Trakehner owners just seem to find other Trakehner owners. At least, that’s been my experience. No matter if I’m showing dressage, auditing a clinic, or attending an educational seminar, we collect like flies on . . . well you understand.
My TFF (Trakehner Friend Forever) Lynn Pfau lives just a few miles from me. More importantly, she lives next to a forest preserve. One day she was telling me about riding her horses (both hunter/jumpers) out on the trails and I asked if I could come along some time with Newman, who could use a vacation from all the half passes, flying changes and other dressage work. “Sure!” was her enthusiastic response, and we’ve been planning ever since.
We’re not like the U.S. Postal Service. If it rains, we cancel. If it’s too cold, we cancel. After all, these are “city” horses (ie fancy show ponies) not used to questionable footing and we’re “city” trail riders that only go out when the weather is just right. Memorial Day Weekend 2010 the stars were aligned and off we went. “We” also included my barn owner, Heidi Wright–who has two Trakehners of her own but could only bring young Willaker that day–and Annie Rzeszuto, who is Trakehner-free at the moment but we’re working on it.
It got a little hotter than we anticipated, but everyone made it through the buggy forest, over the scary bridge, and past the people with dogs just fine! Now, the hosing and sponging afterwards was a different story . . .
Lydia F. Gray, DVM, MA SmartPak Staff Veterinarian and Medical Director Dr. Lydia Gray has earned a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), and a Master of Arts focusing on interpersonal and organizational communication. After “retiring” from private practice, she put her experience and education to work as the American Association of Equine Practitioner’s first-ever Director of Owner Education. Dr. Gray continues to provide health and nutrition information to horse owners through her position at SmartPak, through publication in more than a dozen general and trade publications, and through presentations around the country. She is the very proud owner of a Trakehner named Newman that she actively competes with in dressage and combined driving. In addition to memberships in the USDF and USEF, Dr. Gray is also a member of the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association (IDCTA). She is a USDF “L” Program Graduate and is currently working on her Bronze Medal. Find Dr. Gray on Google+
Trakehners rule!!!