Amore Di Cavallo Open Day (WC)
Pretoria Show (Pta)
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The adventures of Danzenita and Mei Prinz
Hello,
Danzenita (or the black Molotov Cocktail Thoroughbred that has recently exploded into a few venues around Johannesburg) and his super-chilled Hanoverian best friend, Bodenhausen Mei Prinz (from Bodenhausen stud in Namibia), have been putting up their hooves a bit over the Christmas Season since they are both just coming out of their horse sickness vaccinations.
They had a blast in 2009 though. Having not competed since 2006, they went to their first show jumping show at the gorgeous venue, Le Godimo, on the 18th of July with a friend, Jaxx, riding Jasper from Sally Allen’s yard. They took it nice and steady and aimed at just getting back into it all.
Their next outing was to our very own Glen Austin stables for the show jumping on the 2nd August 2009. Danzenita blazed in to win the 70cm class (He was a very successful race horse with 7 wins and 14 places, trained by Cloudagh Shaw in Natal, hence the turn of speed. I am hard-pressed to convince him that not all courses have to be done at that speed, only the jump off!) Prinz had an easy double clear in the 70cm to put him in 3rd place (he is a terrifically powerful little horse with less speed but he can turn on a dime which pays off in the jump-offs. The nice thing is that he can still do it at 1.10m, I just shut my eyes when my instructor does that to me!). Danzenita then took fourth place in the 80cm with Prinz in 5th place, a nice slower double clear to round off their day. In typical Glen Austin style I staggered out with loads of prizes including a stunning photo shoot and photo that Ernst van Biljon of Signature Aesthetics did of the boys (I attached it, its quite lovely. I also bought loads of other photo’s Ernst took of the boys both at the shows and at home).
Thanks to Ernst of Signature Aesthetics for the pic - see http://www.signatureaesthetics.co.za
Then the boys were off to the Eaton Farm for the Beginners Extravaganza at Eaton Farm. They started out trying their hooves at some dressage. In a rare and unexpected twist Danzenita beat Prinz in the Dressage to come fourth to Prinz’s fifth (Prinz says if I’d ridden him properly he would’ve done better, and he’s not a critical horse normally so I have to agree. In my defense I have never ridden a dressage test in my life!) In the country Danzenita won the class with Prinz a close second (you guessed it, Danzenita beat Prinz on time). Angie Meredith herself came over to meet the boys; she said she really enjoyed seeing them open out to come through the finish line at a flat out gallop.
Next they were back at Glen Austin for the Dressage on the 24 September. This time Prinz shone, coming second in the first class, first in the second class and then winning the Victor Ludorum. Danzenita (with me sitting on him like an egg-shell hoping he wouldn’t turn all that presence into an explosion) even got a fourth. What was really special was Prinz got all the attention for a change and we managed to score a 70 in our winning test in which he did a truly spectacular lengthened trot (aren’t warm-bloods lovely?) He won amongst many other prizes a gorgeous graphite pencil sketch by Colleen Mulrooney, which I attached for you all to see.
Thanks to Colleen Mulrooney for this gorgeous graphite of Mei Prinz
Their next outing saw us at Whispering Winds in Knoppieslagte. The boys jumped the 2 80cm classes with Danzenita in first place for both classes and Prinz in second for both classes. It was a lovely venue, and the boys even won R500 and paid for their own boxing.
Sunday the 29 November saw the boys at Fourways Riding Centre for the 70cm and 80cm classes. Danzenita competed against the ponies and even managed to beat them across the finish line in the first class to take a first. Prinz was just out of the placings but went clear. In the second class I was determined to steady Danzenita up and not let him pirouette so fast that he unscrews his legs at the sockets and leaves his mother in the sand and he took a third. Prinz made a rare mistake and took a poll putting him out of the placings.
I was just about to hang up all our boots for the year when Nicol Bell called and asked me to accompany his daughter Ruthie on Toffee at the Children’s Hunt at ICB. I weighed up the boys and took Prinz, who is more the pony-sitting type, and he had an absolute ball at the hunt. He is a German fellow who has devoted most of his life to the precision of dressage and show jumping, having previously had a very successful career in Namibia, and I think he really enjoyed letting his hair down (figuratively speaking, he was thoroughly plaited and polished for the occasion! He certainly didn’t stay that way though, it took me days to scrape the mud off him and wipe the smile off his face after the hunt).
The boys say buy for now from Cavalier Stables under the watchful eye of their brilliant instructor and stable manager, Liz Patterson, and I will keep everyone posted re their adventures in the New Year.
Danzenita (or the black Molotov Cocktail Thoroughbred that has recently exploded into a few venues around Johannesburg) and his super-chilled Hanoverian best friend, Bodenhausen Mei Prinz (from Bodenhausen stud in Namibia), have been putting up their hooves a bit over the Christmas Season since they are both just coming out of their horse sickness vaccinations.
