NEWS 2021

Another year starts with wonderful moments to live. Grateful my friend and photographer Sue Weakley was there to capture this and many others with BP in lesson with Ali Brock. So lucky! Happy 2021 to all!

Looking for WORKING STUDENT or GROOM. Searching for a team member for my "small" operation. No cleaning stalls involved, just getting horses ready for training and taking care after. Riding is included depending on your capabilities. Can't offer living situation but a salary. Own horse can be discussed. A small job description so we don't waste time: I like attention to detail and work fast, plus I can work as hard as you. I have a weird accent so ask if you don't understand me. I know how to take care of my horses and have my own standards, hopefully you can adapt and/or teach me what I'm missing. There are great opportunities for a working student. Hours are usually from 7:00 am to 2:00 or 3:00 pm from Monday to Saturday. Some flexibility appreciated in case of shows, clinics, etc. The barn where I'm based at has a great group of people. Of course, horses have to be well taken care of. They are not machines, each one has its own particularities and need to be treated accordingly. Please private message me if you are interested or know of someone. Barn is located in the White Fences community in Loxahatchee, Florida, very close to Wellington. I speak Spanish, English, Italian and German so I might get to communicate with you in other languages (Just to make it clear for the ones asking: Emily Bercaw came to the rescue when the groom I had quit unexpectedly, but she has another job and she is studying so she is helping a few days a week. THANK YOU FOR THAT, EM!)

Congratulations to the new owners of BARQUERO AS III! I hope you enjoy him as much as I did! ❤ Many, many thanks to everyone that helped make it possible despite the #2020saga ... so many weird things happening!

Thanks to Kim Jackson and Sue Jaccoma for organizing clinics with Janet once a month during season. Impeccable eye with so many training tools!

Once more lucky to have had this opportunity to ride Horses Unlimited's Elena HU in clinic with Janet. Thanks so much again to Sue Weakley for being there with your camera!

So nice to see Sophia DeWald receiving her well deserved Silver Medal from USDF. She worked really hard with Welly!

I entered a giveaway of Exhibitor's Equine on Instagram and guess what... I won! They sent me a box full of products and we played with Emily Bercaw to take pictures of the horses. This is one of the results: Black is Emir (aka BP), lusitano stallion (more on my Facebook January 15, 2020)

It's a different show season for sure with many restrictions and conditions. Some of us are lucky to be able to enjoy it. Thanks to Mary Anne McPhail who is always so generous with her table!

And we had another awesome clinic with FEI 5* Judge Janet Foy at May Faire Oaks farm. Thanks again Janet for your wonderful coaching, Kim Jackson and Sue Jaccoma for organizing and Sue Weakley for the pictures! (more on my Facebook, Feb. 16, 2020)

This gorgeous horse arrived from Spain on the 20th. Will be available for sale soon.

SABIO XVI PRE gelding born in Spain in 02/24/2014 Sire: Segador IX Dam: Sabia XIII

It was great to see you after a year of missing you due to Covid and other things...

USPRE Association published this nice interview on Feb. 26, 2020
Carmen Franco , a longtime resident of Wellington, is a professional rider from Colombia🇨🇴. Carmen can be defined as one of the most loyal PRE fans of USPRE WEEK. One of her hidden talents and hobbies is photography. Riding or behind a camera lens, Carmen is always willing to help and welcomes everyone with a beautiful smile.

Entered Emir (aka BP, owned by Mary Anne McPhail) in the Welcome Back to White Fences II show for first time in Pr. St. Georges and we had a blast. Did 2 classes and in the second one we got a 70.7%! Grateful for the opportunity and for having all the village behind me. Thank you Lily Forado for the wonderful pictures!

Showed Pikk Elena HU again in a couple of Inter 2 classes and even though the scores are staying low, she is shaping herself to be a Big Tour horse in the future! Grateful to owners, sponsors, and all the supporters. Picture by Lily Forado

After missing last year due to Covid, it's so wonderful to have you back in Florida to train with Moogli and Maui for the next month!

As usual, it was a blast to do the photo report of the happenings at the Derby. Pictures can be found on the Facebook group. Thanks Lily Forado for the picture! Click on button below

My Spanish friend Carlos Salguero came from Texas to participate in the Wellington Nations Cup. He stopped at May Faire Oaks farm for a week where we were able to polish a few details. Great, great job all the way to Freestyles Night!

Participated in the Welcome Back to White Fences III show and was so happy to keep feeling the progress towards Big Tour on Elena, even though the scores were pretty low... Things are shaping, it will take some time but I think we are on the right track!

We had a couple of very nice PSG tests at the Welcome Back to White Fences III show scoring in the mid 60s. He will be consistent in the 70s once we clean up imprecisions and get him stronger. Thanks to all behind us!

Jaguar MOR has found a new home and I'm both sad to see him leave as he is one of the sweetest, more fun horses I have had in training, but also happy to see him go to such a good home. Thanks so much Jordan LaPlaca for trusting me!

