Collected Remarks
November 2021
Georgia Dressage and Combined Training Association, Inc. GDCTA is a Group Member Organization of USDF.
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Joanne Morse hgf.equestrian@yahoo.com 770-313-6283
In This Issue
NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING For information about advertising in the Collected Remarks newsletter, please email:
STORIES
Outside the Sandbox - delivering general articles and activities
Caren Caverly
5 – Letter from the President 7 – Election Results
9 – The Way I See It
10-11 – Always Help the Horse
webmaster@gdcta.org
Dustin Webber
Ad space is limited. Scheduled ads are due by the 5th of the month prior to publication. Information about advertising is also available online at:
Elizabeth Crumbly
11 – Youth Corner
Dressage - inside the sandbox
14-15 – The Walk – An Underestimated Gait and 20Minute Exercises 16-17 – GDCTA Adult Camp
Eventing - 3 times the fun
19 – The Way I see It: An Interview with a Horse
Conquer the Cold with these Three Winter Weather Riding Exercises GDCTA Business - a glimpse behind the curtain 20-21
Abi Kroupa
GDCTA.org/advertise
Laura King
The deadline for articles is also the 5th of the month prior to publication. Advertisements and Articles should be emailed to: webmaster@gdcta.org
Dustin Webber Summer Grace
The advertisements contained herein are paid advertisements. The information is provided by the service provider. The GDCTA makes no specific recommendations for any particular company, individual, or service.
23 – Donors
24-25 – GDCTA Board & Committees 26 – Meeting Highlights 27 – Event Calendar
28-34 – GDCTA Business Directory
On the Cover COVER IMAGE:
Wine Tasting at the GDCTA Adult Camp
PHOTO: Laura King
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Outside the Sandbox delivering general articles and activities
Dearest members:
First, thank you to those Senior and Family members who voted. We appreciate your input, always! Congratulations to the newly elected Board. We are thrilled to have you join (or rejoin, as the case may be) the team! No matter how hard we work, at the end of the day, it is teamwork that decides the success of the organization. I consider our “human resources” to be the biggest assets of GDCTA. It feels really amazing to be heading into a new year with a team of focused and hard-working people. It takes strength and motivation to wrangle the challenges GDCTA faces but with dedication, consistency, and purpose we can achieve so much! There are some exciting things planned to honor our volunteers coming up for next year. Stay tuned! Mark your calendar with the GDCTA 2022 dates: Jan 29: Awards Gala, Atlanta Marriott, Alpharetta Feb 1: Grant Applications Open (due June 1) Apr 16-17 (Easter weekend): Spring Fling Schooling Show, Wills Park, Alpharetta May 14-15: Greater Atlanta Dressage Southern, GIHP, Conyers July 23-24: Janet Foy Clinic, Shannondale Farm, Milton Aug 13-14: Summer Finals Schooling Show, Wills Park, Alpharetta Sep 3-4: Labor Day Dressage Classic, GIHP, Conyers Oct 7-9: GAIG/USDF Region 3 Dressage Championships & ANFD, GIHP, Conyers Dates TBA: Jeremy Steinberg Clinic Sabine Schut-Kery Clinic If you’d like to be part of the volunteers for any of these events, please use the website form to let us know your interests. https://www.gdcta.org/volunteer The next meeting is the Holiday Zoom meeting on December 13th and everyone is invited to that. Last year we held a holiday costume contest where everyone dressed in holiday attire and brought their favorite holiday brew to the Zoom. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the next Zoom meetings!
Caren Caverly President, GDCTA ccaverly@comcast.net 770-713-4025 5
GDCTA Awards Gala January 29, 2022 Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta 5750 Windward Parkway Alpharetta, GA Tickets go on sale December 15th
Balancing between members and other stakeholders can often be demanding, but once you've put together the right team, everything is so much easier! A good team works together towards achieving the same goal. The Board and the members all share the common goal of making a project come to life.
Officers President: Caren Caverly Vice President, Dressage: Abi Kroupa Vice President, Eventing: Joanne Morse Treasurer: Peter West Recording Secretary: Ashley Boyd Corresponding Secretary: Carol Tresan
At Large Directors Nicole Andrews-Kees Liz Molloy Danielle Perry Janie Pride Jen Scherrens Julie Shannon Get more involved! GDCTA is growing and looking for more committee chairs and members to help keep things moving along smoothly. Joining a GDCTA committee is a great way to interact with leaders of the organization, and to have a voice in its future! Committee membership carries with it an obligation to participate actively in committee work through contribution of time, prompt replies to board inquiries and attendance at some meetings. Committee members are chosen as individuals, not as representatives of farms or groups. Personal experience and ability are the most important criteria. To apply to a committee, fill out and submit the volunteer form online. https://www.gdcta.org/volunteer
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The Way I see It by Dustin Webber
Being a Champion Part Three ǡ ̶ ̶ Ǥ ǣ ͳȌ Ǥ ʹȌ ̵ ǡ Ǥ ͵Ȍ Ǥ ͶȌ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǥ ǣ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ Ǧ ǡ Ǥ Ǥ ̶ ̶ Ǧ Ǥ
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ǡ ǡ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ ǡ ̶ Ǥ̶ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ Ǩ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǥ Ǥ Ǩ ǡ Ǧ Ǥ Ǥ ̵ Ǥ
If you wish to contact Dustin, please do so at: DustinWebberTheWayISeeIt@outlook.com
picked up farriery initially to take care of his own horses. The brothers would operate the store in the mornings and place packages outside for UPS to pick up around noon — “Nobody ever stole anything,” Gary recalls. Then, they’d head out into the countryside surrounding what was then Atlanta’s horse country. Gary says he and Gene quite weren’t as well-known as some of the other names back then: Bill Crowder, who specialized in Quarter Horses; Palmer Wilson who handled the big hunter business; and the Medlock Brothers who shod “everything else.” Nevertheless, the Hills had as much work as they could keep up with. “It just kept booming in the whole Atlanta area,” Gary recalls. They’d make the journey to service their many accounts, and they often wouldn’t knock off before dark. The scenery was quite different back then. “Once you got past 400, there were maybe three stoplights,” Gary says. “It was a completely different time.” Meanwhile, the supply house was overflowing its 900-square-foot footprint, having moved into its own facility after outgrowing Gene’s basement. After making several additions to the original building, the brothers put up a structure large enough to serve their purposes, and there they stayed.
