Meet Sandra's New Equine Partner...Nico the Friesian!

Photo of Nico taken by his owner Susan McClafferty of Mareish Media. Click here to see more photos on Instagram.

I am BEYOND excited to announce a new horse in my life. Meet Cobus Fan De Hill, also known as ‘Nico’. He is a seven year old, 17 hand Friesian gelding sired by Alwin 469 x Doaitsen 420. My talented, creative friend Susan McCLafferty of Mareish Media purchased him to sponsor my ongoing creative ventures. She is an incredible horsewoman and I am honored that she helped me find the horse of my dreams.

Nico was imported when he was four years old from the Netherlands and has been trained in dressage by Christine Johnston at Iron Horse Farm. She did a fabulous job with him, starting him slow and building a solid foundation. He has shown through Second Level dressage and I look forward to bringing him up through the levels. Can you tell I am in love already?

Please follow Nico the Friesian on Instagram! Click here!

Nico is a very special horse, he has a kind, soulful eye and he is incredibly smart and aware of his surroundings. He is a perfect gentleman and he wants to do a good job. He is sensitive but also calm in nature. I am so excited for our future together and I am hoping that we will create some unique performances to inspire others!

After losing my heart horse Douwe over three years ago I wasn’t sure that I would want another Friesian. I LOVE my boy Rovandio but he is 22 years old this year and starting to slow down in his later years. The stars have aligned and I feel that Nico was brought into my life at just the right time and now I have the knowledge to begin again on a new journey. Please follow Nico on Instagram to stay updated on our journey together.

The Best Holiday Gift ever! Owner Susan Mcclafferty hands off Nico the Friesian to trainer Sandra Beaulieu. Click here to Follow Nico on Instagram.

Creative Centerlines for your Dressage Musical Freestyle

Ready to make a great first impression for your musical freestyle? Use your entrance to help tell a story, just like the opening of a movie or the beginning of song, you are setting the mood and telling the judge what to expect from your freestyle. There are many ways you can capture the attention of your judge and the audience, even at the lower levels.

Douwe and Sandra enter for their First Level Musical Freestyle. Photo taken by Spotted Vision Photography.

Use Lyrics

Lyrics have grown in popularity for musical freestyles. They are allowed but you need to make sure that you choose songs that enhance your routine rather than take away from the overall flow.

Using fun openers to a song or a catchy jingle can set the tone for your entire freestyle and put a smile on everyone’s face. Recently, I designed a freestyle where we used the opening of “I Feel Good” with James Brown. It is iconic and recognizable to every person that might be in that audience, especially to the judge. The rest of the freestyle included songs from the same genre and rider Linda Brock received a lot of compliments.

For my client Carolena we used the song “Lollipop” for her entrance. She did her halt, salute perfectly to the “pop” sound that everyone would recognize. She is an adorable young rider (definitely has the cute factor with her small horse!) performing a Training Level freestyle. Her freestyle followed the same genre with songs like “Sandman” and “ Tweedle Dee”.

Think of lines from a popular movie like “Bond...James Bond” or the prologue from “Beauty and the Beast”. Broadway musicals also have plenty of one liners that can work for an entrance such as “He’s here the Phantom of the Opera!”.

The beauty of using lyrics for a musical freestyle is that the music doesn’t necessarily have to match the beats of your horse’s stride. It would be great if it did but overall you are using the entrance to make an impression and set the stage, so if the beats aren’t perfect but the lyrics are I say go ahead and try it!

Sandra and Rovandio showing a Second Level Freestyle. Photo credit Spotted Vision Photography.

Use Transitions

Something that I rarely see are transitions such as walk to trot, trot to canter, or walk to canter. At the lower levels there are limited options for centerlines, if you can use entrance music that has a clear transition that can help enhance your artistic scores and demonstrate technical skill the judge.

I rode a Third Level freestyle with my horse Rovandio many years ago and our violin music started slow and then added a distinct trot beat. I cued the music, began at the walk and then transitioned to the trot when the music changed.

Only try this if your horse is really consistent in upward transitions! If they tend to brace or come above the bit I wouldn’t risk it, just stay in your preferred gait.

