2016 newsletter marchapril

Transitions Marzo & Abril 2016 Dear Members, Spring is here! We have been lucky with wonderful riding weather and I hope you have had an opportunity to ride and enjoy what I like to call “why-I-live-here” weather. If you get a chance to go out on the trails, it is beautiful. The photos were taken March 19 in the Catalina State Park. It always fascinates me what flowers dominate each year and this year it is the lupines.

The first two TDC recognized schooling shows were successful and had great weather. The next one is May 8 at Amado Equine Hacienda. That show features a fun class: dressage trail. Check it out, I am going to do it this time.

TDC’s March Madness show was a huge success filling three arenas with terrific rides on beautiful sunny, not-windy days. A children’s Easter Egg hunt was put together by Molly O’Brien, Elizabeth Eggers, and Kathleen Gale. The kids really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know one another. The Board would like to extend a hearty thank you to all of the volunteers who made this show happen and to our sponsors as well for helping us out. We could not continue to provide a quality show without you.

Educational opportunities abound this Spring. TDC member Scarlett Fahrensen is hosting Charles deKnuffy at her St.Georg Equestrian Center in Sonoita on April 9-10; TDC is hosting Beth Baumert for a clinic on April 22-24 at the Amado Equine Hacienda in Amado; TDC member Lynn Boice is coordinating the Julie Leiken Clinic on May 6-8; and there is a Dressage University session scheduled for May 22. Please check the TDC website for more information and contacts, plus there should be more information in this Newsletter.

At this time the TDC Fall Symposium is scheduled for October 29-30 at the Pima County Fairgrounds featuring Willy Arts focusing on selecting and starting young horses, plus working on ground manners.

I know it is a long way off, but save the date of January 28, 2017 for the TDC Dressage Gala and Awards banquet at the Mountain Oyster Club.

As always the Officers, and all Board members welcome ideas from our members for things to do to that benefit our members.

Rosemary Gordon Pánuco TDC President

Calendar Tucson Dressage Club

Prize lists and entry forms for all TDC shows can be found at www.tucsondressageclub.org

Board of Directors PRESIDENT: Rosemary Gordon Panuco appeals1@aol.com

Prize lists and entry forms for all ADA shows can be found at www.azdressage.org

520-797-6921 VICE PRESIDENT: Kathleen Gale kgalepony@gmail.com TREASURER : Ursula Conway umconway@gmail.com 702-658-4826 SECRETARY : Bobbi Lehman

bobbi@amadoequine.com 520-705-0835 BOARD MEMBER Mike Goss mgossequestrian@yahoo.com

520-490-5555

Upcoming TDC Events Beth Baumert Clinic April 22-23 Amado Equine Hacienda Clinics Charles deKunffy April 9-10 Contact: Colleen Clement at colleen@dressageinthedesert.com Scarlett Fahrenson at stgeorgdakotacom.net Julie Leiken~ May 6-8, 2016 Contact: Lynn Boice 520-954-2205 lwboice@gmail.com

Elizabeth Eggers 88totaljoy@gmail.com Nancy McGibbon nhmcgibbon@gmail.com Jeanna Escalante sunkiststables@gmail.com Molly O’Brien obriensx4@comcast.net Tucson Dressage Club Committees AWARDS : Rosemary Gordon Panuco 520-797-6921, appeals1@aol.com FINANCIAL REVIEW : Ursula Conway umconway@gmail.com JUNIOR : Molly O’Brien obriensx4@comcast.net M EMBERSHIP : Lynn Boice lwboice@gmail.com N EWSLETTER : Lynn Boice lwboice@gmail.com PUBLICITY RECOGNIZED SHOWS : Ellie Stine-Masek 520-405-8886 SHOW AWARDS: Jennifer Parker,520-235-5145: Laine Sklar, lainesklar@gmail.com WEBSITE: Lynn Boice

2106 Recognized Show Dates ADA – April 2-3 Roadrunner – June 4-5 Roadrunner – July 9-10 For prize list contact: Rosemary at appeals1@aol.com Region 5 Championships – September 15-18, Estes Park, Co ADA – August 13-14 ADA – November 5-6 TDC – November 19-20

Schooling Show Schedule **Amado Equine Hacienda – May 8** Date change St Georg – September 10 Amado Equine Hacienda – October 9 M2 Sporthorses – October 23

lwboice@gmail.com; newsTDC@gmail.com The Tucson Dressage Club is a non-profit educational organization with the mission of promoting dressage in southeastern Arizona. We accomplish this through educational seminars and clinics for our members, the equestrian community and the general public. We also sponsor a series of schooling shows and US Equestrian Federation (USEF)/US Dressage Federation (USDF) recognized shows each year. We elect a Board of Directors from the general membership and are governed by bylaws. Formed in 1975, the Tucson Dressage Club is today a group of dressage enthusiasts who have joined together to learn more about dressage, share experiences, support and encourage each other. We strive to promote interest in and understanding of the principals of dressage through our many programs and shows.

The Tucson Dressage Club presents

A Clinic with Beth Baumert April 22-24, 2016 After a terrific fall clinic, Beth will be back to an expanded, 3 day spring clinic.

Whether riding or auditing, there will be great discussions and learning opportunities! Lunch will be provided for riders and paid auditors.

Rider: $135/45min lesson, includes lunch for ride and one groom.

For questions and rider slots….

Auditor: Pre-registration $10 a day includes lunch.

Contact Randi Nelson-Shipley, rnsarchitects@gmail.com or Ursula Conway, umconway@gmail.com

Day or Overnight stalls: $20/day Contact Bobbi at Amado Equine Hacienda for reservation and payment. bobbi@amadoequine.com Location: Amado Equine Hacienda, 27777 S Nogales Hwy, Amado, AZ 85645 Register and pay online http://www.tucsondressageclub.org/ Or make checks payable to Tucson Dressage Club (TDC) and mail to : Ursula Conway

Registration Deadlines

1125 Morning Star Dr.

Auditors: April 18, 2016

Rio Rico, AZ 85648

Riders: April 4, 2016. Please contact Randi or Ursula ASAP for scheduling.

