Friday, August 30, 2013

Billie Jean Halliday - Reasonably Priced at $15K!



Phone Boyd 610 806 2381 for an appointment to see and ride this wonderful prospect. Billie is still young and green, which means she is priced to sell. This is a super opportunity for someone who wants a scopey, good-moving, talented young horse to bring up the levels. We think she would be great in dressage or eventing - or both!

NAME: Billie Jean Halliday
SEX: Mare
COLOUR: Bay
HEIGHT: 16.1 hh
DATE OF BIRTH: 2006
COUNTY OF BIRTH: America
SIRE: Noteworthy (Thoroughbred)
DAM: Jasmina (Holsteiner- Landgraf line)
BREED: Holsteiner/TB
BREEDER: Bonnie Stedt
PLACE OF BIRTH: New York

Dressage Photos from Lamplight

After a few days in jumping land, we finally return to the dressage world to bring you photos of Silva and her horses competing at the USEF/Markel Young Horse and Developing Dressage Horse Championships last weekend at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Thanks again to Scout for the awesome updates from the show!


Benny Awards

Benny Victory

Benny Awards

Benny

Benny with Larry and Melinda


Debbie McDonald and Scout
Rosa Cha W
Silva and Scout with Rosa Cha W
Rosa Awards
Rosa Awards Ceremony
Sully
Sully

The Dream Team





Thursday, August 29, 2013

Day Two at the George Morris Clinic



 Windurra welcomed legendary rider and instructor 
George Morris 
to the farm for a two-day clinic, August 27th and 28th. 

Morris greets auditors while schooling Gloria Callen's Welcome Shadow

Boyd says:

I think it was an honor and an absolute treat for some of the eventing riders of our area to partake in the clinic with George Morris here at Windurra over the past couple of days. Without question in my mind George is the most influential coach in the United States. His methods, whilst very strict, are brilliant and he’s got an amazing sense to motivate and inspire riders through the highest standards. 

Boyd on Welcome Shadow

I’d also like to thank Joanie Morris and David O’Connor from the USEF for getting behind what started as a private clinic. I thought it showed wonderful sportsmanship from David for coming up to watch the clinic and also join in the talk on Saturday evening along with George. They sat down with all the riders and basically talked about all the bases of training and even went a step further and talked about the psychology of being a world-class rider, what they look for in coaching a horse, and the most interesting to me when George said natural talent was the most important ingredient for a successful rider. 

Welcome Shadow
I rode two of Gloria Callen’s Irish Sport Horses, Welcome Shadow and Finn McCool. They are both green but quality jumpers and were a very good choice for the clinic. George hopped on both of them and schooled them up a bit for me – I think he did this more to improve the horses quickly, so I could feel the difference, and for me on the ground to have a visual display of what he wanted. 


George Morris on Callisto

I think the most important lesson that I took away from the clinic is the importance of simplicity in the flat work and jumping. It wasn’t rocket science; it’s absolute correctness, discipline, and the technique you need to be a good jumping rider. I hope to get George back to the farm next year because I think all the riders benefited a great deal, and I hope the USEF will also utilize his coaching in their training program.




Enthusiastic Supporters
 A few quotes from the clinic:

“Check that your stirrups are even – this should be a habit. Don’t sit too deep, especially on a high-headed horse. Stay forward and keep the outside leg on.”


Morris adjusting Dom Schramm's stirrup length and leg position
“Cantering a figure-8 over a vertical is a super exercise for learning lead changes, teaching the horse to accept the bend, and encouraging the horse to accept half-halts. You can take the jump on a long or short distance, and make wide turns or tight turns. It’s helps the horse for both stadium and cross-country.”

Boyd practicing a Figure 8 turning exercise
“The fashion today is “behind” the horse, but I don’t see Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut or McLain Ward “behind” the horse. Watch riders like these – done correctly it’s fabulous and for the horse it’s nicer.”


