ESDCTA MAGAZINE
COLLECTIVE REMARKS
WWW.ESDCTA.ORG April 2020
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Clinic with Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel
Horse Treats
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News from Outside the Ring
The Amateur Dilemma
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Business Members
The “Impossibility� of Second Level
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Board of Trustees OFFICERS
Phone only before 9 p.m. please
President
Holly Cornell
president@esdcta.org
732.208.8715
Vice President
Ellen Brindle-Clark
vicepresident@esdcta.org
609.351.1054
Secretary
Ruth McCormick
secretary@esdcta.org
201.240.4505
Treasurer
Betty Audduci 3340 Curley Ct. Mullins, S.C. 29574
treasurer@esdcta
610.564.9169
Dressage at Large
Jena Rondinelli
MAL@esdcta.org
732.814.1117
Eventing at Large
Jennifer Duelfer
MAL@esdcta.org
732.598.3077
Dressage Competitions
Dr. Lisa Toaldo
dressage@esdcta.org
201.874.0373
Eventing Competitions
Janice Pellegrino
eventing@esdcta.org
Marketing
Erin Gale
marketing@esdcta.org
Membership
Tamara Purdy
membership@esdcta.org
Membership
Heidi Lemack
membership@esdcta.org
609.306.8221
Finance
Gary Maholic
finance@esdcta.org
215.489.1557
Education
Victoria Shilton
education@esdcta.org
6093511054
Youth
Stephanie Warner
youth@esdcta.org
NJEAB Representative
Carolyn Montgomery
crunner141@comcast.net
Awards
Debra Tomajko
awards@esdcta.org
Executive Board
908.392.1774 TEXT ONLY
OFF BOARD COMMITTEE CHAIRS Calendars/Activities
Vacant
activities@esdcta.org
Grants
Debra Tomajko
grants@esdcta.org
Equipment
Wilma Pfeer
dressage@esdcta.org
Newsletter
Meredith Rogers
newsletter@esdcta.org
Nominating
Eliza Banks
chivalryhillfarm@aol.com
Omnibus
Mia Zimmerman
omnibus@esdcta.org
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CROSS COUNTRY... News Across Our Region COMMUNITY NEWS
Milestone
If you’re reading this, you are probably a member of ESDCTA, but I’m sure you know of someone who rides dressage or events who is not a member. You know all about the wonderful things offered like educational programs, clinics with big name trainers, horse shows, year-end awards, and not least, that sense of being part of a community of likeminded people. The more members ESDCTA has, the better the programs we can offer. Our membership numbers are also important considerations when state and local governments decide on legislature that affects us (like open space), and we advocate for our sports (we’re working on better footing at the HPNJ). Please reach out to your equestrian buddies and tell them about all of the benefits of membership and have them sign up. The more the merrier!
Please Contact Linda Marciante if you know any ESDCTA members who have achieved any Milestones. Success at a show, regional/national/international award, new horse, or anything else you want to celebrate.
WHAT’S YOUR TALENT?? Let us know what you would like to help us with in 2020. All skills and interests wanted. Have an idea? We want to hear about it. Remember, this club is what YOU make it. Contact president@esdcta.org if you are interested.
NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE
Have a great article that you would like to share? Please send article to: Meredith Rogers: newsletter@esdcta.org All submissions are due by the 15th of the month. Due to space considerations, the editor reserves the right to edit submitted articles. If necessary, articles will be edited and returned for your review. AND YOU GET VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR EACH STORY!
