NCDCTA March 2009
WINTER SCHOOLING: STAYING CONNECTED WHILE STAYING HOME
A clinic with Stacey Hastings, by Jeanne Karver

The rumble of engines alerted me to the caravan of trailers rolling down the driveway of my ordinarily calm farm, indicating an exciting beginning to the first clinic held at the new Karver’s Creek Farm in Summerfield. These are a few of the horses that don’t winter in Florida but still have motivated, serious riders. Toiling in winter weather so that by March, the dawn of the next show season, they trot in unison with their strong Floridian peers. It is important for those of us who stick around to bond together, to keep our education out of hibernation. We are very fortunate to have Stacey Hastings of Mooreseville stay in N.C. during these winter months. She is a successful grand prix rider, USDF certified instructor at the highest level, and a USDF “L” graduate with distinction.

Of the six rides, Donna Kelly was the only one who had worked with Stacey before. Donna, current NCDCTA vice president, L graduate and instructor, rode her 6 year old gelding Jake. “A horse can use different evasive measures to interrupt the connection.” Donna said. “But the evasiveness begins in the hind legs and that is where a rider has to concentrate to correct connection problems. Stacey wanted my horse quicker off my leg when I used driving aids and not to become inactive behind in downward transitions.”

Stacey emphasized that the horse needs to react like his skin reacts to a landing fly: quickly and confidently. For that to occur, our standards must be very high. Training the horse to respond correctly to the leg aid must be consistent. It must be clear: the horse must go from the leg.

Next I rode my 9-year old mare Welle. We cantered early, energizing with short bursts of medium to collected. We used shoulder in to develop the down transition from medium paces. Although I already used shoulder fore, Stacey wanted quite a bit more; more bend, more angle. A short conversation about half passes included the need for keeping tempo, energy and uphill frame. Then Stacey helped us with piaffe. The mare offered passage (and some other acrobatics) then developed several lovely steps of piaffe. We worked just long enough to establish clarity for Welle, and moved on. We went forward into medium and collected trot keeping the focus on the high energy level while controlling the balance.

Ellen Peebles rode Max, an Oldenburg with a former hunter career. Before beginning her foray into dressage, Ellen had a full career in the US Army. “She hit the nail on the head,” Ellen said. “Max doesn’t really know where to stay in balance. She reminded me several times not to pull back when Max gets too strung out, but ask for more and then half halt, using shoulder in for balance. Lateral work was an important part of my homework assignment to improve Max’s gaits.”

After lunch, Dana Taylor rode Favorit Girl. At 24, Favie’s personal bio is long and poignant. With Dana’s management, Favie’s story is happily ongoing as she is as round and robust as a ten year old. Dana is an amateur rider, mother, and detective for the Rockingham County Sherriff’s department. Dana worked on sitting Favie’s bouncy trot with strength and suppleness while keeping the horse’s attention. “I like her approach about watching the horse’s ears as in indicator of attention.” Dana said. “And the rider addressing that before it becomes a spook.”

Susan Craft rode her homebred Oldenburg Paxton. Susan represents adult amateurs well, ambitiously balancing the need to achieve professionally against the time required to train and compete. Paxton is a talented mover but offers a “dishonest” trot with too much float, not enough forward. Stacey wanted his stride longer and more active, and for him to stretch his throatlatch open. Keeping the medium gaits just a breath away was quite effective in bringing out the “wow” potential in Paxton’s gaits. “The clinic with Stacey was great for kicking the winter blues and jump starting our training for 2009.” Susan said.

I rode Pearl, a 10 year old Hanoverian former broodmare, in the last session. She needed more reach over her top line and more suppleness in general. She asked us to use long stretches of leg yield and a longer, lower connection to loosen up her back.

“I felt that over all, everyone was on the right track with great attitudes about their training.” Stacey said. “Several of the horses’ fundamental problems can be solved with better understanding of the driving aids… you have to have the pre-requisites to the half halt and that is that your horse moves forward into a steady contact. Pretty basic, I know. We never get away from the basics.”

For information on future clinics in Summerfield, contact Jeanne Karver, karv4@yahoo.com.



To the NCDCTA Board and Year-End Award Winners,

In January, I had the pleasure of attending the NCDCTA awards dinner and Horse of the Year awards presentation at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh. Although I am a charter member of NCDCTA (one of a handful who attended the organizational meeting in 1974) and an early president of the organization, I haven't been able to attend this annual event for almost ten years since it has conflicted with my committee and board responsibilities at the USEF annual convention.

