October 2016 YourDressage

YOURDRESSAGE

October 2016

A Look at the Life of a Lady Farrier

A United States Dressage Federation Publication

Welcome to Your Wonderful World of Dressage YourDressage is compiled by the United States Dressage Federation, written by participants from throughout the dressage community. The articles in this publication are submitted by people like you to share and be shared by all. Experience their stories as they navigate through the wonderful world of dressage and become friends with your dressage community.

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October 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

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WHAT TO SEE INSIDE DEPARTMENTS TIME TO RIDE: Journey Journal Nancy DeMaeyer tells us of her journey to a USDF Adult Clinic.

ENGAGEMENT: A New Tool for the Toolbox Clara Etzel participates in Part 1 of the USDF L Education Program.

YOUNG & INSPIRED: Ode to a Retiring Schoolie Sarah Reega has learned what it means to be part of an intercollegiate team.

HEARD AROUND THE ARENA: At the 2016 Great American/ USDF Regional Championships Competitors got on social media to share their experiences USDF FLASHBACK: A Look Back at the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® A short look back at the history of the competition GMO SPOTLIGHT: Kentucky Dressage Association, Inc. Take a look at this group member orginization.

COVER STORY Forging Ahead: An interview with a female farrier Sarah Azbill has been shoeing horses for 16 years. She shares her experiences as a female farrier, in the predominantly male trade.

FEATURE Road To The Finals Jennifer Keeler concludes her three-part series sharing three riders’ journeys to attempt to compete at this year’s US Dressage Finals.

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MY TIME TO RIDE

Journey Journal

By Nancy DeMaeyer My 12-year-old Danish Warmblood, Fellini, and I recently embarked on an exciting journey.

I bought Fellini about a year and a half ago, and we are still in the process of getting to know one another. He is beginning to trust me in new situations, and I admire that in him. I know that, once I have that trust, we will be a great team. So, I decided to work on our trust, communication, and teamwork by attending a USDF Adult Clinic with Kathy Connelly and Betsy Steiner. Here is the recollection of our journey.

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hursday was travel day. We trailered from Lexington, KY, to Wadsworth, IL, to take part in the USDF Adult Clinic at Tempel Farms. I was very excited to work with Kathy Connelly and Betsy Steiner. They both have exemplary reputations, knowledge, and experience. Of course, this was also very intimidating, putting oneself out there to be watched by these

clinicians and many auditors. I wanted both Fellini and I to be at our best so those watching could get the most out of their experience, as well as for our benefit.

Friday was the day for Fellini to recover from the eight hours he spent in the trailer, and get used to his new surroundings.

Later that afternoon, we had a quick warm-up and assessment session with Kathy and Betsy.

The riders came into the arena in groups of three and were asked to walk, trot, and canter. If the clinicians liked what they saw, the rider was excused. Fellini and I passed. He was definitely forward, since he’d been standing around all day and was raring to go. This was also a chance for the riders to become familiar with each other. That night, we all went home to rest and prepare for the next day.

It rained hard Friday night, leading to a very hot and humid Saturday. Thanks to all the rain, the round pen was very sloppy, and I had just a short warm-up

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MY TIME TO RIDE

before my first lesson with Betsy.

She quickly honed in on my body position, and we worked on some great exercises to get Fellini forward into the bit using my back, seat, and leg. No pulling allowed, not even a little! She was so good at picking out my tiniest flaws that kept me from getting the most from my horse. Her exercises made Fellini very happy and cooperative. Its funny how that works, going back to the basics!

I was so afraid I would be intimidated by the audience, but it turned out not to be a problem at all. I was so focused on what we were accomplishing that I didn’t have time to give anyone else a single thought. I left the arena with a big smile on my face, not because I had done so well, but because I had learned so much. I couldn’t wait for the next session.

That night, the whole group of riders, trainers, and volunteers went out to dinner together. It was nice getting to know everyone better. They were all very accomplished inside and outside Nancy with her family

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MY TIME TO RIDE

the world of dressage. Earlier that day, one of the auditors had asked if there was going to be a long-lining demonstration, and Kathy tactfully explained the clinic was focused on riders. However, at dinner, I let her know that I had my long-lining equipment with me, and since Kathy had previously worked with Fellini on the long-lines, she felt comfortable doing a brief demo with him during my ride time. It was simply a great evening, and I was really looking

forward to the next morning.

I got to the barn early Sunday morning. I wanted to walk Fellini before the sessions started, and didn’t want to miss a thing. There was a good variation of training levels, so each rider seemed to be working on something different.

