Return of the Mustang

19 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in Classical Dressage Training

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

We have a new young student here at Quinta do Brejo – a beautiful 5 year old cremello Spanish Mustang mare named Moon Fox, who started life in the United States.

Spanish Mustang Mare 'Moon Fox'

Spanish Mustang Mare 'Moon Fox' (image by Brigitte Blanche).

Belem Tower, Lisbon

Belem Tower, Lisbon (30 minutes from Quinta do Brejo) was made a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its importance in the history of maritime exploration, including the voyages of Columbus. (click to enlarge)

Like me, I’m sure many of you won’t be too familiar with the Spanish Mustang. The modern breed is descended from horses taken to the Americas by Columbus and the Spanish Conquistadors and therefore has strong connections with the origins of the two main Iberian breeds, the Lusitano and the Andalusian. In the twists and turns of American history following the Spanish conquests, feral herds of Mustang horses developed, migrated north and became extremely hardy in the vast wilderness of what is now the United States. They were prized by Native Americans, would play an important role in the shaping of the nation and are now an icon of America.

It’s interesting though to think about the strong links between the Spanish Mustang and those breeds that were valued in the European Baroque and Cavalry traditions – horses closely related to each other, living in worlds that couldn’t have been further apart. It’s also special to see a descendent of those horses taken by Christopher Columbus from these Iberian shores to the New World, now come full circle to live in Portugal.

Columbus map

"Columbus Map, drawn ca. 1490 in the Lisbon workshop of Bartolomeo and Christopher Columbus (click to enlarge).

Moon Fox has just been started and I’m delighted that she’s now going to continue her training for some months with me at Quinta do Brejo. She has a lovely temperament, moves well it’s a real pleasure to have her around. I’ll keep you posted on her progress.

For more information on Moon Fox, the Spanish Mustang breed and its history see www.spanishmustang.org, www.centerforamericasfirsthorse.org and www.cavalospirit.webs.com

Quinta do Brejo on TV

03 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in Classical Dressage, Portugal

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, ,

How time flies – it’s already February. The weather has been beautiful in the UK where I have been giving clinics and I’ve returned to Portugal to find the same bright winter sunshine that I left a week ago. Since my last post we have welcomed riding guests from Estonia and Switzerland and were also visited by a film crew from the channel, TV Equitacao. They were here to record a piece about Nuno Oliveira and his home, Quinta do Brejo, which is now the location for our riding holidays and schooling. For those who don’t speak Portuguese, I’m afraid the interviews might be hard to understand, but it’s still well worth watching for some wonderful footage of Maestro Oliveira working here in our indoor school.

Polishing Diamonds

17 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by in Classical dressage clinic, Classical Dressage Training, Classical riding clinics, Puro Sangue Lusitano

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

We’re enjoying beautiful winter sunshine here in Portugal and looking out over the quiet fields with horses grazing, my mind is taken back to my recent clinics in Sweden, which were as rewarding and interesting as always. One of the favourite aspects of my work is to see the progress of long-term students and how each of them has taken something different from our sessions together and made it their own. And of course it’s very exciting to meet new students with their individual challenges and aspirations. Each and every combination of horse and rider is unique and I never get tired of taking my part and seeing where it can lead for all of us.

Now, back in Portugal, the new year is in full swing here at Quinta do Brejo, where we have three new arrivals waiting to begin their schooling with us.

Two are three year olds; the other – whose name is Diamante (featured in the video below) – is four, and yesterday was ridden free in the arena for the first time. Diamante has Veiga blood (one of the most significant and historic of the Lusitano bloodlines) and – as is typical with those from his line – he is sensitive, but he has shown a very good mind. Diamante is the Portuguese word for diamond and we’re certainly taking a lot of pleasure from polishing him.  We will introduce the other horses to you in the coming weeks.

Happy New Year – Gott Nytt År!

04 Wednesday Jan 2012

Posted by in Classical dressage clinic, Classical Dressage Training, Classical riding clinics

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , ,

Happy New year to all! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that 2012 will bring peace and much happiness.

I’m now in Sweden looking forward to my first clinic of the year which starts tomorrow. It’s now full up with old friends and new, so it will be a great start to the new year.

Tony Dampier

Our friend, Mr Tony Dampier of Bury, Lancashire, England 15/06/1936 - 18/11/2011. This photograph was taken circa 1954 while he was serving in the British Household Cavalry.

I have a few places left on my next clinic near Manchester, UK on the 29th January. The clinic was originally organised with Tony Dampier, who very sadly died in a riding accident in November. Tony had visited us at Quinta do Brejo to work with our Lusitanos in the late summer last year. He was a lovely man and spent his whole life working classically with horses. This facebook page contains hundreds of tributes from people he taught to ride over many years and who have been touched by his kind, understanding way with horses and with people. It’s very sad indeed that Tony won’t be able to share his experience and expertise at the clinic but we hope that he’d be pleased with the work we’ll do.

