by Keron Psillas | Sep 27, 2013 | classical dressage, Equestrian Tourism in Portugal and Spain, horses for sale |
Dominique has returned from a brief tour in Portugal….filled with old friends, great horses, even better food, and lots of fun. Dominique visited Keron Psillas, who now lives in Portugal for a lot of the year. Catching up with Mestre Luis Valença and his family was the first excursion and then we visited Senhor Manuel Braga, Senhor Manuel Veiga, and Senhor Manuel Coimbra. Each of these gentleman is renowned for their breeding of fine Lusitanos and the horses we saw were evidence of their breeding excellence. We saw Carlos Oliveira’s horses, renowned ‘apresentador’ from Portugal, whom we first met in Brasil a number of years ago. It was a pleasure to spend time together.
Enjoy the photos….back in several days with the next report.
by Keron Psillas | Sep 8, 2013 | classical dressage, Classical Dressage Symposium |
Long overdue, but here it is! We had another informative, engaging Symposium over the Bastille Day weekend here at Barbier Farms. Participants from all over the US and Canada enjoyed provocative lectures and great riding demonstrations and lessons.
Dominique offered several lectures with themes from his new book (to be released November 1...here’s the link) The Alchemy of Lightness: What Happens Between Horse and Rider on a Molecular Level. We also enjoyed a fantastic champagne reception with several marvelous riding exhibitions and capped the evening off with a delicious catered dinner in the stables.
Enjoy the gallery of images…and then sign up for the February Symposium! The dates are set (February 7, 8, & 9), the links are up (see the tab above) and the hotel rates are in place! And remember, a Symposium registration makes a great Holiday gift for your barn-buddy!
by Keron Psillas | Sep 6, 2013 | classical dressage, Inspiration |
It is with deep sadness that we note the passing of an extraordinary woman, a dear friend and mentor, Mrs. Molly Sivewright, FBHS, DBHS. She touched so many lives, human and equine. This brushes the sadness aside to allow gratitude to take its place. Though I am certain my voice is one among many thousands to express my condolences, it is important for me to acknowledge the early teaching she so generously gave to me.
Early in my riding career I was a little misdirected in my goals. I wanted to be as good a rider, technically, as I could be. I developed tricks to train horses better and more quickly (I thought), but the results were temporary. Then one morning I was given a special horse to ride, a beautiful and refined mare named Golden Celadon.
For two weeks it was a complete disaster. There was no mental communication between us, nor could I take physical hold of her. I used all my tricks, one by one, with no success. Her mind was on everything, everywhere, but not with me.
After a long period, Mrs. Sivewright (whom I was sure had been watching every failure of mine) asked if I wanted some help. YES! I replied. She said, simply, “walk around the fields and listen to the birds.” This made me a little angry, but I would have done anything at this point, so off I went.
The fields were large, but Mrs. Sivewright made certain I went around twice, listening to the birds. The mare’s walk was much calmer than before. And after a time she said “for whatever you want, just ask politely”. The mare and I quickly bonded and she led me to many more discoveries.
This set the stage for all the understanding and growth I would access later in Portugal with Mestre Oliveira. But Mrs. Sivewright was the first person to speak to me about another way of riding, a clearer, non ego-based riding. A riding based on calm, polite, mental communication. I have never forgotten those lessons and they helped form the base of much of my riding philosophy. I will be eternally grateful.
by Keron Psillas | Jun 28, 2013 | Brazil equestrian trips, classical dressage |
Join us for this wonderful adventure. The Expo is a great opportunity to learn much about the history, breeding, and morphology of the Lusitano. We’ll make new friends, see old friends, and learn! Click on the Tab above to make your reservation deposit. CONFIRMED DATES!!!! October 15 to October 27!
by Keron Psillas | Jan 31, 2013 | classical dressage, horses for sale |
We had a wonderful weekend at home with guests from several continents for our latest Symposium! The weather, though a little chilly around the edges, was sunny and bright. We had nearly 40 guests in the barn for three days enjoying great lectures, riding lessons, and demonstrations. Saturday night even saw the appearance of a budding theater group in the form of our working students and barn manager. They’ve set the bar high for an even better performance at the next Symposium (July 12, 13, & 14.)
