Last weekend Kamberger Hof hosted a clinic presented by the Trakehner Verband with Mr. Reisch. It was especially for Young Trakehner horses. The clinic was composed of 12 riders, three per session and each session lasted an hour. It was very interesting to watch.

I have also continued to teach, but slowly I am not teaching in English anymore. My German has become strong enough that I can give lesson in German now. However I still teach a few people in English just for fun. When I first started working here last year I was only teaching one lesson a week, now I am teaching several lessons a day. My students are a variety of ages and skill levels. It makes for a good mix. This way I can learn instruction with younger beginners and older people with a little more skill. Teaching is a lot of fun but can also be very frustrating.

It had come to the attention of the owners of the facility that we were in desperate need of a viewing deck in the hall, therefore Wednesday construction began and was complete later that day. It is perfect for owners that want to come and watch their horses being worked. Now they can sit at a nice table and drink a cup of coffee and have a fresh piece of cake. On Wednesday night we toasted the new balcony as well as the purchase of a new horse by a boarder from the second stable.

The last six months we have been pushing Focus quite hard to get to young riders, therefore this week she had a week of R&R that consisted of lunging and “long and deep” riding. It was a well deserved break and she seems to be a lot happier and more relaxed, back to her old self again.

I also had a day, or should I say night of relaxation Friday with my co-worker Mirjam. We all work long and hard days in the stable and every once in a while you need time to let loose. A bunch of us went bowling and to a disco. It is amazing what a 12 hour break can do for you. It is time to absorb culture for me and time to have a moment away from work and horses. These moments do not happen very often, so it is important to enjoy them.

Christmas is fast approaching and plans are starting to evolve. The Christmas party is only two weeks away. This year more is planned then last year. In addition to the quadrille, there will also be a skit preformed by the children and a vaulting demonstration. Yesterday the kids practised their play for the second time. It was very sweet. The play is a Christmas version of Pipi Longstocking including pony riding and driving. It looks very promising and hopefully the kids can keep their nerves under control for show night. Yesterday was the first run through of the Quadrille. There is not much time to get everything in order however it was the same last year and things turned out great and it was a lot of fun.

My last four or five months here promise to be entertaining. Now starts the stress of setting up plans for Focus’ quarantine. Thankfully the owners of the facility have found a solution that hopefully will result in her being able to stay here in the barn and not have to go to Luxemburg for three weeks without me. In the next weeks the inspector will come to approve her stall, field and riding conditions. Then three weeks before her April departure she will enter quarantine. This will be three weeks of stress for me making sure that no one goes to her stall or let their horse touch her. But the good news is the time is shorter then when she came here.

Well for this week that is all asiIt was an unusually quite week. But be sure to check back next week for another written update and more pictures.

Until next Time...

Erika and Focus