“Always Help the Horse” Gene Hill leaves a legacy of learning among Georgia farriers By ELIZABETH CRUMBLY GPFA Newsletter Editor EGCrumbly@gmail.com This story was reprinted with permission from the Georgia Professional Farriers Association. To find out more about the organization or to locate a qualified farrier in your area, visit www.georgiafarriers.org. Farriers across the state remember Gene Hill as the loquacious philosopher who would spend hours with his customers, leaning on the counter of G&H Horseshoe Sales drawing up hypothetical shoeing plans. His brother and business partner, Gary Hill, recalls opening the store many mornings and finding scattered diagrams and sketches. “I would know that some horseshoer had missed his afternoon appointments,” Gary recalls. “He loved to talk.” A voracious learner The brothers sold the business in 2019, and Gene passed away at age 84 last July. His family and the many friends he made in the business feel his absence acutely. Gary remembers Gene as a voracious learner who always had the horse in mind and had an affinity for the horseshoers who frequented the store on Canton Road in Marietta. “He loved a whole bunch of customers,” Gary recalls. Gene was one of seven siblings. The Hill children began life in southern Illinois, and Gene journeyed south to study engineering at Georgia Tech. He put his education to use at Lockheed as an electrical engineer before he developed an interest in farriery. The precise approach and devotion that earned him an engineering degree lent themselves well to shoeing as it turned out, and after his retirement from Lockheed in the mid-’70s, he plunged headlong into the horse world, having
Gene’s generosity Gene competed in many an American Farriers Association-sanctioned competition. “I’ve never met anyone who was more dedicated to the art and science of shoeing horses,” Gary says. “The more he could learn, the happier he was.” And Gene passed his knowledge on every chance he got, much to the appreciation of young farriers looking for a little guidance. It wasn’t uncommon for a forging session to break out right outside G&H. “He’d go out, and they’d fire up the gas forge in the parking lot. He was very selfless in that way,” Gary recalls. Gene’s generosity extended to his equine charges. He was known for his ability to make foundered horses comfortable using a full support shoe with a rocker toe. In the last stretch of his shoeing career during the late 1980s, he would accept founder cases at the store. Clients would unload an unsound horse from a trailer
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‘He just loved what he did:’ A daughter’s remembrance
and be able to walk it back on nearly pain free after Gene finished shoeing it. “He would always say, ‘Just remember this: Always help the horse,’” Gary remembers.
For Susan Harris, her father, Gene Hill, was a people person who put his knowledge and intelligence to work helping those around him. She remembers arriving at his store, G&H Horseshoe Sales, for many a long lunch date and finding him deep in conversation with a farrier who had stopped in. It’s that image of Hill that’s perhaps most memorable to the shoeing community. He had a sense of humor and a sharp mind that are near-legendary among Georgia farriers. “He just loved what he did,” Harris recalls affectionately. “He loved telling jokes to his customers, and some of them were very bad.” When Hill retired from the store, he split his time between Marietta and his farm in Rockmart. Harris says his desire to be social led him to deliver vegetables to his neighbors from the garden he always planted. Farm life and farriery fit his old-fashioned sensibilities. “I thought he was born 200 years too late,” Harris says. “He was very old school, traditional … he was always on time, and he never showed up anywhere empty-handed.” The cancer that took him was something he and his family only knew about for three weeks before his death. Harris’ words were alternatingly humorous and emotional as she described her father’s life — his education in the Georgia Tech engineering program; his time in the United States Army nuclear program; and the relationship he later forged with her daughter, his only granddaughter. She said Hill “would’ve loved” seeing his anvil and forge sold at the annual Georgia Professional Farriers Association auction late last year. Morgan Hurst, CJF, of Dawsonville, Georgia, took time to clean up the pieces, and members honored Hill by offering them up on the block to benefit the association he loved. Harris’ halting words about a man who did so much for so many seem to sum up the feelings of Georgia farriers in general: “He will be missed.”
Gary’s story Gary followed his older brother to Georgia in the early 1970s to help with the supply house. “It was a temp job that got out of hand,” he jokes. These days, he’s enjoying retirement — watching Whitetail deer from his kitchen window and catching up on reading — mostly poetry and history narratives. His deep devotion to his brother shines as he praises Gene’s talents and social skills. Although his own shoeing experience is limited to the help he gave Gene early on, his affinity for farriery is obvious, as is his devotion to their many customers. “We’ve had such a great clientele,” he says. “Super good guys that were never a problem.”
YOUTH CORNER Youth Board The Youth Board has been dissolved. Instead, there will be a Youth member on the Board of Directors who will come to the regular Board meetings (via Zoom). The Board will choose the Youth member based on their email of application. To be considered, email Joanne Morse joannemorse1@ yahoo.com with a note about why you want to be on the GDCTA Board.
The next Board meeting is October 18 at 7:00 PM sharp on Zoom. Contact Caren Caverly at ccaverly@comcast.net to be added to the Zoom call.