Add a Lengthening/Extension

Impress the judge with a dramatic extended trot down the centerline! If your horse has a reliable and high-quality medium/extended trot this can be a really good option. Also using medium/extended canter can really ‘WoW’ the judges and set the stage for a powerful ride.

This entrance works well when you have are going all the way down the centerline to your first halt. Some riders prefer to halt around L or G to set up for their first movement closer to the judge.

Sandra used Outlander music for her Friesian gelding Douwe. Photo credit Spotted Vision Photography.

Add Sound Bites

You can add a little more sparkly and pizzazz with your opening salute by accenting with additional sound bites. This could sound like a gong, a magical chime, a drumroll, or perhaps the sound of people clapping. You can get creative and add sounds that will go along with your entrance music and the overall theme of the freestyle. Having a definite sound or accent for your salute elevates your freestyle and shows that you pay attention to detail.

You can search for sound bites on websites like www.audiojungle.net where you can purchase short music clips and search by instrument and genre. Use keywords like “Intro” to search through hundreds of short clips that people use for music videos, movies, and promo videos. They are generally short and already fade in/out so they would be very easy to incorporate in the editing process.

Additional Ideas

• I personally like the sound of an orchestra warming up if you are using classical music

• Sound clip from a band playing live…sometimes they will address the audience to get everyone fired up

• Drumroll that you hear at the start of a movie

• Record your own voice over your entrance movie to create something unique and special

• Sound clip from a motivational speech

Have Fun!

No matter what you decide, I hope you have fun in the process! Creating a musical freestyle is a rewarding process that takes patience, determination, and creativity. Let me know in the comments below what you used for your musical freestyle entrance I would love to know. You can also email me with questions/comments to beginthedance@gmail.com.

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Download My Free Resources

Stay organized with my Musical Freestyle Checklist and begin sketching choreography with my Blank Arena Diagram Page.

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Learn how to create a musical freestyle from start to finish or choose an e-Book with choreography ideas just for your level.
Click here to view all Freestyle Books & e-Books.

The Ultimate Guide to Riding, Training, and Competing to Music - Signed by Author

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Related Articles

Add some Sparkle! DIY Glitter for your Horse's Hooves, Mane & Tail!

When I perform with my horse the first thing that everyone notices is all the GLITTER! I particularly love to make Douwe's or Rovandio's hooves gold, silver, or copper, whatever matches our costume. Everyone asks how I get the glitter to stay on so here is my SUPER EASY secret to getting your own "cheap" version of Twinkle Toes!

Douwe's silver hooves at the 2014 Baroque Horse Show where we performed. Photo taken by Karen Lendvay.

What You Need:

• Hoof Polish: I prefer black because it makes the hooves really stand out, but clear will work fine as well.

• GLITTER: You can get glitter in many colors at any craft store, JoAnn Fabric, ACMoore, Hobby Lobby, and Walmart. You can just get the regular craft glitter. The fine glitter works really well for the mane and coat but I like to use the larger glitter for hooves.

• Hairspray: Can of Super Hold hairspray- you can buy this at WalMart, Walgreens, etc...

• Latex Gloves: If you don't want to get the hoof polish on your hands, wear gloves!

• Block of Wood/Broom/Canvas: Something to help keep the area clear of shavings and to protect the floor from being stained by hoof polish.

How to Apply Glitter to the Hooves:

1.  Clean the hoof and leg- just brushing it off will do! Don’t wash the hoof - keep it dry!

2. Sweep the area and/or place the hoof on a piece of wood/cloth if you would like to keep shavings/dirt away from the drying polish.

3. Apply the hoof polish to one hoof at a time.

4. Sprinkle on the glitter immediately after you apply the hoof polish while it is still wet.

5. Wait until the polish dries, it doesn't take very long, maybe 10 minutes and you are ready to ride!

Stand on a flat, clean surface for best results. put something underneath the hoof if you are not allowed to get polish on the floor.

apply the glitter when the hoof polish is still wet.

