Competition in Grafton 7 April 2013

Basil

CC won the medium again with a 67%. Some fantastic comments from the two judges, they both really liked her. I luv riding her she is soo exciting… soo smart a big thinker!!

A Sydney Boy won the Grafton Preliminary Jackpot – a 1C with 71%!

Basil had a run thru his GP getting ready for the CDI. It had been a while since we had a competition and he went pretty good, very settled and better in his piaffe and passage especially down the final centre line due to some practice with Rodrigo. So happy with him. He would have finished higher but he lost the flow and concentration a bit so he came home with a 60%.

There were two other Basil babes there and they won too. So A’Seduction winners all round for Grafton event!!

Sydney

A’Seduction and his two girls A Heaven Sent (Penny) and A Spider Bite (CC)

A'Seduction Warmboold Grand Prix Stallion

Basil (A’Seduction) in training at SDS in 2008 as 11 year old. Photo: IB

A’Seduction is now 16 years old. We bought him when he was an 8 months old colt. He has won so many Regional and State Championships and so many trophy rugs, I have lost count. We competed in a total of 6 young dressage horse events, every time finishing in the Top 3. He was 3 times a Champion of his Age and twice he was awarded the Champion of Champions. And now this year we have two of his baby girls qualified for the Young Horse Classes at the Sydney CDI. We will also take A’Seduction himself to compete in the Grand Prix International class. So WOW, I never in my dreams thought that this would ever happen. We are very proud of A’Seduction and his two girls. He has produced some amazing lovely trainable young horses. There are many out competing now and doing extremely well.

The two girls going in the Sydney CDI Young Horse Classes this year are A Heaven Sent (aka Penny) and A Spider Bite (aka CC). They are going in the 5yo and the 6yo events. The fields are so strong, with so many very nice top quality horses. But you have to realise that they judge just what they see on the day, and if you have a little glitch then you suffer the consequences. Success will show up as the years pass by with many consistent performances, and the results will be on the board. And ultimately, that is what we all want: a well behaved, calm, flowing, active and alive test, then we progress up the classes to Grand Prix. IT’S SO EXCITING!!!

Penny (A Heaven Sent) in 2009, 2 ys old, and as an 11 week old filly

Penny (A Heaven Sent) as yearling in 2008, and in Dec 2007, 11 weeks old

A Heaven Sent has the most beautiful temperament, and lovely suspended trot action. She is also a very pretty girl. Pen is my little worker girl, she loves training and practising all her work. When she was growing up, I called her my Nimbin Pony, as she loves to be outside with nature, she loves being in her paddock and she is very laid back about life in general. As she grows and matures, I believe Pen will be the near perfect dressage competitor!!

CC (A Spider Bite) in 2009, 3ys old, and as a 7 week old filly in Jan 2007

CC (A Spider Bite) in 2009, 3ys old, and as a 7 week old filly (Photo: IB) in Jan 2007

A Spider Bite, and yes she was actually bitten by a spider when she was a yearling, cause I knew you were going to ask, how did she get that name? CC has already won 3 championship rugs herself. And she has won her first test this year, the medium at the NADEC event – she even got a 9 in that test. She was soo well behaved, calm yet a bit excited, just what you need to produce a good test!! We call CC our OH&S (official health and safety) girl: CC makes sure everything is safe before she goes anyway. She is spunky, studious, and is the life at any party she goes to!! CC has the big plan picture already set in her goals… Grand Prix!

So it is very exciting for Peter and me to have a Family Affair going to the Sydney CDI International 3 Star 2013. And of course thanks to a big team of friends, students and owners, this plan can happen.

Last edited 21.12.2013

Kevin and Sydney on the beach again

Racehorse Kevin and Sally on Patches Beach, 28.02.2013

Boy!!! Maybe we should change the name of our place to Sally’s Seaside Dressage Riding…!!! Last Thursday, we had a gap in the rainy weather and took Sydney and Kevin down, and I gave Kev his first taste of going a bit faster than in the dressage arena!!

Sydney and Michaela on Patches Beach, 28.02.2013

Sally on racehorse Kevin and Michaela on A Sydney Boy on Patches Beach, 28.02.2013

Training Day at Bangalow with Legs and A Sydney Boy

Sally Evans on A Sydney Boy and Patti Brewer on Lovely Legs at Bangalow, 16.02.2013

We had a training day on 16 February. Legs was competed by Patti Brewer who is here with us from the US until March. Patti and Legs came second in the Preparatory test with 67%!

