NCDCTA July 2009

AA Spotlight: Elizabeth (Liz) Ash

We know where Brentina is. And we know about Rocher. But…Where in the world do those lovely, correct Grand Prix horses go who aren’t as famous?

One such horse is boarded in a small town near the border of North and South Carolina where there is a beautiful farm with immaculate white fencing, buildings and arenas designed with the romantic grace of an epic motion picture. He is owned and ridden by Liz Ash, this month’s spotlight NCDCTA member. The lucky horse is Westport, a 14 year old Hanoverian gelding by Wolkenstein II. Liz purchased him as a Grand Prix schoolmaster about two years ago.

Liz reveals herself to be an informed equestrian who has already discovered what so many educators constantly propose: “Every rider is a product of the horses she’s ridden, and finding the right horse/teacher for each part of the educational journey will go a long way in enabling a rider to achieve her potential,” stated by Shelby French in the Chronicle of the Horse (5-29-09). Liz has not shown Westport. She takes two lessons a week from Fred and/or Eva Schemberger. They are both certified trainers/instructors from the German Equestrian Association “FN”. She regularly participates in clinics with Sarah Geikie, Chris Hickey and Gerhard Politz. “I think it is important to have regular instruction and feedback from my local trainers. Clinics with nationally or internationally known trainers and competitors provide that extra impetus and stretch”. Liz seeks quality. She stresses that she has found the structured approach emphasized by the USDF and European certification programs to be the most beneficial for her. “I am living my equestrian dream…” she states.

Liz appears committed, disciplined, and balanced. She has worked for Wachovia Bank, a Wells Fargo company, for the last 22 years. She lives with three rescued dogs: Lydia, Elle Mae and Fergus Bernard and keeps six entertaining Muscovy ducks in her backyard.

To enjoy the depth of what is Liz, let me divulge her place called home. It is a unique and charming structure with sideboards painted a hue resembling Italian merlot. But in the shade, the siding reveals tints of a rich purple mimicking a summer’s bloom from the informal gardens in front of her home. Inside, the attention to detail, rich wood accents and artistic prominence is attractive and continues to reveal Liz’s sense of quality. Not overly adorned with equestrian themed decor, the warm style displays an unpretentious attachment to earth and vigor.

Liz, seems to me, is on a sophisticated equestrian journey. Her horse, her home, her dogs, and her quaint, funny ducks all reveal one authentic, thoughtful, and evolving person.

The Adult Amateur Spotlight is contributed and written by Jeanne Karver, contact Karv4@yahoo.com

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Q: What is the difference between the turn on the haunches required at 2nd & 3rd level and the walk pirouette required at 4th level? Sincerely, Looking Ahead

A: In essence, the half turn on the haunches and the half pirouette are the same exercise. The half turn on the haunches is allowed to be larger and is a “warm up” or preparatory exercise for the more advanced, “tighter” half pirouette. At the 2nd & 3rd levels the horse is not asked to collect the walk so the degree of engagement, sitting and activity are less than that at 4th level and above where the horse is in collected walk.

But to further answer the question of the difference, we should refer to the USEF rulebook. This states, “The half pirouette is a half circle executed on 2 tracks with a radius the length of the horse. The forehand moves around the haunches with the forefeet and outside hind foot moving round the inside hind foot which forms a pivot. The inside hind foot is required to pick up an put down in the same place (or slightly in front of it) each time it leaves the ground. The horse should be slightly bent in the direction in which he is turning and the turn should be in the same sequence of footfalls as the walk, remaining on the bit and turning smoothly around.” The horse should maintain the energy in the walk and never move backwards or deviate sideways.

The half turn on the haunches required at 2nd & 3rd level is a schooling exercise in preparation for the half pirouette. The horse’s forehand moves in even, quiet and regular steps around the horses inner hind leg, while maintaining the rhythm of the walk. At the half turn on the haunches the horse is allowed to move slightly forward.

