Since the middle of March the outdoor arena went free from ice so I could finally start the ordinary work with Dinio again. Both him and I had longed for this. At the beginning he had so much energy stored up so the work was concentrated on draining it. But from the beginning of this week we have had some wonderful sessions. Dinio is with me and I can really start to work with presence and feeling and small aids. Yes, we have had some wow sessions.

Yesterday evening I gave Dinio a resting day. I thought he needed that. But at 9 o'clock in the evening Tinna called me from the stable and Dinio didn't feel well. The symptoms showed that probably the hay was stuck in his throat and I drove up immediately to the stable while I was calling the emergency vet. When I arrived Dinio felt well again. I called the vet once again and she recommended me to feed him with a slow feeding hay-net and to water the hay. He had probably been eaten to fast. Wonder if this has to do with him having a resting day? Hmmmmm.

His colic attacks has, however, stopped. This since I started to serve him his concentrated feeding in a lot of water. When feeding now he gets about 16 liters of water in his concentrated feeding.

Otherwise everything is wonderful. The spring i here with warm weather, sunshine and Dinio is very happy indeed.

A while ago I started to try to found out more about the stallions and mares in Dinio's pedigree. Slowly my knowledge is growing. This is what I have found so far:

Jenson - By Agente out of Empalar (by Leopardo). Jenson is another prepotent Yeguada Militar bred stallion. He has been influencial in Spain producing the noted stallion Celesto and the infamous mare Salina as well as in the Americas with the stallion Ofendido VII who has produced numerous champion offspring throughout the United States and was himself  awarded 2001 AHSA Andalusian/Lusitano Sire of the Year.

Jenson is Dinio's mother's grand father.

Agente - by Maluso out of Maltesa II (by Estapeno). Agente was pivotal in the evolution of change in the Spanish horse particularly with regard to movement.. Agente produced offspring of a more 'elastic' type. The Spanish Military, aware of the stallion's qualities, bred (among others) Leviton, condisered to be one of the most influencial stallions of the century. Agente was the most famos son of Maluso and remains the prototype for the Military Stud breeding program where his portrait in tiles is presented on the left pillar at the entry to the Military Stud Farm.

Agente is Dinio's mother's great grand father and is also represented in Dinio's fathers line.

Below is his complete Pedigree. When I know more I will add it here. If there is anyone who know more, please notify me.

In the beginning of February I started our training excercises again. Our outdoor arena went rideable again due to the snow. Dinio started off very well and was very happy and eager to work again. He and I had several wow sessions and I am now confident in my believe that we will attend our first competition during this spring.

In February Dinio got his teeth overlooked again. This time by a specialized vet of teeth and unfortunately he found some problems in his mouth. I am now riding on a straight bridle and shall continue so for a while. He will come back in six months to check his teeth again.  

During our rides in the nature we are joined by Tindra and Lizzie. Dinio takes the lead and Tindra follows. He is a real gentleman, very proudly walking and showing her that he is not afraid of anything, making her completely calm and relaxed. Lizzie is of course very happy for this. Tindra is a 7 year old mare and not so experienced yet, but she is learning. 

March is, however, a different month, unfortunately our outdoor arena now has turned in to a ice track, so for now I have to ride in the nature again. Very sad for this but "what to do". Mother nature decides and you just have to adjust to it. Adding a picture from March 2011.  

This weekend 2 new horses will arrive to the stable. There names are Tindra and Silvestro and belongs to two of my friends, both dressage riders. Lizzie, owner of Tindra and Margareta, owner of Silvestro. It will be very funny and inspireing to have them around.

The weather is still quit warm for the season, only a few minus degrees and a little bit of snow. Now it is possible to ride on the outdoor arena and I varie the work between the arena and the nature. Dinio prefers our walks in the nature. A resting period is unneccesary, according to Dinio. He demands his work so I will, from now, start to increase it.

This Tuesday my ferrier attended his hoofs and everything was just fine, they are rellay looking good now.

Not so much to write about now. We are taking the days, one by one, and we are longing for the spring and the continuing training for Kristian.

Not my favourite time of the year but I must cope. Dinio and I are now in a resting period. His "work" now contains of walks in the nature. Even though the ground is hard and makes it impossible to trot and canter you can still work the horse in the walk. We are training on long strides, short strides, the bending, walk pirouettes etc. We also do some climbing. Dinio prefers to trot or canter when going uphill but applies nicely to my demand on walking. Good for his back development!