Our lectures this symposium: The Evil of Contact, Riding to Expand Consciousness, Flying Changes, Long-Reining, and the Molecular Exchange of Work-In-Hand and Longeing. So we had a great mixture of the practical and the philosophical, all steeped in the Classical Tradition. Click the tab above to sign up for the July event. We were very nearly at capacity this time and we expect the July event to be sold out. Debra and I are looking forward to welcoming you here, at Barbier Farms.
In addition to the next Symposium, we announced our Annual Auction trip to Brasil. We’ll be going mid-May to attend the International Auction at Coudelaria Ihla Verde, home to our good friend, Victor Oliva. There will be a CDI***, a riding clinic with Debra and Dominique, and the second stage of the Brasilian Working Equitation Championships. Of course, we’ll be visiting the best farms to find exceptional Lusitanos. If you’ve been thinking of traveling to Brasil with Dominique and Debra, contact us soon! We’ll have all the details on our dedicated page within the week. Click the tab: May 2013 Brasil.
We also introduced the DVD that has finally arrived! The January 2012 Symposium was the backdrop for Jolanda Ellenberger’s beautiful film. Click on the link (here) to order your copy now. We also, thankfully, had just received our embroidered stadium blankets. They were a big hit during the cold mornings this past weekend….order yours now! (click here)
Stay warm, ride well, come see us here in Healdsburg or during on of our clinics around the world. We’ll begin posting clinic dates in the coming weeks. Contact Debra if you are interested in hosting your own! 707-696-2828
Amities~DDBarbier
Here’s a great gallery of images by Keron….enjoy!
by Keron Psillas | Dec 9, 2012 | classical dressage, Equestrian Tourism in France |
In the last post I mentioned Manade Saint Antoine. I’ve included the photos from our spectacular day there. We had a great time riding through the marsh to search for the bulls. And then, we herded them to a field where our intrepid riders “cut” several bulls from the herd. It was great fun and they all performed like champs! We enjoyed our lunch and the demonstration of ‘bullfighting’ in the style of the Camargue, and then made a visit to a long-time friend, Dany LaHaye. Dany is known throughout France and Portugal, as being a breeder and trainer of Lusitanos that are schooled with finesse and classicism. She was a student of Mestre Oliveira during the years that Dominique was in Portugal.
We spent an entire day in Avignon, much of it spent with Chef Francois Secretin and his able assistant, Severin, at La Mirande. We began the day by visiting the market to find fresh delicacies to create a feast for lunch. Calamari, duck, fall vegetables for a ratatouille and figs with cream and cinnamon and other secret ingredients all combined to make a spectacularly delicious lunch. Half the group was busy with prep in the kitchen while the other half went with the Sommelier to taste the wines we chose for lunch and learn more about the wines in this famed region. (Chateau Neuf de Pape, etc!). Then the group switched and the prep for the duck was completed, along with the figs for dessert. Then we all sat back and watched the Chef create his magic.
After a lunch like this there are two options: move or sleep. As we could not sleep, we all went with a great guide to visit the Cathedral and Pope’s Palace. The history of Avignon is many centuries in the making and full of intrigue, murder, the plague, and medieval politics. Avignon was the seat of 7 Popes during the 14th century. This is the only time that the Popes have left the Vatican. During this time, and for several centuries, Avignon was its own state…therefore not French. The city returned to France, and to French rule, during the French Revolution in 1791.
Our base for exploration was the incomparable Chateau Roussan, a 16th Century ‘home’ built by Bertrand de Nostradamus, brother to the famed, mysterious, Nostradamus. It is a lovely, atmospheric place to stay in the countryside just south of Saint Remy de Provence.
In the next post: Frederic Pignon and Magali Delgado (I promise!!!)…and the Four Schools Exhibition in Paris!
There are special rates available now at the Dry Creek Inn, Healdsburg…but make your reservations right away! The rates go back to normal after January 3. Click on the link above for the Symposium to reserve your spot here at Barbier Farm, and call the number at the Hotel, mentioning Barbier Farm Group Rate, for your lodging. Looking forward to seeing you!