How to Apply Glitter to the Mane/Tail/Coat:

1.  Groom your horse first! Do Not use Show Sheen or the glitter will not stick.

2. Have someone hold your horse while you spray, some horses don't like the sound of the hairspray, be careful!

3. Spray and Sprinkle - With the glitter in one hand and the hairspray in the other, spray a section of the horse and then sprinkle on the glitter.

4. Repeat! I usually spray, sprinkle, and then spray again over the glitter to get it to stay.

5. Re-apply as Needed -The horse may shake his head after you are done, that is why we put on a lot of glitter! We usually keep in mind that half of it will fall off once the horse shakes or the skirts rub it off.

Having way too much fun at the Equine Affaire! Elisha Harvey and Hannah French were my assistants/grooms for the event and they made a great glitter team! Here you can see how much glitter they put in Douwe's mane!

Elisha Harvey is one of Douwe's glitter grooms! Here she is adding more hairspray to his tail to help hold the glitter in....you can also see that she put glitter on his feathers!

And you are done!

I would love to see photos of your horse all sparkly! You can email them to me at beginthedance@gmail.com or tag me on Facebook or Instagram. Have fun!

Here you can see Douwe all glittered during a performance at the Equine Affaire.

Learn More about Fantasy Photo Shoots with your Horse

Fantasy Photo Shoot with Your Horse - Costumes

$7.00

Fantasy Photo Shoots with Your Horse - Hair & Makeup

$7.00

Fantasy Photo Shoots with your Horse - Horse Tack

$7.00

Video of Sandra Beaulieu and her Horses wins at the Equus Film Festival

"Horses give me the opportunity
to develop my trust in life
and tap into the creative
powers of my soul."
                               - Sandra Beaulieu

I hope you enjoy this creative video put together by my talented friend Ashley Mancuso of Ash Equine Productions. Everything in my life is intertwined, the dressage, liberty training, performing, and Art on Horseback. Each avenue offers a unique way for me to connect with my horses and explore my creativity. I hope that my journey can inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter how different they might seem.

This video won the Art - Mini category at the Equus Film Festival in 2018!

Follow Ash Equine Productions on Facebook

Watch Sandra and Douwe perform Amazing Trick & Liberty Moves in the Friesian Breed Demo at Equine Affaire 2017

Sounds of thunder hit the ground,
feathers flying all around,
Friesian black and Friesian bold,
giant spirit, gentle soul.
                           -Bethanne Ragaglia

Here are some highlights of Douwe's performance in the Friesian Breed Demo at the Equine Affaire. Here are some highlights of our performance in the Friesian Breed Demos at the Equine Affaire. I decided to try something different with Douwe this year, working him in-hand rather than riding him. It was a great training opportunity for us to work on focus and relaxation in a high-energy environment. Enjoy! Thank you to our sponsors Adams Horse & Pet Supplies for my ROMFH black breeches, you can't see them but I love wearing them while I perform! Enjoy!

Tale as Old as Time: Sandra and Friesian Douwe Perform as Beauty and the Beast

"Tale as old as time.
True as it can be.
Barely even friends,
Then somebody bends-
Unexpectedly."
                                                        - Lyrics from Beauty & The Beast

My relationship with Douwe has certainly had its ups and its downs. It took many years before he trusted me and
started to enjoy his training. This song holds a lot of meaning for me in regards to our relationship. Douwe was angry and depressed when I first bought him, and over the years has become the goofiest horse I know with a huge personality! It just took some time to uncover what was already there, and to shed his past.  

This video was taken at the Riding to the Top Therapeutic Riding Center in Windham, ME. This routine was very emotional for me; I was fighting back tears as we performed because Douwe was so in-tune with me.

This was our first time performing this new routine and it brought laughter and tears to the audience as well. 

 Don't miss Douwe's "singing" debut at the 4 minute mark! 

Falcyyr TV Series - Now Available on Vimeo!

Actress Sinari Diliiza rides Douwe as Sandra cues him for the rear.

For the past two years I have been involved with a film project called Falcyyr, which is directed by Ahura Diliiza. I play Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, and Douwe is the special steed for the main actress Sinai Diliiza.