Although, I must say we all got a good dose of correcting body position. After our previous conversation the night before, Kathy did a brief long-lining demo with Fellini, in the beginning of my riding session. I think the audi-

tors were quite impressed with her skill and what she can, with her gentle technique, get in return from the horse. After the demo, my lesson consisted of moving my horse forward into the bridle with soft hands, using my leg and seat. It was inspiring, and the additional long-line session only enhanced our lesson, and was of great benefit for the communication between Fellini and I. The weekend ended with all the riders promising to keep in touch. We all connected at some level, and all the riders helped each other. This sport is not about being better than someone else, it’s about being better than you were yesterday, and everyone displayed this attitude all weekend. It was an honor to ride with Kathy and Betsy, as well as among riders trying to improve themselves and their horses. After a weekend of inspiration, I returned home with a new commitment to this wonderful sport called dressage.

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ENGAGEMENT

A New Tool for the Toolbox

By Clara Etzel

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an you pinpoint the most transformational dressage experience you’ve had? Take a moment to think about what that experience would be for you.

Maybe it was a clinic or symposium, a lesson or series of lessons with an instructor, or perhaps a competition where everything “clicked” for you and your horse?

That experience for me, as a rider and competitor, was participating in Part 1 of the USDF L Education Program. I can honestly say that it made me more equipped to assess horse and rider pairs, from Training through Second Level.

As a USDF Silver and Bronze medalist, British Horse Society Assistant Instructor (BHSAI), and trainer for the past six years, I am confident in my dressage knowledge and skills. I know I can accurately execute a leg yield as the rider. However, Part 1 has given me a toolbox of word descriptors to verbalize how a

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ENGAGEMENT

movement should be executed, as well as provide an appropriate score for a movement. This has also given me a new perspective, through which to judge horse and rider pairs.

Even though I’m from Michigan, I chose to participate in the program on the other side of the country through Central Arizona Riding Academy (CARA), for a few reasons. It was accepting applicants when I was looking to join, it offered both Part 1 and 2 (I wanted to complete both parts back-to-back)it was held in an area where I knew no participants or demo horse/rider pairs,

and, best of all, the sessions were held in January, February, and April, which were ideal times for me to get out of the cold Michigan winter! It was a win-win.

The faculty for the L Program are all active USEF ‘S’ Judges, so I learned from experts who have years of experience. CARA’s organizer, Dorie Vlatten-Schmitz, happens to be a USEF ‘S’ Judge herself, so often times our group had not only our L Faculty, but also Dorie to provide additional commentary. Our L Faculty included Lois Yukins (Session A, judging), Joan Darnell (Session B, evaluating gaits and paces) and Axel Steiner (Session C, assessing the collective marks). Also, USEF ‘S’ Judge Beverly Rogers (AZ) was present to help keep the slides moving for the classroom presentations, and to offer additional comments during the demo rides.

We split our time between the classroom, listening to lectures, and the arena, watching demo horse and riders complete part and full tests up to Second Level.

Our time in the classroom was spent having deep conversations October 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

ENGAGEMENT

about glossary terms and scoring.

Videos were frequently used as well, to give us a visual representation of movements. After watching the riding demos, we were asked to give scores out loud for movements and collective marks.

I highly recommend this program to anyone. If you are a competitor, breeder, owner, or partner or spouse of someone who is dressage crazy, Part 1 of the USDF L Education Program is for you! And even if you aren’t sure you want to be a participant, that’s okay, you can be a silent auditor for all three sessions.

Thanks to Part 1, I have a more sophisticated eye and a better understanding of how to judge movements - a new tool for the toolbox. I also met a great new group of dressage people, a mix of adult amateurs and pros from across the country. It was a great experience, and I cannot wait to continue on in the program!

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YOUNG & INSPIRED

Ode to a Retiring Schoolie

By Sarah Reega Over the last few years, I’ve learned that being part of an intercollegiate team means being part of a family. The University of New Hampshire (UNH) Equestrian Team is a family, made up of the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) Team and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Team. Our barn is our home, and barn members and our fans are part of our family. Our “show moms” (and dads, friends, and significant others) are invaluable members of our family. They make us macaroni and cheese to sell for fundraising, they bring pizza to shows in the middle of the winter, and they hold our whips as we switch from rider to rider and horse to horse in quick succession. Being from Colorado, I have a large appreciation for everything my team family does.

However, the most important Sarah and Ruggles

component of our team is our family of horses. I am fortunate and privileged enough to attend a university, which owns and leases horses, with full equine facilities on campus. Schools that host intercollegiate shows often lease a private facility or borrow privately owned horses, but our school horses and our barns are part of the university itself. Our school horses are mostly older souls who find their way to us after successful competitive careers.

There are many horses who have greatly affected my intercollegiate dressage career thus far, but one special horse stands apart from the rest. Ruggles, also known as Monhegan, was the first horse I was put on in my Advanced Dressage Horsemanship class, and he helped me navigate the intercollegiate riding setting. He was shown up to Intermediate I in his glory days, which is far above the level we school in intercollegiate dressage (and I may or may not have asked him to passage a few times

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YOUNG & INSPIRED

over the years despite that fact).

His spirit does not match his age, and he still capable of showing off his schoolmaster skills when a riding student asks correctly.

