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Tuesday, January 1, 2008

What better way to start the new year, than to reflect on one of the highlights of 2007. Our week long feature on our visit to Alaska this summer continues. Happy New Year!

Visiting Idyllic Homer, Alaska
With Sue Kolstad and Mary Phelps for DressageDaily

It was finally time to catch up with Mary and JJ who were settled in and having fun in Anchorage with Deana and Spud. Upon my arrival, my friend Cass Crandall, from Homer, picked us up in Anchorage and drove us the four hours around Turn Again Arm and across the peninsula to Homer, my most favorite place in the world (you’ll hear me say that a lot). As we made the 6 hour drive we saw at least 5 moose some with their calves along the road munching on greens. There were also mountain goats in the hills. The view as you come into Homer is another Alaskan vista.

Homer, Alaska is a very special place with a lot of history and attractions. The Spit is a four-mile jut of land out into the water where there is a huge boat harbor, camping spots, restaurants, fishing tours and many shops. Fishing artists and tourists combined make up the major components of Homer. However, horse people seem to emerge from every nook and cranny and I love meeting them and helping them with their horses in every way I can. Dressage is for every horse and rider, and my skills of proving this are put to the test every where I turn. I have so many riders and friends who come back year after year and tell me their success stories from how I helped them the previous year.

My friend Cass started and ran the Kachemak Bay Pony Club for many years. Recently, she started an adult Pony Club and I’m having a blast working with them. They had a testing while I was there and I was proud to have taught them the skills they needed for their rating.

Not only do I teach these wonderful people, but I have the opportunity to share the sights and experiences of their lives with them and this year, Mary and JJ. shared it with me.

In town for the week was Maureen Pach from the United States Pony Club. She was teaching the Adult Camp, an excellent program for training adults horsemanship skills, much the same way Pony Club has worked with Youth.

Additionally the adult camps help to train those to help with children especially in our of the way places like Alaska where visits from "the lower 48" are less frequent.

Mary, JJ., Maureen Pach, the Pony Club Tester, and I all went exploring and sight seeing together, in addition to my daily teaching schedule.

Another one of my most favorite places in the world is Halibut Cove, across the bay from Homer. You can only get there by boat. Marian Beck, a local artist, entrepreneur, business woman and formidable equestrian hosted us at her exquisite restaurant, and then took Mary and I for a trail ride on her Morgan horses, which she raises right there.

Mary handed me her camera and I took this photo of her.

What a treat! Marian lives in Alaska in the summer, but also has a home in Hawaii where she continues to paint and ride horses in the winter.

Marian’s family is from Halibut Cove and she grew up in boats. Her pride and joy is the Danny J and she was happy to give us a private tour of Halibut Cove on the Danny J. Sue Kolstad

The view in the background of Cass Crandall’s dressage arena is Halibut Cove. It took me a while to keep my eye on the horses when I first started teaching with backgrounds like these. My love and dedication to the sport and people is combined with my enjoyment of the beauty they live with every day.

I asked John Crandall, Cass’s husband if he ever takes the view from his porch for granted and he told me not since he left the state and came home. Sue Kolstad