The Retired Racehorse Trainers have now had their horses for about two weeks and their first few blog posts are rolling in on the Retired Racehorse Training Project Website. The trainers, Kerry Blackmer of Middleburg, Va., Eric Dierks of Tryon, N.C., and Tiffany Catledge of Adamstown, Md, selected their horses at the Maryland Horse Expo on January 20 and then were able to bring them home to their farms for their month of training. Check out a few of the blogs below.

Clayton Fredericks will be teaching a two day clinic at Galway Downs in Temecula, CA on February 11 and 12, 2012. The first day will include stadium jumping and gymnastic work, while the second will focus on cross-country skills over the Ian Stark designed course. Clayton will also be offering private dressage lessons on Friday the 10^th. This clinic is being organized and offered by the Area VI Adult Riders, with significant support from Robert Kellerhouse, Del Mar Eventing and the Southern California Equestrian Center.

By Leslie Mintz

I have a confession to make: I am addicted to taking lessons. I know, I know I need to be a more independent rider who can think for herself, solve her own problems, and my trainer isn’t always going to be there. But I just love taking lessons. During a lesson I actually feel like I am accomplishing something and improving both myself and my horse whereas when I ride alone (especially doing flatwork) I feel like my horse and I are regressing and the ride often ends up in fits of frustration for both human and equine. Oh and another thing – I think lessons are just so much fun. They are like my version of going to a party.