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e-mail: lindalbbf@gmail.com
MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS For membership questions including updating physical or e-mail addresses please contact: Tamara Purdy membership@esdcta.org
2020 ADVERTISING RATES
MEMBER NON-MEMBER FULL PAGE $100 $130 HALF PAGE $65 $85 QUARTER PAGE $40 $60 BUSINESS CARD $20 $30 CARD FOR 3 MONTHS $45 $65 CLASSIFIEDS $10 $15 Deadline: 15th of prior month Email: newsletter@esdcta.org Please have electronic ads in Adobe PDF or .jpg format
You will receive an invoice for ad via email. Send Payment to: Betty Adduci 266 Betty Lane Gilbert, PA 18331 Email: treasurer@esdcta.org
OPEN BOARD POSITIONS • Calendar
COLLECTIVE REMARKS
Clinic with Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel By, Paige Zimmerman
On March 7 and 8, Olivia Steidle Dressage and Travelda Farm were fortunate to host another clinic with Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel, international FEI dressage rider and trainer. This was one of our biggest clinics yet! In addition our familiar and repeat attendees, there were several new faces that came to audit and ride. Kristina AndersenFontana of The Dressage Store (https://www.thedressagestore.com/) was able to attend on Sunday, bringing with her a collection of beautiful samples of Kingsley custom boots for us to ogle, among other wonderful products that she carries. And, we had a delicious “pot luck” lunch spread that everyone enjoyed throughout the weekend. It was a great event! A wide range of horses attended this clinic: there were several young 5-6 yearolds but also two 29 year-olds! There were many different breeds, including a Haflinger and several interesting crosses. The clinic ran smoothly even with 9+ rides a day. All of us were incredibly grateful to hear Felicitas’s words of wisdom, and many riders and horses experienced beautiful breakthroughs thanks to her patient, consistent, positive, supportive, and brilliant teaching. I couldn’t wait to write about what I learned. The first day of the clinic I rode Buddy, whom I’ve written about here many times. I have shown Third Level with him and he earned my USDF bronze medal scores this past show season. My ride was early, and it was chilly and windy. We rode outside, and unfortunately due to the weather, we didn’t get any good photos. Buddy was a little bit excited, to say the least. I started out riding conservatively and trying to contain his energy, but Felicitas explained that rather than trying to hold him back, I should help him use his energy in a good way. In the posting trot, she encouraged me to rise higher and help him push himself forward and in an uphill manner (rather than in a downhill, pulling manner). Then in the canter, Felicitas told me that if he had the energy to run and try to pull me out of the saddle, he surely had the energy to sit down on his hind end and use himself COLLECTIVE REMARKS
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properly. My instinct was to try to collect his energy. However, this only made him even more eager to pull on me and attempt to run on the forehand. To remedy this, Felicitas had me canter out on a very large circle (about 40 meters) and ask for a medium canter, but I was not to allow the strides to get faster, only bigger. This way, he wouldn’t be running on the forehand, but instead jumping up off the ground and using his hind leg to propel himself forward and up. I felt the difference right away. It no longer felt like I had no control and had to hang on for dear life (wink wink). I could lighten my hand and he would continue to carry himself. Then, bringing him back from the medium canter to the collected canter was much easier. He was no longer thinking about exploding or leaning on my hand, but he was thinking about his hind legs. After doing all that work in the canter and getting him to use his energy productively, we went back to the trot work, and it developed beautifully. Sitting the trot became so much easier: the energy from behind makes a smoother ride, that’s for sure! There were a few moments when he became distracted again, but his attention was quickly regained. Felicitas explained that riding in this manner is like riding on the border of explosion: you want the horse to utilize as much positive energy as possible, but not past the point of it being too much to handle. During my Buddy ride, Felicitas also explained a concept that helped me to connect my position throughout my entire body. In the walk, she had me place my hand on the back of my neck, just below my head. There is a bit of a dip in that spot, and if you touch the back of your head at nearly any time throughout the day, you may notice that slight hollowness. She told me to try and fill out that dip by tilting the brim of my helmet down slightly and lengthening my neck. This filled out the back of my neck, without the tension that comes from trying to tuck in your chin, lift your head, or pull your shoulders back, which are position corrections we’re often given as students. Felicitas described this concept in several different ways: she says that it feels like you become “tall and elegant”, or even that you are “creating a bascule in your own neck” just as the horse does when we ride them forward and through to the contact. By filling out the back of my neck in this manner, my entire body connected. It was really interesting and amazing! It was like my sternum and 6
