Each year I think that I have hit the bell at the top of the tower, but each year there are new highlights. The big one in 2006 surely had to be my Mexican client Bernadette Pujals and her wonderful stallion Vincent finishing tenth at WEG in the freestyle. I think I still have a goose bump or two that hasn’t gone down since that night. And just yesterday, West Vancouver rider Alex Duncan and Elektra finished fourth in the World Cup for Young Riders in Frankfurt. This is Alex’s first year at the YR level so she has made a rather big splash in the global pond. I’d like to thank those of you who kept me up to speed on all the prizes, championships and just plain old big grins from enjoying your freestyles this year. It was my pleasure! Don’t forget to send photos if you want to be in my website’s photo gallery.

My Writing also took me to new places, including the Global Dressage Forum; I was one of ten lucky journalists to be invited to attend this year, and what an event that was. The big journo-trip in 2007 will be the Pan Am Games in Rio, followed by a couple of weeks exploring in Argentina and Uruguay. I mean, why go all that way and not take a look around?

2006 has been a wild ride, with lots of air miles logged. Between the freestyles and the journalism, I may have traveled just a wee bit too much, even for a gypsy like me. From October 25 to November 30 I was home for exactly five days. The rest of the time I was in Holland, Michigan, New York, Toronto, Guatemala and Houston. Some of you saw me in those places, so it’s really true. I only got into the show ring twice with my own young Theo, though we did manage to do the freestyle once. My apologies to all the clients whom I beat for the show’s high score freestyle prize. Many thanks to my good buddies Rebecca (also my trainer) and Marina for keeping Theo going during my many absences. Don’t put away your show clothes Marina ­ Third Level next year!

Next Season: Clinics and Freestyles For 2007. I have pretty much cut off my spring schedule for clinics and trips to see clients. The list below is confirmed dates, with a few details to be ironed out in the weeks leading up. If you are in the area of one of the places I’m going and you want to see me, please be in touch and I can forward details. If where you are is not on the list but you want to have a clinic, then please contact me about the fall of 2007… The only spring month not yet filled is May, so there is one possibility there. It looks like April is empty, but as many of you know it’s Vegas time again, which will put a big hole in that month for me. It would be possible to do a clinic on the west coast somewhere in conjunction with the World Cup dates, as my husband Jan and I plan to drive to Vegas in the VW camper..