Tuesday 30 November 2010

Monday 29 November 2010

Festivo MR - Spanish Movement Champion 5&6 year old stallions!

Smilingly we returned to a snowy Madrid, we have had a fun and successful week in Sevilla, Festivo managed to put everyone behind and winning the movements title MEJORES MOVIMIENTOS!! He really took off in the longrun and beat everyone including this years spanish Champion and Reserve Champion that were also from his section 5 and 6 year old stallions! Alas he got to final where he competed agains the best mover from all adult sections, here he came out a little tired, he and Artista were the favourites for the Spanish Champion in Movement title but that day a beautiful mare was the best presented. Festivo is 4rth best adult mover in Spain, how about that!!??!! Over 900 horses were participating in SICAB this year. MUCHAS GRACIAS a Tony, and all the rest of you giving support, it is truly respected very appreciated!

Here Festivo's results, under Morfologia you can see his video;
http://213.236.7.147/concursosOnLine/w_detalleEjemplar.aspx?eje=141865&img=9310.jpg&tip=ejemplar&idSeccion=1614&identificador=9310

Festivo MR and Tony SICAB 2010






Here in final for spanish champion movement of Spain
































We were so nervous it was almost unbearable!
Six judges for the final (one missing here)

Tuesday 16 November 2010

Donoso VII in Eurodressage

Snowman got his first ride out in the countryside today, cows, tunnels, train, raodworks, but he said 'come what may, here I am walking on my path', good boy. Donoso is so secure in himself so he transmits this calmness and is a great hike-partner.
And the PRE is on! Here an article from Eurodressage, it is Donoso that representing the dressage PRE in the video! http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2010/11/05/katharina-braren-vitamin-e-spanish-dressage

Photos from today by mamma Kerstin


Monday 15 November 2010

Thanks for sharing

It is real cold here in Madrid, today was first day fingers and toes got numb, brrrr! Poor big-baby Festivo is now a little achy in his grand body, so after today's work it was his turn to get the spa-treatment, thanks mum Knata, he said.
I wanted to make a comment as I really appreciate people that are generous and 'give of themselves', 'bjuder på sig själva', thanks for sharing fellow bloggers, facebookers and hompagers. I decided to share my horse-life with you, it is the most positive I have and I am determined to share only positive things and feelings. I really appreciate the response I get from everyone from comments, emails and phonecalls, it means alot to me, thank you! So even though this is a horse orientated diary it is natural to me to make what I do personal and personal writing (and reading) can also be comforting. So here here are some more personal pieces of me.
First, I love my country, Sweden has given me so many opportunities and I do not take them for granted anymore, living abroad makes you appreciate your roots. Support from fellow scandinavians will always be extra-special to me, we share the same consciousness and there is a underlying understanding which is very soothing. Spain in all its sunny glory, but swedish humor, culture (especially horse-culture) and tv is simply the best because I can identify with it. However I consider my self a citizen of the world, race and countries are not important, sometimes we connect with people we do not have anything in common with, only that which we are, and that is very special.
I am a teacher (Stateschool and Waldorf/Steiner) and I love to educate people not only animals, however, lately I have not been able to do this, and I miss it. But I can live with that. I did my teacher training in England so a very important part of my life was done in english, which is one of the reasons why I write this in english. I have also lived and worked as a teacher in Belize, Nicaragua, England and spent time in India studying meditation and culture. Again I find myself living outside of my own culture, which is mostly fascinating, but not always so..
Two days ago day my mother and me were attacked by a man walking his dog, he was obviously a very agressive person. He attacked us for picking up our dogs when his big dog came running, he was offended because as he said his dog was a kind one, well any big dog is frightening to a chihuahua! After shouting abusively I told him to please shut up and go away and that was when he came running and got hold of my throat and shouted me he would kill me and my mother aswell. My mother was desperately trying to defend me with a small chihuahua dog leash, I have seen spanish men with agressive energy before, but my mum has not and I did not want her to, it is not pretty. It all finished ok, I stood my ground and called the police so he left. Resume he was a crazy man overwhelmed by grief as his mother just died, I felt sorry for him, but his negativity stays with him.
I have a fadder-child in East Polynesia, hopefully my help gives her a better life, the aid program is sending me updates of her progress and it is lovely to see. If you are interested in helping children in need here is the webpage; http://plansverige.org/
My horses are the ones what really makes me happy. I am only hoping this happiness is a little contaigious to you, just as yours is to me, I love to learn and find it enouraging to read about happy, successful and intelligent people, you inspire me. So be happy and keep smiling!
Halagador arriving, July 2010






















Donoso & me in Sweden, summer 2009

































Start 2nd place Int I, June 2010

































Festivo 'Mejores Movimientos' in Caravaca, autumn 2010

Thursday 11 November 2010

Program SICAB

Festivo MR will be competing on wednesday at 16.00, morfology section 10 (studstallions 5 & 6 years). For full program in spanish see here;
http://www.ancce.es/panelc/spaw/uploads/files/programa_sicab2010_10nov.pdf
Festivo MR June 2010

His video

My mother and Donut after today's workout, doggisarna Fiffi & Bettan.
































