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I began riding at the age of 3, and became fully engrossed in the sport of eventing by the time I hit my teenage years. I qualified for the United States Region III Young Riders Eventing Team in 1984, but due to my horse injuring himself in the paddock, I was unable to continue onto the Championships in Canada. After this I took a break from competing in order to pursue an education. I graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn University and then subsequently a Masters of Architecture from Rice University. During the course of my University years Michael Poulin began wintering in my home town of Melbourne, Florida which gave me my first real introduction to higher level dressage. I became very interested in the philosophy, art, and sport on a very deep level. I based my thesis at Rice University on the training of the dressage horse as it relates to creating architecture. It was based on Aristotle's theories of Poesis and it was an interesting experience that then led me further into the sport and art upon graduating. I worked as an architect in Miami, Florida riding after work for the next 4 years. Becoming disillusioned with my architectural career and simultaneously getting more involved with dressage I made the decision to focus solely on riding. I spent the next two years as a working student for Steve Kanikkeberg in Stuart, Florida, and when I was given a chance I came here to Germany.

During my last year in Florida my mother bought the wonderful mare, Gracia for me to learn on and to compete with. With Steve's help we did very well at fourth level winning many classes with scores as high as 69%. However, getting to Germany the realization that we had to be that much better really sunk in. Five years ago the hard work and dedication started to really pay off. We began placing at MB and MA level (~4th level +), and at then started winning at these levels with scores as high as 68%. We have since moved up to S level and Prix St. George obtaining scores up to 65%. Not an easy accomplishment under the tough German judges.

I have now been training and living in Germany for almost 8 years, and I have done a great deal of traveling to shows, clinics, breeding events, auctions, and breeders' farms. I have accompanied my trainer, Peter Mertins, on many occasions to look at young horses and have learned a great deal from him. Peter did his apprenticeship at Herr Egon Von Neindorf's and then went on to train and work for Herr Willi Schultheis at the German National Center in Warendorf for four years. In addition he spent 6 months in Vienna with a few horses training with Col. Albrecht across from the Spanish Riding School. He obviously has a very classical background which I believe he combines very well with work that is based on the anatomy and physiology of the horse. He has a very quiet and methodical approach creating very elastic and expressive horses that are healthy, happy, and successful in their work.

In the last 4 years he has been working with Ulrike Stadelmeyer which has added a new dimension to the work. She and her father, Fritz Stahlecker developed a system known here in Germany as "Hand Saddle Hand", and they have been very successful. They trained and competed Weyden from a 2 1/2 year old up to Grand Prix selling him only a short time before Sven Rothenburger took him and won the individual Bronze Medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games. They have also since then done the same with 4 other horses that have made international teams such as Palladio ridden by Daniel Ramseier, and most recently Corinth, ridden in the 2006 World Equestrian Games on the Swiss Team by a rider that had no previous international experience.

Over the past year I started working for the Oldenburg Verband to help them do promotional work in English for their North American division. I am the web designer and manager for the website: www.oldenburghorse.com , and I am the editor and do the production and design work for their magazine, "The Oldenburg Horse and Weser-Ems Pony".

I am also open to accepting talented horses for training and competing here in Germany with international goals in mind. The horse would be placed at Herr Mertins stable and be in his training program. I would do a great deal of the riding and competing under Herr Mertin's direction, but the horse would of course also be ridden and trained directly by him as well. My horse, Gracia just turned 20 this year, and I only have a three year old to come behind her so I will have the time and motivation to be dedicated to the horses under my care. If you are interested in sending your horse to Germany to train with us please contact me via the e-mail address stephaniedlaw(at)hotmail.com or call my Skype phone number 321-285-7354. The Skype number is an American phone number that rings over here on my computer in Germany and the quality of the connection is usually quite good. If my computer is off which only happens when I am not here you can leave a voice mail and I will be happy to return your call.

