ESDCTA Collective Remarks Newsletter January 2021

ESDCTA MAGAZINE

COLLECTIVE REMARKS

WWW.ESDCTA.ORG January 2021

Table of Contents 3

President’s Message

6 Volunteer Opportunitites

7

Another Excellent Clinic of Learning

9

News from Outside the Ring

10

Horse Treats

11

The Amateur Dilemma

12 Western Dressage

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Business Members

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President’s Message Happy New Year 2021! As I’m sure everyone is hoping, I’m very optimistic this year will be better than 2020 on so many levels. I would like to thank everyone on the Board and all volunteer members during this past year who worked diligently and creatively to continue the show season, because without everyone pitching in to help, the club would not have been as successful as it was. Everyone brings a wonderful skill set to all our activities, and they complement each other so well.

After many, many years as our Show Results coordinators and volunteers, Jean Goeltz and Bonnie Lynn have expressed their desire to retire from the position, so we will be looking for someone to take over the job. This is a volunteer position that can be done from home and accumulates volunteer hours that can be used for Year End Awards or grants. If you or someone you know would be interested in this position, please contact me at president@esdcta.org, and a huge THANK YOU to both for their thousands of hours in volunteer time over the past 30 years.

Also included in this issue is a list of all the volunteer activities available that will earn you hours that can be used toward year end awards or grants, so check it out.

We have a very exciting year lined up with dates already locked in for all the major shows and cross- country schooling. Dates for clinics, educational opportunities and grants will be emailed out as they become available. Don’t forget to visit the website periodically for all the updated information, and to view the new flip-book which is the printed Omnibus replacement. This will allow us to be as up-to-date as possible.

Look for information very soon on the virtual Awards Banquet in February.

I wish everyone a very successful competition or fun-filled year, in whatever way you choose to enjoy your horse – try not to lose sight of the reason you’re involved with horses!

Holly Cornell President

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Board of Trustees OFFICERS

Phone only before 9 p.m. please

President

Holly Cornell

president@esdcta.org

732.208.8715

Vice President

Ellen Brindle-Clark

vicepresident@esdcta.org

609.351.1054

Secretary

Ruth McCormick

secretary@esdcta.org

201.240.4505

Treasurer

Betty Adduci

treasurer@esdcta

610.564.9169

3340 Curley Ct, Mullins SC 29574 Executive Board Dressage at Large

Jena Rondinelli

datlargeMAL@esdcta.org

732.814.1117

Eventing at Large

Jennifer Duelfer

eatlargeMAL@esdcta.org

732.598.3077

Dressage Competitions

Dr. Lisa Toaldo

dressage@esdcta.org

201.874.0373

Eventing Competitions

Janice Pellegrino

eventing@esdcta.org

Marketing

Erin Gale

marketing@esdcta.org

Membership

Vacant

membership@esdcta.org

Membership

Heidi Lemack

membership@esdcta.org

609.306.8221

Finance

Gary Maholic

finance@esdcta.org

215.489.1557

Education

Victoria Shilton

education@esdcta.org

6093511054

Youth

Stephanie Warner

youth@esdcta.org

NJEAB Representative

Carolyn Montgomery

crunner141@comcast.net

Awards

Becky Kuc

awards@esdcta.org

Calendars/Activities

Mia Zimmerman

activities@esdcta.org

Grants

Vacant

grants@esdcta.org

Equipment

Wilma Pfeffer

dressage@esdcta.org

Newsletter

Meredith Rogers

newsletter@esdcta.org

Nominating

Elisa Banks

nominations@esdcta.org

Omnibus

Mia Zimmerman

calendar@esdcta.org

Show Results

Vacant

results@esdcta.org

OFF BOARD COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Become a friend of the ESDCTA on Facebook Follow us on Twitter @ESDCTA 4

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CROSS COUNTRY...

News Across Our Region COMMUNITY NEWS

Milestone

If you’re reading this, you are probably a member of ESDCTA, but I’m sure you know of someone who rides dressage or events who is not a member. You know all about the wonderful things offered like educational programs, clinics with big name trainers, horse shows, year-end awards, and not least, that sense of being part of a community of likeminded people. The more members ESDCTA has, the better the programs we can offer. Our membership numbers are also important considerations when state and local governments decide on legislature that affects us (like open space), and we advocate for our sports (we’re working on better footing at the HPNJ). Please reach out to your equestrian buddies and tell them about all of the benefits of membership and have them sign up. The more the merrier!

Please Contact Linda Marciante if you know any ESDCTA members who have achieved any Milestones.