Beth has served as technical editor of Dressage Today for more than sixteen years. In that capacity, she is in constant contact with the best dressage riders in the world as they discussed the technical aspects of dressage.

She is a USDF Certified Instructor through Fourth Level and an “L” graduate (with distinction) of the USDF judging program.

Beth is the author of When Two Spines Align: Dressage Dynamics, which explores the partnership between horse and rider. The DVD, How Riders Work, represents Part I of the book.

Currently, Beth is the President and CEO of The Dressage Foundation (TDF), a non-profit organization who’s mission is to advance the sport of dressage in the United States by providing financial assistance to promising riders, trainers, breeders and judges.

March 2016 Region 5 Message

Spring is coming and the weather has been great, at least in Colorado in mid-February  I’m ready for the snow to be done!

Fundraising efforts are once again under way for the USDF Region 5 Juniors and Young Riders as they try to qualify and travel to the 2016 FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. The Championships will be held July 26-31, 2016 at the Colorado Horse Park. It will hopefully be a bit of an easier trip this year for our group of 8 riders with their horses, grooms and Chef d’Equipes but they still need all the support we can give them. There are still some travel expenses, they must stay in a hotel for the week, and there are team uniforms, chef expenses, feed, bedding and oh so much more that they need help with. If you would like to contribute or help with their fundraising efforts, please contact Joan Clay, our Region 5 Jr/YR FEI coordinator at jnclay@comcast.net or 970-420-0877 or our Fundraising Chair, Kathy Gillespie at kjpagillespie@msn.com or 303-921-5253. If you are still interested in participating in the FEI Junior and Young Rider program for 2016, the last intention deadline is May 17th but the less expensive deadline is May 4th, so be sure to get in your intentions soon.

Regional Championship bids for 2017 have been received and we should know soon where the competition will be held. I had really hoped for some bids from some new areas but unfortunately it did not happen.

Maybe we can get some things going for 2018. USDF will announce the locations of the 2017 Regionals in May. I hope everyone is planning on attending the Regionals in 2016 in Estes Park, Colorado at the Stanley Park Fairgrounds. It’s a beautiful area with lots of fun things to do and the venue is very nice. It should be a great show hosted by the Rocky Mountain Dressage Society!

If you are interested in being a delegate to the Board of Governors meeting, please contact our Nominating Council representative and have your name added to the ballot for Participating Delegate. Please contact Scarlett Fahrenson at stgeorg@dakotacom.net and let her know your interest and she can provide you with more details on the potential responsibilities. PM Delegate nominations are due in to the USDF office no later then April 15th.

Till next month!

Heather Petersen Region 5 Director

If you would prefer to have your copy of Transitions mailed to you, please contact Lynn Boice at newstdc@gmail.com

Horses and Humans Research Foundation For the first time ever, the Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) is coming to Tucson for its annual face-to-face board meeting in April 2016. HHRF funds and supports research to advance equine assisted activities and therapies. TDC’s own, Nancy McGibbon has been involved with HHRF from the beginning and serves on the scientific advisory committee. Another TDC member, Ann Alden, is a board member for HHRF. HHRF is dependent upon tax deductible donations to raise money to fund quality research. Now in its 11th year, HHRF has funded research in the US and other countries.

The HHRF board of directors is hosting a dinner Thursday, April 7, 2016 starting at 6:00 pm at the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa at 245 E. Ina Road. Our speakers include H. Alan Day, author of The Horse Lover, A Cowboy’s Quest to Save the Wild Mustangs with Lynn Wiese Sneyd. Alan is a very entertaining speaker. Nancy McGibbon, MS, PT HPCS will follow Alan and talk about her research funded by HHRF on the Effects of Hippotherapy on Balance and Gait in Ambulatory Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy. Nancy will also talk about the future of research and why it is needed to validate the effectiveness of working with horses.

Please join us to celebrate the magic and science of the horse-human bond.

The dinner includes a delicious Mexican fajitas buffet with a cash bar also available. Special meals are available with 4 days advance notice. The cost is $65 per person, or a table for 10 can be reserved for $600. Business casual attire is suggested. Seating is limited. Please RSVP by March 31, 2016.

Tucson has long been a leader in various forms of equine assisted activities and therapies from Hippotherapy to Equine Facilitated Mental Health work, therapeutic riding and more. This is a rare chance to meet with several pioneers in EAAT. You can contact Ann Alden at aca@bmi.net or 520-820-5757 for more information. I hope to see you there!

For more information on the Horses and Humans Research Foundation please go to www.horsesandhumans.org or contact HHRF at Info@horsesandhumans.org with questions on how to make reservations or request a special diet meal.

Amado Equine Dressage Schooling Show February 14, 2016 Judge: Rachel High

Class 1 USDF Intro Level Test A 1 Cathy Blodgett Artex 109.5 68.438% 2 Cathy Blodgett Brownie 95 59.375% Class 2 USDF Intro Level B 1 Christine Morales Baileys’NCream 108.5 67.813% Class 4 Training Level Test 1 AA 1 Pamela Greer Weston 167.5 72.826% 2 Stacey Lent Midnight Asset 150.5 65.435% 3 Samantha Kirberger Jethro 144.5 62.826% Nancy Sherbrooke No Big Deal 140.5 61.087 Michele Spears Bobby McGee GCF 140 60.870% Samy Moritz Not Your Average Beau 135 58.696% Class 4 Training Level Test 1 Open 1 Casi Majeski Eureka 176 76.522% 2 Casi Majeski Midnight Asset 159 69.130% 3 Casi Majeski Blue Velvet 144.5 62.826% Class 5 Training Level Test 2 AA 1 Pamela Greer Weston 182 2 Nancy Sherbrooke No Big Deal 64.038% 3 Samy Moritz Not Your Average Beau 63.269% Michele Spears Bobby McGee GCF 62.500% Class 5 Training Level Test 2 Open 1 Casi Majeski Eureka 204.5

