I can’t believe the summer has flown by so quickly, it seems as though May was just a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, I certainly enjoy the cooler weather, which also means less bugs and less sweat.
I hope everyone is gearing up for the Championship and Open Schooling Show coming up on October 26. Remember that we’ve added Eventing, either combined tests or individually ridden tests, Starter through Preliminary, and Intro A/B/C if they were ridden as part of a combined test.
There will also be a collection box at the Championship show for silent auction items for our annual awards banquet, so please remember to search through your closets, tack trunks, your truck’s back seat or any other area that collects miscellaneous horse stuff you haven’t used in a while, and please bring it along.
Youngish green thoroughbred update: I may have bitten off a little more than I can chew with this one. She is an absolute sweetheart on the ground, but now that the weather has cooled off a bit, the thoroughbred is coming through. It may be time to look for an older, less green horse that I can have a little fun with and still stay safe.
I hope you continue to enjoy your riding partners while keeping then healthy and happy always.
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
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Send Payment to: Betty Adduci
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Email: treasurer@esdcta.org
Amateur Dilemma
By Meredith Rogers
“It’s just a hobby.” How many times have you heard that? Well, we all know that’s not true. Horses are a lifestyle, a passion, our raison d’êtra. I think that’s why I was so stressed out before heading to Saugerties, NY, for the Great American USDF Region 8 Championship show Sept 18-22. I didn’t feel ready despite this show being an all-encompassing focus for weeks. I practiced. Had extra lessons. Watched videos about the movements I would be riding. Rode through my tests in my head before falling asleep every night. You name it, I did it to prepare.
Then I rode my first test: the Third Level Adult Amateur Championship. I had some costly mistakes but I also knew there were some fundamental basics that were lacking (no bend, lost of impulsion, inadequate collection…). I left the ring devastated. Truly in a funk. I internalized my imperfect riding as a fundamental flaw in my self-worth. Thankfully, I had people surrounding me who helped lift me out of my despair by reminding me of how far I’ve come, and of course, my horse, who was still happy to see me.
I didn’t let my disappointment stop me from riding my Second Level Championship class the next day. The ride was better but the score wasn’t what I was hoping for. I thought I had tried my best and that’s the score I got? What is wrong with me? Seriously, that’s what I thought. I was totally shocked that the just-okay score was enough to clench the win! Now I was on a super high and ready for our last ride. The next day was my Second Level Musical Freestyle Championship class. Part of me was excited because I thought I had a chance of doing well and another part was nervous because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to live up to the success I had the day before. Despite a tired Leo, it was actually the best ride of the weekend, and the score and placing reflected it – we had won again! Wow! But, could I be happy? Well, yes, for a while, but then looked at my score sheet and saw all the movements that I should have done better.
Now that I’m home and not so sleep deprived, I can look at this rollercoaster of a weekend with a more reasonable eye. I know that I tried my best and didn’t leave anything on the table, so no regrets there. I am using the judges’ sheets as a guide on what to work on to prepare for USDF Finals in November. No matter who you are, there’s always something to improve regardless of how high the score. I had so much fun hanging with my barn mates, the Olivia Steidle Dressage crew: Paige Zimmerman, her parents, Olivia’s daughter, and Brenda Curnin (the owner of the horse Paige rides). Having such a cheering section even when I was disappointed in myself kept me going. Leo tried his heart out for me, and it never fails to amaze me that these prey animals give so much of themselves for us. All of this solidifies that while “it’s not just a hobby,” there is so much more to horses than just having a good ride. There’s the bond with our animals, the friends we make, the physicality of it that helps keep us healthy, the opportunity to help and support others, and the chance to grow and learn. Not everyone gets such a privilege.
News from Outside the Ring
USA! USA! USA!