My character, Artemis, teaches the Falcyyr how to ride a horse in Episode #6, click here to watch. Both Douwe and Rovandio are used for this scene. It was fun to utilize my teaching skills and the horses behaved very well for the different actresses. 

You will also see the herd of horses from Isaac Royal Farm where the scenes were filmed. Many of the horses are Lipizzan or Andalusian crosses.

You can watch each separate episode of Falcyyr for $1 on Vimeo. You can also rent them all for $8 or download them for $12.

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Check out Maine Today's article with Douwe as the featured photo:
Women rule in Maine-made fantasy ‘Falcyyr’

Follow the Falcyyr Facebook Page!

Film & Media

Sandra Beaulieu trains her horse to work on set and perform tricks/maneuvers for films, commercials and photo shoots. She has over 18 years experience with choreography, costumes, performing and training horses. Contact her if you would like her help in your upcoming project!

Sandra & Douwe - Friesian Breed Demos - 2016 Equine Affaire

"Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul.
Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal."
                          - Mother Theresa

I was very proud of Douwe's performance in the Coliseum. He can get excited with larger audiences but he focused well and stole the show with his kisses, smiles, and wiggles. We also rode in the Mallory South building and he did well, but was not as relaxed. There isn't a proper warmup for the Mallory South building and waiting outside on the pavement isn't ideal for the horses to stay relaxed. I would like to extend a big THANK YOU to Danielle Barrasso for organizing the breed demos and for letting me stable with her in C-Barn. Enjoy this video of Douwe in the Friesian breed demos!

Begin the Dance - Dancing Quote

“Dancing can reveal all the mystery that music conceals.”

— Charles Baudelaire

This quote is so simple and yet so true! Have you ever watched a dancer without music? Or enjoyed great music without feeling the desire to dance? Probably not!  I cannot listen to music without imagining a horse moving with it, what movement would we perform, what would be the perfect gait or tempo? I am sure you are the same! This photo was taken at an open house performance at Safe Haven Farm in Durham, ME a few years ago. I am riding Douwe with dancer Lydia Rose Spencer. Her split leaps are amazing aren't they!? I love the fan veils she incorporated into that routine. I have included a video clip of that routine down below. Please feel free to save and share this quote/image and make sure to follow me on Pinterest where I have a board for  Inspiring Horse Quotes. 

Video:

Pinterest:

Follow Sandra Beaulieu's board Inspiring Horse Quotes on Pinterest.

Friesian Horse BRIDLELESS and at LIBERTY, Shining Bright Like a DIAMOND!

"So shine bright, tonight you and I
We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky
Eye to eye, so alive
We're beautiful like diamonds in the sky."
                                        -Rihanna (lyrics to Diamond song)

This routine was performed at Safe Haven Farm in Durham, ME in 2015. They have an annual open house that I have performed at many times. This year was special because it was Douwe's birthday on the day of the show. He turned 14 and I wanted to honor the 6 years we have had together. I consider him my "diamond in the rough" so I decided to go all-out with glitter and sparkle! We did a bridleless and liberty routine, performing new liberty moves we have been working on. It will take time to perfect performing together, but I am having a blast thinking of creative new ways to dance with my horse. Please share this video if your horse shines bright like a diamond. Enjoy!

How to Ride Your Horse Bridleless - Helpful Tips & Techniques

Taking off Douwe’s bridle during a performance. Photo credit: Laurie Sheppard

When I was young, I admired the girls that could leap on their horses bareback and ride around without a care in the world. I was too focused on my dressage training to let myself “play” with my horses. There was a part of me that really wanted that relationship with a horse.

The performances that brought me to tears were not the upper level dressage freestyles, but the routines performed bareback and/or bridleless. The idea that "less is more" really inspired me. When I bought Douwe (my Friesian gelding), I let myself have an open mind and no expectations. Once we developed a relationship I started riding him bridleless and he loved it. My horses have taught me so much that I would love to share my experiences with you.

Safety First!

