YOURDRESSAGE
September 2017 Road to the Finals: For Patricia McVary Age is not an Obstacle
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. It’s YourDressage, be part of it! If you would like to submit your story see the last page of this publication.
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The 2017 USDF Online Stallion Guide is now LIVE! This annual online stallion guide is released by the United States Dressage Federation for the dressage community. The guide is available both through the USDF website and the USDF app. Featured article this year is, “The Hottest Bloodlines in Rio” which looks at what sport-horse pedigrees were represented in the 2016 Olympics. We continue our look at breeding statistics from USDF’s major championships, adding Great American/USDF Regional Championshps. Once again we have the “Index of Progeny for Advertised Stallions,” which includes progeny that have ranked 1-100 in Adequan®/USDF Year-End Awards. It also includes horses that have placed in US Dressage Finals, Great American/USDF Regional 2017 USDF Championships, and Great Online Stallion Guide American/USDF Breeders Championships from 2009-2016. This guide contains interactive links to give you all the information you need to make a favorable breeding decision. Whether interested in breeding, or looking for a breeder with offspring already on the ground, this is a great way to learn more about dressage breeders throughout North America.
The Hottest Bloodlines in Rio
Trending Stallions in the Sport Horse Arena: USDFBC Statistics
Pursit of Excellence: Regional Championship Statistics
Finals by the Numbers: US Dressage Finals Statistics
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Give us your feedback. #yourdressage
WHAT TO SEE INSIDE DEPARTMENTS HORSE TALES: A Difficult Beau Andrea Lewis tells her story of Beau, a difficult horse that taught her more than she could ever have imagined. YOUNG & INSPIRED: My Experience with the USDF Junior/Young Rider Program Catherine Chamberlain became involved in dressage at an early age. She found that participating in the USDF Junior/Young Rider program put her on the right track. MY TIME TO RIDE: Fjord Entertainment Lori La Mattina found her riding partner in a Norweign Fjord named Rudi. For her, showing a Fjord in dressage has been a wonderful experience. HEARD AROUND THE ARENA: Disaster Relief The horse community bans together in the face of several natural disasters around the country USDF FLASHBACK: Maj. Gen. Guy V. Henry Jr. He was one of the most influential names in shaping not only the Army's horsemanship of the day, but also the success of the US Army Olympic equestrian teams. GMO SPOTLIGHT: Wisonsin Dressage & Combined Training Association (WDCTA) Take a look at this group member organization.
COVER STORY - ROAD TO THE FINALS Age is Just a Number
Patricia MacVary may be an older rider but age is just a number when it comes to the US Dressage Finals, and she wasn't going to let that stand in the way of her dreams. September 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE
HORSE TALES
A Difficult Beau By Andrea Lewis
T
hey say you learn the most from a difficult horse. In my opinion, this is so true. In January of 2006, I purchased a one and one-half-yearold Oldenburg gelding named Beaumont as my future event horse, and our adventure began. He had to learn all the basics that a “going” horse usually knows – how to cross-tie, pick up feet, be brushed, fly spray, etc. At three years old, I took Beaumont to school at Woody Green Training Stables, and to be ridden for the first time. After a while, we were able to enjoy long rides in the mountains and hotdogs over campfires, in between the spins and bolting that occurred when we came upon streams or cows. The final part of preparation, for show warm ups and being ready to begin event training, was attending calf roping night in an indoor ring with jingling spurs, ropes swinging, and horses chasing down
cows. I worked with Beaumont on listening to my aids and to stand, despite what was going on or what just ran in front of him. I figured this was great training for our future eventing career. Eventually, the rides became less dramatic and more relaxing for both of us. When Beau was four, we started on our eventing and dressage journey. Within a year, even though we had some great moments, it became very obvious we should narrow our focus to a dressage-only career. So, we entered our first USDF-recognized show and won the High Point Training Level awards with a 76%, earning a place on the Utah Dressage Society’s perpetual trophy. As I continued to look for ways to help understand Beau’s unique personality and quirks, I found Janet and Cliff Tipton at Flying T Acres. They were willing to help create activities to improve my relationship with Beau, and worked on teaching me how
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HORSE TALES
to long-line him, which came in handy while working on teaching Beau to piaffe. I learned how to turn Beau’s spooking and skittish moments into opportunities to improve his confidence by rewarding him for every try, every step towards the scary object, or any indication of relaxing after being upset. As an adult amateur, who works full time and does not have their horse in training, I increased the times I worked with my coaches, Gary and Jan Lawrence from Millbrook Farms, to two or three lessons per week. In order to keep Beau busy, and focused on his work, we quickly moved up the levels to Intermediate in our sixth show season, earning scores up to 68%. We also started working on our musical freestyle, debuting our first one at Intermediate. Last year, we took a step back to compete at Fourth Level, to pick up scores for our USDF Silver Freestyle Bar. I have to say, the process of creating and competing in a musical
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September 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE
gear up for the freestyle is a tremendously fun experience! We are currently working to be ready to show Grand Prix. I know it may take a little longer than some to get there, since I am teaching my horse certain movements at the same time I am learning to ride them. However, I’m proud of the fact that Beau has only been taught by my aids. It is an amazing feeling to get fifteen one-tempis for the first time as a rider, on a horse that just got fifteen one-tempis for the first time as well. We are learning together. At every show, my goal is the same: to have a relaxed, positive experience that we can learn and grow from. In the early years, I seemed to focus on what went wrong, like when a shade tent broke loose in the wind and tumbled down the side of the arena during my ride. Instead, I should have been happy that Beau and I actually stayed in the ring and were able to finish our test. I have learned to laugh at what happens and not let Beau’s, or my own, re-
US Dressage Finals
actions throw us off. Through the years, this mindset has earned us numerous year-end reserve and championship awards. I have learned more than I could have ever imagined, thanks to Beau and his quirky personality. As a successful FEI event rider, I thought I knew how to work with difficult horses and could certainly use my knowledge to bring along a young horse, but he has challenged me in a way that has made me grow as a rider. The biggest takeaway I’ve learned is that each horse is unique, and what you have done in the past may not work with the horse you have now. Always be open to continuous learning.
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eTRAK Extra
Read an article on on how to desensitize your dressage horse from April 2016 USDF Connection magazine
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YOUNG & INSPIRED
My Experience with the USDF Junior/Young Rider Program By Catherine Chamberlain
I
was fortunate enough to be involved with the USDF Junior/Young Rider programs from the start of my dressage career. I started riding horses at nine years old, and by the age of twelve, I decided that I wanted pursue dressage seriously. I did a lot of research about how I could become more involved in the sport and educate myself, and I found USDF to be very helpful in getting me on the right track. I determined at a young age that I wanted to educate myself beyond the riding side of things. I very much wanted to understand the work and dedication that goes on, to allow us to have high level competitions and programs available in the United States. I decided that I should start with my local dressage community and build from there. In 2008, at the age of thirteen, I started volunteering for my local GMO, the Arizona Dressage Association. In 2011, I won the
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YOUNG & INSPIRED
Youth Convention Scholarship, which allowed me to attend the AdequanŽ/USDF Annual Convention, and to get more in-depth information about what went on behind the scenes of our sport. I started volunteering on USDF’s Youth Advisory Subcommittee, while continuing to work with my local GMO. In 2012, I won the USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Award and was, again, able to attend the annual convention. After gaining so much from my experiences at the convention, I went on to attend in 2014, 2015, and 2016, as well. Since then, I have become a board member of the USDF Youth Committee, as well as The Dressage Foundation. This year, I was elected as a Participating Member Delegate for Region 7, and will attend the annual convention to represent my community and continue to increase my education. I feel that I have received a lot of help and support over the last thirteen A young Chamberlain
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YOUNG & INSPIRED
At the North American Junior/Young Rider Championships
years in the dressage community, and I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to give back and help however I can. As far as my riding career, the USDF Junior/Young Rider programs have helped me tremen-
dously. I rode in my first USDF Jr/ YR Clinic when I was thirteen, and went on to compete at my first national championships as a Junior, later that year. At fourteen, I competed at my first North American Junior/Young Rider Cham-
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YOUNG & INSPIRED
November 29-December 2 Hyatt Regency Lexington • Lexington, KY pionships (NAJYRC), and the following year, I was able to earn Junior Individual and Freestyle silver medals, as well as the Junior Reserve National Championship. I returned to the NAJYRC as a Young Rider in 2011, 2014, and 2015, and was able to earn three team golds, two individual golds, and an individual silver medal. In 2015, I also won the Young Rider National Championship and had the honor to represent the U.S. at the CDIO Nations Cup, in Hagen, Germany. Now I am preparing my young mare to compete in the Under 25 Grand Prix division and am very excited to see what we can achieve. In January of 2015, I was able to participate in the USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate Program. It was a fantastic educational experience, and really helped to prepare me for a career as a dressage professional. They provided us with information about so many different avenues in the sport, and it helped us make a lot of connections with other young professionals with the
same passion and drive. I am so grateful for the numerous Junior/Young Rider programs provided by USDF. They’ve not only helped me achieve my goals and get on the right path as a dressage rider, but I truly believe that they have helped to shape me as a person and fuel my work ethic and passion. It seems that the younger generation coming up the ranks is benefiting from the ever-evolving programs offered by USDF, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how it will positively impact the future of dressage in the US.