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lower back clicked into place. I didn’t feel like I was hunching in my shoulders, since they automatically came down and back without tension. My lower back, which has a tendency to become hollow sometimes, filled out and my core engaged. The canter and sitting trot became so much easier. This concept will certainly change my riding drastically and for the better! It was so interesting and I had never heard anything like it before but it worked like a charm. I could even practice it just sitting at my desk or relaxing on the couch. On the second day of the clinic, I rode Brenda Curnin’s Hanoverian gelding, Ducati, who I showed at First Level last year and is now schooling Second and Third level movements. Taking what I learned from the previous day with Buddy, we worked a lot on getting Ducati to use his energy properly but in a different manner than Buddy. Ducati tends to get a long and slow stride, rather than a quick and collected one. His gaits are very lofty and since he has such a long back and neck, it can be very difficult for him to activate his hind legs and carry himself. In the beginning of the lesson, we did a lot of walk to canter and canter to walk transitions, trying to energize his hind leg and make the canter stride “bouncier.” When he gets strung out, his stride gets flat. Therefore, in the canter, Felicitas told me to again use the idea of rounding out my own neck and activating my seat so that he would activate too. It worked beautifully, and he started to listen more to my seat and collect. We then were able to get some beautiful transitions in and out of the canter. After working on the canter, we began to work on lateral movements in the trot. We began in shoulder-in and eventually progressed to haunches-in. For Ducati, the shoulder-in work really helped me to feel him lift his inside shoulder and create a true bend around the inside leg. Throughout the ride, Felicitas spoke a lot about helping him to lighten his inside shoulder, which is a bit harder for him going to the right. When she demonstrated it on the ground, he even cracked in his low neck! She joked that he just got a free chiropractic adjustment! In the shoulder-in each way, it was easier to feel this concept since he was moving off of my inside leg and bending in the opposite direction to where he was going. However, when we began the haunches-in, it became a little bit harder. Since I was then asking him to bend in the same direction
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he was moving, it became harder for him to continue to lift his inside shoulder, maintain the bend, and move laterally at the same time. While working on this, if I came out of a corner without bend and tried to start the movement from there, Felicitas told me to circle and re-establish the bend and lift of the inside shoulder. This reset of the bend really helped me to feel how Ducati can carry the true bend from a circle line to a straight line without stiffening. He’s come such a long way from the horse that we couldn’t get to move straight and forward a year and a half ago! I’m really proud of him and excited for the future. I can’t believe how much I learned during this fabulous weekend, and I was impressed at how smoothly everything ran considering the size of the clinic. Many individuals in our community came together, including Olivia, my mom, Nancy Krial, BethAnn Adams, Marian McDonald, and others. Everyone pitched in with preparing the facility and bringing food, and it was wonderful to see Kristina again and “window shop” her beautiful and high-quality products from The Dressage Store. Thank you again to Olivia for allowing me to ride and learn on Buddy. He’s such a wonderful teacher, and I’m so grateful to Brenda Curnin for letting me ride Ducati. Every day I am amazed and thankful that I am able to ride such beautiful horses. Last but definitely not least, a huge thank you goes to Felicitas for coming out to teach us all again. I will be forever in awe of you. Not many riders my age have the opportunity to learn from a master in this sport and I know how lucky I am!
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The Amateur Dilemma By, Meredith Rogers
I want to thank the ESDCTA for giving me the 2019 True Grit award for my work on this newsletter at February’s Awards Banquet. It means a lot to me to be recognized, and made me happy that people like the newsletter. It’s a lot of work, and I always feel like I come up short and could do it better. At the Awards Banquet, I was amazed at how diverse a group we are, with different backgrounds, careers, interests outside of horses, and interests within equestrian sport. It was so much fun meeting new people and hearing their stories on how they got there. And talk about recognition! The Awards Banquet was nothing but recognition. Seeing everyone’s excitement at receiving their awards was motivational. I wanted to run home and practice, so I could put in for an award for this coming show year (if it happens – more on that next month). I wasn’t dressed for that, but I couldn’t help but stop by the barn on my way home to kiss my ponies on their noses and tell them how much I appreciated them. They seemed pleased with the recognition or maybe it was just the treats that I had gotten at the Banquet that they were reacting to. I like to think it was the former. For many of us, national USDF awards are out of reach. The ESDCTA awards program is very attainable and there is an award for every level and just about everyone. Who doesn’t like a huge, pretty ribbon (or a silver platter, or a gold plaque, or a new saddle pad, or a cooler, or…a crystal star)?
