Hi Irene: Its been awhile since I wrote. I have been taking it slow
with Sunny and letting him grow up some. It is paying off.
Our last two tests got him 8's on his gaits.
I hope to show recognized some this winter. He is an awesome horse.
Thank you so much for finding him for me and helping me through the
growing stages. Holly
December 14th, 2009:
Congratulations to the new owner of For
Compliment!!! We are so happy that he is in the hands of a super
person and that he’ll be able to continue his super career! What a
horse!
December 10th, 2009:
Dressage Getaway, Thermal C, Judges Hilda Gurney and Carolyn Doran.
Elizabeth Ball and Selten
HW had their first outing at 2nd Level Test 3 Open and won their
class with a whopping 80%. Congratulations Beth and Selten
HW – you rock!!!
December 9th, 2009:
Hi Amanda and Irene,
It's been a while since my last update, so I thought you'd like to
hear about Danik (Delano
HW). He's doing great, and I really love him.
My trainer, Katie Hoefs Martin and I both showed Dani this past show
season at Training and First Level, with her always scoring in the 70's
and me high 60s and some 70s. He won most of his classes, and some high
point awards including a cooler I won on him which was fun! He's getting
quite a nice wardrobe of coolers and halters. Katie showed him at our
finals with all the scores above 70. He was Reserve Champion at First
Level, and 4th at Training Level, this despite a few mistakes in his
transitions and focus. As you can imagine, the open classes at
California finals are quite competitive so this was a great result. It
was the biggest show he had been to, and he was a good boy....in fact
the best behaved of the horses in his honor round in the
"scary" indoor arena complete with bleachers of people, and
music, and flags, etc. Now that he's handled the finals so well, I look
forward to riding him in upcoming years.
I'm attaching a few pictures from a recent clinic with Lisa Wilcox.
It's the third clinic Dani and I have done with her, and we are
learning a lot. It's amazing to watch her ride him, and I'm looking
forward to our next clinic later this month.
The first picture with Lisa and Katie is a great shot of our
wonderful support team! Dani's look is priceless...begging for a
caption.
Wednesday, December 5th 2009
The winter chill has begun in the north, and action for a busy
Dressage in Florida is gearing up. Nancy Smith, has made the trip from
Woodwind Farm in Newbury, Ohio, to WindSong Farms Equestrian Center in
beautiful Apopka, Florida, where she is the resident trainer during the
winter months. WindSong Farms Equestrian Center is a brand new facility
built and owned by Lori and Warren Wubker, located in an idyllic area in
central Florida near Orlando. On the Florida winter show circuit, Nancy
will be competing Royal Waltz and Hudson,
two bright new stars that are following in the successful hoof prints of
her previous Grand Prix mounts. Nancy was the alternate for the1999 Pan
American Games and long-listed for the 1996 Olympic Games. With both
Royal Waltz and Hudson, Nancy qualified and competed in the 2009
Markel/USEF National Dressage Young Horse Finals in August at Lamplight
Equestrian Center. She is currently gearing up for another successful
winter season in Florida and looking forward to bringing her two
talented youngsters to their full potential as upper level horses.
November 19th, 2009:
THE AMERICAN HANOVERIAN prints the following article about Selten
HW :
November 3rd, 2009:
This past week, Faulkner
and I (Amanda Bailey) traveled 13 hours down to Houston, for the GAIG/SWDC
regional championships. Faulkner was qualified for four championship
classes. Third level open (both Gaig and SWDC) and Third level freestyle
(Gaig and SWDC). I also showed him at fourth level test 1. It was an
unbelievable week. Faulkner
was so well behaved and tuned in for every class. He won three out of
the four classes (Fourth 1, Third Freestyle championship (Gaig) and
Third open (SWDC). He was reserve in the other two classes. We had a few
mistakes here and there, but they were all from him getting ahead of me
and anticipating. I couldn't have hoped for a better outcome. My
computer and video camera are not on speaking terms for some reason. I'd
hoped to share footage, but it is not meant to be. Instead, here is one
blurry pic from a victory lap. (which he LOVED)
October 30th, 2009:
The USDF Connection printed the following in their
November 2009 issue:
October 27th, 2009:
Just found this video. The last horse to see in it is Selten
HW. We are super thankful to Hilltop
Farm.
They raised and trained Selten HW and gave him the
best start in the show world that we could have hoped for:
October 24th,2009:
Her is another one we’d like to introduce you to,
sold for Euro 195,000.--
Isn’t she spectacular already? Can’t wait for her
to get started under saddle in spring, time flies, this girl does too!
October 15th, 2009:
The American Hanoverian Society Official Page's Photos - Wall Photos
From the album:
"Wall Photos" by The American Hanoverian Society Official Page
Special thanks to AHS member and photographer Silvio
Busch, Nicholasville, Ky., who recently presented the society with large
canvas portraits of both Cabana Boy and Selten HW, respectively the
six-year-old and five-year-old 2008 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage
Champions. They now grace the walls of the central office.
The portrait of Cabana Boy (Contucci-Britania/Bordeaux),
entitled “Gone With the Wind” shows the horse and rider Christopher
Hickey without his riding hat as a consequence of the hurricane strength
winds that blew through the Kentucky Horse Park while the pair were in
the ring. The second portrait, “Pride and Glory,” shows a delighted
Michael Bragdell and Selten
HW (Sandro
Hit-SPS
High Princess/Hohenstein),
after completion of their ride. These two AHS-registered and -branded
geldings represent the type of riding horse that the AHS breeding
program strives to produce. On behalf of the membership we’d like to
thank Silvio for his generous gift to the AHS.