Thanks so much to Chrissa Hoffmann for allowing me to be an ambassador for these fantastic shirts. click on the link below to get yours!

Season's last clinic with FEI 5* judge Janet Foy at May Faire Oaks was another success. Had a fantastic time learning from her while riding Pikk Elena HU and watching the other riders. Thanks so much, Janet! Thanks so much Anne for allowing me to develop Elena to GP! Thanks so much Kim and Sue for hosting and organizing! Thank you Em for helping and taking pictures!

Global 12 closed the season at the beginning of April. Great competition all around under difficult Covid protocols. Thanks so much to all organizers for keeping the shows going!

Even though we had some serious issues in the Inter 2 tests at the Welcome Back to White Fences IV show, we had also the highlight of a clean canter tour! Hoping to keep this under control and improve the critical points. Very hopeful for the future. Thanks again to the village!

Picture by Lily Forado from previous show.

After a couple of years in training with me, Gajo left to a new home where he will be very happy. Thanks so much to dr. Hilary Clayton for trusting me with him during this time!

Picture by Meg McGuire

Beginning of May was back to traveling for clinics and it was fantastic to do one at Horses Unlimited in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Thanks so much Anne for organizing and hosting me, and to all the riders that participated.

It was AMAZING to see Mary Anne back in the saddle after Covid and hip replacement surgery. Horte was a star, as usual. Thanks Emily for helping keeping him in shape and so well presented.

Another bittersweet moment as Weltregentrin found a new home with Andrea Reid. What a mare... Did her job very well for Sophia, teaching her all the ropes to small tour and now she will continue taking care of a new rider. I will really miss her!

Picture by Lily Forado

This handsome PRE stole our hearts in the little time he was with us but I'm so happy he found a great home!

Picture by Meg McGuire

The last month I have had a broken phone on a day I really needed to be connected with my family in Colombia. My car almost fainted on me and ended up replacing it as it was costing too much to keep up with its maintenance. Got notice that I had a few weeks to move out of the place where I have rented an apartment for the last 12 years. Pulled my back tripping over a root walking into the barn, of course had to move apartment with my back like that. Got sick with my second Covid shot. One of my horses got injured in the paddock. And a couple of days ago I went for a quiet trail ride and the horse I was on, lost the balance and fell on my leg when he stepped on a very slippery driveway, leaving me with a bad sprained ankle (I bruise very easily) Eternally grateful to those who have helped me through all these days. The bright side is that I'm still around, with a new phone, new car, new apartment, my back is ok, the horse will hopefully be ok, and the foot, well, it will take a little but hopefully will be ok too! Send some good juju my way, please.

Had a clinic planned at Bobo's the week I sprained my ankle and decided to go. Borrowed an air cast from Carolyn Luther and requested wheelchair service at the airports and the trip was quite easy. Plus Marlys, Bobo and everyone in the clinic spoiled me very much. Thank you! Great riding everyone, can't wait to be back!

Rehabbing together, as BP also had a couple of incidents. Thanks to all that have helped us during our accidents and come backs! Specially Kim Jackson, Lester Torres, Austin Devlin, Jimmy, Dr. Candelaria Chunco, Dr. Naomi Katzowitz, Jenny Lober, Darwi Lopez, Rudi, Ivan Garcia, Emily Bercaw, Carol Bercaw, Sue Jaccoma, Iana Gonzalez, Evan Hubner, Dr. Natalia Novoa, Dr. Carolyn Luther, Juan Carlos Garcia, John Amber, Lou and Marie!

Picture by Meg McGuire

This was her post on Facebook: "First of all, today was a special day for all of us who care for and love BP 🖤 This also is a rare sight, Carmen and I both in the same picture! But that’s how it works with us, one is working / doing her thing and the other behind the camera (when we have a “free” minute). She calls me her right hand but I know without a doubt she’s been a supporting hand to me too. I came back some months ago, (lturns out living without horses is like living without breathing …) just whenever I had a free morning, to help her holding up an entire program alone. And with all of the extreme ups and downs I’ve been going through these past several months she has been there offering help every single time, and it is most certainly appreciated!! That’s about as good as I get with appreciation posts ..."

A picture of my dear friend, Dr. Hilary Clayton!

Bragging about my dear Bobo Wroe who did a super job with Moogli at National Dressage Pony Cup 2021!!! Very proud of you two!!!

Thanks to NBCSports.com we have been able to enjoy live streaming of the Games that had to be postponed a year because of the pandemic and they are running without spectators as COVID-19 is still a big threat to humanity. Unbelievable performances... wow! But then, the keyboard critics made me say this:

Opinions, opinions, opinions... I will have to say I admire all: the ones riding, the ones coaching, the ones grooming, the ones judging, the ones sponsoring, the ones owning, the ones organizing, ... And the HORSES, of course! Without them we wouldn't be able to be here. So much respect for everyone in this tough sport!