.

Susan Burig and her beloved mare, Favorite

Los Angeles as well. Filming “Ant-Man” and having her horse with her was like being at home but better. She fell in love with the south side of Atlanta – the beautiful green landscape and friendly people. She also loved the ease and proximity to the city. The advantages of not fighting traffic, were especially nice. LA2GA introduced her to Lisa Byer, a realtor and horsewoman, who understands a challenging client. Soon she closed on a house close to Pinewood. “Redoing the house to fit my style wasn’t a chore, it was an exciting project”, says Susan with a twinkle in her eye, “I felt that I had finally found my home.”

encompasses some very big names.

While aesthetically the quintessential California girl, don’t be fooled by the cascade of blonde hair and the bright blue eyes. The balance of her successful marketing background, business savvy, organized mind, and forward thinking personality is invaluable to LA2GA clients. She is able to navigate a perfect Coachella experience for one client, organize an educational psychologist assessment for another, all while driving to meetings and planning large scale events. Always on the run, she jokingly remarks that the car has become her desk, and the 405 Freeway her office!

Maureen, with a European upbringing and boarding school pedigree, knows her way around a VIP tent. Her professional and personal contacts are overwhelming to most, from television and film actors, to musicians and aristocracy, she understands precisely what client expectations are, and ensures that delivery is to her standards. Despite the fluff, she is the most down-to-earth person, with a passion for philanthropy. A constant sponsor of the local equestrian community, including The Bolshoi Benefit, USEA Eventing Championships and myriad others, she has become personally invested in the development of riders, funding a riding lesson scholarship program for local riders. As most aptly described in the acknowledgments of a book by a client, “Her ridiculous charm and buoyant optimism bring oodles of happiness in my life!”

ART S & ENTERTAINMENT

When asked about the showing in immediate area she pauses for a moment. She notes that, “much like the south, the style in Atlanta is simply more classic than out west. Huntseat and equitation seem to have more dominance that the Jumper discipline that I love.” Susan recently sold her beloved horse, Favorite, as her schedule has proven too demanding to be able to enjoy her properly. She sighs, “the horse was too talented to not be showing.” The lack of time seems to be a testimonial to the rate at which the entertainment industry in the area is booming. With the help of LA2GA, Susan is now a member of the local fox hunt club, Bear Creek Hounds – even finding her a perfect mount for her first Opening Hunt. Seems like the ‘dating phase’ has definitely moved forward.

Her professional background Kristen Houghton Johnson

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how to host a

BLIND WINE TASTING

ART S & ENTERTAINMENT

Tatiana Valentine

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SO YOU THINK YOU ARE PRETTY GOOD at tasting wine?

Sure, it’s not that hard to do! But have you ever wondered how the wine experts or “sommelier’s” get so good at identifying what they are sipping on? Well besides the countless hours of studying and hard work in the hospitality industry, blind tasting wine is an important method to not only identify wines but also critique them without bias. We are all guilty of purchasing a wine strictly by its label or because we think we “only like Cabernets” or have already decided that “merlots are lame.”

Blind wine tasting can not only sharpen our wine skills but also shed some light on what kind of wine we really like. Besides, it’s a great way to have fun with your fellow wine loving friends. With a little thought and effort, you can pull off a fabulous evening of blind wine tasting fun.

select one based on you and your friend’s wine knowledge and interests.

I highly recommend to start with a simple Varietal Wine Tasting, with or without narrowing down a specific region – For instance, if you choose a Varietal California Tasting, have your friends each bring their favorite type of wine from that state and an appetizer to go with. Inform guests not to choose a blend, but rather a single varietal wine made primarily of one type of grape.

How to do it!

There are several different variations on how to conduct a blind wine tasting, but by far this is my favorite method that allows everyone to participate, along with a little competition amongst friends.