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The “Impossibility” of Second Level By, Montana Coleman
It’s that time of the year again. Most riders are probably familiar with those cold winter nights of preparing for the big horse shows to come in the summer. For me, this often involves doing the same things over and over again – sometimes I get that moment where everything clicks and sometimes I get that moment where I want to quit because I am not getting it. I hated trot loops at Training Level. I hated leg-yields at First Level. You get the picture: new level, new challenges. I had competed last year at First Level so this year I decided to try Second Level. I was only going to do Second Level on Star this year – Duncan is just way too bouncy to sit a test for five minutes straight! Anyway, winter came along and I embarked on the journey of Second Level. I’m going to keep it simple. Second Level is hard – very hard. Not only do you have to learn a whole new set of moves, but your horse has to be reliably on the bit...ALL THE TIME! Okay, so I just have to make sure I have contact and energy – sounds simple right? Well, it turns out to be a very tough project. Sometimes I get Star round, but then the next moment her head is up again, she needs more energy, my reigns are too long, or some other problem. I started learning the moves of Second Level, which include shoulder-in, haunches-in, walk-canter transitions, and more. However, there really is no point in doing the moves until I can get my horse to be reliably on the bit all of the time. So, that’s where I am today. I’m trying to get contact and have Star round, but I still need to find the “feel”. Honestly, I get frustrated. I try and try, but sometimes it feels like it just isn’t working. It even makes me feel like quitting sometimes because it’s just so hard.
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So, that brings up the question – am I going to give up? Probably not. Yeah, it’s going to be hard and there will be times when it will feel impossible. However, no matter what the end result is, this training will help me to become a better rider in the long run and also help me with other challenges I will face in life. By persevering through the “impossibility” of Second Level, I am also training myself to persevere through other difficult obstacles in my life. “Never give up. There are always tough times, regardless of what you do in anything in life. Be able to push through those times and maintain your ultimate goal.” - Nathan Chen Second Level is hard, plain and simple. I’m learning the moves and riding them on an old horse, so the reality is that I am most likely not going to get the blue ribbons at the show. That’s okay. I am going to try and continue doing what I love: riding horses. “Winning doesn’t always mean being first, winning means you’re doing better than you’ve done before.” - Bonnie Blair
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Kim Herslow Dressage - Upper Creek Farm 33 Upper Creek Rd., Stockton, NJ 08559 proudly presents a clinic on
Saturday/Sunday May 16 - 17, 2020
Christine Stückelberger O lympic Individual - Gold Medalist World Dressage Championship - Individual Gold Medalist 6 x Swiss Olympian 2 x European Champion 2 x World Cup Champion
Christine Stuckelberger is one of the most decorated competitive dressage rider in the world. At 18, Christine formed a training partnership with classical dressage master, Georg Wahl, Head Rider of the Spanish Riding School. She has trained 40 horses to Grand Prix & won numerous international titles. Her most famous & successful equine partner was the famous Granat, considered to be one of the greatest dressage horses in the sport’s history. Being a founding member of the Xenophon Society which promotes equine welfare, Christine teaches traditional, classical humane dressage & has generously agreed to share her knowledge and skills to North American audience. FUN FACTS ABOUT CHRISTINE 1.) Carl Hester purchased his 1st GP horse from Christine when he 1st competed internationally. 2.) All of Christine’s GP horses competed barefoot, except two which had only front shoes.
Come Join us for two days of private lessons & daily “questions & answers” periods with Christine Lesson Fee: $ 275.00 - 45 min session Auditors Fees: $ 35.00 per day / Weekend Rate: $ 60.00 NEDA / ESDCTA Member Auditor Rate: $ 25.00 per day / Weekend Rate: $ 45.00 Riders/Auditors fee includes: light snacks/lunch, coffee and beverages. Auditors MUST BRING A CHAIR - No video allowed unless riding in clinic. For info & Rider Applications please contact: Kim Herslow - Clinic Coordinator kimtini@me.com ph/text (732) 259 - 0412
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Horse Treats By, Meredith Rogers
Since we’re all stuck at home, what’s better than baking a nice treat for our horses? Here’s a treat recipe they are sure to love. 1 cup flour ½ cup molasses ½ cup vegetable oil 1 cup sugar Handful of crushed peppermints Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the sugar, flour, and crushed peppermints in a bowl. Add in the molasses and vegetable oil. Stir until well blended, so that the mix is sticky but not runny. If it is too runny, add flour; if it is too thick, add a little more molasses and oil. Drop tablespoon amounts onto a baking sheet and flatten slightly. Bake for 10-15 minutes so that they are crunchy. Let cool. Yum!