If there was an intercollegiate dressage award for school horses, the UNH Equestrian Team would have been proud to honor him with it. Ruggles has changed me as a dressage rider and as an equine studies student, and I will miss him as he leaves UNH for retirement.

We ask a lot of our school horses, as they must be proficient in dressage and jumping, and may also be used for our therapeutic riding program. At intercollegiate dressage shows, these horses are typically ridden by four different riders in one day.

A rider from the host university warms up a horse they’re familiar with, and then three different riders ride the same dressage test, on the same horse, in quick succession. Each of the three riders gets a timed ten-minute warm-up on a horse they’ve probably never sat on before, and then they enter

the ring to perform an Introductory to First Level test. This level of work is significant for our

mounts, physically and mentally.

Managing different riders, with different abilities and aids, is a lot

of stimulation that most privately owned horses wouldn’t be able to handle successfully. It takes

UNH IDA at University of Maine, Spring 2016.

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YOUNG & INSPIRED

a special type of horse to make an intercollegiate mount, and I count Ruggles as one of them.

Ruggles will be returning to his owner’s home in New York at the end of the spring semester.

UNH was fortunate enough to have had him for a number of years as a free lease, and he has done everything that was asked of him. From teaching beginner walk-trot riders, to helping riders navigate their first cross country experience, to being one of the most dependable horses at our intercollegiate shows, Ruggles has earned his happy retirement.

Saying goodbye to school favorites is always difficult, but the lessons learned on him will carry on, through the students he has taught over the years.

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Sarah Skye Twinng University of Rhode Island Fall 2015 show

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FORGING AHEAD An interview with a female farrier

Farrier Sarah Azbill

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arah Azbill holds a Masters in Farrier Science from the Oklahoma Farrier’s College and a Bachelors in Equine Science from Michigan State University. She has been shoeing horses for 16 years and counting. She eagerly agreed to share her experiences as a female farrier, in the predominantly male trade.

Start at the beginning—how long have you been working with horses? What is your background?

I started taking lessons at ten years old. I started riding dressage at the age of thirteen. Being so young, I had a hard time with focusing on such demanding requirements to score well on dressage tests. So, I changed focus to jumping, though I quickly found out that a solid understanding of dressage is still needed to make it across a course. I competed in the hunter circuits through college, until I outgrew my mount. I couldn’t afford my next level horse, so I bred my mare to the Dutch Warmblood stallion, Argus. This cross

resulted in a very talented young colt named Brandon RF. While he has the scope to jump, I decided to focus only on dressage and, with the help of a very special trainer, we are getting him ready for Prix St. George this year. Unfortunately, I am not riding as consistently as I would like because I am very busy with my clients’ horses. I plan on getting back in the game in the future, and hope to compete in-hand at more breed shows.

When did you know that you wanted to be a farrier? What was your motivation?

My quest to be a farrier was quite interesting. I was having a hard time getting a farrier to shoe my show horses, and with the costly expense of having three horses showing in full sets, I decided to turn my dilemma around.

My thirst for equine knowledge led me to Michigan State University (MSU), to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Equine Science with a minor in Science. I was on Sarah and Brandon RF

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MSU’s equine judging team, and during the summer I would attend Oklahoma Farrier’s College.

Even though I looked into several schools, I still picked Oklahoma Farrier’s College since it had a strong reputation and offered the longest program. I chose the long program because I wanted to learn about the “hard cases” in shoeing.

School was mentally and physically difficult with long hours, cuts on my hand so bad that they would hurt in the shower, and big bruises on my thighs, but I toughed it out. I was the only girl in a group of fourteen, so I felt I had to be just as tough as the guys.

When I graduated, my first client was my college friend’s warmblood. I was 21 years old. Back then, I didn’t realize that I was setting myself up to be such a knowledgeable equine professional.

How did you grow your reputation in the dressage world?

My reputation really began to grow when I was competing. I remember one show where the Before and after

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judges were commenting on how nice my horse’s feet were. I was really happy with those comments since I was the one doing the farrier work.

What made you specialize in sport horses?

Since I was already in the industry of sport horses, it was easy. However, I don’t limit my practice to just dressage or sport horses. My practice includes competition, dressage, eventing, driving, and endurance horses, to name a few.

What is your favorite part about your job? Least favorite?

My favorite part is the challenge of getting the horse set up right and watching the horse successfully climb the levels at the shows. My least favorite part is when there is a lameness that I cannot help with, or the loss of a horse. I get attached to my clients’ horses, and I believe we (the client, horse, and vet) are a team.

Smoke from hot shoeing

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What are some of the difficulties you’ve faced?

The biggest difficulty was trying to fit in. I know I’m not a guy, but I wanted the respect from my colleagues, and that meant being tough like a guy. That was and is a more difficult challenge than getting client business.

At first a lot of people were surprised, even shocked. I was afraid to put my first name on my business cards because I didn’t want potential clients to shy away just because I was a girl. I knew when a potential client would call and ask to speak to the farrier, I would have to say, “You are speaking to her.”