At the end of January it's ferrier time and in Februry it's dentist time for Dinio and vaccination of Botulism. I also plan to have a saddle check in February and a chiropractor check up before our real work starts again in March.

Our plan for the spring is to start the training again for Kristian at the end of March and also do some competitions before summer. I hope everything will work according to this.

Adding a picture from November when training at home.

We had a wonderful Christmas, Dinio feasted on a lot of carrots and I celebrated the holiday together with my family. A few days of vacation made it also possible for me to get a very needed rest. The day before Christmas Dinio and I took a long ride around the Täljö area, today joined by the geldings Tott and Rulle. Dinio took the lead at once and kept it - he was very happy indeed and the two other horses had problems to keep up. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dinio rested and on the following Monday I gave him an easy session at the outdoor arena. We still have warm weather so the surface is just perfect. He felt just wonderful.

On Tuesday a very sad event took place - my darling cat Tracy was diagnoced with stomach cancer so I had to put her to sleep. She was the most wonderful cat ever and I miss her very much. Later on during the evening Dinio had a cholic attack but was soon over. During his attacks I am massaging him and frequently walks him. Hmmmmm. Some days everything goes wrong.

On Wednesday evening Dinio performed perfectly during our dressage session. He was with me constantly and all the issues we have had problems with where just gone.

Overall Dinio feels much stronger now and is also very elastic. It is a pure joy to ride him. When he feels like this I think nothing is impossible and my expectations for 2012 increases.

Today it is only two days left of 2011 - we will be spending them with long walks in the nature. It will be a bit colder now and I also heard that the snow will arrive.

Adding a picture of my darling Tracy and a new picture of Dinio from yesterday evening.

Happy New Year Everybody!!!

December 11th and Dinio has been with me for 1 year. I am therefor taking the opportunity to share some of my experiences of importing a horse and the following issues that have appeared during our first year together.

Dinio came from Malaga, south of Spain, so the climate change for him was huge. Therefor thick rugs where needed. Here he is also spending several hours per day in an outdoor paddock. Huge change! 

In January Dinio got his first cholic and they became quit frequent. The first tip from Helen in Spain was to serve him warm water. And now, one year later, I still have to serve him warm water, about 40 degrees C, otherwise he doesn't drink enough. 

In March and April came the next surprice, the Swedish mosquitos, which caused a major allergic reaction. Bought a full covering mosquito rug. Poor Dinio!!

Increased hoof care also needed. New soil to walk on, different climate, different food, all this affects the horse. No grass during the first year, just some few minutes of grazing per day!!

Otherwise, everything has worked perfectly. But it takes at least one year for the horse to adapt. Anaway it did so for Dinio. Now he has finally also got a bit of winter fur, not long hair, but quit thick. He is enjoying life very much.

From now and to the end of January 2012, Dinio shall get a long resting period, only walks in the nature. I think he will enjoy that.

I am of course looking forward to 2012 and the coming competitions and the continueing training for Kristian von Krusenstierna.

Merry Christmans and A Happy New Year!!

A bit chilly weather and the surface on the outdoor arena gets hard. Anyway some work at the walk is possible and training on some walk movements as pirouettes, shoulder in and half passes. December 6 my ferrier arrived to take care of Dinios hoofs. Unfortunately the snow grips has made Dinios hoof soure, cause of absent of snow. Now dirt is filling his hoofs and the constant movement from the snow grips - not god at all. We decided anyway to put them backon again. The snow must be here anyday. The rest of week 49 was spent on walk work and some riding in the nature.

Week 50 - no snow yet, warm weather and a new appointment with the ferrier. Dinio has started to limp a bit if he has his front hoofs full with dirt or shavings. So the snow grips went off and a sole was put on instead. Dinio liked them very much indeed. Stopped limping immediately. This explains a bit why he has been a bit difficult to take in from the paddock. Probably he had felt his soure hoofs in the down hill, from the paddock to the stable. This week the outdoor arena has been fully functional so we have walked and trotted a lot. Today the plan was to ride in the forrest but it rained and snowed to much. So I hope the weather is better tomorrow.