Now the Olympics really are over, and the USA rocked the 2024 ParaOlympics Dressage Competition, held Aug 28-Sept 8. Our squad, comprised of Fiona Howard on Diamond Dunes, Rebecca Hart on Floratina, Kate Shoemaker on Vianne, and Roxanne Runnell on Fan Tastico H secured the team gold, with the Netherlands taking silver and Germany bronze. In total, the USA had our best year ever, winning 4 individual gold medals, 1 silver, and 1 bronze. Ms. Shoemaker earned an individual bronze in the Grade IV Grand Prix Freestyle. Ms. Howard came home with 2 Grade II gold medals. Ms. Hart won 2 Grade III gold medals. Ms. Trunnell, a grade I rider, earned an individual silver medal. We all can’t wait to see what happens in 2028 in Los Angeles.
The End of an Eventing Era
Rolex, the watch company, is ending it’s more than 20-year sponsorship of the Grand Slam of Eventing, which encompasses the Badminton Horse Trials, Burghley Horse Trials, and Kentucky Three-Day Event. The “Grand Slam” is awarded to any rider who wins these events, in no particular order and not necessarily in the same year. Only 2 riders have won the prize: Pippa Funnell in 2003 and Michael Jung in 2016. The organizers are looking for a new sponsor, so if you have a spare $250,000 (the 2003 prize) or $350,000 (the 2016 prize), contact James Wolf, Wolf Sports Group (jwolf@wolfsportsgroup.com).
A Rare Breed Indeed
The Ojibwe Horse is also known as the Lac La Croix Indian Pony. It is a semi-feral Canadian horse breed developed by the Ojibwe people to do manual tasks, such as haul wood and nets. They had roamed across North America for centuries, and it is reported they survived the last ice age by adapting to cold conditions. However, by 1977 there were only 4 mares remaining and the Canadian government considered them pests and were going to cull them. Under suspicious circumstances (called “the heist”), those 4 horses were brought to Minnesota where they were crossed with Spanish Mustang stallions to preserve the breed. Currently about 200 horses are located in Canada, Minnesota, and now Wisconsin. In 2022, 6 ponies left Canada for a new life in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, which was the first time the breed set hoof in western Wisconsin in half a century. The horses were greeted by Em Loerzel, a White Earth Nation descendent, who described the reunion as like “bringing a family member home,” since these horses weren’t just beasts of labor, but the Ojibwe people’s spirit animal. Learn more about this important cultural equine here: www.ojibwehorse.ca
Stiff Competition, Good Weather, Fun Times, and that Winning Feeling at the Great American/USDF Region 8 Dressage Championships
By Paige Zimmerman
What a fun show in Saugerties, NY, for the USDF Region 8 Championships! Ducati did a great job at the busiest show we’ve attempted so far. Six tests over 4 days is not easy, but he really tried his hardest and pulled off some really great rides.
On Thursday, we won our 4th Level Test 3 practice class and placed 5th in a very competitive Freestyle Test of Choice class. Ducati had some tension but was generally unphased by everything around him. On Friday, we had the Adult Amateur 3rd Level Championship, and Ducati unfortunately was a bit uncharacteristically spooky since we were in a ring that he hadn’t schooled in much. However, we still landed in the middle of a class of almost 40 riders, and our trot work received many compliments and lots of 7s!
On Saturday, we got our mojo back and earned 6th place in the Adult Amateur 3rd Level Freestyle Championship with a nice relaxed and focused ride! This time, I felt that I could’ve jazzed him up a bit more for a higher score (we ended on a 67%) but after Friday’s ride I wanted to keep it a little more low-key, so our flying changes would be calmer and more fluid, and it worked! He was very attentive the entire ride, and our canter work was especially improved from the previous two days. Dancing to Earth, Wind & Fire is always fun and I feel that Ducati enjoys the music. I couldn’t help but notice that two other riders in our class also chose Earth, Wind & Fire as their music! I guess I wasn’t the only one that had the idea to use that music on the 21st of September. Maybe it’s time to switch our music up when we attempt a 4th level freestyle, hopefully next year!
