Will Coleman's News Blog - Professional Event Rider and Horse Trainer

This is our Equestrian Diary & Daily News blog where we keep you up to date with news and photos in the equestrian world. If YOU have any NEWS that you would like us to add to our blog, then please Contact Us.

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20th September 2011
After a fall season ravaged by the disappointment of having to withdraw Twizzel from the Burghley dressage warm-up, it is with some degree of excitement and optimism that Jim Wildasin and Will have decided to enter Twizzel at the Fair Hill CCI3. Twizzel is sound and healthy, and obviously, should anything change, the horse will be saved for better days. But, at the moment, Twizzel is fit and ready, and will contest the event to maintain his Olympic qualifications for next year.

19th September 2011
We were blessed with an extremely successful weekend at the Plantation Field International this past weekend. Nanki Doubleday's Ole Boy won the CIC1, OBOS O'Reilly and Vancover were 2nd and 3rd in the CIC2 with impressive performances, and Plain Dealing Farm's Ideal Contini finished 3rd in the Open Intermediate. Jim Fitzgerald's Zipp and Jim Wildasin's Cool Connection also had good weekends, but Will chose to make their cross-country rounds a bit steadier, and so held them off the pace. More than anything, all the cross-country rounds of each of these horses were convincingly strong around stout tracks. Many of these horses are looking forward to Fair Hill, and this weekend helped confirm each of them as on track for the year-end three-day events. After a long summer in England, it was a great return to American eventing!

1st September 2011
Burghley Report: Heartbreaking as it is to rehash, Will and Twizzel had to withdraw suddenly from the Burghley CCI4* when Twizzel inexplicably went lame in the warm-up collecting ring before his dressage test. After a good morning session, Will was going through his pre-test routine when Twizzel went noticeably off in a left half-pass. It did not improve and appeared to worsen as he continued with his warm-up. Not knowing what was going wrong, Will had no choice but to withdraw Twizzel from the competition literally minutes away from his dressage test. While the reason for the lameness is still being determined, it appears to be coming from Twizzel's shoulder, and a full examination will be conducted when the horse returns to the United States next week. Words cannot describe how disappointed Will is, both for his owner Jim Wildasin, his supporters, and, perhaps, most of all, for his horse, who is once again missing a chance to prove his class. As it stands, Twizzel will be examined as soon as he returns, and is fully expected to return to competition, if not this fall, then next spring.