So, technically they are the same movement but the biggest difference is that the half pirouette is judged on the qualities involved with collected walk and the half turn on the haunches is not. The frame for the collected walk should be different with the neck higher and with more arch and the nose coming toward the vertical with much greater activity in the hind legs. The medium walk is a much less demanding walk with a longer and less arched top line and longer strides. It is asked that the rider “shorten the strides” right before the turn to help balance and prepare the horse to be able to carry more weight on the hind legs throughout the turn.

In either turn, when the basic qualities are performed well, with smoothness, balance, correct bend and activity of the hind legs, scrutinizing over the size is most often just a modifier for a higher score. Hope this helps. Happy turning.

Tami Batts from Fellowship Farm, Greensboro, NC, is an "S" dressage judge and has her USDF bronze, silver and gold medals. To learn more, go to www.fellowshipfarm.net.

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ESKRIDGE MAKES HAY AT RALEIGH
By Liz Bromberg

Once again, manager Janine Malone, secretary Bettina Longaker, and an army of dedicated volunteers put on a fantastic show. Even the weather cooperated, veteran competitors remarked with amazement, as rain has long been a tradition at the CDI-W/Y/J Raleigh & NCDCTA Capital Dressage Classic, May 29-31. And while the sun was shining all weekend, Ryan Eskridge was making hay. She and Franziskana dominated at training and first levels with scores from 73%-78%. Eskridge, a sophomore at Wingate University, purchased Franziskana last fall with the help of her long-time trainer, Diane Ritz of Monroe, who is “brilliant at matching horse and rider.” Eskridge fell in love at first sight with the 16.3 hand Rheinlander’s “huge floppy ears, gorgeous face, and amazing tail” and after riding him for 10 minutes, she “knew he was the one.” Eskridge, a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medalist, enjoys the challenges of working with a playful and growing 5-year old, and looks forward to watching him mature and move up the levels, but “hopefully not get much taller!”

A Question of Balance
Jennifer Baumert makes it look easy when she rides down centerline. The Columbus-based trainer noted that her coat and breeches are getting a little tight, and her center of gravity has shifted somewhat - because she is five months pregnant. Nevertheless, Baumert won loads of blue ribbons aboard DeWert, her 7-year old Hanoverian gelding (Second/Third level, 65%-69%), and her clients’ horses, Descartes, an 8-year old Hanoverian stallion (Third/Fourth Level, 65%-70%), and Lancelot, a 12-year old Danish gelding (Intermediaire II, 63%). Baumert typically rides eight horses a day, but admits that she is starting to slow down a little. "I have two really great riders who work for me so I intend to use them... I am not going to be too hardcore!”

Shiny Snaffles & Champagne
A special effort was made to encourage Juniors, including a pizza party with Cesar Parra, and a stall for a fund-raising effort for a trip to the NAJYRC in Kentucky. Juniors Alison Coyle, Kaitlin Blythe, Anna Spinnenwebber, Stephanie Bristol, Keni Kerin and Natalie Blikslager (as well as a few show moms) contributed. And they ended up doing a lot more than just polishing bits. They bathed, grazed and fed horses, mucked stalls, and even read tests for competitors. You go, girls!

Laura Pendleton ran a weekend-long tab with these “grooms extraordinaire,” who were conveniently located just around the corner from her horse’s stall. “Never being privileged to have a groom of any kind, we were super excited to engage these enthusiastic young ladies,” said Pendleton. Those helping hands also gave Pendleton a little extra time to win a third level class with her 7-year old Dutch gelding, Vico, and to throw the CDI competitors’ party, for which she and Patty Cole have become famous over the years. Both ladies deserve special prizes for turn-out; from elegant riders to stylish hostesses. And then there was that amazing spread: “The shrimp was the first to go,” Pendleton reported, “ and the champagne seemed to be a special thrill for many who were excited to have finally arrived…at the opportunity to show at a CDI.”

Dover Medal
Trainer Becky Blikslager of Apex spent the better part of a year looking for a horse for her student, Laurie Bauchman of Raleigh, to train up the levels. “In the end, I found William on a frigid buying trip in Holland as a sparky 2 ½- year old…and Laurie wired the money,” recalled Blikslager. “It was a roll of the dice,” said Bauchman, but it paid off. During the last 3 ½ years, the Dutch gelding has racked up impressive scores and many awards. The pair continued their winning trend at Raleigh, winning three blue ribbons at Second Level, and clinching the Dover Medal class.

