SAVANNA
Swedish Warmblood Mare by L.A. Baltic Inspiration

CALYPSO von STAR CROSS

Congratulations to Karin Worm of East Windsor, NJ for winning two Adult Amateur High Score Challenges at the Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association Memorial Weekend Show.

Karin, a long time student of Gail's, is the owner of the SWB mare Savanna, by L.A. Baltic Inspiration. This pair won the First Level AA High Score Challenge Championship.

Karin also showed the Friesian gelding Calypso von Star Cross, owned by Darlene Phillips of Neptune, NJ, to the Training Level AA High Score Challenge Championship.

It has been a real pleasure to continue training many former NJ students through clinics at Burlington Farm in Freehold, NJ and Sunrise Stud in Colts Neck, NJ. All the horses and riders are progressing nicely and Karin's two Championships just put the icing on the cake for Memorial Day!

Also - Congratulations to Amber Gerhardt of La Canada Flintridge, CA on her first 60+% score at Second Level with her Dutch Warmblood gelding, Simpatico. At the Flintridge Riding Center Show in May, this pair showed for the 2nd time at Second Level - Test 3 and earned a 61+%. Good going, Amber!

And - Mallory Schneider on the Lusitano gelding, Zambo, owned by Dr. Anne Peters of Los Angeles, CA, once again won their Training Level classes with scores of 68% and 72% at the Flintridge Riding Center Show in May. This pair also showed for the first time at First Level and did a very credible job at First Level - Test 3, scoring 62% and 64% on two separate days.

Amber and Mallory as well as their horses are all in training with Gail in CA.

Congratulations to Cindy Latham and Baltic Jubilation by L.A. Baltic Inspiration on their outstanding show record in 2008.

Cindy writes: I am so proud of our accomplishments last year. In addition to winning the U.S.D.F. All-Breed Awards at 3rd Level, we placed 11th nationally at 3rd Level Adult Amateur and also were the Reserve Champions at 3rd Level Adult Amateur in Region 3. I am having so much fun with him and am learning so much. We are showing 4th Level now and I hope to break into PSG later this year, if we're ready.

BALTIC JUBILATION
L.A. Baltic Inspiration x Spartacus' Innersta 1998 SWB Gelding owned by Cindy Latham of Scottsboro, AL.

L.A. BALTIC KHARMA
Swedish Warmblood Mare by L.A. Baltic Inspiration x Rose of Sweden

L.A. BALTIC HIGHLITE
Swedish Warmblood Gelding by Lucky Light x Giselle

Congratulations to L.A. Baltic Kharma and L.A. Baltic Highlite, trained and shown by Andre Etkekdjian, on their impressive jumper results at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

These two horses have now moved up to jumping 1.3 meter courses and are doing so in style, often placing in the ribbons with clear rounds. Competition in Wellington, FL is tough. The best of the best come to compete and classes are large - often 60 or more horses/class.

Andre has been working with L.A. Baltic Highlite for three years and L.A. Baltic Kharma for two years, bringing them up through the levels as jumpers. He has also gotten help from the best of the best as well - former Olympians, Frank Chapot and Joe Fargis - to whom we are very grateful for sharing their knowledge and expertise. It shows in the excellent and professioinal job Andre has done with both Kharma, Highlite and other horses in training. Our congratulations and gratitude to a wonderful team.

Conratulations once again to "Rudy" (show name Zambo) and Mallory Schneider for winning two firsts and a 2nd at the Santa Barbara Dressage Show on March 29, 2009. Showing at Training Level Tests 1,2 and 4 under the eyes of Ulf Wadeborn, this pair once again shined and ended up with the 3rd highest score (67+%) at any level between two days and two judges (Carole Hoffman and Ulf Wadeborn).

At their first horse show together - The Mid-Winter Dressage Fair at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. This pair took four 1st place ribbons and a 3rd at Training Level with scores ranging from 65% - 71%.  For Mallory, the 71%  was also a personal high score for her.

