• JANUARY 25, 2011: Life is going well! We started a very nice show season with many blue ribbons. Xairel has done excellent at the shows: 9 classes ridden, 7 won and 2 second places (one 2 points away from first and the other one just 1 point away!) All that from the Gold Coast Fall Fling in November to the Gold Coast Opener this past weekend.  We got also our qualifying scores for Regional Championships in Second Level. Big THANK YOU to the SOUTH GATE FARM Team: Nan for giving me the opportunity to show him; Allyn for being always so supportive and good friend and trainer; to Juan who keeps encouraging from the distance; to Pablo, Pablito, Michael, Jose, Yolanda, Karen and Mauro for keeping our guys and farm in shape; to Dr. Jee, Carlos and Billy the vet, chiropractor and farrier support, to Renna for fitting the saddles and to M. Perry for keeping their mouths in good shape. Without their heart and knowledge I wouldn't be what I am with the horses I compete. Please, keep reading: it gets better!

- Lauren is doing very nice with Acolito, also some blue ribbons, red, yellow, white, pink, always placing. Both growing up, learning and enjoying each other. Another HUGE THANK YOU to Nan. It has been an excellent opportunity her sponsorship to Lauren and came in a very good moment. Young riders with talent like Lauren need that. Check the scores in the RESULTS 2010 and RESULTS 2011 pages 

- We have a busy schedule this season. Nan got VIP stalls for the Gold Coast Dressage Association and Wellington Classic Dressage shows at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center and we're really enjoying them! I will participate Top Gun in the new series International Horse Sport Palm Beach at the White Fences (Equestrian Estates) Showgrounds, and Tacoma will go to the White Fences Equestrian Center shows. SO HAPPY to have horses to show, LOVE IT! Please check the CALENDAR page for dates.

- And talking about Tacoma: we did our FIRST THIRD LEVEL TEST!!!! Could have been better but I'm very proud of how much he has changed and learned through all this years

- Nan got back on Ubrique again. Thanks to Bill Warren who helped the first time! I'm hand walking her for about 10 minutes. It's still uncomfortable and painful but her face changes to a big smile when she's on him.

- My sister Rosina is coming in February for the FEI Judges Seminar! More good times to come!

- Click here to see the ad that Nan included in the show programs for this season.

- Thanks to Ali Brock for inviting me to watch the clinic with Jan Brink, enjoyed very much.

- We are very lucky this year with the boarders at South Gate Farm. Everybody is nice, friendly and easy to work with. Whit Watkins and Bobo with 3 horses, Sharon McCusker with one, Jessica van Eyck with 3 and Francesca Nicoletti with 3 are our guests so far.

• JUNE 13, 2011 - Back to the updates:

- So, my sister Rosina was here from Feb 9 to Feb. 18. She attended the FEI Judges Course (she is an FEI 3* Judge)  and then helped me with my horses and my riding. We did a nice judging day at South Gate Farm with Bill Warren (US S Judge) and she was invited to judge at Dressage Under The Stars at The Players Club. It was FUN! Special THANK YOU  to Bill Warren, Bill McMullin and Steve Williams.

- Ann Vitunac and Anthony Yanketis are very welcomed to my training program! They ride and own Grey Boy and Zohra.

- Had the opportunity to ride for two days with THOMAS VON SAMSON (GER) Colombian National Trainer. Rode Xairel do Bosque, Top Gun, Sunshine and Vinho dos Pinhais. Thanks to Maria Ines Garcia and the Colombian Equestrian Federation.

- Bobbie Carleton and Dr. Candace Platz were boarding horses at the farm too during some months of the late season.

- During show season, my nephew Juan Carlos Garcia De Brigard, came to work. He is a veterinarian in Colombia and has a very successful business around competition/high performance horses. Check out his website here. 

- And we had the nice visit of my mother and sister in law. It was short but very comforting having them and spending some time around the family.

- Many social moments to remember this season: USPREA party, Tuny Page's party, Vinceremos Dinner & Auction, Lusitano Collection, Sho Clothes Talks, Dressage Under The Stars at The Players, World Dressage Masters, Welcome Party at IPC, GC Opener Party by Janne Rumbough, P B Derby Officials Party at The Everglades Club hosted by Janne and Stan Rumbough, Kokomo's 2 for 1 nights, Cecilia's nights, Challenge of The Americas, competitors parties at the differnet shows and many other nice moments with friends.

- At the beginning  of May Batistuta V.O., a new beautiful buckskin Lusitano Stallion came to Nan's farm. And it's being a blast!

- At the end of May was invited to Magnolia, TX to give a clinic again at TP Farm. It's sincerely the nicest group of people to be working with! THANK YOU Cheryl Person, Linette Vest, Dulce Borjas, Sarah Rietsch, Pat Schuermann, Patty Mitchell, Susan Waycuilis, Cheryl Cobb and Karen for a fantastic time!

Pictures by Susan Waycuilis

- Season couldn't have been better: many blue ribbons for all of us, we got the horses qualified for USDF Regional Championships. Top Gun won 5 of 6 classes entered in Second and Third Levels, Vinho dos Pinhais won 4 of 6 in Third Level, Xairel do Bosque won 12 of 22 in Second and Third Levels, Lauren and Acolito won 3 Training Level classes and their first First Level Test! Even though season with Tacoma wasn't the most successful one, did mark a big change towards his dressage development. Again a BIG THANK YOU to the teams at South Gate Farm (Nan Sexton, Allyn Schiavone, Deirdre, Lauren and Eric Friedland, Dr. Jee Grewal and Starling Equine, Carlos Cortelezzi, Billy Velix, Drew Golden, Renna van Dooren, Mark Perry, Pablo, Yolanda and Pablito Gonzalez, Jose Valle, Mauro Hernandez, Karen Caputo, Michael Fedor, Choice of Champions Int. Allyn Maix and Sylvia Firestone, Animal Trace Minerals); at High Meadows Farm (Mary Anne and Walter McPhail, Allyn Schiavone, dr. John Lockamy, dr. Steve Engle, Damian Straw, Lee and Annette, Jeff Straw) and at Just Right Farm (Rose and Chuck Miller, dr. John Lockamy, Carlos Cortelezzi, Darlene Moree, John). As usual, to my husband Juan and my family, specially my sister Rosina, another BIG THANK YOU! And last, but not least to the Show Organizers at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, The Park at Equestrian Estates and White Fences Equestrian Center (John Flanagan, Noreen O'Sullivan, LarsPetersen, Ed Borresen, Adam Pollack); the Secretaries, Show Staff and Volunteers, Photographers (Horse Sports Photography - Sharon Packer, Joanna Jodko, Pat Girard, Carien Shippers - and Sue Stickle), Videographers (Video Guys - Rhett Savoie and his team - and SPF Video), Vendors and all my friends and supporters: THANK YOU!

- Vinho won The Sanctuary Peak Performance Award, Xairel got High Score Lusitano and Acolito won The Tail RX Award. 

All pictures by Johnny Robb - JRPR

- Floor inside Nan's barn is fixed!!!! Big plus for South Gate Farm! 

- Pablo enjoyed a nice month of vacation in his country. We missed him but Karen Caputo and Mauro did an excellent job.

- My dear friend Kerstin Baier had her beautiful baby girl Kaia. And I'm very happy to be able to help her with her nice Oldenburg, 9 year old gelding San Souveran (aka Sunshine or Sunny).

• Click here to view NEWS 2010

• Click here to view NEWS 2009
• Click here to view NEWS 2008 & 2007

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