Flying W Farms Prince Aragorn

IGGHR # 438

From: Jen CTRP Schooling Team Director
Date: Mon, Jan 12, 2015
Subject: FWF Prince Aragorn update
To: Flying W Farms

Happy New Year!

I just wanted to send you an update for last year.

We began working with a trainer last April and we have made huge improvements! This year, I plan to begin working on my USDF Bronze medal! My trainer feels that earning that medal will be easy for us. Who knows, we might even be able to silver in a few years!

We competed in three shows this past fall, rode in several clinics, and have trained regularly with my trainer. She is absolutely in love with Aragorn and feels that he has unlimited potential! He puts 100% into all of his work. He truly was bred for dressage and absolutely LOVES it! In fact, lateral work is his favorite so far! He instantly softens, collects, and tries harder as soon as I began asking for any lateral work.

Aragorn and I always score above 60% at the shows. We generally have scores above 65% and several in the 70s. Judges love his presence and always comment on how perfect we are for one another. Comments often say that he is elegant, beautiful and such a super horse!

Thank you for breeding this lovely boy- I don't know what I'd do without him! He is my true love!

Please find some photos from this past fall- look at how much Aragorn has changed and grown over the years! Jen

A person in white riding attire is riding a dark horse within an enclosed outdoor equestrian arena with trees in the background.

A person wearing riding gear is sitting on a black horse. The background includes a building and some foliage.

A person rides a dark-colored horse during an equestrian event, with a few people seated and watching in the background.

Subject: FWF Prince Aragorn Update
Date: Tue, 7 May 2013
From: Jen
To: [email protected]

Hello!

I was so excited to see the gorgeous ribbon we received from your farm for HOY Grand Champion in Dressage Intro. level for 2012. Thank you!

I have taken things very slowly with Aragorn, and it has certainly paid off. We competed in a local dressage show series in 3 shows this past fall. We did very well and won reserve champion for the series in Intro. level. Here are the scores we received throughout the series:

USDF Intro. A: 63.75%, 72%, and 83.75%
USDF Intro. B: 63.75%, 71%, and 79.69%
USDF Intro. C: 58.5%, 67%, and 77.25%

As you can see, we made incredible improvements throughout the series!

Additionally, we won first place in each show in the dressage equitation class and finished the season with 5 blues, 3 reds, a yellow, a white and a pink ribbon. I am so excited to participate in more shows this year. We are working hard on perfecting our training level tests at home and schooling first level, as well.

The judges had many wonderful things to say such as: "fun to judge," talented pair," and "a lovely team with potential for great things." Additionally, one judge stopped us at the end of a dressage equitation class to check out my "beautiful horse with his beautiful rider." Not only do the judges love us, but spectators are constantly keeping their eyes on Aragorn and stopping me to compliment his way of going and to tell me how gorgeous he is. He has such presence; he seeks the attention!

I have attached a few photos from this past fall. Please feel free to add them to your website!

I hope all is well at the farm.

Sincerely,
Jen

A person in equestrian attire rides a black horse in an open grassy field with a forested background. Both rider and horse appear focused.

A person wearing a helmet and equestrian attire is riding a dark horse in an open field with trees in the background.

A person in equestrian attire rides a dark horse within a fenced area, with a small barn and trees in the background.

A woman wearing a colorful dress rides a black horse decorated with a pink skirt and sunglasses, outdoors in a wooded area near a few people and a fence.

A horse with a blue ribbon is being attended to by three people in a wooded area, with numbered tags and a vehicle visible in the background.

A woman walks a black horse in an outdoor arena, with a black trailer and trees in the background.

A woman stands in front of a horse holding a sign that reads "Go Green, Ride a Horse." The horse is decorated with flowers and peace signs. The setting appears to be an outdoor event in a wooded area.

A person wearing a helmet rides a dark brown horse, facing the camera. They are on a sandy area with a wooden shed and a fenced boundary in the background. The date on the image is June 14, 2009.

Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009
Subject: Flying W Farms Prince Aragorn, IGGHR #438

Hi Fredericka and Robin,

I purchased Aragorn (Koning (Friesian) X Sultan's Super Blue (saddlebred) from you last December, when he was a bit over 2 1/2 years old, and he has begun to mature into the most beautiful, affectionate, and intelligent horse I have had the pleasure to know! He has changed so much: when I got him he was shaggy in his winter coat with a baby's body and face, now he is maturing into a big, masculine, gorgeous Georgian Grande! The moment he arrived at my barn, we began building a strong relationship: within days he was following me around and trying to be with me rather than his pasture mates when I put him out to pasture.

I have been taking Aragorn's training very slowly (which I am mostly doing myself). He lunges, ground drives, leads and rides through and over obstacles (including mattresses!), walks with me at liberty, and is under saddle walk and trot. I have taken Aragorn to a Sport Horse Versatility Clinic, on trail rides, and to his first horse show! I included a picture from the clinic (June 2009) that shows him halted with just his forefeet on a bridge; I was so proud of him because I was able to have him halt with just his forefeet on the bridge, step fully onto the bridge and halt, and then step off with just his forefeet and halt with his hind feet on the bridge (and this was only about the 8th time I had EVER ridden him and his first time at an unknown stable with unknown horses!)!!

I also included some pictures from his first horse show: October 3, 2009. We did two in-hand classes: one hunter in-hand, the other hunter showmanship. We also did a costume class! Aragorn began his first show experience with a 1st place in the hunter in-hand and a 2nd place in the hunter showmanship! You should have seen him: in his first class (hunter in-hand) a group of supporters began clapping and cheering when it was our turn to enter the ring and the cheers must have made him feel good because he stretched his neck up into a high, long arch and trotted with so much expression and joy! I was literally running next to him shouting "Good boy! Good boy!!!" He certainly was born to show off! I was so proud! The costume class was a bunch of fun, we got 2nd place in that class as well (we were hippies picketing for going green by riding a horse!)!

Otherwise, I have included some other photos for you of him from around the barn and getting ready for his first trail ride. And yes, while he was black when I got him, and he is back to black again now, daily turnout in our excessively sunny and hot coastal summer had turned him to bay for the summer!

Anyway, he is just so lovely in looks, presence, and personality! I love him to pieces and I know he loves me just as much. He is the best friend I could have ever asked for and I can't wait to begin bumping up the pressure and working towards our first competitive season beginning next spring! I think he will be absolutely amazing in the dressage ring! I wouldn't hesitate to purchase another Georgian Grande from you on the future! Keep in touch!

Sincerely,
Jennifer W