IRIDE has just returned home to northeast Alabama from wintering in Florida, and we are excited for the summer season already! We hit the ground running with several new students scheduled for lessons, and we will be attending several events in short order. The first event will be the GDCTA Trainer Symposium at Shannondale Farm in Milton (Atlanta area), GA. We already have three going, and welcome any other interested students to come along, or meet us there!
I want to extend a warm welcome to all new students this year, as well as the regular students I will be returning to in the Tennessee/Alabama/Georgia area. Thanks for your patience while I was in Florida, and now let's get to work!
IRIDE will also be initiating a change in payment structure, with lessons being paid on a monthly basis at the beginning of each month so we can set a more reliable schedule of lessons each month with a regular default day and time of the week each week for your lessons. I will be getting in touch with all the current students, but if you are considering lessons with me and need more information or to see what day/time would be available, call or email me anytime: 772-473-0528
WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR THE SUMMER COMPETITION AND CLINIC SEASON!
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IRIDE arrived at our winter digs here at Elite Dressage in Vero Beach, FL on December 19th, and now that our colleagues from Maine have arrived, the gang is all here! We are looking forward to super training opportunities, renewing alliances with our friends, clients and colleagues who are from all parts of the world, here for one reason---DRESSAGE!
We are looking forward to the training opportunities with mentor, Henk van Bergen, and many other clinics and symposia that are offered all over the area, as well as competition opportunities all around Florida at this time of year.
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IRIDE REPORT OF THE CONRAD SCHUMACHER CLINIC 2017
IRIDE had an extremely successful clinic with Conrad Schumacher at the end of June! At the end of our ride, Herr Schumacher turned to the auditors and said, "This horse has excellent training." Not bad for a retraining purchase, eh? I can't tell you how much fun it is to ride Jelle! We worked on the flying changes which I am just introducing Jelle to in earnest now, and Conrad gave me some solid exercises that will help going forward. One of his quotes to many of the riders during the clinic that sticks with me is, "Your legs should cuddle your horse". Although I only was able to ride one lesson, needless to say, I was pleased with the result!
One unfortunate sidenote:
Unfortunately, due to some really weird and unprofessional actions by Del Greenwell of Horse Sports Photography, based in Aiken, SC, we have no video. I paid top price for a video, flash drive and postage, and have NO VIDEO AT ALL, and have yet to even receive a refund. She claims to have deleted the videotape after, according to her, "it was clear that I was unhappy", even though I was offering many different options that would have made me happy. I never saw any footage at all, and question whether there ever was any! She obviously never made any attempt to mail the video, and came up with every excuse in the book to cover up her lack of professionalism.
I do not usually "call out" someone for a service or product that "went wrong", but I feel the need to caution my equestrian professional colleagues and my students, because of her egregious behavior afterward. It was a very simple problem of delivery, and maybe a problem with the video process (we will never know, since she lied about everything from the beginning, when the truth would have served her much better). There were many different ways that this could have been resolved amicably, but she chose to be vindictive, and I can't for the life of me figure out why.
Suffice to say, that I will never use the services of Del Greenwell, dba "Horse Sports Photography", and also dba "Warriors in Wellies" (supposed educational subscription website) again, and caution others as well. She presents herself as a professional, and offers videotaping and photography services, as well as a subscription "educational" website. I can say, unequivocally, that she does NOT deliver what she promises (or anything at all, for me!!), and when someone tries to resolve the issue as a reasonable and patient person, she gets vindictive and blames everyone else for her shortcomings, including her own employees and the USPS (and that lie was easily disproved!).
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For immediate release:
A quick synopsis of the spring of 2017----
Our Spring Season of Competitions has culminated in multiple Second Level Scores between 65-69%, with top placings in almost every class. Jelle earned his USDF Second Level Performance Certificate (10 scores over 60% with four at the highest test of the level, from four different judges from four different Competitions).
He is also currently 1st in the USDF All Breeds Friesian for Second Level. We will be spending the summer exploring the flying changes!
We are scheduled to clinic with Conrad Schumacher on June 26 in Wilsonville, Alabama.
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| IRIDE will be wintering in
Vero Beach, Florida
December 1, 2017 thru March 31, 2018
There will be 1-2 training slots available if you would like to have your horse in training this winter. Call for updated availability, as these spots can get snapped up fast!
There are also (currently) 3 more dry stalls available at Elite Dressage where Mary will be based, so if you would like to winter in Florida, this stable is only 1-1/2 hours north of Wellington, and 2 hours south of Orlando Dressage, and has been described as "the best kept secret in Florida!" (we agree!)
If you have any questions or would like to reserve a training or boarding spot, contact Mary.
772-473-0528
Stalls are available by monthly, 3-month, and 6-month lease.
Also, stall cleaning and dropping feed 2x daily 6 days per week may be available for an extra cost,
inquire for details and availability this year.
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| IRIDE's beautiful Oldenburg broodmare, Donna Dora, has been purchased by student Tricia Pierce. Tricia, who owns the boarding/training facility Springhaven Stables in Albertville, AL will breed her to top-notch warmblood stallions to continue producing the beautiful foals that Dora is noted for. Congratulations to Tricia and Springhaven Stables, and we can't wait for the foal pictures each year!
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MORE PHOTOS FROM FLORIDA 2015--
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| Sweetheart Cup, February 7-8, 2015 |
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| Sweetheart Cup, February 7-8, 2015 |
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