Welcome Back to White Fences 2015

Lance

We had a good show weekend at Welcome back to White Fences. I started the show off with Elaine and Bruce Warner's Sir Lancelot in third level . What a cool guy he is !! He won his class with 70.38% .


My next horse was my long time friend Melinda Walton and Larry Smith's Benefactor RRS. This was only his third third level and he is barely seven years old . He was second with 70.28%. He now has never scored under 70% in third level!!

Benny

It was a rainy and wet Saturday but the horses wrere troopers. Next was Gloria Callen and Anne Laver's Bright Side. Eddy is a great horse but such a baby still. He made some unfortunate mistakes in his first level test but still scored 67%. I rode Kirsten Jepp's fabulous young horse Estival Star in his only second training level show next. He is a very fancy 4-year-old and such a good boy! He won with 70%.

On Sunday I rode Bonnie Stedt's Zoran in his second Intermediare 1. He was still a little green at that level but we finished second on 67%. Last but surely not least I rode Rosa Cha's daughter ,Sara Reese and Joan Fenton's Hannah Lu W, in training level. She was such a good girl and she feels more and more like her mother. We finished second in the class!! VIDEO

-Silva

USDF Finals in Lexington

We finished the show year at the USDF Finals in Lexington KY last weekend. It has been a year with up and downs for sure! But I am so lucky that I have so many people around me that support me through the good but also through the bad times!

At the finals I rode Danka Shoene RRS, bred by Melinda Walton and Larry Smith, and NOW owned by Michelle Huber, in the training level US Finals. Shoene was the youngest horse in the class and we finished 10th in the country. What a great horse! Michelle could not have bought a better young horse. He was so honest and did not care at all about anything at the busy Kentucky Horse Park.

Shoene and Jerusha

After we were done showing Jerusha, (who had everybody looking amazing!) hacked Shoene all around the horse park and in all arenas she was allowed to show him. And of course he was perfect!

Schoene and Silva at the awards ceremony

I also had Zoran, owned by the fabulous Bonnie Stedt, qualified for the US finals in the Prix St George.

After winning our warm up class on Friday he went on to finish 9th on the country for Prix St George level. 

Zoran is such an exciting horse for the future and I cannot thank Bonnie enough for hanging in there with me!

Sandy and Tony at the Kentucky Horse Park

My student and friend Sandy Retzlaff and her horse Rigoletto (Tony) joined us this weekend. We did a lot of lessons and made this weekend into a boot camp weekend for Sandy and Tony. They improved in all second level tests each time!

More from Dressage at Devon 2014

Thanks to my support team!

 It was a great weekend at Dressage at Devon! I couldn’t be happier, this was the first time since my accident that I really felt like I’m back, and it was exciting. Rosa felt fabulous and I’m lucky I’ve got that mare, she takes care of me. She’s stronger now and doesn’t feel green any more at this level, she’s very solid.

Everyone who could be was there was cheering me on, and those who couldn’t be there watched online. So many friends came out and were there for me and that was exciting. I talk to my mom all the time and she said when I told her I was going to ride at Devon, she just smiled and nodded but didn’t really believe it! My friends Mary Griffin and Kate Hicks were there too, and they also said they couldn’t believe I was coming back.  I think it was hard for the people who were right there with me through the accident, who weren’t sure what was going to happen. So it was awesome, and getting scores like that was exciting. We have a bright future ahead of us.

Jerusha and Rosa Cha, ready for the jog

My new group of girls, with Jerusha being head girl, and Jessie Crosby and Devon Seery, were amazing. Jerusha jogged Rosa for me and I really couldn’t have done it without her. You only see the rider in the arena, but it really takes a team to do what I do. It was a very quiet Devon for me though, I must say. I just had the young horse and Rosa; usually I have about 15 horses there so it seemed very quiet.

Reserve Champion!

On Saturday Boyd fell from Oscar (Trading Aces) when he slipped on wet grass during a gallop. He got a concussion but is doing alright; it was scary that he fell, though, especially just when I’m coming back from a head injury! We both push ourselves too hard, but fingers crossed he really is doing well. He came out to warm me up for the Freestyle on Sunday and it was great having him there.

Boyd Martin on Hannah Lu W

 It was also fun having Boyd riding Hannah earlier in the week, and Mike did a great job on Joulua, and Kat Lissett and Caitlin did a good job with Boyd’s young horses. It was great for the young horses to get out in that environment and they did a great job riding them.

Caitlin Silliman riding Barry

 Kymmy had a great weekend too and I’m so happy to see her doing well. It’s always exciting to see people who have been with me for so long go out and be great!