"Rudy" is a 5 year old Lusitano gelding who was imported from Brazil in the fall of 2008 and is owned by Dr. Anne Peters of Los Angeles.

He has been in training with Dr. Gail Hoff-Carmona since he touched down on U.S. soil and is proving to be a very talented, willing and athletic dressage prospect. Already, he has learned all of the movements of 3rd Level dressage, including the flying changes, so the decision to take him to a horse show was made.

Rudy was a bit tense at times, causing one judge to write that he needed baby stroller training, when he got spooked by a mother wheeling her baby behind the judge's booth. However, he made a quick recovery and relaxed more each day. Mallory, Gail's apprentice trainer in CA, did a beautiful job of handling little issues and showing him with great tact.  Congratulations to Anne for choosing and importing such a lovely horse and congratulations to Mallory for showing him like a pro! 

Our congratulations are also extended to Amber Gerhardt and her Dutch Warmblood gelding, Simpatico, who stretched themselves for the first time to show 2nd Level Tests 3 and 4. Simpatico is in training with Dr. Gail Hoff-Carmona and is making great strides forward.  Although Amber had been called out of town for a week before the show and could ride for only 2 days before the show, she and Simpatico did a very credible job at this difficult level scoring in the mid - high 50's%. They continue to improve on a daily basis and we are very proud of the progress they both are making rapidly.

Congratulations to all!

"RUDY" (Zambo)

Dr. Gail Hoff-Carmona, Dr. Anne Peters, "Rudy", and Mallory Schneider

All Photos By Mark Harmel

Congratulations to Baltic Jubilation and his owner/rider, Cindy Latham, who won the Third Level Open and Third Level Adult Amateur USDF All Breed Horse of the Year Awards with a median score of 65.349%. Baltic Jubilation is by L.A. Baltic Inspiration and out of Spartacus Innerata.

Congratulations also to Baltic Native and his owner/rider, Robin Dannels. This pair won 2nd place in the Training Level Adult Amateur and 5th place in the Open Training Level USDF All Breed Horse of the Year Awards with a median score of 61.136%. Baltic Native is by L.A. Baltic Inspiration and out of Laverner's Lass.

We would love to post photos of these wonderful horses if their owners will send them to us.

Protege was graded Class 1 at the Swedish Warmblood Inspection on October 4, 2008 in Maryland.

His owner writes, "He wowed the judges! They gave him a 9 for 'Head, Neck and Body', and were very enthusiastic about him, as was the audience. He got on and off the trailer like he's done it all his life and was very bold and fearless, leading his Mom around the ring! By the way, my other Inspiration baby out of Preface, Princepessa ('05), has really matured over the summer and I can't wait to start her in the spring. She is lunging witih tack now. I am so lucky to have both of them!"

Protege was bred and is owned by Beth Paris of Flying Horse Farm in Orange, VA.

PROTEGE
L.A. Baltic Inspiration x Preface 2008 Chestnut SWB Colt

L.A. BALTIC FINALE
L.A. Baltic Inspiration x Rose of Sweden
2004 Bay SWB Mare

Congratulations to L.A. Baltic Finale and Mallory Schneider on winning all of their Training Level classes at Cornerstone CDI & Festival of the Horse Dressage Show on March 29, 30, 2008 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

Mallory, a Jr/Young Rider, and Finale, a four year old SWB mare both made their debut at this huge event, which featured many of the top riders and horses of the area. Finale behaved like a seasoned competitor even though it was her first trip to any horse show and her first overnight event. Curious, but sensible and willing, she earned her own "gold stars" and lots of carrots from her owner/coach, Gail Hoff-Carmona. In addition to Finale's wins, Mallory also won two seconds and a third at First Levels - Test 3 and 4 on her own TB gelding, "Check".

L.A. Baltic Finale was bred and is owned by Gail Hoff-Carmona, Los Alamos Dressage Center.

