In the photo, Ileana Verte competing at the Porto International Horse Show this weekend. Isn't she gorgeous?

And yes, dearest Friends, the International Horse Show is over, after four days of intense, grueling, nerve-wrecking... tremendously exciting competition!

The closing ceremony, after the Grand Prix yesterday, was beautiful and very moving, with the greatest relevance given to the magnificent horses present, but also to all the people who worked hard, before and during the show, to make it a huge success. The winning country was the United Kingdom, followed by France, who got silver and bronze, then Spain and - oh, bliss! - Portugal, in the fourth and fifth places! While the prizes were being awarded - we all stood up for the winning country's national anthem, "God Save the Queen" - and the speeches and acknowledgements were made, each horse was offered a special treat: A tray of freshly cut, juicy carrots, presented by very nice stewardesses. Then came the always thrilling moment of the Lap of Honour, with the five winning riders taking their horses around the ring at a gallop, to the sound of "We are the Champions" by "Queen" and to absolutely thunderous applause by the audience!

As for our beautiful fillies, Harmonie Verte and Ileana Verte - in the photo, during last Friday's competition - we are extremely happy and proud to share that they offered us an amazing finale yesterday. Harmonie went clear with a good time in an "against the clock" class, and Ileana had two jumps down in a "two leg" - two phases - class, in which there were hardly any clears amidst almost 50 horses! If we think that these are not experienced fillies - as I said in the previous article, this was Harmonie's first international and Ileana's second - and that they were competing in classes where all the other horses - between 45 and over 60 horses in each class! - are running the international circuit regularly and have been doing so, in many cases, for several years, we really can't ask for more. And we don't, because we all - owners, grooms, rider - are extremely pleased with their performances as well as deeply grateful for the fact that they both ended up as they started: in perfect health, perfect athletic shape and great spirits! Indeed, for us, THEY  are The Champions!

Now there won't be any more shows till the beginning of next year, which is a good thing, because they deserve a rest... and we can use it, too. ;0) This, however, won't be that easy for this friend of yours, because today starts yet one more extremely busy week. Among other activities, there is "that surprise" which we are preparing to share with you, and for which the countdown has definitely started. 9 MORE DAYS... and there will be awesome news here and in our website for you! Oh, this is exciting! :0)

With all this, my stays in AD have been and will be too short and fleeting, I'm afraid... but then, the beginning of the New Year and the opportunity of enjoying more spare time both for creation and for interaction with you fantastic people, will certainly be something to look forward to even more!

And now I must... yes, run, you've guessed correctly, LOL! But I can't go without leaving you all, as I already did in my Blog, my heartfelt and affectionate wishes of a magical week. Don't forget... Magic can be very Real, if we make it so. And you all have that power - the one which makes Reality absolutely Magical. And that is the power of Dreaming, with

Love&Light&Creativity*

A great big, very warm {{{{{{{{{{{{hug}}}}}}}}}}}}} to you all, from your grateful Friend

Alexandra*

And keep checking our website... 9 DAYS for the Surprise! :0)