2017 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention
Welcome to our old Kentucky home
Regis trat Availa ion ble Onlin e
eTRAK Extra
Read more about Catherine Chamberlain in this article from the October 2014 USDF Connection magazine
www.usdf.org/convention September 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE
MY TIME TO RIDE
Fjord Entertainment By Lori La Mattina
I
was nineteen years old when I had my first riding lesson. I was a freshman at Vanderbilt University, studying Viola Performance, and I saw a flyer pinned to a tree. It said, “Vanderbilt University Equestrian Team.” On the bottom, in small type, it said ‘No experience required.’ That was me. The school had no horses or facility, so we were expected to take lessons wherever we could find them, so I took hunter/jumper lessons. It’s a miracle I survived. There were inappropriate school horses and sketchy helmets, jumps set too high and new horses every lesson. My junior year, I stumbled across dressage and found a trainer, relieved that I didn’t have to jump over solid objects anymore. That’s where it all started. Since then, I’ve owned or ridden many breeds of horses, all trained and shown in dressage, despite their non-traditional breeding. Fast forward to December 2011, when I was horseless after
the birth of my son. A rather eccentric woman at the barn where I was still riding bought two Norwegian Fjords, sight unseen, off the internet. She supposedly wanted them for her grandchildren. Anyway, she was very fond of buying horses this way, and it sometimes ended badly. This time, however, she lucked out and happened upon a good breeder: Kathy Johnson of Woodpecker Woods. Kathy was breeding Fjords that were the sport horse type, and these two were full brother and sister. The gelding was named WW Rudig (Rudi) and he had 60 days of training; the mare was young and unbroken. A few days after they arrived, I was the first to get on Rudi. For the first few minutes, he either stood still or went backward. I didn’t mind because it was nothing training wouldn’t fix, and after all, he wasn’t mine! I requested a whip, and he then did several minutes of very green walk and trot. After I dismounted, the woman who bought him declared
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MY TIME TO RIDE
we were beautiful together. Then, she gave him to me! Although he was (and still is!) a beautiful horse, our early training wasn’t always so pretty. Fjords have a reputation for being calm and unflappable, suitable for family or therapy horses. However, I was constantly wondering what was wrong with mine! He had much more spunk than I expected from a Fjord, and bucking, bolting, and spooking were fairly common. Some Fjords never take a step of canter in their lives, yet Rudi cantered every time he lost his balance. Then, for weeks at a time, one lead or the other would go missing. I decided to try a huge change in his diet by cutting out grain, adding supplements, and eventually muzzling him on the grass. This, with the help of my long time trainer Sharon Ridge, helped us progress enough to do the Introductory tests at schooling shows within the year, and Training Level the next June. Unfortunately, we had a major setback in August 2013. I went to get Rudi from his field, September 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE
MY TIME TO RIDE
Lori with her son.