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DRESSAGE inside the Sandbox
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$800 Training Grants
GDCTA.ORG/TRAINING-GRANTS
VOLUNTEERING 101
the opportunity to be in a training situation that is not readily available during the course of his/her daily pattern.
GDCTA Training Grants
A STEP-BY-STEP LOOK AT HOW YOU ARE NEEDED
WATCH & LEARN In addition to watching great and not-so-great riders, volunteering can teach you the nuances of the rules, the details on scoring systems, and maybe net you some pointers from judges and technical delegates.
BE IN THE ACTION Most volunteer posts involve spectating, putting you in prime position do a show report, give live-action updates
Each GDCTA grant recipient will receive a special journal donated by The Equestrian Journal. Journaling is a great tool to help you organize your thoughts and record your progress.
to friends at home, and be the first to post video on Facebook
MAKE FRIENDS
Catherine Respess will also provide a journal coaching session to each to give them a “leg up” and fully enjoy the power of Journaling!!
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people in your area who share your passion.
TheEquestrianJournal.com
SUPPORT THE SPORT We all know that it takes a lot of time, energy, and money to put on an event, and volunteering is a way to help out the gracious hosts and organizers, as well as help make sure entry fees are kept down.
JUNE 1
GOOD KARMA
Deadline to Apply
Volunteering is a good deed and helping others brings deep personal satisfaction
For Information & To Sign Up
GDCTA.org/volunteer
Heather Askew hdraskew@gmail.com
GDCTA.ORG
404-272-1789
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The Walk - An Underestimated Gait and 20-minute Exercises By Abi Kroupa
Reprinted with permission from eruditeequestrian.com
Lateral Work – Yoga For Horses
Working at the walk is highly fruitful for conditioning and developing the horse’s body. Horses are creatures of movement. In the wild, horses will be on the move for 12-18 hours a day covering hundreds of acres. This lifestyle is very different from the life of most domestic horses. The consistent movement throughout the day of wild horses conditions their body to promote the development and maintenance of various tissues. Because the walk does not require much physical effort for riders, it is often overlooked as part of the daily conditioning of their horses. However, many classical Dressage masters from the past recognized the importance of long schooling sessions at only the walk. Additionally, walk plays an integral role in the early stages of conditioning or for rehabilitation. Traditionally, field hunters and polo players will begin walk conditioning for up to two hours a day for the first month or so when bringing horses back from break.
There’s plenty of lateral work that can be performed in walk either to lay a foundation for performing it at trot and canter, or which can be used to help straighten and supple your horse. Lateral work is what helps create symmetry and straightness. Don’t limit yourself to just leg yields or turns on the forehand, there are unlimited lateral exercises that are often best taught in the walk so horses can understand the aids and become supple and strong enough to eventually do it in the trot and the canter. Shoulder-in, travers, turn on the haunches, renvers, half pass, walk pirouettes are all movements that aid in making the horse more supple and flexible.
Biomechanically speaking, the walk is the gait that has the biggest influence on conditioning. Due to the various phases of the horse’s walk, there is always one limb in contact with the ground at every point in the stride. Therefore, at every point in the stride, the horse is using some sort of muscular effort. Further, walking recruits a greater number of small postural muscles that stabilize the spine. Comparatively in faster gaits, like the trot, the horse relies in part on momentum and thrust to help propel them forward. Now before you sigh and resign yourself to "boring" 30minute walk training rides, check out these varied and fun ideas that can be used in all disciplines to help improved your horse’s strength, symmetry, suppleness, and reaction to the aids all through the walk.
Lateral exercise examples in walk:
Transitions – Reinforcing the Aids
Ride transitions within the walk speeds and halt. What do I mean by walk “speeds”? Well, there is the collected walk, the medium walk, the free walk, the extended walk, the halt, and the back. Practice transitions between each speed of the walk. Every few halt transitions, ask the horse to back up 4-6 steps and then carry on. Make sure your horse remains adjustable, supple, and reactive to the aids.
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Leg yield to quarter line. Shoulder-in for 10 steps. Half pass back to rail. Shoulder-in down the long side. 8-10 M Circle at E or B. Haunches in on the remaining long side. Shoulder-in down the long side. 8-10 M Circle at E or B. Half Pass to center line. On long side, turn-on-the-haunches or walk pirouette toward the centerline at H. Then, straight down the long side and turn-on-theforehand at V. Repeat.
Renvers down long side to E or B. Leg yield to center line. 10 M circle. Spiral in to Walk Pirouette. Spiral out
Hill Work
Cavalettis - Longitudinal strength
Working horses up and down low-grade hills is a great way to build hind end strength and to engage your horse’s core. Long term benefits include engaged hind quarters, strengthened tissues (tendons, ligaments, and muscles), improved topline, and overall increased fitness level. Consistent hill work naturally improves your horse’s cardiovascular fitness. Think, running on an incline on a treadmill! Hill work should be introduced slowly. Remember not to overdo hill work initially, as this can be quite taxing for horses who aren’t used to it. However, there are many fantastic benefits if included in your horses training schedule regularly.
Cavaletti or pole work encourages the horse to engage his hind leg while lifting his forehand. Ultimately this teaches the horse to work in self-carriage without relying on the rider for support. Cavalettis can be extremely helpful in developing longitudinal flexibility in the joints. They additionally encourage the horse to lift and stretch their back and topline. They can be practiced on the lunge or under saddle. What are Cavalettis? Cavalettis are essential raised poles. The poles are usually 6 inches to 1 foot off the ground. However, you can adjust them to where your horse is comfortable. Always remember to warm-up your horse by walking your horse over a single cavaletti at its lowest setting. At the walk, multiple cavalettis in succession should be approximately 3 ft apart. However, the distance between each pole should always be adjusted to suite the natural stride of each horse.