October 12th, 2009:
What a SUPER strong family!
EM
Santina HW’s nephew (born in 2006) just sold for EURO 130.000 this
weekend. Congratulations to the new owners, we are sure we’ll hear a
lot more of this boy:
October 8th, 2009:
Well....I am very excited to tell you that EM
Hannahlea HW is doing fabulous. She had her “debut” in hunter
classes this weekend and was Reserve Champion both days. She was
fabulous. She would have swept up the event....but still working on some
lead changes, etc. Prior to that, I have been showing her in flat
classes and 99% of the time she places 1st in under saddle. I have had a
judge come over to me early in the morning just to look at her and ask
about her. We call her the baby of the barn. .......she is spoiled
rotten. Food for thought....mid year next year, I will be looking for a
new horse for my daughter. She will be moving up to Junior/Senior and
will have outgrown her horse at that point.
I’ve told everyone I talk to that if I have it my
way, every horse I buy from this point forward will be from you.
Kelly
October 2009:
We have to share a video of Carlucci
HW’s half brother with you. Stallion, born 2007, what a
nice/flashy boy, this dam line is producing excellent and the quality is
consistent!
Welcome
to DressageClinic.com Welcome
to the Equestrian World's Premier Educational Online Website for the
Development of Dressage Horses and Riders. From all the Regularly
Featured Trainers of DressageClinic.com to All Our Members and Visitors,
We Wish Your Riding Dreams Come True.
DressageClinic.com
Presents
Elizabeth Ball
Riding & Lecturing on
Selten HW
Elizabeth
Ball Lecturing Selten HW by Sandro Hit
5 yrs old Hanoverian Gelding
Training: FEI 5 yrs. Olds Sept. 2009
Training Video: 40 minutes
Click Above to watch Sample Video
Find
out more about membership
to DressageClinic.com
“It
starts with getting a clear understanding of the tiniest softest little
details”, -Elizabeth Ball
Elizabeth Ball is presently one of the most talked about dressage riders
in North America as well as Europe as she is presently training
what is considered the best young 5 yr. old in he nation and one of the
most talented youngster in the world. Elizabeth Ball’s 2009
accomplishments include a berth in the nation’s top twelve for
the Developing Horse Championships with Soubirous, competing Eckstein
Farm’s Orion in several Intermediare 2 classes with scores over 70%
and riding Orion in a very well received Grand Prix Pas de Deux with
Gunter Seidel at the 2009 World Cup in Las Vegas.
Selten HW's overall score for the Five Year
Old Final Championship test was 86.800%. Trot score: 9.2 Canter
score: 9.0 Walk score: 7.5 Submission score:8.9 General Impression
score:8.8 This incredible youngster, "won" the 2009 USEF/Markel
National Young Horse Championships in Illinois last month with Elizabeth
holding the reins, and last year Selten HW won the four year old
National Championship class at Dressage at Devon 2008.
California’s mountainous landscape is
the backdrop for Elizabeth Balls latest video. As she warms up
Selten HW at the walk, she fills us in on how this young horse
became hers and Selten’s HW infant training by Michael
Bragdell at Hilltop Farm.
In Part 1, When we filmed this video, Elizabeth's contant
thoughts were that the following week they were both off to Ilinois
to compete for the Young Horse Championships for the FEI 5
year old test, which includes, counter canter, simple changes, forward
trots and canters. “Especially with the young horses”, Elizabeth
explains, “when you are correcting them or showing them new things,
it’s got to be that it feels fun for them. Even when the hard
things are a bit challenging, there has to be a reward, and that walk
break off and on within the work to tell them that “hey you are on the
right track. It’s OK”.
Selten HW is given a comfortable
contact with a gentle rein as he begins his trot warm up. “It is easy
with a big mover like this", Beth explains, "for my legs to
flop around a little and my feet to move more than I would like. This
is not as pretty, and it gives him the message that I am always
pushing. I need to train him to go without my pushing all the
time", Beth continues, "I am going to try to do a good
job about not “overdriving” and at the same time, I can’t just
grip my legs to hold them still, otherwise I am not going to be
comfortable for him. He has a lot of motion so there is that
movement that happens in my body. It’s about finding a balance between
keeping track of my excess movement and doing my best to go with him,
with out tensing up”.
In Part 2, as Beth continues working him, they
begin their canter work.
Selten's HW big canter improves as she influences him forward,
working on straightness , lateral bending, keeping him in front of her
leg, and turning. “I have to give the aid a little early",
Beth says, "because by the time he processes the information of
aid, he is already a stride or two late and sometimes he gets a little
too close to the fence.”
In Part 3, now that they have done the walk,
trot and canter, Elizabeth rides the trot a little bit more collected
to teach him what that is about. The test calls for sitting trot,
so Beth sits the trot as they work on shoulder in, shoulderfor, and leg
yield. As Selten HW gets warmed up mentally and physically he gets
going forward on his own begining to carry her. Selten HW is really just
a “baby” he get’s distracted momentarily by another horse.
Elizabeth teaches him that no matter what is going on, he has to always
be ready to go forward. If she puts her leg on, he must move
forward and at this point explain a few of her theories about teaching
forwardness to a young horse.
In Part 4, Beth canters Selten in smaller
circles to balance his large canter strides. They work on the counter
canter that has to be performed in the test.
