ESDCTA May 2024

As the show season gets underway, remember to check the omnibus and calendar regularly to keep up with all the latest shows, clinics, dates, judges and classes. With the on-line Omnibus, it’s easy for organizers to update the prize lists if anything changes mid-season so please look often: https://www.esdcta.org/shows-events/omnibus/

Dressage – ESDCTA’s first recognized shows of the season are the Memorial Days shows on May 25-26 (two one-day shows) both of which include the breed show, check the website for all the information https://www.esdcta.org/shows-events/memorial-days-shows/

Eventing – ESDCTA will be running several cross-country schooling days at the Horse Park of New Jersey, check the website for upcoming dates. This year we’ll again be including Starter (2’3”) jumps, so bring a group and have some fun. Preregistration is available online, or sign-up when you arrive. Info and forms available on the ESDCTA website.

Now that the weather is getting warmer (amazing how that happens every spring) riding outdoors becomes much more pleasurable with many more options besides the sandbox. Whatever your riding pleasure – dressage, eventing, trail riding, or just grooming your lawn ornament – I hope you thoroughly enjoy the great weather before the flies and bugs take over.

President

Board of Trustees

OFFICERS

President president@esdcta.org

Holly Cornell

Vice President vicepresident@esdcta.org

Ellen Brindle-Clark

Secretary secretary@esdcta.org

Treasurer

Executive Board

Dressage at Large

Eventing at Large

Dressage Competitions

Eventing Competitions

Marketing Membership Membership Finance Education Youth Calendar/Omnibus

NJEAB Representative

Ruth McCormick

Betty Adduci 102 Patricia Ct. Middle Grove NY 12850 treasurer@esdcta

Jena Rondinelli

Jennifer Duelfer Dr. Lisa Toaldo

Janice Pellegrino

Paige Zimmerman

Vacant

Heidi Lemack

Gary Maholic

Victoria Shilton

Stephanie Warner

Mia Zimmerman

datlargeMAL@esdcta.org eatlargeMAL@esdcta.org dressage@esdcta.org eventing@esdcta.org marketing@esdcta.org membership@esdcta.org membership@esdcta.org fi nance@esdcta.org education@esdcta.org youth@esdcta.org marketing@esdcta.org

crunner141@comcast.net Awards

Becky Kuc

Carolyn Montgomery awards@esdcta.org

OFF BOARD COMMITTEE CHAIRS Grants Equipment Newsletter Nominating grants@esdcta.org dressage@esdcta.org newsletter@esdcta.org nominations@esdcta.org

Holly Cornell

Wilma Pfeffer

Meredith Rogers

Heidi Lemack-Beck

Show Results

Holly Cornell results@esdcta.org

CROSS COUNTRY...

News Across Our Region

COMMUNITY NEWS

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 helped get 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!

WHAT’S YOUR TALENT??

Let us know what you would like to help us with in 2024. 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 HOUR FOR EACH STORY!

Milestone

Please Contact this newsletter 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.

e-mail: newsletter@esdcta.org

MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS

For membership questions including updating physical or e-mail addresses please contact: Heidi Lemack membership@esdcta.org

2024 ADVERTISING RATES

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

102 Patricia Ct, Middle Grove NY 12850

Email: treasurer@esdcta.org

Amateur Dilemma

By Meredith Rogers

Dealing with disappointment is part of life and it is definitely part of horses. It is rare that things go exactly as we want, no matter how hard we practice, prepare, or wish them to. After last year’s big disappointment of having to miss the entire show season, I was so excited to start showing again after getting the approval from our vet. I immediately sent in my entry for our first foray into the showing world and then started fantasizing about how it would go. I felt ready. He felt better than he ever had. I was eager to show off what Leo could do. And then the day came, and as I led him in from the paddock to the barn to get him ready, he saw the trailer and knew something was up. He pooped 6 times while I bathed him and was a moving target to braid – he was wired! The weather didn’t help. It was cold and windy with 45 mph gusts that caused the indoor in which we schooled to sound like a helicopter. Not great conditions for a sound-sensitive horse. Then we left the comfort of the indoor for the show ring where the full force of the gales hit us, and Leo tuned me out. We got through the test, but with tension, a flying change where a simple change was requested, and a few other costly mistakes. I was disappointed with our score.