This year I got a call from Karyn Becerra on the Saturday morning of the Big Event, letting me know a few tickets were still available and offering me a ride. I have to confess that I was initially attracted to the opportunity of a great meal at a great price - after all, the art museum is well-known for excellent food at its catered events. For a mere $25, how could I go wrong? And I didn't regret my decision.

Besides excellent food, good company and beautiful surroundings, the awards dinner was a great compliment to NCDCTA and event organizer, Donna Kelly. Beautiful ribbons and awards, great door prizes, wonderful sponsors, and a well-organized presentation should make every NCDCTA member proud to be part of this organization. The sponsors were recognized and the event went off without a hitch!

Congratulations to the NCDCTA Board, organizer Donna Kelly, and to all award winners who were recognized at this special event.
THANK YOU!
Janine Malone
1976 NCDCTA President
Manager: CDI-W Raleigh/Capital Dressage Classic, NCDCTA Labor of Love and NCDCTA Sport Horse Breeding Show


DREAMS DO COME TRUE
by Lynn Leath

Have you ever seen a Jack Russell Terrier lock his jaws on his favorite toy and refuse to let go, no matter how hard you shake him? That’s how I was with Stripteeze Artist. She was my first foal, and as I watched her float across the pasture, I sensed that she was the horse that could make my dream come true - the horse that I could personally back for the first time and train to Grand Prix. A long and rocky road as it turned out, but dreams do come true.

Stripper’s life was complicated from the start: her dam had no milk, so I leased a nurse mare, who promptly rejected her. The goat I borrowed to keep her company (and provide her with milk) constantly escaped from the pasture. More rejection. The only thing left to do was bottle feed her. Do you know how much a foal drinks? I burned up three blenders making foal milk, and ended up living in the barn for three months. I didn’t get much sleep, but Stripper thrived. And through that process, she and I developed a unique bond.

The bottle feeding did produce some unintended consequences however. Stripper never quite understood that she was “a horse”. Instead, she seemed to think that she was a superior human. So why would I want to get up on her back? Instead of the wild antics most young horses engage in, she would fold up like a camel so that my feet and stirrup irons would be resting on the ground! And how rude of me to chase her around a circle with a long whip. The first time I tried to show her off to my good friend and mentor, Jessica Ransehousen, she turned the tide on me by running into the middle of the circle and knocking me over! Stripper thought that was very funny and clever, but Jessica did not appreciate her sense of humor. Soon after that, Stripper decided that she was done being ridden for the day. She politely dislodged me from the saddle, so that she could run up to the top of a sand pile and roll down to the bottom. How could I not love this horse? So, like a tenacious terrier, I stuck with her.

Stripper's saving grace was her passion to perform: the more people watching, the better. She would become irate if someone left during one of her “performances”. You could almost hear her think, “Wait … come back … I can do that better!” She had a natural trot extension with a “cushiony” back. Jessica remarked that when I lightened my seat, the mare would lift her back to stay connected to my seat bones. Stripper proved herself to be a willing and talented dance partner.

When Stripper was nine, we were having fairly good success at PSG and I-1, so we decided to enter Dressage at Devon and put our hat in the ring for the Pan American Games. Right after I sent the entry in, the floor fell out from under me. At first, it was only a matter of losing that wonderful feeling she gave me in her back. After some time, she lost her canter entirely. Over the following four years, I took her to every veterinarian that was recommended to me, from Pennsylvania to Florida. Stripper was X-rayed, scoped, nuclear scanned had thermography and ultrasound. A hospital wing should have been named after her for all I spent, but nothing resulted in a definitive diagnosis. Still, I persisted.

I tried exploring the problem from a training perspective. I took every opportunity to go to a respected clinician. Some suggested stronger bits. Some bigger spurs. Some draw reins. Instead of getting more ridable, Stripper began to stick her tongue out when I rode her, and crib in her stall. She was obviously distressed, but couldn’t communicate to me what the problem was. And I didn’t speak “horse”.

At this point, a friend in Georgia recommended her veterinarian, Dr. Bob Grisel. Over the telephone, Dr. Grisel asked me to explain Stripper’s history. An hour and many questions later, he asked if I had considered intermittent upward patella fixation. That phone call was the beginning of Stripper's recovery. Dr. Grisel successfully treated the IUPF, and to my delight she steadily improved.

