When I was a kid I, like many kids loved Lipizzaners. But I was from a big family and the hope of owning my own horse was futile. There was no money for horses, board, farriers and vets. I struggled to save enough babysitting money to ride livery horses and take lessons as often as I could as a teenager.

Many years later as an adult I was able to buy the horse of my dreams, something I thought I'd never own: a Lipizzaner. That was Tristan. And what a fine horse he was. Calm, docile, affectionate. I couldn't have found a better horse. I read books and backed him myself. He was totally unflappable. He was quite fine with just about anything that ever happened to him. (of course nothing bad ever did. I saw to that). He was a great trail horse. Calm, relaxed and got along with my friends mares.

Over time I had several trainers who helped me. I learned alot from all of them. But I also learned some hard lessons. My property flooded and I decided to put Tristan in training in Portland which is about 2 hours away from where I live. I visited Tristan without fail every Friday and took a lesson on him. Somehow he deteriorated there. I still don't know why. the trainer was respected and well known. However when Tristan came home he had lost his calm happy go lucky ways. Now he was nervous and flighty. He stood in his stall with his head turned to the wall. He was depressed. When I tried to ride him he would take off at a gallop and spook over every little thing. His mind just seemed fried and he wasn't himself at all. So I decided not to ride him. I started just hand walking him and taking him for hikes and just spending time with him. I did this for a year and gradually he came back to himself and I was able to start riding him again. Then we had wonderful trail rides together and he was my familiar boy again.

Tristan has all the best qualities of a Lipizzaner. He is incredibly smooth and comfortable to ride. Anyone can sit his trot. His canter is as comfortable as sitting in a stuffed rocking chair. And he is endlessly good humored and gentle.

I put Tristan in training with Mr. Hallet and he greatly improved his fitness level. Despite he is so calm he is actually quite a sensitive horse and it is a joy to ride him. After I had Anna, my mare in training as well Maria approached me about having one of her students ride Tristan and show him. As I was too busy to ride my mare and keep Tristan really fit I was happy to lease Tristan for awhile. And so began his partnership with Amalia Boyles. She made quite the elegant rider with her porceline complexion and long strawberry hair. They made quite the picture, the lovely young girl on the snow white Lipizzaner. With Tristan, Amalia won top Junior rider of a Lipizzaner at first level.

This year Catherine Mayhew will be riding and showing Tristan. She already took two firsts, a second and a third with scores at 67% which is quite good for their first show ever together. Their next dressage show is at the end of May.

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My sister Therese Stellatto riding Tristan. Thristan is now home and back to being my dressage teacher and primary trail riding horse. Welcome home Tris!!