DOWNLOAD THE HORSEHUB APP!

We've been working with Paul Tapner over the past several months on the initial launch of his new (and fabulous) HorseHub App.  

"HorseHub is the ultimate equestrian App for horse lovers everywhere providing access to a variety of content on all manner of topics to help or entertain you as part of your equestrian life.

You’ll find training material from some of the world’s most authoritative riders and trainers, so if you’re looking for that little extra help with your BE dressage test, assistance with getting your horse over those ditches, or you’re feeling a bit nervous before entering the arena, you’ll find professional help at your fingertips in the HorseHub iPhone & iPad App.

On top of all this you’ll find some fun and entertaining content from some of the best authors from around the horse world."

Here is the DIRECT LINK to Boyd's page on the app, where you can download our videos.  The cost is a whopping .4 cents more than on our Video page, but you can download this amazing app right to your iPad or iPhone.  

Just think, you could be out schooling & want to access Boyd's suggestions on XC Ride-Ability & you can pull out your phone to check the video!  What more could you ask for.........Top training advice from Boyd right at your finger tips!

Plantation News

Be sure to check out the Plantation Field Newsletter - it was a great event!

Also watch this awesome highlights video by Dom Schramm:

Fabulous End to Dressage at Devon

Duvent Struts His Stuff

 Yesterday was another great day to end an altogether wonderful week at Dressage at Devon. I rode Duvent in the morning in 4^th level and he was much calmer, having been there all week. We won the class on almost 69%. I’m really excited because he can be a hot horse and it was great that he settled down and finished on his best test. Kymmy also came 3^rd in this class – it shows that hard work pays off! Last year she didn’t make it into the awards and this year she placed in everything she entered. It was really awesome. 

Showing off our ribbons with Kymmy

Then I had Rosa in 4^th level test 3 and she was great; she scored 71% and was leading the class all the way until Stately went and he of course was great as usual and scored 73% to win. It was really exciting because it was a big class! Rosa went around 10 and he went at 1:30. 

Awards Ceremony with Stately

Stately was 4^th level champion and Rosa was reserve, and Stately was also highest placed Dutch horse and highest scoring horse of the show. 

Stately is always such a star!

Thanks again to our sponsors and all of the people who are supporting me. This was such a crazy week with so many horses competing and I couldn’t have done so well without all the owners and friends helping out!

-Silva

Saturday at Dressage at Devon

Aesthete (Stately)

Stately was unreal in fourth level at DAD today, better than I ever had him, and of course he was trying his heart out. We scored almost 75% and won.

Kymmy

Kymmy was in the class as well and placed third- this was a very big deal, especially at Devon, and I am so proud of her because she has come such a long way.

Kymmy and Silva

I had Rosa in the next division and won with 72-something, which was awesome. She had one little spook and otherwise was perfect. She's always been a special horse and is getting so strong and really coming into herself.

Rosa Cha W

Duvent was next and finished fourth; he needs a little bit more time but I believe he's a very good horse. It was his first time in that arena with a lot of atmosphere.

Duvent

I also want to comment on how well-conditioned and healthy all of the horses are and I think we have a really good plan with the Purina feeds and SmartPak supplements. They are huge supporters and I am lucky to have both companies support me. It shows, too; I get a lot of comments on how great the horses look!

-Silva

Photo Credit: Lisa Thomas of Midatlantic Equestrian Services

Stately

Pilot Error on 2nd Day of Performance Show at Dressage at Devon!

Yesterday at Dressage at Devon started well with Di Solitaire in the FEI 4-year-old class: Sully was much more relaxed and did a nice test. Of course he is very green and we have only known each other for a short while...it takes time to develop a partnership with a new and especially a young horse. Sully scored 79% and placed 4th.

Kymmy and Hot Date had a very nice test and finished 6th in the 4-year-old class.

I was very impressed with the way Kymmy rode Markie today! She rode every single step from the entry to finish of the fourth level test. It was the best I have seen her ride and the test was mistake free. They scored 64.5% and finished sevens in a very competitive class .

Duvent was trying for me again in the fourth level; he was a little more tense than the day before but kept his concentration and listened to me. As I was going down the centerline I thought, "turn left at C". But for some strange reason I decided to turn right instead. As I turned I cringed and the bell rang! Since there is a judge at C and a judge at E , that was a very expensive mistake.
And of course the score came in and we finished SECOND by 0.1%!  Serves me right -- pilot error! That is NOT going to happen again!!!

Today we have Stately, Rosa, Duvent and Markie again.