18th August 2011
The overall purpose of this syndication proposal is to create a system for success in international eventing. In this proposal, we put forth a way to reconcile the large number of horses required to be consistently competitive with the higher costs associated with campaigning multiple horses. This particular syndication concerns two horses aiming for the 2014 WEG and the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. The most obvious advantage that a well-structured syndication provides is that it can allow a rider to manage a group of horses to his competitive gain for a price far below what a one-horse-to-one-owner ratio can accomplish . With this reduction in cost also comes the increased odds for performance success that a multi-horse string can provide for both the rider and the syndicate shareholders. Essentially, what I am striving to create is a program for lasting success, a system of support that can fund the types of horses I need to compete at an international level. The biggest hurdle so far has been trying to reconcile the numbers of horses required, as mentioned above, with the exorbitant cost of running such large competition strings. Syndication offers the most efficient way of doing this, providing a participant with the greatest odds for potential success in the most cost-efficient manner. This syndicate, in particular, tries to maximize cost-savings and potential success to the buyers. Unlike most syndicates, this arrangement offers each share-holder, or half share-holder, an ownership stake in not one, but two horses, Vancover and OBOS O'Reilly. The goal here is to sell ten shares at $15,000 a share, raising $150,000 to then invest in these two high-quality prospects. Half-shares will also be offered at $7500 per. Annual maintenance costs for the group will then be portioned out on a per-share basis, and paid quarterly or monthly, at the discretion of the shareholder. Whole share-holders will pay $700/month for their equity stake in the two horses, and half-share owners $350/month. It is worth noting that what one share in this syndicate for TWO horses would cost a participant, per month, is far less than what most owners currently pay for one! Furthermore, from the outset, a participant’s exposure is limited to the share price of $15,000 (or $7500 for a half-share), as opposed to a single owner being on the hook for the whole horse. As for the annual maintenance expenses, they are fixed and will be paid quarterly to The American Horse Trials Foundation, a 501(c)3 that offers a full tax refund. While I don’t promise any fiscal return on the investment, I do think that it is reasonable to assume that these horses will appreciate in value, meaning that should an opportunity arise to sell a horse without sacrificing the end goal, such revenue could be either reinvested in the syndicate, disbursed equally to shareholders, or used as start-up capital for a new prospective horse fund. Either way, if you are interested in being a top-level event horse owner, this arrangement hopefully makes it more affordable for you and also less risky. As for the horses, OBOS O'Reilly and Vancover have both had a very successful season at two-star level and have been pursued and/or listed already by USEF High Performance as potential horses for this year's American Pan-Am team. OBOS O'Reilly was in fact short-listed until I recently withdrew him (SEE NEWS HEADLINE), and Vancover was asked to be vetted by High Perfrormance following a 6th-place finish at Jersey Fresh, but I respectfully declined because I really did not have the horse's future mapped out clearly yet. He promptly won his next competition, the Stuart CIC2. Both horses have shown the class needed at the next level. The added advantage is that both horses have been trained and developed in my system, meaning that there won't be a transition period that typically follows a new purchase. These aren't green-as-grass, unproven youngsters. Currently on track to contest an advanced horse trial this fall and the three-star level next year, they are both already headed down the path that eventually leads to events like Rolex, Burghley, and perhaps the major championships that we all dream about. At eight and nine years old, they are entering the prime of their career, and it would seem the perfect time to become a part of their futures. If you or someone you know might be interested in participating in this syndication, please don't hesitate to call or email me with questions or concerns. More information in the form of a hard-copy proposal is available upon request. The United States is a waning force on the international eventing stage at the moment. What will bring us back to the forefront will be our best riders producing and keeping strings of four-star mounts in their stables. I think these two are worth keeping, and hope to share their adventures with like-minded, competitive horse-lovers who yearn to see an American back on top of the eventing world. Sincerely, Will Coleman

19th August 2011
For Twizzel and I, Hartpury was certainly not the ideal final build-up to the biggest four-star in the world. Hard ground and a nasty skin infection on Twizzel's pastern meant that we had to make a difficult decision about whether or not to run the cross-country. While Twizzel was completely sound by Sunday morning, he was certainly bothered by the irritated skin on the back of his pastern, something which I think detracted from both our dressage and show jumping performances. A compromise was made to run a little over half the cross-country, at least getting Twizzel through the water and a good set of double corners before pulling up to stay on the safe side of things. He's an experienced horse, and at that point I felt he would have at least taken the edge off before Burghley and gotten a good school. A gallop on Tuesday will keep us on track fitness-wise too. All-in-all, despite the hiccups, we were able to get something out of the event, and I think Twizzel will be ready when we get to Stamford, England in a few weeks time. Thanks to everyone for their support and wish us luck! -Will

19th August 2011
It is with some degree of sadness that I have had to withdraw OBOS O'Reilly from Pan Am Games ion. Luckily, though, it's because of a good problem. Due to scheduling conflicts, a rider chosen for the Pan Am Games cannot compete at Fair Hill International, an event for which I am currently aiming four other horses. It is simply too important to take these horses to Fair Hill, which is our best developmental three-day in the United States, and to miss it with all of them would set me back well into next year. OBOS O'Reilly will now join those four other horses, and will contest the CCI2 there. I am also currently trying to syndicate this horse. Details regarding his syndication is available on this website, and will also be featured on the USEF's Event Owner Task Force website when it is launched in a couple weeks.