For those of you who are like me, cautious and not overly risky, you will definitely need to prepare your horse, yourself, and your surroundings to start working bridleless. Make sure to wear a helmet and ride in a smaller, fully-enclosed space like a round pen. There are a few KEY things that need to be in place before you attempt your first ride without a bridle. They are:

1. Independent Balance! To communicate clearly and effectively with your horse (with or without a bridle) you need to have good balance. You should be comfortable and confident at the walk, trot, and canter with NO STIRRUPS and with NO HANDS.

2. A Trusting Relationship: I do not recommend riding an unfamiliar horse without a bridle or even your own horse if you do not already have a deep, long-standing relationship with them. If there have been circumstances in your past where your horse bolted, bucked, or reared and the two of you have not fully worked through those issues, I suggest you put more time into your relationship before beginning the bridleless process.

3. A Solid WHOA! Make sure you practice the halt, a lot! Your horse needs to be responsive to your voice/seat cue (there is that clear communication) so that you can feel confident that your horse will stop whenever you ask. That is why I use treats when I ask Douwe to halt (he is a food-oriented fellow). I use my voice in the rolling r noise and he halts and gets a treat. This method is similar to clicker training except I am using my voice for the cue.

4. Bitless or Halter: See if you can ride in a bitless bridle or just a halter before you take the bridle off completely. Take as much time as you need to feel comfortable with these other options.

What techniques can you use?

I have learned a few different ways to ride a horse bridleless. You will probably know right away which method will work for your horse depending on his individual reactions.

Whip Steering: This is the method I used with Douwe. He seems most responsive having a visual guide for the turns. I have been using two whips and recently dropped down to just one. This technique will not work if your horse is scared/nervous of whips. Here is a video of Douwe performing bridleless in our "Wings of Isis" routine. You can see how I use the wings to help him steer. I was so pleased with his overall performance! He was a good boy!

Neckrope

You can teach your horse to "whoa" from the pressure of a neck rope, also referred to as a “cordeo”. I have begun riding Rovandio bridleless using a neckrope because he needs more input from me to help with his balance. Douwe would prefer that I just left him alone and not use anything related to pressure. To begin with, I rode Rovandio with a neckrope at the same time I was riding with the bridle. I incorporated halts from my voice/seat with some pressure on the neckrope. Once he halted, I released the pressure and gave him a treat. You can use a variety of different "ropes", some horses react better to a stiffer rope and others something softer. Click here to watch an inspiring example of bridleless riding with a neckrope with Alizee Froment and Mistral. She starts off with a bitless bridle and then takes it off and does all the Grand Prix movements bridleless! Scroll down for examples of neckropes and where to buy them online.

Hand Signals

If you have an exceptionally obedient, sensitive horse you can teach them to move away from hand pressure. For example, you would rub/push your right hand forward onto the right side of the neck to ask him to turn left and vice versa. If your horse easily moves away from pressure this can be a good cue. Click here to watch Karen Rolf and her horse Monty use hand signals while riding bridleless. You will enjoy watching this video because it shows the horse doing the same movements at liberty, under saddle and bridleless.

Seat & Leg

If your horse is completely tuned into your seat and legs you can use these cues, along with your voice if needed. Some horses turn beautifully off the leg and weight aids, especially if they are well-balanced and highly trained. It will help you stay very mindful and consistent with your aids. It is important to have a clear reinback cue to help balance your horse off the forehand. Many of the western riders will use the legs towards the shoulders for reinback and that can translate into a half halt while you are in motion as well. Click here to watch an awesome video of Stacy Westfall riding bareback and bridleless using just her seat and leg. She performs their reining freestyle bareback and bridleless! Awesome job!

My neck rope is a simple cotton rope from the hardware store that I spray painted black to match Douwe’s coat. Photo Credit: Kimberly Chason

Where to Buy a Neckrope

Here are different examples of neckropes, also known as a “cordeo”, that you can use with your horse. You can also use a stirrup leather or simple rope from the hardware store to get started. I buy plain cotton rope from the hardware store and then spray it black to blend in with my horse’s coat.

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Leather Cordeo made by ChromaCrafts

Custom Leather Cordeo

This elegant cordeo is handmade in Denmark by Frida Josephine Nielsen. Not only is the center stone beautiful, it also keeps the cordeo centered on your horse by adding some additional weight. She has a variety of stones you can choose from.

