Flying W Farms Samskara's Fire

IGGHR #372

Born in 2005
Sire: Firedance-Saddlebred
Dam: Hi Hopes Leap of Faith

Person riding a brown and white horse on a gravel path, with trailers and distant mountains in the background.

Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Subject: FWF Samskara's Fire 2005 Foal; Firedance x Hi Hopes Leap of Faith

Dear Fredericka and Robin, Update on Samskara Dressage/Ct (eventing and cross country!)
Sam is doing great this season. He did Novice at Rebecca Farm (USEF/USEA recognized World Cup Event) this summer, after starting out as a beginner novice in local events in May. He exceeded all of our expectations! He was a little wound up for dressage and got a 39, but went clean over the HUGE x-c course and almost clean (pulled 3 rails -- tired!) in show jumping. We couldn't have been happier with him. He continues to be a kind, willing, honest guy with a heart of gold. Everyone loves him! I'm including a picture of him being ridden by my trainer, Stephanie Kappes, warming up for dressage.
I hope all of you are doing well there at FWF.
Fondly,
Kimber

A person riding a brown and white horse in an outdoor riding arena, with green trees and buildings visible in the background.

A person wearing a helmet rides a brown and white horse on a dirt path, with trees and buildings in the background.

A person dressed in black rides a brown horse with white markings on a sandy path with a grassy and mountainous background.

A person is riding a horse in an outdoor arena with hills and trees in the background on a sunny day.

A person rides a brown and white horse in an outdoor arena with trees and mountains in the background.

Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Subject: FWF Samskara's Fire 2005 Foal; Firedance x Hi Hopes Leap of Faith
Dear Fredericka and Robin,

Sam is coming along beautifully. We started him under saddle at about 2.5 yrs and at 3 yrs he is going quietly at the walk, trot and canter, indoors and out. He really is the best horse I've ever owned and I just adore him! Everyone at our barn loves him too -- he is famously sweet and inquisitive. This past weekend we took him to the Missoula Equestrian Center with some of his buddies who were schooling there in preparation for a show. It was his first trip off the farm since he arrived 2 years ago, and he was so good. He has up until now not been a huge fan of water, and has given the water element in the x-c course at our barn a fairly wide berth. But on that day, he took confidence from his paddock mate and decided he would try to wade into the water element. Once he got in, he was absolutely thrilled with himself and with the water, which he proceeded to splash and play in. I thought, hmm, I think he is thinking of rolling! But I didn't think he would since he hadn't been that comfortable with water. Well, I was wrong. Like with other things, once his quick brain figured out that it was not a threat, he was done with being frightened of it...so, he laid down. I hopped off and tapped him a couple of times with my dressage whip before he rolled on my saddle, and he was just sort of like "well, OK -- if you insist!", got up, and strolled out. I love this about him -- even for such a youngster, he might startle at things once, but then he immediately learns and doesn't repeat the reaction.

We will take him to a small local dressage show this fall and then will start him over fences. Next July, we will take him to his 4 yr old test at Rebecca Farm -- it is the only World Cup/Olympic qualifying event in the Northwest, so it draws riders from all over the region, down to TX and CA and from Canada as well. It will be inspiring to be riding in the same place as Olympians!
Here are some pictures of Sam and me this summer.

I'll keep you posted!
All my best,
Kimber

A woman in a black sweater stands beside a brown and white horse in a grassy field, gently holding its halter.

A person wearing a black top stands outdoors next to a brown horse with a blue halter, gently resting their head against the horse's face.

A brown and white horse with white legs trots in a grassy enclosure with distant mountains in the background.

A brown and white horse with white legs trots in a grassy field with hills in the background under a partially cloudy sky.

A horse and a baby calf stand face to face in a grassy field, enclosed by a wooden fence, with trees in the background.

Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008
Subject: RE: Sammie -- Registered Georgian Grande, Clydesdale/Saddlebred

This is Sammie a couple of months after he got here in 2005, at about 14 mos ... not so little anymore! He is now nearing 17 hands.
Hugs,
Kimber