N E D A’ S A W A R D W I N N I N G N E W S L E T T E R
A Tip of the Hat January 2020
FRIENDLY REMINDER - If you haven't renewed your membership for 2020, this will be your last newsletter.
A Tip of the Hat
Contents: 3
President’s Page
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2020 Stallion Service Auction
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NEDA 2020 OFFICERS
President:
Iris Berdrow 781-589-6422 president@neda.org
Congratulations NEDA Members Earning USDF Awards 2019
Vice President-Activities:
Congratulations NEDA Scholarship Award Recipients
Vice President-Services:
10 New Home for the Spring Show
Kate O’Connor 508-612-6985 vpactivities@neda.org Jennifer Dillon 508-641-3121 vpservices@neda.org
11 2019 NEDA Fall Symposium Recap
Board Secretary:
19 Wanted! The NEDA Board Needs You
Treasurer:
14 Pony Show News
18 2019 Ann Villani Memorial Award 20 18th Annual D4K Weekend Equestrian Program 21 Membership Information
22 NEDA Partners in Education: D4K Team Clinic Recap 24 NEDA Calendar 2020 25 Stallion Paddock 30 Region 8 News
A Tip of the Hat is a publication of The New England Dressage Association, Inc., a non-profit, tax exempt corporation. MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS AND CHANGES OF ADDRESS Please contact: Tammy Paparella 6 Pratt’s Junction Rd. Sterling, MA 01564 978-422-2324 memberentry@neda.org
Heather Stone 617-480-8077 secretary@neda.org Helen van der Voort 917-834-2635 treasurer@neda.org
COORDINATORS and MANAGERS
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Education Coordinator: Sally Davenport 781-378-1881; 781-854-2547 education@neda.org Judge Education: Sally Davenport 781-378-1881; 781-854-2547 judgeed@neda.org Symposium Organizer: Beth Beukema 508-320-6549 fallsym@neda.org Scholarships: scholarships@neda.org
COMPETITION COMMITTEE
Competitions Coordinator: Beth Jenkins 508-655-6490; 508-733-3672 shows@neda.org Spring Show: Paul Cormier 508-995-5988 springshow@neda.org Sport Horse/Breed Shows: Kathy Hickerson 603-673-4344; 603-557-4054 sporthorse@neda.org Year-End Awards: yea@neda.org
SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE
Sponsorship Coordinator: Vincent Flores 832-205-2285 sponsorship@neda.org Sponsor Facilitator: Kari Cincotta 781-654-7694 sponsorfacilitator@neda.org Sponsor Development: Sam Yonika 508-277-6090 sponsordev@neda.org
A TIP OF THE HAT ADVERTISING Classified ads must be submitted to the Advertising Editor via email in plain text (.txt) or word (.doc).
Membership Services Coordinator: Dawn Mackenzie 518-657-1773 membership@neda.org Nominations: Jennifer Englund 917-330-2462 volunteer@neda.org Ombudsman: Lainey Johnson 978-568-0523 ombudsman@neda.org Member-at-Large: Leslie de Grandmaison 603-759-4642 memberatlarge@neda.org
PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Public Relations Coordinator: Krista Nordgren 207-749-6643 pr@neda.org Communications/Social Media: Krista Nordgren 207-749-6643 communications@neda.org Advertising - Outbound: advertising@neda.org Photography: Carole MacDonald 508-366-7886 photo@neda.org Technology Coordinator: technology@neda.org
NEWSLETTER STAFF
TIP Editor: Angela Prenosil 413-627-2699 TipEditor@neda.org Graphic Design: June Evers 845-294-0656 jevers@warwick.net TIP Advertising: Angela Prenosil 413-627-2699 tipads@neda.org
USDF REGION 8
Region 8 Director: Debra Reinhardt region8dir@usdf.org Youth Coordinator: Jennifer Dillon 508-641-3121 jen@dilloneq.com
Display ads and photos may be submitted on disk or via email to the Advertising Editor. Ads must be high resolution, press ready PDFs with all images and fonts embedded or high resolution TIF, JPG or EPS. MS Word doc templates are available for your use at neda.org and must be converted to PDFs.
