Wild West

Four weeks ago I began leaving the save haven of our stables and started riding through the prairie. ;)



Today I ventured the first time to the Käfertaler Wald, a huge forest North of Mannheim. I love it, that´s riding!

July: 4 weekends - 4 tournaments

Beside my job the July was also a heavy months for tournaments for us.

We participated in Heddesheim, Dossenheim, Großsachsen and Hemsbach, all in the Rhine-Neckar-Area around Mannheim. Partly we had 3 horses with us (Andor, Ray and Amurat), so my job as a "tournament wally" was really stressfull.

But it was also very rewarding month. Andor, our young haflinger, scored 2 first, 1 second and 2 third places, a great achievement in only 1 month.

Below you see Andor during his performance in Dossenheim with Astrid on top...



...and smiling afterwards with his award.



In Hemsbach Andor got the special James Bond number and scored 3rd.



Taking a shower after coming back home to the stable.

Eppelheim Tournament

We went to Eppelheim for a dressage tournament this weekend. Ray was a bit nervous on Friday evening due to some water sprinkling on the neighbouring court...



..., so we took Andor today. He stayed cool and again was well placed in his second tournament. This time a 5th place, very good.

Horse & Run

This weekend was full of sportive events. Saturday Astrid had a dressage tournament in Michelstadt and because Ray was ill we put Andor in the trailer and he had to run his first tournament.

What to say, Astrid and Andor did a great job and became second. It couldn´t have been better.



Sunday I went to Frankfurt for the skyrun on top of the Messeturm. 61 storeys, 1344 stairs in 8:29 min. I was satisfied, 52 seconds faster than in 2007. I´m looking forward to more stair running.

Horses & Horses

Friday was public holiday in Germany. Nontheless it was very early (for my taste) when we drove to the new stables in Straßenheim to load Ray for a dressage tournament in Heidelberg.



No money this time - ;) - but still we were very satisfied with the overall performance.



After the tournament we went directly back to Straßenheim and took the chance to get some new photos of Andor. He is learning and evolving much to our joy.



And he seems to like the new surroundings in the stable with many other Haflinger comrades and lots of fresh hay and straw.



The other 3 girls that have moved with us to the new stables were also riding at the same time so we assembled the parade for a photo.

The almond trees are in full blossom

Finally the winter is gone. 25 degrees Celsius allow garden work. And also our big almond tree is in full blossom and looks gorgeous.







On Monday our horses moved to a new stable in Straßenheim near Mannheim. Here you see Andor and Ray shortly before the move.

November

The November is almost over and I haven´t run very much so far due to lot of work and other activities. We have been to concerts of Udo Lindenberg and Die Toten Hosen. Moreover was my sister visiting with Mikael Babajanyan who was singing the Marcello in the La Boheme opera.



Last weekend the the first (and seldom) snow was falling in Mannheim, so I show you one more garden photo for this year, our last wine grapes I harvested 8 days ago.



My haflinger Andor is quickly becoming familiar with his new surrounding. The neighbouring mares are already fallen in love with him. On Sunday I could go on my first small trip outside the riding stables with Andor, yet still on led by Astrid.



The December is already planned with lots of Christmas and birthday parties. I will be in Mecklenburg around Christmas eve before leaving for a weeklong ski trip to France with Astrid and her home ski club.

Andor

We just came back from a weekend in Hesse and bought a new horse, a 3 year old Haflinger named Andor.



It is a very cool character, taking everyting as it comes. Now it´s mostly up to Astrid to teach him. :)