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News from Outside the Ring Horse Farms and Equestrian Operations — March 28 update njfb.org/news/horse-farms-and-equestrian-operations-march-28-update/
As farms that market direct to the consumer they can be open. The farm owner/manager sets the conditions for those visits. The order for entertainment and exhibitions, fairs and shows means all events are cancelled! It is recommended for the next 10-14 days that horse owners with no direct care responsibilities avoid going to the farm. Access can be permitted for horse owners to come care for and work with their animals if that has been part of the stabling agreement. Farms should set up schedules and limit the number of persons on the farm at any given time. (10 people and under rule is good here) Horse owners should respect the farms limits and guidelines. The owner or their designee should be the only person to come and work or care for the horse, Families should not all come and visit as a group. Hand washing and equipment sanitizing should be practiced by all visitors to the farm. Workers employed by the farm, as well as farriers and other contractors are also able to work and come to a farm. These people need to follow the social distancing rules and respect the operational hours of the farm owner. The American Horse Council has posted more detailed information about the responsibilities of horse owners and those visiting equine operations fined that information here: https://www.horsecouncil.org/covid-19-resouces/ As we expect COVID-19 case numbers to grow over the next week this is a prudent recommendation. Farm owners/operators should begin working on plans for owners to see their animals and begin riding as soon as practical. They should work on schedules and protocols to continue social distancing even as they try to return regular business.
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BUSINESS MEMBERS Blue Bridle Insurance Agency
Windy Hollow Hunt Club Sussex County Fairgrounds 37 plaines road Augusta NJ
PO Box 27 Pittstown, NJ 08867 1.800.526.1711 Nancyh@BlueBridle.com www.BlueBridle.com
AMY HOWARD DRESSAGE LLC
www.WindyHollow.org
Anjelhart Equestrian Center
338 Rileyville Rd Ringoes, NJ 08551 1.908.310.9384 Ashoward@hotmail.com www.AmyHowardDressage.com
Pleasant Ridge Farm LLC
38 Millers Mill Rd, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 609.758.7676 lacavacreations@aol.com www.Anjelhart.com
Cheret Dressage
122 Barn Swallow Lane, Cresco Pa. 18326 570.856.4977 Brily17@ptd.net www.PleasantRidgeFarmllc.com
Good Times Farm
75 Back Brook Road, Ringoes, N.J. 908.208.6686 Cheretdressage@gmail.com www.CheretDressage.com
Heart’s Journey Stable
278 Jackson Mills Road, Freehold, NJ 07728 732.409.2882 gtts@optonline.net www.GoodTimeFarm.com
Flying Change Farm
425 Kromer Road Wind Gap, PA 18091 610.863.6616 mmorehouse@epix.net www.heartsjourneystables.com
Stone Horse Farm
60 Sutton Road, Lebanon, NJ 08833 908.797.2634 fcfnj@aol.com www.flyingchangefarm.com
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35 Sutton Road, Lebanon, NJ, 08833 1.570.460.5184 StoneHorseFarm@me.com www.stonehorseequestrian.com
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Jersey Palms Farm
NJ Equine Imaging
177 S. Stump Tavern Road Jackson NJ, 08527 609.213.5745 KWLYNX@comcast.net www.jerseypalmsfarm.com
12 Fairway Drive Toms River NJ 18753 609.969.0569 NJEquineImaging@comcast.net www.njequineImaging.com
Red Tail Farm
Family & Cosmetic Dentistry 502 Pennsylvania Avenue Matamoras, Pa 18336 570.228.1921
125 Hacklebarney Rd Chester NJ 07930 201.919.8959 lindadietz.redtailfarm@gmail.com www.redtailfarmnj.com
www.drlisatoaldodmd.com
Suds and Duds
Rhythm and Blues Stables
8 Midland Drive Hackettstown NJ 07840 800.816.3882 info@horsedudsandsuds.com www.horsedudsandsuds.com
12 Hill Rd. Allentown NJ 08501 609 306-8221 RBLStables@aol.com www.rhythmandbluesstables.com
Schleese Saddle Fit4Life
Stacies Saddles
34 Centiennal Ave Holand Landing DC
1-905-898-8335 sabine@schleese.com www.saddlefit4life.com
Stacies Saddles
The Black Pony 1 Canterbury Lane Lebanon NJ 08833 908 507 8929 redroan1202@yahoo.com www.blackponytackshop.com
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136 Springfield Meeting House Road Jobstown NJ 08041 732-208-2760 StacieSaddles@comcast.net Stacies Saddles
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