Since she was 2, I have had the pleasure of owning, training, riding, and competing Jeddien.   She started life on a sheep farm in Holland, lived in the UK with me for 12 years, and then made the move to New Hampshire with Georg and I two years ago.

After going through quarantine in the USA, we had Jeddien bred to a Dutch stallion standing at Cornell University, the late DaVinci, and she spent the last two years being a mom.

Going back into light work this summer, she and I swiftly qualified for the USDF Region 8 Open Championships at Third Level (UK Advanced Medium).   An impressive fluke in itself, really.   And so, since we qualified, we travelled to Saugerties NY last week, and competed in the finals...

... and came THIRD!   Wow.   Okay.   That's pretty fantastic really, considering.   As one friend pointed out, maybe I should try riding more than once a week and see what we can achieve next year.

But for now, while I sit here in California, on yet another business trip, having flashbacks of the most fabulous weekend at the biggest horse show of my life, Jeddien, my wonderful dressage partner, is happily grazing on early autumn grass with her buddies enjoying another well deserved vacation...

... doing what she loves most.