20th July 2011
Four-Star Eventing Group's Vancover wins the Stuart CIC2, leading from start to finish for Will. Congrats also to Plain Dealing Farm's and Lucia Strini's Ideal Contini, winner of the Open Preliminary at Stuart, finishing on his dressage score. Will would like to thank the owners for both horses, as well as his incredible crew, who did an amazing job keeping his operation running smoothly while he was in England. He would also like to thank the Muxworthy's, who provided some much needed local assistance to Will and Andrea, whose hands were more than full with seven horses at Stuart. Check out Eventing Nation for some reports on Stuart: www.eventingnation.com Also check Will's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Will-Coleman-Equestrian/186268038070138

4th March 2011
This page will serve as your reliable source for competition highlights, s, WCE news, sale videos, and media coverage. Check it out and "Like" us! Here's the URL: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Will-Coleman-Equestrian/186268038070138

9th March 2011
For video, photos, competition s, and archived media, check out Will's Facebook page at the following URL: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Will-Coleman-Equestrian/186268038070138

12th March 2010
Will is back in Aiken after two weeks show jumping in Holland with his good friend and great horseman Wiljam Laarakkers. After training for a couple of days at Wiljam's farm in Ottersum, they took six horses to the Zuidbroek CSI, showing for three days in the small, medium, and big tours. Coming late Saturday night and then training all day Sunday, they then went to another wonderful international show at Zwolle. Here are a few picks from an intense couple weeks of jumping, an experience that Will enjoyed thoroughly and will surely repeat.

9th February 2010
Also at Full Gallop Horse Trials, Jim Fitzgerald's War End was back competing for the first time since last spring, and sparkled in the dressage arena and jumped well around the cross. One of the newer horses, Vancover, performed well in our first event together, and is showing a lot of promise, as is Obos O'Reily, another young preliminary horse. Jim and Sarah Wildasin's was similarly dutiful in his first event with me, scoring a 19.6 in the dressage at Sporting Days horse trials on February 7th! He jumped well in the event also, but unfortunately had to relinquish the top spot after incurring a few time penalties on the cross, all according to plan, but a shame nonetheless. All in all, a great first week dusting off the cobwebs, and so much more to come.

9th February 2010
First week of eventing in Aiken. We're thrilled to be here for the winter, and the horses seem to be pleased as well, performing splendidly in their first events of the season. At Full Gallop horse trials on February 3, every horse competing placed, with Drummer's Call winning the Open Preliminary division on a 29.3, even after his rider learned the wrong dressage test and had two errors!

5th December 2009
Two new horses joined the stable this past month as part of an effort to shore up a lack of depth in the program. Aimed at being produced for the London Olympics and beyond, the horses are Vancover, a 7 y.o. Dutch gelding, and Zipp, a 5 y.o. Cavalier gelding, both purchased from Kelli Temple. In what is an effort to more effectively manage risk and cost in owning event horses, these two horses will join OBOS O'Reilly and a future fourth prospect as part of a group of horses owned by a syndicate known simply as The London Group. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a wonderful new era for Will and his team of supporters, all of which are very excited about the future of this exciting group of young, talented horses.

10th August 2009
We were on the road again this weekend at Millbrook Horse Trials in New York. It was a pleasure to be another superlative event in Area I coming off a wonderful weekend at Stuart Horse Trials. Once again, the weather was extremely cooperative, and it couldn't have been more pleasant running across the country and competing all weekend long. Luckily, we had more to celebrate than just weather, as the horses went reasonably well again also. Valencia and OBOS O'Reilly were 2nd and 3rd in their training division, and put together their best three-day performances yet this summer. Check out their videos. I think both might be ready for preliminary after another run at training. Drummer's Call continues to jump around preliminary events like he's been doing it for years, finishing fourth again this past weekend. This six year old is fast becoming one of my favorite horses to ride. Finally, Bartley Mill continues to find intermediate level easy. He has more to learn, but seems very comfortable. All in all, a very acceptable weekend from all of the horses. Videos: 1. Valencia, dressage 2. Valencia, SJ 3. Drummer's Call, SJ 3		Click HERE For VIDEOS

