Dressage Day by Day

So the remaining days of the trip in Holland were amazing! We looked at a total of 40 horses, and that was after I nixed all three year olds after one ran off with me in a round pen. Thank God Ryan was on the end of the lunge line as  I spun around like a horse/human kite! The feeling of the "click" definitely occurred for me. I rode a beautiful Dreamboy gelding with the most amazing canter and I just smiled (and bounced, there was a lot of bouncing during this trip). On the ground, he was a love bug. For a young horse, he was polite and loved being scratched and loved on.  He was the first horse that I had under contract and then did not pass the x-ray review. It was a bit shocking, really. We actually had three vets give opinions because he was far and away the favorite. The vets were sort of all over the place, but ultimately, he had three separate concerns on the x-rays, so taken together, it just didn't feel like the smartest move.  Below is the Dreamboy -- yes, I...

So day two, Wednesday started with breakfast at the hotel (delicious croissant, fresh chopped fruit, eggs and coffee). We then traveled with the agent we are working with and set off to the barn first. Barn 1: We arrived to see a horse That arrived at this barn only five days previously. It was a 6 year old bay gelding. He had a very attractive type. We watched him be ridden and then it was my time to try him. He has suspension in his gaits, which makes them feel bigger than anything I am used to riding. He had a very solid feel in the hand and was very honest to ride. Despite bouncing away on him, he was excellent. Ryan then rode and got him to do a green, clean change each direction. He played with seeing what he would do if compressed in baby collection, and his hind end stayed very nice and active. Great first horse. Horse 2 was a beautiful three year old chestnut only two months under saddle. I loved his look - definitely my type. He had ridden in the indoor first, then out...