and he simply would not walk… not one step. My usual vet was out of town, so the on-call vet came out to the field and quickly diagnosed an abscess. Somehow, after almost 20 years in the horse world, I had never experienced an abscess. Despite medications and the usual care that goes along with an abscess, the infection spread throughout one side of
his heel and sole, and he blew seven abscesses over the next few months. For a while, it was a twice daily exercise of treating, diapering, duct taping, and booting. After about three months, I was able to finally ride him in his boots. I tried to make the most of the time, and he learned all of his lateral work at the walk, and was eventually able to trot in
his boots. To this day, his lateral work is of one of his strengths. Over a year later, we were finally back in the show ring, doing schooling shows at First Level. My aspiration had always been to ride in a recognized show before I turned 40. But as a symphony musician, violin teacher, and homeschooling mom, being able to afford showing seemed out of reach. When my son was very young, I had made wedding and party cakes to afford the lessons and extra expenses that come with horses, so I decided to put those skills back to work. I began making cupcakes to sell to friends and colleagues at my workplace. They loved the cupcakes, and even became enthusiastic supporters of my main goal, the National Dressage Pony Cup (NDPC). In 2016, we showed First Level in recognized shows, earning the AA and Open Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Champion award from the Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry. At the 2016 NDPC, held at the Kentucky Horse Park, Rudi
was Fjord Breed Champion, and Reserve Champion in First Level. This year, we have earned our Second Level bronze medal scores and again attended the NDPC, taking home Champion First Level, Champion Second Level, Reserve Adult Amateur High Point, the Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry Breed Award, and the Neil Sorum Memorial Award. In August, we plan to debut our First Level freestyle. Rudi stands out in the ring and around the show grounds, and everyone’s favorite word is “adorable.” A favorite memory is of a judge asking me questions about the characteristics of the breed, then leaning in and whispering, “Is he barefoot?” When I said yes, she whispered back like it was our little secret, “Good for you!” Other than the disadvantage in gaits due to having a draft horse body and pony legs, I can find no other drawbacks of showing a Fjord. For me, showing a Fjord in dressage has been a wonderful experience.
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Road To The Finals By Jennifer M. Keeler
Every year when riders and horses from across the country gather in Lexington, KY, for the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, they not only bring top performances to the Alltech Arena – they also bring amazing stories. From overcoming tough odds, facing life’s daily challenges, healing from medical and veterinary conditions, or simply being the unlikely underdog, the tales which unfold at the Finals are nothing short of inspiring. Back by popular demand, USDF’s exclusive series titled “Road to the Finals” will once again share competitors’ stories as they try to earn a ticket to the Kentucky Horse Park on November 9-12, 2017. Each month, a different rider from across the country will allow readers behind-the-scenes access as they pursue their dreams of competing with the best of the best at the Finals. This month, you’ll meet Patricia McVary of Illinois. Patricia riding Aureo at Lamplight
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Age is Just a Number
Patricia MacVary & Aureo, Springfield, Illinois (Region 4)
Find out more about the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® here
I
am an older rider – let’s just say I qualify for Vintage Cup awards,” said Patricia McVary with a laugh. But age is just a number when it comes to the US Dressage Finals, and McVary wasn’t going to let that stand in the way of her dreams. Last November she traveled to Kentucky for the first time, placing 10th in the Adult Amateur Third Level Freestyle aboard her 14-year-old PRE gelding, Aureo. McVary will never forget the feeling of riding in the Alltech Arena. “At the beginning of the 2016 show season, if I had been asked if I planned on going to the Finals, I would have chuckled at the thought,” she explained. “How amazing it was to be there! Despite a terrible case of show nerves, when we trotted around waiting for the judge’s bell I took a moment to appreciate the opPatricia riding Aureo at last year's Finals
portunity to ride there. My horse Rio is not intimidated by large venues and he loves his music, so we had so much fun. As we waited to re-enter the arena for our victory lap with our baby blue ribbon, I felt so proud and leaned over to give Rio a hug and whisper a thank you to him for being my partner in this thrilling adventure.” That unforgettable ride hooked McVary on the Finals experience, and now she can’t wait to go back. This year, she and Rio have worked every day with one goal in mind: to perfect their Spanish music-themed freestyle, attend the Great American/USDF Region 4 Championships, and earn a ticket back to Lexington with even more confidence. Despite a life-long love affair with horses, it’s only recently that McVary has had the opportunity to come such a long way in a short amount of time in dressage.
