Author: Mica

Once again I have neglected Malenadressage.com! Since I have been putting most of our updates via Facebook.  2016 has been a very busy and successful year, I will try to do a quick recap …

Our Florida season was filled with big Tour CDI’s, Cesar Lopardo Grana showed his mare Tyara with great success, and also gave me the opportunity to show her myself in a couple of GP CDI’s collecting a few ribbons in the GP Freestyle.

 

In the spring we moved to a new location in Bedford NY.  We shared Watch Hill Farm with Karin Persson (Stonebridge Sport Horses).  It was a great scenario for Malena Dressage.  Karin and I worked really well together, and we were able to help each other through out the season, as well as working with fabulous clinicians such as Ulf Moller and Chris Theallet.  Also, having another trainer at the barn allowed me to travel monthly  to teach clinics.

 

We had a very successful summer in the show ring.  I was able to show Nancy Pine’s lusitano stallion, Zodiaco HM in the INT 1 classes earning scores up to 68% and qualifying for Regional Championships, and my student Brooke Alexander had a fantastic season with her PRE gelding “Trio”, including 3rd place in her first CDI, and Reserve Champion PSG Reg. Championships.

In other news,  my very loved GP horses have been relocated.    Our magnificent mare “Tyara” was sold to Rebecca Lord in July, and we are beyond happy with their partnership.  And last but not least my old partner Koa has started his well deserved retired life in Brewster NY.

In the middle of December Toto and I will be joining the Hassler Dressage Team for the season.  I am so grateful for this opportunity, and I couldn’t ask for a better situation.  Scott has been helping me on and off with different horses since 2007,  I can’t wait to soak up all the knowledge and develop my wonderful horse to the fullest.

I haven’t been able to update the website in a long time, due to some technical difficulties…Hopefully this post comes through.

2015 is almost over, and before I move on to talk about my experience at the Pan American Games, I would like to mention how proud I am of my student Brooke Alexander who has competed her wonderful PRE Trianero with great success from 4th level to Int.1.  Finishing Reserve Champion at the Regional Championships at NEDA FALL, and competing at the National Finals in Kentucky.

I would also like to share with you my experience with Jubilant ( 16 yr old stallion, owned by Anne Wood) in the GP ring.  I made the mistake of showing Eubie in the GP classes in Florida, while I thought he was ready at the time,  he was still too green to show and I destroyed his confidence (and mine) in the ring.  Of course I realized this a little too late, but every mistake is an opportunity to learn.  Once we got back to NY, we took some time off the show ring, spent time at home working on getting his confidence back and getting him stronger.  We finished the season with 3 solid GP tests, including a blue ribbon 🙂   Eubie and I have been through so many ups and downs, but I am for ever grateful to his owner, Anne Wood, for not giving up on us.  Every day I learn something new with him, and while it has been very challenging at times, the reward is so big when things fall into place.

Below is a picture of Eubie, Anne and I after we finished the GP at Regional Championships.

Another great accomplishment was to help Cesar Lopardo-Grana and his wonderful mare Tyara in the CDI’s, Tyara spent 3 months with me in NY after the Pan American Games, and it was a lot of fun to get to know her and to be able to coach Cesar at the shows.  Tyara and Cesar will come back to the US shortly to compete in the Florida Circuit.

My experience at the Pan American Games 2015, Toronto Canada.

To be honest going to the Pan Am Games wasn’t part of my plan in the beginning of 2015.  Granada was semi-retired (he is 19 years old), my working student at the time was riding him, but in March I found out that I was already qualified for the Games.  Since Granada was still in good shape and enjoying his work, Sam Grunkorn ( Granada’s owner ) and I decided to go for it !!

I was fortunate enough that my federation didn’t ask me to participate in a lot of CDI’s in preparation for it, they just asked me to do a show in Florida to “prove” we could still do it.  The test was ok, nothing spectacular, but in total fairness to the horse, he hadn’t been preparing for that.

After that show I created a plan to improve Koa’s fitness level without stressing him, lots of hill work, cavalletis, and hacking.  We only schooled the movements once or twice a week, and never  in the ring 🙂  He enjoys working out in the field, so that is were we stayed.  I didn’t  want to change our way of doing things because of this competition.  My goal all along was to keep him healthy, happy and inspired.

On June 25 Koa and I travelled from Mount Kisco NY to Toronto, Canada.  The trip was easy and uneventful.  Prior to the competition we stayed at a beautiful farm in Cookstown, ON.  The rest of the Argentinean team had already been there since the beginning of June.  We all stayed at the beautiful farm house, where we had the chance to get to know each other more and create a team-mate bond.

On July 1 the team coach arrived from Spain, Antonio Diaz Porras.  At first I was a bit hesitant about working Koa with him, since I had never ridden with him before, but to my suprise he was very respectful and understanding of our program.   At the farm there were 2 riding rings, but I found an old polo field (with grass up to the knees) to ride Koa in.  Even though it is not the most conventional way to prepare a horse for the PanAms, it was the best way to prepare Koa for them.  I have been riding Koa for the last 8 years, and I knew that as long as I could keep him inspired and interested on the job he would do it for me.