Bugles & Harleys
Ring four is a new addition to the Hunt Horse Complex. Tucked east of the covered arena, it saved time and shoe leather as competitors no longer had to make the long trek up the “hill”. But with only a chain-link fence and a row of shrubbery separating it from the road, ring four presented its own unique challenges. Anne Aloi of Charlottesville, VA, reported that on Saturday, “there was some kind of event going on” outside the fence, with “a loudspeaker, people cheering,” and “Harley hogs” cruising by. Decaprio (AKA Dino) “was a bit distracted,” but the 5-year old stayed focused. That is, until Aloi’s reader called for the lengthened canter and a bugle blasted over the loudspeaker with the Call to the Post! A chuckle reportedly came from the judge’s box. Dino lost his balance for a step. And when Aloi began her second lengthened canter, the bugle call came AGAIN, as if choreographed. “By the final centerline we were ALL giggling,” she recalled. Dino did not win the class; he came in second to Freewill (see story below). But the Hanoverian gelding put in three other strong performances and won his First Level classes with scores from 69%-71%.

Dressage Debuts
Aloi was tickled to finish second to Jami Edwards’ Freewill. Aloi had bred and trained the horse, and sold him two months before to Edwards, a junior at UNC Charlotte, who has ridden with Diane Ritz of Monroe for seven years. Although Edwards has not had a horse of her own for the last few years, “Diane and other barn members were very gracious and (she) always had lots of horses to ride.” Still, Edwards hoped for a horse of her own. And that dream came true this spring, when her parents purchased Freewill. The pair made their show ring debut at Raleigh with no great expectations. “I only wanted to have fun…but I gained so much confidence…He was a super star,” winning two firsts and two seconds at first level with scores from 62%-69%.

Donna Christopher also made her debut on a newly-acquired horse at Raleigh. Christopher, of Bahama, purchased Landor SB this spring after an exhaustive shopping expedition. Her goal was to find “a horse that would not take off and unload” her when she turned around in the saddle to glance at her children during a trail ride. Christopher’s husband and three daughters were all on hand to cheer Sunday when she and the 13-year old Oldenburg clinched their third blue ribbon at first level. The lop-eared gelding, who likes to take a snooze at every opportunity, has exceeded all expectations. “He is perfect,” the happy new owner concluded with a smile.

Meredith Weiner of Siler City, and Rico Letto M made a debut at Raleigh as well, returning to the show ring after a three-year hiatus due to injury. “My goal was simply to GET to a show. I certainly never imagined winning a class at my first show back, especially the CDI!” Weiner earned a score of 63% and first place at Fourth Level test 1, and credits her trainer, Lynn Leath of Chapel Hill, for the pair’s success. “She really put a lot of effort into preparing us and it paid off. I love this horse and I am so thrilled to have a second chance with him.”

Gift Horse
Minerva is a 17.2 hand mare with strong opinions. When Minerva’s best friend and owner, Grace Dalrymple, was diagnosed with a very serious type of cancer about two years ago, she worried that Minerva might “get bored …and start jumping out of the pasture as she was prone to do when not given enough attention,” recalled Dalrymple’s good friend and trainer, Susie Wiedman of Sanford. Before Dalrymple passed away, she left Minerva to Wiedman. Since then, “it has been a long hard road,” said Wiedman. “It has taken a long time for her to accept me and work with me.” But Minerva has finally come around – the pair earned a score of 67% and first place at Third Level test 3. “It was really a great weekend…I am so proud of her for continuing to work hard and get better,” said Wiedman of her highly-opinionated friend.

For complete results, visit www.cdi-raleigh.com

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The Comeback Kids

By Suzanne Moss Mullen

Like whistling through a graveyard or casually joking about life’s unpredictability, we owners of dressage horses - these expensive, surprisingly fragile animals - seldom express out loud the fear that haunts us all: My horse will be hurt in some inexplicable fashion right as we are on the verge of a breakthrough, or achieving a long sought goal, and everything I have worked for will be gone in an instant.”

