Check out the February 2010 issue of Stable Management magazine for an interview with Hilary on building a successful relationship with your barn owner(s) to grow your training business.

I just received the draft of my article for the April issue of Dressage Today on Test Prep. Just in time for show season (fingers crossed that the snow clears by then), it will give you tips and tricks from a very different perspective ;) Stay tuned.

Dressage Today has picked up my blog! Please visit my blog's new home at: http://special.equisearch.com/blog/hilarymoore/

or on the Dressage Today homepage, under bloggers!

Please leave a comment, when you visit!

I am waiting to go to dinner with everyone from the "L" Program and trying to process the day. I think I am still processing and might not actually be able to post too much information for a few days... When they tell you that a judge needs stamina and focus, they certainly were not joking.
Picture this: Sandy Howard lecturing from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. with a 1 hour lunch and 2 brief breaks. With nothing more than our "L" binders, a powerpoint and a couple dozen video clips (about 5 seconds each) to show examples.
She managed to keep everyone's attention, answer every question happily and maintain her energy for the ENTIRE time. I used to think a 3 hour, University lecture was impressive... this takes it to a whole new level.
Granted, we got a little punchy when she climbed on the table to show us what happens when a horse's weight is moved back, more onto his hind end. But, everyone managed to maintain their focus for the marathon lecture.
In my book, at least, Sandy Howard has proven she has the stamina and focus required of a successful judge! I hope that getting through hours of judging material today also starts to prove that we (the participants) are starting to build those qualities too.

I arrived in Park City around 8 p.m. tonight, ready to start my A session of the "L" Program (in case you haven't heard me talking about it the last 30 times). Wouldn't you know that I ran into one of the greatest horsemen in the world already. Not at the USDF Program, but... at the sushi bar next to my hotel.

His name is Suki and he is the sushi chef at a little place called The Last Samurai. Suki is Mongolian and when I told him I trained horses, mentioned that he used to ride horses. After spending 5 minutes trying to convince me that I must be a superior rider, because I jump things, I found out that Suki competed in his first horse race at the age of 6. I put two and two together and realized that Suki is one of those famous boy jockeys that you hear about on NPR, National Geographic and pretty much anything else talking about Mongolia.

So tomorrow, when I recover from eating way too much sushi and sit down for my first day of the "L" Program I will remember two things:
1. I can only work hard and hope to be half the horseman that Suki and his fellow riders are in Mongolia.
2. Even though I think it is one of the best sports in the world, it is still just a sport. Just when you think you are Ms. Serious Horsewoman, you will run into a Mongolian horse racer in a sushi bar in Utah. Not only will he be able to ride circles around you, but he will also be able to make better sushi than you.

I managed to find just enough clothing in my closet to put together to appropriate outfits for the "L" program. It made me realize that it has been a really long time since I wore trousers (think: Capitol Hill when Obama was in his first months as Senator!).
Everything is packed, the travel plans are set and I am ready to learn a LOT this weekend... and take some great photos. Stay tuned for my blog posts and photos throughout the weekend. Please email your questions to info@mooredressage.com if you have anything in particular you would like to see.

ALSO: Stay tuned next Tuesday for some VERY exciting news about the blog.

Utah here I come!

Here is the first photo that has come in from Susan Stickle's shots from the BLMs this month! Love her and love them!