"It is a good strengthening exercise as well. I maintain the
same bend through the whole body to the left as I had on the true
lead.” Beth explains in her calm soothing voice even after 30 minutes
of working the horse. They work together on the simple change as
Selten HW stays responsive truly giving his all.
“At this phase in his training and strength,
I have to be so patient, because I know that he could move so much
bigger and do all these grand things, but he’s only five years old and
he has only been ridden in the last year and a half. Just being in here
with him, being happy and willing and trying is already so
much.” Beth explains as she comes to the end of this training
session.
This video is an important video to watch because
Elizabeth Ball has such a great teaching style. Ask any of her lucky
students and they will tell you. She shows us in her expert, yet gentle
way, how to train a young horse, where it can be fun and
beneficial for both horse and rider.
We will continue to follow Elizabeth Ball and
the training of her magnificent horse Selten HW, and bring her training
videos to you, right on your desktop. We strongly suggest you
watch this training session. It is part of your development and
education as a dedicated dressage rider.
Team DC.com
At the end of August, a few of Maryland’s top young
dressage horses traveled to Wayne, Illinois for the 2009 Markel/United
States Equestrian Federation National Dressage Young Horse Championships
held at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. Three of these horses came home
with top honors.
Cabana Boy continued to impress. The 7-year-old
Hanoverian gelding, who was bred by Douglass and Shannon Langer of
Wisconsin and owned by Hilltop Farm in Colora, earned his third straight
championship title (he was the 2007 Five-Year-Old champion and the 2008
Six-Year-Old champion, all under the guidance of rider/trainer
Christopher Hickey). This year, after scoring a 72.895% on the first day
and a 73.440% on the second day, he added the title of United States
Equestrian Federation National Developing Horse Dressage champion to his
resume.
A Maryland horse placed well in the Six-Year-Old
division with Jessica Jo Tate of Chesapeake City in the irons. Tate, who
trains out of Hassler Dressage in Chesapeake City, rode Faberge, an
imported Westfalen gelding owned by Elizabeth Guarisco of Virginia, to
the reserve championship spot after placing fifth on the first day and
second on the second day.
Selten
HW, a Hanoverian bred by Irene
Hoeflich-Wiederhold of Florida and owned by Elizabeth Ball of
California, earned his second straight championship title. In 2008, this
gelding was ridden by Michael Bragdell and trained at Hilltop Farm. The
pair won the 2008 Four-Year-Old Championship. This past June, Ball took
over the ride and together she and Selten HW won the Five-Year-Old
Championship class with a score of 8.52 (out of a possible 10).
WAYNE, Illinois, Aug. 22– Selten
HW, a Sandro Hit
gelding that Elizabeth Ball has been riding for only two months, won the
US National Dressage Championships for five-year-olds Saturday. The horse
won the four-year-old 2008 championships for four-year-old horses, but
ridden by a trainer she left it with to develop. Selten
HW beat San Shivago, a Sandro Hit gelding owned and
ridden by Elizabeth’s friend Louise Koch, for the Markel/USEF
championship by 85.200 per cent to 82.840 per cent by combining the scores
from Saturday’s championship and Friday’s preliminary class. Selten
HW also won the award for the highest finishing
American-bred horse. San Shivago received an unexpected setback as he was
walking from the warmup ring to the adjoining competition arena when a
woman spectator ran in front of the pair, was frightened by the oncoming
horse and threw her hand back into the nose of San Shivago causing an open
wound.
Louise had no complaints about the incident that she
said caused her horse to “back off” throughout the ride, saying that
Beth was a “great competitor” on a fabulous horse. The judges either did not notice the wound or overlooked
it as the cause was clearly beyond the control of the rider. Selten
HW is by Sandro Hit out of a
Hohenstein
mare SPS
High Princess HW, and is
owned by Elizabeth, of Carlsbad, California. San Shivago, also by Sandro Hit and out of a
Donnerhall
mare, is owned by Louise while the third placed combination, Zatino H, by
Sir Sinclair out of an Equador mare, that scored 80.160 per cent is ridden
and owned by Emily Gershberg of Hudson, New York. Elizabeth Ball, 45, said that she had been riding Selten
HW for only two months–”a short but exhilirating time–since she took
over the ride from a trainer at Hilltop Farm in
Coloran, Maryland, with
whom she had left the horse for development, whom she praised highly. During the time Selten
HW had been in training at Hilltop,
she said, she had only ridden the horse twice. She now is training with
Olympic medalist Guenter Seidel.
Elizabeth said the difference between the championship
and preliminary class in which she finished second to San Shivago was that
she changed her warmup routine so as not to tire the horse and that made
the difference. Louise Koch, who is aged 62 but says that San Shivago
has given her a new start in her riding career, said the warmup was
“excellent” and “we got THE trot” she the horse could deliver. But after the incident in which San Shivago was smacked
in the head by the spectator “we did not get it in the ring.” Louise and Elizabeth are such good friends that Ball
credited Koch’s judging with putting her on the right track for these
championships. “We are very lucky girls,” Elizabeth said, and
Louise joked that maybe they could become like Isabell Werth and Anky van
Grunsven trade titles as they competed against each other.
Huge congratulations go out to Nancy Smith and her new mount Hudson.
After purchasing Hudson
just recently, she already had him qualified for the Championships and
came in 7th in the Five-Year-Old class. What a huge success for this new
pair. We can’t wait to see what the future will hold for this
phenomenal team. Nancy, keep having fun and thank you for working with
us!