29th January 2012: 1 Day Clinic – Birtle Riding Centre, Bury, near Manchester, UK

£75 per person (2 individual hour sessions) £45 for one lesson. Please enquire if you wish to share a lesson. Non-riding spectators welcome. Lessons can focus on any aspect of classical training for horse and rider, including work in hand on request. All horses and riders welcome. Please contact either Charlotte directly or Birtle Riding Centre (tel: +44 (0)161 764 6573) for bookings or further information.

Download a flyer here: charlotte-wittbom-clinic-290112

www.birtleridingcentre.co.uk
www.facebook.com/charlottewittbom
www.charlottewittbom.com

Cheque’s Progress

14 Wednesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Classical Dressage Training, Puro Sangue Lusitano, Working in hand

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

This is Cheque, who you might remember from a previous post. He is a 4 year old Lusitano stallion – the first horse I brought with me to Quinta do Brejo. Now he’s been in training for almost a year.

Cheque is going to stay with me for a few more months of schooling before he moves to his new home in Sweden and I’m very pleased I’ll get the chance to see him develop – he’s a lovely horse to work with.  At this point in his training we’re still working on the basics, but now I’m also adding some lateral steps and a few transitions from walk to his programme.

This video shows our first attempt at a counter canter in our small arena. The counter canter is a good exercise to help a horse develop his balance, but Cheque is a little young to do very much of this exercise, so we take it gently and only every now and again. His canter in general is now becoming more balanced, even though he sometimes drops a little onto his forehand. He can do this in trot too, but he is a big young horse with a lot to carry and is still growing. With time, and as his musculature develops, his balance will improve.  It’s important not to rush a young horse into advanced work before they are ready. And adding lots of variety in the work we do ensures we don’t ask too much of them too soon.

I also do a lot of work from the ground with Cheque, which helps with his suppleness.  Cavalettis and easier jumps help with his athletic development, but they also add variety and stimulation in his work – it’s good that he has fun too!

I try always to read the signals the horse is giving me so that I only ask for what he can give me.  A young horse goes through different stages of growth and development – their physicality, mental maturity and even their changing teeth will all impact on the way that they respond to the work we’re asking of them.  So if it sometimes feels that the horse is a bit unbalanced again or not always developing forward, I don’t worry. I try to think of our development together (and the relationship he’ll form with his new owner) as a long journey, not a sprint – given time and patient work, the pieces will fall into place.


November news from Quinta do Brejo

20 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in Classical dressage clinic, Classical Dressage Training, Classical Dressage, Portugal, Classical riding clinics, Riding holidays / Courses

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

So now the annual phenomenon that is the Golegã horse fair is over and it is with a satisfied tiredness that we now look forward to beginning the preparations for Christmas. Here’s what has been happening with us over the past few weeks…

Charlotte Wittbom at Quinta do Brejo, by Emma Noren

AT GOLEGÃ

The week of the Golegã fair was a busy time for all of us here at Quinta do Brejo – Don Tomas and Donna Antonia Alercão and myself.  We had very dramatic weather including heavy rain, thunder and lightning and of course some sun in between. But thankfully we were lucky  to experience the horse fair under calm skies.

It’s almost impossible to describe the atmosphere of Golegã  – the confusion of horses and riders criss-crossing with pedestrians; tourists and locals pouring through streets and out of restaurants and bars; the smells of nuts roasting and regional delicacies being cooked from street stalls. All life is there, from smartly turned out dressage riders performing their perfect flying changes, to the comical sight of Shetland ponies pulling small wagons filled with big burly men. We took a lovely group of guests to visit the fair, all of whom had also decided to stay for some riding lessons with us. It’s a wonderful way to get a taste of everything the Lusitano horse and Portuguese horse culture has to offer.

CLINICS IN SWEDEN…

I was also recently teaching a series of clinics in my native Sweden, where I was really pleased to see my students making some great steps forward.  Of course progress always develops most strongly from the foundation that understanding and a thoughtful approach brings. To want to gain this understanding requires a certain patience and calmness from the rider. And as a teacher it is always very encouraging and empowering to see students who really want to learn with an open and inquisitive mind.  So it was with real pleasure that we started to work with flying changes, half-steps, piaffe and passage. I am really looking forward to seeing them all again in the new year.

IN THE MEDIA…Charlotte Wittbom in Hästfocus Magazine

This month I am featured in the Swedish magazine Hästfocus, which gives some training advice.

You can click here to take a look at the article via the publisher’s website.

GIFT VOUCHERS…

We now have gift vouchers available to buy at any value you wish (minimum €10), which can be exchanged for clinics near you, or for riding holidays here at Quinta do Brejo.  We will happily provide a simple voucher, or please do contact us to discuss a suggested package for a clinic, riding lesson, 3 day or 7 day programme to give as a gift.  Contact us at info@charlottewittbom.com to discuss your requirements or ask any questions.

Charlotte Wittbom Gift Voucher

With very best wishes, Charlotte.

*Photo of Charlotte above by Emma Noren.