Mike Pindleton on Joulua

 I have an appointment with the doctor next week to talk about eye surgery. This week I’m taking Danka Schoene, (training level), owned by Melinda Walton and Larry Smith, to the Regional Championships. Benny won the Championships at second level last year, so he’s not allowed to compete at that level again, and I haven’t had him out enough to do the third level championships.

The goal is to get to Kentucky for the US finals. You have to either be champion or reserve to compete there, and since I haven’t really done anything this year I’d love to do something big going forward.

-Silva

http://psdressage.com/viewarticle.php?id=1611

Boyd and Hannah at the awards ceremony

2014 Palm Beach Derby Photos and News

 Rosa and Silva featured on Eurodressage.com:
 http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2014/03/02/martin-and-lagoy-weltz-top-small-tour-classes-2014-palm-beach-derby

Horse Inspection

Middy N Me Girls

Boyd and Silva at the Nations Cup Show Jumping

Debbie McDonald, George Morris, Boyd and Silva Martin

With Boyd and Syndicate Member Sara Sanz

Awards

Victorious

Kymmy Pullen

I-1 Awards

Rosa Cha W

Rosa Cha W

Sandy Retzlaff

Scout Ford riding Karen Kettler's Double Scoop

Scout's Saturday Morning Dressage at Devon Update

Silva and Trading Aces (Oscar) in the Dixon Oval

Two days and countless outfit changes later, there is still no word from Deb. There are also many more dominating performances to discuss. Bear with me here because Windurra had a lot of horses competing, and organization is not a highlight for my brain. 

 

Silva and Boyd with the multi-talented Oscar

 On Thursday, Silva rode Zoran and Trading Aces to 2nd and 4th in the 4th level, and Zoran again on Friday put in another top-notch performance.

Zoran

 

Gracia and Colin also put in a great test, only to be topped by her BEAUTIFUL test with Colin on Friday night. It was her first time doing 4th level, at Devon, and managing to place well in the top 10 against well-known riders in a huuuge class is something to be truly proud of. 

Silva and Duvent also rode 4th level on Thursday, crushing the competition and grabbing the big win, just to do it again on Friday with an even more amazing test. 

 

Benny getting some love

Benny, another one of Melinda and Larry's incredible horses, had similar results, ending up in the top three in what I am pretty sure is the biggest 5-year-old class ever to happen anywhere. 

Benny

Kymmy and Hot Date had incredible performances both Thursday and and Friday. She rode like a true professional out there and has one of the most exciting up and coming horses around. This shows in her top 4 placing against dozens of well known horse and rider pairs. Congrats Kymbo, your success is really inspiring, and something to look up to. 

 

The Cha was also incredible, coming in 6th out of 43 horses with a 68%. She set the bar since she was unfortunately first to go. Silva and Rosa Cha are a truly incredible. I want
 spot in the order of go! to be them when I grow up. Stay tuned to their win today... 
much better spot in the order of go!

Team Windurra...it takes a village...

Michelle also rode two stunning tests putting up there with the top contenders, continuing my realization that we somehow have managed to form an unstoppable group of juggernaut horses and riders.

Something else happened on Friday that was a bit disappointing.. you see, Kymmy was needed to collect Silva's awards since Silva was competing during the ceremony, and word around the block is Kymmy decided to opt out of the victory lap...on foot. That lap was well earned Kymberly Pullen, and more importantly I was looking forward to watching you canter around the Dixon Oval without a horse under you! Just imagine it: ribbons flowing elegantly from your belt loops while you held imaginary reins and acted slightly spooky because of the crowd going wild. It would have been magical...lol. 

 

-SCOUT

Silva and Scout: On the Road to Lamplight

Scout and I are on the road to Chicago for the Markel young horse Championships. 
We left the barn at 2:00 this morning since it's such a loooooong way to Illinois, 
about 14 hours with the horse trailer. 

Benny and Sully are feeling better than ever and are ready for the 5-year-old finals, and Rosa 
is prepared to knock the socks off the judges in the Developing Horse Championships! 

Silva

Sales Horse Spotlight: Fergus Himself $18K!!

Fergus is a great all around horse at an exceptional price for $18K!

He's an excellent mover, very athletic and a perfect gentleman. He would make a super eventer or fox hunter. This is a current video of Fergus in training at home in Cochranville, PA. 

NAME: Fergus Himself (Originally Kinard Mr. Meara)
SEX: Gelding
COLOUR: Bay
HEIGHT: 16.2 hh
DATE OF BIRTH: 2006
COUNTY OF BIRTH: Ireland
SIRE: Argideen Vale
(Irish TB)
DAM: Carrickbanaagher Star (Irish Sporthorse)
BREED: Irish WB
BREEDER: Gerry Sweeny
PLACE OF BIRTH: County Sligo, Ireland
YEAR IMPORTED: 2010
OWNER: Bonnie Stedt

Phone Boyd 610 806 2381 for an appointment!

