Hot
news in the hoofprints
Felicity Farm is holding an Open House and
Dressage Schooling Show May 17. The title is Gentle Solutions.
Katja Elk is the trainer, and her background
and history are amazing to say the least.
She came from Germany and experienced an
amazing process of healing through her association with horses and riding.
In addition to Monty Roberts, her master
teachers were Annelie von Lewinski, Michael Bunger, Tina Stewart, Alfred
Knopfhard, Charles De Kunffy, Steffen Peters, Arthur Kottas, Shelly Lawder,
Sonja Vracko and Charlotte Bredahl Baker.
Some of the things Elk will be touching on
include: The nature of the horse and how it relates to its use today; the horse’s
psychology; the rider’s physiology and psychology; feeling and processing
directions; introduction to groundwork; and riding with a smile.
Baker will judge this valuable schooling
event.
For more information call 805-693-1203, or
contact Jenny Alexander at http://www.jinbug@earthlink.net.
Helen Logan River Romp
Another exciting upcoming event is the annual
Helen Logan River Romp. It’s put on by the Santa Ynez Valley Arabian Horse
Association and all breeds of horses are welcome.
This is a very popular annual spring trail
riding competition where many different breeds of horses from Thoroughbreds to
Norwegian Fjords, as well as mules and donkeys joyfully take part together.
It will be held June 7 and 8 at Live Oak camp,
which is accessed from Hwy 154. It is near Lake Cachuma.
This is a great opportunity for a family horse
camping adventure The trails go through several private ranches and offers
beautiful views of the lake and countryside.
You’ll ride through wooded glens, water
crossings, sandy washes, rocky- river beds, rolling hills and meadows. Riders
also report sightings of wildlife and birds including eagles. Sounds like
heaven!
There are three divisions: Open, Competitive
Pleasure and Novice. Open covers 50 to 60 miles in the two-day period.
The other two divisions cover 22 to 40 miles.
There is also a one-day novice ride. Horses and riders are monitored at
checkpoints to make sure both horse and rider are doing well.
There’s an Awards dinner at the end and ribbons are awarded.
This is a time when people are really appreciating their horses and feeling proud
of their own efforts, whether or not they won.
Anyone wishing to donate to the silent auction
may call Sylvia Beverly at 688-2000. Entry forms are on line at www.syvaha.com.
If you would like to volunteer to help- please
call Kathy Stegman at (805) 710-4471 or e-mail kkstegman@sc.com.
Another honor for the Valley
This year there was a four-star event called
The Rolex at the Kentucky Horse Park. It is a three-day event comprised of
dressage, cross country and stadium jumping.
There are only three four-star events in the
entire world, and this is the only one in the western hemisphere.
Jennifer Wooten, a valley gal, has practiced
competition jumping here in the valley since she was a little kid, and this
year she entered The Rolex against very strong international competition. Her
hard work and determination paid off, and aboard the Good Witch she placed
seventh in a field of 58!
This makes her just a whisper away from making
the Olympic team.
Barbara and Jim Groessl are selling caps to
help raise funds to enable Jennifer to continue her quest.
Off to Australia
Two well-known valley residents, are off to Australia to
present Join-Up in the Saddle for Aussie horsemen. Monty Roberts and Charlotte
Bredahl Baker will present the program in the cities of Melbourne, Perth and
Tamworth.
“We’ll be taking our spouses along too,” said
Charlotte.
This means that Joel Baker (polo player
extraordinaire) and Pat Roberts (accomplished western rider and sculptress)
will be having a whale of a trip.
Joining Monty in his Great Minds Train Alike
and Partnerships That Build Performance programs will be Rob Horne, who is a
leading Australian Trainer and Early Education Specialist.
Sounds like a winner, mate!