Counted Walk The Counted Walk is an “old school” term and Dressage exercise. The counted walk is more of a balancing and engaging exercise than a walk speed. However, this exercise gives the rider the opportunity to fine-tune their feel and control of the horse's cadence and rhythm while counting their horse’s steps. First, start by softening your horse’s jaw in the connection. While your horse is walking, encourage them to raise their head and shoulders. While maintaining the horse’s energy, you encourage the slowest possible walk you can do without halting and with the smallest number of steps possible.
Cavaletti exercises in the walk:
Create a square with 4 cavalettis. Do a figure 8 pattern over the square with halts at each outside tip of the 8.
Put 4 to 6 cavalettis approximately 3 ft apart. Take up light contact and allow your horse to stretch through their back and down into the reins. Layer several poles in a straight line. Do a 10m serpentine pattern over the poles.
Whether you have been busy competing your horse all winter or are just now getting back into your riding routine, the walk is an essential low impact way to bring your horse’s fitness level back, increase your horse’s current fitness level, or recover between sets of more difficult work. I have learned with my own horses that adding a walk-only training day and increasing my daily riding routine to include 20 minutes or more in the walk has increased their overall relaxation, fitness level, and flexibility.
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GDCTA Adult Camp Photos by Laura King
Adults of all ages and levels came together to spend four focused days of dressage training at the GDCTA Adult Camp held at Montclair Stables in Conyers, Georgia. The trainers were Beanie Crowe, Cynthia Thaxton, Bryan Tweed and Beth Stelzleni. The campers were Beth Nielsen on Kat, Carol Morgan on Johanna, Kathy Duke on Ace, Kim Abernathy on Omega, Peri Lambros on Aurora (Pinto) and Cuart (grey) and Sarah Berhalter with her two horses Rocky (grey) and Carl (bay). Each day there were private lessons with Beanie Crowe. Bryan Tweed spoke about sports psychology and also gave each rider a lesson. Beth Stelzleni changed things up with some cavaletti training. All of the hard work was topped off with a wine tasting and massage! Ah!
EVENTING 3 times the fun
The Way I see It
by Dustin Webber
An Interview with a Horse
ǣ So, tell me Mr. Horse, what do you think of your stall? ǣ Ǥ
ǣ What? What is wrong with it? ǣ ǡ ǡ Ǥ ̵ ǫ Ǥ ̵ Ǥ ǤǤǤǤ
ǣ What else? ǣ Ǥ Ǥ ̵ ǫ ǡ Ǥ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǥ
ǣ What else? ǣ Ǥ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǩ Ǩ ̵ Ǥ
ǣ Wow. Okay. What else? ǣ Ǥ ǡ ǡ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ
ǣ Jeez you have a list! Is there more? ǣ Ǥ Ǥ ͳͲͲΨ Ǧ ǡ Ǥ ͺ ǡ ̵ Ǥ
ǣ So, don't you like the brass finials I put on your stall? Did you not notice the expensive interlocking foam bricks in the aisle? Or the lacquered hardwoods on the ceiling? The stainless washer and dryer set in the barn for washing your saddle pads? Did you notice the multi-model remote controlled fans in the main aisle or the LED motion detector lights outside? Any of that make a difference? ǣ ǫ ǡ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ
ǣ Any last comments for our readers? ǣ Ǥ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ
ǣ Well, thank you for your honesty and we look forward to our next interview. Want to know what it is about? ǣ
ǣ The subject is, "What is it like to be a horse in a horse trailer going to say, Wellington?" ǣ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǤǤǤǤ If you wish to contact Dustin, please do so at: DustinWebberTheWayISeeIt@outlook.com
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Conquer the Cold with these Three Winter Weather Riding Exercises By Summer Grace
USEA/ Leslie Mintz photo. Riding in the winter can be a bit of a perilous effort — cold temperatures, lack of turnout time, and confinement to smaller spaces all make for difficulties to navigate during this long, dark season. Luckily, USEA Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP) Level III Certified Instructor Jennifer Rousseau has a handful of tactful tricks to keep both you and your partner engaged all winter long.
condition will retain his/her body condition for 30 days without any work whatsoever, but a rider can prolong their downtime by hacking. Even if mostly
walking, try to use hills and transitions to prevent the horse from losing all muscle tone. When the weather feels too chilly or the ground appears too hard for more intense work, Rousseau suggests taking advantage of your time out hacking to improve on your dressage movements! One of the best places to teach an experienced horse (Training level and above) new things and to keep his level of motivation high, is to find ways to incorporate some of the movements from the
1) Do not underestimate the benefit of hacking out! Rousseau pointed out that hacking out can prove incredibly beneficial for both your horse’s health and soundness of mind prior to the season of being stuck inside. A horse in average to good physical
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workout when you think our horse least expects it, so that you keep him not only listening to the aids but also listening for the aids. This is one way to help protect your horse against the “arena blahs” where a horse gets discouraged with having nowhere to go.
dressage test into the ride home. Once you turn for home on the trail, most horses’ natural impulsion improves dramatically, making for easier conversations about going forward and laterally. 2) Focus on Accuracy
3) Take Tight Spaces as an Opportunity to Work on Rideability
Once confined to the arena, Rousseau points out that your main focus should be on developing accuracy in both flatwork and jumping, and strengthening your horse through transitions and gymnastics.
While being confined to an indoor arena may not seem near as inviting, it can actually be a positive thing in terms of working on posture and on rideability:
According to Rousseau, markers and elements placed on the arena walls or ceiling can additionally be used to encourage accuracy. Incorporate letters and markers into flatwork and jumping exercises as much as possible. This will make riders accountable for their degree of accuracy in a matter of centimeters, not just meters. Make sure your indoor has a set of dressage letters and position them as accurately as you can. In the absence of letters, you can put up other incidentals in the ring such as a row of small triangle flags along the ceiling of the centerline or a hanging flag from the ceiling at X. Rousseau recommends placing additional banners or flat wall decoration at each end of the arena on the quarter line and rotating their position to provide additional accuracy markers as well as desensitize horses to banners that could appear along the show ring fence.