70.000% 166.5

Class 7 First Level Test 1 AA 1 Stephen Jackson Spider 140.5 52.037% Class 12 Test of Choice AA 1 Anne Bowen High Regard 4th,1 247 66.757% 2 Stacey Lent Midnight Asset Tr,1 153 66.522% 3 Anne Bowen High Regard 4th, 2 239 66.389% Samantha Kirberger Jethro Tr, 1 136 59.130% Monica Kesler Blue Velvet Para Nov 103.5 49.286% Class 16 Trail Dressage Test 1 1 Anne Bowen High Regard 104.5 80.385% 2 Pamela Greer Weston 97 74.615% 3 Steve Jackson Spider 88.5 68.077% Nancy Sherbrooke No Big Deal 85 65.385% Cathy Blodgett Brownie 83.5 64.231% Kathie German Tahiti 82 63.077% Sheila Strickler Kahlua 81.5 62.692% Christine Morales Baileys’NCream 76.5 58.846% Susan Heiss Boo 76 58.462%

164.5 162.5

78.654%

Class 6 Training Level Test 3 AA 1 Pamela Greer Weston 153.5 69.773%

Class 17 Trail Dressage Test 2 1 Steve Jackson Spider 245 71.014% 2 Pamela Greer Weston 241.5 70.000% 3 Susan Heiss Boo 228.5 66.252%

Authority by Susan Downs Parrish, Ph.D. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way. . . . A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens.

Charles Dickens rode dressage. Never mind that biographers neglected to mention his passion for riding. He knew the elusive nature of the art. How else could he come up with a description to describe exactly what every dressage rider endures?

The “best of times and worst of times” came to me after the Tucson Dressage Club’s Winter Heat Shows, I and II. My ride on Saturday, my first Intermediaire 1 attempt with Maronda, didn’t go well. Tension rather than relaxation infused every movement.

Upon exiting the ring, Eli Masek, my long time friend and former instructor, said, “You win the Rodeo Award.” The judge, Debbie Riehl-Rodriguez, responded similarly. She wrote, “Obviously talented & athletic horse, but many unfortunate problems. Rider maintained composure throughout—well handled!! Keep working!” Not the words any rider dreams of reading in the comment section of a test.

Saturday night, lying in bed, I pondered “the rodeo.” My dear Riesling, may he rest in peace, popped into my head. Every show in at least one class, Riesling erupted. At seventeen-two, his air-born maneuvers caught everyone’s attention. Warm-up arenas tended to thin out when we entered. Fear rather than mischief motivated Riesling. I began riding him when he was four. A big, gangly colt, he couldn’t travel a twenty-meter circle without breaking into a trot. The first time I rode a training level pattern at home, he became anxious because I concentrated on the sequence of moves, and didn’t reassure him every minute or so with my voice.

Maronda is more confident than Riesling ever was. Puffed up with tension, her reactions on Saturday were deliberate.

Losgelassenheit? Not a trace. Many horses felt tense, but they didn’t explode in the arena. How did other riders avoid the rodeo antics? What did I do or not do to cause similar outbursts on different horses? Here I was training my last horse, hoping to get to Grand Prix one last time, and history tapped me on the shoulder. One advantage of seniorhood is having a deep archive from which to search for answers. An image rescued me from my terror: Jonas riding Wishing Well.

In a previous piece, I wrote about this pair. For those who missed the description or may have forgotten, Wishing Well, a talented, elegant jumper, developed the habit of standing on his hind legs and refusing to enter the arena. When Jonas Irbinskas arrived in Tucson, he accepted the challenge of riding Wishy. I wasn’t lucky enough to see how Jonas prepared for the first show, but I did see the event, and will never forget the image of the man and the horse: perfect harmony. Later, as I came to know Jonas, I would understand the determination on which the harmony rested. Along with the image, a voice sounded in my head, “You will,” Conrad Schumacher’s unmistakable tone. Then, a softer voice, “You must be the pilot,” Gerd Zuther. Jonas skillfully put Wishy on the bit, and the horse remained on the bit: precisely what I had to accomplish.

On Sunday, when I entered the arena for my second go at Intermediaire 1, I put Maronda on the bit and there she stayed. The pilot stepped up. Maronda was tense, but compliant. Tempi changes lifted the veil on the level of tension evident in the saddle from the moment we entered the arena, but overall the ride was one of my better dressage performances. Okay, but what did this success mean for future rides? I remembered the joke about the woman whose doctor tells her that the operation went as planned: “We removed the frog from your stomach.”

The woman says, “Oh good!

On the way out the door, the doctor looks at the woman and says, “I hope she didn’t lay any eggs.”

One thing about Maronda, she communicates. I listen, but don’t always understand the message. My first show ride on Maronda, a First Level test, sticks with me. Every corner, she expected me to guide her around, while I expected her to turn the corners as she had always done at home. We went so deep into the first corner that she almost came to a halt. After two corners, I caught on and rode deep but correct corners. No other horse offered me such control, and she didn’t turn like this at home. I mentioned this phenomenon to a few people, but no one said much, so I dismissed the experience. In my ride on Saturday, she went deep into the first corner, and almost stopped; we weren’t in tune. On Sunday, I rode every stride because I had to. She didn’t have to ask how deep to go into the corner.

Some years ago, can’t tell you where or when, I heard Conrad Schumacher say that warmbloods need fairly strong contact. He noted that thoroughbreds might prefer a lighter contact. He couldn’t speak to a thoroughbred’s needs, but he knew what a warmblood needed. Maronda is a Hanoverian, and I think she has been trying to tell me that she needs stronger contact than I have been providing.

She wants me to be in charge, know where the heck we are going, and tell her well in advance.

It’s my nature to blend in rather than stand out. When I rode Riesling, the tall, bright chestnut with four white socks and a blaze, no one thought my inclination was to escape notice. As a high school student, my mother attended one of my classes, and noticed that I sat in the back row and never opened my mouth. She decided things needed to change. She enrolled me in Valley School for Girls, where most of my classes had less than ten students. There was no back row. I got called on a lot, and learned to be a student. With horses, my nature has always been to harmonize with rather than govern. I’m a reluctant authority.

Now I get it: Maronda is my mother incarnate. Heaven help me.