All ads must be submitted to the Advertising Editor with a check made out to NEDA. Contact: Angela Prenosil, 413-627-2699 ▲tipads@neda.org
Follow us! @NEDAdressage #NEDAdressage
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Cover: Grandioso, Katie Robicheaux and Dorothee Schneider. Cover: Carole MacDonald
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
NEDA USDF
AWARDS
& MORE!
Having just come from the USDF Convention in Savannah, Georgia I would like to start with some updates. You can find a full list of discussion topics at https://www.usdf.org/zip/governance/ but here are some highlights from the Board of Governors meeting. l
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While a motion to restructure/rename the USDF Education Membership was voted down, a successful motion directed the USDF Executive Board to investigate offering a non-member subscription to USDF Connection that would include access to on-line materials.
In the spirit of building a pipeline of riders and bringing youth up through the sport levels, USDF has added a youth division to the National Finals starting 2021.
A motion to split the age levels for the JR/YR group was approved, directing the USDF Executive Committee to submit a rule change proposal to the USEF Executive Board. The proposal would suggest JR/YR be split into two age groups – 15 and under, and 16-21. In April 2019, USDF launched www.yourdressage.org now viewed by over 50,000 of which 30,000 are repeat viewers. It is a great resource for all things USDF and dressage. Watch for MYUSDF.org coming soon – your dashboard for USDF results.
Starting Dec 1, 2019 USDF is offering a Regional Schooling Show Awards Program, https://www.usdf.org/awards/performance/regional-schooling.asp. You do need to be a GMO member so NEDA members are eligible.
The deadline requirements for USDF GMO Education Initiative has changed. Event Applications and the supporting Grant Applications are due to the USDF Office at least 60 days prior to the start of the event.
In 2020, USDF will be fully responsible for licensing of officials at a national level (previously USEF had responsibility).
The 2020 Convention will be Dec 2-5 at the Hilton Omaha, NE.
The 2021 Convention will be at the Houston GW Marriott Galleria in Texas, date TBA.
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As a GMO member you can access USDF online programs such as volunteer and scribe training? https://www.usdf.org/education/resources/gmolectures.asp
You are also eligible to apply for a variety of grants offered by The Dressage Foundation, https://www.dressagefoundation.org/grants-and-programs/
At the Awards banquet, we celebrated many NEDA winners (with apologies for errors and omissions). Rider awards went to Helen Van Der Voort (Bronze), Linda Mendenhall (Silver), and Claudia Tarlov (Gold). Vincent Flores won the 2019 Adequan/USDF Music Freestyle Challenge Award and Third level, as well as the 2019 NA Danish Warmblood Assoc. Champion Award at third level and third freestyle. Anke Ott-Young won among other awards, the Traveling Trot Sculpture Perpetual Trophy for Dressage Horse Highest Scoring Champion. Breeder of Distinction awards went to Kathy Hickerson (Bronze), Linda and Jeff Mendenhall (Bronze & Silver), Kerstin Witaszek (Bronze) and Mary Barrett (Bronze). Awards in the GMO with 500+ members categories went to Diane Dutra Holston, first place for Best Amateur photograph; Kristen Becker, honorable mention for First Person Experience Article; and Sophia Chavonelle, first place for General Interest/Informational Article. It was fun to see everyone dressed up, and to welcome a number of first-time convention attendees from NEDA and Region 8.
By the time this letter appears in print, 2020 will have arrived launching a stellar year for NEDA. A major change is the move of the spring show to Fieldstone in Halifax, MA. Show manager Paul Cormier and the Competitions Committee is working hard to make this a fabulous event but they will need two things – competitors and volunteers. Put it in your calendar (May 30/31), polish your boots, and free up your (and all your friends) calendar. We also welcome sponsors – get your prime spot now, they will go fast. Continued → January 2020 NEDA.ORG
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PRESIDENT’S PAGE - cont’d
2020 is the year we truly embrace the Aspiring Rider. During our 2018 NEDA Board Strategic Planning Retreat, Kathy Hickerson coined the term aspiring rider to describe our core members. We defined aspiring riders as those who want to improve, whether competing or not, including Adult Amateurs, Junior/Young Riders and Professionals at all levels. We determined that education and competitions were important to our membership, and needed to support their aspirations. The campaign begins with a look at our organization structure to ensure we have folks dedicated to each component of our supporting mission. Second, while the term resonated with us, we need to be sure it has value to you. The Aspiring Rider campaign begins by understanding what it means to you, and what we can do to support your aspirations. Please help us by complete the survey coming to your mailbox soon.
