Our Senior stallion, Statesman's Eclipse has started on a new career path, and we hope to keep you updated on his new career through this on-line "dressage diary".

January 2006: To begin his new career, Eclipse spent the winter 2005 in dressage training with Ms. Ange Bean of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Ange is the instructor and trainer at Straight Forward Dressage, located deep in the heart of horse country 45 minutes west of Philadelphia. She blends four years as a working student with Lorinda Lende, Gina Krueger and Claudia Garner with her ongoing study with Gerhard Politz and Sherry Ackerman to create a well-balanced education for her students and horses that emphasizes correct balance for both horse and rider. 
 
This emphasis consistently improves the horse's movement, and has drawn Ange's attention in the show ring on some unexpected dressage mounts -- for example, ribbons at Devon on Sandar, a thoroughbred mare, against a class of entirely warmbloods, and reserve champion OVCTA at training level in 04 and first level in 05 on Total Eclipse, a young Friesian/Morgan cross with scores in the upper 60's. You can learn more about Ange and her training philosophy at www.equichic.com.
 
Ange is delighted to add Statesman's Eclipse to her training barn.  On first riding him, his keen intelligence and willingness to learn, combined with his expressive gaits, struck Ange as the perfect raw material to create a superb dressage mount.

March 2006: The picture above is from Eclipse's first schooling show at Journey's End Farm. Margo Marano was the judge. It was a cold and windy day, but that didn't stop Eclipse. He was first at Training 1 with a 63.2 against 7 other horses, mostly warmbloods. He was second in Training 2 with a 65.5 against almost the same group. Eclipse earned an 8 on gaits in both classes. See more pics from his dressage debut here and here.

April 2006: Eclipse's second show was the Mason Dixon classic with judge Beth Barritt presiding. Ange reports that the environment was a real zoo, complete with horses in harness warming up alongside the dressage horses. Eclipse won the Morgan Sport Horse under saddle class. He was second in Training Level Test 1 with a 64.546 against 10 other horses, and fourth in Training Level Test 2 with a 64.231 against 9 other horses. He earned his first "9" on a score sheet for his final corner, turn to center line and halt in Training Level Test 2. A picture of this "9" moment now graces the header of this website!

May 2006: Angie and Eclipse next participated in a Gunner Ostergaard clinic. The focus of the lesson was primarily on improving his connection, which is the building block for future collected work. Gunner was very impressed by Eclipse's work ethic, and commented that he thought Eclipse, although he is getting a late start on the race to FEI, will climb the levels quickly.

May 26, 2006: After a show on May 26, Ange wrote to Kate: "Your boy was one of only 4 non-warmbloods (that I saw) at the show Friday. He held his own 63.7 and 65.0. The 63.7 in Training 2 put us 5th, the 65 was just out of the ribbons (7th out of 11 I think). I probably should have looked at the prize list more carefully (I signed up using the USDF calendar, not the omnibus), then I would have known this was an FEI World Cup Qualifier. So the World Cup contenders had their younger horses along too. The rider list reads like a who's-who in the FEI world. It was fun playing with the big boys.

As to training, he was so consistent overall, no signs of tension from previous outings. He trusted me, and was right on the aids from the minute I got on his back. He is getting much steadier in the connection, and his reaction to the half-halt is improved considerably. His score sheet is nothing but 6s and 7s, with an occasional 8. We'll decide at Fair Hill if it is time to move up (I suspect it may be)."

November 5, 2006: In order to qualify for the OVCTA dressage championship at Second Level, Eclipse needed 3 scores from 3 different judges at Second level, all above 60%, which he did.

Ange and Eclipse took a 58.6 to win the Championship class. Counter Canter was a bit of a challenge as Ange has been schooling flying lead changes in prep. for Third Level work next year...so Eclipse just thought she meant "change leads"...which he did. Fortunately judge had a sense of humor and seemed to understand what was going as as she wrote in the comments "change of lead not necessary..."! :) Eclipse is pictured below with Ange at the OVCTA Championships.

