Break’s Over
I’m terribly careful with my horses and their schedules. I’m a little bit of a nut about making sure they get down time, not just for their bodies, but also for their brains. They’re all individuals, of course, and some can handle more shows and more work than others. But in my time with Ella I’ve learned that while she’s a good girl and she’ll work hard for me, she’s at her best when she shows about once a month, and also only for a few months at a time.
I’ve also learned that she’s a nuisance in her down time—she stays polite for about five days, and then gets antsy, romping around in turnout, biting my staff, and then terribly lazy to ride. Average time I give her off? Two to three weeks. (That’s a lot of biting.)
But it’s worth it, because she’s so much better after her down time. She’s fresher through her body and looser through her back, but mostly she’s fresher in her mind. Ella’s at her best when she’s feisty.
Read the rest at The Chronicle of the Horse!
Read all about our terrific trip to the USDF Finals, and our final events of the year including a final Michael Barisone Clinic November 26-27, our 9th Anniversary Open House November 19, and a visit from saddle fitter Colleen Meyer, in our November e-newsletter! 
I’m sitting in my PJs recovering from a terrific trip to Kentucky for the U.S. Dressage Finals, sipping coffee, listening to my mountains of laundry churn away, packing up my show clothes for the trip to Florida in January, and looking back on a wonderful year.
I get asked some form of this question 50 times a year, in lessons, at clinics, via email or Facebook: how do I rise up the levels? What’s the best plan to get from being a lower-level rider to FEI? What path should I follow?
Lauren comes home to Virginia once a month in January, February and March to teach two days of lessons. The 2017 dates are January 21-22, February 18-19 and March 11-12. These times tend to book quickly, so if you’d like to be on her list for lessons, 
We’re celebrating nine years of dressage excellence! 
Below is the schedule for our October 29-30 clinic with US Olympian Michael Barisone. Auditing is $35/day if prepaid, or $40/day at the door, and lunch is included. For more information, 
Between Michael giving a clinic at my place a few weeks ago, our Regional Finals two weeks after that, and