June 3, Schooling Show with L Judge, Krista Peek

Classical and Western Dressage

Date: Saturday June 3, 2023

Venue: American Ranch Equestrian Center, 9100 N Callahan Rd, Prescott, AZ 86305

Opening Date: May 5, 2023

Closing Date: May 26, 2023

Entry Form and All Information may be found at: nacofada.com

Mail Entry Form, Release Forms and check payable to NAC of ADA, to: Susan Crampton, 1904 Sarafina Drive, Prescott, AZ, 86301

Any Questions contact: susancrampton1@gmail.com, 928-925-6043

Our Friends at WDAAZ are generously providing a High Point Prize at the end of the show day for a Western Dressage Rider. (It is Beautiful)

$25,000 Debbie McDonald Fund for FEI Riders

Debbie McDonald, through her compassionate and effective training methods, has had a significant and positive impact on dressage training across the United States. To honor her role in the success of U.S. dressage as a trainer, competitor, and coach, the Debbie McDonald Fund for FEI Riders was established to recognize Debbie’s unique contributions to the sport of dressage while enhancing the skill and effectiveness of the dressage community.

Goals of the Fund include:

• Providing funding for high-level training to horse and rider pairs who show potential to succeed at FEI Levels, and who may not otherwise have the opportunity for the training.

• Growing the legacy of compassionate and effective dressage training embodied by Debbie McDonald. Riders of any age, who meet the requirements below, are welcome to apply.

Applicant Criteria:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.

• The horse and rider must be training and/or competing at Prix St. Georges or higher, including the Under 25 (U25) Division.

• Must have a plan of how to expand dressage knowledge and skill in their region by sharing what is learned from this training.

• Must be a demonstrated team player through volunteer work, donating resources, hosting educational events to help their dressage community, etc.

Grants should be used to support the development of the horse/rider pair, including high-level training and competition opportunities that might not otherwise be available to them.

Grant Amount:

At this time, one $25,000 grant will be available each year to a qualified applicant chosen by an independent selection committee comprised of dressage professionals who have had international success.

Additional Information:

Funding can be used for training and competition, but cannot be used only for competition. Funding cannot be used for vet and/or farrier expenses, living expenses, or the purchase of a horse or equipment. An individual can only receive one $25,000 grant from The Dressage Foundation each year.

The committee reserves the right to not award a grant in any given year if they determine that no candidate has met the criteria. Funds would then be held until the following year. The applications and discussions of the selection committee are confidential, and their decisions are final.

If the grant recipient is unable to attend the program specified in his/her application, The Dressage Foundation must be notified as soon as possible. Approval for a change in the use of funds is at the discretion of The Dressage Foundation and the grant selection committee.

The online application form and all required documents must be submitted to The Dressage Foundation on or before June 15th of each year. A final decision will typically be announced by July 30th.

The grant must be used for training and events that fall after the application deadline of June 15th and within 2 years of that date. For more information visit https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/apply/high_performance_dressage/ debbie-mcdonald-fund.html

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Signs of heat stroke:

• A body temperature above 105° F. At this temperature, blood supply to the muscles beings to shut down, and then to the intestines and kidneys, and finally the brain and heart.

• High respiratory and heart rate persists.

• Refusal to work or eat.

• Collapse, convulsions, coma

Cooling them down:

There are a few strategies that can be used to cool down a horse. Heat can cause tremendous stress on horses, so properly cooling them down will keep them healthier and help you avoid a potential lethal situation.

1. Reduce your ride time: It’s summertime in Arizona so you may need to adjust your riding time or reduce your ride time to not overheat your horse. Riding very early in the morning, or later at night to avoid the worst of the heat is crucial.

2. Use a fan: Provide a fan in your horse’s stall and place one in the grooming area. The cool air passing over their body speeds up cooling after a workout. A fan or misting system in the stall can help them maintain a cooler body temperature throughout the day.

3. Provide shade and change your turnout schedule: Shade is a must. Horses should be provided with a way to stay out of the sun and turnout without shade during the day should be kept at a minimum. Nighttime turnout is also a good option for avoiding the sun.

4. Provide water: Access to unlimited, clean water is a given. Allowing your horse to drink cool water can instantly cool them down.

5. Administer electrolytes: Giving your horse electrolytes will help replace salt and minerals lost through sweating. Electrolytes also encourage horses to drink more water. If you need to get your horse electrolytes quickly, a paste is the most effective method.

Should you hose down your horse in hot weather?

There is a lot of controversy and rumor circulating about hosing off your horse in hot weather. You may have heard that you shouldn’t cold hose your horse in hot weather, but this is a myth. Research shows that hosing with cold water does cool them down if the water temperature is cooler than their body. You must also scrape off the warm water to aid the cooling process. The body loses heat in a process of evaporative cooling and conduction. The cold water allows heat from the muscles and skin to move into the water. Once you scrape the warm water off, you are continuing this cooling process. In fact, the colder the water, the more heat loss occurs!

Continuous, cold hosing and scraping off the hot water is the most effective way to reduce body temperature. Focus on areas with the largest amount of blood vessels like the head, neck and back. Repeat the hosing and scraping process until the horse is cool.