April 7, 2019

So far this year has been far from predictable with highs and lows in such a short amount of time. Let’s start with the highs- Hannii is progressing along in her training very nicely and I’m so happy with where she’s at currently. Her piaffe is getting stronger every week and it is now her favourite movement. Something just clicked in her brain and for a movement that once caused her to have anxiety and insecurity about, it’s now a place where she can slow her mind down and truly focus on what she’s doing, truly release the tension she holds in her back and throughout her entire body and really settle into “the groove”. Watching her improvements every week is such a thrill. Hannii has also been learning her passage button and I can say confidently that her piaffe and passage will certainly be highlights of hers once she reaches Grand Prix level.

Now we move onto the lows-  since  about mid January I haven’t been able to ride Hannii to the level I used to be able to due to ongoing health issues. I am still able to ride her but only very lightly and much shorter 20-30 minute rides with lots of walk breaks. I have been very fortunate to have Marcie riding and continuing her training for me 2 days a week. The goals I had set for myself and Hannii competing at Fourth Level this year have taken a back seat for now as disappointing as this is.  So, the focus is very much on the training and development with perhaps getting her out to one show this year with Marcie at the BC Dressage Championships. My other goal for this year is to have Hannii schooling all of FEI Prix St. George by the end of the year.

Despite my health issues weighing me down, this horse is one of the few things in life that just gives me so much joy. I’m grateful that I even have a horse, especially a horse of this caliber to ride, as every ride is a true blessing. Even if it’s just getting on and walking around. Enjoy every moment.

January 1, 2019

2018 was a huge year for Hannii and I and we achieved so much more than I ever expected we would. These happy surprises kept consistently coming and I am grateful to be able to develop our partnership, friendship and Dressage skills together as a team.

We debuted at Third Level in March with Hannii pleasantly keeping her cool at the show grounds and cruising her way through the tests. We had our first gold show debut at Third Level in May at Southlands, taking out the overall championship in our division. This was her best show to date in terms of her mind being settled and calm in the arena. We’re starting to grow up after all!

August was our next gold show at Southlands again in which we debuted out Third Level Freestyle test. This was a huge highlight for me personally as I had been working on the freestyle test and music since March of 2018. We were so thrilled with the positive feedback we received from the judges and spectators alike.

October was our last show of the year which was held at Thunderbird. Whilst not our best show and filled with many highs and lows, upon reflection was a tough learning experience for us both. We took part in our first ever costume freestyle with our theme being The Little Mermaid. Hannii enjoyed herself so much and given how worried I was about her losing her cool in the different atmosphere, she came through with the goods and took it all in her stride!

As far as our training from 2018 has gone, we have make huge progress in leaps and bounds in the beginnings of our upper level work. Hannii has been learning half steps beginning with baby steps and solid steady progress, taking it all on like a natural We now have a piaffe and passage button and I know this is going to be a huge highlight for her once we develop more and begin our Grand Prix journey together. We also have a solid strong medium trot and are working on our extended gaits. Hannii did her first ever real tempi changes making it all the way to solid two tempi changes, doing 4 in a row no less!

Currently I am refining all her Fourth Level movements as we hope to begin the 2019 season with a debut at this new level. My main goal for this year isn’t just about the competitions and getting out into the show ring, but moreso focusing on the training and refining of our skills with a goal of being able to ride through bits of FEI level tests across the various levels. Hannii is already showing every sign that she will be very capable of making it all the way to Grand Prix and I am so excited and filled with joy to be taking this journey with her.

Enjoy the ride,

Happy 2019!

October 8, 2018

Pacific Regional Dressage Championships- Thunderbird Show Park

That’s a wrap on the Pacific Regionals for this year! Whilst it was a show full of extreme highs and lows, we did come away with improvements in new areas. If only Hannii would settle in the show ring and stay calm and cool like her rider, she would blow the socks off her competition. The moments she gave me of pure brilliance felt unlike no horse I’ve ever ridden. Her expression in her trot, cadence, self carriage and new gears, definitely didn’t feel like a Third level horse! Despite the obvious anxiety she displayed today we did get clean flying changes which has been a big goal for us in the show ring. She bumped up her scores for not only her flying changes but turns on the haunches and medium and extended trots. I appreciated the judges feedback of handling a problematic ride with tact and determination. Boy does Hannii ever instill this into me! From now forwards I have the lovely pleasure of trying to find a way to channel my little ball of fire into an ice cold cucumber…. with a little bit of spice of course 😂😎🤩

September 4, 2018

BC Dressage Championships Update:

Hannii and I competed at our second time out at a gold show at Third Level at Southlands. Since the May show in our debut at Third Level we have been doing a lot of homework. Mainly in the flying changes, canter half passes and medium and extended gaits. This second time around she felt so much more solid in herself and in the required movements. Our scores improved from our last show and we finally got to ride our Freestyle! This Freestyle has been a labour of love from its inception way back in February. I really loved every minute of creating eveything and to show it off was so much fun. For Hannii a bit too much fun as she got very “electric” once our music started playing and created a few extra dance steps of her own. We are looking forward to the final sow of the year out at Thunderbird next month and in the training over the next few weeks leading up.