Meet Silva's Barn Manager - Gracia Huenefeld!

NAME: Gracia Huenefeld

HOMETOWN: Aurora, Nebraska

DOB: 7/14/1992

WINDURRA SINCE: July 2012

JOB DESCRIPTION: Barn Manager, Student

Gracia grew up on a farm in Nebraska and began riding at a very young age competing in local 4-H and Hunter shows throughout high school. Around the age of 15, she had her first Dressage lesson and continued to train with Jamee Amundson in Nebraska throughout high school. After graduation, Gracia moved with her horse to an unfamiliar place and became a working student for C. Michelle Folden in Charleston, Sc. While there, she spent 2 years furthering her riding and teaching skills.

Gracia came to Windurra riding at 2nd level, and has successfully competed through 4th level receiving her USDF Bronze medal through Silva's instruction. Gracia is very appreciative of her work with Silva (and Boyd) and is such honored to have such a great opportunity. We at Windurra USA appreciate all of Gracia's dedication and hard work!

email Gracia 

Markel/USEF East Coast Young Horse Selection Trials

Fortissimo B with a Big Blue Ribbon!!!

We are at the Markel/USEF East Coast Young Horse selection trials at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia, where I am competing three horses.

Benefactor, Melinda Walton and Larry T. Smith's horse, was first to go and he was really great. The organizers were running a little late and he got a little bit tired in the trot, so he finished 3^rd on a 76. He was perfectly behaved as always.

Fortissimo B, owned by Camilla Van Liew , won the young horse qualifier!  He’s for sale and is a spectacular horse for the future; somebody should buy him soon because he’s qualified for the national championships in Chicago and any rider can ride him there!

Di Solitaire, owned by Anne Laver, was fourth and he tried really hard. I feel so lucky to have such great horses to ride and to have such great owners supporting me. 

Another great dinner at Melinda and Larry's!

 Melinda and Larry live half an hour from Morven Park and they’ve been putting us up so it’s like a vacation. It’s fun seeing their foals and young horses at the farm and spending time with them.

Tomorrow is the finals so we’ll see how that goes. 

Rosa Cha W (left) with Hannah Lu W

I also have Rosa Cha in the Developing PSG Qualifier tomorrow; that’s also a qualifier for Chicago so we’ll see how it goes. I also had Hannah Lu W, Rosa’s daughter, here for her first "real" competition  – she did the materiale class at Devon, but she’s still very green and only four years old. She scored 73 yesterday and it is so exciting to have both these wonderful mares here together!

Kymmy and Rigoletto

Gracia rode Colin yesterday and Kymmy rode Rigoletto in the second level and scored 66%.

-Silva

First Jog at Rolex Kentucky

Boyd and Otis

This morning was the jog at Rolex. Like every year, the jog-up strip was packed with people from all over the world. Every year I am so amazed at how many people show up for the Wednesday jog. The atmosphere is unbelievable and the weather was beautiful.

The overseas horses jogged first and I have to say there are some amazing looking horses this year. Overall I think I would be happy to take every single horse home that is starting at this event. All the horses looked fit and ready to do something amazing.

 

Erin Sylvester was the first out of our people to go. She and No Boundaries looked great!

 

Boyd jogged Remi first and had no trouble . 

 

Boyd and Remi

Otis went straight after Remi and also looked great. Even tho we know our horses are sound it is always nerve wracking for me ( and probably for a lot of people) at the jog. I think it is because there is so much work that goes into preparing for such a event that it would be just heart breaking if for some reason your horse would not be excepted.

 

Boyd and Otis

Anyway, I was so relieved when Boyd's horses both passed!

 

After that we only had Kate and Belmont to go. Belmont is a very sound horse and they have been looking great. I was taking pictures for Jamie, ( Kate's husband), when Kate was jogging Belmont. My heart dropped when I hear over the loudspeaker that Belmont was to be reinspected . Shit!!!! Kate looked like she was about to be sick and so did all of us. Kate has been working so hard to get here and is looking so good. 

Kate and Belmont

We were waiting and waiting and waiting till the end of the jog for her to jog again. I was shaking as she was jogging and then we heard : Belmont is accepted !!!!!! Yeah!!!!!