Luckily, I had many people around me to snap me out of it. First, my husband, who just told me we looked good out there and kept reminding me that we hadn’t shown in a year and half and that the weather was horrible. Ample reason enough that I should have lowered my expectations. And he was right. The fact that Leo came back from his injury and we were able to trot down centerline at all was a victory. Friends had come to watch, help, and cheer me on. How great is that?!? We had some good moments in our warm-up that were better than our best a year-and-a-half ago. That means that there’s potential to show off what we can do next time. The score was high enough to qualify for Regionals, which is my goal this year. Lastly, there’s nothing I can do to change that one ride; I can only practice, prepare, and wish it to go well for our next outing.

News from Outside the Ring

Horses are big business

The American Horse Council (AHC) conducted another installment of their Equine Economic Impact Survey in 2023, and the results are in. Horses, in all aspects, contributed $177 billion to the economy, which is an increase of $55 billion from 2017, the last time the survey was conducted. Sectors impacted included not only agriculture and veterinary, but tourism and technology. A total of 2.2 million jobs were equine-related, and included breeders, trainers, veterinarians, farriers, truck drivers, nutritionists, chemists, police officers, and journalists, among others. However, the number of horses decreased slightly from 7.2 million in 2017 to 6.6 million in 2023. These data will inform business investments, equine healthcare, education, land use, tax policy, employment incentives, and numerous other public and private decisions.

Horses are high fashion

The fashion industry is already preparing for fall 2024, and Ralph Lauren, a brand tied to all things equestrian, went full stop at the Milan men’s fashion show (January 12-14, 2024). For his Purple Label Collection he designed jackets in jewel-tone velvet along with nubby blanket plaids. Silk neck ties were printed with harness and riding cap motifs. He presented shirt jackets and field jackets in bespoke plaid reminiscent of horse blankets. He even created velvet loafers embroidered with horse riders. Forget about après-ski, his collection was all about après-ride.

Recall alert

Although this was originally announced in October 2023, it’s too important not to restate here. Collegiate is recalling a bunch of their saddles because there have been issues with the top rivet securing the stirrup bar to the tree breaking. See https://www.weatherbeeta.com/collegiate-recall for more information.

It’s Now or Never (Burn Out)

By Lori Kelly

When is enough enough? Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that I could have “too much” of horses and dressage – never! I’ve been in Florida for 3 months now, riding and training in absolutely perfect weather in a beautiful ring with great footing. My trainer has been amazing and my horse has been a true saint. My bucket list item of showing at WEC-Ocala was less than 2 weeks away. And… I just wasn’t that into it. So much so, that part of me wanted to just scratch. Fortunately, the cheap side of me wouldn’t let me throw away all the money invested in entries, stabling, and Airbnb fees.

So, what happened? How did I get here, to this ambivalence and lack of enthusiasm? The answer: true self-reflection. I was so discouraged with my lack of progress prior to heading to Florida that I enlisted the help of a sports psychologist. Our first few sessions were relatively uneventful. Since the weather was crummy and I did not have access to an indoor, I wasn’t riding consistently. The sessions were basically about my goals and background. The psychologist also wanted me to work through a workbook she provided to which I was pretty resistant. I was looking for instant results and did not see any value in answering questions in a workbook. Once I got to Florida and began riding and lessoning regularly, our sessions became more relevant. However, the psychologist strongly suggested that I at least look at the first chapter in the workbook. WOW! When I actually started to seriously work through the first few pages and honestly answer the questions, it was eye opening. The pages took me through a series of questions about my goals, ideal outcomes, and expectations. It then proceeded to probe the necessary skills and actions needed to achieve those goals and outcomes. I had to list EVERY step that I would need to take including skills, fitness, nutrition, time, finances, etc. The telling question asked if was I willing to commit to these steps in order to achieve my goal. My truly honest answer? No.