Sharon White, praised for her consistent position, and Wundermaske



“Each horse is different, but all horses have to have the basics. That’s why I’m so picky about things like circles, and how to hold the whip. When you practice correctly and repeatedly, these actions become automatic.”

Concentration
“In leg-yielding, head to the wall and tail to the wall are the first lessons from the outside leg. You want to get a horse yielding from his quarters. First I flex him, I don’t bend him; it’s not a bending exercise. Then I keep him straight – ultimately you can school travers, where the horse is flexed slightly in the direction he’s traveling.”

“Resist, but don’t pull. As the horse stiffens, my hands go higher – when he relaxes, I release. When he raises his head, he meets resistance. After a few days of this schooling, when I make a half-halt the horse drops his head. Any head-shaking and I close my fingers.”

“In rein-back, if the horse makes any step back I release. What teaches the horse is that reward – after you close your hand, RELEASE.”


Boyd looks on as Caitlin rides HH Lancaster

To Caitlin, who was riding a big horse: “You want the steps more active but not faster. Activate the horse with your inside leg to outside rein. You don’t want the tempo to feel rushed.”

“When you are teaching horses anything, they can get “hot”, they can get “nappy” – but when they understand the lesson, they’re not that way any more.”

"When you are jumping, if the horse is hesitant: 1. Ask 2. Tell 3. Make 4. Force. My ultimate goal is to go through first, just allowing the horse; one is passive, four is maxiumum driving."
"I was always a naturalist, no side reins or other auxiliaries. The horse will tell me what he needs. My system is based on the natural mechanics of riding.”

 PHOTOS COPYRIGHT AMBER HEINTZBERGER

Also read Dom Schramm's excellent Blog on The Chronicle of the Horse

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Amy Dragoo photo gallery on The Chronicle of the Horse


Amy Dragoo photographing George Morris in action. Photo copyright Amber Heintzberger

Amy Dragoo photographed both days of the George Morris clinic at Windurra. Here is Tuesday's gallery of images:

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/legendary-learning-experience

And Wednesday: 

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article_images/44256

Dom Schramm's Blog: 

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/keeping-it-simple-getting-it-right

First Day of The George Morris Clinic!

What an honor to have George Morris teaching 2 days of clinics, under the watchful eye of David O'Connor, at Windurra USA!  The first day ran smoothly with a fine group of young horses in the ring getting schooled by the Master.

Each group started out with George reviewing the basics of stirrup length and basic position before moving onto a solid period of time doing flat work while George imparted his words of wisdom.  Here is a video snippet of his flat work with group 2.

Group 2 Flat Work



Switching back to the first group, here are several videos on their work over fences.  Emphasis was on using turns and the ring to get the young horses to become more subtle.  Here's a video of Boyd on a nice young horse in group 1.

First Jumping Exercise - Group 1



Here is Dom Schramm on a lovely young horse that he has on the market.  George liked Tex enough to jump in the tack for his own round over this schooling exercise, a practice that he did quite often throughout the clinic.

Dom Schramm on Tex




George Morris on Tex



I took copious notes of the snippets of information he was communicating to the first two groups.  The following is a sampling of his words of wisdom:

1.  It's very important that you take from a clinic what you like.  I'm not your trainer, so don't take everything back to your trainer, just the exercises you like!

2.  You ride off of 3 points:  seat bones, calves and hands.  Always keep your hands up and support in the transition.  If you elevate your hands you take 20% of the horse's weight off his front end.

3.  I'm not into fashion, I'm into classical riding.  Some dressage riders today are far too behind the motion and have too long of stirrup.  That will change and it always goes back to classical riding.

4.  All the time we're combating resistance with the horse.  Understand the different level of resistances with your horse.

5.  Contact with your horse's mouth is elusive.  Horses hate to have you touch the bar of their mouth.  The horse accepts contact through the corners of his mouth.  Never drop your hands.  The horse has to accept your hand.  It's a straight line from elbow to mouth.  You squeeze lemons, you don't saw your hands back & forth.  Close your fingers with firm contact, be definite yet subtle.

