Cathy's report on the 2008 Florida Season to March 14.

First I am happy to say that I feel great and love the way our horses are progressing. I am so pleased with how well my working student Jen has been bringing along the horses. BeSe is doing better than ever. Last weekend in the Palm Beach Grand Prix CDI Derby, BeSe was 6th with a score of 66.252% in a class of 34 really top, wonderful horses and riders . Then in his first try at our new freestyle, BeSe did really well, and was pinned 4th with a score of 68.6%. The audience was very appreciative and gave us a rousing approval. That does my heart good.

I would like to thank Yevonne Barteau

who put the music together for us and spent considerable time choreographing it with me. We finished the music and choreography one week before the class.  Consistency is really beginning to catch the eyes of the judges. The reality is that before a judge is comfortable with giving a 70% or better, the rider/horse combination has to be consistent, and I agree. Consistency is an important indicator of where your horse is in his training.

Last summer I had the privilege to be able to help out some really great young riders who train under the watchful eye of Yevonne Barteau who has done a fantastic job of bringing the youngsters along. I travelled to Chicago, something that I felt I had to do because I wanted to see if the System Tools could help in their training. Also at the Derby I helped school Kassie Barteau (third from the left) who won all 13 classes with her 4 horses, Sarassanna, Raymeister, Sheffield, and Gabriella, from 2nd through Intermediare I. I also helped school Roxanne Agruso who won her 3rd level III class on Toscano.

My assistant Jen Griger has been showing the young horses that I have been working with and she did a super job. Her scores have been in the mid 70's. I am showing a beautiful mare, B.W. Callista, owned by Leslie Valenti. The mare won with a 73% in her last class.

I did not show at the The Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge on March 8-9 because BeSe was part of the Grand Prix Quadrille competition at the Challenge of the Americas a breast cancer benefit which was a fabulous success. The young horses showed and Jen got the highest score of 74% on Kelly Roetto's young Dutch Warmblood, Valintino who showed at First Level. Jen also was awarded a 73.6% on Darenda Sheridan's Leopold who was shown in Training Test 3. I showed B.W. Callesta who earned a 73.2% in Training Four, and  Don Leonardo the youngest of the herd, and also owned by  Kelly Roetto Leo earned a 73% in First Level 1.

The System is working well on all the young horses, just as I expected. Thanks to System Tools, all the horses are more obedient, relaxed and trusting.

This year for the eighth year Lynn Leath is working with me and began with Stripper who moved to Grand Prix before retiring and then with d'Artagnan  for the past several years who placed 6th in the Developing Horse Championships last year in Kentucky. We decided to concentrate on training instead of showing this season and to develop more collection and thoroughness in beginning the Grand Prix movements. I have seen fantastic progress in both e'Artangnan and Lynn's technique. It is a joy to work with Lynn and d'Artagnan.

We have a new addition to our equine family. Leslie is the proud new owner of a truly beautiful mare, Raphaela. Lislie is looking forward to competing this summer.