NEWS 2022

Absolutely amazing surprise present from husband to wife. I couldn't be happier with how things turned out for him and for them. Thank you to all involved!

I truly had a blast showing Henry in Grand Prix this past weekend at the Wellington Spring Classic, despite the shocking low score given. It's just a few weeks that I've been riding him, and I feel like I served a sloppy plate of scrambled eggs instead of a beautiful omelet... BUT... still the ingredients are all there and he is so much fun! 😉 ❤ So grateful to Mary for giving me this opportunity! To Carlos for your long-distance coaching and support teaching me how to ride the horse you trained To Kim for trailering and support all around To Lou for coaching To Iana for taking your time to come video in a very tight day To Jen and Emily for making my horses look so good To Lily and Sue for wonderful pictures, you make me look like I know what I'm doing ❤ To all my friends that showed up to cheer on me and those that cheered from far away, including my family ❤

Had a great time giving a clinic at Marlys Munnell's beautiful farm in Midland, Texas. Thanks so much Marlys for hosting me and Bobo Wroe for all you do, from organizing, riding 3 horses, driving, feeding me, etc. Great job to all the riders, it's fantastic to see the progress you do during the lessons and through the years that I've been going there. Thanks so much, Allison Isbell Lillis, for dinner on Saturday, it was delicious!

WE DID IT! We had a clean, safe, Grand Prix test with "Henry" (Vangens Star-Light) in a very competitive class on Saturday at the Gold Coast Dressage Association (GCDA) May Dressage show held at Palm Beach Equine Sports Complex. I have very little to none experience at this level, but this horse has a heart of gold and an unflappable temperament. My friend Carlos Salguero Ocaña trained him since he was 5 years old, and he did such an amazing job that I can keep him going. Still working on his strength and our coordination and timing, but what a nice feeling, he really makes you feel you belong there! Forever grateful to his owner Mary Hankey for these opportunities! And so thankful with all my village: Kim, Sue, Emily, Iana, Jen, Lou, Ali, Francesca, Juan Carlos, Thomas, ... it wouldn't be possible without all of your support ❤ Thank you to show organizers, officials, staff and volunteers. It was a show with a busy but great atmosphere. Kudos to the facility for their footing: we had so much rain on Friday and rings were perfect all weekend. Henry is available. You can find more information by clicking the button below.

UNO (Universo do Bosque) you are one of a kind, you didn't put a foot wrong while being with us and were a joy to have around. I'm very sad to see you go back home but happy your human Mom will enjoy you again. Thank you Sue for letting me have him for the last two and a half years. Thank you, Kim and the guys at the farm, Emily, Naomi, Jen, Thomas, Juan Carlos, Michele, Chelsea, Phill, and everyone else that made part of his life while he was in my training program.

Welcome Santiana (aka Lola) and Erika Wager to the program.

Lola is a Hanoverian mare born in 2014.

Will be available for sale soon

Chubby was a star in his Third level debut this weekend at the White Fences Summer II show. Scored in the mid 60s with details that can be improved but very happy with the overall picture. I've been riding him for a few months now and having tons of fun developing this very smart and fun PRE, owned by my friend Iana Gonzalez. Gracias! Thanks Sue, for being eyes on the ground at the show and Kim, Evan for coming to watch and support. I'm pretty sure you heard him say "thank you" many times #talkinghorse

Thank you, Adam for another awesome show!

So proud of you, Carly, and Eb! Big improvements this show, and we are still at the very early stages of development of your talents. The best thing is how you keep it honest, real and fun! Keep going ❤

Beyond proud of my dear friend Bobo Wroe for becoming CHAMPION at National Dressage Pony Cup in PSG and Inter 1 Open with Moogli. Awesome job and well deserved!!!

My first two rides in Grand Prix Special were that: VERY SPECIAL! After the most terrifying experience I have gone through at a show, we pulled it together and produced 2 nice tests with great moments and still tons of room for improvements (scored 64.468% and 69.362%). There are not enough words to express my gratitude towards Mary, Henry's owner (Vangens Star-Light) for allowing me to fulfill so many dreams in such short time. And to Carlos who has been coaching, supporting and helping me understand the horse he trained so well. Grateful too to all the village: Sue, Kim, Emily, Lou, Jen, Iana, Carolyn, Thomas, Juan Carlos, Shannon, Isa, my family and my friends that support, help and cheer on us. Henry: you are one of a kind and I hope your next person will see how wonderful you are! Thanks so much to all at the Wellington Classic Dressage show! By the way, I was alone in both classes... still super proud

This means a lot to me:

"Congratulations are to Carmen Franco who rode Vangens Star-Light to the win in the Grand Prix Special at the Wellington Classic Dressage Classic Tropics I Dressage show hosted at the Global Dressage show grounds. The win earned the pair the Vita Flex Victory Pass Award last weekend. Now riding the Grand Prix Special is no easy task, but Carmen pulled off the lovely ride after a harrowing morning. Earlier that morning, Vangens Star-Light escaped his stall and ran off the show grounds, crossed the road to visit the Tackeria and then headed down nearby South Shore Road and was finally caught at the Fire Station. No one was hurt but Carmen was rightfully shaken, yet none of that showed in their winning performance".

Thank you Vita Flex!

Three months after injuring her knee at the gym, Emily is finally back riding. We are all happy!