August 23rd, 2009:
The Second year in a row for Selten
HW to be the Young Horse Champion in the US, he won it as a 4 and
now as a 5 year old! Elizabeth Ball has taken Selten
HW to the Win in the Five-Year-Old Championships at USEF/Markel
National Young Horse Championships 2009! Unbelievable, what an experience to follow the story of
Selten HW. It is really exciting to see him grow up, collect many titles and to
see him compete year after year. In 2008 he was the National Young Horse
Champion for FOUR-YEAR-OLDS with Michael Bragdell and now he won again
in 2009, with Pan Am rider Elizabeth Ball in the saddle. Selten HW
was bred by Irene Hoeflich-Wiederhold of HW FARM, in Florida and also
received an American-bred award during the Championships. Elizabeth Ball, whose Cadence, LLC of Carlsbad, California owns Selten
HW, called it "an honor for our country to breed the top horse
for this year." Selten HW
scored the highest marks: 9.2 in trot, 7.5 walk, 9.0 canter, 8.9
submission and 8.8 general impression! We are thankful to all whom made it possible, Hilltop Farms, Scott
Hassler whom always believed in Selten
HW , Michael Bragdell with his outstanding horsemanship and riding
at home and during all the competitions, Beth Clark for establishing the
connection to Elizabeth Ball, Selten’s
HW owner, trainer and rider and the best mom we could have wished
for him, thanks go everybody named and not named but helped.
Wayne,
Illinois – Elizabeth Ball and Selten HW took the win in
Saturday's Five-Year-Old Championship Test during the USEF/Markel
National Young Horse Championships being held at Lamplight
Equestrian Center. And they did it with only two months
preparation. Ball and Selten scored 86.80 to take the win. Coming
in second were Louise Koch and the Westfalen stallion San Shivago
with a score of 82.2. Third was Emily Gershberg, of Hudson, New
York, with her KWPN gelding Zatino H with a score of 81.20.
Because she didn't have the right kind of set up for a
stallion, Ball sent Selten off to Michael Bragdell at Hilltop Farm
as a three-year-old. Bragdell and Selten, a Hanoverian gelding by
Sandro Hit out of High Princess, were a successful team, becoming
last year's national champions in the Four-Year-Old division.
Selten was scheduled to return to California this year to rejoin
Ball, but the timing was such that she wouldn't get him back early
enough to compete him in qualifying classes out West.
Hence, Ball had Bragdell compete him in Five-Year-Old
competition. So, Bragdell got Selten qualified for the national
championships and Ball took over the ride just two months ago when
Selten returned to California. "It says much about how good
Michael's training was that I was able to come out here today and
win," Ball said.
Although
a successful FEI rider and trainer, Ball, who is based in the San
Diego area and trains with Guenter Seidel, admits to having little
experience with the young horse classes. And so, she turned to
someone with more experience for guidance – Louise Koch, who won
Friday's Five-Year-Old Preliminary Test with San Shivago and
finished second on Saturday. Koch happily shared her experience
and in doing so, might just have given Ball the help she needed to
place ahead of Koch in the championship class.
"My horse is magnificent, but I knew we had to work hard
to ride above Louise and her incredible horse today. So, we really
went for it," Ball said. "Louise is really a dear woman
to have helped me. She's a judge and we see each other at horse
shows. I knew that she had experience with the five-year-old tests
both from the view of a judge and a rider and trainer. So, I
called her and picked her brain about these tests because I knew
that she knew them well. I had never ridden the preliminary or
final test for the Five-Year-Olds. I was just reading them and
trying to get ready. Louise was very helpful."
Selten HW was bred by Irene Hoeflich-Wiederhold in Florida and
also received an American-bred award during the championships.
Ball, whose Cadence, LLC of Carlsbad, California owns Selten,
called it "an honor for our country to bred the top horse for
this year." Ball describes her life as "fortunate and
blessed." And not just because she has a promising young star
in Selten, but also because she recently relocated to a phenomenal
new facility owned by the Eckstein family, which also owns Ball's
Grand Prix partner Orion. "It's very private. It has a
beautiful, Tuscan-style, 10-stall barn and a ring with the most
incredible footing," Ball said.
This is a note to let you know that Faulkner
and I just got back from showing at Lamplight in Chicago. It was an
absolutely beautiful show. The weather was considerably cooler than at
home. Highs in the sixties and low seventies. Faulkner had lots of
energy. We got our final qualifying score at third level for regional
championships, as well as being third level high point champion on
Sunday. I'm including a few pics from the ride. He really growing up
Irene. He loves his job and LOVES to show. He just thrives in that
environment.
Thank-you again for all that you did to make it possible to own this
amazing horse.
Amanda
Good morning Irene,
Hudson just
continues to show what a wonderful horse he is. He has qualified for the
5 year old division of the Young Horse championships in August. He only
had 2 shows to get qualified since he arrived just 8 weeks ago but he
did it. His scores have improved each time out. Last weekend he had an
8.14, his best so far. He is such a team player and is getting seasoned
very quickly. Of course he has a big fan club already. The best comment
so far from a spectator is, " I am dehydrated from drooling over
this horse!"
I look forward to his continued improvement in the next few weeks and
feel that he will hit his full stride just in time for the
championships. His stable mate, Royal Waltz, will also be competing in
the 6 year old division. Please let his former owner and rider know that
he is making quite an impression and has a wonderful home here in the
States.
Well, I’m at the airport in San Diego awating the boarding of the
redeye back to West Palm Beach via Atlanta.
I can safely say I’m not looking forward to the long trip home, but it
was a great week out here in California and today was a wonderful day of
Dressage.
Everyone rode well and the horses seemed to enjoy showing off what they
had learned.
