Isabelle Leibler and her own Watson 108 are set to represent the US at the FEI Young Rider Dressage World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, held Dec. 14-18. The 2011 Gold medalists from the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North and National Young Rider Dressage Champions at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Championships travelled to Germany and will spend some time training prior to competition before competition gets underway.

Travel update from Watson and Isabelle:

We have arrived! My parents and I set up everything for Watson at Schafhof the night before so he could be nice and comfortable in his new temporary home. The grounds are absolutely amazing, the staff members are so lovely, and there are no better hosts than Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff, Klaus Martin Rath, and Matthias Rath. The weather is chilly and quite damp, but I am hoping that this light rain will soon turn into some light snow!

Anyways, Marcel and Watson, while tired and hungry, both arrived in good form. All of us took it easy today, as we spent the balance of last night unpacking and getting Watson settled, so we plan to begin some light work tomorrow. Maybe some walk/trot/canter in the gorgeous riding hall and a nice walk on the outdoor racing track? Not bad at all, I would say.

I will post some pictures and another update tomorrow! Until then!

Also, if anyone asks... I'm not eating too much german bread. I swear.