As I write this letter, I send my sincere wishes to all for a happy, safe and loving holiday. By the time you read this, the timelier wish is for a wonderful New Year.
Cheers
Iris Become a NEDA Volunteer
Check out www.NEDA.org and click on Support NEDA
Biz Card as low as $50 for members!
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NEDA.ORG January 2020
Advertise in the TIP!
Go to www.neda.org, click Support NEDA/Ad Rates
Business Card: 3.5” wide x 2” high Member: $50 per issue n Non-Member: $65 per issue
Broad elds 121 BREEDERS OF PREMIUM SPORT HORSES
WOLKENLOS Wolkentanz II / Feiner Stern 2000 Premium GOV Stallion 2013 Devon Champion Stallion USDF Final Performance test at Adelheidesdorf: 9s on rideability, trot, gallop CARA KETTENBACH | 978.360.7158 | www.BROADFIELDS121.com Sport Horse Prospects Available
TO NEDA MEMBERS EARNING THEIR USDF SILVER
GOLD
MEDAL
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Nicole Babich-Morin Jessica Fay Jennifer Foulon Molly Maloney Alexandra Tomson
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FREESTYLE
AWARD
Gold Bar Mallory Chambers Torrey Wilkinson Silver Bar Gail Kopp Bronze Bar Kerry Rose
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MASTER’S CHALLENGE
AWARD
First Debra Cavicchi Judith Lawless Third Michelle Velasco Training Janice Bigos Debra Cavicchi l
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Lisa Apa Emma Batchelder Katelyn Berube Ginette Brockway Sandra Cohen Kirsten Gray Siena Harris-Gissler Patricia Hutchinson Laci Keating Emily Larson Robert Murray Carly Neilson Gayle Paquin Stephen Ruggiero Eliza Rutherford Sylvia Schafer Audra Sheffler Lauren Simon Dave Thind Judy Wright
BRONZE
MEDAL
Elise Ames Kristen Becker Roxanne Bok Paula Bokesch Jennifer Chin Katherine Comstock Jacqueline Ducci Beth Fishman Myra Flanagan Susan Fowler Sarah Gill-D'orazio Kevin Hadfield Danielle Haley Patricia Hutchinson Rose Keller Natasha Khandekar Kander King Winky King Joan Mansfield Michelle Mazzola Madeleine Porter Susan Provenzano Riley Reardon Elizabeth Russell Ellie Sharpe Christine Shea Jennifer Symon Megan Tursi Lisa Valone Mary Ann Van Benschoten Barbara Van Deusen Hannah Van ZandtRollins Jocelyn VanBokkelen Helen Vandervoort
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DRESSAGE SEAT EQUITATION
AWARD
Elite Kevin Hatfield Accomplished Kevin Hatfield Elementary Kevin Hatfield l
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AWARDS IN 2019!
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PERFORMANCE
AWARD
First Alison Brigham Debra Cavicchi Elizabeth Charpentier Allwein Jennifer Chin Ranelle Fisher Rose Keller Judith Lawless Carly Neilson Marina Richey Patti Tobel Jennifer Triolo Lisa Valone Sophie Wayner Second Colleen Barrett Maureen Crowley Kevin Hadfield Carly Neilson Lisa Valone Sophie Wayner Training Janice Bigos Alison Brigham Debra Cavicchi Allison Emrick Siri Kent Susan Kessler Sarah McCombe Nancy Nash Carly Neilson Patti Tobel Lisa Valone Sophie Wayner l
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January 2020 NEDA.ORG
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USDF AWARDS
CONGRATULATIONS
EDUCATION
News from the NEDA Scholarship Committee
Congratulations
to the latest recipients of NEDA Scholarships!