Guenter rode U2 through his 1st Grand Prix and I can tell you,
objectively speaking, it was well over 70%! They would have received a
minimum of six or seven ‘9’s’ and showed thrilling work!
I also saw perhaps one of the finest
5 year olds I’ve ever in my life seen, ridden by Beth Ball who
also has a wonderful 7 year old and two other lovely Grand Prix horses.
So now I am letting down after a nice dinner and thinking how pleased
I am with the standard of riding and horses out here on the west coast.
Still, I will be happy to get home to Robert, Simon, and my horses. I
only hope I can sleep on the plane!
Cheers! RD
July 16th, 2009:
Hannahleah
HW (she just sold a week ago!!!) went to her first show with
us.....I was really just bringing her to get used to it. We decided to
show her in a couple of flat classes since she was being so awesome! She
was a real trooper.....there were about 10 horses in her class and she
got 5th under saddle. So what a great day. I rode her every day all
around the show and on the rings and she was incredible. We got lot of
oohs and aahs.....I'll keep you posted on progress. She starts program
this week. She is the one for me!!
Thanks, Kelly
July 13th, 2009:
Hi Irene,
Thought you'd like to know I put Royal
aka Little Black in a class at a show this week-end; training 4th . He
got a 70% from Hilda Gurney and won his class. Yeah Little Black. He was
a very good little horse. Pat
July, 2009:
2009 USEF National Young Horse Ranking lists, for the 2009 National
Championships, sponsered by Markel Insurance:
Familiar faces/names on this list. Again, Selten
HW qualified and finds himself under the highest scoring horses.
What a boy, always in the ribbons and making his breeder Irene
Höflich-Wiederhold and his new owner Elizabeth Ball (Cadence LLC) more
then proud.
Then there are new names on the list like HUDSON,
Nancy Smith just got him from Germany and qualified him right away.
Also qualified is Hannahlea
HW with Amanda Bailey, Hannah
keeps collecting the blue ribbons and is such a great horse.
DON MANCERO (Don
Stefano) qualified too, how exciting!
We wish all of them and all our other customers success and fun at
their competitions!
Hi Irene,
Rising Sun (Rivita)
and I won the Usdf silver medal!!!
Nancy
June 2009:
THE CENTER LINE prints the following article in their June edition,
huge congratulations to Vivienne, EM Donatella HW and all others!!! What
a successful show and fun weekend that was!
June 25th, 2009:
Summer was a
really good girl at the horse show this weekend. She just won a 3rd
level dressage horse class. It’s amazing how fast she is climbing up
the levels, you will find more info about her on her sales site!
Good morning Irene,
Thanks for asking about Hudson!
He has adjusted very well and I took him to his first show this past
weekend. He was entered in the FEI test for 5 yr olds and placed 2nd in
the Preliminary and 1st in the Final with a 7.5. They loved his gaits.
He is a bit of a tourist, the world is so new for him, he wants to see
everything all at once. He was very well behaved, lovely character, easy
to handle, he just needs more competition experience. He will go to one
more show in 3 weeks and if he qualifies, to the Young Horse
Championships in August.
He has a fan club already for his elegant way of going and lovely
temperament. I am enjoying watching him learn about the world. Will keep
you posted on his progress!
Hope all is well with you, Nancy
June
24th, 2009:
Let us
show you a wonderful filly by San
Amour/Rotspon/Weltmeyer/MatchoAA.
Yes, you guessed right, this is Elite
candidate Hannahlea HW’s sister! Isn’t she just wonderful? Nice
uphill and lofty gaits, pretty head, super neckset and that airtime,
just wow! Her and Hannah’s dam was the 2002 Champion mare of the two
year old class at the Ratje-Niebur-Show. This superb filly here was born
in 2009 and is for sale, please inquire
for price if you are interested.
June
2009:
SPS Sandrice, full sister to EM
Santina HW presented her 2 year old daughter at the mare show in
Konigslutter. The filly by Hotline/Sandro
Hit/Lanthan
won her class and was the winning mare of the show. It’s rather rare
that two year olds impress the judges so much, that they’ll get the
title of being the Champion mare of a whole show. We got told that she
has breathtaking movement, including a super walk. What a strong and
successful mare line that is – outstanding! Huge congratulations to
the breeders and owners.
Huge congratulations to the 3 year old full sister of Carlucci
HW and her owners. She competed at a mare show and won her class
with impressive scores.
She then
was called back into the winner ring and found herself under the BEST
4 horses out of the 150 participating mares.
What a
huge accomplishment and proof of her quality breeding and bloodline that
is!
We are
super proud to have her imported full brother for sale in Arkansas, he
is in training with Amanda Bailey. Check
him out!
June 2009:
Hi Irene,
I wanted write and let you know how things went this past weekend
with Hannah
at the show in Murfreesboro. It was a three day show. We arrived at the
show on Thursday, after a six hour drive in the trailer. Hannah
settled right in. After giving her a little while to walk around in hand
and rest, I tacked her up for a light ride, so she could get used to the
arenas she would be showing in over the weekend. She was her usual calm
and obedient self. She took all the new sights in stride and did
everything I asked of her. The show started on Friday. Her first class
was First Level test one. She warmed up great and put in a solid test,
scoring a 65.667% and winning the class. The judge praised her fluidity
and gave her an 8 for gaits. Later in the day, we showed in training
level test 4. With a short warm-up (ten minutes) she went into the big
coliseum and put in an awesome test. She was light and forward and
obedient. The judge LOVED her. She was again awarded an 8 for gaits and
won the test with a huge score of 72.4%. She also won the High Point
award for the show in her division. I was so proud of her! Saturday was
another good day for her. She again won her first level test with a
slightly higher higher 66%. On Sunday, I only showed her in the FEI
Young Horse test. She still had plenty on energy Sunday morning for the
warm up. She was relaxed and happy in her test. The judges (both S
judges) really liked her. She scored an impressively high 8 for her
Canter! They also really liked how cadenced her trot was. Her final
score was a 7.62. The head judge said that she hoped she would see us at
Nationals. I was so happy with her the whole show. She really stepped up
and did her job, every time she went into the ring. She had just the
right combination on energy and relaxation. I am including a couple of
pictures from the warm-up ring for you to enjoy. I know you are just as
proud of her as I am.