In your experience, how do I would ask the client a lot of people react to women farriers (ie. questions to figure out what isimpressed, surprised, indifferent)? sues where going on with their

horses. After that, anyone who spoke with me could figure out that I knew what I was talking about. Many who saw me first as a farrier would ask how it was possible for me to do such work, since I am 5 ft. 10 in. and 138lbs.

I told them “You don’t have to muscle a horse into being trimmed or shod.” I feel it’s all about the training, and asking them to perform a task without hesitation or misbehavior.

Do you think that the farrier profession is becoming more accepting to women farriers?

Women have been shoeing before my time, but it was extremely rare. Now I see more women getting started in the field, and time will tell if they have what it takes to continue professionally. Plain and simple, it is a tough job with long hours that is physically and mentality challenging. The farrier community seems to be changing as well. I know the phrase “You shoe like a girl” was a joke that was always circulating around. While that phrase never offended me, it drove me to be more like “one of the guys.” Now we have a few really accomplished female farriers out there and the community is very accepting of them.

What are some of the triumphs you’ve experienced?

I am proud to shoe some top show horses. I have shod for top ten halter horses, APHA world Shoes in the forge

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horses, international FEI endurance horses, FEI driving horses, Young Rider mounts, Grand Prix dressage horses, and Grand Prix jumpers. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would have been able to work with such highly accomplished competition horses, trainers, and owners.

What is the most common question you receive from your clients?

Most of my client questions are hoof and performance related, but the most frequently asked question is typically “Do you have time to do more?” (Laughs) What is the one piece of advice you would give your clients?

Ask questions! You, the horse, and your farrier are a team. The more you communicate, the better everyone understands.

It’s imperative to keeping your horse’s feet balanced, healthy, and at proper angles. As the saying goes, “No foot, no horse.”

What is the one thing you would tell someone who wants to be a farrier?

Oh, there is not just one thing.

It’s a tough but rewarding job, and no matter how long or how much you know, you never stop learning about this profession. When I graduated from farrier school, Bud Beaston (Head Instructor of Oklahoma Farrier’s College and Master Farrier) handed me a box of very large aluminum horse shoes and said to me, “One day you will become a Class A shoer.”

At the time I thought it was because I graduated top of my class, but now I know what he really meant. I never thought I would have the chance to shoe such incredible horses, and I’m proud to be doing so well in a maledominant profession.

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Halt and Salute

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gear up for the

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Road To The Finals

By Jennifer M. Keeler We finish our stories following three riders through their attempt at qualifying and going to the the 2016 US Dressage Finals presented by AdequanÂŽ at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Amy Paterson with trainer Melissa Allen, Cindy Olson, and Lysa Hodgson

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Ride of Redemption Amy Paterson and Wies V/D Klumpert Region 4

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s Amy Paterson set out on her six-hour trek to Mason City, IA, for the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 4 Championships on September 8-11, all she could see were ominous skies on the horizon.

News from Paterson’s trainer Melissa Allen, who was already at the show, wasn’t any more promising: heavy rain had already forced cancellation of part of the show. But the reassuring voice of Siri coming through Paterson’s iPhone promised that sunshine would make a triumphant return for the weekend, so Paterson pressed on. She had no choice, since competing at Regionals was Paterson’s only chance to earn an invitation to return to the US Dressage Finals in Kentucky with her Dutch mare Wies V/D Klumpert.

Paterson was traveling to Iowa with her mother Angela for support since her husband Doug was away. “Doug ‘accidentally’

Amy and her mom

scheduled his annual guy’s weekend over Regionals so he wasn’t able to make the trip to cheer me on,” she laughed. “But before he left, I was afraid he’d jinxed me: once he found out I was the only Adult Amateur competing in the championship Grand Prix classes, he started to say I was a lock for Kentucky. Fortunately, I stopped him before he opened Pandora’s Box and tempted fate! These are horses after all, and there is never any guarantee Murphy’s Law won’t rear its ugly head and prevent us from qualifying for Finals!”

Paterson wasn’t taking any chances. With people stationed around the competition arena to remind her to drop her whip and to attend the awards ceremony on time, she avoided any eliminations. Both Paterson and her Find out more about the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® here

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mount stayed healthy and sound (“I even fit into my white breeches, which is always a success!”), and the weather did not wreck any further havoc on the show schedule. In fact, Siri did not lie as by the time Paterson rode her Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday afternoon, the weather was truly beautiful and the rings had mostly dried out, setting the stage for Paterson’s big moment. “Wie was really with me during my ride, and we hit almost all of our marks with the music (Rhianna’s ‘Diamonds’ and Adele’s ‘Set Fire to the Rain’),” said Paterson. “I was so flattered when a rider came up to me and said our ride was inspirational! I don’t think I did much inspiring of people last year when I showed, so that was really nice to hear! When a freestyle works, people really feel it – it’s what makes them so special.”

