Visit the News Archives for Mette's 2005 News Stories

2/03/06:

Mette is looking for a working student/groom. Lindsay Smith, one of her current working students, must return to the east coast on the first of May this year, so Mette needs someone to replace her. If interested, send resume and video clip of you saying why you would like to come and work with Mette, plus a little bit about yourself. Please also include a clip of you riding. For more information, contact Mette at or call (310)455-1116.

2/03/06:

Mette competed in her first show of the year at the L.A. Winter Dressage show at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank last weekend. Mette was grateful for the wonderful preparation help she had from Birgitta. She brought three terrific horses to the show: Rockefeller, Basquewille and Cory Walkey?s stallion, Edelweiss de Bonce. Rocky won his first Training level class at the show and placed 2nd and 4th in his other two classes. On his first test, the judge wrote: ?Super horse!?

Edelweiss was amazing in so many different ways. He has not been shown in a long time and this was Mette?s first time showing him, so she didn?t know what to expect. He behaved very well, not only in his stall, but also in the warm-up and show ring. It was a highlight to win the Intermediare I division on him in good competition. In the Prix St. Georges, they were beaten by only a couple of points and finished just behind G?nther Seidel, Sue Blinks and Shannon Peters. (Note: A reporter from the "Chronicle of the Horse" called her for an interview about Edelweiss because he had done so well at the show).

See more on the results page.

1/18/06

Mette has a new video available on DressageClinic.com. This one features Mette teaching her working student, Lindsay Smith, riding Edelweiss du Bounce, the Selle Francais stallion owned by Mill Creek owner/trainer Cory Walkey.

1/15/06

Mette and Basquewille will once again ride in a clinic given by Klaus Balkenhol at the beautiful Brookside Equestrian Center owned by Keith Walton sometime in February (check back for exact dates). Check the news archives for Mette's account of riding in the Klaus Balkenhol clinic given in November 2005.

1/9/2006:

Mette?s plans for her horses for January and beyond

Donatello

Mette has a stallion in Sweden who was born in 2002. His name is Donatello and she bought him when he was 6 months old. He is a Swedish Warmblood out of Don Schufro. He is being trained in Sweden by Minna Telde, a very good rider who was on Sweden?s Olympic Dressage Team in the Athens Olympics. He will take the stallion test in Flyinge at the end of February and hopefully be approved. Mette will try to go to Sweden then to cheer him on. When Mette spent time in Germany last year, she had Donatello with her. Mette and her groom, Sofia, worked him together. Sofia was the first one on his back!

Wellington

Wellington, also born in 2002, is a young horse Mette has at Mill Creek for sale. She is planning to have him out and showing in the green horse classes at the beginning of the show season. By fall, she hopes to have him riding in the regular training level classes. Mette will take advantage of the new green horse divisions to take him out and give him experience and exposure to the dressage ring.

Rockefeller

Mette will show Rockefeller at the L.A.E.C. show at the training levels. If all goes well this year, she will try him out for the five year old competition. He is doing very well and is a very promising horse.

Taison

As reported before, Taison was U.S.D.F Training Level Horse of the Year for 2005. Mette will be moving him up to Third Level this year; it?s a big step so she will be taking it slowly and methodically. If she feels he?s ready, she will try for the 6 year old competition. The U.S. Dressage Finals are in Kentucky this year and the winners there will qualify for the World Games.

Basquewille

Mette will ride Basquewille with Birgitta when she is here (see news item). She will also take Basquewille to theL.A.E.C. show at the end of January and ride in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special divisions. A week after that, Mette will ride with Klaus Balkenhol again at Keith Walton?s beautiful Brookside facility. The 2006 World Games are in Aachen, Germany this year and only three horses from America will be selected for the team. Mette will try to compete in the qualifiers this year.

Edelweiss

Edelweiss is a stallion owned by Cory Walkey, Mill Creek?s owner. Mette will be riding him at the L.A.E.C. show at the Prix St. Georges and Intermediare I levels. Mette is very much looking forward to riding Cory?s beautiful horse.

1/8/2006:

International Dressage Judge, Birgitta Bergsten is coming to Mill Creek to work with Mette from January 16th through the 25th. While here, Mette will ride dressage tests with Birgitta, who will judge her as if it were a real show. Mette is looking forward to getting a judge's point of view on her performance. Mette feels this is the best way to start off her dressage show season because who better than a judge "to say what's good."

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