Now the event can begin. Tomorrow is the first day of dressage and we have Erin and No Boundaries first just after the lunch break at 1:24pm. Remi is second to last tomorrow at 3.44pm . On Friday Kate and Belmont are second to go in the morning, at 9:38, and Otis is the last one of the day at 3:52! It should be exciting!! All of the horses are ready to do good tests.

Silva

 

Check back tomorrow for more dressage updates and photos!

Dressage Horses Heading Back to Pennsylvania

Our Convoy Heading North

The Aiken season has come to an end. It went really fast! The weather was beautiful, especially in January. We were lucky to be at Fernanda Kellogg and Kirk Henckels' new farm , Fox Frolic, and we had a really good time with them. The place is still under construction but next year it’s going to be like the Taj Mahal! We’re all looking forward to going back next year.

The horses had a great season and all of the girls did, too - everybody did well and we are all looking forward to going home. I have some planning to do, but I think our next show will be at Morven Park in April.

We have four new young horses from Australia who have had a long rest while we’ve been away, and I’m excited to get started with them. They’re just turning four – there are two event horses and two dressage horses.

I’ll be going back to Barbara Weinbrecht's in Earleville, Maryland on March 14th and March 31st to teach a couple of clinics – if you want to ride, contact Barbara. I’ll work on dates for April as well.

-Silva

A new blog from Silva: WE HAD TO LISTEN TO ASHLEA SING!!!

First of all I would like to say that Ashlea did what I was afraid of: she sang the Australian national anthem "loud and proud"! Thank God she was crying at the same time: that way she could not sing loud enough for everybody to hear.

Besides the fact that she should not ever sing unless she is all by herself, I am very very proud of her! She won her freestyle in the CDI Y at the Horse Park of New Jersey with almost 70%. I am a little embarrassed to say this, since I am supposed to be a tough German girl, but even I got goose bumps when they played the Aussie Anthem for Ashlea. Ashlea has been working very hard for this and this is a very big step towards her goal of representing Australia at the Young Rider World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany.

I would like to thank Ann Miller, who put this beautiful freestyle together for us in time for this weekend. She did an amazing job!

Kymmy and Markie also had a good weekend and Kyymy rode very well today. This was the first time for them to compete in Fourth level test 3, which is a very hard test to ride. They finished third in a big, competitive field! Good job!

I've said it before but I have to say it again: I have the most amazing horses! I am soooo lucky!

Stately did the first qualifier for the World Breeders Young Horse Championship in Verden, Germany in August and he was amazing! Michael Barisone helped me warm up all weekend and Stately got better and better. The qualifier was judged by German judge Peter Holler and American judge Jeanne McDonald. We scored 86% and won out of 25 horses! This has to be the best score I have ever gotten - what an amazing horse!

Stateley and I are going to compete in the selection trial for 6-year-old horses for the World Championships in Germany next weekend at Morven Park. Everyone keep your fingers crossed for us!

Rosa Cha W also had a great weekend. She won Third, test 2 with 74% and Third, 3 with 73%, and scored 72% in the Young Horse class today! Rosa will also compete at the selection trial at Morven Park.

Duvent had a much better test yesterday: we did Fourth level test 3 for the first time and finished third with 63%. I am excited about him - he is going to be great!

Silva

Videos and pics will be posted soon!

Blue Ribbons for Devon and Silva in Orlando!

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Happy 30th Birthday Silva and Trot-Up at Fair Hill

I’d like to wish my beautiful wife Silva a happy birthday! 30 years ago this beautiful blond bombshell was born in Duesseldorf, Germany and 30 years later she’s happily living her dream of training horses here in the USA. Her parents Christa and Christoph are staying with us at the moment and have been here since the WEG; they leave for their homeland tomorrow.

Silva’s mum Christa and Boyd’s show cat Manny Pacquiao

Today the competition started with the first veterinary inspection at the Fair Hill CCI***. I was a late entry on Erin Sylvester’s 9-year-old thoroughbred gelding, Armani IV. This is a catch ride for me and the first competition I’ll have ridden him in. He’s a very talented young horse having his first crack at the big time; he’s still a little green in a few of the dressage movements and with some of the complicated cross-country questions, so I got the big call-up to see if I could hop on and do my best here, thanks to Erin.

Our dressage looks to be on late Friday afternoon and I’ve walked the cross-country and it looks a long, tough, intimidating course. Stay tuned for more! Scores will be available here.

-Boyd

Congratulations to Silva's Student

Congratulations to Silva's student, Lillian Heard, on winning her first long-format three-day event at Morven Park this past weekend. Lillian is also a student and employee of Jan Byyny in Virginia, and recently won the CIC* at Plantation Field as well. Go Lillian! Click the headline above to read all about it!