Even if insurance covers some of the bills, the cost in vanished goals can be personally devastating. And while there are countless stories of brilliant horses whose careers have been cut short by injuries, this is the story of two young NCDCTA members who traveled through that dark valley between hope and despair, and emerged into the light, stronger wiser horsewomen.

CAROLINE GREGORY
2007: Caroline Gregory’s horizons were bright with promise. The talented young rider from Louisville, N.C. had recently acquired a 4-year old imported mare with unlimited potential. And then the world came crashing down, literally. She and “Amira” had a freak accident when a spook caused the mare to get entangled with her own legs and flip, landing on Caroline and almost crushing her. She sustained a bruised spinal cord, grade three neck sprain and a major concussion; a head injury that caused epilepsy months later.

2008: Still struggling with the trauma of her own injuries, Caroline was horrified to see Amira hopping in on three legs. They rushed her to the NCSU vet school, and Amira underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a grade three tear of the meniscus in her stifle. The prognosis was devastating: a six to fourteen percent chance of ever being sound enough to work.

“The emotional rollercoaster between our injuries was really discouraging,” Caroline said. “I lost my driver’s license because of uncontrolled epilepsy and there were times when I couldn’t even get up and go see my mare. I felt so stuck!”

But the same determination used to battle her own health issues spurred Caroline to give Amira every possible chance to recover. With bone marrow aspirated from her sternum, stem cells were cultured and injected into Amira’s stifle. Although the procedure is still rare in equine medicine, the good news is many insurance companies will pay for stem cell treatment in hopes of avoiding long-term joint maintenance.

2009: After more than a year of stall rest and hand walking, Amira is sound, and Caroline is back in the tack at Mark and Karyn Becerra’s Iron Horse Farm near Zebulon. Now 21, her dreams of going to the FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships have ended, and watching the success of her peers has been a bittersweet experience.

“I love my mare more than anything, and I’m so thankful to all the vets and students at the vet school for taking such good care of her,” Caroline said. “I let go of my young rider dreams, but I have so much faith in our future partnership. On the one hand it’s discouraging to be starting over with a 7 yr. old, but she’s worth the wait [and we have a special bond] because we’ve shared the same pain and hardships. Just as dressage takes you up the levels like stepping stones, I’m fortunate to be learning and rebuilding my confidence and passion along with Amira.”

RACHEL EDWARDS

Just as Caroline has come through her trial by fire with a maturity and wisdom all too rare these days, Rachel Edwards, 18, of Havelock, has blossomed as a rider and a horsewoman through what could have been an embittering experience.

2008: Soon after beginning her quest to make the Region 1 NAJYRC team, her 18 hand Brandenburg gelding “Landsmann” met her at the paddock gate holding up his left foreleg. He had apparently pawed at the metal gate and caught his leg, tearing his check ligament. The vet determined he would need at least six months of complete stall rest before any physical activity whatsoever. Even then, the prognosis was unclear if he could ever return to work. But everyone was supportive of a plan that would give Landsmann his best chance of returning to competition.

Now it was up to Rachel and her father, ex-Marine Tom Edwards, to take on the time consuming daily rehab. Every day for months, Tom would cold hose him in the morning, wrap him with standing bandages and put him back in his stall. At night after school Rachel would repeat the process along with giving Landsmann pain relievers, DMSO or poultices as needed. At the back of their minds was the constant fear that not only would Landsmann not recover, but the dramatic change in diet and exercise might put him at risk for laminitis and other stress-caused illnesses.

Finally, after six long months of stall rest, Rachel was able to begin slowly walking Landsmann under saddle for just five minutes a day. When she should have been competing at fourth level, she was barely trotting. By late 2008 Landsmann was up to 15 minutes of cantering and could be turned out again. Rachel and Tom, along with trainer Cathy Gould and sponsor Ruth Cox began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe Rachel could campaign Landsmann lightly and get her second and third level scores and at least earn her USDF bronze medal. Luck, hard work, patience and perseverance paid off and Landsmann was back on track by early 2009 for Rachel to try again for the NAJYRC team. A year after his injury, Rachel and Landsmann competed at March Magic in the FEI Junior tests and are optimistic about their chances for the 2009 Region 1 Team.