Surprisingly, although not shocking to me, it was a relief to finally be honest with myself. Riding is my escape, not my job. I LOVE my horse friends. In Henri I have a really nice horse (whom I jokingly call Mr. Perfect Pants). I want to enjoy and have fun with him and my friends. Horse showing and the pressure of achieving scores was becoming a chore for me. It seemed that at some point at every horse show I would think, “Ugh, WHY did I sign up for this??” While I may have been denying it, I was coming to the point where “enough was enough.” However, I was still committed to WEC. I was going whether I really wanted to or not.

My reluctance to go was reinforced by a huge storm that blew across Florida complete with blinding rain, high winds, and tornado warnings – all while I was trailering to WEC. Fortunately, by the time I got there, the weather had cleared, making unloading and setting up pretty easy. However, the winds continued causing everything to blow. I took Henri out for a hand walk, but he was on his toes. No way was I schooling with those winds. I was also extremely disappointed to learn that our show ring was quite far from the stabling area down a pretty long bridle path. I am NOT a trail rider; this is not what I signed up for! I fed Henri his dinner and called it a day, feeling very anxious about what I had committed to.

My trainer and fellow barn friends were arriving the following day, so I felt like I would at least have some “reinforcements”. I did the morning chores then decided to hand walk Henri again – this time down the bridle path to our actual show and warm up rings. He was definitely “looky” but a gentleman. Still, the fear of having to walk down this path again to show had me in absolute tears. I was literally shaking. There would not be enough drugs in the world to calm my nerves and take the edge off. We stood at the ring watching some tests then headed back to the stabling area, uneventfully, and I headed back to my Airbnb to try to calm down.

After some pretty serious self-talk, I realized that I needed to go back, tack up, and walk back to the show rings. I needed to find my big girl pants and stop being so afraid of everything. It was the best decision I had made so far. Henri actually enjoyed the little jaunt through the trees and we went in and played in the schooling ring for a bit. It was easy. I had let my own anxieties spiral into something that just wasn’t. By the time we had gotten back to the stalls, Tracy and friends had arrived. She was surprised to see me tacked up and clearly coming back. I explained that I needed to prove to myself that I could do this. All of Tracy’s horses were a bit afraid of the bridle path, but Henri and I led the way, showing them all that there was nothing to fear!

Show days were Saturday and Sunday, and they turned out to be absolutely beautiful days both in weather and camaraderie. Henri felt like a little Maserati in the warm up, up to the challenge and ready to respond to anything I asked. I was generally happy with my tests. Unfortunately, a break in the canter tours kept my scores a little low, but we were second in both of our classes. Moreover, I was thrilled that I was able to get it together, overcome my anxieties and ride effectively both days. WEC was a bucket list item that I was able to achieve and achieve respectably.

Reflecting back on my entire time in FL this winter, I am grateful for the opportunity on so many different levels and for so many different reasons. I have a great husband who doesn’t mind the fact that I disappear for 3 months, a wonderful horse who I

have learned will always make good choices and try to take care of me, an amazing boss who allows me to work from home making FL a possibility, and of course, a fabulous GMO that supports its members and encourages us to pursue our goals. The Lazelle Knocke’s Dom Perignon Memorial Grant that I was awarded by ESDCTA made this season in Florida affordable to me. I was able to lesson consistently and show at several nice venues, gaining valuable experience along the way. While my goals may have changed, my love for the sport has not. Every day I wake up and I am thankful for all that I have been given.

From Our Friends at Lehigh Valley Dressage Association

The L Education Program is Coming!

By Ellen Broadhurst

Incredibly exciting news, there are going to be three, count ‘em three L Education Programs happening in the Northeast for 2024-2025!

Now, as an adult amateur, struggling to find the time and energy to manage riding, lessons, and the occasional show, you might wonder what on earth that has to do with you. I am here to tell you, as an adult amateur who embarked on the program to better inform my riding (as opposed to planning to become an L Graduate), the L Education Program is possibly the most important gift you can give yourself as a dressage competitor.

You might be of the impression that the singular purpose of the L program is to develop judges. While the program certainly does that, Candidate Preparation is second on the list of program objectives behind: “Provide trainers, instructors, competitors, and spectators insight into the evaluative techniques of judging dressage.”

And that, my friends, is where if you can finagle travel for three weekends in the coming year, you have the chance to pursue the educational opportunity of your life.