Jean Downs, Susan’s mother, riding Toy’s Upset ~1958

The essential joy of April Birthdays 3 Elizabeth Eggers Nancy Leverenz McKenzie Miller 7 Barbara Rector 11 Elissa Hambright 15 Terry Bannon 17 Cyndi Jackson Samy Moritz 23 Denise Dalton-Love 27 Denise Langhenry 29 Jennifer Parker

being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire. ~Sharon Ralls Lemon

M2 Sporthorses Schooling Show March 6, 2016 Judge: Lois Whittington Intro Test A Jr 1 Memphis Hogan

Article VII 98.5

Intro Test A AA 1. Christine Morales Bailey’s “N” Cream 2 Jennifer Cook Ms Demeanor 3 Ellie Stilson Unlawful Detainer Intro Test B AA 1 . Christine Morales Bailey’s “N” Cream

61.562%

105 100.5 97

108

65.625% 62.812% 60.625%

67.500%

Intro Test of Choice 1 . Christine Morales Bailey’s “N” Cream 2 Memphis Hogan Article VII

106.5 97.5

66.562% test B 60.937% test a

Training Level Test 1 Jr/YR 1 Jamie Ricksecker Shiny and Zipped

149

64.782%

Training Level Test 1 AA 1 Pamela Greer Weston

145.5

63.260%

Training Level Test 2 Jr/YR 1 Jamie Ricksecker Shiny and Zipped 2 Louise Johansson Spot of Champagne

161.5 161

62.115% 61.923%

Training Level Test 2 AA 1 Tammye Gregoire Marengo 2 Pamela Greer Weston

177 171

68.076% 65.769%

Training Level Test 3 Jr/YR 1 Louise Johansson Spot of Champagne

130

59.090%

Training Level Test 3 AA 1 Pamela Greer Weston

142.5

64.772%

Training Level Test 3 Open 1 Rosemary Gordon Panuco

Article VI 128.5

58.409%

Training Level TOC 1 Rosemary Gordon Panuco

Article VI 132

60.000%

First Level Test 1 AA 1 Stefanie Daratony Arora

155

57.407%

First Level Test 1 Open 1 Jana Crimmins Ruby

173

64.259%

First Level Test 2 AA 1 Tammye Gregoire Marengo 199

62.187%

First Level Test 2 Open 1 Jana Crimmins Ruby

208.5

65.165%

First Level Test 3 YR 1 Ellen Cook WOW

220.5

64.852%

First Level TOC 1 Stefanie Daratony Arora

169.5

62.777%

Intermediare 1 1 Susan Parrish

Maronda 233

61.315%

High Point Tammye Gregoire Marengo 177 68.076%

TDC BOARD MEETING 1 March 2016 Tucson Racquet Club Meeting Called to order at 6:35 p.m.

Directors Present: Rosemary Gordon Panuco, Randi NelsonShipley, Elizabeth Eggers, Molly O'Brien, Mike Goss, Bobbi Lehman, Jeanna Escalante, Nancy McGibbon.

Regrets from: Kathleen Gale, Ursula Conway Review of Minutes: January Board Meeting Minutes - already approved and published in February newsletter; Annual Meeting Minutes - motioned to approve and accepted.

Treasurer’s Report: Ursula to update Membership Report: 154 TDC Awards Gala Jan. 30, 2016 final report: Report from Nancy McGibbon. Kudos to all involved in organizing the Gala.

Nancy provided a financial profit and loss summary as well as event process report to assist with future planning. The event had a net cost of $735.62. An event form template for the Gala was provided, and the board agreed it would be used for all major events. Nancy offered to start a Board Event binder so that planning information and contacts are available for the future.

Motion to hold the 2017 Gala at MO Club again, seconded, motion unanimously passed.

TDC Show Committee Report: Next show committee meeting Monday March 7, 2016, 6:30 p.m. Tucson Racquet Club (meeting cancelled – Show committee to reconvene after March Madness).

Report pending from show committee to TDC governing board.

Board discussed about competitions and other horse shows that draw the public more. Marketing of classes that are more interesting such as Freestyles and FEI classes. Let the community know when these classes are happening and when to come out to watch. Post ride times in a more public location such as social media, local newspapers, radio, Craigslist, etc.

Promote specialty classes: Pas de Deux, Prix Caprilli, Quadrille. Proposal of "Dressage Theater" where the horse and rider competes in costume to music.

Education Committee Report: TDC Spring Clinic with Beth Baumert, April 22-24, 2016: Riding slots are filling quickly. Riders to contact Randi and/or Ursula to register to ride or audit. Registration is completed through the TDC website. Action item: Send out an email blast to ensure membership is aware of opportunity to ride and audit the Spring TDC Clinic.

October 2016 Symposium with Willy Arts: October 29-30, 2016 at Pima Fairgrounds. Topics for the symposium: ground manners, young horses, presenting horses in hand, evaluating potential for various disciplines, conformation. Watch for a call for demo riders and horses based on the symposium's objectives as the date approaches.

2017 Symposiums: Mounted Police Desensitization Clinic.

Dressage University Sessions: Arena Footing, May 2016. More details to be provided as the event details develop. (Mike) Other sessions in discussion: Jackpot Equine: Session on Keeping Your Horse Sound; Performance Horses and Health Issues (Jeanna).

Julie Leiken: Biomechanics through Union of Pilates and Dressage (Mike) Trailer Talk with Rick from Cholla Metals Schooling Show Calendar Update: Schooling Show at Amado Equine: spring date rescheduled to May 8, 2016 Old Business: Motion to approve the decision on Jackpot Equine request to exchange their service as show vets for advertising in the competition program and Transitions. Motion seconded, and passed.

New Business: Discussion of newsletter on FB, public side of website, perhaps keep minutes under members only section. Social media is a common way for people to know what is happening. Many discussions have occurred regarding increasing membership and participation in competitions and other TDC events. Advertising for the newsletter would be more impactful and appealing to advertisers if a newsletter becomes a publication more widely distributed. Motion to post Transitions to website and Facebook, seconded, and unanimously passed. Action item: Transitions to be posted to FB and website after publication to membership.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:18 p.m.

Next Meeting: April 5.

