THANK YOU STEFFEN & SHANNON PETERS... in more ways than one! First and foremost THANK YOU, for thinking of me when it was decided to sell Lord Albert. It was because of your influence that my mother, Nancy and I were afforded the opportunity to purchase him. THANK YOU for standing ring side to watch my final ride at the Regional Championships at Flintridge. Your support and encouragement meant more to me than you know. I have to admit I wanted to perform even better, partly because the two of you were standing ringside to watch (no pressure). THANK YOU, for opening your facility to me and my two boys, Catapult and Albert. THANK YOU STEFFEN for managing to squeeze me into your busy schedule and share your knowledge with me. Your instruction is truly invaluable to me. To my surprise my last four lessons, 2 on Catapult and 2 on Albert you donated to me. You effectively gave me $1,000.00 towards my “Road to Verden”. I hope I make you proud, know I will do my very best. My fortune continues as I’ll have another expert eye watching me in Germany, Scott Hassler. To:

STEFFEN AND SHANNON PETERS, THANK YOU!

Ah Julie... By Angie

We'd love for you to meet Julie, David's new assistant and awesome horse woman. Julie hails from Portland, Oregon and went to college of all places in, Montana. With a degree in anthropology she wants to become a horse trainer- go figure that one. David met Julie in Montana when he would travel there to do clinics for his long time friend and colleague Melissa Comerford.

Julie had spent years eventing horses and decided it was time to continue her horse training education and picked dressage. When the opportunity to come to work for David was available she jumped on it. I'm sure a chance to move to California from Montana had nothing to do with her decision. The thought of laying on the beach in the warm sun watching the luscious tan bodies of young men surfing, never crossed her mind....

After Albert has his feast provided by the loving hands of Israel, Julie gathers him up to get him ready to go to the gym with his personal trainer, David. I love the way Julie describes Albert in the morning; sliding open his stall door she says he looks at her with half masked eyes. There are always large green stains ground into both sides of his face. You have to wonder why anyone would mush their face in horse manure, but Albert seems to delight in it. Maybe it's just the thought of getting his face rubbed that inspires him each night. We'll say that's why he does it, not because he likes the way it smells. It's a wonder that there are any shaving left in his stall after a night of rolling around. Along with the green face comes an entire bail of shavings streaming through his thick, breathtaking tail. No doubt in our minds that Albert would be a bed hog. Ok, you have the picture in your mind. Let's just say it takes some extra time to make Albert presentable each morning.

My favorite of Julie's description of Albert early in the morning is "Grandpa". Back track to the sleepy face and don't forget it's decorated with green highlights, now add two dramatic stretches, first with the right hind leg completely extended out then the left. Followed by a large yawn fanny all his teeth and his eyes rolled somewhat back. Here comes the Grandpa part, she says he walks so slow, out his door, through the barn and over to the cross ties. You would never think he could be described as the Energizer Bunny. Then like magic, the energy is transmitted into very fiber of Albert's soul: David arrives.

The haze that just moments ago filmed Albert's eyes melts away and is replaced with a crystal clear reflection of his trainer. He ears that were relaxed and hanging somewhat back have now shot forward in the direction he's looking. They remind me of two ten year boy heading off for the day, because they both have the same expression on their faces; let's go play!

Blog news by Angie, David’s Barn/Business Manager

6:00 am. The dust settled on the earth after the nighttime’s moisture has laid down yesterday’s dust from activity. You hear muffled grunts and groans from an early morning roll or rest in shavings as they raise their large bodies to the attention of the sun. It’s breakfast time and the clanging and banging begins. The "feed me first" calling alerted by one is followed by everyone in the barn; the arrival of people means the arrival of their favorite time of the day: food time. Albert with his keen sense of his stomach, is right up there with the best of them, displaying his grandest effort to get feed first. Although his manners are excellent as his door slides open with the arrival of Israel and a bag of Triple Crown Compete, with 2 scoops Platinum Performance, a scoop of flax seed and his daily Strongid, Albert dives in like it’s the last meal he’ll ever receive. The flake of alfalfa and the flake of oat hay are ignored until every last piece of grain is consumed, then his feeder is licked clean of all remaining supplements. Some might call him an easy keeper.

Albert is the first horse of the day to get ridden. One might ask "Why is he always the first?" The answer is plain and simple. If you knew Albert, you’d see he has more energy then the Energizer Bunny: he could work all day and then some. His strength and endurance are inexhaustible, therefore the answer is clear: David has to have the energy to ride him. There you go, Albert gets ridden first for David’s sake. David says his own reflexes have to be lightening fast to stay up and contain Albert’s zest for life. He says that if he is in the least bit tired and has to remind any part of his body when to “HALF HALT” it will be too late. I suppose most truly talented horses are generally more difficult to ride as their athletic abilities allow them to do things others just wouldn’t. This is why it takes a truly talented rider to allow the horse to express his talents and not fall off. Such is the team of David and Lord Albert.