Photo: Annan Hepner
Hope Cooper
(Pro, study with Juan Matute, U25)
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Quentin Sloan
(YR, study with Pam Maloof, scores for Bronze)
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Photo: Afield Foto
Photo: Katie Knowles
Dilara Drukker (Pro, progress toward CDI)
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Shawn Walker
(AA, study with Adam Cropper, confirm flying changes)
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We wish them all the best of luck and offer heartfelt congratulations!
Did you know NEDA Scholarships become available twice a year? The next deadline is April 1st. There are five different categories for which you can apply: n International Level Competitor n Professional Rider/Trainer n Serious Amateur n Young Rider n Breeder
As part of NEDA’s mission to “promote and support the art of dressage”, scholarships are available to members wishing to pursue their training. As a recipient, you will be asked to give
back to the dressage community in various ways such as keeping a journal of your experiences, fund-raising, being available for publicity or interviews, giving a clinic or an exhibition or providing your judging services for a show.
If you would like to receive a Scholarship Application, need more information, or wish to make a donation to the scholarship fund, please go to the NEDA website scholarship page or contact:
Samantha Williams (413) 297-2384, scholarships@neda.org
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SYMPOSIUM NEWS
NEDA FALL SYMPOSIUM 2019 with Dorothee Schneider Recap
Photo: Carole MacDonald
Dorothee with the Symposium riders.
BY SOPHIA CHAVONELLE
he Equestrian Center at Mt. Holyoke was buzzing with dressage enthusiasts eager to learn from German Reitmeisterin and Olympic gold medalist Dorothee Schneider. This being her first teaching expedition in the United States, we were excited to learn about her perspective as someone who had grown up in the German system of horse and rider training. Daughter of the well-known Trakehner breeder and judge HansEberhard Schneider, Dorothee has a wellrounded perspective and holistic approach to Continued → training horses.
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Feel their body, know their attitude and motivation, and consider that during your ride...
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Alice Tarjan and Harvest
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SYMPOSIUM NEWS
Dorothee opened the Symposium with words on her training philosophy: each day, evaluate your whole horse. Feel their body, know their attitude and motivation, and consider that during your ride. Use praise and positive feedback to communicate your goals and strive to work together. If you take the time to manage each horse every day, they will be much happier and more willing to work with you. Her big-picture approach continued into the riding sessions, and over the weekend, a theme became evident that showed what Dorothee finds most important in dressage: the basics. In this article, we’ll work our way up the Training Scale, just as Dorothee and the riders demonstrated: rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, collection.
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Eliza Rutherford with Watch Me Too
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Open your knees and take a seat. (Rhythm) In every ride, Dorothee was quick to critique a rider’s rhythm, for, without a regular rhythm, many horses would not relax in front of a large crowd. “Rhythm is always managed by the rider,” and though it is the base of the Pyramid of Training, it should never be overlooked. For every pair, from Continued →
Photo: Carole MacDonald
...a theme became evident that showed what Dorothee finds most important in dressage: the basics
SYMPOSIUM NEWS - cont’d
To create a steady rhythm and tempo, the riders needed to open their knees, relax their legs, and “ride with the hips to the hands.” At the end of the first day, Dorothee explained that by “taking a seat,” she was instructing the riders to release tension in their knees and allow their weight to sink into their hips, as one does when taking a seat in a chair. Using the rider’s weight to influence the rhythm was infinitely more effective than trying to control the horse with leg and hand aids only. If a horse began to run through a rider’s aids, Dorothee told the rider to sit deep into the saddle and “slow with the hips, not the hands.” Correctly utilizing the rider’s weight aids also proved to invite relaxation into the horse and created a more harmonious picture of horse and rider.
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Sit into your horse and make the rhythm, don’t wait for it to just happen.