****Classified Ads**** Charming Guest House on M2 Sporthorses property: 2 Bedrooms, 1 bath - 1000 sq.ft. AC, Washer, Dryer, Tile/Wood Floors. $800/month Contact Marian Munsinger at 4014704 m2sporthorses@msn.com Companion horse needed! Boarding opportunity available on the San Pedro River in Benson: lots of turn out and grass. 45 minutes east of Tucson. $250/month. Come ride anytime. Would be willing to take horses that just need time off from work or any other temporary basis. lisasprietsma@msn.com or 520-221-0563

What Is Contact? The Second Stage Horse Listening Blog Stage Two: “On the Bit” Eventually, “contact” begins to take on a deeper meaning. You will find out that just shortening the reins won’t help your horse a lot. The horse will tend to feel any pressure you put on the reins, and will often either brace or tense against your pull.

We’ve previously talked about how pulling is not the answer to achieving healthy and quality movement. The simple reason is that every time you pull, you block the horse’s energy from his hind end and through his back – resulting in a shortening of the horse’s stride and a reduction in his ability to use the inside hind leg for balance.

Stage Two is when you start to notice the “pull” and do something about it. Although you know you need to shorten the reins for better communication, you begin to learn that contact cannot happen if it doesn’t start in the hind end. So you begin to use your legs and seat to initiate the shorter rein length. Notice that the short rein happens as a result of impulsion/engagement. First, you activate the hind end. Then you shorten the reins.

When you ask the horse to engage (come under the body deeper with the hind legs), the horse’s body will round more. The horse uses his topline muscles better and suddenly, your previously shortened reins seem too long! This happens because in rounding, the horse’s body actually becomes shorter.

So at Stage Two, you initiate movement with your seat and legs. The horse uses that energy to round through the body and come to the bit. Even though you shortened the reins enough before you asked for the horse to round, it is the horse that takes the bit at this stage.

To repeat: the horse takes the bit.

You don’t pull back or harder to get a result.

The horse steps “forward” – to the bit. Some people call this action “seeking the bit”. The only thing you do is decide on a rein length (by the way, it could be short or long – it’s not the rein length that matters) and then send the horse to the bit from your seat and legs. Then you maintain balance through well-timed halfhalts.

You will know this happened the first time you get it. It feels great! The “contact” is light, the horse’s whole body, including the poll becomes soft, and the movement becomes bouncy bouncy – in a nice, round, trampoline-y sort of way. You will likely get a snort or two, and the horse will feel as buoyant as you do… …even if it only lasts a few strides!

You will also feel a distinct difference between the feel of the contact between this and the first stage, when you just shortened the reins.

This feel is more like you’re really communicating, progressing through space together. The pull feeling is replaced by a contact feeling (if that makes sense!). You’re in touch but not in a heavy way. The horse feels distinctly more powerful and round. Your aids become clearer and your horse feels freer even while he responds sooner and easier.

To recap:

Stage Two: “On the Bit”     

initiate from the hind end horse steps to the bit horse rounds shorten the reins half-halts

Tucson Dressage Club March Madness I & II March 19-20, 2016 Training Level, Test 1; Jr/YR, AA (C) Mandas, 1 McKenzie Miller Romantic Man JR/YR 148.5 64.565% 2 Sidney Estrada Suncatcher Baby JR/YR 142.0 61.739% 3 Jamie Ricksecker Shiny And Zipped JR/YR 139.5 60.652% Training Level, Test 1; Open (C) Mandas, 1 Missy Gilliland Saphiera L Open 173.0 75.217% 2 Heather McKay Case Ecco Domani Open 154.5 67.174% 3 Toah Hatch Formal Affair Open 140.0 60.870% Training Level, Test 2 (C) Roth, 1 Jill Graf Piper's Stewart AA 170.5 65.577% 2 Karen Spencer Nahimana AA 169.5 65.192% 3 Cynthia Ganem El Galion AA 164.5 63.269% 4 Carol Ann Bartels Batino AA 136.5 52.500% 1 Isabella Parks Cancun EE JR/YR 187.5 72.115% 2 Jamie Ricksecker Shiny And Zipped JR/YR 140.0 53.846% 1 Missy Gilliland Windermere DDB Open 201.0 77.308% 2 Missy Gilliland Saphiera L Open 186.5 71.731% 3 Jennifer Parker Fenix RMC Open 182.5 70.192% 4 Heather McKay Case Ecco Domani Open 176.0 67.692% 5 Juan Lopez Torres T'ally -O Open 175.5 67.500% 6 Toah Hatch Justa Beansprout Open 173.0 66.538% Training Level, Test 3 (C) Wadeborn, 1 Francine Garrigus Time Out AA 149.5 67.955% 2 Meredith Wykoff Romulus AA 137.0 62.273% 3 Geren Thurston Lifelord Z AA 137.0 62.273% 4 Kathleen Downie Poblano Mor AA 136.0 61.818% 5 Meredith Wykoff Rainieri AA 128.0 58.182% 1 Isabella Parks Cancun EE JR/YR 154.5 70.227% 2 Jamie Deconcini Miss Maisy Mae JR/YR 138.0 62.727% 1 Missy Gilliland Windermere DDB Open 162.0 73.636% 2 Jennifer Parker Fenix RMC Open 154.5 70.227% 3 Heather McKay Case Ecco Domani Open 154.0 70.000% 4 Mimi Junick Escapada Open 149.5 67.955% 5 Toah Hatch Formal Affair Open 145.5 66.136% Toah Hatch Justa Beansprout Open 143.0 65.000% 6 Juan Lopez Torres T'ally -O Open 143.0 65.000% Toah Hatch Barleone Open 134.5 61.136% Training Level, Test of Choice (C) Roth, 1 Jill Graf Piper's Stewart AA 168.0 64.615% 2 Geren Thurston Lifelord Z AA 135.0 61.364% First Level, Test 1 (C) Mandas, 1 Naima Guy Rosa Fina AA 2 Michele Mooney Don Viamo AA 3 Diane DeVincentis Legend LHF AA 4 Francine Garrigus Time Out AA 5 Kathleen Downie Poblano Mor AA 6 Judy Cutitta Chico AA Karen Spencer Nahimana AA