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“As a child, my parents couldn’t really afford lessons for me so I rode whenever the opportunity arose,” McVary remembered. “I started around age seven in a summer program, and then when I was around nine or ten I rode at a barn that introduced me to dressage. The trainers at the barn were the Pawlenkos, and it wasn’t until recently that I realized that judges Natalie Lamping and Fatima Kranz are the Pawlenko daughters who I admired so much as a teenager. With them I was exposed to many facets of riding: jumping, dressage, vaulting and Pony Club, and we would spend our entire Saturdays at the barn riding, and doing chores, and cleaning tack. I loved it and it was a wonderful, albeit shortlived experience because their family moved to a new barn further away and my lessons came to an end.” But even as she grew up and began a career in neonatal and pediatric intensive care, horses were never far from McVary’s mind. “I would ride whenever I
was able to afford a lesson or two, and when I started working as a nurse, I started riding weekly. But then marriage and my son Peter came along…” After her daughter Meghan was born McVary found her passion for riding was still simmering, so she did something about it. “I never forgot my introduction to dressage, so I started riding again in earnest,” she said. “I took lessons for a bit and gradually became more and more involved at the barn. I worked for a while as a groom (when the kids were in school) to pay for lessons. I took a hiatus when Meghan started riding hunters, and returned to riding when she left for college. But I didn’t progress very much and did very limited showing until we moved to Springfield and I started with Kate Fleming-Kuhn and Martin Kuhn at StarWest.” With the help of the Kuhns, McVary’s hard work began to pay off in the arena: she earned her USDF Bronze Medal, and is now working towards her Silver.
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“When I started with them I was barely Training Level, and Kate would tactfully tell me I had ‘gaps in my education’ – a polite way of saying I didn’t even know what I didn’t know!” she laughed. “They are patient and very knowledgeable, and train every student as if they will be at Grand Prix one day.” Perhaps just as importantly, Fleming-Kuhn found the perfect partner for McVary in Aureo. “I had owned a couple of horses before him and they were not suitable for me at all. There definitely is truth to the saying that an amateur should never buy a horse without a trainer,” McVary noted. “So in the fall of 2014, I gave all my trust to Kate to help me and she found the perfect horse in Rio. He is the ultimate schoolmaster with a stellar temperament. But for me the learning curve was steep, and I think of the torture he must have gone through while I was learning to ride better and the worst he has done is flip his tail and maybe hop a little bit. He’s a
saint and also a barn favorite with everyone.” Even with the right horse, as an older rider McVary faces some hurdles as she works to keep up a rigorous program of riding five times a week, taking lessons, and competing regularly. “For instance, as I’ve gotten older I have noticed that the heat affects me more, and I take Pilates weekly to help with core strength and flexibility,” said McVary. “But I am not as quick with my aids as a younger rider would be, and that is a problem when you need to catch something right away. I notice I take a bit longer to process something before reacting. I am fortunate that I am able-bodied, but for the first time ever I hurt my back during a clinic a few months ago, and had to take time off from riding to give it a break. I’ve also noticed that as I move up the levels, it seems to take a physical toll.” Despite the challenges, McVary is determined to qualify for Regionals and the Finals in
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the Adult Amateur divisions at Third Level, Third Level Freestyle, and Fourth Level, and she’s got a strategy in place to make it happen. “My personal philosophy is that for best results you need to ride in the ring at an actual show, because at home there is a false sense of security that goes right out the window at a competition,” she explained. “So this year I know I have to just keep going in the ring and doing the best I can. As last year proved for me, it gets better the more times you do it. Of course there is some strategy and planning involved depending on your goals, along with juggling family obligations, but I try to go to as many shows as possible. This year I’ve concentrated mainly on challenging myself and getting a better ride, and even if my scores suffer a little in the short term, I believe moving forward in the big picture.” McVary and Rio hope to continue to “move forward”, right back to the in-gate at the US Dressage Finals in November
where she plans to relish the experience even more than before. “When I qualified for the Finals last year I could not believe it,” she noted. “I went because who knows what the future will bring, but honestly I was terrified and overwhelmed at the prospect. But as I said, the more times you do something the less scary it becomes, so if we make it this year I hope to go with more confidence and do even better, but most importantly, savor those special moments so much more.”