20th July 2009
I spent this last weekend at one of the great horse trials of the summer, Stuart Horse Trials in Victor, NY. Accompanying me were a stellar group of our young horses, including Valencia, Obos O'Reilly, Bartley Mill, and Drummer's Call. All placed and gave solid performances, especially Drummer's Call and Bartley Mill, who contested their first Preliminary and Intermediate event respectfully, placing fourth and sixth. Each went around the cross-country like veterans of their new level, and jumped well on Sunday around the spooky showjumping field at Stuart. I was very pleased, and now that they each have one under their belt, I will look to run a bit quicker the next time out and improve their placings even more. Valencia and Oboe also ran beautifully on the cross, and gain positive experience in each phase every time out. It was a great weekend on a lovely group of youngsters.		Click HERE For VIDEOS

14th July 2009
Another successful weekend for Will Coleman Equestrian at Maryland Horse Trails at Loch Moy Farm. Valencia VDL won her training level division, and Drummer's Call finished second. OBOS O'Reilly came in fourth. All three horses were very solid in all three phases Valencia and Drummer's Call were 1-2 after dressage, and jumped well in the other phases. "Oboe" is still quite green, but we were pleased with his progress this weekend. Bartley Mill, furthermore, was winning his preliminary division, but Will decided to pull him out of the cross-country going into next weekend's event on account of the hard ground in Maryland. All in all, we are looking forward to next weekend's Stuart Horse Trials, but our hats are off to the Loch Moy crew for putting on such a wonderful event and making every effort to improve the going with water trucks and aerating.		Click HERE For VIDEOS

19th June 2009
Will and Twizzel will arrive back at Tivoli Farm today after a successful trip to Europe. Though Luhmuhlen ended five days ago, Will went straight from Germany to Wiljan Larrakkers farm in Ottersum, Holland, for a few days of intensive show jumping training.

28th June 2009
Based on their performance this spring, Will and Twizzel remain on the A-List for Eventing High Performance.

26th June 2009
Mark Phillips' comment in Horse and Hound magazine features a great picture of Will and Twizzel, as well as some complimentary text. Check it out by clicking on the image.

26th June 2009

23rd February 2009
Good Morning! Hello to all of you who regularly check my Diary for news and information. The last few weeks since Mid January have been hectic and very busy. With spending time in Florida my time has been very scarce. I apologise! For that reason, the Diary is temporarily being put on hold while I concentrate on the boys and girls in the barn! As soon as more time becomes available it will of course resume. Please bear with me in the interim! Many Thanks, Will.

29th December 2008
It is nearly the end of 2008, and the challenges of a new year lie ahead. We anticipate the challenges here at Tivoli with excitement! We hope you all had a wonderful time with your families and four legged friends over the Holidays. Many of you have been busy emailing us through the website. Thank you! Laela Shallal emailed about her lovely 8 year old TB Gelding. He has competed up to Training Level and is super easy and sane, with what could be the ability to compete at the Upper Levels. Laela has asked my opinion and potentially the chance to compete and train him while she studies abroad this Spring. I am continually touched and flattered when owners ask me to work with their precious horses. It is an honour to be considered and asked. Thank you Laela! I would love to see photographs of him at this stage in his career. Ameera from Fairnborn has also been in touch asking about the possibility of coming to Tivoli and working with us through the Summer, and if that we are unable to help do we know of anyone else? There is nothing like spending time with a rider at their barn. So much can be learnt during the day to day. I was so fortunate to soend so much time with Karen and David O'Connor. It was invaluable, and they helped form my career and encourage my ambition. I can never thank them enough. A willingness to work hard and learn is the best place to start, and I hope that others benefit from time here at Tivoli as much as I have benefited in the past from others. As the sport continually changes and evolves it is vital to always be open and receptive to new ideas and techniques. Be like a sponge, and always focus on the next aim, as achievements and results are only relevant on that day. Then you have to aim for the next one! As 2009 approaches I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year, have a wonderful time welcoming in the next 12 months, and I will see you next year!