Bridgid Brown and Karina Sandra TF
Photo: Carole MacDonald
the young horses to the established Grand Prix pair Olivia LagoyWeltz and Lonoir, rhythm and tempo had to be established before anything else. “Sit into your horse and make the rhythm, don’t wait for it to just happen.” Of course, finding a definite rhythm in the canter or a steady tempo in the trot was one thing; maintaining it throughout the rest of the lesson proved to be another challenge altogether.
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Let your horse work for you. (Suppleness) In her biography in the clinic’s program, Dorothee is quoted: “You always have to question yourself, as in all professions, and discover new solutions. The reward is a satisfied horse, one who tried hard for you.” Part of this, especially with the more advanced horses, is to avoid drilling the same exercises. Work to keep your horse healthy, sound, and happy, “don’t do twenty half-passes in one day.” Mix up the exercises you use. It keeps the rides more interesting for you and your horse while preventing fatigue and repetitive use injuries.
Some horses showed their anxiety by overreacting, throwing in flying changes before asked, and tightly piaffing instead of walking. Dorothee did not allow this behavior and insisted that the horse showed relaxation and suppleness before skipping ahead to the movements. “It’s easy to ride piaffe, but first, you need a calm horse who is with you.” With the use of transitions and more transitions, riders worked to release negative tension from their horses in the warmup of their lessons. “First, manage the body.” It was clear on Sunday that horses who had found relaxation in the ring the day before were more confident and eager to work.
As each lesson concluded, Dorothee encouraged the riders to take a rising trot and stretch their horses, allowing an open frame and a nice stretch of the back, as well as a pat on the neck. “End every ride with a good feeling” and you will have a happier horse the next day. You have to foster your horse’s motivation to work.
Ears away, poll open. (Contact) Some horses were shy in front of the audience, tucking their noses in and hiding behind the contact, and thereby avoiding the rider’s Continued →
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SYMPOSIUM NEWS
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End every ride with a good feeling and you will have a happier horse the next day.
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Everything becomes easier when your horse is in front of your leg. (Impulsion) Every bit of information this weekend carried an undertone of necessary impulsion. All aids started with the rider’s leg into a forward hand and only when the horse was thinking forward could the rider work on movements. “Always start with the hind leg,” whether you are performing an upward transition, a downward transition, a half pass, or piaffe. Quickness and activity are necessary for a Grand Prix horse to perform movements such as piaffe and the skills for this need to be developed early in a horse’s riding career. Everything must be in front of the rider’s leg, “even downward transitions need to be in front of the leg.” Riders could “encourage more swing with frequent forward-back transitions,” while “thinking small, quick, active steps behind in trot-walk transitions.” Remember, sideways movements are “easier [and more correct] when they are in front of you.” Develop this desire in your horse early on, each ride, and you won’t have to work so hard later on! Work is only correct when your horse is straight. (Straightness) Throughout this weekend, straightness was of utmost importance. All riders stuck to the inner track to show control of their horse’s shoulders and haunches. When changing direction, Dorothee instructed the riders to feel the shift of bend in their horses, to feel the new outside shoulder connect to their hand. “Ride the ears between your two reins” to stay inJanuary 2020 NEDA.ORG
Photos: Carole MacDonald
Top: Suzanne Hamilton and Lesath Right: Phyllis, Dorothee, and Beth Bottom left: Carly Neilson with Gustave
hand and interrupting the flow of energy created in the hind end. “Stabilize the connection by motivating with both legs”, combined with a steady rhythm, helped develop a steady rein and a mouth that reached into the hand. An opening rein could also be applied to stabilize the connection, encouraging the horse to stretch into the rider’s hands. Allow your horse to seek your hands, reaching its nose “to the vertical, not ever behind, in a light, steady contact.” Think to “ride the ears away from you,” and while you’re at it, make sure that they’re even! Especially in lateral work, keep an eye on the ears for tilting, as this will show you (and anyone watching your ride!) if your horse is evenly through left to right.
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SYMPOSIUM NEWS - cont’d
tentional on your line of travel. Even when schooling, your geometric intentions must be clear to the horse to keep the horse listening and understanding you. Vague or unclear questions will not result in a clear or intentional ride.
