Aminal
Aminal (show name is Ari) is a five year old swedish warmblood gelding. He was bred by Johanna Kern of Montana,(from an Argus mare), and is owned by Lori Lauver, a veterinarian from southern California. One of the big treats of the horse-breeding business are the friends we make; for the last year I have vicariously followed Lori's adventures as she trains her young horse and they both venture into the show ring (on a darned consist ant basis too!) Now they have partnered, for quite a while, with judge and trainer Trip Harting. Actually Trip picked out Ari, when Lori was looking at videos of young horses.
This is an extensive web dairy, but it is fun to watch this wonderful gelding grow up.

Ari showed as a three year old at the Los Angeles Swedish Warmblood Inspection. He was awarded a Diploma in Dressage, and was the highest score in the young horse test (for North America) that year. Here is the first e-mail from Lori:

Hi Mary - I own Aminal and presented him to the Swedish Committee in Aug here in LA.  I videoed the inspection and would be happy to send it on.  It is not a great video but has all the comments the judges stated afterwards.  He also received a 1 st class jumping award and jumped 4'3" from a trot.  They said he had a tremendous engine.  Aminal lives here is LA and is a great horse esp for an amateur veterinarian owner, who works many hours.  He is in training with Trip Harting and Nina Winterheimer, a Swedish trainer here in LA.  I discovered that very few horses receive 3  9s in gaits.  I feel very fortunate to call him my own.  Sincerely Lori Lauver
below-Lori and Ari on inspection day. He is only three years old in the photo.

With Trip's help, Lori started showing Ari as a four-year old.