Link to our freestyle:

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June 18, 2018

Many great things have happened since my last update at the start of the year.

Hannii and I competed at our first schooling show debuting at Third Level at Southlands in March. We did test 3-1 and for not having been out to a show for over 6 months or off property, boy did she impress me with her willingness and confidence both in and out of the show ring. Still, lot’s of good feedback from the judge and lot’s of homework to do!

In May we did our first gold show of the year at the Southlands Spring Show,  with our official full Third Level debut. This was our most solid and successful show to date. Hannii improved with each test every day with our percentage going up and her confidence growing. Great feedback from the judges and even a closing remark of “steady test”, something I thought I’d never read about Hannii in the show ring. The biggest achievement for me was not once did she spook in the arena during our tests. A huge achievement if you know how reactive this horse is. So proud of her trust in me and her growing confidence whilst performing. To top it all off Hannii and I were the overall A/A Champions of Third Level. What a fantastic first show of the year!

January 7, 2018

Happy New Year! Hannii and I have had a great start to the year and have been working hard over the Christmas and New Year break. We’ve made wonderful progress in our training,  working Hannii over cavaletti for the first time, which has been a huge help. Her collected trot has improved along with her medium trot with more reach and lift through her shoulders. She even offered me a baby passage in a much more elevated frame than ever. We’ve been having so much fun and this winter season is still just beginning!

December 12, 2017

I recently won the Dressage BC Working Student Grant for 2017 and I couldn’t be more thrilled and thankful to DBC and its supporters along with my coach Marcie Doyle. Hannii and I will be using the grant to fund our first show of the season in 2018. What a great start to the year.

October 30, 2017

Hannii training update:

Hannii and I are going to be rounding out the year schooling all the required movements for Third level. We are aiming for a Third level debut for the beginning of the 2018 show season. Currently we’re having fun schooling  flying changes…. Hannii’s new favourite thing!

October 29, 2017

The last show of the year for Hannii and I was the Pacific Regional Dressage Championships at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley. This was our full level debut at Second level. We rode tests 2 and 3 and took part in the championship. Our highest score of this show was 63.84 % in test 2 in which we came 4th overall and then we managed to gain 3rd place in test 3. The judges were tough but the good news is they all liked Hannii and I. Sadly her tension and anxiety came through which prevented the judges from awarding us with higher marks. But despite all of this she did well with again, respectable scores in a tough field of competitors. Not bad for never having performed these tests at a show before! Once we can get more relaxation and suppleness and less tension then she will really be able to shine. It was a big improvment  this time around from the last time we competed at Thunderbird in July.

September 9, 2017

We had a fun and successful BC Dressage Championships at Southlands Riding Club in August. I had the privilege of riding Hannii and Lyric, a newcomer 4 year old Canadian Warmblood bred by Marcie Doyle. Lyric and I won the 4 year old Young Horse Prospect class sponsored by Blue Herron Farms. Lyric also placed in her other classes and we were so happy with her for her first time off property, first show ever and only being under saddle for 3 months!

I was thrilled with Hannii and how much more settled she was in the Southlands atmosphere the second time around. This was our third show together and she was very consistant with her scores at First Level. We even had our Second Level debut and came in 3rd place with a respectable 60% score. Our next and final show of 2017 will be at the Pacific Regional Dressage Championships at Thunderbird on September 29.

July 9, 2017

Hannii and I had our second show together at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley at the Touch of Class Dressage show. We achieved our highest percentage score to date along with our first ribbons together. I was happy with the progress she made in such a big show atmosphere compared to our last show in Southlands. Our next show will be August 18-20 at the BCDC’s!

May 11, 2017
We had our first show together debut, first time at Southlands and first time competing at First Level this past weekend. Hannii improved consistently over the entire weekend and I could not be more proud of her and how hard she tried for me with every test we rode. This show was exactly what we needed and has lit a fire under us to improve and aim even higher towards our next set of goals. Here’s to many more fun show experiences to come!

April 26, 2017
Hannii and I have our first show together at the Southlands Spring Gold show from May 5-7. We’re hoping to have a positive and fun first outing together.