Fundraiser

I am also lucky because I have such a team of supporters!

Judi Rosenfeld, has graciously offered to host a fundraiser to support my efforts in going to FL. As everyone knows, it is a huge expense to go. She is hosting a cocktail party this Saturday at the Comus Inn, in MD to help raise funds and send me on my way.

Check back soon for photos and news about the fundraiser!

Thanks to Canter Crunchies and Fernwood Designs/Art Attack for attending the event.

Back in Maryland, for now

I happened to go to Florida during the really really cold week here in MD. I heard it has been the 5th coldest January since… I don’t know, a LONG time ago. I realized that no one would have ANY sympathy for me. Whenever I got to a warm place in the winter, it is never really warm. It was so cloudy and cold, and the evening events were held outside… I was freezing!! Well, cold is relative, and when you are in FL it is supposed to be warm. I didn’t bring my long johns and hat and gloves. Hilary, my assistant trainer, and Lauren, my training apprentice/groom, were great to keep things running in those cold conditions while I was gone.

So luckily it warmed up for me the last day I was there, so I got to enjoy a little sunshine… until I stopped off in Atlanta on my way home. And then they had the coldest day they have had in years… just my luck. Needless to say I came back with a nice cold!

Finalizing plans

I accomplished a lot when I was in FL for the weekend.

Thanks to Andreas again, he helped me find a stall at Nancy Later’s farm in Loxahatchee, and he helped me find a room owned by someone he knows very well. The house is along one of the road leading to White Fences, and I hear is along the street where Lars Peterson, Michael Barisone, Courtney King and others are stabled.

The stable where Degas will be is very close to Chris Hickey. So I will be able to trailer over to Chris’s stable, or he will be able to stop by and coach me there. I feel very lucky to have this organized!

Florida: Pre-trip

January 15 weekend:
To organize the my Florida trip, I took the opportunity to take Andreas Stano, executive director of DressageClinic.com, up on his invitation to attend his Professional Riders Symposium, featuring Hubertus Schmidt, Stephan Peters, Betsy Steiner, and many other well known riders.

I'm in Florida attending the symposium and finalize arrangements to go to FL from mid February to the end of March. Andreas and the Wellington Classic dressage did a premier job of organizing this event. We are all being treated like VIPs. Andreas even invited me to watch private lessons with Hubertus the day before the event. It was a fantastic opportunity to see Hubertus teaching and training. I had never seen this before, however when in Germany I had the opportunity to watch him compete many times, and was always impressed with his skill in the ring.

Degas

Ok, so back to my upcoming adventures in Florida.

I decided that the next step in my dressage goals should be taking Degas to do a few shows on the Florida circuit, including one CDI.

I was so fortunate to meet Degas, owned by Marianne Campano, last April. While Marianne and her husband Clay are stationed in Seoul, they have entrusted Degas to me. So I have the opportunity to compete him until April of 2010. He had such a good season this year, ending up Reserve Region 1 PSG Champion, and ending up overall 20th in the country in the Intermediare Freestyle, that I think we can make a great showing in Florida and get some great exposure.

Gazette article

Poolesville resident has got a ticket to ride
The Gazette newspaper, January 21, 2009

by Melissa Chadwick

Barbara Strawson, a Poolesville native and resident, will compete in Florida's elite dressage circuit in February and March.

Strawson will compete at the international levels of dressage against riders from North America and Europe. Her two-month trip will cost an estimated $20,000, according to a statement from Strawson.

Strawson is chairwoman of the Dancing Horse Challenge at the Potomac Valley Dressage Association's Ride for Life Dressage Show to benefit breast cancer research at the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center.

A fundraiser to raise money to help Strawson pay for her trip to Florida is scheduled for 5 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Comus Inn, 23900 Old Hundred Road, Dickerson. Tickets are $75, which includes cocktail party with cash bar. For more information, contact Strawson at 240-818-1350 or Info@barbarastrawson.com.

A blog with updated news and photos from her Florida trip will be posted at www.barbarastawson.com.

Welcome to my blog

I thought (with the help and guidance from my computer savvy friends) that now is a perfect time to start my blog. Especially since I am beginning a new adventure on the path to representing the USA… I’m goin’ to FLORIDA for the rest of winter!

While many of you know that I have lofty goals and dreams, I want to remind everyone that if you don’t put it out there, it is never going to happen. Having said that, I want to remind everyone, that after ‘putting it out there’, it is important to take a realistic look at your goals. For me, that is to remember that no matter where I am going it is always important to enjoy the day to day journey and each small accomplishment along the way.

My personal satisfaction is to bring out the best in myself, my horses, and those I am teaching each day with harmony and balance.