So what exactly is the L Education Program, and how will it help the adult amateur rider?

The L Program is Divided into Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 is open to all riders and there are no prerequisites or riding requirements. Part 2 is “Candidates Evaluation” and is essentially an invitation only program, limited to 10 participants who have successfully completed Part 1 and have the verified scores necessary to move on to the final exam.

We’ll focus today on Part 1, “A Judge’s Perspective,” which is divided into Sessions A, B, and C, and is run over three (intensive!) (educational!) (mind-blowing!) weekends:

Session A: is an introduction to judging and biomechanics: View Video Session B: judging criteria for gaits and paces, movements, and figures: View Video Session C: is about the collective remarks, equitation, rider biomechanics, and basics.

Each L Program accepts 30 participants, plus auditors. Being a participant is expensive. You not only pay for the program, but you’ll pay for travel, hotel, and meals. The benefit of being an actual participant versus an auditor, though, is two-fold: (1) if you have the slightest thought that you might be interested in Part 2, you need to be a participant in Part 1 at some point and (2) as a participant, the Instructors engage with you. You will be expected to speak up during the learning sessions and respond to questions. Being an auditor is less intensive: you may not engage with the instructors, you are expected to sit in the back of the classroom, and in the back rows when viewing live demos. There are benefits to this, of course, particularly if you are in the beginning stages of learning about dressage. The learning opportunity is there, you’re just not able to ask your own questions, nor will the instructors quiz you.

Importantly, whether you decided to be a participant or audit, you may repeat sessions of the program as often as there is availability. You may start as a participant, and then audit additional sessions, or start as an auditor, and then become a participant in a different program later on. And you may take the sessions out of order, and with different GMOs. So, how does all of this help the average adult amateur? I can give you my perspective. One thing I have always said about dressage is how often I am pulled up short when I am given a glimpse into how much I don’t know I don’t know.

For example, I would have said going into the L program that I knew the Training Scale: rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, collection, easy, right? After spending two intensive days in lecture and watching videos and live horses, I realized that there is a huge chasm between knowing the Training Scale and understanding the Training Scale. We spent an entire weekend discussing what each level of the Pyramid means in terms of correct training, what each step looks like via video and live horse demos, and the language around judging movements as they relate to the steps of the Pyramid.

One thing that became very clear through the weekend is that going from knowing the Training Scale to understanding the Training Scale is insufficient for anyone wishing to become an actual judge.

An L graduate needs to know the Training Scale, understand the Training Scale, and, critically, be able to use the Training Scale. That last piece isn’t going to come (to me) in a few months. For me, personally, to go from understanding to using will take years of more eyes on horses, more time on the ground with my trainers, and more time in the judges box, watching and learning.

That said, even taking the interim step from knowing to understanding has done wonders for my riding! I watch horses with a much more educated eye, and my sense of feel has gotten better as I have a clearer understanding of how my horses’ bodies work.

And significantly, my approach to showing has changed. I now spend a good deal of time

with each test, reading the Purpose carefully, underlining the key expectations, and thinking about what they mean. I review each movement of the test thinking about the Directives, carefully evaluating the geometry of the test and thinking about how each of the movements flow. And I think not only about riding the test, but I think about how the test will be viewed and evaluated by the judge.

Overall, participating in the L Program has given me new “Dressage Eyes” and a renewed passion for learning more about our sport. A better understanding of the foundations of dressage is the platform for future growth. I’m planning to audit as many of the upcoming sessions of the L Program as I can manage: there’s so much more out there I don’t even know I don’t know!

More information about the upcoming L Programs is available on the USDF website. ( https://www.usdf.org/faqs/Lprogram.asp )

Calendar of Upcoming Programs ( https://www.usdf.org/calendar/programs-events.asp?TypePass=L&RegionPass=All )

Session A 11/2 - 11/3/2024

Session B 1/11 - 1/12/2025

Session C 3/8 - 3/9/2025

NEDA

Session A 10/5 - 10/6/2024

Session B 11/16 - 11/17/2024

Session C 4/19 - 4/20/2025

Session A 12/14 - 12/15/2024

Session B 2/8 - 2/9/2025

Session C 3/22 - 3/23/2025

Kennett Square, PA

Kennett Square, PA

Kennett Square, PA

Boxboro, MA

Boxboro, MA

Boxboro, MA

Louisa, VA

Louisa, VA

Louisa, VA

sessions of the L Program as I can manage: there’s so much more out there I don’t even know I don’t know!