25th December 2008
Happy Holidays! I hope that all who enjoy the Website are having a wonderful time with friends and family. Not forgetting the horses of course. It is their holiday too! Not all horses enjoy a day off though today. Certainly there are many in Britain who are preparing for the traditional Boxing Day Meet all over the UK. And a small band of some of the best 'Chasers in the country will be contemplating the King George Chase at Kempton Park tomorrow. The appearance of the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner Kauto Star will be eagerly awaited by the Racing Crowd. Since being defeated by Denman in the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Kauto Star has had to endure the opinions of doubters which has left his Trainer Paul Nicholls exasperated by the fickle nature of the Racing Public. Whatever the outcomem, tomorrow is a great sporting day. I know that our friends across the Atlantic will be enjoying it! For Jump Racing enthusiasts who enjoy an insight into the life of a trainer, please visit www.kimbaileyracing.com and read the daily diary. It is factual and sometimes very amusing!

18th December 2008
We have had some lovely emails from you this last couple of days. Marijke Bakker got in touch, delighted to see that we have used pictures from the Show in Zuidbroek, Holland. I was lucky enough to ride there last year when I visited on my travels. I love to visit different countries and learn as much as I can about different techniques and theories when it comes to producing horses. I firmly believe that everyone can learn from each other, and riding at that particular show taught me a lot. I hope to be able to repeat the experience, and improve on my performance this time! For those of you that are interested, the shot at the top right hand of the home page is one such shot from Zuidbroek. We also had a lovely message from Guido Klatte who is a wonderful supporter of Tivoli. His logo can be seen in the Sponsors section of the site. Guido is super glad that things have worked out with Twizzel, and that all the youngsters have been going so well. So are we! Guido and his family are with a good friend Vicky at her Dancing/Clinc/Ball. Myself and Dad were at the same function last year with Alina. It was fun, and I am sorry to be missing it this year. However I am there in spirit and Guido assures me that they have had a drink on our behalf! Everyone is very obviously already concentrating their thoughts on next season, and Tivoli is receiving a lot of enquiries from aspiring Event riders who want to come and spend time with us. This makes us feel happpy that people really do value what we do, and are prepared to come and spend their valuable time with us to learn more about how we do things, and why our horses are so happy. Thank you! We are so flattered that we should be thought of and chosen. We will continue to do our best. Will

15th December 2008
The festive season is around the corner, and still I cannot believe how quickly time has passed for all of us. I am also concerned that there has been a distinct lack of Christmas Shopping going on. However I understand that this is true of both sides of the Atlantic, so my guilt is not perhaps as bad as it should be! We have been enjoying some lovely emails from you here at Tivoli. In particular from Leslie Bertram who was at Fair Hill. I have uploaded some photos that Leslie took onto the site. Please click on them and have a close look. I am thrilled to have been given permission to add them onto here for your enjoyment. Thank you Leslie! Other examples of Leslie's fine work can be seen at: www.ShawanDowns.org and www.MDCTA.com for who Leslie is the PR Chair. Leslie works very hard to promote the sport in Maryland and they are very lucky in the midatlantic region to have a number of good events. Leslie made some lovely remarks about our performances at Fair Hill and I would like to share them with you. 'Will and Twizzel were one of the cleanest, most controlled and efficient combinations at the Stone Wall Drop and Funky Chicken Corner at FHI. All of his horses looked so good that weekend. When I first saw Will and Nevada Bay come out of the dresssage arena, and saw how happy he was with his ride and the horse's beautiful expression I knew they were a team to be reckoned with. Will loves his horses, and they in turn respond.' It makes me so happy that people can see for themselves how hard we work with our wonderful horses here at Tivoli, and how blessed and priveliged we consider ourselves to be as a Team. It is all about the horses. Please enjoy the photographs from Leslie. They are of (in order) Nevada Bay, Twizzel and Cool Connection. Plus a final shot of Lucy and her pal Chico guarding the barn in fine style. I have also had time to other areas of the website, and you can now see a preferred picture of Andrea, as well as her dog Lucy in a typical pose languishing in the Fall sunshine outside the barn. Caroline has also now given me a photograph to use so that you can put a face to her name. Take a look at the Team Coleman area and see for yourselves! Thanks to Leslie I have also been able to update the horse's profiles, and add Cool Connection's details and his photos. I am looking forward to being able to do more of this as the winter progresses, and therefore provide you with more of an insight into our life here. There will be more news later! Will