It seems like just yesterday (October 6, 2006) that Albert arrived at the barn. Having only been gelded for about 3 weeks, his coat still had the mirror-like luster of a stallion. David had gone down to Steffen & Shannon Peter’s to pick up his new pride and joy. As Albert stepped of the rig he was a display of beauty and confidence. You know the type: they look around as if to say “I’m here now so you can start the cameras rolling.” In the beginning when walking him in hand, he was so sure of himself he thought it was best to pull away from his handler and take tours around the barn. One morning after expertly getting away from Dave, he jumped the fence to join the horses out in a 10-acre pasture. Thank goodness he’s through this part of his training and has not even attempted to get away in months.

First day of lunging. As I said, the strength of Albert is amazing. Before David got on Albert the first time at the barn, he thought he should lunge him first. With saddle and side reins on, he lead Albert, aka Rocket (David’s nickname for him), to the arena. Dave snaps on the side reins and sent Albert out on the lunge. On about the 3rd loop around, Albert simply stopped, flexed his lower neck muscles and both the snaps on the side reins broke. Dave, Samantha (his assistant at the time) and I all just looked at each other in disbelief. I asked him what he was going to do, he shrugged and said, “I guess I'll get on.” And so he did. Sam and I held our breath waiting for Albert to buck Dave off. Ok, I’m going to share a little secret with you, I’ve been working with David for over 4 years and I’ve seem him ride the wildest of horses and I’ve never seen him come off. I have to admit there might have been a tiny, tiny part of me that wanted to be there to witness a fall. But, true to his abilities, Dave stayed on and today Albert has (for the most part) quit trying to buck David off.

- Angie

Tuesday June 19th - ANGIE'S BACK

Sorry it's been a long weekend away from writing my blog - it's been a busy one.

Had a tough day with Albert today, started out as wild as usual and never settled down. He still is a lot of fun, even when he's so high. The things that happen in between his "exuberance" are spectacular!

I had great rides with the rest of the horses, although it was kind of tough to manage without Julie, my assistant. Israel and I managed to get everybody done. It's really great to have someone like Israel who takes such pride in his work, my horses have never looked so good.

I spent sometime organizing the carnet for our trip to Germany, everything seems to be going along well at the moment. There is still the fear in my mind that I won't be able to raise enough money. Angie's back, thank God - it's hard working with out your right hand! It was great to sit and catch up with her for a while today. Sounds like she had the vacation of a life time. She and Larry are coming over for dinner tomorrow night to nail down fundraising plans for Verden with Andrea and I. We've got some great ideas, I just hope it's enough.

Signing off for tonight - Dave

Good day

Today was a good day, definitely an honest days work. I guess I should write in more detail about what a normal day at the Ranch consists of... If you have been reading some of the earlier posts you already know I usually start with Albert at 6:30 am. Julie my assistant gets him ready and we start the day on a wild note. I truly am privileged to ride such an amazing animal. This morning started out as usual for Albert, however, he ended up giving more than I could ever hope for. He really is so much fun.

At 7:30 Tom came in the ring on Pepper to take a lesson. Tom and Pepper are always a good time, they are really doing great things together.

Next came Thomas, our new young rider aboard Robin, the tallest horse I've ever had in training. Thomas is not exactly short either, in fact I have to put the stirrups up four holes to ride in his saddle and I'm 6 feet tall, I think you can do the math.

Then came the best part of the day, Catapult. He was unbelievable, I asked Julie to video him and was able to enjoy him twice today. Next I rode a few training horses and had good success with all of them (anyone who knows equine training realizes this promotes a very good day).

Late morning / early afternoon the cutest little Trakehner mare walks into my ring (with her owner Tracy), the mares name is Dancer but I call her Teacup. This is the most balanced and willing little horse that I have had the pleasure to ride. Tracy is learning how to ride a young horse with more and more success. The two give me a great sense of accomplishment every time I work with them.

After Teacup Kaitlyn came in with Smiley, our token thoroughbred.
Now, Smiley may not be the fanciest thing in the barn but he tries so hard for Kaitlyn. They are wildly impressive everyday, they are really a fun lesson.

Lets see what's next... oh yes, the stallions. First the Andalusian, yes I have an Andy in training and he is great. Three years old and trainable like nobodies business. I then spent some time with the Hanoverian stallion and the Dutch; they are both completely different to work with but progressing very well.

It's been a long day, so I will end it here. The rest of the day continues on the same way, it's really is not a bad way to make a living . It just requires a lot of work and long hours - we finished at 6:30 and then had a meeting with Tom Blakiston about ideas for fundraising.

