Congratulations to Steven and Lil Ruf Diva! Steven and Diva won both of their Rookie Professional classes at the NRHA October Slide. Diva was steady and consistent all weekend and a real pleasure to show. We look forward to seeing what they will be able to accomplish as the 2010 show season begins.
Congratulations also to Anne and SC The Jazzman. Anne showed Jazz at the Orlando Winter Classic on December 12-13, where he competed at 4th level for the first time at a recognized show. Jazz won 4 out of 4 classes and was the High Point champion at 4th level for the weekend. They were featured in the January 1, 2010 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse.
Anne also earned her USDF Bronze medal this year riding Jazz, and her young horse, Forrester Slew. She is already working on her silver.
In other news...Steven and Anne recently did a clinic at Honey Tree Stables in Oxford, Ohio. Sarah Oelerich, an accomplished hunter-jumper trainer, hosted it and utilized Steven's skills in starting several young horses under saddle, as well as making sure two of her stallions had an excellent start on their manners and handling. Sarah encouraged many of her clients to participate, and she also welcomed horse people from the surrounding area. Some of the issues we touch
ed on were helping young horses to gain confidence under saddle and learning to move freely forward, making horses more responsive to the leg and hand, helping riders to be clear and not conflicting with their aids, trailer loading, and ground manners and handling.
It has been years since Anne showed hunters, she loved the oppurtunity to observe Sarah teaching her students and training her own horses. Anne was able to learn Sarah's meticulous and logical method of starting horses over fences, and to find out what judges are looking for in the hunter and jumper rings nowadays.
Most recently, Steven and Anne returned from teaching a clinic in Venezuela. This was their second time teaching there, and just as before, Reinaldo Rodrigez organized it and made sure Steven and Anne had were spoiled by the wonderful food and the most gracious treatment imaginable. There were over thirty clinic participants; about half rode Quarter horses and competed in Team 
Penning, while the other half raised and trained Paso Finos. The two groups complimented each other well and much of the work that was done, such as addressing spookiness, head-shy issues, standing tied, and trailer loading, was applicable to all types of horses. An especially important concept for everyone was helping the horses become as senstive and light as possible to the aids, without being overreactive. We worked a lot on the concepts of pressure and release, and timing, and how these tools are much more effective than fear or intimidation. One highlight of the clinic was when people began betting on whether Steven could catch an extremely head-shy horse. He had a bridle on her within ten minutes!
New Beginnings Lynn'D Farms is also proud to welcome the 10 year-old Holsteiner gelding Cashiro. Steven and Anne purchased Hero from Caitlin Ahl of Archer's Horses in southern Oregon. Caitlin showed him successfully through 3rd level before he had some time off and embarked on a jumping career. Although he was happy to eat up 4'6" courses, Anne couldn't resist the way he moved, or his adorable and rambunctious personality. So now Hero is back to schooling half-pass and tempi changes, and getting used to his new lifestyle here in buggy Florida. Anne is excited to begin showing him this winter and can't wait to see what he'll do!
Update - Anne showed Hero at a local S.T.R.I.D.E. schooling show at 3rd Level, tests 1 and 3. He won his classes and was High Point champion for all of second level and above.