eTRAK Extra
Read about last year's US Dressage Finals in this article from the February 2016 USDF Connection magazine
StarWest trainer Martin Kuhn with his son Malcolm
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HEARD AROUND THE ARENA
What interesting or fun thing have you heard lately? Send it to us using #aroundthearena
Helping the horse community during Hurricane Harvey
September 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE
HEARD AROUND THE ARENA
What interesting or fun thing have you heard lately? Send it to us using #aroundthearena
Helping the horse community during Hurricane Irma and fires in the Northwest
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USDF FLASHBACK
Maj. Gen. Guy V. Henry Jr. Reprinted from the March 2015 USDF Connection magazine.
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his month’s featured member of the Roemer Foundation/ USDF Hall of Fame is a reminder of our sport’s military roots. Their numbers have sadly dwindled, but there was a time when most American-born judges and trainers in equestrian sport had military titles. Today’s younger dressage, jumping, and eventing enthusiasts may not know that these disciplines stemmed from the mounted cavalry. The Military, as the three phases of eventing were once called, was a test of cavalry horses’ obedience, conditioning, endurance, and athletic ability— dressage, cross-country jumping, and show jumping. Podcast Alert
PODCAST
Check out our podcast episode 66 about Guy V. Henry Jr. at usdf. podbean.com.
US Army Major General Guy V. Henry Jr. (1875-1967) organized the US team for, and won a team bronze medal in, the Military competition at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games—the first modern Olympics to include equestrian sport. The slightly built Henry, who stood just five feet six inches tall, went on to have enormous influence on the Olympic equestrian disciplines of dressage, eventing, and jumping, both in the US and internationally. Henry was the director of equestrian activities for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, at which he also served as a judge; and he judged at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, as well. He was the chef d’équipe of the 1936 and 1948 US Army Olympic equestrian teams. Henry helped to write the rules for the dressage sport, and he served as a director of both the American Horse Shows Association (now United States Equestrian Federation) and the United States Equestrian Team (now USET Foundation) in their formative years September 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE
USDF FLASHBACK
post-cavalry mechanization. He remains the only American ever to serve as president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). Henry’s military career was equally long and impressive. An 1894 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, he was a career cavalry officer. Among his career highlights were stints as director of equitation at USMA, chief of the US Cavalry, and commandant of the US Cavalry School. He was the first US Army officer to attend the French Cavalry School at Saumur, and he used his newfound knowledge in developing the equitation curriculum at the Mounted Service School at Fort Riley, KS. In his “Salute” in Armor magazine, General of the Armies John J. Pershing is quoted as calling Henry “a splendid Commandant”; and General of the Army Douglas MacArthur said Henry was “one of the best officers in the Service.” Maj. Gen. Guy V. Henry Jr. astride Grey Falcon in an undated photo
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USDF FLASHBACK
Military Might
By Jennifer O. Bryant Maj. Gen. Guy V. Henry Jr. was one of the most influential names in shaping not only the Army’s horsemanship of the day, but also the success of the US Army Olympic equestrian teams. Fielded from 1912 to 1948, these teams were for military officers only—no civilian riders or even enlisted men—and therefore for males only, as women couldn’t serve in the military. Henry’s name figures prominently in my book Olympic Equestrian: A Century of International Horse Sport, from which the article below is adapted. I’m happy to share here some of this great military officer and horseman’s accomplishments.
Guy V. Henry Jr.: Leading the Way In December 1944, Maj. Gen. Guy V. Henry Jr. began dictating his memoir, A Brief Narrative of
the Life of Guy V. Henry, Jr., to a military stenographer at the Pentagon. Of his equestrian endeavors, he wrote: [I]n August 1902, [I] was sent to Ft. Riley, Kansas, as Squadron Adjutant, Adjutant of the Cavalry Post, and member of the Cavalry Board…I felt that the general horsemanship and horsemastership of our mounted service was considerably below the standard it should be and did not hesitate to say so. Finally this talk had an effect on the Commanding Officer who asked the War Department that it send a then noted horseman of the Army, Captain Walter C. Short, to Ft. Riley. Captain Short…established a horseshoer school and a farrier school for enlisted men.