Keep your headcount in mind – Give some thought on the number of guests you will invite. For instance, if you invite 20 individual people, that would be 20 different bottles of wines. It would be challenging to split one bottle amongst that many friends and you would probably have severe palate fatigue half way through the process. So either cut your guest list down to 6-8 friends, or have couples or single friends team up to bring one bottle per couple. Just remember to measure out your pours so that everyone gets a taste. Each bottle of wine has 25.4 ounces of wine in it, so do the math. If you are cutting it close, use a shot glass to give everyone 1.5 ounces, or better yet, purchase a measured bottle pourer from Amazon to exactly pour one ounce of wine at a time.

Choose a theme – So that everyone is on the same page, you need to choose a wine theme. You don’t want everyone bringing random bottles from all over the world, but rather, from a specific wine region, state, country, or style. For example, your theme could be West Coast Wines, Southern France, Spain, Sparkling Wine Night, or my favorite, a Varietal Wine Tasting. There are many themes to choose from, however, try to

Ground Rules – Set some simple rules when it comes to bottle price.

You don’t want someone bringing a bottle of “two buck chuck” while another guest contributes a bottle of Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet. A $15 to $30 price point is definitely reasonable.

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Cover the bottles – When the wines start arriving, discreetly begin sorting the wines in tasting order. Start with all of the white wines and then the reds. If you aren’t sure how to sort the reds, start with the wines that have the lowest alcohol and work your way up. Make sure to wrap each bottle in a paper bag that is securely tied and number them accordingly. Hint – make sure the shape of the bottle is not identifiable since that can often give away what kind of varietal the wine is.

Start Tasting – Since you are the host and you know what each wine is, give some hints but be careful not to give away too much information and spoil all of the fun. Remind guest to not just taste right away, but also look at all of the clues such as aroma, color, and viscosity. Pinot Noirs are often a dead give away with their typically translucent coloring and medium body.

Viscosity, or the legs of the wine, is also a good determination of how heavy the wine is and how much alcohol it contains.

Wine Score Sheet – Prepare a simple score card for guests to right down their conclusions. Having a column for them to “guess the wine” and also for them to score each aspect of the wine with a column to tally up all scores.

You can find some scorecards online, but custom making yours will add an extra personal touch.

The newest obsession! There are so many different ways to host a wine tasting party, especially a blind testing. But once you’ve tried it, you will be hosting these parties every week!

Have Fun! Don’t take it too seriously. It is highly unlikely that anyone will get all of the wines correct, so don’t focus so much on the right answer, but rather on trying some new wines without any pretenses or prejudices.

You may even surprise yourself on which wine you found to be the most enjoyable of the evening. Besides, how could you not have fun drinking wine and eating appetizers with your friends?

The Big Reveal – After the tasting is over, tell your tasters to put their names on the wine score sheet and gather them all up. Now its time to grade!

Check and see who got the most answers right and also tally up which wine scored the highest. Make note of the “winner” or “winners “ and hand back all of the score sheets. Start with wine number one and reveal what all of the wines are one by one. Have fun listening to your friend’s reactions to what they actually were drinking compared to what they wrote down. Then announce who got the most correct guesses and also the favorite wine of the night. Winners will be awarded kudos indefinitely from your wine circle of friends until your next blind wine tasting!

Love the wine you’re with! Cheers!

ART S & ENTERTAINMENT

There are so many different ways to host a wine tasting party, especially a blind tasting. If you need help planning your next event contact Tatiana at the Wine Shop in Villa Rica and we will be happy to assist. Don’t want to plan your own party but still participate in a blind wine tasting? No problem, we seasonally host blind wine tastings at the store, so make sure follow us on Instagram or Facebook for event updates. www.cheriearmand.com

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Penny Morse ALICIA, KNOWN TO MANY of us through her photography and painting, and not forgetting her ‘Daily Deeds’.

Over the last few years there appears to have been in influx of ‘photographers’ and artists coming into the area. All are good, for the most part, but there are the few who make the exceptional list!

artist

alicia frese klenk

ART S & ENTERTAINMENT

So how do you get to be exceptional? Obviously talent is involved, but it takes a special kind of person to evolve that talent into a purpose.