Silva  

Caitlin Released from ICU

I’m very relieved to say that Caitlin was released from the Intensive Care Unit at Christiana Hospital to the general population  today. Obviously it was a very serious accident, incurring a fracture to her skull, but it looks at the moment like she doesn’t have any other physical damage. The doctors are opting not to operate, and all of Caitlin’s vital signs are good as gold.

It’s an interesting business that we’re in, training horses; Caitlin galloped around the 2* and 3* courses at Plantation Field on the weekend, jumping huge fences at high speeds and rode like a champion; on Tuesday she was doing rising trot in the dressage arena with a nice 4-year-old when the horse stumbled and Caitlin fell on her head.

As usual Caitlin was wearing her Charles Owen helmet, which very likely prevented more serious injuries.

It’s a huge blow to Caitlin professionally, with Catch a Star and Remi heading into Fair Hill like lightning, but fortunately both horses are qualified for Kentucky next year, which was the ultimate goal.

Australian sensation Dom Schramm has come on board trying to fulfill part of Caitlin’s role at Windurra USA. "The Thunder from Down Under" is a brilliant horseman and is helping us carry on in the absence of my superb assistant Caitlin while she’s out of action. We all miss Caitlin very much and wish her a speedy recovery. 

-Boyd

Great Start to the Performance Show at Dressage at Devon!!

Beau Guimond and Melinda Walton with Schoene

We finished with the breed show yesterday morning and the baby's had a good last day showing at Devon. Shoene, (Melinda's two year old), placed second in a huge Hanoverian class with Beau showing him off in-hand while Rio Royale, (Melinda's 3 year old), placed third in his class. The babies went straight home to Virginia after the show and they are all safe and sound at home and are very happy to be back in the field. I have to say that I cannot wait for those babies to grow up so that I can ride them. They are very special young horses!

 

Making Last Minute Repairs to Demi's Braids with Pam Murphy

We started with our performance horses in the afternoon. The FEI 4 year old class was first and Kymmy rode her young horse, Hot Date and I rode Di Solitaire and Benefactor.

 

Benny was first in the class and he was great! The judges loved him and called him a very mature four-year-old, which is funny because we always say Benny is four going on 30. The judges gave us very high scores and we ended up setting a high standard in the class with 79.9%. Benny held his lead all the way to the end and won the class! I am very excited about this horse, he is a very special guy and of course another one that Melinda and Larry breed.

Next for us was Di Solitaire. Well, let's just say that we did not run out of energy! This was only Sully's second show and Devon has a lot of atmosphere and a lot of people were watching. Sully was fabulous in the trot and walk and got "a little excited" in the canter. It was funny though, because he has a ton of personality and we all laughed about it. The judges still really liked him and scored him 77.5%. He is going to be a great horse. Sully and I are doing another four year old class today and I am hoping he is getting tired!

 

It was so great that his owners and good friends of ours, Mike and and Anne Laver, came from Aiken, SC to watch us go.

Kymmy and Hot Date followed us in the ring. Kymmy hascome a looooong way with her riding and I am so very proud of how she rode yesterday. Hayden was an angel and they did a very nice test, scoring 78%, which placed them fourth in this big class! This horse in for sale and he is a once in a lifetime horse! Whoever buys him will have a ton of fun!

 

Duvent

Our next class of the day was fourth level and we had Markie and Kymmy, Stately and Duvent in that class. This class was in the Dixon arena, which can be very scary. Duvent was such a good boy holding it together. He is such a fabulous horse, but as we know he can be pretty hot. He tried his heart out for me and scored 71%, leading the class and finishing second behind Stately. Of course he is another one of Melinda and Larry's babies.

Next I rode Stately and he of course was his perfect self. The warm-up was incredible and the test was very good. I cannot quite keep the same quality that I have in the warm up in the ring yet, but I have to keep reminding myself that he is ONLY SEVEN years old. We scored 71.6% and won the class. I am so exited to see Faye this weekend. Stately and I have not seen her in a while, and I know Stately will try extra hard for his mum!!

Following me into the ring again was Kymmy with Markie. Kymmy, Markie and I have been working very hard for the last few months and it showed. They did their best test and scored 64% and finished 5th in the class.

At 8.40pm I had Rosa in another 4th level class. Rosa has never gone under lights and of course she loved it! She was a little excited and it took me a while to settle her in the warm-up. Her trot and walk work was great and she got a little tense in the canter, but we held it together and won that class as well.

A good start for us, I would say!

Michael Barisone has been such a great help to us with all our horses and he was there yesterday to help us warm up.

 

I would also like to thank Stuebben for making sure that all my saddles fit perfectly. My horses feel great and they love their Stuebben saddles!

Fingers crossed for today!

Silva