	BACKGROUND I began riding at the age of 3, and became fully engrossed in the sport of eventing by the time I hit my teenage years. I qualified for the United States Region III Young Riders Eventing Team in 1984, but due to my horse injuring himself in the paddock, I was unable to continue onto the Championships in Canada. After this I took a break from competing in order to pursue an education. I graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Auburn University and then subsequently a Masters of Architecture from Rice University. During the course of my University years Michael Poulin began wintering in my home town of Melbourne, Florida which gave me my first real introduction to higher level dressage. I became very interested in the philosophy, art, and sport on a very deep level. I based my thesis at Rice University on the training of the dressage horse as it relates to creating architecture. It was based on Aristotle's theories of Poesis and it was an interesting experience that then led me further into the sport and art upon graduating. I worked as an architect in Miami, Florida riding after work for the next 4 years. Becoming disillusioned with my architectural career and simultaneously getting more involved with dressage I made the decision to focus solely on riding. I spent the next two years as a working student for Steve Kanikkeberg in Stuart, Florida, and when I was given a chance I came here to Germany. During my last year in Florida my mother bought the wonderful mare, Gracia for me to learn on and to compete with. With Steve's help we did very well at fourth level winning many classes with scores as high as 69%. However, getting to Germany the realization that we had to be that much better really sunk in. Five years ago the hard work and dedication started to really pay off. We began placing at MB and MA level (~4th level +), and at then started winning at these levels with scores as high as 68%. We have since moved up to S level and Prix St. George obtaining scores up to 65%. Not an easy accomplishment under the tough German judges. I have now been training and living in Germany for almost 8 years, and I have done a great deal of traveling to shows, clinics, breeding events, auctions, and breeders' farms. I have accompanied my trainer, Peter Mertins, on many occasions to look at young horses and have learned a great deal from him. Peter did his apprenticeship at Herr Egon Von Neindorf's and then went on to train and work for Herr Willi Schultheis at the German National Center in Warendorf for four years. In addition he spent 6 months in Vienna with a few horses training with Col. Albrecht across from the Spanish Riding School. He obviously has a very classical background which I believe he combines very well with work that is based on the anatomy and physiology of the horse. He has a very quiet and methodical approach creating very elastic and expressive horses that are healthy, happy, and successful in their work. In the last 4 years he has been working with Ulrike Stadelmeyer which has added a new dimension to the work. She and her father, Fritz Stahlecker developed a system known here in Germany as "Hand Saddle Hand", and they have been very successful. They trained and competed Weyden from a 2 1/2 year old up to Grand Prix selling him only a short time before Sven Rothenburger took him and won the individual Bronze Medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games. They have also since then done the same with 4 other horses that have made international teams such as Palladio ridden by Daniel Ramseier, and most recently Corinth, ridden in the 2006 World Equestrian Games on the Swiss Team by a rider that had no previous international experience. Over the past year I started working for the Oldenburg Verband to help them do promotional work in English for their North American division. I am the web designer and manager for the website: www.oldenburghorse.com , and I am the editor and do the production and design work for their magazine, "The Oldenburg Horse and Weser-Ems Pony". I am also open to accepting talented horses for training and competing here in Germany with international goals in mind. The horse would be placed at Herr Mertins stable and be in his training program. I would do a great deal of the riding and competing under Herr Mertin's direction, but the horse would of course also be ridden and trained directly by him as well. My horse, Gracia just turned 20 this year, and I only have a three year old to come behind her so I will have the time and motivation to be dedicated to the horses under my care. If you are interested in sending your horse to Germany to train with us please contact me via the e-mail address stephaniedlaw(at)hotmail.com or call my Skype phone number 321-285-7354. The Skype number is an American phone number that rings over here on my computer in Germany and the quality of the connection is usually quite good. If my computer is off which only happens when I am not here you can leave a voice mail and I will be happy to return your call.	Jitterbug and Me in 1971 No that trophy was not given as a grooming award! Wavebreaker and Me in 1983 in Altoona, FL Wavebreaker recently passed away at the ripe old age of 31. He was a part of my life for 26 1/2 years and I thank my good friends Robert & Cyndi Becerra for taking excellent care of him for me in Florida while I have lived here in Germany. Wind Dancer and Me in Orlando, Florida in 1998. I purchased Wind Dancer (Watch Me x Polonaise) as a foal and took her with me to Germany as a seven year old to train on. I decided there to breed her to Sandro Hit. She had a beautiful filly that I named Storm Watch who is still here in Germany growing up with me. My friend, Cyndi Becerra purchased Dancer from me and she is now back in Florida having had a beautiful filly by Sandreo, and is now expecting one from Quaterback for the Spring of 2009. Gracia and Me after earning 3rd Place in Saarbrucken, Germany, 2003 Gracia and Me in our Victory Gallop at Wolfskehlen, Germany, June 2006 - Photo by Jan Reumann. We won this class (yellow/gold is the first place color in Germany) out of 22 competitors. I must thank my trainer, Peter Mertins for all of his help over the past years of working with us, and of course my family and friends who have supported me throughout all of this. Storm Watch or "Stormy". My brightest hope for the future. She will be turning 3 in June.