Thus ends an AMAZING dressage diary for 2006. Starting in January, when Ange first got Eclipse, who had never had any formal dressage training up to that point, I don't think anyone imagined the years triumphant end. Gunner Ostergaard knew this horse would "rise through the levels quickly" based on a clinic Ange did with Gunner in early March, and BOY was he RIGHT!!! We are still awaiting USDF, AMHA and MDA year end dressage award results, but we will post them as soon as they are available. Ange and Eclipse had a very successful training level period this spring with scores in the mid 60s, with some 8s on the canter work (a difficulty for many Morgans). As they moved on to Second Level this fall (Ange...what ever happened to First Level??? :), Ange and Eclipse continued to earn in the low 60s, culminating in this championship.

Although Eclipse IS very talented, he could not have done this except under the wise tutelage of you, Ange. You are a talented rider, an astute trainer - who knows when to push horse AND rider!, and now, a dear dear friend. I look forward to grooming for you and Eclipse next year when we set our sights on the prestigious Lunquist Medal awards at Second Level (we just missed qualifying for BLMs this year at training level by 2% in his last training level test in Sept.)

Eclipse ended the year with several year end awards, including:
4th place; USEF Region 10 at Training Level
6th place; OVCTA (Olney Valley Combined Training Assoc) Second Level and above category
One of 8 Morgan Dressage Association high point award winners for Training Level
6th place; Morgan Dressage Association Training Level Awards
AMHA High point award; 11th place out of 14 with an average of 64.54 pts

Thank you dear readers for being with us through this amazing journey. Please return in 2007 as Ange and Eclipse continue their endeavors. Eclipse will stand to a limited number of outside, approved mares in 2007, so if you are interested in a possible breeding contract please contact Kate soonest at Ensignsgrace@hotmail.com.

October 1, 2007 : Ange and Eclipse got off to a late start this year because Kate was pre-occupied with other issues and didn't want to give Eclipse back!!! But, in May, Eclipse left home and returned to his second home with Ange Bean. But inspite of this, record so far is VERY impressive!!

SUDDENLY FARM DRESSAGE: (August 22). Eclipse competed at First Level Test 3 and 4 at this recognized show with his trainer Ange Bean and posted scores of 64.57 and 63.68 in their tests. The scores were high enough to win High Point Morgan Award and overall Reserve Champion!! Not bad for first time out this year (no schooling show...no time!!) Eclipse and Ange also qualified for the prestigious Lunquist Medal Awards (BLMs) at first level during this show!!

DRESSAGE AT STONE TAVERN -- Over Labor Day weekend, the weather could NOT have been
better for dressage at NJ Horse Park. The competition was EVIL...but it was another chance for Eclipse to test his mettle against the "big boys" and he came through BIG TIME! His average scores at first and second ran from 59-64% -- VERY consistent and not much difference between his first and second level scores. Eclipse was placed 6 out of 10 in his Second Level Test 4 on Saturday, 2nd out of 6 on Sunday in his Second Level 3 class, and 2nd out of 4 for Second Level 4. He also qualified for BLM for Second level at this show (!!) and our decision is
that this is the level he will compete in October at BLM.

So given only two shows, Eclipse is qualified for BLMs at both first and second level...like I said, not a bad year!! So stay tuned and we will report on our return to NJ for BLMs in October! Wish us luck!!

November 5, 2007: Eclipse did it!! On November 5th, 2006 Eclipse and Ange competed in the Oley Valley Combined Training Association Championship Show and won the Second Level Championship class. In order to qualify for the OVCTA dressage championship at Second Level, Eclipse needed 3 scores from 3 different judges at Second level, all above 60% which he did at previous shows. Ange and Eclipse took a 58.6 to win the Championship class. Counter Canter was a bit of a challenge as Ange has been schooling flying lead changes in prep. for Third Level work next year...so Eclipse just thought she meant "change leads"...which he did. Fortunately judge had a sense of humor and seemed to understand what was going as as she wrote in the comments "change of lead not necessary..."! :)