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BlueWaters
Settler
1 Posts
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So happy to find you!, Sep. 14, 2009 01:06 PM
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Hello Gina and Laura,
I am so excited to have found you. I was really excited to see your philosophies. I rode, competed, and taught dressage for a couple decades. My love was - and remains - combined training. I started riding professionally when I was 15 - same problem, parents waiting for the phase to end. Little did they realize it was more of an infection. My riding began with hunter/jumper barns. I was - and remain - very short, and found that a large horse could easily lean into my stubby leg - the answer to that was to put on blunt spurs, when my legs got quiet enough. I always maintained there had to be a better way.
When I was 17, I went to England to study for the BHS exams. My first experience with dressage! My stay lasted far longer than intended because I took every opportunity I could find. I competed dressage to 3rd level, CT events to Preliminary, some point-to-point and steeplechase, hunting, and side-saddle. There was never an instance where anything I had learned from dressage didn‘t help whatever horse I was riding.
Returning to the States in the mid-70‘s was a nightmare! Dressage was a dirty word! Classical styles were a joke! It wasn‘t until I started taking on some pretty hefty riders:Hap Hansen, Rodney Jenkins, Nelson Pessoa, and actually winning, that my life as a trainer/coach became easier. As a 15 year old, Hap liked to tell me dressage will ruin a perfectly good jumper. As a 19 year old, Hap liked to tell me maybe dressage had a value.
I rode with Charles de Kunffy, Guillermo de Hoogh (worked with both as well as an assistant coach) and caught any workshop from the Europeans I could. Just because American dressage was so putrid.
When Pariani designed a dressage saddle, I asked him if he would custom make one for me, but with now flap and a dropped girth. Oh, gosh! I learned more Italian in 30 minutes than in my entire life, and I am not sure any of it could be repeated in polite company. But he made it, and it is beautiful! Gorgeously balanced, so close it could be bareback, and fits every horse I have set it on. A couple times, people (mostly those of the "western" persuasion) have had scathing remarks. I always tell the rodeo cowboys, ropers and cutters to ride it for 5 minutes. They always rave - how nice it sits, how balanced, etc.
Morris, Steinkraus, Matz and Jenkins have all sat in it - their first dressage saddle - and their comment was invariably how well it connects the rider with the horse - this before close contact saddles became popular!
I left the horse venue to go sailing, but am now getting back into riding. I still have my Parianis - one CT all purpose, and my dressage, plus my sidesaddle. Now in my 50‘s, I am thinking dressage is smarter than 3-day!
I hope it will be alright to come and visit you!
Cheryl
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croft
Settler
1 Posts
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Gina, Oct. 03, 2008 07:40 PM
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I am sorry for some reason I am not getting your email but I am DETERMINED to figure out the problem as it is certainly affecting my own customers , and friends alike. Thank you so much for our conversations and also welcome to our facility. It is always nice to find like minded horse people. Please feel free to call me if this communication is too straining. Again best of all things to you , Carol of Nanke Land and Cattle Company 1227 W. Rd. 1 South See you soon!!
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Hasi
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Glückwunsch, May. 07, 2008 05:30 AM
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Liebstes Hoppelhasi,
nun endlich ein Eintrag auf Deiner Homepage, jippih. Es ist wirklich sehr schön zu sehen, wie aus Träumen Realität wird  .
Habe mir gerade nochmal die Bilder angeguckt und da ist wirklich ein seeeeehr interessantes dabei. Ich würde zu gerne wissen, wie Du das machst (Sekundenkleber oder so?).
Dicke fette Umarmung für Dich
Dein Hasi
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Babsi07
Settler
1 Posts
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great page, Jan. 26, 2008 11:52 AM
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Dear Gina,
you know that I´m not that much into horses, but I´m into you.
You taught me so much about love and life in general that I´m very greatful that you once came up to me in school saying "you are not fat--just overweight".....that was the beginning of an endless friendship.
Lots of luck with all your projects.
Love,
Arno
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Kristin
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Amazing Gina, Dec. 03, 2007 12:20 AM
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Liebe Ulla,
vielen Dank fuer den Hinweis auf die Website, absolut amazing.Sieht aus, als ob ein Traum in Erfuellung gegangen ist... Weiterhin ganz viel Spass und alles Liebe.
kristin
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+Sindy+
Settler
1 Posts
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Congradulations, Dec. 01, 2007 08:35 AM
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Congrats to you and Lara both . This site is off to a great start and Trouble likes her position as Body Gaurd. She thanks you and promises to do a great job. This will be fun! I‘m hoping to have my site up to a start by the first of the year and we can link. Thanks for bringing your passion of horses to Prescott!
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Chris
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Hello again., Nov. 30, 2007 11:47 AM
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What a nice surprise!
Thanks for sharing, I really appreciate that.
All the best love, hugs and kisses.
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+Ginchen+
Moderator
8 Posts
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Hello again., Nov. 30, 2007 05:53 PM
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Originally posted by Chris:
What a nice surprise!
Thanks for sharing, I really appreciate that.
All the best love, hugs and kisses.
oh thank you, dear chris - what an honour to have the first posting in the guestbook from good old berlin. i miss you!
gina
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Jerry Krause
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Congratulations Gina, Nov. 30, 2007 02:56 PM
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I can‘t wait to see how beautiful and amazing this site will be. Your friends in California are wishing you well and expecting greatness. I think we won‘t be disappointed. You go.
Jerry and Mario
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Cate
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HMD is launched to the world!, Nov. 30, 2007 01:20 PM
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Congratulations guys - looks great! Go desperados!
"Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole, and once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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