“Everyone asks me what it was like riding in Holland and training with Anky. Our decision to go there was simply because she knows Lingh better than anyone except Edward. She was there when he first began to passage. That’s a long history and in my mind she was the person who could help me best understand him. The lessons were excellent. We worked hard on our basics, and my ability to control and change his rhythm and tempo. Mechanically he is so incredible that we weren’t trying to change him, simply we worked daily on the relationship between the two of us. It was also Anky’s vast experience in the show ring that I wanted to tap into and bring home with me. I competed in three shows. The CDN Affalterbach in Baden –Wurttemberg, near Stuttgart, Germany : the CDI Oldenburger – Pferdetage, in Oldenburg, Germany and the very famous Jumping Indoor Maastricht, in Maastricht, Holland. We stayed in Holland for almost two months and based at Anky van Grunsven’s stable in Erp. We had an excellent teacher student relationship and I walked out of their stable a better horseman, a better rider and a better competitor. Lingh arrived back in the USA feeling very very good. “

From the Anky.nl Website, reprinted with their permission

KARIN THANKS BCM !

Karin Reid Offield and Lingh are in Holland now for five weeks already. Karin enjoys her stay in Holland a lot and showed Lingh at some European shows. Her last show was Jumping Indoor Maastricht in The Netherlands:

"Someone said they were glad that I had brought Lingh back to the 'House of the Lions' and they were so pleased to see that Lingh is 'smiling' and happy in his work. Riding Lingh has given me the opportunity to show in Europe with the best riders. I am so grateful and proud that he is safe, sound, and enjoying this competitive life. Our lessons at Anky's have been amazing. I have been working on my basics, riding forward, finding adjustable collection in all gaits, and working to change especially my leg position. With a new leg position my leg aids are more understandable to Lingh and I can actually feel him change and with this different approach I am not "working so hard upon his back". Once this different and more simplistic technique becomes second nature to me I know that the judges and the spectators will recognize the changes we made while in Europe.

Maastricht was the best show I have ever participated in. The Stabling was comfortable in layout and temperature and Lingh had his first sponge bath in weeks ! The footing was perfect. We could not have asked for a better set-up. The spectators were welcoming, the gracious and sophisticated dining and beer gardens were fun for all, and Sundays events drew children from far and wide. Management answered our every need with deliberation and professionalism. It was a great show!! Thank you BCM!!"


Management, that’s the word for what there is to learn in Europe.


Manage your excitement, your anticipation.

Manage the care of your horse, being extra careful can be a guide, but being on guard is a better description of how it really is.

Manage your self. How can you take better advantage of all the situations. How can you be smarter?

Manage your staff. How can you take the best care of them in Europe ? The circumstances may be even more foreign to them than to you.

Manage your equipment. How much do you take to Europe, how much do you actually use, and does your neighbor have the equipment for you to borrow ?

Manage your riding time vs your watching time. How much can you really learn in a day?

Manage your travel arrangements and driving experiences. If you drive alone, you will drive at night, often in inclement weather. Give your excursions extra thought to prevent difficulties.

Manage your electronics. When you plan a trip you must be prepared for every emergency. What if both your cell phones don’t function ? What if a power surge blows the fuses in your step-up converters ?

Manage your food. It is not America and a full refrigerator is not available.

Manage your pets. Thinking about taking your pets ? Customs in and out of Europe are difficult and serious planning is necessary. Mistakes happen.

Manage your daily communication with friends and colleagues in America. It will affect your business if not thought out properly.

Manage your riding and you will have the best time of your life !

BIT Magazine PDF reprinted with their permission


FROM MY JOURNAL

What I like is the openness of the Dutch neighborhoods. Each house had its' curtains open allowing the light to come inside. As October became November, suddenly curtains began to close keeping the cold air outside. Interestingly, the families either get home late or don't turn on their electric lights very early. The area where we ride is farmland planted and ridged, with gigantic rabbits, pheasants, and ducks making the fields their habitat. The farmers keep their orchard trees tightly pruned and small so it’s easy for them to reach the branches and pick the fruit. The plots of trees aren't too large making a Dutch farm a workable enterprise.

