Clinic at Cedar Ridge Farm in Athens, Georgia

Last Friday I was lucky enough to teach a clinic at Tom and Carolyn Cadier's Cedar Ridge Farm in Athens, Georgia. Tom and Caroline are well known horse lovers, keen eventers, crazy fox hunters and also the owners, at the time, of a horse by the name of Esker Riada that competed at the Aachen world eventing championships in 2006.

The clinic was fantastic, with the day spent doing private dressage and private jumping lessons. Tom and Carolyn have a world-class training facility. The dressage and jumping arena is awesome, with perfect rubber footing. They also have a massive 30-acre cross-country schooling paddock which is suitable for training horses from beginner novice right through to advanced.

Lucky for me, I am heading back out to their farm to teach on Monday the 2nd of February and again on Monday the 16th of February. Anyone close by that is interested in joining in can check out the Clinics section of my website or email Carolyn directly at cccadier@bellsouth.net

Boyd

Boyd to be Featured on Eventing Radio Show

Everyone is encouraged to listen in as Boyd takes part in the exciting new Eventing Radio Show on The Horse Radio Network. Until April 26 the weekly show, (also available as a podcast), will feature coverage focusing on the Rolex Kentucky three-day event.

According to a press release, "This one-hour weekly show covers all the current news and information about the sport of eventing. With less than three months before the Rolex Event at the Kentucky Horse Park the show will focus on Rolex by interviewing show organizers and the some of riders that are expected to attend. Episode 2 is now available and includes an interview with Janie Atkinson, Executive Director for the Rolex Event. Janie speaks about all the changes and construction going on at the Kentucky Horse Park as a result of the preparations for the Alltech FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games and how they will impact the Rolex Event."

The show is hosted by Glenn the Geek and Chris Stafford, both located in Lexington, KY. Chris is a former event rider who has been an equestrian journalist and broadcaster for over 30 years and has covered all the major events. Glenn is an experienced radio host and actor who has been involved with the horse industry for over 20 years with an emphasis on eventing.

Listeners can catch new shows each Thursday at www.eventingradio.com or by subscribing through iTunes or Zune. It also has its own group on Facebook.com. The show is available to download to MP3 players or iPods, so folks can listen while they are doing their favorite barn chores or on the road to the next horse show!

Boyd's interview will take place on Monday, January 26th and will be featured on the show on Thursday, January 29th. Be sure to tune in, it's guaranteed to be entertaining!

Final foal for the season....

This morning in Australia, the final foal was born for the 2008/2009 season. "Warney", (named after Australian cricket legend Shane Warne) is possible the ugliest foal bred by Windurra Australia! Looks aside, this eventing foal is bred in the purple. His dam, the gray mare in the picture, is Brilliant Silver, whom is by Brilliant Invader, who is the sire of World and Olympic champion Reddy Teddy. The sire of Warney is Staccatto, who was the 2005 FEI #1 eventing stallion in the world. He is half Dutch Warmblood, (Salute), and half Australian Thoroughbred. Stacatto himself was a 4-star event horse.

Little Warney may have long ears, but he has the personality of a champion, just like Shane Warne.

Boyd

Welcome to the Latest Addition: Carrie Bradshaw

Little Carrie was born yesterday in Australia! She is out of our mare Rosa Cha W, by the German stallion His Highness. Rosa Cha W is by Regademoi, who is by Rubinstein out of a Consul mare.

Rosa has just turned four and is going to come to the U.S. after she finishes taking care of Carrie!

-Silva

Boyd Heads South for the Winter

On Friday I arrived down at Phillip and Evie's winter farm in Aiken, South Carolina. Red Oak Farm measures about 30 acres in the Bridle Creek Equestrian development. The barn is top class with 17 stalls, wash stalls, tack room and a beautiful apartment above.





The team vet, Dr. Kevin Keane, has purchased 10 acres next door. He has 5 turnout paddocks that some of our horses are using.








Next door to him is my friend Illeene Borram, who has built a magnificent barn with apartment and an outdoor dressage ring.





The group of horses that I am focused on traveled very well; some too well! Neville Bardos was very full of himself today. I did some dressage and three lots of canters at a mile each. He is getting fit for Rolex, and is really enjoying his work.




A good friend from Australia, Lauren Balcomb, has come over to train for a month. Lauren is one of Australia's best younger riders. It is great working with Lauren, Woodzy and Jennie. They are all great riders.



Until next time,

Boyd

Nate Chambers in Wellington

Eventer Nate Chambers is here in Wellington for a few weeks to improve his dressage and show jumping skills before he heads to Aiken, South Carolina to start his eventing season. Nate has two of his horses here and is having a lesson with me every day. Both his horses and his riding have improved so much already.

-Silva

Successful Start in Wellington

Greetings from Wellington! We went to our first show last weekend, the Wellington Classic 1.

I rode Simply Priceless, an Australian Thoroughbred owned by Simone Kahn. We call him Johnny and he is an Intermediaire horse that Simone sent to Wellington with me to improve his flat work. Johnny went so well for me. On Friday he won the First level with 67 percent, and on Saturday he went in a much bigger, more competitive field and scored 70 percent and finished 4th. I was very proud of the little AUSSIE TB!!!!!!

I also rode DP Lidcombe on Friday, in the First level Test 3. Lidcombe has improved so much since his last show: he was much more together and did not feel so huge anymore! I think he is growing up! He finished second with 67 percent.

On Sunday I rode Sea Lord and Jeff the Chef. Sea Lord competed in his last Third level test; I thought it would benefit him to start one more time in Third level before we move up to Fourth level at the Gold Coast Opener Festival, and wow what a great test he did. As I was riding the test, I thought to myself, "He is not far off FEI." He did not make one mistake!

The best thing about this amazing-moving horse is that he really, really loves competing. He was trying his heart out for me. He scored 9s for both his extended trots and a lot of 8's for other movements. Every time I show this horse I get so excited because I can feel what a great Grand Prix horse he is going to be! I CAN NOT WAIT!! He won the class with 72 percent!

I rode Jeff in his last Fourth level before we move up to Prix St. George at the Opener Festival. Jeff went great and he feels ready for the next level. What I am the most exited about is that he is not spooking any more. He finally understands competition and he enjoys it. He was easy to ride and only made a few little mistakes, which were my fault. He scored 69 percent and finished second.

Caitlin rode her first Third level test on Waimea. Margo was so nice to give Caitlin the wonderful opportunity to show Mea in Wellington. Caitlin rode very well but she still needs get to know Mea better: they had a few mistakes in the canter, but it will be better next time and they still finished third.

I was also very excited that Boyd was there to watch us go!

-Silva