Paterson and her mount earned a 70.375% for first place in the class, successfully punching their first ticket to Kentucky.

Sunday dawned spectacularly Amy with her trainer, Melissa Allen

for Paterson’s second class, the Grand Prix Adult Amateur Region 4 Championship. With Wie giving Paterson the feeling she was looking for in the warm-up, she was antsy to get in the arena before her mare’s “balloon of good energy” deflated. “I didn’t want to leave anything in the warmup, but I shouldn’t have worried,” Paterson explained. “Not only did our balloon not deflate, but a procession in honor of September 11th consisting of emergency first responder vehicles with sirens fully blaring and what must have been about a hundred motorcycles roared down the busy street next to the show grounds during my test. As I’m going down centerline to the sound of sirens and roaring motorcycles, all I could think of was that I was so glad I was riding the trained 13-year-old version of Wie and not the wild six-year-old model!” Despite the distraction, the pair persevered and Paterson came out of the ring with a big smile on her face, with the “best feeling in a test I have ever had on her – I felt like it was a 90%!” The official recorded score which took

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into account some minor mistakes made was 67.750%, good enough for another win and second consecutive Finals invitation.

Interestingly, Paterson reported that both of her classes were judged by Kristi Wysocki and Natalie Lamping, who between the two of them have judged her at a championship show a total of nine times throughout the years.

“Kristi saw us at our very first outing eight years ago at a local breed show where Wie almost bucked me off while schooling during the lunch break,” Paterson remembered. “They are judges I greatly respect, and I knew they would give me a true barometer of where we are in our training – but kind of like asking my mom if she likes your haircut, you better be ready for a true answer! But Kristi wrote on my Grand Prix test that it has been an honor to watch the development of Wie through the years. Her comment brought tears to my eyes, and has made me reflect on the amazing journey I have been on with this horse.”

Amy and Kristi Wysocki

Now in post-championship celebration mode, Paterson is also taking a small break from the saddle – and her diet (“I don’t have to wear white breeches again for two months, so for now I am eating pizza!”). But she needs no reminder to keep her game face on and an eye on her goal: a good showing at the Finals. “I just want to come out of the Alltech Arena this time with a smile on my face knowing I had done the best I could do,” Paterson said.

“That will be the best ‘ribbon’ of all.” Will Paterson achieve her goal with a ride of redemption at the Finals? Be sure to watch all of USDF’s coverage of the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® to find out!

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From Ranch Life to Equestrian Paradise Cindy Olson and Pikko del Rio Region 3

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he week before their biggest show of the year, pediatrician Cindy Olson and her 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding Pikko del Rio weren’t thinking much about dressage. They were trying to survive the wrath of Hurricane Matthew as the Category 4 storm barreled towards their home in Wellington, FL. Thankfully the winter equestrian paradise was spared the worst of the storm, and as the rain clouds parted the pair began their 10-hour journey to Conyers, GA, to join 510 other competitors for the Great American/ USDF Region 3 Championships.

Together Olson and Rio competed at the inaugural 2013 US Dressage Finals at Training Level and then returned a year later at Second, and after a summer devoted to training were now

Cindy Olson competes in Conyers, GA.

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hoping to earn one of the final group of invitations for Kentucky, this time at Third Level.

“The venue at the Georgia International Horse Park was lovely, and the organizers and volunteers of the show deserve a big thanks for all of their efforts,” said Olson.

“It was a picture perfect few days and I did remember to take a moment to look around and enjoy the moment. Despite the long trip and our harrowing week leading up to the show, Rio was happy and energetic and he behaved perfectly at the show.”

On Thursday the pair enjoyed a solid performance in their Third Level warm-up test, followed by their Third Level Adult Amateur Championship Test on Friday. “We rode a clean test and received a 61.7% score, placing

somewhere in the middle of the pack of about 35 riders,” Olson explained. “So unfortunately we did not qualify for the Finals this time, but I was very happy with our test and all the progress we are making.”

Although disappointed to not be returning to Lexington this year, Olson is already looking forward to trying again in 2017.

“Now I have my qualifying scores for next year’s Regional Championships which will be closer to home in Wellington, so I’m excited to try for the Finals again.

It’s been a lot of fun sharing my story and I wish everyone best of luck in Kentucky this year!”

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Nov. 10-13, 2016 Kentucky Horse Park

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Nervous Nellies UNITE! Lysa Hodgson and The Usual Suspect Region 1

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fter months of preparation, anxiety, and perseverance, Lysa Hodgson of Aberdeen, NC, and her PMU rescue The Usual Suspect (“Bogey”) were finally on their way to the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 1 Championships, held September 15-18. “I always feel a little out of place with Bogey at big shows, but we had been working hard and we had every right to be there along with everyone else,” said Hodgson.

“As intimidating as they can be, I also find these shows to be inspiring. There are lots of big names running around and it’s always interesting to see how they operate their barns and school their horses. I gain more respect for some and lose respect for others based on their behind-the-scenes activities, but in general it’s an exciting environment and I go home determined to double my efforts.”