All riders had to keep a shoulder-fore feeling throughout their rides to show true straightness and throughness. An active inside leg was essential to establish in the warmup, before moving on to more difficult lateral work. Make sure your horse respects your driving leg as well as your connecting outside rein. Riders also had to be sure to keep the outside rein on the outside of the horse’s neck, as it was sometimes tempting to cross the hand over rather than connect honestly.
Manage longitudinal balance to increase activity (Collection) The USDF defines collection in the Glossary of Judging Terms as “balance and lightness of the forehand from increased engagement.” The FEI horses of this weekend had the strength and capability to show collected gaits–walk, trot, and canter– as well as some movements of increased collection shown in piaffe, passage, and pirouettes. The less experienced horses, however, showed varying degrees of collection throughout their rides. Dorothee helped riders find increased engagement in their horses in transitions. Whether by using taps of the whip in trot-walk transitions or by practicing forward-back transitions within a canter, activity and the cumulation of the Training Scale resulted in a lightness of the forehand and a more freely moving horse. “First feel straightness, bend, hindlegs engaging under the body, then move on.”
Dorothee with Mount Holyoke volunteers Katie Robicheaux and Grandioso McKayla Hohnann and Wolkensho Photos: Carole MacDonald 16 TIP OF THE HAT
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This year’s NEDA Fall Symposium was a huge success thanks to the dedication of Beth Beukema and all of the event’s organizers. In the words of NEDA’s president Phyllis LeBlanc, “you simply cannot replicate the experience of in-person learning” and the annual Fall Symposium is our region’s educational highlight of the year. Learning from Germany’s “Championmaker” was humbling and refreshing and had auditors going home to rethink the basics on their own horses. Dorothee has a gift of breaking down our complex sport into its core concepts and we hope she comes back to the United States one day. There was something for everyone to learn this weekend and we are all already looking forward to next year’s event!
Photos: Carole MacDonald
SYMPOSIUM NEWS - cont’d
Olivia Lagoy-Weltz on Rassings Lonoir
Vinz Flores on Southern Belle SWF
Andris J. Kaneps DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACVSMR 978-273-5479 cell 978-927-6404 office and fax
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68 Grover Street Beverly, MA 01915 www.kanepsequine.com ajkaneps@kanepsequine.com
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2019 Ann Villani Memorial Award Goes to...
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he Ann Villani Memorial award is given annually to the NEDA volunteer who embodies the wonderful qualities of Ann: dedication, volunteerism, positive attitude, hard work, continuing education in pursuit of excellence and fairness. The 2019 recipient shares many of these qualities with Ann, in particular volunteerism, dedication, a positive attitude and hard work. The Scholarship Committee is excited to announce this year’s once in a lifetime award recipient is Amy Bresky.
Volunteerism: Amy has volunteered for the Fall Festival for more than 10 years, as well as for GMHA and other dressage and equine related competitions. In her roll as Steward Coordinator at the Fall Festival, she demonstrates unending patience, good humor and creativity. Helen van der Voort, Amy’s colleague in the volunteer tent swears that the show literally couldn’t go on without Amy and treasures these qualities in her. “Amy does her thankless and timeless job at NEDA Fall Festival always with a huge smile, year after year. She SO deserves this congratulations,” says Debra Reinhardt, Fall Festival Secretary. Sally Davenport adds that she even keeps the smile when the weather’s rotten! 18 TIP OF THE HAT
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Dedication: Beth Jenkins says “Amy and I go way back – she is one in a million and a super organizer!” In addition to her time spent volunteering at the shows, she brushes up on all the steward-related rule changes, creates information sheets for the stewards, and this past year spent hours creating signage for the new Fall Festival layout. In between her many volunteer gigs, Amy, an avid horsewoman has found time to bring more than one horse to Grand Prix! Positive Attitude: Amy demonstrates pa-
tience, good humor and on-her-feet creativity whether she is dealing with a concerned TD or a hot and sweaty/cold and wet volunteer. A great many of our FF volunteers return year after year because of her caring support. Michelle King, Technical Delegate writes “She is the reason for and inspiration to all of the volunteers at the show. Show management, the licensed officials, competitors, and in fact the entire region owe her a huge shout out. She has our gratitude and we can’t thank her enough!”
