Of Horses & Members

About Horses & Riders

CDS and DASC Championships

Diane Welcenbach on Phoenix Park at Woodside

Rodrigo da Costa Matos Clinic

Nicole Chastain on Partisano Rodrigo with Denise LaMalfa on Mistral Rodrigo with Partisano

Fortuitously, SBCDS was invited to extend the visit of Rodrigo da Costa Matos, one of the top stallion trainers in Portugal and Brazil, to Southern California by hosting a clinic in the beautiful setting of Newport Farms in the Santa Ynez Valley, immediately following his appearance at the LAEC. The clinic, beginning August 6th, took off like a rocket, with riders coming all the way from Temecula. Every slot in the three day schedule is taken from 7 AM to 7 PM. Thrilled by his welcome, Rodrigo plans to return to us twice yearly.

Sonja Vracko Clinic

Sonja Vracko, "S" Judge from Woodville, WA, in her delightful manner carefully instructed each horse and rider combination at the Dressage Clinic co-hosted by the SBCDS and the Beatons Westerly Stud

Farm on July 30th and 31st. The two-day event was fully subscribed by auditors and riders alike. Kerstin Laudeman rode her 17-3h Warmblood, "Lucy."

In a final gesture of good will, Fred Beaton added a sturdy guardrail to the reviewing platform. The ranch has since been sold.

Sonja will return for another one of her delightfully charged clinic's to the Santa Ynez area on September 15-16 (ggvonderburg@yahoo.com) and the Moorpark area in October, contact kerstin@laudemann.com for more information.

Santa Barbara CDS Stars and Stripes Show at Mission Pacific

Diane Welcenbach on Phoenix Park Madison Wagner on Fashion Gina von der Burg on Elan

El Capitan Ranch Dressage Show

Louise Cacesse on Juteux Mia Tobias on Michaelangelo

Photos by Tass Jones Photography

Mette Rosencratz Clinic

Madison on Gene Kelly with Mette Rosencratz at the recent clinic

in Hilo Nic's Arena on Hope Ranch

MPIEI certified instructor, Don Sachey's Cavaletti Clinic for the Dressage Horse at Modoc Ring on May12th and 13th was instructive and enjoyable. It was fun for the riders and the horses.

Rita Good on Elegant Gina Sylvia on Iceman July Corlett on Jessie

As the clinic progressed with the horses going through the exercises over the poles, the action, animation and expression of their gaits improved. Don used a combination of Cavalletti ....staggering poles and heights to encourage the horses to lower their heads and lift their backs, stretching their top lines. It was noticeable how Cavalletti encourages balance and self carriage.

Maria Norris organized a very special clinic and we thank Jedlicka's for sponsoring the clinic and providing copies of Klimke's book "Cavalletti " for the ones who got the lucky folders at the preview on Friday evening.