178.0 177.0 173.5 166.0 165.5 162.5 154.5

65.926% 65.556% 64.259% 61.481% 61.296% 60.185% 57.222%

First Level, Test 2 (C) Wadeborn, 1 Ann-Marie Crookham Myst of Elysium AA 207.0 64.688% 2 Tammy Callahan Damiani AA 189.0 59.063% 1 Jana Crimmins Sapphire Cream of the Crop O 213.0 66.563% 2 Allison Hardas Nibrika Mourne View Mist O 199.5 62.344%

First Level, Test 3; Jr/YR, Open (C) Roth, 1 Molly O'Brien Consolata JR/YR 251.5 73.971% 2 Jamie Deconcini Miss Maisy Mae JR/YR 216.5 63.676% 1 Mimi Junick Butterfly Kisses Open 239.5 70.441% 2 Jana Crimmins Sapphire Cream of the Crop O 236.5 69.559% 3 Catherine Brown Vienna Open 232.0 68.235% 4 Leesa Lane Bojenia AA 229.0 67.353% 5 Allison Hardas Nibrika Mourne View Mist O 215.5 63.382% First Level, Test 3; AA (C) Roth, 1 Christine Linn Classie Com AA 238.0 70.000% 2 Diane DeVincentis Legend LHF AA 234.0 68.824% 3 Susan Arbuckle Shiners Buckaroo AA 231.5 68.088% 4 Janet Teodori Pavan AA 228.5 67.206% 5 Catherine Carlson Reminiscence AA 226.0 66.471% 6 Jaime Pollack I Wont Kiss N Tell AA 224.5 66.029% Tammy Callahan Damiani AA 220.5 64.853% Allen Kalchik Arcola AA 217.0 63.824% First Level, Test of Choice (C) Mandas, 1 Catherine Carlson Reminiscence AA 219.5 64.559% 2 Ann-Marie Crookham Myst of Elysium AA 202.5 63.281% 1 Catherine Brown Vienna Open 234.5 68.971% Second Level, Test 1 (C) Wadeborn, 1 Lindsay Naas Roy El's Belle of the Ball AA 198.5 60.152% 2 Karen Lubinski Duke's Mr T. J. AA 197.0 59.697% 3 Reagan Leach Duplicor AA 191.5 58.030% 4 Sharna Watson Beltane Karys AA 174.5 52.879% 1 Katherine Nayak Willow JR/YR 204.0 61.818% 2 Gabrielle Spirk Chi JR/YR 198.5 60.152% 3 Molly O'Brien Consolata JR/YR 195.5 59.242% 1 Allison Hardas M. Ruberth Open 201.0 60.909% Second Level, Test 2 (C) Wadeborn, 1 Kendall Brookhart Rianna 2 Elizabeth Eggers Windstarr

AA 256.5 65.769% AA 216.0 55.385%

Second Level, Test 3 (C) Mandas, 1 Theresa Hunt Carmen AA 295.0 71.951% 2 Christine Linn Classie Com AA 266.5 65.000% 3 Jaime Pollack I Wont Kiss N Tell AA 247.0 60.244% 4 Melinda Olsen Wilderwind AA 240.5 58.659% 5 Elizabeth Eggers Windstarr AA 230.5 56.220% 1 Gabrielle Spirk Chi JR/YR 261.5 63.780% 2 Katherine Nayak Willow JR/YR 243.0 59.268% 1 Mimi Junick Butterfly Kisses Open 277.5 67.683% Second Level, Test of Choice (C) Roth, 1 Lindsay Naas Roy El's Belle of the Ball AA 189.0 57.273% 1 Raymond La Croix Lanzelot Open 260.5 63.537% Third Level, Test 1 (C) Wadeborn, 1 Amy Roth 2 Shelene Taylor 3 Cindi Lacroix 4 Tania Radda 5 Pamela Farthing

Revanche AA 206.0 62.424% Brioso AA 196.5 59.545% Marbella AA 189.0 57.273% Miguel Al Vida AA 186.0 56.364% Pakuna AA 170.5 51.667%

1 2 1 2 3

Megan Manning SR Ssavant JR/YR 210.0 63.636% Sarah Dauz Voltaire JR/YR 200.0 60.606% Kailee Surplus Aegyptian Gold Open 223.0 67.576% Allison Hardas M. Ruberth Open 201.0 60.909% Aoife Coomaraswamy Ferdinand Open 191.0 57.879%

Third Level, Test 2 (C) Roth, 1 Aoife Coomaraswamy Ferdinand Open 209.0 53.590% Third Level, Test 3 (C) Roth, 1 Anne Buchanan Sky Hit AA 278.0 71.282% 2 Amy Roth Revanche AA 254.5 65.256% 3 Catalina Sherwood Razmitaz AA 242.0 62.051% 1 Megan Manning SR Ssavant JR/YR 253.0 64.872% 2 Sarah Dauz Voltaire JR/YR 246.0 63.077% 1 Kailee Surplus Aegyptian Gold Open 268.0 68.718% 2 Kristy Doty Fandango GSF Open 255.0 65.385% Third Level, Test of Choice (C) Wadeborn, 1 Anne Buchanan Sky Hit AA 265.5 68.077% 2 Cindi Lacroix Marbella AA 204.5 61.970% 3 Catalina Sherwood Razmitaz AA 238.0 61.026% 4 Tania Radda Miguel Al Vida AA 194.0 58.788% 5 Pamela Farthing Pakuna AA 192.0 58.182% Fourth Level, Test 1 (C) Roth, 1 Valerie Denno 2 Laine Sklar Fourth Level, Test 2 (C) Mandas, 1 Valerie Denno Fourth Level, Test 3 (C) Mandas, 1Ellie Stine-Masek

