by Keron Psillas | Jun 6, 2010 | Brazil equestrian trips, classical dressage, horses for sale |
More news about our Brazil trip…..
While Brazil is certainly our favorite destination, often, the best part of travel is the company you keep. This was especially true for our trip. We had great friends along and were able to take everyone to visit farms that are owned by friends we have made on our trips to Brazil for the last ten years. Scott and Pam started out looking for a young horse to train, Linda was looking to ride as many horses as possible, Jennifer was looking for a young horse as well, and Nancy was looking to gain riding experience on upper level horses.
Our first visit was to Japu Top, the home of Tonico Pereira and Tatiana Pontifex. Tatiana and Tonico have built upon the legacy created by his father, Mr. Toni Pereira, so that now he can offer the finest bloodlines of Lusitanos anywhere. His horses have such quality and the hospitality is warm and gracious. We got to see Zucchini Do Top, Xama Do Top, Brazil Do Top, and many other exceptionally fine horses. Linda had a great lesson in piaffe, passage, and flying changes on Zucchini, and Nancy did great canter work with him. Tonico and Tatiana also have a marvelous aviary and we enjoyed learning about all the species of birds that Tonico keeps on the farm.
Visiting the stunningly situated farm, Coudelaria Rocas do Vouga, owned by Manuel and Thereza Almeida, and home to Olympic rider Luiza Almeida and her talented siblings Thaisa, Manuel, and Pedro, was a special treat. It is easy to see Olympic dreams and aspirations being nurtured in such an environment. A special thank you must be offered to Raul Silva, our host and guide for the day. Raul’s exemplary management and gentlemanly demeanor are in evidence in all facets of the the farm.
We went next to Haras Juliana to see several of the horses that were slated for the auction, including Zaire and Al Capone. A rainy cool day was warmed by the hospitality and opportunity to ride many horses. Everyone enjoyed a fun ride on Al Capone, and we all enjoyed watching the schooling of Xodo and Zaire. (And if you remember from the first post, Zaire is now headed to his lucky new owner, Laura, in Salt Lake City!)
We found ourselves next at the home of our dear friend Davi Carrano. Manege Sant’ Adelaide is located, amazingly, within 20 minutes of downtown Sao Paolo, but is a soothing green oasis. We saw a number of Davi’s horses, watched them schooling, and rode Bacco, Ataualpa, Xamorro, Biscuit, Prince, and other amazing fellows. The quality of the training shines in Davi’s horses….as there are often children coming to ride the stallions…and riders of all levels can learn from each of them. Though we had to leave that night we were all happy to know that we were having a three day clinic with these wonderful horses beginning the next week. And Nancy came away with her head reeling, as it seems she had been chosen by a horse…….stay tuned.
Next up was a visit to Coudelaria Ihla Verde, the home and farm belonging to our friend Victor Oliva….and the site of the 13th Annual Luso-Brasileiro Auction. The farm was a beehive of activity with all the preparations for the auction in full swing (and only 2 days away)….but we were graciously welcomed in a style that only Victor can offer. We settled in to watch and to ride. Rogerio Clementino, Olympic competitor, brought out Veneno and had a lesson with Daniel Pinto, World Champion and Portuguese Olympic veteran. After the lesson, Linda, Scott, and Jennifer were able to ride Veneno for a bit….and Linda treated us all to an exhibition of piaffe and passage. Well done Linda!
We had a great lunch with Victor, Daniel, and Carlos Lopes, head of the Portuguese selection committee….and a lively discussion arose about the controversy in the FEI. We didn’t come to any agreement, but talking with competitors and judges at such a high level offers insight and can inform later discussions.
Here is a gallery of images to enjoy. In another day or so I’ll have the complete auction report (it was VERY exciting) and the promised article about the thermographic imaging of my saddles.
Amities ~ D Barbier
by Keron Psillas | Jun 4, 2010 | blog information, classical dressage |
We have just returned from a great trip to Brazil. We visited the farms, rode many many wonderful horses, saw old friends, made new friends, and enjoyed the best of Brazilian hospitality wherever we went. Before I go any further I want to thank our dear friend Davi Carrano from Manege Sant Adelaide for all his hard work and organization. The success of the trip was largely due to Davi’s care and hospitality. I want to congratulate the proud new owners of some fantastic Lusitanos: Scott and Pam will be welcoming home Veneno, a Prix St. Georges stallion, and the lovely Bella, Laura will be ecstatic to meet Zaire, and Nancy will be reunited with Ataualpa, a fabulous young Interagro stallion! All the pictures are in the gallery below.