While Hodgson was off to a good start in that she was already

Lysa and her horse The Usual Suspect with their fifth place ribbon.

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familiar with the Senator Bob Martin Eastern Ag Center in Williamston, NC, and felt comfortable showing there, she still had plenty of other things to be anxious about.

“My concerns for this show in particular were two-fold: we had to arrive on Wednesday so we could compete in a practice freestyle test on Thursday, and then we had championship classes on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That’s five days away from home and five days in a stall for Bogey who is used to having 24/7 access to his pasture, not to mention that he’s so big he barely fits in the stalls. But secondly, we had to ride in the dreaded indoor, where we have not had good experiences in the past!”

Hodgson’s neighbor, Heather Mehal of Big Dog Stables, was at the show for coaching until Saturday, and she helped keep both Hodgson and Bogey focused on the task at hand. “Bogey can be very explosive and anxious in the warm-up, yet he seems to attract Lysa and her horse competing at the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 1 Championships Photo by High Time Photography

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the badly behaving youngsters, the FEI horse doing exuberant tempi’s towards us, and someone always feels the need to practice their medium canter coming up behind us. But thank goodness Wednesday’s schooling ride, with Heather coaching, was uneventful.”

But on Thursday the pair wasn’t so lucky, and found themselves having to contend with an issue that so many competitors have to try to find a way to cope with at shows: rude behavior in the warm-up. “We were getting ready for our practice freestyle test in the indoor, and I was a nervous wreck,” Hodgson explained. “We had to warm-up in one of the open schooling rings as opposed to the more controlled and less populated championship warm-up rings. I was clearly a nervous adult amateur about to show, riding an obviously anxious horse with a red ribbon in his tail. At first when I saw only one other rider out there, I thought it was my lucky day. This Lysa and her horse The Usual Suspect taking a victory lap.

Photo by High Time Photography

rider was a professional dressed in schooling attire, and it’s a large warm up ring, so I thought it would be perfect. I would hug my little 15-meter circle in the corner and he could have the other huge part of the ring. But nope. I finally had to say something when he kept cantering very close up behind Bogey, who was getting increasingly frazzled.

“Me: Hi, my horse can be really explosive in the warm-up.

“Pro: Oh, you don’t know explosive!

“Me: Great! Then I’ll just stay down in this little corner and you can have the rest, sound good?

“Pro: No, I’ll be using the whole ring!

“And he did, and I was really disappointed because it was just blatantly rude and unsportsmanlike. I completely understand that my anxiety is not his problem, but it wouldn’t have killed him to Find out more about the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® here

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keep a little distance from us for 10 minutes. We went in the scary indoor and had a terrible test. But we survived.”

Following the disastrous start, now Hodgson had to face her first Regional Championship freestyle championship ride on Friday. She had two choices: be filled with pure dread, or take the unusual stance (for her) of being MORE confident because she and Bogey had survived the previous day’s debacle. “I took the bull by the horns and decided to be confident,” she explained. “The warm-up was just fine, and everyone played nice and genuinely wanted to see each other do well. I’ve never actually been able to keep my brain together in that indoor arena in the past – it usually turns to mush and I stop riding and stop thinking and I generally fall apart. But not this time!

I rode that horse of mine and he stepped up and made it happen! I was so proud of us!”

Hodgson’s new “can-do” attitude paid off. Competing in the combined First Level Freestyle division (including Open riders, Adult Amateurs, and Juniors/

Young Riders), the pair not only earned their very first Regional Championship ribbon for fifth place, but their 68.680% score easily earned them a wild card invitation for the US Dressage Finals.

“We finally did it! We’re going to Kentucky!” she exclaimed. “The only downside was I then had to do an awards ceremony…..in the indoor….with clapping and loud music and other horses. Yes, I know you don’t HAVE to do the awards ceremony if you get permission ahead of time to miss it, but I promised myself that if ever had the opportunity I would do it.

Heather walked with me and stood there until it was time for the victory lap, and Bogey was awesome!

He really took care of me.”

Saturday was the pair’s Training Level Adult Amateur Championship, and Hodgson couldn’t help but be impressed by what she saw. “There were some phenomenal horses in that ring! I almost turned around and asked where the Intro classes were being held,” she laughed. “We put Lysa starting her training level test

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Bogey is on his way to Kentucky!

in an accurate but lackluster test as Bogey was feeling the effects of what was then our fourth day of being at the show.” Hodgson didn’t hold out much hope, but not only was she surprised to see the results listing her as placing sixth in the huge class, but also earning another wild card score for the Finals. Her confidence was growing. “Of course, this accomplishment meant another awards ceremony, but this time I felt much better about the whole thing and Bogey knew the deal, so we did great,” she said.