Good Night -

Weekend of June 9-10

This weekend it was much more quiet than it usually is at Blakiston Ranch. Saturday was fairly typical, with lessons throughout the day.

Catapult is doing better and better, he never ceases to amaze me. The problem with Catapult is that he excels so quickly that I keep having to slow him down. If he wasn't so young I could continue with the Grand Prix work, but he doesn't have the fitness or the maturity. His talent for the Grand Prix work gets me very excited for the future!

I rode Albert first thing Saturday morning before everything got started, as usual he was high in the beginning of the workout and then genius in the end. He reminds me of Catapult at that age, even though they're so different in ability and confirmation. My challenge right now is to keep Albert consistent with what we had at Flintridge and not over-do it because we're going to Germany. I feel like we're on the right track though, Albert is still enjoying the work and plays around like the kid that he is.

Sunday I gave my boys a day off, they spent most of the day in the turnout. Most of the others kids had to work and I had a great time on our new 6 year old Dutch, Uniek, we have in training. I also played with the stallions, it was nice to groom them myself and enjoy them.

Fundraising seems to be the hard part, I wish I only had to ride and teach but now it seems to be the only thing on everyone's mind. Plans are under way and everything seems to be going well. I'm very thankful to have so many supportive people helping with the process. Together we've come up with some pretty great ideas to raise the money. One of which will be a big BBQ Dinner at the Ranch - all are welcome and encouraged to come, we'd love to have you. Email me your address and we'll send out invitations.

Sorry for the blog delay - This is all new to me, I'll try to write more often!

Today was a shorter day than usual. Sometimes, for whatever reason, it seems we have a few horses needing shoes, or not being worked, so that means I get to go home earlier. I'll be working through the weekend (Sunday/Monday) because I am leaving on Thursday to clinic in Illinois, so a tiny break was appreciated.

Today, I rode Albert in the early morning. We went through the 5-yo test, and even though he was really high at the beginning, he settled into the work nicely. I just worked on the basics with Cat today, I find that working on the basics and having these days to just ride them through only makes them better when you go back to the more challenging aspects of the training. Albert was out in the turnout until about 11 am when Israel (my right-hand man) brought him in for grooming and lunch.

Tom, a student of mine, rode his horse Pepper today in the early afternoon versus first thing (normally he rides quite early) and got both his twos and his ones. We have Tom, Thomas (another student), and Tom (the owner of the farm), so things can get a little confusing around here!

I had a good and productive ride on the four-year old Dutch stallion we have here.

Kind of a quiet day; very different from yesterday. Yesterday was crazy: it seemed like we never ran out of horses to ride or things to do, but we got it all done anyway. I just did not have it in me to check the blog last night- :)

Signing off until tomorrow.

My first blog post. One of my students told me “all first blog posts suck.” I hope that isn’t the case here.

Albert was… Albert today. Worked on the same, getting him over his back and on the aids. The basics are so important, he can become so much better just by working simple exercises, freeing him up through the back and becoming more active.

Cat (Catapult), my seven year old, was expressive today. We worked on the changes, first the fours, then the threes, and finally the twos. The twos are so much quicker, but by the end of the ride, he seemed to relax into them. Finally, we did a little piaffe/passage work; the passage is really coming. Kaitlyn, my student, remarked that it isn’t just expressive, but very active. The piaffe is coming, becoming better and better. I think that Cat is a reflection of how beneficial the entire young horse program has been to someone like me- in developing their horse.

Verden is only two months away- actually, less. Savannah, another student of mine, and Kaitlyn, met with me today to discuss fundraising efforts. They have some really dynamic ideas, and I’m really excited that they are helping me out with this. I always knew Albert was of a high enough quality to go, but he has not been easy. His first show was Del Mar (end of April) where he won the 5 yo class. We took him to DG Bar, and then Flintridge. I was not preparing for the fact that we might go to Verden, although it has always been an aspiration of mine. A few of my students, including my barn manager Angie and her daughter Sam (who used to be my assistant) and my mom will be going for support.

I taught a few students first thing, rode most of my horses; including Albert (I have 23 or so in training), had the meeting, taught through the early afternoon, rode the three stallions, and taught until about 5:30. Albert, on the other hand, worked this morning, was turned out, and then got some shots from Dr. Sullivan around 3pm. He (Dr. Sullivan) is also working on the passport; all of these paperwork items have to be worked out long before the actual show.

I’ll be writing most days; when I am away at clinics it may be too difficult and Albert will not be worked during that time. Everyone has been asking about my Verden schedule, but I’m not sure yet. I got the official invitation, but Scott (Hassler) still has to call with the details.