More information about the upcoming L Programs is available on the USDF website. Calendar of Upcoming Programs

DVCTA

VADA

A Horse of a Different Color

By Rachel Merino

I recently saw a post on Facebook about a new opportunity in our area. Kendra Clarke of K. Clarke Equine (http://www.kclarkeequine.com/) is offering lessons on a Racewood Eventing Simulator ( https://www.racewood.com). I jumped at the chance to try this, because over the last few years I have seen a number of articles and videos talking about the benefits of this experience for riders of all levels. As a middle-aged dressage rider, who had a long break from the saddle, I struggle to improve my position and learn the right way to move my body. In simple terms, the simulator lets you work on rider biomechanics without having to worry about controlling your horse and lets your instructor provide feedback that is impossible in a traditional lesson.

Here's a little about the simulator, who is known as "Blue". According to Kendra, "Blue knows all of the Grand Prix dressage moves, jumps up to 3 foot cross country and in stadium, and doesn't spook, buck, trip, or any unexpected antics! She also has countless sensors to measure rein pressure, seat imbalances, leg pressure and many other factors a rider puts on their horse."

Kendra is uniquely qualified for these lessons as she blends a strong riding and teaching background with a deep understanding of horse and rider biomechanics. Her own riding has ranged from hunter/jumpers and eventtng to reining, but all her lessons are grounded in a strong background in classical dressage. She is a Level 2 Centered Riding instructor and one of two 4* Franklin Method Equestrian (rebranding to Train Your Seat) certified trainers in the US.

Does it feel like a real horse? You won't be fooled, but I felt like I was riding a very smooth horse with the steadiest tempo you can imagine. Blue has 3 versions of each gait and you can definitely feel the difference.

What did we do in the lesson? Introductory lessons are an hour and start with a brief introduction to Blue's sensors and controls. A short diagnostic ride allows both rider and teacher to see patterns of movement and weight distribution as the sensors provide clear graphics to use as you ride.

Kendra was able to literally stand beside me as I trotted and cantered and was able to manipulate my position. No more comments of “shoulders back”; here the instructor can literally put a hand on your shoulder as you are trotting or touch an elbow while you are cantering. As you can see in the photo, we also used resistance bands, which were an amazing technique to activate muscles and find a new way of moving with the horse.

As we worked through exercises tailored to my needs and goals, I was able to really focus on my body and position without worrying about doing something "wrong" on the horse. There was a lot of discussion as we worked and Kendra was supportive and encouraging. She was able to find exercises that helped my riding and explain why they worked.

What was the takeaway? I feel like I had a much clearer understanding of where and why I have imbalances. I definitely made improvements in the hour and left with tools and homework to work on at home and on my horse. I was really pleased to feel a difference the next day when I got on my horse. He was softer and more forward and I was able to utilize many of Kendra's suggestions to make corrections as I rode. I'm looking forward to my next lesson on Blue.

Coaching for Better Basics

By Mary Moon

Riders learned how to improve their horsemanship at a Fix-a-Test Clinic sponsored by ESDCTA at Sara Schmitt Dressage (Annandale, NJ) on Sunday, April 7. The Youth Committee of ESDCTA held the clinic to support upcoming youth programs (https://www.esdcta.org/dressage-youth-team/). The clinic was open to adult and youth riders.

Lisa K Schmidt (USEF ‘S’ judge and L faculty member) was the clinician, and I was fortunate to scribe for her. Jennifer Koch (USEF ‘r’ TD) and Ellen Clark (Dressage Experience Show Management Services LLC) managed the clinic. It was a good opportunity for riders to practice performing a test in a standard large arena outdoors in front of a licensed judge.