One thing Rousseau suggests is to paint a wide stripe around the arena wall approximately halfway between the top of the kick board and the ceiling. At this height, when the rider looks at the stripe, he/she should be looking “up” or “forward” with correct posture and balance. This is an excellent way to reverse the commonly-known “study the ground” syndrome. Rousseau also added that the pressure created by the arena wall can actually improve the rideability of the horse by understanding how to best use it. This exercise can be modified to fit the experience level of the horse and rider being challenged therefore asking less of greener horses and riders and more of those with experience. Start by jumping across the diagonal or in to the short end of the arena. As the horse approaches the wall, ask the rider to hold the straight line, before turning or allowing the horse to fade into the new direction, as close to the wall as balance permits. This will educate the rider on feeling the role of using both reins and both legs to create the line and, then more so, the importance of the inside leg and outside rein in holding the line. This exercise will begin to give the rider a feel of when they truly need to turn to preserve the rhythm and balance of their horse so they begin to understand when they have balance or lose it and what the contributing factors are.
Get creative with your gymnastic jumping exercises! Keep the jumps small and the lines, angles, turns and transitions frequent. Intersperse ground poles, raised cavalletti and small jumps, bounces, offsets, and skinnies to create unique and detailed gymnastic courses. Rousseau adds that it is worth it to invest in a couple of key portables to spruce up your winter program. Use all manner of upwards and downwards transitions, and work towards perfecting your halfhalt to strengthen the pushing and carrying power of your horse during the winter months. By implementing “mini-transitions” within the gait (such as asking the horse to push forward for a step or two in whatever gait they are in) you can emphasize developing the horse’s immediate response. Once you have the horse responding instantly to the forward aid, you can use this minitransition randomly at various moments in your
Rousseau’s last winter tip? On that rare occasion that the sun shines, bundle up and get outdoors! Be careful to contain yourself to areas with good footing such as snowy fields and bare roads but getting out will definitely improve both you and your horse’s attitudes.
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GDCTA BUSINESS a glimpse behind the curtain
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Thank you to the following donors for their generous gifts A to Z Horse Cookies Amanda Moretz Bodywork Anne Margaret Meyers Ashley Marascalco Atlanta Dressage Atlanta Saddlery Atlanta Youth Dressage Challenge Bella Med Spa Boisset Collection Brad Thatcher Bradford Renaissance Portraits BRONCA Apparel Connecting Humanity Caitlyn Brennan Cara McNamee, DVM Ann Caverly Caren Caverly Cavali Club Chanda Smith Charlotte Detienne Photography Chattahoochee Hills Eventing Cherokee Feed Chip Caverly Christi Meyers Christine Murray, DVM Chronicle of the Horse Magazine Cindy Thaxton Close Enough Farm Courtney Cook CU at X Tack David Erdek Photography Deniro Boots Diana Salzman Dolly Woodruff Kennedy EasyCare, Inc. Equus Optimus Training Center Erudite Equestrian European Horse Tack Finish Line Horse Products Free Form Farm Frogcatcher Farm LLC Georgia Sport Horses Glenn Mitchell Grace Stables Great American Insurance Group GumBits HGF Equestrian High Point Dressage High Time Photography Holland Portraits HorseTech Janie Pride Jennifer Melcher, DVM
Julie Norman Kayce Redmond Kelli Agnew Kris Pinto La Quinta Inn and Suites Leah Marks Leigh Kent-Scherzer Liberty Acres Dressage LLC Linda Light Linden Gaspar Lisa & John Seger Lisa Seger Insurance Lou Roth Lucy Calhoun Lumiere Dressage Malin Eriksson MangoBay Design Market Street Promotions Mary Lou Freil Melody Moore Jackson Michelle Klymko & Whiskey Optimus Equine Feed Pat Borders Platinum Performance Poplar Place Farm Rachael Wilkins Zaudke Renee Miller Richard Cohn Richard Taylor Equine Video River Mist Equestrian Ruth Poulsen & Ariana Marshall Sandy Osborn Schneiders Tack Seminole Feed Seth Deitchman, Morgan Stanley Shannondale Farm Silent Hawk PEMF SmartPak Smoky Mountain Dressage Association / Donna Richardson Stephanie Petron Sue Bender Susan Easton Burns Tempi Design Studio The Drew Boot The Fluff Method The Riding School ThinLine Thompson & Assoc. Equine Med Todd Kroupa Team Real Estate Triple Crown Feed Unlimited Dressage USDF
Warmblood Tack Store Wesleyan College, Equestrian White Pines Farm Whole Horse Saddle Fit / Lacey Halstead Wilsun Custom Horse Blanket Zan Economopoulos Fine Art
GOAT—Greatest Of All Time
GDCTA Board 2021 OFFICERS President: Caren Caverly VP Dressage: Abigail Kroupa VP Eventing: Joanne Morse Treasurer: Peter West Corresponding Secretary: Carol Tresan Recording Secretary: Ashley Boyd
MEMBERS AT LARGE Heather Askew Liz Molloy Danielle Perry Jen Scherrens Julie Shannon Janie Pride
The 2022 Board will begin at the January 17th meeting
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Committees 2021
Newsletter Submission Guidelines Collected Remarks is the official publication of the Georgia Dressage and Combined Training Association, Inc. (GDCTA), a non-profit, exempt corporation organized under Section 501© (3). It is the monthly newsletter designed to inform, educate and entertain the membership. The Editors encourage members to submit original advertising, articles, photographs, and artwork for possible publication. The editors of ‘Collected Remarks’ reserve the right to reject any advertising or article deemed to be unsuitable for this newsletter.