5th December 2008
Christmas is looming fast, and again the year seems to have flown by, with so much speed. Next year is going to be so exciting, and the Winter Training is going to benefit us so much. The interview article that I have mentioned before will be appearing very soon in Sidelines magazine. I am gratified to learn that a lot of you share my views on the Selection and Training processes and see that we have to build for the long term and not try to use quick fix solutions. No matter how amazing and fantastic individual Trainers can be, there has to be some form of longevity and continuation. It is neither fair on the horses, riders or trainers to expect results to be delivered in months. It is a process that takes years and requires a massive amount of foresight and grass roots work. As my wonderful friend and Trainer Joe Fargis says, "Keep it Simple, and Keep Moving Forward." I think he means that in every single way. Another point that I raised in the interview was the need to get Spectators in Stands. The EEI Cup in the UK was trying to do this last weekend with mixed results. There was tragedy and great sadness, mixed with the good and the positive. At least there are good attempts to make our sport more appealing to the general public and bring it more to the attention of those who may be interested in exploring the sport and investing in it. Only by thinking forward can we attract Sponsors and big name Investment. We have to encourage the growth of the sport to keep it alive. Remember, there are those who are doubting that it should be an Olympic discipline, and that would be a disaster for all of us. So we have to pull together and move with the times and welcome change and development, while also appreciating the traditional values which make our sport so great. Please share your views and opinions with us here at Tivoli, and contribute via email. We would appreciate your thoughts and feedback. This site enables you to create discussion! More later. Will

2nd December 2008
A brief entry today. Such sad news. The Express Eventing International Cup was held in Cardiff, UK this weekend. Early reports have been mixed. While it is great to try and bring our sport to the attention of a wider audience, the rather empty stadium seems to tell it's own story. I also understand that from first hand spectators that they could have enjoyed themselves more. Added to this the tragic accident that befell Mary King's Call Again Cavalier and we are left to wonder about the future of this new project. There were also a large number of eliminations and faults. Was the space too tight, the surface too slippery? A few people are trying to work out how to improve the concept which can only be a positive thing. For those wishing to see some of the World's leading riders competing there this weekend, then I do know that www.youtube.com has a lot of videos on it featuring the successful rounds, including that of eventual winner Ollie Townend aboard Flint Curtis. He is quoted as saying that he is very thankful of the £100,000 prize money with the new mortgage he has on his new property in Ellesmere, Shropshire. Apparently it will cover a few payments. Ouch! I have attached the feature from Sidelines this month about Fair Hill. Twizzel as ever looks great. So smart, intelligent and handsome! My Father and I are so lucky to have him in the barn. More later!

25th November 2008
A trip South to Aiken in readiness for our Winter move down there has kept me occupied for the last few days. The warmer weather and the wonderful Equestrian community down there makes the cold months up here in Virginia bearable. Aiken really is a wonderful place. So many fellow riders and trainers move down there, it is like an annual migration! Aiken itself is a place of great Historical value and offers a huge amount to visitors and residents alike. The Thoroughbred horse is celebrated in a big way down there. Attractions include the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame & Museum. Horses trained in Aiken who have gone on to become National Champions are enshrined there. Horses such as Pleasant Colony the Kentucky Derby Winner, Preakness Winner, Summer Squall and and five time Horse of the Year Champion - Kelso. For more information please visit: www.aikenracinghalloffame.com. Originally the annual migration to Aiken by the Equestrian community began in 1870, when wealthy Northerners were lured to the area by the opportunities for equestrian sports. 'The Winter Colony'. Beautiful homes have been built, and the historic area of downtown Aiken continues to serve as a vibrant business hub, providing a unique identity and charm found nowhere else. As a community Aiken celebrates it's Equestrian heritage with lots of organised activities and exhibitions. For example the works of renowned equestrian artists Larry Dodd and Sara Renzulli will be held in December and March. Aiken Training Track is hosting 'Breakfast at the Gallops' in March, and there is a workshop for children with Georgianna 'Girl' Conger, a local sporting artist in February. Myself and Team Tivoli are looking forward to moving our operation down here, and working and training hard. Hopefully the really green babies will come along in leaps and bounds ready for the rigours of their 2009 campaigns. I have received reports that myself and Twizzel are again in the International Sporting Press. This time the British Specialist Magazine, Eventing has covered Fair Hill where we enjoyed such success and so narrowly missed out on bringing home the Blue. I have attached the article for you to click on and read. There is also another magazine out soon with an in-depth interview in it's pages. Sidelines. Visit www.sidelinesnews.com to get a taste of the publication. It is a good read, with a lovely finish, and thanks to the pages of wonderful bright photography always cheers it's readers up! It also always carries all the news and views for Florida and the WEF. Another great news vehicle for Team Tivoli based in the UK but with a worldwide audience is TheHorseExchange.com. A great detailed blog and diary that talks about the Equestrian world right across the board and has become a valuable source of information for journalists, trainers, riders and buyers. I am waiting for feedback from you all regarding planned Clinics. For those of you who have responded we have contacted you directly and are just awaiting your feedback! I am also going to see who has been enquiring via www.chronofhorse.com As I have further news I will you and keep you abreast of Events here with Team Tivoli.