By July 7 we moved to the show grounds.  The place was incredible, the stabling was very airy and comfortable, the rings were fantastic with great footing, and the Stadium was breath taking.  When we walked into the stadium it really hit me! We were going to represent Argentina at the Pan American Games!!!!

The Jog was the next day, everyone in the team passed.  Koa schooled wonderfully Wednesday and Thursday, he had lots of power and was very fresh and supple.  On Friday we were allowed to ride in the Stadium, to get the horses familiarized.  I just wanted to hand walk him around (because I usually give him the day off before the competition), but since I wasn’t allowed to do that, I just hacked him around the ring on a long rein.

The first day of the team competition was on Saturday.  I was the third member of the team to go into the ring, and the first rider of the GP group.  Koa was feeling great in the warm up, and I went into the ring feeling very good and confident.  It was one of the best tests of my life,  it was clean and smooth and Koa felt fantastic underneath me.  It was so special.  I came out of the ring feeling very pleased.  Once I got the barn I got lots of messages congratulating me for the score, I had no idea what it was at that point…67.2% I couldn’t believe it! It was our best score ever in the GP in a CDI.

On Sunday we rode the GP Special, it was the second test of the team competition.  Koa felt just as awesome in the warm up, I even went into the ring feeling better because he pooped right before we went in.  The test was really good, unfortunately we had 2 big miscommunications.  One of them in the right trot half pass, I surprised him with my leg and he cantered the first half of it.  It was a double coefficient movement, so it was very expensive.  The other mistake came in the 2 tempis where he took a misstep in the second change… We ended up with a 65.6% .  I was still very happy and proud.  His attitude in the ring was amazing, and nobody could believe he was 19.

Argentina ended up 5th in the Team Competition, this was a huge accomplishment for us, it was the first time ever that the team had such a good standing.

Because one of the GP riders was eliminated on the first round, only 4 riders moved forward to the Freestyle.  So we didn’t make it.

My experience in Canada was fantastic all around! Being able to represent my country and to be part of a team is an honor and to be able to share it with Koa was priceless.

I haven’t been very good about keeping updates through the summer.  I’ve had a great show season with Jubilant, owned by Anne Wood.  In August we had 2 wins at Centerline Events Saugerties, and we were East Coast Riders Cup Champions at Int.2  NEDA Fall Festival was avery successful show as well, we placed 2nd in the warm up class and were 3rd in the INT B Open Championships.  In October Eubie and I did our first GP test, and he came home with a blue ribbon and a solid 62%.  I am so proud of him, he has come a long way since the first shows in Florida.  It definitely took us some time to figure things out in the show ring, but I am so happy that we are a team again.

 

In November I went to Maryland to the YOUNG DRESSAGE HORSE TRAINERS SYMPOSIUM with Brooke Alexander’s mare Franka Potente.  It was such an amazing learning opportunity, very inspiring to be surrounded by such amazing trainers, who are willing to share their knowledge.  Thank you Hassler Dressage for putting together such an incredible event.

In a few days we will be traveling down to Wellington for the season.  We will be stabled in a lovely barn in little ranches.  I look forward to a great season, with lots of showing and learning.

Hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving!! Lots to be thankful for 🙂

Most of you already know, but I figured it was time to share the news with everybody.  Sam Grunkorn and I decided not to go to the World Equestrian Games in France with Granada.  We think it would have been to much for Koa to travel across the ocean twice.  He is 18 years old, and even though he is sound and happy some days he does feel like an older horse.

I don’t believe in getting places at any cost, and doing what ever it takes.  When we qualified for WEG last year, I promised my self and Koa that I would only go if he was up for it, I wasn’t going to push him just to fulfill my dream.  It would have been pretty special to represent Argentina, but there will be other opportunities in the future.

I have ridden Koa for 7 years, and our journey has been so special.  He has taught me so much, not only about riding, but horsemanship and values.  As I always say, he is truly the horse of a lifetime, and I cannot thank Sam Grunkorn enough for the opportunities he has given me.  It is bitter sweet to think that our international career together is coming to an end, but looking back at our  journey I am so thankful and proud of what we accomplished together.

“Life doesn’t close a door with out opening a window”, that saying is so true in this case.  Last week I bought my very own horse! WEN!!  He is a 4 year old american bred warmblood, by Emily Wagner’s fabulous stallion Wake Up.

I saw Wen’s add on the internet and something about him caught my attention, so two weeks ago I flew to Kansas City to try him,  I only rode him for 15 minutes and totally fell in love with him.  I immediately knew he was the horse I have been looking for.  It was meant to be!

Wen will arrive to NY by the end of this week.  I can’t wait to start our exciting journey.