They had a blast in 2009 though. Having not competed since 2006, they went to their first show jumping show at the gorgeous venue, Le Godimo, on the 18th of July with a friend, Jaxx, riding Jasper from Sally Allen’s yard. They took it nice and steady and aimed at just getting back into it all.
Their next outing was to our very own Glen Austin stables for the show jumping on the 2nd August 2009. Danzenita blazed in to win the 70cm class (He was a very successful race horse with 7 wins and 14 places, trained by Cloudagh Shaw in Natal, hence the turn of speed. I am hard-pressed to convince him that not all courses have to be done at that speed, only the jump off!) Prinz had an easy double clear in the 70cm to put him in 3rd place (he is a terrifically powerful little horse with less speed but he can turn on a dime which pays off in the jump-offs. The nice thing is that he can still do it at 1.10m, I just shut my eyes when my instructor does that to me!). Danzenita then took fourth place in the 80cm with Prinz in 5th place, a nice slower double clear to round off their day. In typical Glen Austin style I staggered out with loads of prizes including a stunning photo shoot and photo that Ernst van Biljon of Signature Aesthetics did of the boys (I attached it, its quite lovely. I also bought loads of other photo’s Ernst took of the boys both at the shows and at home).
Thanks to Ernst of Signature Aesthetics for the pic - see http://www.signatureaesthetics.co.za
Then the boys were off to the Eaton Farm for the Beginners Extravaganza at Eaton Farm. They started out trying their hooves at some dressage. In a rare and unexpected twist Danzenita beat Prinz in the Dressage to come fourth to Prinz’s fifth (Prinz says if I’d ridden him properly he would’ve done better, and he’s not a critical horse normally so I have to agree. In my defense I have never ridden a dressage test in my life!) In the country Danzenita won the class with Prinz a close second (you guessed it, Danzenita beat Prinz on time). Angie Meredith herself came over to meet the boys; she said she really enjoyed seeing them open out to come through the finish line at a flat out gallop.
Next they were back at Glen Austin for the Dressage on the 24 September. This time Prinz shone, coming second in the first class, first in the second class and then winning the Victor Ludorum. Danzenita (with me sitting on him like an egg-shell hoping he wouldn’t turn all that presence into an explosion) even got a fourth. What was really special was Prinz got all the attention for a change and we managed to score a 70 in our winning test in which he did a truly spectacular lengthened trot (aren’t warm-bloods lovely?) He won amongst many other prizes a gorgeous graphite pencil sketch by Colleen Mulrooney, which I attached for you all to see.
Thanks to Colleen Mulrooney for this gorgeous graphite of Mei Prinz
Their next outing saw us at Whispering Winds in Knoppieslagte. The boys jumped the 2 80cm classes with Danzenita in first place for both classes and Prinz in second for both classes. It was a lovely venue, and the boys even won R500 and paid for their own boxing.
Sunday the 29 November saw the boys at Fourways Riding Centre for the 70cm and 80cm classes. Danzenita competed against the ponies and even managed to beat them across the finish line in the first class to take a first. Prinz was just out of the placings but went clear. In the second class I was determined to steady Danzenita up and not let him pirouette so fast that he unscrews his legs at the sockets and leaves his mother in the sand and he took a third. Prinz made a rare mistake and took a poll putting him out of the placings.
I was just about to hang up all our boots for the year when Nicol Bell called and asked me to accompany his daughter Ruthie on Toffee at the Children’s Hunt at ICB. I weighed up the boys and took Prinz, who is more the pony-sitting type, and he had an absolute ball at the hunt. He is a German fellow who has devoted most of his life to the precision of dressage and show jumping, having previously had a very successful career in Namibia, and I think he really enjoyed letting his hair down (figuratively speaking, he was thoroughly plaited and polished for the occasion! He certainly didn’t stay that way though, it took me days to scrape the mud off him and wipe the smile off his face after the hunt).
The boys say buy for now from Cavalier Stables under the watchful eye of their brilliant instructor and stable manager, Liz Patterson, and I will keep everyone posted re their adventures in the New Year.
2010. 01. 05. 15:24:43
Comments...
Manda01:
Stunning pics and congrats on all the good results in the shows 
2010. 01. 06. 10:10:55
Meryl:
You've been a busy lady!
Glad you enjoyed the GA shows ... the pics are fab!
Glad you enjoyed the GA shows ... the pics are fab!
2010. 01. 06. 00:34:11
collz:
Hi Cheryl
This is such a lovely post! Thanks for including Prinz's portrait. I can't wait to do Danzenita's, now that I know more about his personality - it makes a big difference
Love your horsey descriptions too
This is such a lovely post! Thanks for including Prinz's portrait. I can't wait to do Danzenita's, now that I know more about his personality - it makes a big difference
Love your horsey descriptions too
2010. 01. 06. 06:33:28
Hilana:
They are beautiful. You have been very busy hey!
2010. 01. 06. 07:43:27
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