Congratulations to Emily Houston and her SWB Mare, Miss Birdy by L.A. Baltic Inspiration!

Emily writes: "I bought Birdy in July 2007, as a four-year-old who hadn't done much of anything and had never left the farm where she was born. Two weeks later I took her to her first show - a breed show at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA - and she was named Mare Champion and Mature Horse Reserve Champion.

Based on the Mare Championship, she qualified for the USDF Breeder's Championship Series Final at Dressage at Devon.

Devon was only her second show in her life, and the Championship was held under the lights at night. She was fabulous and was pinned Reserve Champion Mare, second to Rabiola, the Iron Spring Mare who was Grand Champion at Devon last year.

The next day, she was second in the Swedish Warmblood class, behind a gorgeous gray stallion named Stonefire, who had been Stallion Champion at the show. Hilda Gurney was the judge of that class and she gave Birdy a score of 81.2% and the comment 'beautiful, well-made mare'.

I have now started Birdy under saddle and she is lots of fun. We are taking it slowly, but I hope to have her out in the show ring at Training Level this year. She has the sweetest personality - she loves people and attention and is very curious about everything.

I am very proud of Birdy and thought you might like to hear about her. I am sorry, but I was unable to obtain any good photos of her at the shows.

Best wishes for 2008!"

Emily Houston

Savanna had a great show season with her owner and trainer, Karin Worm of East Windsor, NJ.

On the USDF recognized show circuit she placed in all her Training Level classes, winning five, two of those with Training Level high scores of 72.8% (T3) and 70.8% (T4).

This pair also won the Adult Amateur High Score Challenge (Training Level) at the Eastern States Dressage and CT Association Memorial Day weekend show.

In the Fall, Karin and Savanna went to Dressage at Devon, the largest breed show in North America. There they placed 6th in the Suitability To Become A Dressage Horse (6 Year Olds) class and 3rd in the SWB class.

Her debut at First Level late in the season was also quite successful with scores of 67% and a 65% in Tests 1 and 2 respectively. They are looking forward to a promising season in 2008!

SAVANNA
L.A. Baltic Inspiration x Pommerans 2001 Dark Bay SWB Mare

OMEGA
L.A. Baltic Sun x Terrette xx
1996 Chestnut SWB Mare

(Photo by Mark Pederson - Quick Shots Equine)

Omega has had quite a summer. She and Jean (her owner) qualified for the 2007 Connecticut Hunter Jumper Association (CHJA) Adult Medal Finals and the New England Medal Finals. Omega also won her first championship this season in the Adult Hunters and two blues in some Adult Medal classes.

Jean writes: " Ribbons are a fringe benefit. Mostly, I just adore riding this horse and feel we are ready to move up to the 3' 3" division next year. She is a wonderful horse, a quick study, and the bigger the challenge the more relaxed she becomes. I feel blessed. I love my Swedish mare".

Omega was bred by Pat Giardalis, NJ and is owned by Jean Tulimieri, CT.

Baltic Diana was named Training Level Champion at the Central New York Dressage Classic Show with scores of 70.909% and 65.769%. She has also completed her ten scores above 60% at Training Level to earn a USDF Achievement Award.

Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that her rider, Michelle LaBarre, is legally blind, often making it difficult for this pair to warm up at a busy show. Congratulations!

Baltic Diana was bred and is owned by Sue Broida. She is for sale - click here for more information.

BALTIC DIANA
L.A. Baltic Inspiration x Daily Sensation xx

BEALL SPRING LALIQUE
L.A. Baltic Inspiration x Dahlarna
2005 Bay SWB Filly

Beall Spring Lalique was named USDF Region 2 Reserve Champion Filly at Sliverwood Farm. She is a multi-champion two year old filly, having also been named Young Horse Champion at MSEDA Dressage at Kentucky Horse I and Reserve Champion Young Horse at Waterloo Summer Finale I. In addition, she placed 7th among nearly 30 fillies at the 2007 Dressage At Devon show.