1) Nominating – 2 Non out going board members 2) Grievance – 2 VPs (only if there is a complaint) 3) Finance – a. Chair – Peter West b. Sponsorship – Caren Caverly 4) Awards – a. Grants –Janie Pride 5) Awards Gala – a. Chair – Caren Caverly b. Silent Auction – Caren Caverly, Liz Molloy c. Barn Raffle – Peri Lambros 6) Education – a. Chair – Julie Shannon b. Clinics – Caren Caverly, Joanne Morse c. Kudzu – Danielle Perry, Jen Scherrens 7) Youth – a. Chair – Joanne Morse, Abigail Kroupa b. Schooling or Grassroots – Marian Bickers c. Recognized – Liz Molloy, Janie Pride d. Collegiate – Amanda Garner a. Communication – a. Chair – Joanne Morse b. Yearbook – Penny Morse, June Brewer c. Newsletter – Penny Morse, June Brewer d. Website – June Brewer e. Social Media – June Brewer, Abigail Kroupa f. Membership – Mary Lou Freil 9) Show – a. Chair – Julie Shannon b. Recognized – Caren Caverly c. Schooling – Caren Caverly 1. Horse Show Recognition – Carol Tresan d. Regionals 1. Chair – Caren Caverly 2. Vendors – Caren Caverly 3. Hospitality – Abigail Kroupa, Danielle Perry 4. Awards Chair – Peri Lambros 5. Grounds – Peri Lambros e. Volunteer Coordinators – Heather Askew, Danielle Perry
• Editorial contributions of 600 words or less (accompanied by photos with permission to publish, if applicable) are welcomed although publication cannot be guaranteed. • GDCTA is not responsible for the opinions and statements expressed in signed articles or paid advertisements. GDCTA Collected Remarks welcomes submissions of quality color dressage and sport-horse photographs. All mounted riders must be wearing appropriate headgear (a safety helmet, a derby, or a top hat). Photos must be accompanied by complete captions, including the full names of all subjects. For print, only high resolution (300dpi) Jpeg or PDF files will be accepted. Please submit electronically to designonpenny@yahoo.com and webmaster@gdcta.org.
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Georgia Dressage and Combined Training Association Regular Meeting
GADS May 14-15 at Conyers, Labor Day Sept 3-4 at Conyers, October 7-9 Regionals at Conyers. We need way more volunteers for Regionals. Positive response from participants at Regionals. Looking for someone that can come in and handle sponsorship and vendors. Board members discuss ideas for how to get more volunteers and provide a bigger show of appreciation. • Wilsun is sponsoring volunteer of the year award.
October 19, 2021
President Caren Caverly called the regular meeting of the GDCTA to order on October 19, 2021, at 7:05 PM on Zoom. President, Caren Caverly, performed roll call. A quorum of the board consisting of Caren Caverly, Joanne Morse, Carol Tresan, Peter West, Janie Pride, Liz Molloy, Jennifer Scherrens, and Danielle Perry were present. The minutes of the regular meeting for September 20, 2021, were emailed to board members prior to the meeting. Danielle Perry made a motion to approve the minutes. Janie Pride seconded. Motion passed. Nicole Andrews and Lindsey Burns were also in attendance.
Finance, (Peter West): no report Youth, (Joanne Morse): Schooling show letterman program jackets application ready to post on the website. Recognized letterman application already posted on website. Awards, (Janie Pride): no report Education and Young Horse Chairperson, Julie Shannon, no report
BOARD REPORTS President, (Caren Caverly): no report
Nominating Committee, Voting ballot going out soon via the website.
Treasurer’s Report, (Peter West): report emailed to board prior to meeting.
Old Business
VP of Dressage, (Abigail Kroupa): no report
•
VP of Combined Training, (Joanne Morse): no report Membership, (Mary Lou Freil): report emailed prior to meeting. Membership consistent with last year and 2019.
•
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Gala is January 29, 2022. Discussion on whether we should have an in-person Gala or not. Board did a preliminary vote on whether we will have an in-person gala and who will be there. Board voted to have an in-person awards banquet. Wilsun is sponsoring volunteer of the year award for 2022.
New Business
Awards Gala, (Caren Caverly): Date is January 29, 2022
•
Communications, (Joanne Morse): June emailed a report prior to meeting. Viewership is up on website and social media page.
Danielle reaching out to new members for the month of November
Email Blasts: Adult Camp, General Membership meeting 8:25 PM Carol Tresan made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Jennifer Scherrens seconded.
Horse Show, (Julie Shannon): • Wills Park GDCTA is waiting on the bill from Wills Park still for facility rental. We have received our dates for 2022 at Wills Park. April 16-17 for the Spring Fling and August 13-14 for the Summer Finals schooling shows at Wills Park. • Georgia Horse Park
Next meeting is November 15 at 7:00 PM sharp on Zoom. This is the General Meeting so all are encouraged to attend. contact Caren Caverly ccaverly@comcast.net to be added to the Zoom call.