Warmest Regards, Amanda
June 1st, 2009:
SPS
High Princess is confirmed in foal to Rubignon
(Rubinstein/Donnerhall/Pik
Solo). He is a black, amazing looking and moving stallion, listed for
the Swedish Dressage team in 2008 and 2009 has 17 GP wins and placing's
including international wins in his name. He is approved with multiple
registries and tested in Sweden with 9’s for jumping. His ride ability
is superb and this foal should be nothing less then spectacular. SPS
High Princess is also Selten
HW’s dam, she is now for sale, check
out her website!
May 2009:
Stepmaster
HW and Weltprinz
HW are moving from
Las Vegas
to their new barn and training facility and will be in the hands of
American Grand Prix rider and
Olympian Christine Traurig.
We are looking forward to see them in these
professional hands and are thankful to Linda, their owner, for enabling
them to go to such a wonderful trainer.
Watch out for them in the future!
May 2009:
Quickstep HW
is now 3 months old, we took him out for a photo shoot. His “chocolate
chestnut” is just breathtaking. He continues to be a super sweet boy
and he is fascinating to watch. Really elastic and a super mover. Check
him out:
May 25th, 2009:
Hi Irene,
I'm writing to let you know that I took Faulkner
to a clinic this weekend to ride with Todd Flettrich. Faulkner
was a very good boy. He worked hard on both days and really focused on
the lessons. I also took him for a hack after each workout and he acted
like he lived there his whole life. Just walking through the fields on
the buckle, even with horses in adjoining pastures acting silly. Just
wanted to thank you again for finding such a talented and sane partner
for me.
Amanda
May 24th, 2009:
Sir
Rubinstein won an A dressage horse class just this weekend. He is
now licensed to full breeding as he scored over the minimum of 7.5.
Countess
placed 4th at dressage horse class A, what a nice accomplishment. Both
horses are super ride able and fun at horse shows.
May 22nd,
2009:
Special
Edition rocked at the horse show in Germany. He was a really good
boy and showed like a pro against a big field. He won his riding
horse class with a super score of 8.3! Wow, that’s quite a huge
accomplishment, congratulations, this is super news!
Hey Irene,
Just wanted you to know that Solitaire HW went to his fist show
(recognized) in Tennessee recently. He received two 75 percents and won
both of his classes at training level. The weather was terribly stormy
and right after one of the classes, they stopped the show because of
lightening. He was a wonderful boy receiving 8's on gaits and getting
comments like "three very good gaits for dressage". He also
received the high point Westphalian horse award. And he is only four
just now. Thanks again for selling me such a talented and sane young
horse. Take care. Lisa
May 17th, 2009:
What a great weekend we had. Dance
Away HW and Irene Wiederhold partnered and showed for the first time
at 2nd level together. The weather was typical for Florida, it was hot
and humid. We were in Venice and despite the noise of a chainsaw, people
and horses moving around, a horse galloping in the fields close to the
ring (yes, all during competition!), we made it and came home with 2
blue ribbons in both classes at 2nd level. We are super proud of this
sweet boy, he really tried his heart out and we got lots and lots of
compliments about his elasticity, rhythm and BEAUTY!!!
May 12th, 2009:
Congratulations to Laetizia
and Fürstin
Maya. Both of them were placed at M – Dressage, which equals US
3rd level. Sir Rubinstein was placed in a huge field of Bundes
Championat participants, what a good boy he is. All horses were well
behaved and showed superb. We are proud to have such quality and
successful show horses for sale. You will find more info for all of them
under their names on the sales sites. Videos and pictures as well.
May 10th, 2009:
Carlucci HW
was out on a field trip. In addition to being an angel at home, ridden
in an outside arena, he was just stellar at an indoor yesterday. He
hauled fine and was well behaved and fun to ride. This boy will be a
blast at the horse shows. Way to go Amanda!
Yeah, it's official, Vivienne Wiederhold got her Bronze Medal
certificate via mail from the USDF today! Right after being a super mom
to Sundance HW,
EM Donatella HW (just turning 7 this month!) continued
her show series with Vivienne and they managed to get all scores needed
for the Bronze Medal in just roughly 12 months. They are moving up
through the levels with ease, it's really fun to see the two at home and
at the horse shows. Congratulations, well done!
May 2nd, 2009:
Again, the girls keep the blue ribbons coming! Young rider Vivienne
and EM Donatella HW had their debut at 4th level at the SWFDA show in
Fort Myers, Florida. Vivienne could not stop smiling, showing off a
wonderful and well prepared ride, even through a water puddle which was
in the middle of the ring. They won the class and have all the right
reasons to be very proud. Huge congratulations to this super team!