By Sunday, many competitors had packed up to head home, and

Hodgson longed to do the same but one more championship First Level test awaited. “By now I was alone with only my husband to help me,” she explained. “Terry’s a great guy, but he’s not a horse person and certainly not a coach. I also knew I had a very tired horse and that didn’t bode well for our performance. But at the same time, it goes back to the idea of doing something until it’s boring or ho-hum, instead of scary, so I needed to give it a try. We were in a good position because we were already going to the Finals, and if Bogey was tired he was more likely to behave even if his perfor-

mance would be questionable.

“Since I didn’t have a coach now either, my husband strapped on a head-set and just kept repeating things he heard other trainers say to their students,” she continued. “That made me laugh and relax. Bogey actually felt pretty good in the warm-up, although the test itself wasn’t pretty. He ended up having a bolt/spook episode when one of the maintenance guys made a loud noise just outside the ring, but to Bogey’s credit, there was a lot of general commotion going on and he handled 99% of it really well. I was also proud of my reaction to his exuberance and my determination to just keep riding. We finished with a 62.5% which was disappointing, but at least it was high enough to count as a qualifying score for next year’s Regionals.”

By the end, Hodgson’s normally difficult-to-load horse practically jumped on the trailer to go home and enjoy a roll in his sand pit and sprawl out to sleep that night. “I almost hate to break it to him that because

he did so well he ‘gets’ to go on a long trailer ride, compete in a huge new environment, sleep in a tiny stall, and then go for another long trailer ride home. It still hasn’t sunk in that we actually did it, but I have officially entered the show, made hotel reservations, and secured time off from work.

The rest of the details I’ll have to work out in the coming weeks, but for now I just have to say that I’m proud to represent the ‘little people’ of our sport competing on a rescued draft cross, riding in a pasture with uneven ground, and training with people nobody has ever heard of…..but still earning our ticket to Kentucky!”

Stay tuned to USDF’s coverage of the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® to discover if Hodgson and Bogey will finally conquer their fears as they compete for the first time on the national stage in Lexington!

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HEARD AROUND THE ARENA

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Competitors at the Great American/USDF Regional Championships shared their experiences.

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USDF FLASHBACK

A Look Back at the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan¥

D

uring the 2011 Adequan®/ USDF Annual Convention presented by SmarkPak the USDF BOG voted in favor of a proposed national championship to begin in 2013. That year the first US Dressage Finals was held at the Kentucky Horse Park and for the last three years the event has grown to be one of the premier dressage events in the country.

Even though the history is still being made, let’s take a look back.

Photos by Susan J Stickle, Bob Tarr, and USDF staff.

Find out more about the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® here

The first US Dressage Finals Organizing Committee members George Williams, Debra Reinhardt, Monica Fitzgerald, Lloyd Landkamer, Janine Malone, and Kevin Bradbury

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USDF FLASHBACK

2013

In 2013, as the Prix St. Georges Adult Amateur Champion, Akiko Yamazaki on Matrix received the inaugural Janine Westmoreland Malone Perpetual Trophy, whose namesake (second from left) was on hand for the ceremony,

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2014

Adult-amateur competitor Janne Rumbough and her PRE gelding Junior captured the Grand Prix Adult Amateur Freestyle Championship title and the new Calaveras County Perpetual Trophy at the 2014 US Dressage Finals presented by AdequanÂŽ

Californians Adrienne Bessey and Dido went home with the Janine Westmoreland Malone Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the adult-amateur Prix St. Georges champion; and the Lloyd Landkamer Perpetual Trophy for the FEI highest-scoring mare

The US Dressage Finals presented by AdequanÂŽ are fast becoming a showcase for all breeds. The 2014 Grand Prix Freestyle open champion, North Forks Cardi, owned and ridden by Jessica Wisdom (WA), is a 15-hand, 13-year-old Welsh Cob stallion

Mule Heart B Dyna and owner/ rider Laura Hermanson wowed audiences at the Finals

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2015

Veronica Holt Perpetual Trophy: Holt’s daughter Sally Hayes holds the new trophy while current USDF Region 5 director Heather Petersen and USDF president George Williams look on

2015 US Dressage Finals Grand Prix Open champions William and Gwen Poulin

Miki Christophersen Perpetual Trophy: Honoring the late former USDF Region 4 director are her daughter, Cathy Hanna; son, Hunter Christophersen; widower, Ed Christophersen; and USDF president George Williams

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GMO SPOTLIGHT

Tell us about your GMO. #GMOSpotlight

Kentucky Dressage Association, Inc. (KDA) Group Member Organizations (GMOs) are the foundation of USDF and integral in bringing dressage and dressage education to the masses. Stay connected with your local dressage community and support dressage at the local level by joining a GMO in your area today!

USDF GMO Established: 1985 Locality: USDF Region 2, Kentucky Website: www.kentuckydressageassociation.com How many members does your GMO have annually, on average?

220 members.