18th November 2008
We have been so very busy here at Tivoli. The time flies by, especially when I am lucky enough to have people around me that are so generous with their time. Wiljan was here to help me with my training. He was just great. He is an incredible Trainer and Rider, and a good teacher to boot. So rare to find and an honour to work with him. He defies the old adage that is popular in the UK (and thankfully disproved by many) "Those that Can Do, and those that can't Teach'. In every way Wiljan combines both qualities and does each superbly. We trained all of the horses while he was here. We built a very difficult, big, technical course in the spacious ring we have. Thankfully Lucy (Andrea's small terrier companion) has ceased to dig holes in it, and is a paragon of virtue. Each and every one of the horses, from the real babies to the more experienced campaigners improved tremendously. Combinations, related distances, alternate widths and heights, the course we built encompassed them all. The entire team are so appreciative of his visit, and it is wonderful to be able to work the horses with someone who has such a keen eye and feel from the ground, and can pinpoint the minute details that need attention. He inspires me tremendously, and I come away with so much more knowledge every time I work with him. It is very satisfying to achieve the maximum with the horses in the minimum of time, rather than work them for the maximum time with the minimum benefit. It is easier on them mentally and physically for the work to be effective and precise. With the guidance of people such as Wiljan And Joe Fargis I am able to achieve this. Joe came here to train me a short while later. He is based close by. His meticulous attention to detail has helped me to focus on the little things that make the difference between clean rounds and four faults. The difference between Winning and finishing in perhaps eighth or ninth place. He is a class act, as befits the man that rode the exceptional mare 'Touch Of Class' to individual Showjumping Gold in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. This week has been one that I have looked forward to all season. Training is my passion, and now is the time of year that I focus on my new horses and the youngsters. Getting to know them, and beginning to teach them the vital ABC's that will form the foundation of their careers. Now is the time of year that many riders take it easy and give themselves a well earned break. In the UK many go skiing or seek warmer climes for a brief spell. Certainly the pressure is off for a while, as the horses wind down and relax. However I love to push myself to improve at this time of year. When I can really concentrate on improving myself physically, emotionally and mentally. Many riders use Sports Psychologists, and I know many Athletes that have completely turned themselves and their careers around with that expertise. With the support and guidance I have I want to make myself as strong as I possibly can independently, then I can always offer myself and those around me the greatest opportunities at every turn. As well as the additional training with Joe and Wiljan I like to keep myself sharp and build on what vwe have achieved so far. I am thrilled to have made the 2009 Training List and to have compounded the faith that so many have put in me and the horses. Twizzel has been fantastic. And although for some time we were concerned for his future, he has overcome the cyst problem, and come back feeling better than ever, and every inch a top class horse. He has many loyal friends, fans and supporters on an International scale. Quite the star! One such Supporter of his is Matt Bryner who has contacted us by email. I know that Matt is hoping to be able to join Team Tivoli as we head south to Aiken for a couple of months. I am going down there this weekend to look at the facility that we have rented for the Winter. We will be basing Team Tivoli down there for a couple of months begining in January. And I am hoping that the greener horses will really benefit from being there. I also anticipate seeing a lot of friends and acquaintances there too which will be fun. I am also setting time aside for Clinics as I have received so many requests both personally and via this website. For those that have enquired already I apologise if I have not responded personally. Please me another email with your details and requirements, and I will do my best to liase and co-ordinate with you. If not myself it will be another member of Team Tivoli who communicates with you. Tell us what you want and we will do our best! Having been so busy I have not had a chance to read any of the recent press. So when I eventually managed to pick up one of my issues of The Chronicle Of the Horse I was delighted to see what great coverage Twizzel and myself had from Fair Hill. I have popped it in to the side of today's diary. However as usual I am finding plenty to criticise about myself in the pictures!

