A very happy, relieved group of "S" candidates at the completion of the exam at the ESDCTA CDI in Allentown, NJ, May 15,16!"

Front row (left to right): Sandy, Cindy Canace, Debbie Rodriquez, Adrienne Pot, examiner Marianne Ludwig
Back row (left to right): examiner Lilo Fore, Kristi Wysocki, Christel Carlson, Dave Schmutz, Peggy Klump, Sue Curry, Debbie Savage

Sandy and Plato started their competition season with 2 wins in the Grand Prix at Poplar Place, May 15 th and 16 th, the 2 nd day with almost no mistakes and the outstanding score of 67.021%.  Also successful was Dr. Nancy Ferebee’s German riding pony stallion, Chicco B.  Sandy showed the bay stallion at 2 nd level earning scores from 63% to 68% with placings of 1 st, 3 rd, and 4 th.  In the process they earned their first qualifying score for this year’s regional championship in Conyers in October.  Check back soon for pictures from this outstanding weekend.

Danielle Federa’s talented Dutch gelding, Plato Carlos, debuted at the Grand Prix on Sat, November 21 st at Poplar Place in Hamilton, Ga.  Sandy and Plato won their first GP with a score of 63.6%!  The test was marred only slightly by some small miscommunication at the start of the canter work which lead to a wrong strike-off out of the passage and some difficulty finding the right count for the two-tempi’s.  Highlights were the first piaffe/passage tour, the trot half-passes, the canter pirouettes and the one tempi’s.  Plato continues to get stronger and more confident in his work all the time now!

Sandy Osborn and Plato Carlos (owned by Danielle Federa of South Hadley, Ma.) win the Region 3 Championship at Intermediare II in Wellington, Fl. on Oct. 24 th,’09.  They won both the open Intermediare II, judged by Lois Yukins and Gary Rockwell on Oct. 23 rd, as well as winning the championship class on Oct. 24 th, judged by Gary Rockwell and Elizabeth Lewis.  In both cases all 3 judges had the pair first by a clear margin.  Their championship score was 66.05%.     

Sandy also just received the exciting news that the year end USDF awards standings have been determined and with only 3 shows and 5 tests ridden at the Intermediare II level this year, Plato is ranked 4 th in the country for the level with a median score of 67%!!!

Sandy and Plato also won the Open Intermediare II class, sponsored by Sho Clothes of Wellington, Fl the day before winning the Region 3 championship. Many thanks to Sho Clothes for their generous sponsorship!!!

Dr. Nancy Ferebee's exquisitely beautiful German Riding Pony stallion, Chicco B, winning his first time out at 2nd level, test 1 with an outstanding score of 69.7% at the Atlanta Fall Dressage Classic on Oct. 11,'09. To see more of Chicco, please go to the Photo Gallery.

On Oct. 3rd, After the Fox Farm hosted their first Oktoberfeest. Roel Theunissen conducted a symposium which took the 100+ auditors through the levels of dressage from training level to the Grand Prix. As part of the day, trainer Adam Lastowka not only showed his skill as a rider, but also added to the day with long-lining demonstrations as well, an area of training at which he excels! Plato Carlos and Sandy Osborn ended the day with a demonstration of all the Grand Prix exercises, including the zigzag, two tempi changes, one tempi changes, and of course the piaffe/passage work.

Plato continues to impress everyone with his technique for these difficult exercises!

On October 10th and 11th, After the Fox was again successful at the Atlanta Fall Dressage Classic at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers.

Sandy and Dr. Nancy Ferebee's German Riding Pony stallion, Chicco B won both their 2nd level test 1 classes, the second day with an outstanding score of 69.7%. Check back soon for pictures of this exquisitely beautiful pony stallion! Congratulations to Alison Faso on Deborah Wilhelm's mare, Valkyrie, for all her wins at 1st level, all scores over 70%!

Congratulations to Erika Wilhelm on her wins at 1st level on her own Samorano, a Dutch gelding by Gribaldi.

On August 1 st and 2 nd, at the Good Horseman Foundation’s Summer Dressage Show, After the Fox Farm boasted an outstanding weekend.  On Danielle Federa’s Dutch gelding, Plato Carlos, Sandy Osborn won the Intermediaire II classes both days with scores of 68.158% and 68.421% highlighted by scores of 8’s on Plato’s piaffes both days!  Adam Lastowka on the Friedman’s beautiful Dutch stallion Oleander, by Jazz, showed their international caliber Grand Prix with an unbelievable, but well deserved 72.9%!!!  WOW!!!  Adam also earned a 70% and the winning ride on Sunday at 4 th level test 1 on Rago Des Fontaines, owned in partnership by Roel, Adam, and Katrin Sheehan.  (Look for  him in the future as he moves into the FEI levels!)   Adam’s student, Vlada Lvova , achieved the high score of the whole show with a 76% on her very handsome dark brown gelding, Stellar Hit (Sandro Hit x Donnerhall) at training level test 4.  She also earned a 74% at 1 st level test 4!  Congratulations also to Adam’s student, Jean Fowler on Eve for her winning score of 66% at 1 st level.

On June 28th '09, in his second show at Intermediaire II, Plato executed another mistake-free ride and scored a 66% with an 8 for his piaffe and the comment "Well on his way to Grand Prix!" (Thanks to Jessica Bryant Souther for the beautiful picture!)

See the Photo Gallery for more pictures of Plato’s winning ride.

On May 29th-31st '09, Sandy began the training process for upgrading her judges' license from "R" to "S" by sitting with the international judges at the CDI-W in Raleigh, N.C.  She is pictured here working closely with "O" judge, Axel Steiner of the U.S. during the Grand Prix Freestyle on Sat. night.  She also worked with Cara Whitham, "O" judge from Canada and Charlotte Bredahl, "C" judge from California.

April 11, 12 '09: At the Greater Atlanta Southern Dressage Show sponsored by the GDCTA,  Sandy and Adam were once again outstanding representatives of the training system practiced daily at After The Fox Farm.  Sandy and Plato, owned by Danielle Federa of South Hadley, Mass, won their first time out at the Intermediaire II level with a mistake free ride and a  score of 67.1%.  This level is the first time the horse must show piaffe/passage and one tempi changes within the test.  Plato is very green at the level but shows an exceptional talent in all areas and continues to demonstrate an outstanding work ethic!

A big THANK YOU to Roel for his coaching at the shows and his guidance throughout the training process!

Adam and Charisma once again won their PSG test with no mistakes and a 68% on Sunday.  The beautiful dark bay mare put in a relaxed, confident test with total concentration on her rider and the job at hand.  Not only did they win the class, but were also the FEI Lisa Seger Equine Insurance Agency FEI High Score Award winners for the weekend!

On March 7,8 '09, Sandy and Plato started their show ring career together with two superb rides at the Intermediaire I level.  While Plato is new at the level, he lived up to everyone's expectations by earning the FEI high scores for the weekend with 71.5% and 68.9% from two different judges!

Also successful that weekend was Adam Lastowka on the elegant bay mare, Charisma, owned by the partnership of Adam, Roel and MistoverLLC of Pawling, NY.  The pair won both PSG classes with scores of 66.5% and 68.5%, scoring 8's on gaits!