This year’s auction was surprising. The quality of the horses, as always, was top notch. So one would expect that with the global interest in the Lusitano as the perfect dressage mount the prices would reflect the quality. Sadly, this was not always the case…..but we were very happy to be able to find great bargains for our clients. The event was certainly a success, with beautiful horses, plentiful champagne, the suspense of the bidding….and the movie stars and dignitaries arriving by helicopter adding a little extra excitement to the festivities. Congratulations and gratitude to Victor Oliva and all the team at Coudelaria Ihla Verde for another fantastic event!
I’ll continue the Brazil trip report in just a few days, but there is other news looking ahead:
There are new clinic dates in the calendar including a return to Virginia in July to give a clinic at Linda Bertschinger’s Classicus. Join us for a great clinic in a beautiful spot in the Shenandoah Valley. There are spots available for the clinic here at home in Healdsburg in late August. Reserve your spot now as they won’t last long. This is your best opportunity to ride intensively, on advanced horses, and study with both Dominique and Debra. You’ll be in Healdsburg for the very beginning of the grape harvest and can enjoy all the region has to offer at this special time. Contact us for all the information.
In less than two weeks I will begin another long trip that will find me teaching in New Jersey at Nancy Clark’s Castlegate Farm, in Chicago at Jill MacCrae’s farm, and then to Germany to offer a lecture (in a castle near Hamburg!) prior to a clinic with my friend Gerd Heuschmann, and then a clinic near Munich the following week. I offer my thanks to Isabella Sonntag and to Gerd for their enthusiasm and the organization of these two events.
Enjoy the photos…there are many more to come from the trip. Share the blog with friends, please. There are great topics coming up, including a report on my saddles by Dr. Solange Mikhail, DVM, MS, using thermographic imaging to expose potential problems (or, in our case, the amazing balance and quality of the saddle).
Amities ~ D Barbier
by Keron Psillas | Apr 12, 2010 | blog information, classical dressage, Well-being of the Horse |
Having finished a very busy clinic in Switzerland, I am taking a few days to travel in France to visit family. Thank you to all the participants for making the clinic such a success. Upon my return to the US, I will be in Canfield, Ohio, for a new clinic with old friends, then Connecticut, Illinois, Washington, then New Jersey….you can see the calendar and find links in the CLINICS page on this blog or on our Facebook profile.
I wanted to share the latest news from Brazil and encourage you to think about traveling with us for the Auction, Expo, and a special clinic at Manege Sant’Adelaide. Debra and I received this announcement from Victor Oliva, founder of the prestigious Luso-Brasileiro Auction:
The Internacional Luso Brasileiro Auction is already the most traditional and important auction of the Lusitano Horse, because, in addition to gathering the best Brazilian breeders, it has increasingly sought to select animals based on functional outlines, especially Classical Dressage.
In this auction were sold, among others, Oceano do Top and Nilo VO, both Olympic Horses, and Parágrafo do Top, Ultraje VO, Amuleto VO, all champions in the shows at USA. The Luso Brasileiro Auction will be held on May, 22 at Coudelaria Ilha Verde – Araçoiaba da Serra – Brazil, and it opens the XXIV International Exhibition of the Lusitano, the most important event of the breed in Brazil. We’re looking forward to see you there!
Debra and I visit Brazil several times each year to observe and watch the young horses progress and conduct clinics at some of the farms for the riders who are responsible for their training. Because of this our service to a prospective buyer is incredibly valuable. We know the horses in the auction and in many instances have ridden them. If you are thinking of a Lusitano of your very own, now is the time to come with us to find your horse. With interest in the Lusitano exploding around the world, we may never again have the opportunity to purchase horses of quality at reasonable prices. Click on the page above “May 2010 Brazil Trip Details” for all the information.
And a final comment….I spoke at length with Nadja King from Horses For Life just before I left for Switzerland. It was a great pleasure. I am happy to say that Nadja has a new issue available with a number of important articles, including the editorial on the “Just say YES to 401” campaign. Article 401 in the FEI Rules …”5…the head should remain in a steady position, as a rule slightly in front of the vertical, with a supple poll as the highest point of the neck…” p.11, and Article 419….“The FEI instituted an International Dressage Event in 1929 in order to preserve the Equestrian Art from the abuses to which it can be exposed and to preserve it in the purity of its principles, so that it could be handed on intact to generations of athletes to come.” p.28. Follow this link to find out more.
Thank you for the wonderful messages about our video, please continue to share it with your friends. And thank you especially for your interest and for your care of the Horses.