Digimon Paladin SF

AA 237.0 64.054% AA 218.0 58.919%

Digimon

AA 225.0 62.500%

Regalo

Open 283.0 62.889%

FEI Prix St. Georges (C) Mandas, 1 Lynn McKinney Plato En RougeAA 231.5 60.921% 2 Amy Jackson Menjo AA 219.0 57.632% 3 Lynn Boice Vermeer AA 201.9 53.132% 1 Cyndi Jackson Risky Business Open 282.5 74.342% 2 Nathalie Eikel-Baughman Narok Open 238.0 62.632% FEI Intermediate I (C) Mandas, 1 Erin McHenry 2 Sarah Lindsten 3 Kay Lorenzen 4 Susan Parrish 5 Tami George 1 Kailee Surplus

Bailando Raoul Wendo Maronda Mondavi F Santiago SF

FEI Grand Prix (C) Mandas, 1 Sandra Luebbe 2 Lucy Ziurys

Samaritano IX AA 323.0 64.600% Sylvano AA 305.0 61.000%

AA 265.0 69.737% AA 254.9 67.079% AA 248.5 65.395% AA 229.5 60.395% AA 219.4 57.737% Open 259.9 68.395%

2016 NAJYRC Qualifying FEI Junior Team (E) Roth, (C) Mandas, 1 Katie Scotford Dean Martin JR/YR 486.5 65.743% 2 Breeanon Ramey Fantasia JR/YR 485.8 65.649% USDF Freestyle, Test of Choice (C) Mandas, 1 Michele Mooney Don Viamo AA 212.5 70.833% 2 Marcy Blacker Aul Amira AA 211.0 70.333% 1 Kendall Brookhart Rianna AA 209.5 69.833%

Introductory Level - Test B (C) Roth, 1 Brianna Nicholson Just A Little Cookie JR/YR 82.0 51.250% Introductory Level - Test C (C) Wadeborn, 1 Brianna Nicholson Just A Little Cookie JR/YR 128.5 64.250% FEI Para Dressage, TOC (C) Mandas, 1 Kate Shoemaker Solitaer 40

AA 292.5 71.341%

Training Level, Test 1 (C) Roth, 1 McKenzie Miller 2 Sidney Estrada 3 Jamie Ricksecker

Romantic Man JR/YR 154.0 66.957% Suncatcher Baby JR/YR 146.0 63.478% Shiny And Zipped JR/YR 128.0 55.652%

Training Level, Test 2 (C) Wadeborn, 1 Jill Graf 2 Karen Spencer 1 Jamie Ricksecker 1 Missy Gilliland 2 Missy Gilliland 3 Jennifer Parker 4 Toah Hatch 5 Juan Lopez Torres 6 Toah Hatch

Piper's Stewart AA 167.0 64.231% Nahimana AA 165.0 63.462% Shiny And Zipped JR/YR 154.0 59.231% Windermere DDB Open 197.0 75.769% Saphiera L Open 182.5 70.192% Fenix RMC Open 177.0 68.077% Formal Affair Open 173.5 66.731% T'ally -O Open 168.0 64.615% Barleone Open 157.5 60.577%

Training Level, Test 3 (C) Mandas, 1 Francine Garrigus 2 Catalina Sherwood 3 Meredith Wykoff 4 Kathleen Downie 5 Cynthia Ganem 6 Meredith Wykoff Carol Ann Bartels 1 Missy Gilliland 2 Missy Gilliland 3 Mimi Junick 4 Juan Lopez Torres 5 Jennifer Parker 6 Toah Hatch

Time Out AA 149.5 67.955% Lifelord Z AA 148.0 67.273% Romulus AA 137.5 62.500% Poblano Mor AA 137.0 62.273% El Galion AA 130.0 59.091% Rainieri AA 124.0 56.364% Batino AA JR/YR 158.5 72.045% Windermere DDB Open 172.0 78.182% Saphiera L Open 163.0 74.091% Escapada Open 153.5 69.773% T'ally -O Open 145.0 65.909% Fenix RMC Open 144.0 65.455% Formal Affair Open 138.0 62.727%

Training Level, Test of Choice (C) Mandas, 1 Jill Graf Piper's Stewart AA 176.5 67.885% First Level, Test 1 (C) Roth, 1 Naima Guy 2 Francine Garrigus 3 Karen Spencer 4 Kathleen Downie 5 Judy Cutitta 1 Heather McKay

Rosa Fina AA 191.5 70.926% Time Out AA 170.5 63.148% Nahimana AA 168.5 62.407% Poblano Mor AA 165.5 61.296% Chico AA 164.0 60.741% Case Ecco Domani O 179.5 66.481%

First Level, Test 2 (C) Mandas, 1 Ann-Marie Crookham Myst of Elysium AA 199.0 62.188% 2 Diane DeVincentis Legend LHF AA 192.5 60.156% 1 Jamie Deconcini Miss Maisy Mae JR/YR 209.0 65.313% 1 Jana Crimmins Sapphire Cream of the Crop O 220.5 68.906% 2 Allison Hardas Nibrika Mourne View Mist O 206.0 64.375% 3 Heather McKay Case Ecco Domani Open 204.0 63.750%

First Level, Test 3 (C) Wadeborn, 1 Christine Linn Classie Com AA 230.5 67.794% 2 Leesa Lane Bojenia AA 229.5 67.500% 3 Susan Arbuckle Shiners Buckaroo AA 224.5 66.029% 4 Diane DeVincentis Legend LHF AA 221.5 65.147% 5 Catherine Carlson Reminiscence AA 215.5 63.382% 6 Janet Teodori Pavan AA 210.0 61.765% Tammy Callahan Damiani AA 207.5 61.029% 1 Molly O'Brien Consolata JR/YR 235.0 69.118% 2 Jamie Deconcini Miss Maisy Mae JR/YR 226.0 66.471% 1 Mimi Junick Butterfly Kisses Open 253.5 74.559% 2 Catherine Brown Vienna Open 240.0 70.588% 3 Jana Crimmins Sapphire Cream of the Crop Open 222.5 65.441% 4 Heather McKay Case Ecco Domani Open 220.5 64.853% 5 Allison Hardas Nibrika Mourne View Mist O 209.0 61.471% First Level, Test of Choice (C) Roth, 1 Catherine Brown Vienna