10th November 2008
The Weekend was good, no Winners, but the Girls and Boys were all great in my opinion! War End scored 30 in her Dressage with a double clear to finish 3rd. All My Life scored 33.7 with a double clear to finish 5th. Drummer's Call scored 31.6, and rolled a pole stadium, then jumped clear cross country to finish 8th. Valencia scored 37.9, rolled a pole Stadium and then jumped clear to finish on 41.9 in 28th. Full results can be found at www.rubiconfarm.com These lovely young horses are really starting to figure out how to run and jump cross country, and now just need to see more questions and gain more experience. War End is garnering much praise, Valencia is really starting to gallop, covering the groiund very easily, Ringo is maturing every time out and is beginning to feel like a man about town, to the point where he could seem to be getting a little bit bored with it all at this level. However, patience is a virtue and so we will continue to keep him at Training through the Spring until his education is concrete. Bartley Mill is feeling like a Kentucky Horse for sure, and it is so exciting to feel him developing. His inherent greenness is holding him back a bit, but I am confident that Aitken will take care of that. I am very excited, but relieved that the season is over. This now means that we can move forward with more training. The more people I can train with, and the more people I can learn from the better. I sincerely believe that learning to listen is one of the best things a horseman can do. Everybody has different ways of expressing themselves and describing actions. Deciphering and understanding how different riders and trainers express themselves is like peeking inside the dictionary of a secret but universal language. Last week we spent time with Wiljan, and this week (Thursday) the legendary Joe Fargis is coming over. I am so lucky to have these amazing Horsemen at hand who are happy and willing to impart their wisdom to me. Next week I am also hoping to visit Andrea King and Angel Karolyi of www.floridahorse.com/millstream. Angel who is just 21 years old was recently second in The President's Cup at Washington International as well as lifting the Leading International Rider Award. They are based in Aitken and I have ridden with Andrea in the past and again I learnt so much. Joe Fargis is an amazing horseman and won Individual and Team Gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 with the mare Touch Of Class. He then went on to win Team Silver in Seoul with Mill Pearl in 1988. Joe keeps the training very simple and very thorough. As he says there is no need to over complicate things. There are no capes and smoky mirrors. No tricks to good straightforward Training. Joe is also a true true gentleman. I am very much looking forward to Thursday.

8th November 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANDREA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANDREA! Today Andrea is 27 years old, and on her very special day is working with me at Rubicon. Bless her and massive thank you's! Andrea's parents Margaret and Gilles contacted us through the website to make sure we did not forget. THANK YOU! Again it just shows how vital the communication afforded me through this website is. I now have some possible Clinic Dates pencilled in to the Diary. They are as follows: 18th - 21st December 2nd - 4th January 9th - 11th january 16th - 18th January So please get in touch and provide me with some feedback and requirements for these dates! There will be a full report on Rubicon on Monday night/Tuesday morning.

Latest Will Coleman News

WCE in AikenWill and his team will return to Peter Michael's QuarterMore Farm to train for the winter. WCE SyndicationsBecome an owner of top event horses for less than you think! Read more about this exciting syndicate here! Spring 2012 Season Set to BeginWCE will be at Sporting Days HT this weekend with several sales and young horse prospects

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