6.  Choose and appropriate bit for jumping.  Rarely is a plain snaffle enough bit for schooling over fences.  A soft twist is a bitter choice.

I wanted to also award Kevin Keane the good sportsmanship award for riding a horse in training with Phillip that was a bit wild!  I think that was a set up.  Great riding Kevin!

Check out a few photos from yesterday's action as well.  Facebook Photo Album 

Keep an eye on our blog and Facebook page for more updates from today's action being covered by Amber Heintzberger.  


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Interview from Richland with Samantha Clark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPOC-2zgAUc&sns=em

Listen in as Boyd and Samantha discuss the winning weekend

Monday, August 26, 2013

Schedule for George Morris Clinic!

Below is the schedule for Tuesday/Wednesday George Morris Clinic at Windurra USA!

GPS addresses are:
Windurra USA - Cars 
57 Gibble Rd
Cochranville, Pa 19330

Trailers
2027 Gap Neport Pike (rt 41)
Cochranville, PA, 19330

Boyd is kindly providing stabling on site for those traveling to the clinic.   

George is charging a $60 fee for auditors. 

David O'Connor will be joining the clinic on Tuesday.

Tuesday, August 27

8:00 AM - all local riders meet to set course

9-11 AM: Boyd Martin, Caitlin Silliman, Kevin Keane, Sawyer Gilker, Dominic Schramm

11 AM - 1 PM: Boyd Martin, Caitlin Silliman, Lauren Kieffer, Sharon White, Kaitlin Spurlock

2-4 PM: Will Coleman, Lauren Kieffer, Sharon White, Lillian Heard, Erin Sylvester

All riders to set course for Wednesday.

6:00 PM - Rider meeting with George at Boyd and Silva's
6:30 PM - Dinner for riders, grooms and owners at farm

Wednesday, August 28

9-11 AM: Will Coleman, Lauren Kieffer, Sharon White, Lillian Heard, Kevin Keane

11AM - 1 PM: Boyd Martin, Caitlin Silliman, Erin Sylvester, Lauren Kieffer, Sharon White

2PM - 4PM: Boyd Martin, Caitlin Silliman, Sawyer Gilker, Dominic Schramm, Kaitlin Spurlock

Thank you very much, looking forward to seeing you!

Joanie Morris
Managing Director, Eventing
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Scout's Final Update: Silva and Rosa Top 3 Finish!

Driving back from Chicago now. 654 miles to go..we'll be there in a jiff. Silva and Rosa killed it today, pirouetting their way into the top three in the entire nation! The Cha decided to go out with a bang, opening up a can of whoop-ass on the competition, and getting the seal of approval from some of the legends in the industry... Including the dream team of Deb McD and myself. Thank you to all the owners and supporters of The Rosa Cha, and congratulations on your fine taste in horses. Big shout out to all of the sponsors who made this all possible for Silva, and who kept the horses and Silva looking top notch: Purina, Smartpak, Ariat, Stuebben, Middy & me.

Only 648 miles to go...

Scout

EN's Coverage of Boyd and Oscar's Win at Richland!


Boyd Martin Breaks Down His Winning Richland Weekend

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces sealed the deal today in the Richland Park CIC3*, jumping clear across a big Ian Stark cross country course and coming home with one of the fastest times of the day to hold their overnight lead and clinch the win. I caught up with Boyd and Oscar after the cross country to talk strategy for the remainder of the fall season before they head to the Netherlands to tackle the Boekelo CCI3*. 
As a bit of trivia, Oscar earned his barn name because he’s quite a grouch, as you’ll see in the video; Boyd had to bribe him with carrots to convince him to smile for the camera. You also might catch a glimpse of super groom Lindsey Taylor as she puts poultice on Oscar's legs.
Congrats to the whole Windurra team for a fantastic showing at Richland this weekend, and best of luck for the rest of the year.