This last year of hopes and setbacks, goals set and put aside has given Rachel a positive perspective which continues to impress all who know her.

“Looking back, I am very grateful that Dr. Emily (Gilmette) encouraged me to take it slowly with Landsmann,” Rachel said. “It would have killed me if he had re-injured himself because I pushed him too quickly. And although I would never wish for this injury again, it has been a bit of a blessing in disguise because it has allowed Miss Cathy and me to re-train Landsmann’s basic skills, and in doing so we’ve successfully overcome his often-severe confidence issues.”

These two stories are of riders who fought the odds and won, neither choosing their personal goals at the expense of their horse’s welfare. Today they, their horses, and we as a dressage community are better for it.

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OVERCOMING FEAR
By Rebecca Mikell

Fear, everyone experiences it on some level at one point or another. Maybe it’s a drop jump, the thought of being bucked off, or the result of a serious accident that you witnessed or experienced. If this sounds familiar, don’t hang up your spurs just yet. You can do something about it. All fear is the same regardless of whether it is based on a general anxiety or a post-traumatic event. It is deep within our subconscious and if you’ve experienced it, you know it cannot be easily dismissed. The good news is, you can overcome it but it will take patience and dedication on your part. Just like training a young horse, there are no short-cuts!

DEFINE IT
Grab pen and paper and write down your fear and define it as best as possible. What is the root of the fear? When did it begin? How did it develop? Then, determine what you are comfortable doing with your horse. This is called your comfort zone. It can be catching and grooming, walking in the arena, nothing faster than a trot or higher than a crossrail. This is your starting point. Finally, what are your riding goals? It’s okay to dream big because it helps motivate, but be realistic. Goals should be attainable, but not so easy that you never leave your comfort zone to achieve them.

DON’T GO IT ALONE
Seek the advice of an instructor whom you trust, and share your fears with them. A trainer can assist you in resolving any underlying issues that may be contributing to your fears. Your horse has run off with you in the past and now your anxiety begins before you ever put a foot in the stirrup. Ask your trainer for recommendations on different types of bits or tips on what to do if your horse should bolt. Maybe your horse needs a few training rides or tune up. Ask your trainer to ride your horse and give you an evaluation. Maybe you just aren’t ready for that 17 hand Thoroughbred. In any case, trying to conquer your fears is pointless if you don’t resolve the cause.

IT’S NOT YOU, IT’S ME
So, you’ve watched your trainer produce blue ribbon rides on your horse but you still don’t feel confident to try it yourself. Don’t give up just yet. Go back to basics. We all got into riding because we enjoy it and it’s our passion but fears can really diminish that joy. Taking lessons on a reliable, old school master will remind you why you starting riding in the first place. Improving your seat and balance as well as practicing what to do in emergencies will rebuild your confidence in the saddle. As you get more confident, you will want to start taking baby steps outside of your comfort zone with activities that will lead you to your accomplishing your goals.

NO MORE EXCUSES
The arena is too wet, you don’t have enough time or maybe your favorite breeches are dirty. If you find yourself making excuses not to ride and you need more help, it is out there. Olympic dressage coach and reformed fearful rider Jane Savoie has written a book called It’s Not Just About the Ribbons which is filled with visualization and positive self talk techniques. Like many professional athletes do, meet with a sports psychologist or hypnotherapist. There are also articles written by top riders which can be found for free or downloaded for a nominal fee on the internet.

If you truly want to overcome your riding fears and reach your goals, there is hope. Remember, nothing can change overnight but with professional help, hard work, obtainable goals and a positive attitude, you can conquer your fears. Just like I did!

Editor’s note: Rebecca Mikell of Cary is a new NCDCTA member who has recently overcome her fears about riding. She went from being so fearful in the saddle that she would just shake while sitting. She decided to overcome her fear, seek out the help of a hypmotist, and now she's back jumping like she used to do before her phobia set in. A.Q.