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GDCTA EVENT CALENDAR (GDCTA Events are in RED) GDCTA Clinics & Symposiums
July 23-24 Janet Foy Clinic
USEF/USDF SHOWS
Apr 16-17
May 14-15
Aug 13-14
Sep 3-4
Oct 7-9
Alpharetta, GA
Spring Fling Schooling Show GADS Summer Finals Schooling Show Labor Day Dressage Classic I & II
Caren Caverly
Alpharetta, GA
Caren Caverly
ccaverly@comcast.net
Alpharetta, GA
Caren Caverly
ccaverly@comcast.net
Conyers, GA
Caren Caverly
ccaverly@comcast.net
Conyers, GA
GAIG/USDF Region 3 Championships & ANFD
(green=pending, black=approved, red=GDCTA hosted)
Nov 20 Dec 4-5
Poplar Place Farm Le Bonheur Honeysuckle Hills Farm/LEAF Southeast Schooling Show Championships
Dec 11
Le Bonheur
Dec 11
Big Bear Farm’s Enoch Ministries Fundraiser
Caren Caverly
Conyers, GA
GDCTA-Recognized Schooling Shows
Nov 20 Nov 20
ccaverly@comcast.net
Caren Caverly
ccaverly@comcast.net ccaverly@comcast.net
Caren Caverly, GDCTA AWARDS CHAIR Recognized & Schooling Shows ccaverly@comcast.net 770-713-4025
2022 Show Season
Hamilton, GA Chatsworth, GA
Launa Des Portes Anna Bosworth
launa@poplarplacefarm.com Abosworth88@gmail.com
Fairburn, GA
Penny Morse
info@chatthillseventing.com
Chatsworth, GA
Anna Bosworth
Abosworth88@gmail.com
Gainesville, GA
Pine Mountain, GA
Dana Ferguson
Leigh Ertle
Allfergs2@yahoo.com
lelittlebear@yahoo.com
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
GDCTA Members' Businesses
Pagan Gilman Field Agent Pagan@LisaSegerInsurance.com (770) 283-7344
GDCTA BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Links to websites are free to all GDCTA members in good standing. These links to member sites are provided for the convenience of our visitors and members. No link to or the mention of a particular site or vendor constitutes an endorsement of said products, services or vendor by The Georgia Dressage and Combined Training Association.
APP ART & PHOTO
Competitor Tent
apps.apple.com/us/app/competitor-tent/id1466954851
Susan Burns
Kathy Duke
404-731-7071 ebdesign@mindspring.com horsepaintingsbysue.com
404-433-0919 ktdukeartist@yahoo.com KTDukeArtist.com
Ulla Strickland
ATTt ORNEYS BOARDING
404-388-4097 ulla_str@hotmail.com ullastricklandstudios.com 205-516-9052
Richard Jones
Kim Abernathy
Janice Ballard
Sharon Cannon
Sandra Carnet
Evie Dinkins
Amanda Garner
Penny Morse Harmony Grove Farm 770-328-3801
Anneliese Vogt-Harber
770-301-3444 juliebh@mindspring.com haralsonfarm.com
706-789-2616 mmenagerie@yahoo.com maggiesmenagerie.net
janice@fullcirclehorsepark.com fullcirclehorsepark.com
EMBROIDERY
770-396-7189 205-516-9052
770-778-4067 kimfoxberry@gmail.com Foxberry-farm.com
423-829-6829
janice@fullcirclehorsepark.com skycannon@comcast.net
678-488-4122 eviedinkins@gmail.com silverliningstables.com
Lee Ann Gilson
EDUCATION &CLINICS
973-96-5256 megm.photos@gmail.com meg-mcguire.com
Janice Ballard
770-654-3934 scarnet@carnetstudio.com oxerfarm.com
BREEDING
Meg McGuire
678-873-8785 hrsecrz@gmail.com inunisonfarm.com
harmonygrovefarm@yahoo.com
Julie Ballard Haraloson
Cristina Franco
404-259-004 francocourts@aol.com
Ann Genovese
Jean Corbett Fowler
404-289-9328 goodhorseman@att.net goodhorseman.org
869-895-8869 jean@fowlerprop.com goneawayfarm.com
Stephanie Meek
678-203-5290 stephanie@luckybluedesigns.com luckybluedesigns.com
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404-245-6688 amanda@epiphany-farm.com epiphany-farm.com 404-218-2550 avharber@comcast.net vogtridingacademy.com
Maggie Sjoberg
Karen McGoldrick
770-856-1426 piaffe@bellsouth.net
GDCTA BUSINESS DIRECTORY
EQUINE INSURA a NCE
Pagan Gilman
GRA a PHIC DESIGNS
Ainsley Jacobs
HORSE SALES MARKETING REAL ESTATE SERVICES SHOW FACILITIES
Lisa Seger
770-283-7344 770-356-8674 pagan@lisasegerinsurance.com lisa@lisasegerinsurance.com lisasegerinsurance.com lisasegerinsurance.com 267-738-2134 ainsley.e.jacobs@gmail.com rideheelsdown.com
Jean Corbett Fowler
Julie Ballard Haralson
869-895-8869 jean@fowlerprop.com goneawayfarm.com
770-301-3444 juliebh@mindspring.com haralsonfarm.com
June Brewer 678-677-4404 horseprint@aol.com
Todd Kroupa 770-910-4860 KroupaTeam.com Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties
Cristina Franco
404-259-004 francocourts@aol.com
Kim Abernathy
770-778-4067 kimfoxberry@gmail.com Foxberry-farm.com
Marian Bickers
Lucy Calhoun
Sandra Carnet
205-516-9052
janice@fullcirclehorsepark.com
Fullcirclehorsepark.com
Anna Bosworth
423-653-1236 abosworth88@gmail.com Le Bonheur
