Blogger Catherine Haddad Staller

Dear Rita,

It is that time of year again! I love Christmas for the lively cheer of the season, but the pressure of GIFT GIVING got too extreme for me decades ago, so I just did away with it. Yep. I declared a war on ALL GIFTS and demanded that my close friends take the time to meet for a glass of wine, tell stories and jokes and just be together in the holiday cheer without all that wrapping paper and stuff.  Works wonders for me. Christmas! Bring it on!

Dear Rita,

Winyamaro and I have just returned from a fun-filled, successful horse show in London. This is a trip that I really enjoy, and it is becoming an annual pilgrimage for me at Christmastime. The Christmas show at London Olympia is definitely worth the trip!

Dear Rita,

The kindest gift you can give your horse is a passport to good health. When we buy horses, take them home and put them in the stable, we also assume responsibility for their happiness and well-being.  Like all things in life, the simplest approach you can take is usually the best one.

Dear Rita,

In Stuttgart, I finally managed to ride the Grand Prix test that I have been trying to ride since August. W felt great, the test flowed, and even though there is still loads to work on, everything starts to feel a little easier now. 

Here is a video of our ride: 

Breaking News: Winyamaro finished fourth in the Grand Prix behind 1) Isabell Werth/Satchmo 2) Ulla Salzgeber/Herzrufs Erbe 3) Hubertus Schmidt/Dark Diamond. Full story after the freestyle!

Dear Rita,

Winyamaro and I find ourselves in Stuttgart, Germany, this weekend for the CDI5*. We are accompanied by our trusty assistant trainer, Gizmo, and Winny’s beloved groom, Anna Pettersson.

Dear Rita,

The French really know how to do a horse show! I showed Winyamaro last weekend (Oct. 28-29) at a World Cup qualifier in the Eurexpo stadium in Lyon, France.

Dear Rita,

Try not to be squeamish about the subject matter! Leeches can be very helpful in treating various sport horse injuries, particularly when the injured area needs increased circulation.

History of the medicinal use of leeches dates as far back as 500 BC with an almost frenetic increase in their use during the European Renaissance period. The continued increase in the use of leeches throughout Europe and the Americas through the 1800s pushed Hirudo Medicinalis nearly to the point of extinction in its natural habitat.

Dear Rita,

I’m nearly certain that this blog will not get as many hits as the last one! But before my editorial skills became so popular, many of you expressed interest in getting an insider’s view on my life. This is not an excerpt from my daily life, but a typical semi-annual excursion.

In Germany, it is customary to put young horses from 1-3 years old on the pastures for the summer. The horses are normally turned out in a small herd or in pairs and left to themselves for several months to relax, eat and grow.

Dear Rita,

Is nothing sacred anymore? Totilas is sold to Germany. Do you see the irony in this?

Summer has turned to autumn, dressage at the WEG is finished, and Winyamaro and I just got home from an exciting weekend at the World Cup qualifier in Devon!