The day was sunny and breezy with a chill in the air. Some of the horses were accustomed to being ridden indoors during the winter months. Lisa gave each rider time to ride around the outside of the ring before she rang her bell to start the test. Each rider performed a dressage test of their choice (USEF Introductory – FEI Grand Prix). Then, Lisa discussed the results and coached the rider for approximately 20 minutes.

Advice for Everyone

Riders were encouraged to warm up in the indoor ring, follow the clinic schedule as if at a show, and be prepared to ask the clinician for help with specific training problems, test movements, or any other questions. They could take advantage of the opportunity to have their test read so they could feel less stress and focus more on their riding. Lisa reminded the riders to check their equipment, such as tightness of the girth, length of stirrup leathers, and fit of bit and bridle. She recommended that riders check that their tack met the regulations given in the USEF Rulebook before going to a USEF-recognized competition or an unrecognized show run according to USEF rules. Lisa reminded every rider that they can earn higher scores by improving the accuracy of their tests. She reminded them to ride “letter-to-letter,” and that in most cases, judges reward accurate movements that are performed when the rider’s outside shoulder is

at or near the letter. The exception is when a movement is on a diagonal and should be performed when the horse’s nose is at the letter.

Lisa coached each rider according to their needs and those of their horse. She customized her coaching to fit their level of training, experience, conformation, age, fitness and other factors. For example, for one rider, she suggested it might be helpful to try riding with shorter stirrup leathers for a day or two and consider whether this improved their balance and position.

Rider Position and Aids

Lisa reminded every rider about the importance of their position because it influences their ability to apply correct aids to communicate with and teach their horse.

She recommended the riders to keep their hands steady and together (not spread apart) with their thumbs above their other fingers and palms (closed). She encouraged several riders to shorten their reins before and after certain movements or choose places in the test to check their rein length.

Lisa told several riders that it was important to keep steady elastic contact because it “gives the horse something to step into”. When a horse has a supple back and connection, he can bring his hind legs further under his body. She coached the riders on some of the younger horses to improve the connection, which helped their horses balance better in lengthenings at First Level.

A rider ideally positions their hands so that there is a straight line from each elbow (not shoulder) to the bit. The elbows should be flexed or bent (not open or straight) and close to the sides of the rider.

Riders should have appropriately elastic elbows as they post and when their horses move their head and neck. This can help the rider maintain contact through the reins to the bit and use the reins to guide and control their horse. A rider can adjust contact through the rein to the bit by closing the angles in her elbows or relaxing her forearms (not by pulling back on the reins).

Lisa recommended the riders to keep their lower legs in gentle contact with the sides of their horse near the girth. She showed the riders how to use their leg aids to apply pressure with their calves into the sides of their horse (not kick).

Lisa coached riders to improve the contact to the bit while using their leg aids to keep their horses forward-thinking and connected.

At First Level and above, this combination of aids should bring the horse on the bit. When a horse works correctly on the bit, he uses the muscles in his topline, especially

in his back behind the saddle, and his tail swings in relaxed rhythm with his strides. For good posture, there a straight line from the rider’s ear to her shoulder, to her hip and to her heel.

Lisa reminded riders to look up and straight ahead in the direction where they want their horse to go. The rider should quickly glance down (moving their head as little as possible) to check that they can see the crownpiece of their bridle. This shows that their horse’s poll is correctly positioned and the horse is not going above, below, or behind the bit.

When doing lateral work such as shoulder-in (Second Level and above), the orientation of the rider’s shoulders should match the orientation of her horse’s shoulders. The rider should check that they can see part or all of the eye of their horse to check for appropriate poll flexion.

Bending and Turning

Lisa told riders to pay careful attention to their position and aids to correctly ride corners, turns, circles, and lateral movements.

She explained to one rider that she should hold the reins as though she is riding a bicycle. When one hand moves forward, the other hand should move backward by the same amount. This aid is used to flex (bend) the neck of the horse to the side and prepare him to bend his body and change his direction of travel (make a turn) or the orientation of his shoulders (perform a lateral movement such as shoulder-in).

