Anky goes western!

I didn't realize that the 3 time Olympic Gold medal winner and top of the world FEI  Dressage Freestyle champion picked up a "hobby" of reining. Here she is performing at the 2010 FEI games.



Here she is at the 2006 WEG finals performing her winning ride.

Magic Dance

I used to own a 1/2 Arabian mare, Shahreen, that could do shoulder-in traversals (zig zags), pirouettes (canter in a small circle, hind end in), and flying changes of lead every other or third stride. It was like dancing, riding her. She was trained third level dressage. And she could bow on one leg at the end of the ride. It was so much fun riding her; I loved to show her off. And she loved it too.

One of my dreams/goals is to ride a passage (animated, halting trot) and a piaffe (trot in place). I've entertained thoughts of going to Portugal specifically to ride a Lusitano or Andalusian in a dressage lesson. (Crazy, huh?) I also want to ride a cutting horse and a reining horse someday!

Here is a video of Andreas Helgstrand riding in the WEG2006 Freestyle Dressage Finals on Blue Hors Matine. They came in second only because they had a small mistake during the ride. Beautiful, isn't it. People always talk about being moved to tears. I really was!

Last year at the Las Vegas World Cup, Matine fell off a trailer ramp and injured her leg. Her tendon still has not fully healed, so she will not be competing in the 2008 Olympics. What a shame! However, Andreas will ride Gredstedgaards Casmir instead. Watch for them.

The winner of the WEG2006 Freestyle was Anky Van Grunsven on Keltec Salinero.

Isn't this fantastic?

PS- I would welcome some comments on how to embed YouTube videos.

Edit- Thank you very much Rural Writer!!