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Alison Coyle and Kaitlin Blythe manned the Junior Tack Cleaning Booth at the Raleigh CDI/Capital Dressage Classic, May 29-31, to raise money for their trip to the NAYRC in Kentucky this July, for which they are hoping to qualify. Blue Sky Equestrian, located in Pittsboro, and Stubben donated the cleaning supplies. Show Manager Janine Malone donated the stall. Rachel Edwards' dad donated the proceeds of his musical freestyle productions. With help from Alison's mom (Stephanie Coyle), Anna Spinnenweber (and her mom Bobbi), Stephanie Bristol, Natalie Blikslager, Keni Kerin (and her Mom Lynn), the Junior riders raised over $700.

As the recipient of the Gifted Fund for Region One, I had the privilege of spending one week training with Scott Hassler. I traveled from North Carolina to Maryland with my six-year-old KWPN gelding William, who I have owned for three years. We had worked with Scott in a clinic a year and a half before, when William was a bit of a challenging four-year-old. I was impressed by the high standards Scott set during his lessons and found him to be a very inspiring instructor. Now that William had matured some, I felt he was ready for a week of intense training, and I was excited at the idea that we would really be able to make some progress.

There were several things I hoped to accomplish during my week, along with some specific training issues I wanted to address. William and I had been competing at Second Level, but at the shows, we were having the same problems with the same movements in the tests. His medium trot had been slow to develop. It was either too conservative or there was a loss of balance and rhythm. William would sometimes become tense and resistant in the movements that were more difficult for him, including the transitions from medium to collected canter and haunches-in. I was also hoping to get Scott’s help with some of the Third Level work that we had just started schooling, particularly with the flying changes.

Additionally, I wanted to spend this time at Hassler Dressage because I knew there would be so much I could watch each day when I was done riding. I am planning to have my own barn one day and am especially interested in working with young horses. Scott is currently the USDF Young Horse Coach, so there are lots of talented young horses that come to him for both short and long-term training. I knew there was no better place for me to go to observe the riding, training, and barn management skills I wanted to develop.

My trainer, Becky Blikslager, worked tirelessly to help me prepare for the trip, and I doubt I would have ever made it to Chesapeake City, Maryland without the GPS system she insisted I borrow! The drive itself was an adventure - eight hours of towing my extra-tall, extra-wide horse trailer over major bridges, through underwater tunnels, and in major holiday traffic on Easter Sunday. William and I were both quite exhausted when we arrived later that evening, so I got him settled in at the barn as quickly as possible and headed to the guest house to unpack. The accommodations were nothing short of incredible - a beautiful four bedroom house that made me feel like I was at a resort! Best of all, it was just a short walk to the barn, so I could be there to watch everything that was happening on the farm that week.

I had my first lesson the next morning. Scott asked me to do my usual warm-up while he watched. When I was through, he shared his observations. Scott commented that I had too much inside bend at times, but that the overall suppleness was pretty good. He thought that I needed to focus on strengthening William’s back in order to improve the collection and to do the more difficult Third Level work. He said that we would do this through work on transitions between and within the gaits. I spent much of the lesson riding forward and back in both the trot and canter. Scott used numbers to describe the variations within the gaits. My regular working canter was an “8,” so he would ask for a lengthening as “gradually go to 10.” Next, I asked William to go from “10” to “12". When that started to feel fairly easy, we brought the canter back to a “7” for just a couple of strides. Scott stressed that it was important for William to do this work early in the ride, before he became tired and therefore resistant. Throughout the lesson, we used counter-flexion to improve his straightness and throughness.

Scott encouraged me to ride more assertively when there were problems. When I was asking him to do something that was difficult for him, William would sometimes get quick, too strong, or I would lose the connection. In some cases, I could make a small correction and go on with the work. However, when I got a major resistance or William became disobedient, Scott pointed out that I would back off. He explained that, when I did this, I was basically teaching William how to get out of hard work. Scott wanted me to ride actively through the resistance and keep asking for what I wanted, regardless of how much William was protesting. I could use shoulder-in or bending lines to encourage him to relax, but I needed to keep asking until he complied. At the end of the ride, Scott reviewed the things we had done and what he thought we needed to work on. “This week will be about knowing what to do when,” he said.