The weather this time of year is sporadic, often overcast but then days of sunlight. Rainstorms travel over the countryside falling here and then there. There is no order to the weather. The fall colors and falling leaves were gorgeous. As fall became winter it became even prettier. The famous Dutch painters always raved about the light in Holland. The farmland is quite organized and has a structured appearance. The houses are made of brick and in this area most of the streets are backed by fields, it is very rural. I loved living in the area of Erp.

THE LANGUAGE

It’s easy to understand everyone if you believe that their body language is similar to ours in America. I actually have had many conversations with folks where I thought I understood their stories and they were polite and laughed at mine. The international language and the reason we are all over here is because we want to speak HORSE. That’s our goal and let me tell you, it’s working ! Just today someone asked me if I was leaving the stable and I said neigh. See….it’s easy to speak HORSE !

MY DOGS AND THE WEATHER – REALLY !

It’s really quite cold but pleasant for this time of year. My dogs, Cabo and Grappa- 15 and 12 respectively, looked at me the first few days and asked me what I had been thinking bringing them to Europe with me. I told them I had not wanted to leave them behind, to live in the big house, in Florida, without me. They continue to look at me. They are covered up, Grappa wears 2 blankets (the second is a baker blanket) and Cabo is sporting The EQUESTRIAN AID FOUNDATION’S RIDE FOR HOPE EMBLEM on his bright yellow coat . Its ok though because we take long walks thru the forests and by the castles where we see chickens, peacocks, ducks with their babies and incredibly huge black swans with their fuzzy white fledglings. Plus they see lots and lots of dogs. As for me, I dress as warmly as possible, using every available layer I can find. The dogs drag me around.

MY FIRST DUTCH INTERVIEW BY TESSA VAN DAALAN.
THESE QUESTIONS WERE USED IN PART ONLY AND IN THE DUTCH LANGUAGE.

1.. What made you decide to buy Lingh? Why him?

I HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR A WORLD CLASS HORSE; I THINK WE HAD COME TO EUROPE 4 TIMES TO LOOK FOR SUCH A HORSE. WHEN WE HEARD THAT LINGH WAS BEING OFFERED FOR SALE, I IMMEDIATELY GOT ON THE AIRPLANE TO TRY HIM. I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM IN LAS VEGAS, LIKE MANY AMERICAN’S !

2.. How did you find out he was for sale? Just go to Edward?

YES WE WERE CONTACTED BY EDWARD WITH THE NEWS

3.. What were the reactions in the U.S? Was there any envy?

THE AMERICANS WERE HAPPY TO HEAR HE WAS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR BREEDING. THE REACTION WAS VERY FAVORABLE. WHEN LINGH WAS SOLD, OF COURSE THERE IS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HIM BECAUSE HE IS SO SPECIAL!

4.. Lingh was already doing really well on GP level with Edward. Weren't you worried that it would be hard to do the same, what people would say ifyou bought a ready made GP horse?

THEY DO SAY THAT, BUT THAT IS OK. IN ORDER TO COMPETE WHERE AND WHEN I WANT TO,I WANTED A HORSE THAT HAD TRAINING, LIKE HEXAGON’S LOUISVILLE DID WHEN I PURCHASED HIM. I HAVE YOUNGER HORSES HERE IN THE USA COMING UP THE LADDER.

5.. What if he wouldn't go as well with you as with Edward?

OF COURSE, I WANT TO SHOW HIM AT HIS BEST EVERYTIME.I LOVE DRESSAGE, AND I LOVE TO COMPETE. OFTEN OWNERS MUST SELL THEIR HORSES. IT IS ALWAYS SO DIFFICULT FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND WHY AND AGREE WITH THE SELLERS IN THE VERY OPINIONATED EQUESTRIAN COMMUNITY. TRUTH IS, I WAS LUCKY TO GET THE RIDE!

6.. What happened after you bought him, did you go to have several lessons with Edward to get to know all the special things about him? What special things did he have?