April 27th, 2009:
THE AMERICAN HANOVERIAN prints the following:
Selten HW wins the „Rolling Stone Farm FEI Test Award”. Please
see Thumbnail for more info:
April
22nd, 2009:
Elizabeth
Ball and Guenter Seidel 2009 World Cup Pas De Deux
Olympic
veteran Guenter Seidel and Elizabeth Ball perform a Pas De Deux at the
2009 FEI World Cup in Las Vegas to the music of Phantom of the Opera.
Seidel is riding Fandango owned by Marie Meyers, and Ball is riding
Orion owned by Eckstein Farm. They won their performance, watch the
video, you will see why! Huge congratulations to them!!!
if
you like to see/download this file as a WMF
click here
April 16, 2009:
Written
by Lynndee Kemmet for DressageDaily.com
After
a Successful 2008 HW Farm Looks Forward to a Bright Future
Topping
the numerous successes of prevous years wasn't easy, but 2008
was another super year for HW Farm leading farm owner Irene
Hoeflich-Wiederhold to feel ever more confident that HW Farm
will continue to be a success for years to come. Since arriving
in the U.S. from her native Germany 12 years ago, Irene has
built a solid reputation as a breeder and importer of future
dressage stars. And in 2008, her talent proved itself again when
several HW Farm horses ended the year as champions.
"What can I say? We had a lot of excitement in 2008 and I
think in 2009, our horses, as well as our customers' horses,
will be just as successful," Irene said. Leading the
successes of the past year was Selten
HW, a Hanoverian stallion by Sandro
Hit out of MS
High Princess by Hohenstein
and owned by Cadence, LLC. With Michael Bragdell in the saddle, Selten
HW took the 2008 championship title in the Markel/USEF
National Dressage Four-Year-Old Horse Championships in Kentucky
with a final score of 8.56, which included a few 9s for his trot
and canter work. He followed up that victory with wins at Devon
in the Four-Year-old classes.
Selten HW
was bred and born at HW Farm and Irene said of him that "he
wins pretty much everything. He's a breeder's dream come
true." But he is not the farm's only big success of the
past year. The farm's elite
mare Donatella HW, by Don
Frederico and out of SPS
Wachau, was a Third Level champion in 2008 and won numerous
classes with scores in the 70s that even earned her high-point
awards. She has moved up to Fourth Level for 2009 and will only
turn seven in May. "She is so easy and so much fun to
ride," Irene said. "Moving up the levels with her will
be a charm."
Two
other HW Farm mares are also on the rise after spectacular
showings in 2008. the four-year-old Santina
HW, by Sandro
Hit and out of a SPS Lanthan/Dakar
mare, completed her elite mare candidate requirements in late
2008 and so too did Hannahlea
HW, a four-year-old by Hohenstein
and out of SPS Riverqueen O by Rotspon.
In 2008, Hannahlea
HW was the champion mare for the American Hanoverian Society
having won the mare performance test and inspection. "She
won it all and did it with just a few weeks under saddle,"
Irene said. "Hannahlea
HW is now already winning at First Level and ready to
collect more ribbons and she is currently for sale. Santina
HW has given birth to a Quarterback
foal in the spring and will then go back to work. She gave birth
to Quickstep
HW on February 25th, 2009. Please check our website to stay
updated on all the happenings in this big horse family at
www.HWfarm.com.
Wow, what a super exiting weekend. Elite mare Donatella
HW is now a “medal horse”!
In addition to all her past accomplishments, she got
only blue ribbons in 4th level again as well as a victory/blue ribbon
and a second place in 3rd 3 with Young Rider Vivienne Wiederhold.
This qualified the two for the Championships in
Wellington in fall 2009 and in addition, the pair managed to get all
scores for the BRONZE medal together for Vivienne in roughly just one
year!
We are especially proud as Donna was imported in utero
and born at our farm and Vivienne was the one whom broke her and rode
her all these years, so this is a “home made” accomplishment.
Congratulations to Vivienne Wiederhold, Michelle
Gerlach (whom rode her in 4th level) as well as many thanks to the whole
group whom was there at the show grounds. It was a true pleasure to have
such nice people around and also congratulations to their many
accomplishments, plenty of ribbons, victories and placings. Just
amazing!
Here is Michelle Gerlach with EM Donatella HW:
April 4th,
2009:
Huge
congratulations to our friend and customer Elisabeth Ball. She is a true
Sandro Hit
offspring fan and also the owner of Selten
HW (Sandro
Hit/Hohenstein),
whom we bred and sold to her as a three year old. Beth, what a great job
and ride, we are so happy for you!!!!
2009
Festival of the Horse - Elizabeth Ball Wins USEF Developing Horse
PSG Written by Christina Beal for DressageDaily.com
Elizabeth Ball and Soubirous rode to
a win the USEF Developing Horse Prix St. Georges on Saturday during at
the Festival of the Horse in Burbank, CA. The pair earned its win with a
percentage of 69.000, putting them on top of the leader board in a class
of seven. Ball was thrilled with the ride. “I was really happy with
Soubirous in the test today,” stated Ball who is currently ranked
first in the national standings for this division. “This test is
actually very challenging for the young horses, but he handled it very
well.” Soubirous is an 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Sandro
Hit x Tarakaiba) owned by Cadence LLC. When asked if Ball would take
Soubirous to the National Championships in Illinois this year, she was a
bit hesitant. “I am not sure that I would take him all the way to
Illinois. It is a far and expensive trip.”
April 3rd, 2009:
Hi Irene
Quick update on my boy (Prince
Charming).... he has been doing so well. In Wellington in March he
was 3rd in the AA PSG with 65.5%.
