Notes From Rio - Kate Poulin-Neff

I am sure you have heard about our problems with shipping and cargo. So I want to tell you that my horse Brilliant Too is in "Top Form" The training time in West Palm helped Zuel become more supple and through. Zuel feels better and better everyday. All the horses here are healthy and happy. Yesterday Zuel came out twisting his head up and bucking with me.

Photo courtesy: Gwen Poulin

Today he is still feeling "Fresh". But today we worked more on suppling and my father is very happy with how he went. As the days go on, we will increase the work. Tonight Klaus Balkenhol arrives and I will get a lesson with him tomorrow. I look foward to his opinions.

It is a great feeling to be here in Brazil representing the United States. I am very proud to be here and want to do a super job for us. The stadium for the Dressage is very beautiful. The seats are close to the arena with colorful banners everywhere. The vibrant colors of Brazil are everywhere you go. You can almost feel the excitment of the games through this amazing facilty.

Our warmup arenas are big and the footing is good. The equestrian facilty is inside a Military base. So all day Miliatary men are walking around with guns in their riding boots and spurs. We feel very safe and secure. They even have a little store in our barn to buy grooming supplies, carrots, meds, supplements or grain.