Frida includes an adjustable strap and finishes it off with a square, Spanish cortezia buckle. You can choose whether you would prefer silver or brass for your buckles.

Riding with leather will give you a similar feel to your leather reins and it is also easy to keep clean. Her unique designs would be easy to incorporate with a costume.

Click here to view the different leather options from ChromaCrafts.

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Custom Yarn Cordeo made by EQEquineArt

Yarn Neckrope with Adornments

If you prefer a soft and flexible feel, then yarn might be a good choice for you. Yarn has a subtle texture for the perfect grip and just a touch of give to ensure comfort against the skin. These are handmade by EQEquineArt on Etsy. She is also an equine bodyworker and incorporates crystals and gemstones to help your horse improve relaxation or energy.

These neckropes are also reminiscent of a mala; which is a wearable reflection of a personal journey, often used in mantra meditation they are a reminder of the connection to a deeper source. When you hold the cordeo (neckrope) to communicate with your horse you will be reminded of this sacred connection and privilege.

Click here to view more themes such as Boho, Winter, Autumn Equinox, and Starry Night to name a few.

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Braided Cord Neckrope made by Beaux Equestrian

Braided Cord Neckrope

If you want something simple, strong, and durable, check out these braided cord neckropes made by Beaux Equestrian. They are braided with 9-strands for thickness and added strength. She makes them in a wide variety of bright, vibrant, and unique colors so you are sure to stand out!

She also has a wide variety of sizes available ranging from Shetland/Pony to Full/XFull. They take extra pride in reusing and recycling their packaging to have less impact on the environment. If you follow them on Instagram (@beaux_equestrian) you can see some beautiful photos of their neckropes in action.

Click here to view their full range of size and color options on Etsy.

I hope you are able to enjoy a wonderful partnership and connection with your horse riding without a bridle. I also have a blog post about riding bareback if you would like to learn more and see my recommendations for bareback pads. Email me at beginthedance@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments.

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How to Teach Your Horse to Smile and Talk Like Mr. Ed!

I have had a blast teaching Douwe and Rovandio to smile and "talk". Douwe absolutely loves it and offers to talk all the time. I think his ideal job would be to play a modern-day Mr. Ed, where he gets to stand around and smile all day! Trick trainer Heidi Herriott showed me how to teach Douwe and it is a fun, easy trick to teach any horse.

Why did I teach my horse to smile?
Douwe used to hold his ears back when he asked for attention. He is a big horse, so that made him look a little scary to new people (even though he wasn't being mean at all). I thought that the smile would make him appear more friendly (and also keep his lips busy so that he wasn't nibbling for treats!) It worked really well and he greets everyone with a smile and will also give gentle kisses.

Here are the Simple Steps to Teach Your Horse to Smile:

• You only need a halter and a treat!

• Make sure your treat is really yummy and smelly, like a peppermint or something with molasses.

• With your left hand, hold the horse's head up slightly so they will think "up" when you do the trick.

• With the treat in your right hand, hold the treat right above their lip and rub or flick the lip upwards with your finger (to encourage the lip to curl up).

• As you use the treat, make sure to use a vocal command. I use "smile".

• When the horse gives you a slight lift of the lip, reward them with the treat. You need to reward the smallest try so that they will want to do it again and offer more.

• Continue to hold the treat above the lip and wiggle/play with it to help encourage more lip movement.

• Once the horse is consistent at lifting the lip, you can start to raise and wiggle your finger along with your voice command instead of using the treat.

Here is a silly video clip of Douwe "singing" Happy Birthday to my Grandfather. I was able to get him to stop "singing" by lowering my hand and then lifting it again when I wanted him to start again. This is a fun, silly trick to teach your horse and certainly entertaining, especially to people who don't know a lot about horses!

Article in "the Friesian" Magazine- My Top 7 Training Struggles with my Friesian Horse Douwe

I wrote this article for "the Friesian" magazine that is created by the Friesian Horse Association of North America (FHANA). They send out a quarterly magazine to their members and this was included in their January/February issue (2015). They were very gracious to let me share the article on my blog. I want to send out a big THANK YOU to the editor Laurie Bell for creating such a beautiful article layout with all the photos. This article is under copyright of FHANA and cannot be shared without their permission. There is a list of resources and links that I mention in the article located at the bottom of the post.

