avondale warmbloods

Before we start too far into the new year and all the exciting possibilities that lie ahead in 2012 there are a few people I would like to acknowledge who are key to our success!

Bidski Park - Terrance and Alex Rowe

Terrance keeps the competition team well shod and the youn...

What a super time we had at the Dressage Festival! Sue Mills and her commitee run a great competition that just seems to get better and better each year. Avondale Lindt competed at his very first "Official" competition in the Preliminary and placed 5th and 6th and scored 64% and 69% respectively. I wa super happy with how cool and easy this youngster is, he takes everything in his stride and thinks it is all just one big party especially put on for his benefit! So great to have such an uncomp...

Recently Avondale Libertine(aka Ludo) and I competed at the local Allora Club day. As usual it was a super friendly relaxed happy day run by Marina Brand. They had big entries for the day, something other Clubs don't seem to get. Perhapsthey need to take a leaf out of Allora's book as it would be lovely to have more of these wonderful days to go too! Anyway you can read about it at http://www.barnbynotes.com/open-notebooks/407

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We are so lucky to have a trainer of Ilse's calibre coming right to our own backyard! Once again "Avondale" hosted a full clinic and four days of fun and learning. Check out the photo gallery to see some of the clinic participants. You can watch a video of Ilse competing here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLI0x7EMLEY&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Congratulations to clinic...

We have recently returned from a holiday in Germany where I was lucky enough to attend the World Young Horse Championships in Verden. You can see some photos that I took in the Photo Gallery and read all the results and reports at www.dressage-news.com that Ilse Schwarz covered. We also had a great time visiting some good friends of Ilse's at Gut Fechtal in Vechta, the residence had a moat around it and was completely amazing! We saw some beautiful y...

A very succesful weekend for the "Strong Performance Team" with an 8th place in the 4yr old class with Avondale Lindt and a 3rd place in the 6yr old class with Alexandra Rowes Regency Lanthee! Lanthee was bred by Erica Buchanan at Regency Warmbloods just outside of Toowoomba. I think this mare is a testament to Ericas breeding program there as she has an amazing trainable temperament and the ability to go all the way to FEI. You can find the website at

I am really enjoying the whole experience of journalling for Barnby Notes and you can see my latest entries "matching personalities" at www.barnbynotes.com just click on the training community link at the top of the page and you will see me there!! I really recommend the whole concept of training notes and journalling and I believe it really can make you a better rider.

You may have noticed the link on the right hand side of the page to the Dress...

One of the last horses that my Dad bred was Avondale Della Cairo a small fiery red head of a mare that has finally found her niche in life in Endurance. Now training with Melissa Longhurst in Mackay she has just completed her very first 80km and done stunningly well. Melissa's husband Steve rode her in the lightweight division in the Pioneer Trek on the Athe...

We were very lucky indeed to host a clinic with Ilse here at Avondale. The weather although cold did not deter us and the days were sunny and mostly clear although Ilse did teach in several layers and a Drizabone for the 2 days!! We have a wonderful bunch of friends who attended the clinic and stayed over for some hospitality and I think we all finished the clinic thinking we had eaten too much!!

I really enjoy the way in which Ilse breaks down the actual aids and gives clear explanati...

We had a wonderful time at the clinic with Anna who is not only gorgeous but a great teacher and clinician! Thank you to the hannoverian Society for bringing Anna out and to Dean and Anthony for their wonderful hospitality and the use of their beautiful facilities.

Avondale Sonnet aka Mimi responded well to Anna's kind and sensitive methods and we learn't a lot about contact! It was good to get feedback from Anna about riding young horses as she really is a specialist as can be seen fr...