December 2011, January 2012  This is a great time of year for trainers - because they get to train!! Show season has not yet begun and a few schooling shows are available to check out the progress. Busch Sporthorses went to two schooling shows; one at Amen Corner and then the other at Serenity Farm. Again at Amen, Tony Tasso and Maximus had a great show together at 3rd level. Blue ribbons were the dominant theme for those two. Also showing for the very first time at Serenity Farm was Debra Deprato on her beloved Watusi. They were not to be outdone at Intro bringing home blue ribbons as well.  Vicky showed Maximus at I-1 earning an impressive 67% to begin the season. We are all now excited and ready for the opening recognized show in February.

November 2011  Tony Tasso's Maximus was a shining star at the Region 9 Championships as he came home in 3rd place at PSG for SWDC. Classes were very large and competition was stiff so we were thrilled with him. Ronda Ritchie's Rasputin came home 5th at SWDC among 20 other horses. The competition was so tight that his score was only 1.5 points away from the winner! Now that's a competition. With over 400 horses at the show, we were VERY pleased with both horses. Also a big event in November was a schooling show at Amen Corner at which Tony Tasso aboard Maximus and Kay Sturdivant on Inkheart, participated. Both students did great and learned alot toward horse showing. Blue ribbons were in abundance!

September & October 2011 These months have been filled with schooling shows and preparations for the Region 9 Championships in November. We also have welcomed two new clients to the farm. Debra DePrato with her lovely gelding Watusi and Nell Wade with her exceeding beautiful mare, Pacifica. We look forward to working with both clients and their talented horses.

August 2011  Lot's of riders ultimately earn their USDF Silver Medal. Not many do it in the way that Vicky's student Sheila Smart accomplished that goal. A unique blend of extreme generosity by Elyse End (it was her 21 year old Danish horse, Opal on which Sheila was so splendidly mounted) in addition to the raw talent and skill of a truly gifted rider, on top of lots of hard work and determination, made a dream come true for Sheila in record time!  Until this spring, Sheila had never ridden, trained or shown at 4th or PSG levels. So amazingly, she earned her Silver Medal on Opal in her first attempt - meaning, it only took her two shows at 4th level where she earned scores over 60% and then at the very next two shows over one weekend she earned the required scores at PSG, both over 60%. Basically, having already earned her Bronze medal last year, she earned her Silver Medal riding only 4 tests! It's a truly remarkable accomplishment that does NOT happen often. Congratulations to ALL!!!

July 2011   It's HOT!! But even so we are managing to make progress in terms of advancing everyone's training. Vicky taught another clinic In Baton Rouge at Nancy Burba's. Everyone was grateful for the fact that it was a somewhat pleasant day as cloud cover and an afternoon shower blessed the event.

May & June 2011  Our last show for the spring season at Dressage Across the Lake III and IV was a very successful debut at Intermediare I for Tony Tasso's Maximus. The summer will now be spent concentrating on improving his "big boy" stuff like piaffe and passage. May and June were also busy with clinics, one at Nancy Burba's Hidden Acres in Baton Rouge and another in Bozeman, MT.

April 2011  We've been busy here at Busch Sporthorses! In the beginning of the month, Vicky taught another well attended clinic in Bozeman, MT at Tri-H. She was once again ushered out of town by a snowstorm! On the breeding front we are excited to announce that Electra has been confirmed in foal to Belissimo M for a much anticipated 2012 baby. And, through a circuitous set of circumstances, we are pleased to say that Rubicon is back in our broodmare band. She will be bred to Winterprinz next spring for a 2013 foal. At the end of the month we attended a big three day show in Katy, TX. It was held in conjunction with their first CDI. We brought Gabriella, Maximus and Rasputin to this huge extravaganza - with great results. Max placed 2nd out of 10 horses in the PSG on the first day with a 62.632%. He WON the next day's PSG out of 11 horses with a 64.474%! He was reserve Champion at PSG for the weekend. Rasputin won every class and earned progressively higher scores throughout the weekend, ending up with two 69%'s and a 70% to achieve 3rd level Champion on both days. Gabriella gained much needed experience at her first show held at this "big and scary" facility. She held her own by earning a qualifying score as well as finishing at reserve Champion for 3rd level. It's a good thing we had two horse trailers since we had so much loot to haul home! Congratulations to all!!

March 2011  In the breeding department, our flagship mare, Nea Antalya has been confirmed in foal to Hassler Dressage's Rousseau. "Excited" is too limiting a word to describe how we feel about this foal for 2012. And in the clinic department, Vicky taught a one day clinic at Nancy Burba's Hidden Acres where this super group of hard working students continue to make vigilant progress. And finally in the Show department, we had our very first recognized show of the season at Dressage Across the Lake I. We are SO proud of all three horses who participated. With Vicky aboard all,  Gabriella (Linda Smith) made her recognized horse show debut at 3rd level!! She was fabulous. Maximus (Tony Tasso) was truly fantastic as he placed both second and then first the next day in the FEI test of choice. He put in two very solid PSG tests achieving qualifying scores both days.  Rasputin (Ronda Ritchie) made a respectable debut at Third Level, already achieving 2 qualifying scores for the Championships. Everybody came home with either first or second place ribbons - not too shabby for our debut show!