On day two, we started early on with the forward-and-back exercises from the previous ride. The collection began to work well, and I felt William’s gaits getting more and more expressive. I did some half-pass in trot, which was improved through an exercise Scott suggested. Towards the end of the ride, we decided to try a flying change. After I explained the problems I had with William getting too strong, Scott suggested a plan. I would ride a short diagonal in canter to B or E, counter-canter down the rest of the long side, and then ask for the change as we approached the wall. During the first couple of attempts, William did not change behind. On the third try, he gave me an exuberant, clean change, after which he got quite strong and quick. Scott insisted I keep riding the canter through the rest of the short side and through a circle until William settled down again. “Now the pat!” he said when William relaxed. “The change just finished there.”

By day three, Scott suggested a basic training plan for William. He thought that I needed to start each day with my regular warm-up, followed by the forward-and-back work. Two-to-three days a week, I could then incorporate a couple of specific movements. We then went to work on haunches-in, which was lacking bend - especially to the left. An exercise of leg yielding from the centerline, and then slowly developing the haunches-in, produced great results. At the end of the ride, we decided to try to ask William for some half-steps. I had watched a ride the day before during which Scott explained the approach he used to train half-steps with different types of horses. He discussed the pros and cons of starting them from the walk versus the trot, and how a horse’s strengths and weaknesses help him decide which way will work best. We decided to try it from the trot with William. Again, we used the “numbers.” I started with a “4” trot, and then gradually went to a “3,” then “2,” with the idea that we would eventually get to “1”. Whenever it felt like William might fall behind my leg, I immediately rode him forward. Scott coached me through it and we gradually produced some good steps. By day four, things really began to click. I felt like I was able to take some of the things we had worked on in the earlier rides and apply them at the right time on my own. I began to see that the “teachable moment” for my horse often occurred at the exact time that it felt like things were falling apart. Again, when William started to try to evade the collection, Scott told me to “ride through his emotions.” When I did, I found that the next time I was much more likely to get the right response. William was starting to learn that there was no easy way out! We spent some time in this lesson discussing and clarifying some important points. Scott stressed the need for the rider to be absolutely clear with the aids. We talked about using the whip more creatively in producing the half-steps, depending on the reaction I got from one moment to the next.

During my last lesson, we reviewed all of the things we had worked on that week. Scott also further explained the variations of leg and seat aids that he uses for different gaits and movements. In the trot, he uses the inside leg for impulsion and the outside for balance. Conversely, the outside leg creates the impulsion in the canter. Scott explained the subtle differences in the way he uses his seat in the mediums, Piaffe, and Passage. He cautioned me against using both legs at the same time a little too far back, because it feels “like a clamp” to the horse and can cause him to invert.

According to Scott’s methodology, there are three phases of training: harmony (those rare moments when everything is perfect), coaching (explaining to the horse what you want), and correction (when there is a clear mistake). I tried to be aware of these phases as I rode, and it helped me communicate more effectively with William. This was what Scott was talking about in that first lesson when he said I would be learning “what to do when.”

As I had expected, there was an incredible amount to learn just by watching. Each day I had the opportunity to watch Scott and his very talented wife Suzanne ride many of the horses they have in training. This included several of their incredible stallions. There were many lessons I saw that included everything from Training Level to Grand Prix - young riders, amateurs, and several top professionals. I was especially excited to get to watch Scott working with several young horses during the week. It was amazing to see the way he was able to bring out their brilliance without pushing them out of their comfort zone. They always looked happy, and you could see how Scott was building their confidence all the time.

In the barn, I tried to take in everything, including the way the horses were groomed, how the barn chores were done, and what type of bedding and feed they used. I paid attention to all of the equipment I saw on different horses, including bits, saddles, and nosebands. Scott has such a great staff, and everything about the barn is very clean, well-organized, and functional. The people all seemed as happy as the horses. It was very apparent that the safety of both the horses and riders was a top priority and nothing was left to chance. One of the highlights of the week was getting a tour through the new Riveredge Facility that is currently under construction. To try to describe it would in no way do it justice - let me just say that you will absolutely have to see it for yourself to believe it!