I competed with A Sydney Boy but he was overexcited and so we came 5th with 63% in the Preparatory test. He needs to have some more exposure to events.

A Sydney Boy competing at a training day in Bangalow, 16.02.2013

Patti Brewer competing with Lovely Legs at a training day in Bangalow, 16.02.2013

A Sydney Boy competing at a training day in Bangalow, 16.02.2013

Patti Brewer competing with Lovely Legs at a training day in Bangalow, 16.02.2013

Last edited 02.09.2013

Passage on the Beach

An amazing day at the beach, CC totally showing off her surreal ability to passage…

Training with Poppy on the beach and bitless at SDS

CC ridden by Poppy

One of my students, Poppy, is currently staying with us for a while. Yesterday, we have been on the beach, with Poppy riding CC and I on Kevin the racehorse. It was a super day, great weather. Both our horses were keen to show off their talents at speed training… cross-training for dressage… Poppy also tried out the bitless bridle that Iris has introduced us to, one of the latest models from Germany we have been riding Basil (aka A’Seduction) in too. Further below is Poppy on her Basil boy Mr Tickles.

Poppy aboard CC and I on the racehorse Kevin

Poppy aboard CC and I on racehorse Kevin

Poppy on her Mr Tickles for the first time bitless – he really likes it

Mr Tickles with the bitless bridle from Germany

CC begins training in double bridle

CC first time in double bridle

Here are some photographs of CC having her first go in the double bridle. She is test driving her Dad’s bits. We have ordered some special bits for her, the latest bits on the world market with the curb bit designed for softness on the tongue, and the snaffle shaped for the mouth. I have always tried to have the softest bits available. The sleeves on my arms are just for sun protection to avoid having to put on chemical lotion every day. These two interesting photographs have been taken by Poppy, one of my students.

A Sydney Boy’s first Preparatory Test in Dressage: 74.7%!

Sydney by A'Seduction, born 2008 out of IP Flower Power

A Sydney Boy by A’Seduction, born 05.12.2008 out of IP Flower Power

We took Sydney to his first Preparatory Test on the weekend of 19-20 January and he achieved 74.7%! That was in Bangalow at the Summerland Dressage Club.

A’Seduction and Sally Evans in Grand Prix CDI-W (Videos)

Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle Grand Final, Equitana Sydney Nov 2011:

Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle at the National Dressage Championships, Sydney Oct 2011:

Sally Evans and A’Seduction Grand Prix CDI-W Dressage at the National Dressage Championships, Sydney Oct 2011, with commentary:

CC with Milly and Raquel on the Beach

Sally on CC, bay mare by A’Seduction, born 2006, part-owned by Sue MacDonald, here at Patches Beach.

We took CC and Milly to the beach a couple of weeks ago. It was CC’s first time ever. She follows in her Dad’s hoofsteps; she walks down to the water and starts to meditate. Milly is here on a working holiday with Raquel and she enjoys the relaxation of it too. Milly is a horse we had bred as a racehorse for Peter. She has moved on to a career as an eventer with Raquel who now owns her.

CC and I, and Raquel on Milly

Old days…

I am so excited about my new website, I immediately thought of posting some of my old favourites from my archive. Here is me and Seldom Scene competing at Reynella in South Australia – have to ask Peter when that was…

Dressage Lessons on A’Seduction and bitless training

Iris has introduced us to this new model of a bitless bridle from Germany. Here she is presenting our Grand Prix Stallion A’Seduction (aka Basil) for his third time only in this bitless bridle, caught on photograph in the midst of flying changes, October 2012. She says:

It’s a beautiful experience to ride a horse in advanced movements who responds to ‘the push of a button’. You learn how the horse should feel at this level. And what is more, riding bitless focuses both horse and rider on seat and leg aids, and on the most important aim of dressage overall, that is riding truely independent of the reins. A’Seduction is a true gentleman and team player at all of this.

Sally is now offering Dressage Lessons on A’Seduction.

Sally's Dressage Stables

Sally Evans Dressage – teaching, training, competing and judging