Amities ~ DBarbier
by Keron Psillas | Nov 30, 2012 | Equestrian Tourism in France, Equestrian Tourism in Spain |
Friends! It was such a great trip…and we had far too much fun to put it all in one blog post, so there will be a series. Stop back often to check for updates! And while you are here, don’t forget to click on the “NEW PRODUCTS” tab above to see the great apparel that we have! Each item features our lovely logo with the Beatrice Bulteau Lusitano. AND seats are going fast for the January Symposium, so click that tab too and get registered! We are waiting to welcome you to Barbier Farm!
We began our trip in Marseilles with a fabulous seafood dinner featuring…BOUILLABAISSE! This is, after all, a BARBIER trip, so food will feature nearly as prominently as the horses.
The next day we trekked into the Camargue, the region that is the delta of the River Rhone where it empties into the Mediterranean. It is known for its abundance of natural beauty, including pink flamingos, the famed black bulls, and of course, the white Camargue horses. But this marshy river delta is an agricultural basket with a huge production of rice and salt and is home to more than 400 species of birds, and numerous fish species, both salt and freshwater. But aside from the Camargue horses and the bulls, the thing that you won’t find anywhere else on the planet is the culture of the Camargue people. Centuries of cultural influence from the Roma people, along with French and to a smaller degree, Spanish influence, has created a distinct lifestyle centered around the horses and bulls.
We had a wonderful time riding across the beaches and through the marshes. Going by horseback through this wild area gave us the opportunity to feel the rhythm of the tides, the flocks of birds, and see net-fishing by hand. We saw dwellings with the traditional thatched roof, all pointed in the direction of the famed MISTRAL winds. And we learned a great deal about the culture and natural environment from our guides.
Our base for a few nights was the stunning Mas de la Fouque hotel and spa. We’re posting the pictures so you can have a sense of the special nature of this land and its inhabitants. Even at the very southern edge of the country, practically ON the Mediterranean, our lodgings were trés chic and deliciously comfortable. We’ll be looking forward to a return!
Before we headed north, we spent a day at Manade Saint Antoine, complete with riding into the marshes to round up bulls. We separated a few bulls from the herd to have an exhibition of the Camargue style of bullfighting (More like bull-tagging…..not much like fighting…but very daring and dangerous!). Later, we all enjoyed a traditional lunch of bull stew at the Manade. Thank you, Alexandre and team for a spectacular day!
Coming next: a report from St. Remy de Provence and Avignon! Food is the small headline, Frederic Pignon and Magali Delgado are the big headline!
by Keron Psillas | Oct 17, 2012 | classical dressage, Equestrian Tourism in France |
France was filled with so many special things for our group…even three blog posts doesn’t cover it! But here are a few more highlights.
We had the great pleasure and honor to spend a day with Frederic Pignon and Magali Delgado, along with Magali’s parents and sister Estelle, and of course, Noah, their son! Frederic and Magali were the original performers and choreographers of Cavalia. It was a delight from start to finish. None of us wanted to leave the farm when the time came. We began the day in Tarrascon to have a visit to the school and foundation that Frederic and Magali have begun to educate young riders. Their goal is to create riders that can ride, train, and perform with horses in Equestrian Theatre or Spectacle. They ride and work each day in a complex that is over 200 years old. At one point it held more than 1,000 horses being trained for Napoleon!
Then we moved on to Frederic and Magali’s house and training base. We were thrilled to watch an impromptu exhibition with many of Frederic and Magali’s star performers! After a lunch together we all visited the breeding farm. We met Magali’s parents and sister Estelle and all the horses at the farm, including the new stars of the show that Frederic and Magali are now staging. The first performances were at the Salon du Cheval in Paris earlier this month. The day ended with a walk in the fields among the young horses and mares and babies. We were surprised with a champagne and cookies treat while with the horses. This, like the rest of the day, was offered with grace and smiles and generosity. Thank you, Frederic, Magali, and to all your family. It was a wonderful day for all of us.
Zipping to Paris the next day on the TGV had us there in plenty of time for an afternoon of shopping. Later that evening we gathered to go to Bercy to see the Four Schools Exhibition. We were in France in 2007 for the first ever performance of the Four Schools together. This evening had all the majesty of the first performances, with maybe a little more relaxation.
