Introducing DPE's Latest Equine Team Member: Vandiver

It's difficult to express how excited I am to be able to announce that Vandiver owned by Debi Crowley of Elkmont, AL (Cotton Meadows Farm) will remain with DPE for the indefinite future.

Vandiver aka 'Quinn' is a 2004, 17h, Trakehner gelding by Windfall, bronze medal winner on the US eventing team at the 2004 Olympics (New Spring Farm). Quinn was bred, raised, and started under saddle at CMF. Combined with the eventing bloodlines in his dam's (Visions of Grandeur, ATA, also bred by CMF) pedigree. Following his foundation at CMF his training continued and progress successfully through CCI*** level and made an appearance at Rolex Kentucky this spring with Werner Geven.

Quinn is just about the most genuine, hard working and forgiving horse I've had the pleasure of working with. Below is a video taken at the Tryon International Equestrian Center a few weeks ago at our first class together.


We are planning for Millbrook as our first event with the ultimate goal to head to the Fair Hill International CCI*** this fall.

Updates on the farm and other horses coming soon.

Kicking 2015 Off in Chilly Style

I just returned home from the first clinic of 2015. I was graciously invited by the North Texas Eventing Association to teach for the long weekend at Kim Willnow's beautiful, Charismatic Moon Farm. I have to firstly thank Kim for her organization as well as hospitality. We had a tremendous group of people participating, and tough to say the least. All endured freezing temperatures with a great attitude.

Randy and Ashton Willnow were able to get a bunch of great pics, a few are below.

We had a great variety of horses and riders from intro through preliminary. We had scheduled flatwork sessions on Friday, poles and small combinations Saturday finishing up with some more complicated combinations and course work on Sunday. I was excited to see how each horse and rider combination progressed each day.

I've always found clinics a great opportunity to help both horses and riders better understand how to work with each other. This was certainly no exception, with many progressing beyond my own expectations! I'm very lucky to be in a position to help, and with each weekend I'm always impressed how much I learn from each of the combinations.

I'm looking forward to the next trip west. The clinic scheduled for the end of January held at Meadow Creek. Click for details!

-Doug