To bend her horse’s body or turn her horse, the rider uses her lower leg to push the ribs of the horse toward the outside while she turns her shoulders and upper body (changes their orientation) and shifts her weight slightly to the inside stirrup. Horses naturally have a stiffer side (right or left) when they bend or turn, move on a circle or travel through a corner of the ring (which should be ridden like a quarter of a circle). They naturally try to make it easier by straightening their body instead of bending, making the circle less round (more like an oval or square) or cutting the corner.

To prevent this, Lisa told riders that they must keep their arms elastic (or with slightly stronger contact with the outside rein), elbows bent and leg slightly behind the girth on the outside of the horse’s bend or the figure. They must also keep their leg pressure and weight on the inside of the bend or figure.

When performing a shoulder-in, the rider’s inside leg should stay at the girth (not behind the girth) according to Lisa. Some riders positioned their inside leg too far back

and pushed the horse’s haunches out, resulting in a leg yield.

There are many subtle ways for a rider to pick up points in a dressage test, especially with improved connection, precision, and position and aids to influence the horse. The rider is responsible for teaching her horse to respond correctly to her accurate aids and being the horse’s coach.

Photos by Paige Zimmerman

Horse Treats

By Meredith Rogers

I’m sure you won’t debate that your horse is worth the moon and the stars to you. Not to mention how much you spend on room and board each month plus farrier services, veterinary care, tack and show clothes, entry fees, etc. However, the following horses shattered records for the prices they fetched for sale. But we all know the most expensive horse is a free one!

The Green Monkey, a 2-year-old Florida-born colt was the most expensive Thoroughbred ever sold at public auction at $16 million USD. He was sold at Fasig-Tipton’s Calder 2-year-old sale back in 2006. This colt is descended from 2 Kentucky Derby winners, and scored the fastest time among the 154 racehorses sold at Calder Race Course, wowing prospective buyers by running an eighth of a mile in under 10 seconds. However, on September 15, 2007, he made his racing debut in a 6-furlong maiden race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, finishing third. He was officially retired to stud in 2008 after failing to break his maiden in his 3 career starts. He only earned a total of $10,000, and is often referred to as the biggest waste of money in the history of the sport.

Fusaichi Pegasus is another racehorse who was privately sold for $70 million to Coolmore Stud after winning the 2000 Kentucky Derby. Born in 1997, he cost $4 million USD as a yearling, and was named after the winning bidder, Fusao Sekiguchi (Fusao, and ichi, which means the best in Japanese). He became a world traveler, standing at stud in Ireland, Australia, Chile, and Uruguay. He had a few Grade 1 progeny, and died at 26 years old.

Before Fusaichi Pegasus, the most expensive Thoroughbred ever sold in a private sale was Shareef Dancer at ~$40 million USD (£24,000,000) after winning the 1983 Irish Derby. Born in 1980, Shareef Dancer was sired by Northern Dancer out of Sweet Alliance by Sir Ivor. He was originally bought by Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum for $3.3 million at Keeneland Sales in 1981. He raced 5 times, finishing his racing career 3-1-0, with earnings of $246,463 and was retired to stud. He was known for getting potentially difficult mares in foal. He died at the age of 19 years after breaking a leg in his covering shed in Newmarket.

Although the exact sale price was never disclosed, in 2010 sporthorse breeder Paul Schockemöhle bought the dressage super stallion, Moorlands Totilas for somewhere around $15-20 million USD. Totilas had a record-breaking career. He won 5 gold medals at the World and European Championships. He was the first dressage horse to

score above 90%, reaching an all-time high score of 92.30% at the Olympia 2009 FEI World Cup Dressage series with Edward Gal. His get have sold for as high as $44,000 in utero!

The most expensive show jumper ever sold was Palloubet d’Halong, a Selle Francais sired by Roderigo Pessoa’s mount Baloubet du Rouet. He was purchased by Jan Tops, a trainer for the Qatari equestrian team, for $15.2 million USD (€11,000,000) in October 2013. The horse was then ridden by 32-year-old Ali Yousef al-Rumaihi in CSI2* competition.

The most expensive draft horse was the 2-year-old Belgion stallion, McIlrath’s Captain Jim who sold for $112,500 USD in 2003 at the Mid-American Draft Horse Sale, Gifford, IL. His purchase price was based on his pedigree.

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