Open 240.0 70.588%

Second Level, Test 1 (C) Mandas, 1 Jaime Pollack I Wont Kiss N Tell AA 199.0 60.303% 2 Lindsay Naas Roy El's Belle of the Ball AA 195.0 59.091% 3 Karen Lubinski Duke's Mr T. J. AA 193.0 58.485% 4 Reagan Leach Duplicor AA 191.5 58.030% 5 Sharna Watson Beltane Karys AA 160.5 48.636% 1 Gabrielle Spirk Chi JR/YR 207.5 62.879% Second Level, Test 3 (C) Roth, 1 Theresa Hunt Carmen AA 304.5 74.268% 2 Christine Linn Classie Com AA 267.5 65.244% 3 Melinda Olsen Wilderwind AA 260.5 63.537% 4 Jaime Pollack I Wont Kiss N Tell AA 250.5 61.098% 1 Katherine Nayak Willow JR/YR 263.5 64.268% 2 Gabrielle Spirk Chi JR/YR 258.0 62.927% 1 Raymond La Croix Lanzelot Open 292.0 71.220% Second Level, Test of Choice (C) Wadeborn, 1 Katherine Nayak Willow

JR/YR 247.0 60.244%

Third Level, Test 1 (C) Mandas, 1 Cindi Lacroix Marbella AA 207.5 62.879% 2 Shelene Taylor Brioso AA 193.5 58.636% 3 Pamela Farthing Pakuna AA 193.5 58.636% 4 Tania Radda Miguel Al Vida AA 185.5 56.212% 1 Megan Manning SR Ssavant JR/YR 214.5 65.000% 2 Sarah Dauz Voltaire JR/YR 210.5 63.788% 1 Kailee Surplus Aegyptian Gold Open 228.0 69.091% 2 Aoife Coomaraswamy Ferdinand Open 180.0 54.545% Third Level, Test 2 (C) Wadeborn, 1 Aoife Coomaraswamy Ferdinand Open 227.0 58.205% Third Level, Test 3 (C) Wadeborn, 1 Anne Buchanan Sky Hit AA 273.0 70.000% 2 Catalina Sherwood Razmitaz AA 256.0 65.641% 3 Kate Shoemaker Dachstein AA 253.5 65.000% 4 Amy Roth Revanche AA 246.5 63.205% 1 Megan Manning SR Ssavant JR/YR 252.5 64.744% 2 Sarah Dauz Voltaire JR/YR 247.0 63.333% 1 Kailee Surplus Aegyptian Gold Open 268.0 68.718% 2 Kristy Doty Fandango GSF Open 254.5 65.256% Third Level, Test of Choice (C) Mandas,

1 Amy Roth 2 Pamela Farthing

Revanche Pakuna

AA 252.5 64.744% AA 197.5 59.848%

Fourth Level, Test 1 (C) Wadeborn, 1 Laine Sklar Paladin SF

AA 239.5 64.730%

Fourth Level, Test 2 (C) Wadeborn, 1 Valerie Denno

AA 229.0 63.611%

Digimon

FEI Prix St. Georges (C) Roth, 1 Kay Lorenzen Wendo AA 251.0 66.053% 2 Kate Shoemaker Solitaer 40 AA 240.5 63.289% 3 Lynn McKinney Plato En Rouge AA 220.0 57.895% 4 Lynn Boice Vermeer AA 212.0 55.789% 5 Amy Jackson Menjo AA 202.0 53.158% 1 Nathalie Eikel-Baughman Narok Open 235.0 61.842% FEI Intermediate I (C) Roth, 1 Erin McHenry Bailando 2 Sarah Lindsten Raoul 3 Susan Parrish Maronda 1 Cyndi Jackson Risky Business 2 Kailee Surplus Santiago SF

AA 255.0 67.105% AA 241.5 63.553% AA 232.5 61.184% Open 274.0 72.105% Open 260.0 68.421%

FEI Intermediate II (C) Roth, 1 Tami George

AA 211.0 55.526%

FEI Grand Prix (C) Roth, 1 Sandra Luebbe

Mondavi F

Samaritano IX AA 308.0 61.600%

2016 NAJYRC Qualifying FEI Junior Individual (E) Mandas, (C) Roth, 1 Katie Scotford Dean Martin JR/YR 528.5 69.539% 2 Breeanon Ramey Fantasia JR/YR 490.0 64.474% USDF Freestyle, Test of Choice (C) Roth, 1 Kendall Brookhart Rianna 1 Marcy Blacker Aul Amira 2 Allen Kalchik Arcola 3 Michele Mooney Don Viamo

AA AA AA AA

222.0 74.000% 210.5 70.167% 206.0 68.667% 198.0 66.000%

Introductory Level - Test B (C) Roth, 1 Brianna Nicholson Just A Little Cookie JR/YR 82.0 51.250%

High Points Training – 2nd level AA~

Theresa Hunt/Carmen 73.109%

Open ~ Missy Gilliland/Windemere DDB 77.745% Jr/YR~ Isabella Parks/ Cancun EE rd

72.080%

th

3 -4 level AA~

Anne Buchanan/Sky Hit

70.641%

Open~ Kailee Surplus/Aegyptian Gold 68.904% Jr/YR~

Megan Manning

64.936%

FEI AA~ Erin McHenry/ Bailando 69.737% Open ~ Cyndi Jackson/Risky Business 74.342%

OUR FABULOUS SPONSORS – MARCH MADNESS I & II Elite Sponsor To the Max Dressage ~ Shari and Erik Miller Arena Sponsors

Blue Banner Farm ~ Kathleen German Horseshoe Springs ~ Kim Yacobucci Agape Dressage ~ Jennifer Parker Willow Woods Farm High Point Sponsors

To the Max Dressage ~ Open FEI - Allen Kalchik and James Cramer In Memory of Muffy McDougal ~ AA Training –Second Level – Terri Wayne Class Sponsors

Anna Calek Dressage Bobby Lynn Dressage David Lane Karen Benson Kendall Brookhart L & L Dressage Lucy Ziurys Naima Guy Northwest NeuroSpecialists – Dee Putty To The Max Dressage Dressage – Allen Kalchik and James Cramer To The Max Dressage – Shari and Erik Miller

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Lynn Boice 3312 N Riverbend Cir E Tucson, AZ 85750