New Friends

Classico Z met his brother today(Captor Z) for the first time. They get along very well, they are so alike. I'm sure you can tell who is the "junior" of the two! He is enjoying his vacation but will be back to work soon. It is amazing how similar they act. They were playing halter tag all day and Captor followed Classico around like his shadow!

Flora Lea Horse Trial

Classico Z completed his first training level horse trial yesterday at Flora Lea. He did very well!! The weather conditions were awful but he was able to jump a clean round in show jumping on the most slippery grass he has ever encountered. More seasoned horses were refusing and taking rails but Classico Z has such a great jumping style he was able to overcome the footing. Cross country was great as well. He jumped through the course very bravely. The Weldon's wall (a bank with a ditch in front of it) was filled to the brim with water and was on the bottom of a hill so stinky slid in front of it and Danny decided to circle him. No big deal he jumped right up on the second try. Danny said that he could have kicked him up the bank but he didn't want to scare him, since it was his first training. He finished the course with confidence and came home to Split Elm for a week's vacation.

Visiting the Farm

Yesterday I went to see Classico Z at Danny Warrington's training facility in MD. I was able to watch a flat work session. It is amazing how much he has grown up living at Danny's farm this spring and summer. He is really starting to fill out with some neck muscle and he is getting a lot wider. Danny was happy with him yesterday and he was showing off how Classico Z is starting to get some of the upper level movements like half pass and shoulder-in. Besides developing his lateral work, I can really see a difference in his stride. He is beginning so have more step in his trot and is starting to look like he is floating around. I am very excited for this Sunday because it will be his first training level event and I think that the dressage test will suit him well! He wants more to do besides 20 meter circles!! I will hopefully be posting videos after this Sunday and I will post the Show Jumping video for the gold sponsors as soon as I get it from the company. After Flora Lea Stinky gets to come to his vacation home for a week!

link

Here is a link for the results from Classico Z's division "Novice Horse". There is a great picture of him!http://useventing.com/blog/?p=4559

Last day of the American Eventing Championships

Classico Z was in 32nd after dressage, but after cross country he has moved up an impressive 8 places to 24th. His breeding lines usually produce great show jumpers and he is no exception. He will occasionally touch rails but he really doesn't like to. He had a great round and went clear. He even did one inside turn option! The course was big, as is to be expected at a championship competition. Quite a few horses had rails and a few refusals so after show jumping Classico Z moved up another 7 places to 17th! And he was within a rail of the top 12. This was a great opportunity for him to see a what an upper level ring and setting might look like while still jumping at the novice level. The facility at Lamplight was beautiful! I bought the professional video of his show jumping round so soon that will be made available to sponsors. I am attaching a picture from warm-up; you can see how nice the facility was. His certainly got himself some attention. There were a lot of spectators cheering him on!

Cross Country!

Wow. Today was awesome. Classico Z went clear on time and jump penalties cross country. There were two water combinations, a full coffin, and the very first corner he as ever seen! He took everything in stride and cruised around the course with ease. He is currently in 24th place and we are hoping he can move up to the top 20 tomorrow. Especially since he usually has a very clean jumping style. He was a pro in warm-up, no fireworks today. Danny said that he didn't look at a thing and was up to the challenge. Training at Flora Lea looks like a very easy move up for his next event!

AEC Dressage!

Today was Classico Z's debut at the American Eventing Championships! He was very excited for it to be his turn, and so he put on quite a show. At his last two competitions he has scored in the 20's for dressage but today he was excitable and it got in the way of his concentration. There were some great movements but it wasn't his best test. Danny was not disappointed in him; it is only his 4th novice showing! With all of his exuberance and excitement for being here, he should have a great day out cross country tomorrow. If only dressage were after cross country! He was well behaved other than the extra extensions and jumps he added to his test and he scored a 43.7 which lands him in the middle of the pack. He is getting used to this show horse life and sometimes we have to take a step back and say WOW he's only four! All things considered he performed beautifully.

Preparing for the AEC's

I'm sure that everyone in eventing is busy preparing for the American Eventing Championships! Classico Z will be leaving for IL early next week. He got another pair of new shoes, and I am picking up his new bridle today! Keli sent me an email telling me that Stinky and Will went to Fair Hill and trotted hills and went to a stream. I guess Stinky got a bit rambunctious and decided to splash. Poor Will must not have known what hit him!! Stinky has always loved getting into trouble where ever he goes.