Amities ~ DDBarbier
by Keron Psillas | Apr 2, 2010 | blog information, classical dressage, horses for sale, Well-being of the Horse |
As I prepare for my trip to Switzerland next week I am feeling deeply the need to continue to create awareness of the issues the Dressage world is facing. Now is the time to speak for the horses in defense of their comfort, their dignity, and their well-being. I have been working for four decades to teach the classical methods, which when applied properly will bring forth a horse who is grounded, calm, supple, and a happy partner to dance with.
My friend Nadja from Horses for Life has initiated a petition to keep the pressure on the FEI to uphold their original articles and rules. Please go to this link and sign the petition..and PLEASE invite your friends to do the same.
This is just the beginning. In the coming months you will hear a great deal from us about the efforts we will be making to bring our message to a larger audience. I hope you will join us on the journey.
It’s not ALL seriousness here at Barbier Farm. Last night we had the great pleasure to invite friends for egg coloring. While no one managed to make a horse out of an egg, we did have a number of marvelously creative eggs…..all aided by a great dinner, some good wine, a little port, and a delicious gateau Marjolaine.
Amities,
~DBarbier
by Keron Psillas | Mar 30, 2010 | Uncategorized |
The sun is playing hide and seek with us, but I am happy to be home in California after a stretch of good clinics. The wisteria is blooming and the buds are turning to leaves on the grapevines.
I had the great pleasure to work with some marvelous horses over the last 2 weeks and to talk with friends and clients about our plans for the rest of the year. As always, it is going to be a busy time, with clinics around the country and in Europe and Brazil.
But first, a recap of my clinics…. At one of my favorite clinic locations, Jill MacCrae’s farm near Chicago, we rode outside on Friday in gorgeous sunshine and warmth and then the next day we woke up to 6 inches of snow, but the chill was replaced by the warmth of the participants. All the Lusitanos AND non-Lusitanos were very very good. In New Jersey, it was my great pleasure to see Quitaro do Top back in work after four, yes FOUR colic surgeries. He is in fine form and happy, largely due to the efforts of his “Mom”, Nancy Clark at Castlegate Farm. I rode Tzigano Dos Pinhais, owned by Paul Galisin, and had as always a great time. Tzigano is a wonderful boy….even after a long quiet winter he is ready to work and happily willing. Lesley Pettneati’s lovely Trakehner mare performed beautifully. I must thank my friend Gary Maholic…riding his Belgian Warmblood reminded me that even the big big fellows can have a delicate, glorious, light piaffe. My stop at Dan Rosenthal and Ann West’s Green Gallery Farm is such a great pleasure as I have five Lusitanos waiting for me there including Quemetico do Top, Orador Interagro, Marques do Retiro, and Osado (Coimbra). My only complaint, it was too short. I finished the trip with a stop at Melinda D’Amico’s (Paz Apparel founder along with her husband Dan Fries) place to ride my old friend Orador. He is such a gentleman and a great pleasure to work with. We finished the lessons with Orador and Melinda performing perfect pirouettes! Thank you ALL for a great clinic series.
In May, we will be back in Brazil for the 13th International Lus0-Brasileiro Auction at my friend Victor Oliva’s Coudelaria Ihla Verde….and then on to the International Lusitano Exposition. We will be holding a three day clinic at Manege Sant’Adelaide and riding the wonderful horses of Davi Carrano. You can see all those details on the Brazil Trip page on this blog. It is not too late to make your plans to be with us for this very exciting trip. In many ways it is the best trip of the year to Brazil as it combines the farm visits with the chance to experience Brazilian culture on many levels…but always in great comfort and with the hospitality the Brazilians are known for.
Before Brazil though I will be in Zurich, Switzerland for a clinic, then Dayton, Ohio for a new clinic location in the US, then New Jersey for a private clinic before taking off for Brazil. You can see all the dates and contact info for the clinics on our Facebook Page/Profile (search Barbier Farm if we are not already Facebook friends.)
It has been the custom for many years that students come to Barbier Farms to spend a week to work intensively. In the past we have scheduled for individuals around the times that I am at home so that Debra and I can teach together. We are changing this. Moving forward, beginning in the fall, we will have specific times that you are invited to come to ride with us, to ride the horses in our barn, and to audit all the lessons that go on through the day. Later this week, on this blog I will outline the program for you. We would love to have you join us. As spaces will be very limited, we will encourage you to reserve your spot early. In addition to riding and riding and riding on fantastic Lusitano stallions we’ll have some special meals and opportunities to visit the wineries and see the sites around Sonoma and Napa. Details to come.
Debra and I wish you all a Happy Easter ~ Joyeuses Paques!
Amities,
DBarbier