The week went by much too fast. It was such a luxury to have an entire week where I did not have to think about anything but riding. I was also so grateful to have had that one-on-one time with my horse. Without a doubt, I had met all of the original training goals I had set for myself, and then some. Just before I left, I thanked Scott for everything, and he gave me a few final words of wisdom: “Believe in your horse, believe in yourself - go for it.” I told him I definitely would.

Thanks so much to Scott Hassler, Carol Lavell, the Dressage Foundation and all who have generously donated to this fund. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.

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The NCDCTA Board met by teleconference June 2, 2009. In attendance: Jennifer Mitchell, Dave Stuckey, Donna Kelly, Lynn Leath, Diane LeFevre, Andrea Glenn, Suzanne Mullen, Sue Smithson, Carol Kelly and Robyn Hahn. Excused: Anita Quinn.

Jennifer called the meeting to order at 6:39 p.m. with the Treasurer’s report: Dave said there had been no extraordinary expenditures this year to date, and a discussion regarding use of PayPal for other than online membership renewals ensued. It was decided that monitoring Paypal for other projects would place too much burden on volunteer board members. Jennifer and Dave will collaborate on the USDF Capital Campaign pledge, and forward funds collected from the 2007 silent auction. Dave assured Diane that insurance has been filed for all 2009 NCDCTA shows, and reminded Lynn that additional policies will need to be filed for upcoming educational activities. Pam Silverman, an equine attorney and NCDCTA member, donated a comprehensive liability release for NCDCTA camps and clinics. Lynn expressed concerns. Specifically, who would be authorized to sign as "owner" in the case of St Andrew's College and Hunt Horse Complex, and who would be authorized to sign for the NCDCTA, and whether only "mounted" participants were required to sign the release form or grooms and "unmounted" needed to sign" Dave agreed to query our insurer and look into our options".

President’s Report: The CDI-Raleigh was a successful show with many competitors complimenting the new footing in the outdoor arenas. The Junior Pizza Party drew more than 30 Juniors to hear speaker Dr. Cesar Parra who will be the clinician for the NCDCTA Jr/Yr clinic in July.

Vice President: Regarding NCDCTA recognition for BLM, GAIG, and NAJYRC Championships, Donna has requested these competitions file for NCDCTA recognition, but has not heard back from the organizers yet. Seger’s Insurance Co. has generously agreed to sponsor the 2010 NCDCTA annual awards banquet.

Eventing: Andrea reported that the dates are confirmed for the Steuart Pittman clinic (Nov. 7-8), with venue TBA. Another clinic with the theme “Bridging Flatwork and Jumping” with Melissa Jones-Sarle and Jane Karol is in the planning stages. Course walks at the NCDCTA Eventing Championships at Five Points Horse Trials is also being planned.

Dressage: An ambitious agenda is on the calendar for dressage education; a new web page has been uploaded with all the details.

Competitions: In addition to maintaining a comprehensive spread sheet for all the NCDCTA shows, Diane has also agreed to work on written job descriptions for board members. She also reported that NCDCTA has signed a contract with Janine Malone with financial terms negotiated.

Communications: Sue reported that new web pages for dressage and eventing education are being created.

Scholarships: Robyn’s committee is meeting this month.

The meeting was adjourned at 8 p.m. The next meeting will be held in Pittsboro July 7.

Respectfully submitted by Suzanne Mullen

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North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center
P.O. Box 841
Carrboro, NC 27510

June 5, 2009

Dear Membership of the NCDCTA:

All of us at NCTRC want to thank you for the opportunity to be the beneficiary of this year's CDI show. The funds we receive from this show will help our organization continue its expansion to a full time/year-round therapeutic riding center at Clearwind Farm in Mebane. The publicity generated for our organization through the CDI show is also vital. I am sure we will gain riders, volunteers, perhaps a few new horses, and donors through the many people who have learned about our center as they enjoyed the show.

We were excited to see that the hard work of our publicity committee helped increase attendance at the show, especially for the Saturday evening freestyles, but also at the Children's Festival. But we realize that our work is only one small part of the effort it takes to put on such a large horse show. Thank you for all that you do to bring such a fantastic show to our area.

Sincerely,

The NCTRC Staff and Volunteers