Redleaf Mini-Clinic
20th January 2010
Three Copabella residents arrived at Redleaf today for an intensive submersion, and all came home much the better for it. Louise Sonnino's KS Bonne Feleis got off relatively lightly, managing to have a quiet first session with Lesley while Chris's schedule was running overtime with another client.
Then it was Rhodes's turn. Owned by Susan Greenwood, Rollei is full brother to Cyrano and a very talented if somewhat lazy Medium level dressage horse. We thought it would be entertaining at the very least to watch Chris school him first, and we weren't wrong. Laziness was definitely not on Chris's agenda, and after a few serious conversations about going forward and engaging, Rollei was suddenly seeing the light.
Then it was time for Gabrielle Biland's young mare Bella to meet Chris. Bella was bred by the Bilands and imported from New Zealand in 2009 as a rising-5-year-old who had not had the opportunity to do too much. In the intervening period, Bella has come along quickly at Copabella, and it was time today to see what she could do.
Turns out she can do A LOT. Not only was she a total gun in the showjumping arena, but we then repaired to the cross-country paddock and she took all that in her stride as well. Chris was particularly impressed by her technique and carefulness, and Gabrielle thoroughly enjoyed being the jockey for the cross-country session.
Photo: Bella goes cross-country. There are more photos of Bella, as well as Rhodes and the 2009 babies in the Eventing, Flatwork, People and Babies files in the Gallery.
