Dressage Stallion Basics: Rubenstein

In 2006 I spent the spring looking for a baby horse, and finally I settled on Riley, a hanoverian from High Point Hanoverians in MD. He is truly my dream-horse, everything I want in a prospect. Big, smart, sweet, and quiet, and incidentally a pretty nice lookin' baby :-). I worried that I might get tired of waiting for him to grow up/be rideable, but it has been a great joy and a learning experience.



Before I took the plunge, I researched stallions who produce rideable dressage horses for amateurs. I spent a long time researching Riley's bloodlines: Donnerhall/Deniro/Delaurentis (last is his sire; and Rubenstein, who sired Riley's mom. Thought I'd share some basic info about Donnerhall and Rubenstein, two of the three stallions that form a trifecta of influential bloodlines (the third is Weltmeyer). Source: You Choose: who is the best of the Big Three?

Rubenstein I
Sources:
Breeding Barn: Rubenstein

As a baby, Rubenstein was a people-oriented colt, and in an interview, his breeders recall that they sometimes wondered if he was sick or if something was wrong, because he didn't play with the other babies. He preferred the company of humans and in their company he possessed natural good manners. Apparently this trait endured, and he is legendary not only for his talent for dressage and gaits, but for his kindness and rideability. He passes on these traits to his offspring, and many of his get have the classic "Rubenstein head" -- broad forehead, delicate muzzle, huge, kind eyes, and a sculpted and elegant neck. I have also read that his offspring are late in maturing. They may show spectacular gaits as youngsters, but the gaits are "lost" during development, and trainers have to work with the young horses to bring out the gaits under saddle. At his stallion licensing, I believe he placed third, and one of the judges referred to him as "weedy-looking" (wait, was that "weedy" or "reedy?"). Rubenstein offspring are also seen in the hunter ring because he passes on jumping ability (scored 124 at stallion test), and again, that gorgeous head...

My baby's mom Rachael was by Rubenstein, out of a Parabol mare that may be one of the top hanoverian broodmares in the country -- SPS Pijou. When I saw Riley, I fell in love with his mother, she looked like a dark madonna. She was quiet and motherly, and had a huge, kind eye. She moved fluidly, and carried the stamp of her sire. Riley was a chestnut, not my favorite color. But he had a doe-like expression that just exuded surprise and joy. He was also bold and curious, and he gravitated to people. He was the best foal I had seen, but really it was a combination of the mom and the baby that led me to feel he was the one. Pix of Rachael are below, and below that, a video of the great Rubenstein. Donnerhal synopsis coming up next!

Rachael, a mare by Rubenstein I, out of SPS Pijou (by Parabol), and my baby Riley:



Rubenstein I

Riding, dressage, and horses

To the left you see me, circa 1978, on a sturdy show horse/foxhunter I leased, Foxfire. I rode hunters throughout my childhood and into college, but drifted out of the horse world after that. In 1998, I returned to the riding life at age 38(ish). I got my first horse, Harvey, on an impulse, while accompanying my sister on a horse buying trip. I started taking dressage lessons in 2000, and Harvey and I have competed in dressage through first level.

That's three years to move up two levels (counting only competition years), so I'm not exactly catapulting into the upper levels. An acquaintance once he was "a grand prix rider trapped in the body of an intro level rider." That dilemma is loosely the subject of this posting, and maybe of this blog -- the experiences of an average rider with an extraordinary love of horses and equestrian disciplines.

Just to give you some background, I have two horses: a 20 year old off the track thoroughbred (21 in March), and an 18 month old hanoverian. The groundwork is laid so that Harvey (the TB) will ease into retirement in a couple of years, and with any luck this timing will coincide with Riley coming under saddle. What's that old proverb? If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans.

Well, welcome to my blog!

Blanket stealth

Before I became a real grownup with my own major appliances, I used to do my own laundry in laundromats. While this was not fun, each foray into the dingy world of public laundry was a reconnaissance mission. I needed to find a place to wash my horse blankets.

Washing horse blankets is a stealth operation. You have to find laundromats with managers that a) aren't on site, b) don't care, and c) have a clientele that don't care. All of this is critical info needed if I'm to avoid a face-off with either the manager or my fellow-launderers. The best case scenario is during low-use times, usually weekend nights. Then I can run in with my smelly contraband, dump it in, start the wash, and leave before the buckles start clanging mercilessly. For those of you who have not attempted this, here are a few tips:

-- Find the right laundromat, and I don't mean the best one, in fact you usually want the worst, dirtiest, least kept up ones, often on the seedier side of town.
-- Before you bring in the blankets, walk in and claim the big washers. You don't want to wait around with your smelly, filthy blankets. People do notice.
-- If you are questioned, the blankets are "boy scout tents."
-- Always bring a load of crap personal laundry and run it through the washer after the blankets. This is to be courteous and so no one has occasion to complain.
-- Use rubber bands to tie socks over the belt buckles to reduce clanging.
-- In the summer at least, don't use the dryers. Use garbage bags to tote the blankets and waterproof your car (lay bags across the trunk). Air dry them at home. It saves money and reduces the time spent there.
-- If waterproofing is something you want, don't bother with Scotchguard, go to a Cabelas or sports store and get tent waterproofing.

My 18 month old horse is turned out with adult horses w/low tolerance for babyhood, and they seem to enjoy destroying his blankets. Since the blankets seem to be in constant need of repair, so I'm taking them to a laundress who does repairs. I can actually afford it, and I'm at a point in my life where "getting caught" is just a little too embarrassing...