Joan travelled to Germany to participate in and become certified in the International Trainer B program.
Westfalische Reit- und Fahrschule - Germany
Feeding & cleaning stalls was the first order of the day.
All hands participated at this time, taking care of the 60+ horses! Next came a quick breakfast, checking emails, and time to check the agenda for the day.
8:00 a.m. found us preparing our first horse for the morning riding lesson (be it either in jumping or dressage). Followed by (you pick the option - we did it all): theory, assessing other riders, teaching (both jumping and dressage), riding cross country, writing lesson plans, planning demo lessons, lunging both horse and rider, Balimo sessions, homework (yes there were papers to be written), and when you weren't busy - you needed to be assisting or watching your collegues! Oh - bed? that didn't come until late at night (because you also had to prepare for your written, oral, riding and teaching exams!
A view of the stables, with lunging arena behind.
Balimo classes were held in the evenings - with
Linda Christie leading our sessions
Joan assists Catherine & Marta with some exercises on the Balimo chair
Dr. Gerd Heuschmann delighted us with his entertaining
(3 hour) theory lecture on Horse Anatomy - super time!
We attended the Stallion Parade in Warendorf
(pictured is part of the Germany Riding Academy)
We celebrated our successes at the American Roadhouse, where copious amounts of beer were consumed!
The Norweigan gals lived up to their reputation!
Another outing found Joan at the very exciting Bundeschampionate (Young Horse show) held yearly at the D.O.K.R. (the German Olympic Training Centre)
Of course, we are dressed up for exam day AND we have passed! yippee - release those smiles!
(l to r - Janniche - bent over Joan, Marta and Gunda (our favourite secretary)
Joan poses with Linda Christie (super organizer & friend) and of course my wonderful horse/teacher Damjan
Newly crowned International Trainers (B & C)
(l to r) Linda Christie (organizer), Andreas Kraus (dressage instructor), Marta, Janniche, Eva, Alexandra, Catherine (our 3 FN examiners are left and right of Joan)
Dearly missed from our picture is Chief Instructor & director of the school - Herr Martin Plewa.
Photo by Gunda