In Motion Sport Horses, LLC
Dressage Training , Instruction and Campaigning | Starting Sport Horses with Balance and Forward Movement | Horse Training Granit Bay, Orangevale, Fair Oaks CA | Hand Made Lead Ropes

Tinkerbell debuted at Third Level at this show.  You’ll see some blunders, but even with those in the test, she scored a 65.455% and won the class.  Just think what her scores will be as the training continues and she becomes more solid.  Please disregard the added entertainment in the filming.  I was disappointed to see there wasn’t a professional videographer at the show.  So, a dear friend borrowed a tablet, which she didn’t know how to operate, in order to capture my rides.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoW4DNEF4dE

Tinkerbell showing Second Level, Test 3, resulting in a second place with a score of 67%

This talented youngster is GREAT minded. Cisco can have a week off, saddle up and ride right off. He currently stands 14.1, but is still growing. Professionally started and has 60 days under saddle. He is 1/2 Arab and 1/2 Cob, registered and has lifetime nominations in the Arab registry.

Tinkerbell and I were among several pairs selected to be Demo riders for the fall symposium. What a privilege to ride with Janet Foy and Debbie McDonald! It was a wonderful learning opportunity. In addition to that, it was great to listen to their opinions on what a lovely dressage prospect Tinkerbell is. Enjoy the videos as you learn what to look for when you search for a dressage prospect.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvMzO84awfU

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxlU3RybXhY

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xqu_oE5GTc

September always brings the Oregon Dressage Society State Championships. This year I had the privilege to compete Tinkerbell, a 6 year old Oldenburg mare, belonging to Catherine Ulrey of Salem OR, at First Level.

A Grand Entrance

On Friday, we showed Second Level Test 2, Tinkerbell’s 3rd time of competing at Second Level.  The overall test went well, with us falling apart at one point, earning just a 4 when she lost her lead in the counter canter.  She still received a score of 68.077%.

https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11C4tqckr8c

Then the Championship Classes were on Saturday and Sunday.  We competed for a First Level Title in the Open Division.  Saturday we rode First Level Test 2 and scored 65.938%  Sunday we rode First Level Test 3 and scored a 69.118%.  For the championship is averaged between both tests.  We ended up 9th overall.

I ordered new business cards this year.  I was coaxed into changing up the design of my previous cards.  I think it was a good decision to make.

The Front of New Cards

The Back of the New Cards

Tinkerbell made her 2015 show debut at the Central Dressage Classic I & II in Powell Butte, OR on June 13th and 14th.

Tinkerbell on a walk with her owner, Catherine Ulrey of Salem, Oregon

She showed First Level Test Two and Three on both Saturday and Sunday.  Here are the scores:    Saturday First-2 62%, First-3 70% and Sunday First-2 64%, First-3 70%.  Notice a pattern?  Tinkerbell seemed to need the first test of the day as warmup and then she showed relaxed and lovely in the second test of the day!

Off Tinkerbell’s back in the warm-up

She came home with one First Place and Three Seconds!  Pretty proud of this young, green mare!

The fall weather was great for a horse show in Southern Oregon. However, as one can expect with horses, not everything goes as planned. Tinkerbell was entered into three classes on Saturday, October 11th and two classes on Sunday, October 12th.  Her owner, Catherine Ulrey, came from out-of-town to help, watch and enjoy her mare.

We hauled to the show grounds on Friday, set up and schooled.  Tinkerbell became quite relaxed as she acquainted herself with her new surroundings.  We settled her in for the night and left to feed and settle ourselves.   We arrived early Saturday and took Tinkerbell for a walk before braiding.  We still had some time to kill before tacking and warming up for our first ride.  We left the mare to happily munch on some more breakfast.

When we returned to her about 25 minutes later, it was apparent that something was a miss.  She had bonked her head and cut it open.  Not a big cut, but bleeding.  The USEF rules don’t allow a horse to be shown if there is any blood present.  I appreciate this rule, as it protects the animals.  Tinkerbell certainly had hit her head hard enough, as well, that she was uncomfortable, probably touting a headache.  Needless to say, we scratched out of all our classes on Saturday.

Sunday being the new day that it was, started fresh.  I had missed the Dressage Rider Test for First Level on Saturday.  I really wanted to make it up, so we scratched from our First Level Test 1 class and did the Rider Test. It went pretty well for my first attempt at it.  We scored a 65.6%.  Next we competed at First Level Test 2.  Tinkerbell came in second, with a score of 63.6%, missing first by one point.

We were able to pick up one more ride later in the day.  It was First Level Test 3.  I had never practiced the test on Tinkerbell, nor had I schooled her at counter-canter.  I also hadn’t ridden the test in a year.  It’s a good idea to bring along a test book to a show.  You just never know what you may need to review.  I practiced the counter-canter during my warm-up.  She was great!  In we went to the competition ring.  Of course, it was the best test of the day and we didn’t get it on film!  She scored a 67.5%.  Again coming in second, one point behind the leader.

Catherine and I are very proud of Terrific Tinkerbell.  For no more schooling than she has had and to arrive at her first Rated show, we think she did really great.

Here is the video of First Level Test 2.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvuJLoURc9c&feature=youtu.be

WOW! What an honor! Tinkerbell and I have been selected to be a demo rider at the Fall Symposium for the Oregon Dressage Society.  We were selected for the category of:  “Picking and Developing Dressage Prospects”.

I applied a month or so ago to be a demo rider at the symposium. There was a large application to complete and video submitted.  Tinkerbell and I were first selected as 1st Alternate.  I received a call this weekend and someone had to drop out, which allows me to ride!  Catherine Ulrey, the breeder and owner of Tinkerbell is very proud of her young mare.  We are very excited and honored to be riding with Debbie McDonald and Janet Foy.

You can check out the details for the Fall Festival at the link below:

http://www.oregondressage.com/2014-FF.html

Tinkerbell made her show debut on April 27, 2014. She showed at Training Test 2 and 3, placing 2nd in both classes with scores of 72.5% and 66.2%.  What a good girl!  Her owner Catherine Ulrey and I are very proud of her grown up behavior.