Tell us a little about your GMO: The Kentucky Dressage Association recently celebrated our 30th Annual Spring Show, held at the Kentucky Horse Park. Thirty years, what an accomplishment! Our GMO is currently managed by a group of fourteen board members, who are passionate about serving our membership. Our priority is to educate and offer dressage shows and programs that will benefit our members. We proudly offer a $5000 grant to an up-and-coming junior/young rider in serious pursuit of the North American Junior/Young Rider Championships each year, three $750 Adult Amateur Scholarships, one $750 Professional Scholarship, a $750 Young Rider Scholarship for young riders between the ages 14 and 21, and a College Scholarship. Our volunteers, members, and non-members alike are the backbone of our organization. They provide staffing for all of our shows and clinics, allowing us to make the money required to put back into our programs.

KDA has become adept at managing a variety of shows including 3* CDIs held at the Kentucky Horse Park, the Festival of Champions, and the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 2 Championships, in addition to our annual May shows. We have undertaken a new partnership with the National Dressage Pony Cup (NDPC) in July, which brings the element of ponies into the mix, while serving a new faction of our dressage community. We offer schooling shows

in different locations within the state to service another segment of our membership. KDA has taken on the task of offering breed shows, and recently hosted the Great American Insurance Group/USDF North Central Breeders Championship Series Final this fall. In the past several years, we have partnered with the Central Kentucky Ride for Hope (CKRH), to provide dressage classes for their participants at our shows. CKRH is a local non-profit, whose mission is to enrich the community by improving the quality of life and health of individuals with special physical, cognitive, emotional, or social needs through therapeutic activities with the horse.

In response to the loss of one of our members, and others who are fighting against cancer, KDA created a 5k and 10k charity walk/fun run in conjunction with our shows. All proceeds are donated to the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center for research to find a cure. We also provide an e-newsletter, which is published six times per year for our membership.

Does your GMO offer unique classes or activities that cater to youth, adult amateurs, or professionals? If so, please provide a brief description.

Angela Hecker Jackson helped coach the Region 2 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships team in Colorado this year. This spring, we provided a clinic with Angela for young riders.

We also offer a clinic with Gwen Poulin aimed at our youth, but all are welcome to participate. Please see below for our clinic series, which attempts to fulfill the needs of all of our members.

What type of educational events does your GMO offer?

We offer a clinic series each year, which changes with the demands of the membership. This series includes dressage trainers for both October 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

GMO SPOTLIGHT adults and young riders, at all levels, an eventing trainer, and upper and lower level trainers for amateurs and pros alike. This year, our panel of clinicians included Angela Hecker Jackson, Caroline Roffman, Gwen Poulin, and Susan BeeBee. We recently had the distinct privilege of hosting a clinic with Olympic Silver Medalist and Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame Inductee Hilda Gurney, which sold out in six hours. Hilda was here to judge our Great American Insurance Group/USDF North Central Breeders Championship Series Final and graciously agreed to teach a clinic. She attracted a myriad of riders, which included young riders, professionals, and adult amateurs of all ages and abilities. She was an exceptional clinician, and all of the participants were thrilled to receive her instruction.

What type of “fun” events does your GMO offer?

In the past, KDA has offered adult dressage camps, with overnight stays. A recent survey at our annual awards banquet found that many of our members would like to try a Hunter Pace or Hilltopping event.

Hopefully, we can work something into our busy schedule next year.

Our themed annual awards banquet is always a fun time for all of our members who are able to participate.

In an attempt to draw in members who might not normally show, we offer Western Dressage classes at our schooling shows and para-equestrian, eventing, and CKRH classes at our smaller, relaxed fall show.

Additional Comments: If that sounds like it’s a lot of work, you’re right. But we have an amazing group of hard working individuals who love horses, and have found common ground to work together to improve lives. We believe in the benefit of proper training, for ourselves and our horses. It’s not always peaches and cream behind the scenes in an ambitious GMO like the KDA. Our mission is to promote and strengthen the art and sport of dressage in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. KDA provides leadership to its members, to assist them in fostering individual and collective growth by providing education, publications, competitions, and exhibitions, while increasing general public awareness for the sport of dressage.

Visit www.usdf.org for a list of GMOs in your area.

GMO

Support dressage and connect with your local dressage community by joining a USDF Group Member Organization today!

October 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

We Want Your Story

Learn More About Dressage

YourDressage is a chance to share your story with the dressage community. Send submissions to epubs@usdf.org.

We will need photos to go with the story, with a preference for candid shots that are clear and well composed. Please submit photos as JPEG formatted files. Also, if you have any video(s) that we can use, related to your story, make sure to include their hyperlinks.

Have questions about dressage and the United States Dressage Federation, use the following links to learn more.

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usdf.org/education/youth.asp youth@usdf.org

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Group Member Organizations Find a GMO in your region

Note: USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear Search for a GMO by zip code when mounted. For complete rules regarding helmets refer to the gmo@usdf.org USEF Rule Book. Click here.

Disclaimer: The United States Dressage Federation does not guarantee that all submitted stories will be published. Any opinions expressed in the pages of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Dressage Federation

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