In 1905, Henry and some other cavalry officers “succeeded in getting adopted for the Cavalry, the double bridle” to replace “a very severe single curb bit known as the Shoemaker bit” that led to the Cavalry’s being “filled with broken-jawed runaway horses.” He also “succeeded in getting the Field Artillery to do away with this severe bit on its teams and replace it by [sic] the straight snaffle bit.”
The 1912 US Army Olympic team: Benjamin Lear on Poppy, John Montgomery on Deceive, and Henry on Chiswell
A stint at the famed French Cavalry School at Saumur influenced Henry’s opinions on training methods, and he had to draw on his experiences in 1907 when he reported to Fort Riley to become senior instructor of equitation at the Mounted Service School and, as such, to develop a training system for US cavalry officers.
I had…previously received instructions under a Mr. Edward Anderson of Cincinnati …[who] was a follower of the great French master of equitation, Bouchet [sic] (Baucher). I attempted to combine the best that we had in the United States with that of the French cavalry school, the German cavalry school, and that of Bouchet. It leaned, however,
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to the French system, with the exception of the use of the lower leg, where I followed Bouchet…A progressive system for developing both the horse and the rider was instituted. Instead of the western methods of breaking a horse, the system of gentling the young horse by use of the cavvesson [sic] and longe and then gradually teaching him to bear the weight of the saddle and rider was instituted, and the student officers were taught the proper use of the aids. That 1912 Olympic Military team bronze medal was a remarkable accomplishment for the Army equestrian team, especially considering that Henry got his orders to train and prepare a team a mere six months prior to the Stockholm Games. Henry, four other officers, and 18 horses were allotted just 90 minutes a day in which to school in the post’s riding hall, and there was no letup in the men’s regular military duties and obligations. In his 1931 Cavalry Journal
Guy Henry, in civilan clothes, as Chef d' Equipe at the 1948 Olympics
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article “Army Equestrian Teams in Past Olympic Games,” Major William M. Grimes wrote: “A great deal of the training of this first Olympic team took place at four in the morning. Those readers who have spent a winter in Kansas will know what that means!” Furthermore, although the Army had traditionally fielded a jumping team for the prestigious indoor competitions, such as the National Horse Show in New York and the Washington (DC) International Horse Show, the horses and riders had no formal dressage or eventing training or competitive experience. They had no government funding, either. To raise money for training and expenses and to pay to send the equestrian team to Stockholm, the cavalrymen organized a two-week fund-raising tour. Riders and horses traveled to Detroit, Cleveland, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati to give a total of ten exhibitions, with all proceeds benefiting the team.
The inaugural US Army Olympic equestrian team finished the 1912 Games with impressive results. Under Henry’s leadership, the Americans took home a bronze medal in the Military (the three-day event) and finished fourth in the Prix des Nations (Nations’ Cup—the jumping competition). But even at this first modern Olympic equestrian competition, there was criticism of the dressage judging. Foreshadowing allegations of nationalism in judging that were to plague international dressage competition for decades to come, Henry wrote of the “training” (dressage) phase of the Military event, In the Training Phase we did far better than the German team, but much to our surprise, when the final results were published, the German team was placed second and we were placed third. The nations that followed the French school of equitation such as France, Italy, Spain, and
some others, were up in arms over it. Those that followed the German school were very satisfied. The majority of the judges represented the German school… It would have been a terrible slap at Germany for a novice team, as was the United State’s, [sic] to have come to the Olympics for the first time and to have been placed ahead of the veteran German team in what was considered to be the main equestrian event. This is the only explanation which can be given for why Germany was placed second and ourselves, third. (There’s also nothing new about making snarky comments about competitors. US Army Captain Lara P. Good [Ret.] wrote a critical article about the dressage judging and competition at the 1932 Los Angeles Games for the January-February 1933 issue of The Cavalry Journal. Good especially disdained the dressage test of the eighth-placed competitor, Lieutenant Gustaf Boltenstern of Sweden and his German-
bred gelding, Ingo: “Contrary to the French School of the use of the aids without a perceptible effort on the part of the rider, which method was followed by both the French and the American teams…one did not need to be an experienced horseman to note when and how Lieut. Boltenstern applied the aids—he was following his German schoolmasters.”) For his seminal contributions to dressage and to the whole of modern equestrian sport, Henry was inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame in 2001. The honor, one suspects, would not have surprised the great horseman in the least. After all, as Henry wrote in his memoir, “In the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s, I completely revamped the horsemanship of the United States Army and, incidentally, largely that of the civilian community.”