Hard Work: Being a senior member of the Volunteer team at the Fall Festival is truly a full day’s work. Robert Higgins, a long time member of the FF show management team recalls when late one evening he, Paul Cormier and Beth Jenkins were leaving the now quiet and nearly deserted show grounds. Seeing a pick up with its headlights on, they went to investigate and found Amy still at work setting up more signs. “Typical!”
We all congratulate Amy on this seriously welldeserved award, and in the words of Anita Jaffe, a regular Fall Festival Volunteer and show runner herself: “She’s AWESOME” - we couldn’t agree more!
NEDA Educational Scholarships ~ Don’t Miss the Deadline!
NEDA members please take note Scholarships are currently available for qualified applicants... that could be you!
The next deadline for scholarship applications is April 1st!
To receive an application or an informational brochure about the Scholarship Program. Go to: http://www.neda.org/?page=SCHMAIN Samantha Williams Scholarship Chairman 9 Nags Head Rd, Ipswich MA 01938 Phone: (413)297-2384
E-mail: scholarships@neda.org
(
WA N T E D ! )
THE NEDA BOARD NEEDS YOU!
Year End Awards Coordinator
Our Year End Awards program is one of the most important things we manage. We're looking for a Year End Awards Coordinator to lead the existing team that runs the program and banquet, including defining the criteria for awards, budgeting, and coordinating the volunteers in charge of things like tallying results and planning the banquet.
Technology Coordinator
NEDA's website and technology platform are also critical! We're looking for a Technology Coordinator to lead a team to help NEDA use technology effectively, including defining how best to use our existing technology, designing content for neda.org and working with our Webmaster to post it, and exploring future technology investments. Ideally this person will have past experience with web design or development.
Both of these roles are board positions, so you'll have a large part in shaping what NEDA offers to members! Contact Jennifer Englund at nominations@neda.org
January 2020 NEDA.ORG
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b EDUCATION
OVERS O F ALL AGES L E S R O H FOR 18TH A N N U A L
D4K Weekend ram
Equestrian Prog Bedford, NY
The 18th annual Weekend Equestrian Program will feature a mix of unmounted presentations and active sessions over the weekend of January 25 and 26, 2020. As always, Dressage4Kids is sponsoring this event, but emphasizes that it is open to horse lovers of all ages, all levels, and all disciplines of riding, along with instructors and judges. Those interested in horses and wishing to increase their equine knowledge will enjoy this unique program, which will be held at the newly renovated Nonnewaug High School, in Woodbury, CT. (All classrooms are ADA accessible)
On Saturday January 25, Olympian Lendon Gray will mastermind an Instructors Track, which offers professionals the chance to discuss teaching methods and gather ideas from top instructors. On will lead the USDF Region 8 Judges Forum. (The Judges Forum is USDF accredited and counts towards continuing education requirements for USDF L Graduates.)
There are sessions on Horsemastership on both days, covering important basics of horse care and training including practical sessions. Also well-known experts will speak on a variety of topics including different aspects of veterinary care, tips on best training practices, important business updates, and designing and judging musical freestyles providing a large range of choices for all interests and experience. For more information about the schedule, reservations, fees, etc. go to the website: www.dressage4kids.org Or Susan Sieber at ssieber@interstatelumber.com or (203) 223-4261
Dressage4Kids.Inc is a non-profit organization incorporated for the express purpose of providing educational and competitive opportunities for youth riders and the adults who support them.
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January 2020 NEDA.ORG
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NEDA PARTNERS IN EDUCATION & YOUTH NEWS
D4K Team Clinic
Recap
BY LARA SLOAN
W
ith the support of NEDA’s Partners in Education Program, eight junior and young riders recently came together at Heritage Equestrian Center in East Greenwich, Rhode Island for a Dressage4Kids TEAM Clinic in November.