Success at a show, regional/national/international award, new horse, or anything else you want to celebrate.

WHAT’S YOUR TALENT??

Let us know what you would like to help us with in 2021. All skills and interests wanted. Have an idea? We want to hear about it. Remember, this club is what YOU make it. Contact president@esdcta.org if you are interested.

NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE

Have a great article that you would like to share?

Please send article to: Meredith Rogers: newsletter@esdcta.org All submissions are due by the 15th of the month. Due to space considerations, the editor reserves the right to edit submitted articles.

If necessary, articles will be edited and returned for your review.

AND YOU GET VOLUNTEER HOUR FOR EACH STORY!

e-mail: lindalbbf@gmail.com

MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS For membership questions including updating physical or e-mail addresses please contact: Heidi Lemack membership@esdcta.org

2021 ADVERTISING RATES

MEMBER NON-MEMBER FULL PAGE $100 $130 HALF PAGE $65 $85 QUARTER PAGE $40 $60 BUSINESS CARD $20 $30 CARD FOR 3 MONTHS $45 $65 CLASSIFIEDS $10 $15 Deadline: 15th of prior month Email: newsletter@esdcta.org Please have electronic ads in Adobe PDF or .jpg format

You will receive an invoice for ad via email.

Send Payment to: Betty Adduci 3340 Curley Ct, Mullins, SC 29574 Email: treasurer@esdcta.org

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ESDCTA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITITES Beginning Dec, 2020 Volunteers are vital to everything the ESDCTA does, and everything we do is for the benefit of our members.

Please, please, please, consider volunteering in 2021. To help you plan your year of giving back, we’ve compiled a list of volunteer opportunities and how many hours you can earn for each. See you in 2021!

ESDCTA Recognized Volunteer Activities – Activities that can be used toward the 6 Hours Required for a Year-End Award, or for a Grant: 

 

       

Memorial Day, Summer Days, and Championship & Open Dressage Shows – hours volunteered o Volunteer coordinator, set-up, scribe, ring steward, warm-up steward, bit check, runner, scoring, awards, stable manager, tear-down XC Schooling at HPNJ – hours volunteered o Check in, out-rider or back field monitor Horse Trials – hours volunteered o Volunteer coordinator, dressage ring set-up, stadium jump set-up, xc decorators, scribes, ring stewards, warm-up stewards for D, SJ, XC, bit check, runners, xc score collectors, scoring, cross country jump judges, timers, stadium jump crew Turkey Trot – hours volunteered o Course marking, check-in, course monitors, course unmarking Article for the Newsletter – 2 hours for each article Organize a clinic – hours approved by the Board Board Position – 12+/- hours, hours approved by the Board Committee member (non-board member) – hours approved by committee Chair Individual Activity (non-board member) – hours approved by the Board o Newsletter, Nominating, Show Results, Order Ribbons & Trophies, others Awards Banquet/Silent Auction help (except time required for a grant) – hours volunteered Recruit new members – 1 hour for each o Each new person or past member who hasn’t renewed in 2 years

ESDCTA Registered Volunteer Activities – Hours can be used toward Remaining Hours Required for a Year‐End Award: 

Volunteer at any ESDCTA Registered Show (shows listed in the Calendar) – hours volunteered, approved by the Show Secretary or Organizer

Additional Information:  

If you cannot complete your volunteer requirements, we offer a volunteer hour buy-in program for $10/hour which can be used as ESDCTA Recognized hours for Year End Awards.

Friends and family or other members that volunteer at an ESDCTA Recognized event can gift their hours to the member who is applying for a Year End Award or grant.

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Another Excellent Clinic of Learning

By Paige Zimmerman

On December 5 and 6, Olivia Steidle Dressage was once again fortunate enough to have Felicitas von NeumannCosel come for a clinic. This clinic was a little smaller and lower key than our previous one, but it was still a wonderful two days of learning. I rode Buddy and Ducati on Saturday, and then on Sunday I rode Buddy once more.