Then at the Heidleburg Cup at the end of March he won
the I1 with a 66.3%. This earned him the FEI high-point champion of the
day and the 2009 Heidleburg Cup Reserve Champion for the whole weekend.
This past weekend we went to the Dressage on the First Coast in
Jacksonville where he was a star again, winning the PSG with 71.053%. He
is such a fantastic horse, I can't say enough about him really.
We will be aiming for our first CDI in June back in
Canada!!!!
Thanks for the advice in buying this awesome horse,
Nicole
March 21st, 2009:
Horse Show at the Lee Civic Center in Fort Myers,
Florida – only blue ribbons for HW Farm’s girls: Elite
Donatella HW showed what a good horse is all about.
Super ride ability, reliable, level headed and
sensible enough without being too hot, she proofed that she can master
4th level already at in her young age, even just coming 7 in May 2009.
Her flying changes were superb and always clean (she can do them down to
two’s!), collection is a charm and the lateral work is confirmed and
easy for her. She never puts a foot wrong and gives 100% her best at all
times. It was truly fun to see her train and compete, she is a pro at
home and at every show ground, what a horse! Thanks and congratulations
go out to Michelle Gerlach for Donna’s debut and success at 4th level
and thanks and congratulations to Young Rider Vivienne Wiederhold to
show her to her best in 3rd 3 (a debut for Donna and Vivienne) and to
collect only blue ribbons today.
March 7th, 2009:
Hi Irene, Don Mancero (Don
Stefano) was shown March 7, 2009 in the USEF 4 year old test by
Major Carlos Mancero. He was wonderful. He finished 2nd just 0.06
behind the winner. His overall impression was 7.8!
Sincerely, Becky and Carlos
March 4th, 2009:
Just got the following info, congratulations, Nicole,
you and the boy rock:
Phat (Prince
Charming) and I did our first inter 1 last weekend, scoring 65
percent! We placed 2nd, just missing out on winning!!!!
February 25th, 2009:
Oh my gosh, we feel so lucky to have a new healthy
foal on the ground! Here
is the first picture of Quickstep HW, he is by Quarterback
and out of Elite
mare Santina HW (Sandro
Hit/Lanthan),
born February 24th, 2009. He is just 3
hours old in the picture, what a nice, correct, leggy boy and check out
these markings! We could not have painted them any better!
February 23rd, 2009:
Daydream
HW is wonderful! She's quite a character and has definitely declared
herself queen of the farm! :) We had ran her in the Oldenburg/ NA
inspection her in August, where she was high scoring mare of the
inspection. We received an additional award for her not too long ago
that she is also Reserve Champion High Score mare for the west coast!
We're trying to find an embryo transfer mare for her so we can start
getting a few babies from her this year or next.
We unfortunately decided not to go to California this year. With
everything up in the air with the economy, and now the new house, we
just couldn't get away. She is going to her first schooling show this
Sunday though. She is coming along so well, and is just fun to work
with!! I know I keep saying this, but I still feel lucky she's ours!! :)
Hope everything is going well!!
Shaun
February 23rd, 2009:
Yeah, we just received the documentation and
certificates from the AHS (American Hanoverian Society) for the new
Elite mare candidates Hannahlea
HW and Santina
HW. How exciting is this! They two mares were presented at the
tender age of only 3, just some weeks under saddle and were just
outstanding. Good breeding shows, these girls are truly special!
February 17th,
2009:
GB Classic Update, more horses sold by HW Farm were successful!
Hi Irene
Just wanted to update you and let you know "Phat" (Prince
Charming) is being a superstar. We just came back from the Zada Cup
where he placed 2nd in the PSG in Saturdays class. Sunday everything
finally fell into place and we won the PSG with 67+%. We also earned the
FEI Reserve Champion of the weekend. Considering we just upgraded to PSG
last fall, I am looking forward to even better scores in the coming
months. I will forward some pictures when they are online.
Nicole
February 16th, 2009:
Congratulations to Becky and Don
Stefano, now Don Mancero, we just got the following e-mail:
Hi Irene,
I thought I should send you an update on one of the horses you sold.
He became Don Mancero in honor of his trainer, Maj. Carlos Mancero, and
new co-owner’s 72nd birthday.
Judge Joan Humphrey “S” scored Don Mancero and overall 7.54 in his
first show and first FEI 4 year old test at the Zada Cup, February 14,
2009.
There is a lot to this story, too much for an email testimony, so I will
try to phone you sometime soon.
Sincerely,
Becky
February 13th, 2009:
THE AMERICAN HANOVERIAN quarterly magazine of the American
Hanoverian Society prints the following about Hannahlea HW:
February 14th, 2009
:
Siramon
and Fürstin
Maya were at a horse show this weekend, in
Germany
. Siramon
placed 3rd in L Dressage horses, which equals approximately
our Second Level and Fürstin
Maya was 4th in M dressage horses, which equals our 4th
level. So rest assured, both are fit and
currently successful in the show ring, collecting the ribbons!
January 25th, 2009:
Hannahlea HW was at her first show in 2009. As usual,
she was very successful and always in the ribbons, placing a 2nd and
winning her First Level class, congratulations to Amanda Bailey, what a
super safe and wonderful horse, way to go. She is for sale, price to go
up with further training and success. This is an outstanding and
experienced youngster.
January 23rd, 2009:
Hilltop Farm Inc. has the following congratulations
printed in their 2009
catalogue:
Please use the column on the
left for reviews of previous years,