Visits to Chantilly, Versailles, and Haras du Pin in Normandy finished out the rest of our trip, and YES we were all exhausted….but happy to have experienced so much Equestrian Culture. This heritage is appropriately treasured in France. We hope you enjoy the photos, as always, lovingly created by Keron Psillas. And we hope you will join us on trip sometime soon! Next up will most likely be Brasil in May for the Auction at Couldelaria Ihla Verde and the ABPSL Expo. Stay tuned to the blog for details!
In the meantime, don’t miss the upcoming Symposium in January. Click on the tab above to register for one day or for the whole weekend! We’re looking forward to seeing you!
by Keron Psillas | Jul 16, 2012 | classical dressage, Tips |
The students and friends have left, the barn is quiet, and the refrigerator is full of leftovers! What does this mean? The July Symposium, our latest event in the Classical Series, is over. It was a truly wonderful three days. There are so many elements that make up a successful event, but I think the most important thing is the level of participation by our guests. The group this weekend made it a great experience! We had engaging lectures and discussion on a very high level and we all enjoyed the horses and the teaching they offer us. Saturday night we had a champagne reception with live music, some super demonstration rides, and then a great meal in the stable catered by Chef Mike Matson of Vintage Valley Catering. Enjoy the photo gallery…..and make plans to join us in January for our next Symposium! We’ll be announcing the date this week. Thank you to all who made the weekend such a success, especially Tianna, Lisa, Chaya, Sarah, Stacy, Nancy, Candida, Laurie, and Ian…..with a generous helping hand from Steve from Oregon! We had a special guest this weekend: Claire from Equissentials was here and many ladies will soon have their own custom-tailored Equissentials riding pants! Thanks, Claire….it was a great pleasure to welcome you to Barbier Farm! Hope to see you again soon.
Amities~DDBarbier
by Keron Psillas | Jul 8, 2012 | Brazil equestrian trips, classical dressage, horses for sale |
Hello Friends,
It’s been too long between blog posts, so this is going to be a long one! We are just back from Brasil, again, and of course it was a wonderful time. But let’s start with the May Expo trip….
We visited our favorite farms and spent many hours looking at beautiful Lusitanos. We spend a lot of time each year checking on the progress of the young horses. Debra keeps all her notes from trip to trip and year to year…so we know exactly which horse to recommend to our clients and we plan our visits accordingly.
After the farm visits we had a great three-day clinic at Manege Sant Adelaide with Davi Carrano, our guests, and clients from Brasil. Riding beautifully trained horses helps students to replicate the feel and movement when they go back home to their equine partners.
Then, it was on to the Expo. The big event moved this year from downtown Sao Paulo to the Helvetia Riding Center in Indaiatuba, just south of Campinas. The facility was beautiful, and much nicer for the participants, equine and human. It was great to see the Lusitanos of all ages, and watch our friends celebrate victories! Congratulations to all the exhibitors….looking forward to next year. Abraços e beijos.
Late June found us back in Brasil for a couple of reasons. We had a wonderful group from BUSHTRACKS Expeditions that were interested in seeing the culture of the Lusitano in Brasil. We visited our a few of our favorite farms and enjoyed carriage rides, working equitation, riding gorgeous Lusitanos….and of course, legendary Brasilian hospitality! Another of the highlights was filming an episode for the Masters Series with Tribuna Lusitana. I’ll post details and airing time on the blog soon! Thank you to Andrea and Jose and all the Tribuna Lusitana Team. It was a great pleasure.
And the best part (for DEBRA)….we visited her babies on several different days! We have wonderful babies and young horses (1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 year old Lusitanos) from the legendary Do Top bloodlines! We’ll be adding more images and video to the Horses For Sale page, but I’ve included a few shots in the gallery below. Enjoy!
Now….time for the July Symposium. It’s not too late to sign up….there are spaces available! Click on the Symposium link above and join us for all the learning, fun, and great food….and Vive La France! (We’ll celebrate Bastille Day on Saturday!) And speaking of FRANCE….sign up NOW for the trip to see the Four Classical Schools in Paris…..late September, early October. The link is above. Registration must close soon!
Thank you to Keron Psillas for the wonderful photographs.