770-842-4176 lucy@ashlandfarm.com Ashlandfarm.com
Launa DesPortes
Dana Ferguson
706-681-8748 show@poplarplacefarm.com Poplarplacefarm.com
770-519-0158 allfergs2@yahoo.com lanierequestrian.org
Liz Molloy
Spring Milbourn
770-634-4089
northatlantaequestrian@gmail. com
missliz@taramiaridingschool. com
NorthAtlantaEquestrian.com
Caroline Templeton
SHOW SERVICES
Janice Ballard
706-207-6055 bigcheeseeventing@gmail.com Big Cheese Shows
Beverly Bowman
770-314-3413 bev.bowman@comcast.net "L"
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AYDC
Louise Caccese 805-451-0054 louisecaccese@yahoo.com
678-640-5409 mcbjumper@gmail.com Cornerstone Equestrian
770-654-3934 scarnet@carnetstudio.com Oxerfarm.com
Hugh Lochore 770-892-2117
info@chatthillseventing.com
ChattHillsEventing.com
Miriam Offermanns 828-506-6876
miriam.lemnouni@gmail.com
BellaRose
Caren Caverly
770-713-4025 ccaverly@comcast.net show management
GDCTA BUSINESS DIRECTORY SHOW SERVICES
Sally Crews
Mary Lou Freil
Robert Higgins
Elizabeth Kane
770-773-7190 crews428@bellsouth.net "L"
770-330-2489 maryloufreil@gmail.com dressagesolutions.com
407-497-4594 roberthiggins1@me.com
404-402-6994 ehkane@gmail.com
Jodi Lees
SPECIAL EVENTS FACILITIES TACK & EQUIPMENT
Leslie O'Neal-Olsen
864-921-1059 jodi@riversedgefarms.com riversedgefarms.com
770-826-9777 olsenleslie@yahoo.com "R"
Launa DesPortes
Hugh Lochore
706-681-8748 show@poplarplacefarm.com Poplarplacefarm.com
770-892-2117 lanierequestrian.org ChattHillsEventing.com
Dover Saddlery
Atlanta Saddlery 770-475-1967 atlantasaddlery.com
770-777-1952
alpharetta@dovesaddlery.com
doversaddlery.com
Wilsun Custom Blanket
770-558-1679 info@wilsuncustomhorseblankets.com wilsuncustomhorseblankets.com
THERA a PY
Ann Genovese
404-289-9328 goodhorseman@att.net goodhorseman.org
Susanne Lauda
770-265-4356 susanne_lauda@hotmail. com "r"
Valerie Swygert
803-215-1201 valerie@jasminefarm.com jasminefarm.com
Holly Spencer
803-648-8910 hollymacspencer@aol.com
ACUPUNCTURE
CHIROPRA a CTIC
MASSAGE
770-652-4926 equinemedicalassociates@ hotmail.com
770-713-6747 hbreauxdvm@gmail.com hbreauxdvm.com
404-645-4469
Jennifer Melcher
PEMF
Holly Breaux
Amanda Moretz
Samantha Bielawski
Julie Burns-Richards
Peri Lambros
Amandamoretzbodywork@ gmail.com amandamoretzbodywork.com
678-372-4105 silenthawkpemf@gmail.com
TRA a INING &
INSTRUCTION
Kim Abernathy
770-778-4067 kimfoxberry@gmail.com Foxberry-farm.com
770-375-5365 sam.silbyfram@gmail.com
Mary Bess Davis
706-338-7583 mb@triplecreekeventing.com triplecreekeventing.com
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Amanda Garner
404-401-5600 jlbrichards@hotmail.com
Marjolein Geven
404-245-6688 706-570-2323 amanda@epiphany-farm.com wgeven@hotmail.com epiphany-farm.com
GDCTA BUSINESS DIRECTORY TRA a INING &
INSTRUCTION
Werner Geven
Michelle Gibson
706-570-2323 wgeven@hotmail.com
678-575-7801
Carla Jimmerson
Mikensesy Johansen
Abigail Kroupa
Jodi Lees
404-421-0509 carlajimmerson@hotmail.com 561-284-3228 abigailkroupa@gmail.com www.EruditeEquestrian.com
864-921-1059 jodi@riversedgefarms.com riversedgefarms.com
Halliea Milner
Joanne Morse
404-538-5113 halliea@gowithitfarm.com gowithitfarm.com
770-313-6283 joannemorse1@yahoo.com
Leslie O'Neal-Olsen
Wolfgang Scherzer
770-826-9777 olsenleslie@yahoo.com
wolfszr101@gmail.com
Mary McGuire Smith
Diane Smith
772-473-0528 mary@iride.at iride.at
678-591-3932 tripleseventing@att.net
Valerie Swygert
VET SERVICES
706-587-1353 ltmikmed77@yahoo.com
Anneliese Vogt-Harber
803-215-1201 valerie@jasminefarm.com jasminefarm.com
404-218-2550 avharber@comcast.net vogtridingacademy.com
Holly Breaux
Diane Dunn
770-713-6747 hbreauxdvm@gmail.com hbreauxdvm.com
678-939-1269 ddunndpmv@gmail.com
Thompson & Associated Equine Medicine 770-862-9166 taembilling@gmail.com
VIDEOGRA a PHERS
WEBSITE DESIGN
Richard Taylor
404-308-8713 richardsequinevideo@gmail. com richardsequinevideo.com
Ainsley Jacobs
267-738-2134 ainsley.e.jacobs@gmail.com rideheelsdown.com
Mary Lou Freil
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770-330-2489 maryloufreil@gmail.com dressagesolutions.com
Barbara Handley
770-886-7575 blueghost43@icloud.com
Brittany Kart
229-938-1854 bkeventing@hotmail.com bkeventing.com
Leah Marks
678-641-3162 piaffe.paint@gmail.com
Miriam Offermanns
828-506-6876 miriam.lemnouni@gmail. com
Julie Shannon
770-317-3336 julie@shannondale.com shannondale.com
Kim Schisler Sosebee
678-575-5872 schislerkimberly@gmail. com
Jennifer Melcher
770-652-4926 equinemedicalassociates@hotmail.com