Training Education And Mentoring clinics, also known
by many as simply TEAM clinics, are run by Lendon Gray’s Dressage4Kids (D4K). Horsemanship is always a part of any of D4K’s programs, and the TEAM clinics are no exception. Along with daily riding lessons from well-known clinicians such as Ali Brock, Lilo Fore, Mica Mabragaña, Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel and Lendon Gray herself, riders also participate in lectures related to horse-care and riding. Gray strongly believes that education off the horse helps set the stage for success on the horse.
The educational lectures for the TEAM Clinic at Heritage Equestrian Center included presentations on Careers on Equine Studies from Jackie Bower; How Performing on the Stage Relates to Going Down the Centerline from Rachel Walshe; and The Alphabet Soup of USEF, USDF, NEDA, FEI etc. from Lara Sloan.
In addition to access to world-class instruction, TEAM clinics also offer riders a chance to get to know one another. The riders in this particular TEAM clinic were ages 10 to 18 years old and training at the Intro C through FEI Young Rider levels. The riders included Jessica Brindle-Clark, Marissa Cennami, Ella Hoover, Rose Keller, Paydan McLaughlin, Ellie Sloan, Bella Vars, and Audrey Womer. For some this was their first TEAM Clinic while for others it was their “millionth.” When asked what one of the best parts of the weekend was, D4K TEAM member Paydan Continued →
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Top: Ellie Sloan, Ella Hoover, Audrey Womer, Quentin Sloan Middle: Jessica Brindle-Clark Bottom: Jane Karol helping Ella Hoover Photos: Alisa Hoover
DRESSAGE4KIDS - cont’d
McLaughlin said, “Being able to see my friends from other parts of the region!”
Instructors Beth Beukema and Jane Karol quickly got down to business and helped riders focus on the key aspects of training. For example, Marissa Cennami worked on keeping her hips swinging and her leg in a more balanced position underneath her to create more harmony with her horse and to allow her horse more freedom of movement. Jessica Brindle-Clark worked on using flexion during the half-halt to encourage her horse to use the half-halt to rebalance instead of using it to brace against. All the riders got great takeaways from the clinic. Ella Hoover commented that she loved getting to learn new things and getting to meet awesome coaches!
stepped in at the eleventh hour. Keep track of the riders above, no doubt you will hear of them in the future!
Below photo: Speaker Rachel Walshe with the kids Photo: Alisa Hoover
All in all it was a great weekend full of learning and fun in and out of the saddle. Many thanks to NEDA for their support, to Lara Sloan for her help as organizer, and to Beth Beukema and Jane Karol who
! u o Y k n a h T
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NEDA CALENDAR 2020
Be sure to check the NEDA CALENDAR website page for full calendar listings including prize lists, updated and additional information.
DATE
EVENT DESCRIPTION
18 - 19
▲ Gwyneth McPherson Clinic*
RER Ponies, Hatfield, MA
22 - 23
▲ Gwyneth McPherson Clinic*
RER Ponies, Hatfield, MA
JAN. FEB.
**Partners in Education Program events offer special discounts to NEDA members** (Highlighted in yellow)
LOCATION
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REGION 8 NEWS
Holidays T
HAPPY
his newsletter will be short as we are all getting ready for the USDF Convention. I hope to see many of you there!
The US Dressage Finals were a huge success for their seventh year, and Region 8 was WELL represented. I want to give a big THANK YOU Lisa Valone for donating towards the beautiful pads, and Elizabeth Charpentier Allwein for transporting them to Kentucky. They were beautiful and look great in awards photos which we were well represented!!!! AND I mean WELL represented. On Thursday, Region 8 won or was reserved in the championship classes. We did not let down as it seemed every award ceremony we had riders. We did so well that Region 8 was Reserve Champions in the Regions Cup, and we missed the Champion spot by a very narrow margin. I was so proud of our region….I also want to thank all the volunteers that came from Region 8 to US Finals Dressage. Cannot do it without you!
January Newsletter will contain what happened at the convention, and will let you know about Region 8 Spring Meeting. Have a great safe Holiday! HUGS to all your equine friends. See you on the Centerline… Debra Reinhardt
USDF Region 8 Director
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