As news of Isabell Werth's suspension comes through the wires and I was about to throw in the towl on professional athletes, an auction closed overseas in Maryland.

This auction represents a full-day clinic with Olympian, Debbie McDonald, anywhere in the continental United States. Valued at $2,000, all proceeds go to the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center via the PVDA Ride for Life dressage show and Jill Hassler-Scoop Memorial Dancing Horse Challenge.

Debbie is going to fly anywhere in the continental U.S. on her own time and will not earn a dime from this clinic. She also donated this in addition to her appearance at the Ride for Life, as celebrity guest speaker/weekend host.

Just when I was about to give up on the idea that professional athletes could serve as role models... the auction hit $8,500.

To the lucky group that wins this auction: Congratulations, it was worth every penny!

Would someone PLEASE buy my Passier Grand Gilbert? It is a 17.5, medium tree with a deep seat and gussets. Asking $1900 or best offer. Seriously, make me an offer. This saddle has been collecting dust for almost a year now and I prefer money to dusty saddles!

Seriously, it isn't dusty. It gets cleaned all the time... don't let that put you off from emailing me with an offer.

Did I mention I want to sell my Passier?!?!?

Lately, I feel like I have really been using the leg yield as a tool... not just a movement.

For example, Barb had me leg yield along the wall (at your standard 35 degree angle) at the canter to engage the horse's hind end and push them more honestly into the other rein (you know, the one that isn't holding 300 pounds of fat horse up!). Trust me, it did the trick and is the ONLY thing I can imagine that would.

We then went on to alternating between the canter half pass, to the leg yield in the same direction (half pass left, change bend and leg yield left). Really got the jumping from behind without having the chance to get stuck on either forehand.

In another example, I had a horse that was just not responding to my my leg aids or bending to the right. As a result, he was just hanging on that inside when I was on the right lead. To fix it, I leg yielded him along the wall, half circled back and leg yielded along the wall in the other direction. Think of it as a modified version of that ice cream cone shape we all love riding in tests.

By the end of leg yield to other bend to leg yield to other bend, that horse was like butter... butta!

Needless to say, the leg yield is the hot sauce of my rides... when applied properly and only when necessary, it really does the trick!

The Debbie McDonald clinic that is up for online auction and available anywhere in the continental United States is already at $4500!

All proceeds benefit the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation via the PVDA Ride for Life, so this is great news for a full-day clinic that started at $2000 and has 6 days left of bidding!

If you want to bid:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260429115028

http://www.cafepress.com/cancerrider

 

Anyone who knows me, knows I love me condiments... so no one at the barn was surprised when I started using Sore No More "The Sauce" all over my horses! With the 15+ inches of rain we have gotten this spring and the show season upon us, the horses are stinky, sweaty, itchy and sore. This stuff takes care of all of it.

Ferrero's debut at Third Level earned him a blue ribbon, 64.8% and BLM slot for 2009. The score also helped Hilary finish up her requirements for her USDF Bronze Medal.

Here are some photos of Hilary/Ferrero (64.8% at Third 2 on Saturday AND Sunday, 63.3% at Third 1).... Judi and Zivona ISF (64% at Training)... and Barb with Floete (70% at First Level 3, BLM qualified, and 64% at Second Level):