On Saturday, November 4th, ERAHC hosted a Baroque Equestrian Games & Institute (BEGI) Schooling Show at picturesque Penmerryl Farm. The setting was simply fantastic, as Penmerryl is nestled at the foothills of the beautiful Blueridge Mountains in Greenville, Virginia. The weekend started and was capped off with a clinic with founders Bruno Gonzalez and Tina Veder. There were 11 horses in attendance to study and show off their skills for judge, Mr. Gonzalez.

From groundwork to classical patterns, to musical presentations, these diligent riders and their horses, performed the intricate patterns that had been designed specifically for the development of the Iberian horse. Some had studied this path for many years while others had only just started. It was the epitome of harmony and while watching, you can see how one movement was setup to follow the next into the culmination of movements at each level. What was striking was the kindness and flexibility that isn’t offered in a traditional dressage test.

Riders that were not very confident or if their horses weren’t quite sure of the judges stand (how many horses have we witnessed at competitions that wouldn’t get near a judges stand?!) were permitted to overcome their fears. There were many in attendance who had a brief introduction at our Educational Symposium Day that were able to see deeper into what BEGI was all about.

After the competition we gathered for hot cider or a glass of wine around the warm and glowing firepit for some fun camaraderie and sharing of the great day we all had. ERAHC looks forward to hosting more events for our members as a viable avenue to train their Iberian horses. For more information about the upcoming BEGI clinics, contact Lonnie Bates at piaffe101@gmail.com or contact Susan Hart at susanhart@mebtel.net.

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