Please visit their website if you want more information about the Friesian Breed and their organization: http://www.fhana.com/

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Included in this article:
Dr. Cook Bitless Bridle: http://www.bitlessbridle.com/
Falcyyr Film (Ahura Diliiza): https://www.facebook.com/falcyyr
Custom Tack Created by Lisa Oberman: http://elsuenoespanol.com/store/
Isaac Royal Academy of Equestrian Arts (Carolyn Rose): https://www.facebook.com/pages/Isaac-Royal-Training-Center-of-Classical-Dressage/321529202925
Heidi Herriot Trick Training: http://www.heidiherriott.com/
Lydia Rose Bellydance: https://www.facebook.com/LydiaRoseBellyDance?ref=br_tf
Custom Breeches Worn in Falcyyr made by Aanstadt-Das: https://www.facebook.com/aanstadtdasbreeches
Safe Haven Farm in Durham, ME: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Safe-Haven-Farm/272054486150539

Falcyyr Movie: Filming with Douwe & Rovandio

So for our second day of filming (with the horses) we worked on the teaching scene. The director, Ahura Z. Diliiza, brought his filming crew to Isaac Royal Farm for the day. I bathed the horses first thing in the morning and then we had makeup/hair from 10:30-1:30 and filming from 2:00-6:00. It was a cold, windy day but the horses behaved very well and everything went smoothly. In the scene my character, Artemis, is instructing the main characters how to ride a horse. Douwe and Rovandio were very well behaved as the riders mounted and dismounted many times in the paddock area and out in the field. Sinari (who plays Brunhilda in the film, the leader of the Falcyyr) was able to ride Douwe by herself in the field and get some shots of her walking and trotting. With my help she was able to do some Spanish walk and even rear! She has had the most riding experience of the group and fulfilled her dream of riding a Friesian! The hardest part was the keep her from giggling when the camera was rolling! I was a little nervous when Sinari rode Douwe by herself in the field but Douwe had his game face on and stayed focused. He did an excellent job of posing for the camera and Ahura commented that he was a camera hog! We are filming a few more times with the horses and will hopefully get all the footage needed before the fall foliage is gone. To see more photos please visit the PHOTO GALLERY. A big thank you goes out to Lisa Oberman of El Sueno Espanol for designing and creating the beautiful bridle and breastcollar that Douwe is wearing. She designed it to match my costume and I think it looks amazing! I am also wearing custom deerskin breeches made by Aanstadt-Das Breeches that were made for the film. Click here to check out their Etsy listing for these specific movie breeches.

Check out more information about Falcyyr on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/falcyyr?ref=br_tf
Visit El Sueno Espanol on Facebook to see more of her gorgeous tack!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Sue%C3%B1o-Espa%C3%B1ol/148004241927777
Visit Aanstadt-Das on Facebook to see more of their custom breeches!
https://www.facebook.com/aanstadtdasbreeches

Teaching Sinari how to ask for Spanish Walk...Douwe decided that he would like to do that instead of trot!

Sinari had fun riding Douwe's rear while I asked from the ground. Douwe doesn't go up too high so it isn't as intimidating to ride.

Getting Douwe warmed up and used to his new bridle and breastcollar made by El Sueno Espanol.

Checking Sinari's stirrups. Isn't Douwe so cute!

Rovandio teaching his actress!!!

Film & Media

Sandra Beaulieu trains her horse to work on set and perform tricks/maneuvers for films, commercials and photo shoots. She has over 18 years experience with choreography, costumes, performing and training horses. Contact her if you would like her help in your upcoming project!