"Lalique" was bred by Thora Pollack and is owned by Carolyn Sanders.

Sunny's Quest, a SWB colt by L.A. Baltic Sun, went to his first breed show in Maine (CMDA Dressage Breed Show) where he won the yearling colt class and was named Reserve Champion Colt and Reserve Champion Young Horse. Congratulations!

Sunny's Quest was bred and is owned by Wilfrid Cassette of Saco, ME.

SUNNY'S QUEST
L.A. Baltic Sun x Coquinet by Concarneau - Born February 25, 2006, Chestnut SWB colt - at six months of age.

Dr. Gail Hoff-Carmona has had her article, "Exercises For Suppleness", published in the February 2007 issue of Dressage Today magazine.

Click here to view the article (in PDF format).

Click here to go to the Dressage Today Website.

L.A. BALTIC SUN

(1983 -2006) Approved, Premium A Swedish Warmblood Stallion

Owned by Los Alamos Dressage Center

It is with great sadness that I have to announce that L.A. Baltic Sun passed away from a heart attack on September 24, 2006. L.A. Baltic Sun was 23 years young and was the only North American approved SWB stallion ever granted Premium A breeding status based on his performance and breeding records.

Sun and Gail Hoff-Carmona competed successfully through Grand Prix dressage and Sun left behind three approved sons as well as a diploma daughter in addition to many, many other wonderful and competitive offspring.

L.A. Baltic Sun was bred by Per Paulsson in Sweden and imported by Los Alamos Dressage Center, then in Freehold, NJ, to the USA as a coming two year old. Jan Ove Olssen, a long time friend in Sweden, helped my late husband, Major Hector Carmona, and me to find and purchase "Sun" in Sweden as well as to import several other SWB horses including his full brother, L.A. Baltic Moon, a year later.

For the past 2 years, L.A. Baltic Sun resided in Maine with Wilfrid Cassette along with two of his daughters and several grandchildren, including the approved stallion, Conquistador, by L.A. Baltic Inspiration. "Sun" also sired some outstanding 2006 SWB foals for Wilfrid and others are expected to arrive next year.

"Sun" was by Pontus. His dam was Nirana by Cyrano. Therefore, he did not have any of the blood lines of the famous Utrillo and provided a wonderful outcross for mares of that breeding. He, together with 2 fillies imported from Sweden, L.A. Rose of Sweden (Burggraf x Prima by Magnifique) and L.A. Utrilla (Utrillo x Hetty by Drabant) founded the "L.A. Baltic" line of Swedish Warmbloods.

L.A. Baltic Sun, as a three year old, was named Champion Colt and Champion Young Horse of Dressage at Devon and he went on to sire six winning Breeders Groups of Dressage at Devon. That is more than any other stallion of any breed ever sired! This was especially impressive because his offspring in the beginning were limited to only the offspring of the two Swedish fillies, Rose of Sweden and L.A. Utrilla, both of which went on to be granted Premium Elite status as broodmares (see Foundation Mares). Breeders Groups consist of two or three of the best horses bred by any one breeder and do not have to be related at all. However, as a very small breeder, Los Alamos Dressage Center was producing only two foals a year - both by "Sun" and whatever hit the ground became our entries. The proof of this good breeding became evident and famous as the offspring of L.A. Baltic Sun never failed to place in the top of their classes at Dressage at Devon (as well as other shows) and many went on to win major championships both in hand and under saddle.

L.A. Baltic Sun will always be so special to me. He was such a handsome gentleman with extremely supple and free gaits. When he moved it looked like every joint in his body was just lubricated! He had elegance, charisma, athletic ability and the where with all to pass it all to the next generation. Luckily frozen semen was collected for domestic and export use several years ago and will be available in the future.

He will be sorely missed.

Gail Hoff-Carmona