It's Time for the CSDEA Tack Swap!

Looking for great deals in new and used tack, equipment, and all things horse-related? You're in luck because the Central States Dressage & Eventing Association (CSDEA) is holding their Annual Fall Tack Swap this Saturday, November 7th at the White Bear Lake Armory. The sale opens at 11 am and runs until 1:30 pm. Get there early as there is sure to be a long line!

Have items to sell at the sale? Consignment items can be dropped off the morning of the sale from 7:30 am to 9:45 am at the White Bear Lake Armory (2228 4th St.) OR early drop off is Friday November 6th from 12 noon to 6 pm at St. Croix Saddlery (5525 141st St. N. in Hugo just 5 minutes north).  

Have fun shopping and support local pony clubs! The 15% commission on sale items goes to Rising Sun & Croixside Pony Clubs & Rolling Hills Estate Pony Club Riding Center, as well as the CSDEA. 

Questions about the Tack Swap? Contact Kathy.

St. Croix Saddlery is also having the Horse Lover's Day sale on Saturday 10 am to 5 pm AND new this year, they're doing a pre-sale the day before during the early drop-off. Nearly everything in the store is on sale, plus fun prizes, and specials deals on certain items. Call the store with questions - 651-426-0831

Would you rather save up to own your dream farm? Look at horse properties and hobby farms for sale in the greater Twin Cities metro area at www.donavin.com 

Lisa Fergguson clinic this weekend!

Lisa Fergusson

There may still be openings for the Lisa Fergusson clinic this weekend. Saturday will be dressage and stadium at Farm du Cheval in Scandia, Minnesota. Sunday will be dressage and cross country at Carriage House Farm in Hugo, Minnesota. 

Yesterday, there was an open spot for Beginner Novice/Novice for stadium and cross country only (dressage lessons are full).  The cost is $180. 

Contact Jean to for forms to register or with any questions.

Check out www.donavin.com for listings of hobby farms and equestrian facilities for sale.

Eventing at Otter Creek this Weekend!

Otter Creek Farm is hosting their Summer Horse Trials this weekend, August 7-9. Levels include Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, and Preliminary. 

Here are the ride times for dressage and cross-country. Except for beginner novice and starter divisions which have cross country on Friday afternoon after dressage, cross country takes place on Saturday. Stadium jumping ride times (Sunday) will be dependent on who makes it through the first two rounds. For more information, see the USEA (United States Eventing Association) listing.

Otter Creek is a beautiful facility with a hilly and wooden cross country course, much of which is visible from a central location under the pavilion. The dressage arenas and stadium arena have all-weather footing. Located outside Wheeler, Wisconsin, the farm is secluded and peaceful. Come out for a day or two and watch some of the best event horse and riders in the area!

Have you always wanted to own your own horse property with a cross country course? Sunborn Stables is for sale with this lovely water complex! Or build your own at a hobby farm of your choosing for sale at www.donavin.com

USDF Dressage St. Croix Dressage Show This Weekend!

St. Croix Recognized Dressage Show is this weekend at the Washington County Fair Grounds in Lake Elmo, MN. The show is Level 2 and is recognized by USEF, USDF, AQHA, & CSDEA. Rides range from Intro Level to Intermediare I to FEI Paradressage.

The judges will be William Solyntjes S, of Brandywine Farm MN, Debbie Rodriguez S, of Virginia and Jodi Ely r, of Trista Farm. Free admission, so spend a day on this lovely weekend watching local riders compete and cheering them on!

Here is the complete schedule of rides. 

Check out horse properties and hobby farms for sale in the metro area of MN at www.donavin.com or www.mnhorseproperties.com

Bernie Traurig Clinic This Weekend!

Bernie Traurig, a renowned international competitor in dressage, showing jumping, and eventing, is offering a clinic at The Stables EquestrianCenter in Rochester, MN on May 23-26.  He was the associate Chef d’ Equip to George H. Morris of the United States Equestrian team and has been inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame.  He has trained with and learned from the best in the country and he is one of the most sought after clinicians. 