Costume Update on the film FALCYYR

I wanted to give everyone an update on the film FALCYYR that Douwe and I will be acting in this summer. Right now the director Ahura Z. Diliiza is working on my costume for my part as Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt. I bought a beautiful new corset and he is adding some armor to it as well as improving upon my bow, arrows, quiver and bracer from the film Essential Realism that we did last fall. I am also excited to announce that Lisa Oberman of El Sueno Espanol is making a custom bitless bridle and breastcollar for us to use in the film. Lisa made the beautiful bridle and breastcollar that I used in Essential Realism for Douwe, click here to see photos from that film shoot. The new set will be made of brown leather with gold medallions to match my new costume. I am also getting a custom pair of breeches from the fabulous Sonya Bergstrom of Aanstadt-Das Breeches. She is making something really special for me, I can't wait to show you photos when they arrive! Please check out her breeches on Etsy, click here. Filming will begin in a few weeks for me and then the scenes with the horses will be later in the summer.

Check out FALCYYR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Falcyyr/245021428904719

My new steampunk style corset. He will be adding some armor-like pieces and other details so I am more of a warrior goddess.

My newly improved bracers, quiver, arrows, bow and headdress.

Director Ahura Z. Diliiza putting the final touches on my new bow.

Handmade piece from one of the Valkyrie costumes.

Rovandio's First Time off the Farm!

Rovandio (aka Rovy) is owned by my mother-in-law, Bethanne Ragaglia. She has owned him since he was young and never needed to trailer him anywhere. This year (2014) I wanted to start taking him to shows with my Friesian gelding, Douwe, and using him for exhibitions. I wanted to make sure that he wouldn't be overwhelmed by the trailer or develop anxiety over the trailering process. My good friend, Elisha Harvey, trailered Douwe and Rovy to her barn, Elysium Sport Ponies, a few miles down the road from where Douwe and Rovy live, for me to see how Rovy would react to being off the property. With grass in his hay net and Douwe by his side we made the short trek to Elysium.

Rovy was a little excited when he unloaded but settled in like he had lived there forever! I was amazed at how well-behaved he was. I wasn't planning to do much with the horses, other than to let them free in the ring and take the time to relax, but within 5 minutes they were ready to do something. We practiced our routine where I ride Rovy and Douwe is at liberty. Elisha and Bethanne took some photos for me; her indoor ring has a lot of light so we were able to get some good shots. It was such a wonderful experience!

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Silver Lining Herbs Kidney Support Supplement

I wanted to share a wonderful product that I have been giving Douwe to help with his kidney issues. When I discovered that Douwe was experiencing discomfort related to his kidneys, I went searching online for supplements that might help with detox and kidney support. I was fortunate to find Silver Lining Herbs and their Kidney Support #37 supplement. This company produces high quality herbal supplements with years of experience and a long list of veterinarian recommendations. Here is the product description from the website:

Kidneys are another area where today's horses are put under extreme stress with a chemical environment. The kidneys primary function is to cleanse the blood and produce urine, which excrete wastes; due to the critical and body-encompassing nature of this job, improvement in kidney function will help restore and relieve a wide range of systems and symptoms. #37 Kidney Support helps maintain optimal kidney function, and may be beneficial in:

• General bladder and kidney issues
• Bone issues, such as calcium deposits, spurs, navicular etc
• Behavior issues such as general crankiness, poor haulers, general discomfort
• Performance issues such as avoiding hard stops and turns
• Fluid retention, "stocking up" in lower legs
• Looking at sides, abnormally frequent lying down, acting colicky but won't roll
• Mineral buildup in kidneys
• Muscle degeneration
• Soreness in back, joints or feet, or tight muscles
• Tendon, ligament or joint issues
• Toe pointing
• Won't relax, especially while being ridden

Active Ingredients: A proprietary blend of Marshmallow, Uva Ursi, Barberry, Garlic, Kelp, Parsley, Dandelion, Chamomile, Hydrangea and Juniper.

I bought the 60 day supply bag and am currently going through bag #2. Douwe's second saliva test showed that his kidneys are healing and that he is not experiencing discomfort anymore. When I contacted the company they recommended 1-2 bags but said that most horses do not need to stay on the supplement, it is meant to detox and heal the kidneys but isn't always needed once the process is complete. I have definitely noticed a big difference in Douwe's attitude and how he feels under saddle. I highly recommend this company and specifically this product.