Francisco's Blog
July 2014
Below are Francisco's comments on the horses he has currently from outside boarders who have their horses in full training. We have had a wonderful array of not only Iberian horses, but plenty of talented warmbloods coming through the barn. Over time, we will be following the progress of these horses and others as they come in and go back to their owners.
"Well, I practically do the same with all the horses. I wonder every day and they talk to me to what they can do. If I ask a question of more and {the horse} says he can not, I apologize and I ask again the same thing in a few days. If instead the answer is 'yes', I appreciate it and reward it. It is only about mutual respect: 'If you respect me, you will be respected'."
Larpeiro
owned by Irene Berzak of NYC and Aiken, SC
Ollie is a grateful horse. He came with a lot of fear, I saw that he had been abused somewhere in his life. Now he is seeing that work is not bad, it's just a communication with his rider, and happily the owner can take lessons on him, too.
His first horse show is in a few weeks, starting at Third Level, Test 3, since it only has two changes of gallop in the air. This is what he transmits that he distrusts the most, yet we will have the confidence to do it. When I first rode him, taking him to a horse show was unthinkable, but now I am happy about it.
"During my trip to South Carolina in March," writes Irene Berzak, "I had several of the best rides on Ollie. I rode all the Third Level, Test 3 movements on a hors in Third Level frame. As Francisco has taken Ollie from Second (level) to schooling Fourth, he has guided me from almost Second to the upper levels. For me, this growth comes only being able to be here a week a month. For the first time in my life, being able to ride Grand Prix is a real possibility. Francisco has taught both Ollie and me how to do it and to trust ourselves indiviually and each other. He is a gifted teacher and a superb horseman."
Ollie had been getting chemotherapy treatments and was on medical rest. He has been the best patient, still kind and willing and never causing any trouble. The 1st of July marked his first day back at work. We all wish him the best for a healthy future.
Santo
owned by Adrienne LaFar & Bill Taylor of Lake Wylie, SC
Santo (saint) is a four year old stallion who recently came to the barn. He did not have a good start in the matter of discipline and it was not made very clear to him that the first thing a horse has to learn is to move forward. This is why I'm doing a good basic dressage training on him.
He is large and has good mechanics in his movements. I think with patience, discipline and good development of his muscles he can go far. He is a horse that is going to fill the dressage ring (as we say in Spain). In first month with me he is well advanced in walk, trot and canter on the track and I can also take him outside for a walk. But "go slow, is sure to get."
A barn mate of Santo’s came last week. Acertijo – the name means riddle but we call him Tio (uncle) – is an impressive grey stallion. He is being trained further so he can be sold.
Tomillo VII
owned by Dori Derr, Half Moon Dressage
Good Tomi is for me something much more than a horse. He is like a partner, a companion for the bad times and the good ones. Thank you for starting my adventure at Half Moon, which was just two years ago.
After many Intermediare 1 and 2 and Grand Prix rides to get to the Gold Medal (USDF), we are now working with his owner, Dori Derr, at Third Level Test 3. I want them to get to where they can do Prix St. George. We plan to make a Grand Prix Musical Kur with the music and choreography sent to me by Rafael Soto, my colleague at the Royal Andalusian School and Olympic rider.
Ecuador XXIV
owned by Dori Derr, Half Moon Dressage
Ecuador is a young stallion we bought from Alvaro Domecq in his farm "The Alburejos" when he was 3 years. Now it is nearly two years later and in these two years he has had a long basic dressage training. Since he was very big for his age we had to take good care of his balance and take that long process, but now he is getting started with the training exercises at Level 2. I believe that if we continue looking after him without rushing, he will have a great future as a dressage horse for quality and good moves.
Amapolo X
owned by Dori Derr, Half Moon Dressage
Amapolo (the word means poppy) is also a great horse we bought from Alvaro Domecq. Like Tomillo and Ecuador, he is a very powerful and expressive horse. When he was training in Spain, he had started Level 2 and now, after two years of training at Half Moon, he was competing last year at Prix St. Georges.
Now he is ready to debut in Intermediare 1; adding the piaffe and passage he ultimately is a horse that, when entering a dressage arena, is inevitable that all people have to look at him.
Bolero P
owned by Diana Hunt, Aiken, SC
Bolero (the name means shoe shine boy) is a young horse that was recently imported from Spain. He is a horse with very good aptitude for dressage, for good moves and has good class. He has a grand step, a good trot. although in the canter he has much difficulty because of an accident he suffered in one of his hind legs on his first night in his new American home. He is one who will continue a long recovery process and "see what happens."
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