But the residual effects of the previous four years continued to haunt us. She had been pushed to perform when she didn’t have the physical ability, and had lost her desire to please. The enthusiasm Jessica had so admired in the mare early on had evaporated. We had addressed Stripper’s physical issues, but now an enormous mental challenges to overcome. I had stubbornly refused to give up on her for so many years, I wasn’t going to surrender now.

Friends who had witnessed the struggles urged me to find a new horse, anticipating more difficulty and heartbreak. But I refused because I believed – no, I knew that Stripper could make it to Grand Prix and earn the coveted USDF gold medal. I was determined to stick with her. More important, I felt like I owed it to Stripper to restore the joyous and generous spirit that had once made her “reach for my seat”.

Back to the drawing board. I spent the next winter in Florida, searching for the missing key to Stripper’s mind. Then I had the good fortune to meet Cathy Morelli. Cathy explained how riders needed to stop “clashing” their aids by driving into a “fixed” hand, how this could “shut off the hind leg,” create a feeling of claustrophobia in horses, and would ultimately make horses tense and arrhythmic. I stood transfixed – she was describing Stripper. I persuaded Cathy to take me on as a student. Cathy took off my spurs, took away the double bridle, and taught me how to “prioritize” my aids. “Forget about roundness for the moment, and get the hind legs working properly,” she encouraged. During that last week in Florida, Cathy did her best to explain and teach me her system. The transformation was amazing. Stripper's hind legs began working better. She had moments of relaxation where she stopped sticking out her tongue. Her lateral canter showed moments of purity. I knew I had found the key that I had been looking for.

We returned home, and continued to improve. We made trips to Cathy in New Jersey. Cathy flew down to North Carolina for clinics. I continued to check in with Jessica for reality checks. We slowly began to add test movements, and to my delight Stripper responded! Time to get back into the show ring. Was I happy the day we won the USDF Region One Prix St. Georges Championships! Dr. Grisel continued to monitor Stripper's soundness, and I continued working with Cathy and Jessica. Stripper gradually got strong enough to work on piaffe, passage, and one time tempi changes. Onto the next and final level: Grand Prix. We chose the Florida circuit to meet this challenge. At our final show of the winter, the final class of the show, the final ride of the day. Talk about drama! We did it! We earned the necessary score to qualify for the USDF Gold Medal. Sixteen years after I first bottle fed Stripper, my terrier-like tenacity had paid off, and my dream had finally come true.

Stripper is now happily retired at Lynn’s farm, North Star Training Center in Chapel Hill, NC. Lynn is now competing at PSG and I1 on her nine-year old Hanoverian, d'Artagnan, and hopes to bring him out Grand Prix soon.



February 2009 NCDCTA Board Meeting Minutes

The 2/3/09 NCDCTA Board meeting was held in Pittsboro and called to order at 6:34pm. Board members present: Jennifer Mitchell, Sue Smithson, Dave Stuckey, Donna Kelly, Anita Quinn, Suzanne Mullen, Carol Kelly and Andrea St. Hilaire-Glen. Diane LeFevre, Rebecca Blikslager, Lynn Leath excused.

Jennifer Mitchell/President’s Report:
Jennifer introduced two of the three new board members: Members at Large- Carol Kelly and Andrea St. Hilaire-Glen. Diane LeFevre, the new Competition chair, was unable to attend due to a family illness. Lynn Leath has become the new Dressage chair, while Rebecca Blikslager has moved to an At-Large position.

Jennifer is planning to attend the USDF Region 1 Spring Meeting on March 15th. Anyone else planning to go should contact her to see about carpooling etc.

Jennifer will have the survey ready for the newsletter by the February 10th deadline. The survey will ask members for their opinions on a range of topics including: the current HOY program, educational opportunities members would like to see offered, the format and other aspects of the NCDCTA Championship show, among other pertinent topics.

Donna Kelly,/Vice President’s Report:
With the sponsorship funds totaling $7800 and the 2008 HOY registration fees of $ 5800 in combination with the NCDCTA budgeted $ 7000 all expenses were covered with a balance of 2,768.53. The additional $ 7000 which was approved by the board was not needed.

Many positive comments regarding the Gala were received; notably the venue, food, and the efficiency of the awards presentations.