Here video of 'Fax' in freedom and ridden on the lounge, from February this year, here just broken.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztGb2t2q7EI

Wednesday 10 November 2010

APTO approved for breeding

Today ANCCE APTO approved 'Shadowfax' for breeding. As you might know the APTO test is a very basic examination made by a veterinarian delegate from ANCCE, however all angles are measured, height and immidiate defects are pointed out. 'Fax' had good angles, no defects, and was measured 168 cm tall. So in reality he is now approved for breeding. There lies great responsability for the breeder in the selection of a breeding stallion, not only for ones own offspring but also for the future of the race. I have my criterias very clear of what is a good breeding stallion and a good representative of the race. I am also clear with which ones should not be used for breeding, and if I am not I make sure to take objective professional advice. In my opinion a APTO approved stallion aswell as a Qualifed Reproductor need to show themselves to be funcitonal ridden horses. In my opinion they should have merit from dressage competitions or be able to show a good level of correct training. A APTO approved stallion should, again in my opinion, also have a merit from a A or B (from where official qualification is given) PRE championship. It isn't good enough with any merit from any dressage competition or any PRE Championship for that matter, no, we have to make a serious effort for this race to be seriously recognized.
Today Start had a long walk grazing and then a 'spa' lazer treatment from my mother that he enjoyed alot. I rode two and that was today's day in the stable, a good day.
Kerstin grazing Start

Monday 8 November 2010

The new guy!

Yes today has been a windy-rainy day, my poor parents timing is definitley unlucky, two days ago we were having lunch like this!
Jeanette & Eva-Lotta

Did some emailing in the morning and went to horses in the afternoon, lounged Festivo with Pessoa first and then a workout. He was good so I made it short and happy. He is working hard so I want to keep it spirit-up. After him I did Donoso on long-reins, my mother said he looks spectacular.
And here is our new PRE stallion!
He is a 'Shadowfax', white & magical, pure kindness and 100% carthusian! So lovable and he flies.. And only 4 years old and 170 cm tall. We love him already!

Sunday 7 November 2010

Weekend with friends!

We have had a great weekend doing Madrid, shopping, riding and laughing alot. As both my friends are also horse-women we went out riding in the countryside with Start, Donoso and Festivo. Festivo went very high in energy as two pretty mares came running over the fields so L & P had to open the gates because no way could I jump off, he was 5 metres tall and I would have never have made it up again! Donoso on the other hand didn't lift an eyebrow, just chilled in the sun, and Start is only interested in achieving a piece of grass or else. It was a lovely day, the sun shining over the mountains is a very beautiful sight. After we did some training so after 1 hours walk and another hour of training Festivo thought his workout was over. I was definitely over!
Finally autumn has arrived so after airport I spent rest of the morning rearranging my wardrobe that is now prepared for winter. Now I am waiting for next visit, my parents are coming with their caravan car, all the way from Sweden!
Lotta & Pyret
Me & Pyret

Pyret trying out Donut!

Festivo Il Divo!
Photos by Lotta

Wednesday 3 November 2010

Just another day

So today I started with body care i.e massage by a super professional lady that is also a very good friend. This is the luxury I give myself every week and part of my body healing. I have now been told to take several supplements, funnily enough most of them turned out to be the same things I give my horses, there you go, more connected to my horses than to myself, interesting. In the afternoon I went riding in 19 degrees it said on my car!
I met a lady in the natural food shop the other day, she gave me the advice to try to eat as much swedish food as possible, so here I come IKEA. And now I have just been watching some swedish TV, I love to watch things I can relate to and there are a few real cute ones that are really funny. So I sit there and feel very swedish and enjoy it. Simple pleasure.
I had this one taken yesterday from the car, we live below the rainbow.
Goodnight all, tomorrow will be a even better day! 

Tuesday 2 November 2010

Working hard

Incredible, the sun returned after a few days of rain and wind, today we had 19 degrees! My body feel so much better when it is dry, come cold, come dark but stay away rain, the humidity kills me. Festivo is working hard and being a good student, I feel he has done a very good progress in this little time. He just turned 6 years old the 20tieth of October! I rode Donoso and he is glowing and keep asking for more.. And today we went to pick up this handsome 4 year old!