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If you are familiar with creative people, it will be of no surprise when I say they are ‘different’ from the rest of the world. They can be inspiring, carefree, entertaining and sometimes, puzzling!

Alicia showed a leaning towards an artistic future as a child. Red nail polish added to the not so exciting green silk bedspread, and report cards noting the ‘doodling’ was detrimental to being a straight a student. However, with her second talent in singing, she succeeded in graduating from college with a degree in Illustration and joined the world of Graphic Design, but using her illustration skills, whether by choice or persuasion! This career, however, although not quite what she had in mind, did

allow Alicia to own an Anglo Arab mare called Avalon and enjoy Eventing and Foxhunting.

As the years progressed, Alicia added photography to her list of talents, and became the team photographer for Colavita Pro Cycling. Not exactly equestrian, but it was a good learning experience on how to get a great speed shot – a skill to be later used in the equestrian world. (Although at the time she had no idea that these skills she learned taking photographs of cyclists would benefit her so much!)

As we are all aware, once you have the horse implanted in your brain, that is the world you will always return to, and through different circumstances, Alicia became the photographer for the Good Horseman Dressage Shows for 10 years. The camera

had become Alicia’s love, opening up doors in the horse world and travelling to many locations including Ireland. Remember the singing talent? There was also a tour of Europe in 2010 with the Southern Crescent Chorale singing soprano. A good illustration of how life’s journey takes you many places before you find the road you were destined to travel.

artistic talent has blossomed, and Alicia has become a very well known artist, with commissions all over the country. She chooses to paint on wood surfaces rather than canvas, making her work somewhat unique.

Alicia’s story illustrates how life’s circumstances affect us on our journey to achieve our dreams, even when we are not always sure what they may be! She shares her life with husband Bill, enjoying her equestrian adventures, taking amazing photographs and immortalizing horses on canvas.

As long as we persevere and have the tenacity not to give up, everything is possible.

If you are interested in commissioning a painting, you can email Alicia at aklenk@charter.net. To view her photography and fine art go to www.freseframephotography.com

ART S & ENTERTAINMENT

In 2012, while photographing the Hanoverian Inspection in North Carolina, Alicia met a mare that would change her life. EM Divine Dream (DD), the winner of the Hanoverian Mare Performance Test.

Another of those moments in Alicia’s life, where the unexpected changed the direction she was headed. ‘DD’ went on to place 9th in the nation, of all Hanoverian Performance mares in the US, in 2012, and after waiting for a year, due to the mare being in foal, Alicia was able to bring her dream horse to Georgia. With ‘DD’ as her inspiration, her

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

“Ebony and Ivory,” 20x30 graphite in progress

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ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

ART S & ENTERTAINMENT 46

Above, Moose Meadow E-TE, owned by Ken Byce Facing page, oil portrait of Karen Lipp’s “Baximiliana,” awarded 1st place in the painting category of the annual Juried Art show in Newnan

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

ART S & ENTERTAINMENT

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ART S & ENTERTAINMENT

“The Hunstman Cometh”

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Above, 20x30 oil on birch “First Whip,” commissioned by Graham and Sheri Buston of Virginia Below, 20x30 graphite “Repose,” owned by Nancy McDonald of Texas

ART S & ENTERTAINMENT 39 49

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

ART S & ENTERTAINMENT

Above, “The Lookout” Below, “Dusk” owned by Nancy Watson of North Carolina

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Horse Racing in Georgia. Are we ready?

Styling while riding – what not to wear in the equestrian world Polo in Atlanta GDCTA Greater Atlanta Dressage Southern l/ll & CDI3*/AM/J/Y/U25 Olympic Qualifier Chatt Hills3* International Horse Trials Road to Rio and the weekend before Rolex Is IceDot the safety app answer for lone riders?

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