REINS Therapeutic Horsemanship Program hosted a Para-Equestrian RIDE-A-TEST on Sunday, November 8. Para-equestrian dressage enables riders with physical disabilities to compete in the art of horseback riding at the highest level, the Olympics.

Olympic Silver Medalist Lynn Seidemann and Dressage Judge David Schmutz presented and eight riders participated. Among those were three REINS students, including Adria Di Maria, who hopes to compete in the 2012 Para Olympics in London. Advertisement
Riders from around California attended as well.

The clinic was open to both riders and coaches. Everyone who attended enjoyed the chance to network and learn about this exciting form of competition. The clinic was a huge success and organizers anticipate future clinics in 2010.

For information on REINS, and ways to participate or support the program, go to www.reinsprogram.org or call (760) 731-9168.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
The weather has turn a bit cool here..which is a welcome relief. And all the horses love it. You can see them mightily charging around the pasture, manes and tails flying in the wind. It is a exhilarating sight.

The other side of the picture, a bit of rain...which the horses love too...... to merrily roll in! Grooming a horse encrusted with a thick layer of mud is like cleaning a muddy Volkswagen. But it is all part of the wonders of horse ownership.

Havakatz and I had a good ride today . The brisk weather touched his Thoroughbred heart and he was ready to run. We used his energy to practice transitions into the canter. We both had a great workout.

Tomorrow, I take on Pan Pan, and his self indulgent mud bath! What fun..

My second greatest passion... painting. I just completed this series inspired by attending the auction of wild mustangs in Romona. It was a beautiful herd, overflowing with power and spirit. View more of my work at www.adriadimaria.com

Attended another Paralympic Clinic today... with the Paralympic coach , but this time it was about hour and fifteen minutes away. Habakatz was right on and we had one of the best rides ever. However, as with every adventure we had one "interesting " moment. He tripped at the trot ,scarred himself ( the train whistle blowing in back ground didn't help) and went in a full canter. After quickly re-collecting my reins in one hand and grabbing the saddle with the other, we did several very small circle at the canter. I guess watching all those rodeo spins kicked in and I was able to bring him back. Thanks to Sarah, my instructor, for being there for me as groom , trainer, horse transporter and whatever else is needed., and to Kim for allowing me to ride her incredible horse. It was a lovely day....and Harbakatz passed our "dry run" away from home with flying colors. Next stop.... the show circuit!

What a wonderful para-equestrian clinic..... the weather was perfect, the horses behaved and the bougainvillea was in full bloom. Lynn Seidemann and Sarah Newton Cromwell did a great job in planning the day with much information
presented. A big thank you for all their hard work. Everyone felt like they really got the inside "scoop" about paralympic competition, and was excited about forming a group of interested rider to attend some local schooling shows ( we have the horse trailers ready to go)! Watching the different riding levels with an excellent critique by Judge David Schmutz was extremely valuable. Abled bodied riders were shocked at the difficulty of the para-tests.

A fun day was topped by a magnificent demonstration of the level four Championship Paraequestrain Test by Jill riding her beautiful Frisian, Walling.He is the beauty with the long tresses....

Some more fun Hoedown Pictures...thanks to my friend, Angel!

This weekend is the ParaEquestrian Ride- a -TEST with Medal winner Lynn Seidemann and Dressage Judge David Schutz at Reins! I have been working with the Black TB , Havakatz..and feel ready. Some of the instructors at the stable are riding to demonstrate different level Para-tests. The arena has been measured for accuracy , the judge's canopy put in place, flowers purchased.... all is ready.