Michelle Ives

Hi Michelle,

We just got back from the show at Thunderbird and I had to give you an update! I am so excited and pleased with I Candy and our debut. She was so good!!!! The warm up with the other horses was a bit exciting for her, as it was outside and I actually have never ridden her outside (our ring is still too wet) but she coped very well. She just got very big and impressive! The tests were all in a coverall arena and it was fairly spooky in there for most horses. I Candy was amazing and scored 72.85% which was first out of over 40 horses! She won the High Score award of the day. It was probably the best Training level test that I have ever ridden on any horse including even Vinny. She was relaxed and showed off her powerful gaits. The judge was actually a very low marker and some very expensive (and nicely ridden) horses were only in the 60's. Her big competition was a Dutch horse from DG Bar Ranch, another imported Dutch gelding by 007 and an imported from Germany, Weltmeyer son. People around here have been spending a lot of money. The quality of the horses has really improved during the three years that I haven't been riding. The judge put only one comment on the test- "Wow"!!!

I was very proud of I Candy and was hoping for another good test today. She didn't let me down and I thought that it was markedly better! My centre lines were better, although not perfect and her walk was super- more stretching and active. The judge stopped me after the test and asked me all about her breeding and where she had come from. She said that I was very lucky to have such a fantastic horse and that she felt that big things were in store for her! She wrote on the test that it was a pleasure to judge her and that she expected that we would be making people's jaws drop as she moved up through the levels. My mark ended up exactly the same, even though I felt it was a much better test. I think that that particular judge had trouble giving so many high marks as she usually is one of those ones who only gives 5's and 6's! I am not complaining though!! She won the High Score for Sunday as well and now everyone around here knows her name! Oddly enough one lady came up to me when I was warming up (she is also a judge) and said that my horse was "eye candy"!

I had a video done, so hopefully it will turn out and I can send you a link to see it. Bud took a few photos, but I think the horse looks much better than the rider!! I will have to pull up my socks in a hurry. It was nice to have confirmation that she is just as good as I thought she was! I try to be objective, but it's easy to be "barn blind" and even easier when you have been showing donkeys for a few years instead of dressage horses!!

Anyways I just had to share my excitement with I Candy's family!! I may not sleep tonight- it was kind of a big deal for me after not having shown for so long and after having hurt my back. It's a good felling (in a twisted kind of way!) to have none of the local dressage queens speaking to me again!!!

Virginia

Pictures below of I Candy in another environment!

I Candy at 2009 Mare and Foal Evaluation