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GMO SPOTLIGHT
Tell us about your GMO. #GMOSpotlight
Wisconsin Dressage & Combined Training Association (WDCTA) 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: 1971 Locality: Region 2, Wisconsin Website: www.wdcta.org How many members does your GMO have annually, on average? 160 members Tell us about your GMO. The Wisconsin Dressage & Combined Training Association (WDCTA) is a charter member of USDF. We were one of the founding entities, so those dedicated volunteers ahead of us set quite a visionary standard to live up to! For a medium-sized GMO, I'd say we are extremely active, with educational activities for our members and non-members. For example, we held a symposium that attracted more than 400 auditors with Steffen Peters and Janet Foy. Currently, we're organizing a William Fox-Pitt symposium to appeal to our eventing members, as well as our dressage members who are interested in cross-training. We've also held clinics with Tom Poulin, Patti Becker, Yvonne Barteau, Kim Severson, and Gerd Zuther. We also have a robust awards program for dressage and eventing, with Member of the Year and Horse of the Year for each discipline. Members continuously compliment our award items, which have ranged from director chairs, halters, leather lead ropes and bridle bags, to rain coats, coolers, and music boxes for freestyles, in addition to gorgeous ribbons. We also have a 70 Percent Club, which honors riders at all levels that crack 70% in scores at any level. Our monthly newsletter and website keep members informed
about GMO decisions, educational events, fun activities, schooling shows, clinics, news from USDF, and member accomplishments. We also have an active Facebook page and group to complement our website, and drive traffic to our events and activities. Does your GMO offer unique classes or activities that cater to youth, adult amateurs, or professionals? If so, please provide a brief description. We have a young rider representative on our state board to help cultivate interest among junior and young riders to join WDCTA, and have also hosted clinics catering just to this group, in both dressage and eventing. We've used local professionals and judges who are WDCTA members to teach at these clinics. Some have donated their time to teach, which has kept costs low for participants. We also host clinics with Maryal Barnett and Janet Foy, who are superb at meeting the training needs of both professionals and adult amateurs. What type of educational events does your GMO offer? Our annual meeting and awards banquet has featured guest speakers such as Jane Savoie, Hillary Clayton, and Dr. Deb Bennett. We've organized numerous dressage and eventing clinics and breeding seminars, with top breed USEF judges and breed association judges. The Midwest Horse Fair in September 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE
GMO SPOTLIGHT
Madison, WI, is one of the largest of its kind in the United States, and over the years, WDCTA has represented dressage and eventing with a booth and demonstrations. We've also organized USDF L Program and Instructor Certification Program events. What type of “fun” events does your GMO offer? Examples: One chapter organized a hands-on experience at the UW Veterinary School, to dissect horse cadaver legs. While this may not sound like fun, even the most squeamish got into the experience, and all left with a greater understanding (and awe!) as to how our horses move. Another chapter organized a painting night, in which the art studio provided an outline of a horse and members filled it in. Trips to the Tempel Lippizan show and Medievel Times have also been organized. Additional Comments We have a scholarship program for members who want to further
their knowledge about riding and teaching, or knowledge of dressage and eventing. Through this program, we offer six $250 scholarships a year; two for adult amateurs, two for professionals, and two for Junior/Young Riders. None of this could be accomplished without our dedicated volunteers. Running the GMO is like a small business, and we've got talented volunteers to draw on for their professional expertise including legal, accounting, marketing, photography , and communications. None of the events and activities would be possible without volunteers donating much of their time and their facilities.
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Join or renew your membership and take advantage of the 2018 Member Perks, visit
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YOUR CONNECTION TO DRESSAGE EDUCATION • COMPETITION • ACHIEVEMENT © John Borys Photography
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For more information, check out the USDF Member Guide available on the USDF website and app. September 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE