Good-bye 2010. Hello 2011!!!

Another year has come and gone. It was a really great 2010! Gran Casso competed in January and in March at first level and the USEF four year old tests. Early April, Martin & I hosted a Charles de Kunffy clnic at Royal Equus Farm. We had a great turnout and had some pretty amazing rides.

On April 15, we welcomed our first foal of the year, Santana by Sonntagskind out of EM Atlanta. Just a week later our second foal made his appearance, Florestern by Furst Klasse out of EMC Lugana. May 3 our last foal of the year arrived, Glorianna by Gran Casso out of Reigner.  Warendorf and I competed at 4th level for the first time this past April and earned our first score towards our USDF Silver Medal. Feyock & Willo competed on the Concordia Team for the first time in June with great scores at the HDS Summer Show. We ended the summer in style with an impressive performance at the Black Star Sporthorse Breed Show series winning 6 reserve championships in the regular shows as well as taking Reserve Champion Colt (Freedance), Reserve Champion Filly (Jypsy Rose) and Champion Stallion (Gran Casso).

Of course one of our biggest excitements for the year was bringing Martin Arnold to Texas and founding Concordia Dressage! We have been busy building our business over the last few months and have had such a wonderful time meeting more clients and horses.

In September, Martin & I loaded up Gran Casso and headed to Lexington, KY for the World Equestrian Games. Since the ISR/OLD 10 Day Advanced Stallion Test was to start just a few days after the games, we decided it would be easiest to board Gran Casso in Lexington while we watched the games and then go straight to Batavia, OH. The WEG was an amazing experience that we will never forget. To see dressage on the big stage was very special and someday I hope to be riding at that level!

The 10 Day Advanced Stallion Test that took place from Octoer 7-17 was a great experience that I look forward to taking part in again with Freedance in 2012! We made lots of new friends and had a wonderful time. Gran Casso finished 2nd overall and was the highest scoring dressage stallion with no score less than 7.0.

Soon after we returned to Texas, I rode Warendorf in a dressage demonstration at the Mallets & Merlot Charity Polo Match benefiting R.O.C.K. and the next weekend Martin rode Warendorf in a 3 day Charles de Kunffy clinic at Oakhaven Farm. A few days after that we loaded up for championships. I rode Gran Casso and Willo. Our student, Amy Denny competed her westphalian gelding, Feyock (also in training with us) at 1st level, Kate Hadden-Jackson competed her holsteiner gelding, Bardo, at 3rd level and Celine Haliouva-Haubold competed Abaris at 1st and 2nd level. We had a really great show. Gran Casso finished 6th in very competitive training level championships classes. Willo competed at 1st level for the first time with scores in the mid 60s, Katie earned her USDF Bronze Medal, Amy earned her first score towards her USDF Bronze Medal and Celine finished 6th in a huge 1st level junior championship class and earned her 2nd level scores towards her bronze.

For USDF Awards, Gran Casso ended up 3rd in the 4/5 year old stallion materiale and Gran Casso, Freedance, and Jypsy Rose all ended up in the top 10 in their age/gender groups! USEF standings has Gran Casso as 48th/182 for Leading Dressage Breeding Sires which is pretty good considering he only had one offspring representing at only 3 shows (Jypsy Rose)! I was 25th in the leading dressage breeding breeder standings and 20th in dressage breeding owner standings!

We are so excited about the upcoming year. In mid January, Freedance will be leaving our North location in Hutto for our training facility in Coupland to get started under saddle. It will be a big year for him as he prepares for his stallion inspections and also learns to ins and outs of collecting for the breeding season. He will hopefully be competing at training level during the year as well as materiale classes. Gran Casso has a big show year ahead of him competing in 1st level, 2nd level, 1st level freestyle, materiale and the FEI 5 year old test. We already have several mares booked to him and we look forward to seeing more of his spectacular foals! Ballagio (Louie) is in training with Martin and will be competing this coming spring at training level and hopefully the USEF Four year old test as well. Warendorf and our horse in training, Feyock (owned by Amy Denny) are working to come out at Prix St. Georges during the year. Both horses are also aimed at the 2012 Brentina Cup.

We are expecting two foals next year. Dalliance is expecting a Freestyle foal in March and Reigner is expecting a Gran Casso foal in July. Lugana will be bred to Royal Hit in the early spring and Dalliance will be bred to Gran Casso. Reigner is for sale but if she hasn't sold, she will be bred to Freedance.

We wish you a very Happy New Year from the staff here at Split Mesquite Farm & Concordia Dressage!
-Jenna Stern, Martin Arnold, Karin & Bob Stern