Sunday morning began with a bang, in which we won the Adult Amateur Regional Dressage Seat Equitation Final with an 86%! There were 20 riders in this class, so management divided everyone into groups of 5 riders, and each group went into the ring at a separate time to be judged together at the walk, trot, and canter. Then, the top 8 riders were called back to do a pattern, which consisted of some leg yields and canter changes of lead through the trot. I was very pleased with this format of the class. I felt that it was very efficient and did not tire the horses out. In the past, my experience with dressage seat equitation classes was that they consisted of a lot of waiting around, and/or they became chaotic with riders trying to find their spots in riding as a large group (sometimes getting close to becoming bumper cars). This class was extremely well organized, and we all had a great time. Congratulations to Sophie Wayner who was Reserve Champion. It was cool to repeat our placings from 2019 in which we earned Champion and Reserve in the 14-18 Dressage Seat Equitation. It is fun to have grown together over the last 5 years!
Following a break, our last class on Sunday was the Adult Amateur 4th Level Championship. We’ve only done 4th Level Test 3 a few times, and Ducati definitely was tired at this point in the show, but he tried his heart out. His trot and walk work received a lot of compliments, and he was on my seat and listening to all of the single flying changes. The test was mostly scores of 7! Our line of changes
at the end of the test was a bit of a mess, but I didn’t expect much from that particular movement as he is just starting to understand multiple changes in a row at home. The fact that the single changes were all calm and attentive is certainly exciting and encouraging. We ended up again in the middle of the class with a solid ~62%. It is very gratifying to feel our confidence grow as a team. It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 6 show seasons with Ducati, growing from First Level onwards.
Thank you to Olivia Steidle for all your help and support in getting us to this point!! This is not an easy sport, so it’s the most fun to do it in the company of people you enjoy, on top of the quality training! And thank you to Bridget Steidle, Olivia’s daughter, for tagging along and assisting with the horses’ care throughout the weekend. Thank you Brenda Curnin for sharing Ducati with me. It’s been quite a journey and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to have a partnership with such a special horse. Thank you to my parents for coming on this trip. You’ve always been 100% supportive of my dreams! And last but not least, thank you to Meredith Rogers for being a great barn mate and teammate at this show! Congratulations on your wins and good luck at US Dressage Finals!
And of course, thank you to all the volunteers and show management. The property looks fantastic and we are very impressed by the new layout. We are looking forward to the next time we can be back in Saugerties!
Horse Treats
By Meredith Rogers
It’s October, which means Halloween time. And, what better way to celebrate than to watch some horror flicks. Below are some where horses are featured. I can’t promise the horses don’t get hurt (who cares about the humans, right?), so watch at your own risk!
The Ring: A journalist played by Naomi Watts, investigates the origins of a mysterious videotape, which supposedly results in the death one week to the day later of anyone who watches it. This movie is based on a Japanese film by the same name (Ringu). It changed the horror movie genre and is more suspense than blood and gore. I’ve watched both versions and highly recommend them, despite hating horror movies. I prefer the Japanese version. In fact, if you have a chance, check out other Japanese horror films, and if you hate subtitles you can always watch the Westernized versions.
The Cell: In this psychological horror movie, Jennifer Lopez plays an FBI agent who uses an experimental technology to enter the mind of a comatose serial killer to learn where he’s hidden his latest kidnap victim. This movie has blood and violence, but is pretty good. (Yes, I watched this one too despite hating horror movies.)
Horsehead: I have not seen this one, but maybe I will now. The lead character, played by no one I had ever heard of (Lilly-Fleur Pointeaux), has been haunted by recurrent nightmares since childhood, which led her to study the psychophysiology of dreams. She moves back home after the death of her maternal grandmother and enters a world of nightmares through experimentation with “lucid dreaming.”
Circle of Fear – Dark Vengeance: This is an episode of a cult classic TV series where a woman is haunted by nightmares about a toy horse her husband found in a box at the construction site he works at. You can find it on YouTube.
Sleepy Hollow: The tale of the Headless Horseman has been told many times on both the small and large screens, as well as in the theater (there was a Broadway musical in 1948 that lasted 12 performances) since Washington Irving published his book in 1819. Probably the best known version is the movie staring Jonny Depp, released in 1999. I’ve seen a few of these adaptations, including the Jonny Depp version, and I prefer the book.
Show Results
Lehigh Valley Dressage Association Schooling Show VI: Sterling Hills 9/15/24