Membership: 610 members 284 horses registered in HOY Of those 610 members, 53 % are AA; 34% Open and 12% list themselves as Jr/YR

The database software has been updated, and membership is high for this early in the year.

Dave Stuckey/Treasurer's Report:
1099 tax forms have been sent out on schedule and data compiled to begin the tax filing process. Dave is applying for insurance for all NCDCTA sponsored/licensed shows. Despite the difficult economic climate, through careful management, NCDCTA has remained on solid financial footing. Total income for 2008: $155,745.95; Total expenses for 2008: $105,296.52.

Anita Quinn/ Eventing Committee Report
Only four spots left in the Leslie Law Clinic. However, there has not been a big response to the horse raffle. A side note: Out of the 16 clinic participants, only two were already NCDCTA members and only one chose not to join at this time. The remaining participants are new members. The very popular Timex Series is on track for 2009. Fenridge Farm and TTC both want to do the series again, and a third location is being finalized. More details will be forthcoming soon. Plans are also underway for another top Eventing trainer clinic to be held in the late Fall with the clinician, dates and location revealed in the coming months.

Sue Smithson/Communications Report:
Newsletter: Breed issue was rolled over to April. To date, response to a proposed NCDCTA Stallion roster has been low. Anyone interested in having a stallion listed should contact Sue as soon as possible.

The website is constantly being updated so members should regularly check out what’s new, and to make sure they and their horse are listed for HOY points. Payment for some banner ads have been slower than expected so unfortunately those advertisers will soon lose their ad space.

Lynn Leath/Dressage Committee Report (presented by Jennifer Mitchell)
22 members have expressed interest in being part of the dressage education committee which will begin work soon on a strategic plan. Lynn has been in touch with the USDF regarding hosting a USDF Adult Clinic for 2010, as the 2009 sites have already been chosen. She has also contacted the USDF FEI Jr/YR Council regarding 2009 clinics and has submitted an application for NCDCTA to host.

Diane LeFever/Competition Committee Report (presented by Sue Smithson)
Show fees for NCDCTA licensed shows will continue to be frozen at 2007 levels. Exception: CDI Raleigh, due to new FEI regulations. NCDCTA is applying to host the 2010 USDF /GAIG Regional Dressage Championships at the Harvest Moon show.

New business:
Jennifer put forth a motion to approve new guidelines that would prohibit board members from being hired to officiate at NCDCTA licensed competitions. Motion seconded by Donna; passed unanimously with one abstention.

Review of the current NCDCTA constitution and by-laws, and the process of needed updates, will begin at the next Board meeting scheduled for March 3rd. Carol and Andrea will head the bylaws update committee, and bring recommendations to the board.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:20pm.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Suzanne Mullen, Recording Secretary.


NEWS BITS

Heads up Colleges and Riding Schools: Many dressage shows scheduled within the 2009-2010 academic year are now offering Academy Classes. Memberships and Horse ID requirements are waived for these inexpensive Test of Choice classes, designed for horses who are used in a regular lesson program.

Ground breaking has begun on two new barns and two more rings at the Martin Ag Center in Williamston. The new barns will be totally handicap accessible, including asphalt center aisles.

The NCDCTA Harvest Moon dressage show has applied to host the 2010 USDF / GAIG Region 1 Dressage Finals. If we win the bid, the date will be November 11-14, 2010 at the Martin Ag Center in Williamston.

The USEF has announced that the 2009 FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, July 22-26. This is a unique opportunity to use the venue which has been completely redesigned for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Andrew Ellis of Southern Pines will serve as the overall competition manager.

The Carolina Horse Park has built 13 new cross country jumps for the two upcoming events in March; Southern Pines I and II. The sunken road has been remodeled, and the track will be reversed in the fall. Photos of new fences are posted www.CarolinaHorsePark.com on the Southern Pines I and II menus, at the lower left corner of the home page. The upcoming training camp March 23-27 is open to any level rider, and the work can be tailored to individual needs.

Dale Barnett has taken over the reins of the Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh, effective December 10. The Tennessee native calls himself an “all breeds” horseman, but is a licensed judge for the American Paint Horse Association. He is vitally interested in footing improvements, understanding that “consistency is first and foremost.”