Bernie jumping as a kid and competing in dressage

The clinic format will be 2-hour group lessons Saturday through Monday with a one-hour break for lunch.  The clinic runs from 8-5 Saturday and Sunday, 8-4 on Monday Memorial Day with the final hour being a dressage/flat lesson.  Tuesday there will be two dressage/flat lessons from 8-10 am.  Additionally Saturday will have a pot-luck at 6:30 pm following by a video presentation and Q & A session at 7 pm.

Auditing is $25/day.  All riders and auditors will receive a 50% discount on an annual membership to his coaching website: www.EquestrianCoach.com

Questions?  Contact thestables@att.net

Located on 65 acres, The Stables Equestrian Center, is a lovely facility.  It boasts a 150' x 75' indoor arena with rubber/sand footing and ceiling fans as well as two outdoor arenas with washed sand footing (230' x 120' and 200' x 80').  There's a fully-equipped lounge for the Q & A and a wireless PA system in the indoor arena.

Want your own equestrian facility?  Browse horse properties and hobby farms for sale at www.donavin.com or www.mnhorseproperties.com

3-Ring Circus Schooling Show This Sunday!

This schooling show is an annual favorite for dressage riders, hunter/jumpers and eventers for starting off the show season.  Put on by St. Croix Saddlery, the show has 3 rings, one for dressage tests, one for hunter classes, and one for jumper classes.

The show takes place at Carriage House Farm in Hugo, with a sand dressage arena and grass jumper and hunter arenas as well as sand schooling areas. 

Classes start at 7:30 am and go all day. Here are the dressage times. A complete class list is also available. Stop by and cheer on local riders! 

Concessions are available as well as veterinary and equine massage services. The St. Croix Saddlery trailer will also be there for fun equestrian shopping!

Check out horse properties and hobby farms for sale at www.donavin.com or www.mnhorseproperties.com

Ralph Hill at Hollow Creek This Weekend!

If you missed Otter Creek's Spring Horse Trials, there's another chance this weekend to catch some eventing fun at a Ralph Hill clinic at Hollow Creek Farm in Menomonie, WI. 

Ralph Hill is a very highly respected 4 star veteran and eventing instructor. In fact, he has the distinction of being the only rider to compete in every Rolex from its inception in 1978 to 2007.  A fall sidelined him from competition but has nothing to dampen his dedication to the sport.  He is busy coaching and teaching clinics across the country.

Hollow Creek Farm has a 72' x 144' indoor arena, a 155' x 165' outdoor stadium arena, and a full cross country course with jumps for starter through training level. The clinic runs Friday-Sunday with dressage private lessons and groups of 2-4 for stadium and cross country. Auditing is FREE, and water bottles provided for all.

Questions?  Contact Lucy Lammer, 715-235-0593 LucyL@wwt.net

Build your own cross country course on your own hobby farm! Browse horse properties for sale at www.donavin.com or www.mnhorseproperties.com

Otter Creek Spring Horse Trial this weekend!

The gorgeous Otter Creek Farm in Wisconsin is hosting their Spring Horse Trial this weekend. Attending this event as a spectator is a wonderful introduction to the equestrian sport of eventing which includes dressage (on Friday), cross-country jumping (on Saturday), and stadium jumping (on Sunday).

If you've never been there, you should take the time to check it out!  Otter Creek Farm is secluded and peaceful, a true gem! There are several dressage arenas with excellent footing that drains well in the rain.  The cross-country course is on a hillside which is breathtakingly beautiful and makes it easy for spectators to view most of the course from one central location. The farm has many evergreen trees, abundant green grass, and immaculate jumps, pavilion, and stabling.

Here are the ride times for dressage (on Friday) and cross-country (on Saturday). Stadium will be on Sunday and times will be set once it is determined who goes clear in the first two rounds.

Prefer to ride your own horses at home?  Check out this home & stable (Sunborn Stables) for sale in Chisago City which has their own cross-country water complex:

http://www.donavin.com/morgan.html

Browse other horse properties & hobby farms for sale in the Twin Cities metro area at www.mnhorseproperties.com or www.donavin.com

Clinic this weekend with Lisa Fergusson at Roebke’s Run

Eventers, take notice! There’s FREE auditing at the Lisa Fergusson clinic May 2-3 at Magister Equitum Stables (Roebke’s Run).  All 3 phases (dressage, stadium, and cross-country) will be covered. For the jumping classes, there will be 3-4 riders in each group which are separated by level (Beginner Novice, Novice, Training/Preliminary).  There will also be a potluck dinner Saturday night. 

