Bella and I have found a new place to train, Pine Meadow Farm, with Celeste Brown. Celeste is a Morgan Sport horse breeder and dressage rider. Her stallion has some impressive wins. I love that she takes the Morgan as a sport horse seriously. It is a lot longer drive than my one mile drive to the former trainers but 'art' is worth the effort.

Before I started lessons I sent Celeste a video of me riding Bella last summer just before we showed. It was some of my best riding so I thought she might be able to see where I was and consider what she wanted me to start on. I was expecting something different than getting my entire seat, legs and balance together (OK, I knew about the hands!) She thought I showed too much "derrieres" in my video. I see what she means, you can see it too on my video.

I got to ride Aikane (Hawaiian meaning ‘Friend”). He is an older boy and a lot less ‘forward’ (I love that term) than our Bella. Riding in a dressage saddle is very much different than my ‘all purpose’ saddle. I broke down and purchased my dressage saddle, though I really wanted a different once, I got a Wintec. Wow, I barely feel secure on the horse! Bella loved it immediately, put her head down and rounded up, wow! Celeste hasn’t seen me on it yet. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have an indoor just yet and I’m not hardy enough to brave the NY winter riding outside.

Bella and I haven’t worked together all winter. On December 21 I had rotator cuff surgery and it was the beginning of a very snowy and icy winter. As I write now, its mid March, we are looking at the end of this season and the beginning of a new one, riding season!

Bella and I will move ourselves to Pine Meadows the first week of April so start the training process for 2011. Hopefully, this will be a year of more togetherness for our team. I hope to post weekly how I am doing, what I am learning and some interesting photos, videos and links for other dressage fans.