FLORIDA NEWS
By Shannon Packer

Three prominent NCDCTA members are competing in Florida this winter: Jim Koford of Raleigh, Jennifer Baumert of Tryon, and Joe Sandven of Fletcher. One of the first stops was the Gold Coast Opener, West Palm Beach in January. Koford showed Rhett, Prince Champ, and Don Principe, and they all held their own in tough competition. Don Principe’s best test was a 63.9% in the grand prix freestyle. Rhett’s best test was a 61.6% in the Intermediate I. Koford and Rhett will be heading to Europe this summer, thanks to the $25,000 Anne L. Barrow Ramsay Grant.

Rhett’s breeder and owner, Shirley McQuillen of Touchstone Farms, said “When I watch (Rhett) go my heart just fills up. He's always been such an emotionally open horse. I've been lucky to have the right people nurture him along the way. He and Jim are the perfect fit. Jim spends that extra time to form the kind of bond that a horse needs to be confident. This is a learning year for Rhett. We're in no hurry.”

Sandven began his show season with his Rachmaninoff in the Gold Coast Opener, and was honored with an invitation to compete in the World Dressage Masters, America’s first CDI-W5, offering over $140K in prize money. Unfortunately, the pair got off to a slow start at the GCO, and ended up withdrawing from the Masters.

“I learned more from one bad show than all of my good shows last year,” Sandven said. “After a dismal showing, I decided that training is more important than going into one of the biggest shows in the world and taking a chance that my horse may not do exactly as I asked. I have Jessica Ransehousen down here working with me, and we decided better to train than to show. I feel as if I'm learning to ride all over again. The same old half-halts, straightness and taking care of your short sides, and the stuff you learn from day one has taken on a nice new meaning for me. We are working on fitness for Rocky. He is sound. That was never an issue. He is now on a two times a day work out. (The Masters) was a super opportunity to show him to the world, and I decided that maybe we didn't want to show him to the world right now.”

Baumert began her show season by riding three horses at the White Fences show in early February. She was off to an impressive start with a couple of wins at third and fourth level, with scores in the high 60’s. Baumert balances a busy schedule as trainer of Katherine Pfaff’s 18-horse Cross Creek Farm in Columbus N.C., running her own business under Cloverlea Dressage, and marriage.

Editor’s note: Thanks to Shannon Packer and Erik Olsen of Sport Horse Photography.com for filing this report from Florida! “We want to assist our NC riders in getting the recognition they deserve,” said Packer. “There is truly more to life than NASCAR and football!”


A COSMO QUIZ FOR FINDING THE RIGHT TRAINER

Jeanne Karver’s article in this issue leaves me wondering if my trainer will actually return from the Florida circuit. And if so, will he have time for us SOFT (slow, old, fat, tired) clients? Or will he become rich and famous and leave us in the dust on his climb to stardom? Here is a Cosmo Quiz titled: “Are you desperate for help? Find out if you’re too obsessed with finding the perfect trainer.”

It goes something like this: Answer “yes”, “no”, or “sometimes”, for the following questions:

Does it drive you crazy when:
(a) Your trainer doesn’t show up on time?
(b) Doesn’t show up on the right day?
(c) Doesn’t show up at all?

Does it make you suspicious when you:
(a) Call and his voice mailbox is always full?
(b) Catch him on his cell and while describing your saddle sores in unmentionable places, he blurts “Oops, I just ran over the dog” and hangs up?
(c) Drive by his house and he turns out the lights and hides?

Do you mistrust his advise on:
(a) Horses?
(b) Show clothes?
(c) Hoof picks?

Do prefer if you trainer wears:
(a) Leather boots.
(b) Underwear?
(b) 1. On the inside? (c) Star Trek pinky ring for communication with the Mother ship?

Would you:
(a) Cancel a lesson to take a clinic with a hot FBI (Foreign Born Instructor).
(b) Cancel lunch plans with a friend for a last minute show tune-up?
(c) Ever turn down a trainer who says: “I think I can help you with that tongue problem.”

When an “unknown” shows up on your cell, you:
(a) Always pick up, it could be Steffen Peters on a blocked caller id.
(b) Let it go to voice mail.
(c) Answer “Hola” and pretend to be the groom.

If you answered “yes” to all the questions, you don’t need a trainer, you need a psychiatrist. If you answered “yes” to half the questions, you need a trainer who is more baby sitter than horse trainer. If you answered “yes” to less than half the questions, you could be a client of my trainer; the Dark Force and his School of Self-Reliance. And this is about as accurate as the regular monthly Cosmo quizzes.