I haven’t been very good about keeping you posted through my journey this last couple of months.  I had a very good winter, filled with learning opportunities.  I was able to work on a regular basis with Scott Hassler, Beth Baumert and Juan Matute.  It was a lot of fun to work with them, and learn different techniques and tools.

Scott and Beth helped me immensely with Jubilant, an Oldenburg stallion owned by Anne Wood.  Through out the winter I showed him INT 2, even though we had our ups and downs, we were able to end on a fabulous note at the last show, earning a solid 66%

Juan Matute introduced me to Sentimiento, Tamara Gerber’s PRE stallion.  I had a wonderful time getting to know this fabulous stallion and working with Juan.

In the beginning of May we moved back to Tripp Stables in Bedford Corners NY and some new horses and clients joined the team.

 

Granada (owned by Sam Grunkorn), and I are qualified to represent Argentina at the WEG in France, hopefully we will be able to go.  If it’s meant to be, we will find the way, and if it isn’t that is ok too 🙂

I look forward to an exciting summer! I will keep you posted!!

 

It has been a very good winter so far.  Koa and I did our first FL CDI.  It was a good first show, we could’ve had better self carriage and over all suppleness, but both tests were respectable.  As usual for us the Special was better, we had some very nice piaffe and passage work.

Jubilant, owned by Anne Wood, will do his first show this weekend.  We will be competing at Global Dressage Festival in INT 2

In other news, I want to congratulate Brooke Alexander for purchasing Franka Potente, a lovely 4 year old mare.  Pictures will come soon!

We ended up the 2013 show season the best way!  Koa was a superstar in the GP CDI.  On Friday we ended up 9th with a score of 66.7%, had one mistake in the extended canter, but overall it was a clean steady test.  On Sunday we had a blast in the ring.  We ended up 4th in the GP Special with a 67.5%, he tried really hard for me, and gave me the best birthday present!

Tina Jones showed Bordolino in the PSG AA Regional Championships and ended up 5th.  Her and Bordo have developed so much over the summer, and even though Bordo was a bit tired in the ring, she had a very clean, steady test.

Koa and I got our second qualifying score to represent Argentina at the WEG next year in 2014.  Eurodressage did a nice article about it.  Check it out:

http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2013/09/25/micaela-mabragana-form-2013-cdi-w-saugerties-and-her-way-weg

Definitely the horse of a lifetime!

                                  

It is already mid September, where did the summer go?

August was a very successful month for us.  My student Asia Ondaatje travelled to Colorado to compete in the Seat Medal Finals.  She competed in a borrowed horse, and did a terrific job finishing third overall!  Tina Jones showed Bordo PSG at HITS.  She put in 2 solid tests, Bordo looks more and more confident at that level.  Tina won the PSG class on Saturday with very positive comments from the judges.  I showed Koa (owned by Sam Grunkorn) in the GP CDI, it was his first CDI in 3 Years!  He was a bit tired, but both days we had clean tests, finishing 8th and 5th in the GP and GP Special.

NEDA fall is coming up!  Tina is showing PSG in the Regional championships and I will show in the GP CDI.  Wish us luck!!

 

We had a two very successful shows in Saugerties NY and Westbrook CT.

My student Tina Jones and Bordolino did their first PSG together at HITS, she was second on Saturday with a 65.8%  and first on Sunday with a 64.7%   Great start for them in the FEI ring.  Granada (owned by Sam Grunkorn) and I were second the first day in the GP with a 66.8%, he felt great, but we had some miscommunications at the end of the canter zig zag and in the beginning of the one tempis.  On Sunday we did our first GP Special together, we won the class with a 68.8% 🙂 It was a clean test and our highest score so far!

This past weekend my student Asia Ondaatje Rupert showed her pony Otinio in Westbrook CT.  She showed third level on Saturday and won the class with a 66.5%   She earned her bronze medal.  It was her second time out in that level, she did an amazing job!

The feed back from the judges for all three horses was very positive and helpful.  Looking forward to the next show!

                              

It has been a very exciting month.  After we settled in, I had the great pleasure to go to Michigan to teach a clinic hosted by K.  Colfer Sporthorses LLC.  I had a lot of fun teaching and catching up with Katie (who was one of Lendon’s working student in 2005).

In the middle of May I had the opportunity to work with Henk Van Bergen on Granada (aka Koa) owned by Sam Grunkorn.  He is always right on with his suggestions and I always feel I get a lot out of his lessons and walk away feeling confident and inspired.

Our last group of horses came by the end of the month.  Hitchcock owned by Louise Cote and Belissimo and Wasmut owned by Debbie Mullaney.  I have a full barn now!  10 horses, 6 of them are chestnuts –what are the chances ?

Next weekend we have our first show of the season at HITS.  Tina Jones will do her PSG debut with her lovely gelding Bordolino and I will be showing Granada GP.  Wish us luck 🙂