January 2011  More training in the COLD! Vicky taught a clinic in Bozeman, MT with her regular group of students. It was a fantastic learning experience and everyone enjoyed the warm environment (both figuatively and literally) at Tri-H. On her departure, Vicky got to experience 4 degrees below ZERO! Not an experience she wants to repeat. LOL. And then some really big news for Busch Sporthorses, longtime friend and client Nancy Burba bought our first baby, Wrigley (Winterprinz/Ariadus/Renaissance). We are so happy to know he is going to partner with Nancy in the future and will have the very best life. Now the only challenge will be for Vicky and Nancy as they learn to co-parent together.

December 2010  While every horse here at Busch Sporthorses is valued and treasured, we do have a resident superstar in Ronda Ritchie's Rasputin. In his typical over achieving style with Vicky on board, he place 6th at USDF Second level HOY and then was Champion Danish Horse for Second level in All-Breeds. These are National rankings!!  Congratulations to the entire "Stuart" team!!

November 2010  Our Region 9 Championships were a terrific success! Rasputin was SWDC 2nd level Champion with a 73.5%!! He was also USDF 2nd level Reserve Champion. And not to be outdone Maximus was 4th in his Fourth Level Championship class AND made a very sucessful PSG debut finishing second in a very large class!! A good time was had by all.

October 2010 Training, training, training, with a schooling show peppered in. All our horses did great!

September 2010 This month was crazy busy starting with a horse show for Rasputin in Conroe, TX where of course he won all his classes. The second week Vicky found herself in Bozeman for another clinic. Two weeks later Vicky and clients from both LA and MT found themselves at the WEG in KY. It was the experience of a lifetime.

August 2010  We are SO happy and proud to announce that longtime client Linda Smith has a new dressage partner. Her name is Gabriella and she is a darling dapple gray,15-2 hand, 7 year old Andalusian cross that has been beautifully trained to 3rd level by Debbie Hill of Huntsville Alabama. Vicky could not wipe the smile off of her face when she tried her and is looking forward to the future for both Linda and herself with this lovely little mare. To see a gorgeous photo of both Linda and Gabriella minutes after her arrival at Busch Sporthorses, go to our "Horses and Their People" page.

July 2010  Vicky returned to beautiful Bozeman (especially this time of year) for another 3 day clinic. A cancelled flight had her teaching 16 lessons on the first day which should have been the second day, to try to get everyone in! Everyone managed and were such good sports! As usual, this hard working group was a blast to work with.

June 2010  It's just HOT!! That's all the news we have this month.

May 2010   Our foals are here! Both were born healthy and beautiful. See our breeding page for a slide show of Fenway and Fashionista (aka Heidi). On May 7th, Vicky taught another day clinic at Nancy Burba's Hidden Acres. It was very gratifying to see everyone making great progress with their horses! Also at the end of May, Vicky went back to Bozeman to work with her regular student there. The focus was putting the final touches on their training for the Kalispel Dressage Show the next weekend. They are READY!!

April 2010   Vicky's clinic in Bozeman this month featured the subject of test riding. It was a big hit among participants. Also in April, we attended another recognized show in Pensacola, FL. Maximus and Rasputin were stars as they both won all their classes, achieved the high point award in each of their respective divisions, Fourth and Second levels, and then Rasputin won high point of the entire show with a 73.421%.  And oh yes, both achieved qualifying scores for the Championships. What a thrill!  

March 2010   Schooling shows as well as the first recognized show of the season at Serenity Farm (Dressage Across the Lake I) were all fun and successful for both our show veterans and our young horses that came along for an outing. Rasputin won the Danish Horse High point award - again!! See Horse Show page for more details.

February 2010   A busy month with another terrific clinic taught by Vicky in Bozeman. Also the beginning of the show season.

December 2009   The USDF convention in Austin, Texas was much fun for us all! Rasputin received his Danish Horse of the Year Award in addition to doing a bang up job as a demo horse for the USDF Jan Brink symposium. It was a valuable experience for both Vicky and Stuart.

November 2009  Rasputin earned 1st place at First level for Danish Horse of the Year. WOW! What next Stuart? Ronda and her husband Sheldon will accept that award in Austin, TX at the USDF convention while we are also there to demo ride with Jan Brink.

November 2009   Another day clinic at Nancy Burba's Hidden Acres was filled with much learning and of course, FUN! Everyone in this hard working group continues to improve.

November 2009  Another fabulous Vicky Busch clinic in Bozeman, MT. This time hosted by the Bridger Canyon Stallion Station. Thanks again to Sheila Smart, Elyse End and Suzanne Edwards. Vicky will return in early February.

October 2009  The Region 9 USDF and SWDC Champiohships were a huge success for Busch Sporthorses. Ronda Ritchie's Rasputin was SWDC champion at both Training and First levels. He was also awarded the Tommy Thompson memorial award for the highest score of the entire 4 day dual Championships. And finally, he won another beautiful pad from the Danish Warmblood Society as high point Danish horse. Not to be outdone, Tony Tasso's Maximus tied for 3rd at Third level SWDC. We are all so proud of them both, especially since their classes were huge and very competitive.

October 2009  Our day clinic at Nancy Burba's Hidden Acres was fun and a big success. Vicky will return in November for another clinic with this fantastic group of riders.

July 2009    Dr. Andrea Stieg of the Westphalian Verband visited Busch Sporthorses to inspect our mares and foals. It was aterrific day with many compliments on all our horses presented. Dr. Stieg could not believe that these were our first foals - according to her, the quality of them both was very high!

July 2009    Our covered arena is FINALLY complete! Vicky is still in disbelief, but ever so grateful to be able to get out of the sun and rain.