YES THE YOUNG RIDERS CLINIC WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE EDWARD COME TO FLORIDA TO TEACH LAST WINTER. WHEN EDWARD AND I WORKED TOGETHER, WHICH WAS GREAT, SOME THINGS I LEARNED WERE TO NEVER TIGHTEN HIS GIRTH TOO QUICKLY, I LEARNED THAT HE LOVES TO PLAY AND BUCK SOMETIMES, AND I LEARNED THAT I HAD TO BECOME A BETTER RIDER IF I WAS GOING TO GET TO THE INTERNATIONAL ARENAS WITH HIM. THAT WAS MY CHALLENGE FROM EDWARD.

7.. Was Lingh trained very differently from what you were used to? What was different ?

TO BE ABLE TO RIDE A TOP HORSE IN THE WORLD IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO, I WANTED A SHOT AT COMPETING AT A HIGH LEVEL INTERNATIONALLY AND LINGH PROVIDES ME WITH THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT, AS DOES MY TRAINING PROGRAM WITH ROBERT DOVER.

8.. Did you have to adjust your way of riding much?

FOR SURE, THE BIGGEST SITUATION AT THE BEGINNING WAS MY SADDLE FITTING THE TWO OF US CORRECTLY. I WAS NOT IN BALANCE WITH HIM FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS. NOW I RIDE IN A COUNTY SADDLE, BUILT FOR LINGH. SO DID EDWARD, AND WE ARE HAPPY TO SPREAD THAT NEWS !

9.. What misunderstandings did you have with Lingh in the beginning?

HE WAS MY FIFTH STALLION AND HE TESTED ME MORE THAN MY OTHER STALLIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, HE BUCKED GOING INTO THE ARENA FOR MY VERY FIRST CLASS. I THOUGHT I COULD SETTLE HIM IN THE FEW STRIDES I HAD BEFORE THE ENTRANCE, BUT HE HAD OTHER INTENTIONS! IT WAS A LIFE LESSON. NEXT TIME, FOR SURE, I WILL CIRCLE FIRST ! IT WAS DIFFICULT. I HAVE ALWAYS MADE SURE LINGH HAS HAD EVERYTHING HE NEEDS TO KEEP HIM HEALTHY AND IN GOOD PHYSICAL SHAPE. ROBERT DOVER HAS WORKED WITH THE TWO OF US DILIGENTLY FROM THE FIRST DAY.

10.. How was it when he first arrived in the States? Did he settle in well?

YES HE WAS AMAZING. HE TOOK IT ALL IN STRIDE AND WAS REALLY WELL BEHAVED. HIS FAVORITE DUTCH GROOM VANESSA TRAVELED WITH HIM TO AMERICA SO THERE WAS A SMOOTH TRANSITION.

11.. How did you cope with riding at first on your own in the States? Did you get any help? Did you try to change anything in the way Lingh was trained?

ROBERT DOVER WAS BY MY SIDE. WE WORKED HARD THE LAST 11 MONTHS. LINGH AND I GET ALONG BETTER AND BETTER.THE JUDGES COMMENTS ARE THAT THEY SEE HARMONY. ROBERT’S CLASSICAL TEACHING AND HIS OWN EXPERIENCES THAT HE SHARES WITH HIS STUDENTS HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE. HE IS A REMARKABLE TEACHER.

12.. Obviously everybody in the dressageworld was watching when you started to compete him. How did you cope?

ONE DAY AT A TIME. IT WAS NOT AN EASY WINTER BUT I PAID ATTENTION, WAS VERY CAREFUL, AND DIDN’T BACK DOWN. SCHOOLING AT HOME WAS GOOD, AND WE SHOWED AT LOCAL SHOWS DURING THE WINTER AND THROUGH THE EARLY SUMMER AND BUILT OUR CONFIDENCE TOGETHER IN THE ARENA.

13.. The first results weren't that spectacular. How come?

I WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH. I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THE LITTLE DETAILS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HIS WARMUP. THE FLORIDA BIG SHOWS ARE REALLY INTERESTING, MULTIPLE WATER TRUCKS, LOTS OF JUMPING ARENAS, PONIES EVERYWHERE, GOLF CARTS,HORSES AND MORE HORSES…NO EXCUSES JUST THE WAY IT IS. I HAD TO LEARN TO UNDERSTAND HIS CHARACTER AND BE ONE STEP AHEAD OF HIM AND THE VARIABLES TO AVOID TROUBLES AND MAKE THE EXPERIENCE COMFORTABLE FOR ME.. HE WAS ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN HACKING TO THE ARENA’S BUT ONE MUST RESPECT THAT HE IS A STALLION !

14.. So now you are training with Anky. Why? Why not go back to Edward?

ANKY WAS EDWARD’S TRAINER AND KNOWS THE HORSE EXTREMELY WELL, AN IDEA THAT ROBERT PROMOTED. WORKING WITH A WOMAN WHO HAPPENS TO BE AT THE TOP OF THE SPORT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. A DREAM COME TRUE IS COMPETING IN EUROPE WHERE HORSE SPORT IS SO HIGHLY REGARDED TO TEST MY SKILLS AND GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE COMPETING AMONG THE WORLD’S BEST RIDERS.

15.. The improvement is great. What has happened? Was it just a matter of getting to know each other better or is it a different way of riding/training, what?

TIME. WE HAD TIME TOGETHER !

16.. What is the secret Anky is teaching you?

SHE HAS A GREAT DEAL OF SHOW EXPERIENCE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENAS. I WANT TO TAP INTO ALL THAT KNOWLEDGE, WORK ON MY GENERAL PROGRESS, AND KEEP LEARNING FROM EVERYONE I AM PRIVIELEGED TO WATCH RIDE, WHILE ON THIS TRIP.

17. It must be an incredible feeling to ride such a magnificent horse as Lingh. Can you describe it? What feels best, which movement?

HE IS AN INCREDIBLE ATHLETE WITH THE MOST EXCELLENT MECHANICS AND HE HAS A GREAT BIG HEART, EVERY DAY FEELS GOOD. THAT’S THE TRUTH. HE IS A TRULY A SPECIAL AND REMARKABLE HORSE.

18.. What is your goal for the near future?

TO RIDE BETTER EVERY DAY AND TO LEARN AS MUCH AS I CAN. I AM A REAL STUDENT OF RIDING AND HORSEMANSHIP AND LOVE THIS SPORT OF DETAILS.

19.. Are you going to compete in Europe?

YES, THE SCHEDULE IS FIRST BADEN WURTTENBURG, THEN OLDENBURG AND THEN ODENSE IN DENMARK. IT WILL BE A SHORT TOUR THEN BACK TO FLORIDA FOR THE WINTER COMPETITIONS AND CONTINUE MY TRAINING WITH ROBERT DOVER. I WILL GET THERE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS WITH MY DAD !

20.. Is it different to compete in Europe? How? What do you prefer?

I WILL LOVE SHOWING IN EUROPE, I KNOW THAT.

A message from a fan of Lingh’s

“I was at Devon and saw your performance at the Freestyle on Lingh. I think you did a fabulous job and should be so proud. I have followed your riding for a while through various horses, and I think you have now really formed a partnership with Lingh. I am so happy for you and you give me hope that I can get to the GP soon. My horse is at the top of the leaderboard at 4th level HOY. I have not ridden at the GP yet, but hope to with this horse. Your ride gave me inspiration that I can do it too! Those ones are a bugger to learn!!!!! I had you in the top 5 of all of the performances as your extended canter to pirouette was difficult yet very correct. Good luck to you.”

Two final thoughts……


ABOUT LINGH : Finally, All I can say about Lingh is that he is an amazing animal. I hope that all his babies out there are started smartly and safely. We look forward to meeting them all in the competition arena’s around the world.


ABOUT THE TRIP : What it all boils down to…..when an acquaintance that you have met on your road to what ever adventure you seek says…” when you ride I will be there with you in the saddle making sure each step you take is safe” - that’s a heck of a ride !