Lisa Fergusson is Canadian and has competed and trained through the Advanced level and brought young horses up through the levels.  She’s skilled at working on rider position. 

Roebke’s Run is a fabulous facility with one of the upper midwest’s finest cross country courses.  Their course was crafted by Eric Bull, Dan Stark, and Tyson Remener. It features starter, beginner novice, novice, training, preliminary, intermediate, CIC* and CIC** jumps, such as the ones below. 

 

Always wanted to have your own cross country course at home?  Look at hobby farms and horse properties for sale in the Twin Cities metro area at www.donavin.com and www.mnhorseproperties.com

FEI World Cup Dressage 2015 Starts Tomorrow!

Today the horses and riders who qualified for the 2015 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage warmed-up for the Grand Prix tomorrow in Las Vegas.  The FEI World Cup Dressage is the only dressage series other than the Olympics which is open to countries all around the world.

With leagues in Europe, North America, Canada, & Australia, the top riders have been attempting to qualify for the final FEI World Cup.  19 horses and their riders will be competing from 9 countries: Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Russia, and the United States.  Some big names will be competing, including record-breaking Charlotte Dujardin & Valegro, Isabell Werth & El Santo, and Edward Gal & Glock’s Undercover.  From the United States, Steffen Peters & Legolas and Laura Graves & Verdades will be taking on the world’s best. Check out the full list of contestants and the schedule.

Charlotte Dujardin & Valegro, Winners of the FEI World Cup 2014

If you don’t have tickets to see the series live in Las Vegas, you can watch it all online on FEITV, for a monthly subscription price of $45 (each subsequent month is only $15).  There are also options for annual subscription ($80) or 24-hour access ($27).

Prefer to ride dressage at home?  Find a horse property of your own in Minnesota on www.donavin.com or www.mnhorseproperties.com.

Jennifer Truett Clinic This Weekend!

Jennifer Truett is one of four Mary Wanless's Ride With Your Mind (RWYM) accredited dressage instructors in North America and she's coming back to Minnesota this weekend for a clinic at Leatherdale Equine Center at the University of Minnesota!

Mary Wanless, photo from http://www.mary-wanless.com/

As the owner and head trainer at Dancing Horse Farm, Jennifer Truett is an experienced FEI dressage rider, a USDF Bronze Medalist, a USDF "L" program graduate with distinction, and a USDF certified instructor through Second Level.  

The Ride With Your Mind (RWYM) program teaches riders the subtle art of riding in a way in an easy to understand. Riders will learn "feel" using their visual, auditory, and kinesthetic senses. RWYM Riders and auditors will learn correct biomechanics of horse and rider and helpful exercises and visualizations to improve their riding.

The clinic will have a full day of private lessons on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  On Saturday, there will be an unmounted workshop over the lunch hour with Jennifer Truett.

Organized by the Central States Dressage and Eventing Association (CSDEA), there's a discount for CSDEA members for walk-in auditing. 

For more information about the clinic, go to the event page on the CSDEA website or contact Kelly Vallandingham, valla020@umn.edu, 612-309-5797.

To look at beautiful horse properties for sale in Minnesota, go to www.mnhorseproperties.com or www.donavin.com

Sunborn Stables Schooling Show Sunday!

Photo by Cindy Bellamy

Want to get out and watch a dressage and jumping schooling show yet be indoors during this last bout of wintry weather? You're in luck! Sunborn Stables in Chisago City is hosting their first show of the year on Sunday March 29th.  

Don't worry!  There's an indoor arena to keep you out of the wind as you watch with a heated viewing area too. 

Here's the showbill for a sample of the classes, which include dressage, jumping, polo prep, and egg & spoon!

Like the property?  It's for sale too! Here are some of the stalls (above) and the water complex (below).

And an aerial shot of the whole property.

24110 Morgan Avenue, Chisago City, MN 55013

Check out this link for more photos and details: 
http://donavin.com/morgan.html