I'm proud to have been named Director of the Dressage Technical Committee of the Colombian Equestrian Federation. I have worked for years, trying to help developing the discipline in our country and even though I live in the USA, I feel very attached to everyone in it. Together with Diana Rey and Cristina Toquica, as other members, and Maria Ines Garcia, as National Technical Assistant, I'm sure we will keep finding ways to improve dressage in our country and help our riders abroad with their goals.

What a fantastic time I had giving a clinic for the first time at Andrea Vassallo's farm in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Wonderful group of people and horses that worked in Dressage and Working Equitation. The place is really beautiful, and the food was outstanding! Looking forward to more!

To see more pictures, click on the button below to go to the album published on Facebook.

Had an awesome ride Saturday, September 9, on the very handsome Lord Chubby at the White Fences Summer Fun III show. Sadly a few bloopers kept the score down but very happy with the feel, the balance, the frame, the improvement from last show in July! Thank you Sue for eyes on the ground, Kim for coming to watch, Emily for great pictures and support and of course, Iana for letting me play with your beautiful, talented and fun boy ❤ Thanks Adam, you know how much we love showing at your place!

This fantastic mare is developing really well (Thank you Lou!). We tried a few quick pictures yesterday (Thank you Em!). More to come soon with an updated video too. Stunning 2014 Imported Hanoverian black mare 17.1 hands San Amour I X Flocke (Furst Heinrich x Wolkentanz x Rubinstein)

She is available at May Faire Oaks farm in White Fences, Loxahatchee, Florida. Serious inquiries only, please. #CustomSaddlery

Thanks to Debra Spark, was able to enjoy 3 wonderful days learning at Purina in Missouri. An opportunity like no other to be able to see and learn about what we feed our horses.

To see more pictures, click on the button below to go to the album published on Facebook.

It was super fun to be able to go back to Midland to teach Bobo and friends. Thanks so much Marlys for your hospitality, Bobo for organizing and all the riders who participated. Special thanks to Allison for delicious dinner invitation.

​What more can I say about this fantastic horse? Took Henry (Vangens Star-Light) to the WCD Fall Challenge shows held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center and he felt absolutely fantastic despite not ideal preparations with all my trips this month and a bad cold that I have had all week. Got 2nd place in Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special in small classes. Thanks so much, Mary, for giving me all these opportunities with your handsome boy! Carlos, your training is impeccable, thank you for your long distance support! Kim, Sue, Emily, Jen, Lou, Iana, Evan, Carly and the rest of the team: I'm so grateful for all you do for us ❤️ Thank you WCD for these shows!

After several invitations from Carlos, I finally made it to organize a last minute, small clinic at his beautiful place in Conroe, Texas. Thanks so much for your hospitality and thank you so much to Bobo for coming all the way from Midland! Also, to Mary, Heidi, Patsy, Randy, Pablo, Emily, Tania, Noah for a great weekend!

My first book cover picture! I'm honored to have worked with FEI 5* judge Janet Foy on it, with the great combination of Cindi and Amado. Thank you! I'm proud 💟

A couple of months ago I was named Director of the Dressage Technical Committee of the Colombian Equestrian Federation. I have been working for a few years now, trying to help develop the discipline in our country and, even though I live in the USA, I feel very attached to everyone in it. Together with Diana Rey and Cristina Toquica, as other members, Maria Ines Garcia Cuellar, as National Technical Assistant, Rosario Garcia De Martinez, as General Secretary, Mauricio Bermudez Acuña as President, and many other people in different roles of the FEC, I'm sure we will keep finding ways to improve dressage in our country and help our riders abroad with their goals. Picture by SusanJStickle.com Equestrian Photography & Design Services

Although not directly news about me, these two are happening while I'm the Director of the Dressage Committee of the Federación Ecuestre de Colombia.
Always grateful to have had your support, Shannon Lee Dueck! You know how much... And I know you will do awesome with your horses. Thanks so much for all you did for us!

Article about Shannon here

Welcome Albrecht Heidemann as National Advisor. Thank you, Albrecht, for accepting the challenge,

Article about Albrecht here

Thanks so much Eurodressage !

Simply amazing! So happy to be sharing this wonderful experience with Rosina ❤️ Thank you so much Carl Hester for sharing your wisdom with us! And thank you too to all that made this possible.

Read the report on Eurodressage

Y en Español en Lily Forado - Doma Clásica

December 3, 2022

Very proud of Julia and Helena today at Adam's schooling show! They did such a wonderful job in the ring!!! Gracias Iana!

December 7, 2022

I'm so happy with my ride on Henry yesterday at the White Fences Polar Express show!!! Got second place in the Grand Prix class with a score of 68.696% with a couple of hiccups. Fantastic feel on the last centerline!! Turns out, you should never change things at a show....and today I did a big logistic mistake and excused myself almost at the end of the Grand Prix Special test. I had great moments in it, though, like the last passage-piaffe-passage before the canter transition. A couple of video clips to show both movements. (Thank you, Richard Taylor!) Mary Hankey: your generosity for allowing me to ride your sales horse at shows is so appreciated! And this one in particular as it was a birthday gift... unforgettable! THANK YOU ❤

Forever grateful to so many that are in my village, believing in me

Thank you, Adam Pollak, for another great show!

December 18, 2022

A big shout out to Julia Harrison Lee for winning her Third Level test 1 class yesterday with Helena. Really proud of how far you have come in the last weeks! Look forward to the rest of the season working with you and the rest of the team at Golden Point Partners. Thank you, Iana Gonzalez, for organizing everything, even though you were dealing with your own health issues ❤

December 18, 2022

Wishing all of you the best for the New Year!

Grateful for all the good that came in 2022!

December 31, 2022