Ducati was excellent for our ride. In the beginning, as we warmed up, he kept breaking into the trot in anticipation since I usually warm him up with a lot of simple changes. We worked on getting him to pay attention to my half-halts and carry more collection without tension, and also without anticipating my next move. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword: his movement is so big and his body is so long that he either gets flat and slow or tight and nervous when he is not completely tapped into the rider. As Felicitas said, “sometimes his mind goes too fast and his body goes too slow”. In the beginning, one exercise we worked on was cantering around the outside track and asking for a downward transition to the walk, and then immediately turning towards the wall of the indoor. Even though the turns were to be immediate, they were not supposed to be fast or disruptive. Felicitas told me not to just drag him around in the circle, but instead to turn him more slowly and deliberately so that he balances his weight back onto his hindquarters. After the turn, I was to do either a transition upwards into counter-canter or true canter, but either way, if I felt that he was not listening to my half-halts and running/ getting flat, I needed to walk and then make another small turn. I quickly felt a positive change in the quality of his gaits once he began to focus on me. This exercise was very helpful for me to figure out the exact moment when my half-halts stopped working and fix the problem before I let it get too out of hand. Once he warmed up and began getting straighter and more through, I got a clean flying change! But since I didn’t ask for it, Felicitas simply had me calmly turn towards the wall again and reset Ducati’s brain to focus on what I was asking of him.

After working in the canter, we did a little bit of lateral rising trot work. By then he was listening to my half-halts and seat wonderfully, so I had a very easy time collectCOLLECTIVE REMARKS

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ing him without tension. We began schooling the trot halfpass, and Felicitas had me rise on the “wrong” diagonal (so that I stood up when the inside front leg came forward). This really encouraged Ducati to reach more with his inside shoulder, and I was able to get better flow in the half-passes. I love this exercise and will continue to use it because it helped me understand how much my core and seat must always direct the horse’s movement and footfalls, even in the rising trot when my seat is not always in the saddle. More recently, Ducati has had some difficulties figuring out how to carry the energy from his hind end through his body in the collection, and so I’ll be remembering Felicitas’s words and exercises to help Ducati better understand these difficult concepts.

As for Buddy, our ride on Saturday was not very good... he just wasn’t himself. But, by the end of the lesson we had broken through a lot of tension and so Sunday he was much better! We worked on similar exercises to what we had done with Ducati the day before, such as the rising trot half-pass while on the opposite diagonal. We also worked a little bit in the walk: Felicitas had me do large turns on the haunches, thinking about using my inside seat bone to encourage Buddy to take a longer step with his inside front leg. She wanted me to feel how to get him to become lighter on his feet and looser in his shoulders, allowing him to lift and extend his inside shoulder in the lateral movements for more expression and angle. We took this idea into the trot and canter half-passes, and I felt that it really helped me figure out how to bend him and get more suppleness, thus allowing for a higher level of collection. It also helped me get more sideways movement and angle without just putting my outside leg on harder.

I had a wonderful time, and I certainly learned a lot in this clinic! Though our next clinic will probably not be until the Spring, I have a lot of homework to work through and I’ve gained many helpful new exercises to use with all of the horses I ride. I’m so grateful to Olivia and Brenda for allowing me to ride both Buddy and Ducati when Felicitas comes. Their support and encouragement mean everything to me and these are opportunities of a lifetime!

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News from Outside the Ring Horses Helped Save the World Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard about the new COVID-19 vaccines. They’re development timelines were unprecedented, especially since they use a different route of protection than what we’re familiar with. With standard vaccines either a portion of the germ or a less virulent form is used to make the vaccine. With the COVID-19 vaccines, messenger RNA is injected, which teaches our own cells to make part of the virus that our immune system then recognizes similarly to a regular vaccine. Both RNA and DNA are the genetic instructions that make us, us, and continue to keep us on the move. Basically, DNA (our genes) is turned into RNA (the courier), which then provides the instructions to our cells to make the proteins that our body uses to function. However, while the COVID-19 vaccines are new, it would be false to say they were new technology. Experimentation into vaccines using genetic materials has been ongoing for years. In fact, the very first genetic vaccine (a DNA vaccine) was FDA approved way back in 2005. It was a West Nile virus vaccine for horses developed

by Fort Dodge Animal Health. Fort Dodge decided to cease production after approval, but this vaccine set the stage for the research that led to the introduction of the new COVID-19 vaccines. Isn’t science cool!?!

New Year, New Eventing Dressage Tests Starting January 1, a bunch of new rules are taking effect thanks to the USEF and FEI. Regarding eventing, if you compete at FEI CCI2* events, be prepared for new Test A and B tests – the movements are the same, just the wording has changed. If you show at FEI CCI3* events, there is a new Test B, and if you compete at CCI1* events, a new test will be coming mid-January. There are no other FEI or USEF eventing dressage test changes.

Harmonic Dressage Book Gail Hoff, PhD

Ride Back to Front Master Half Halts Develop Good Feel Correct Flexion, Bending And Much More Buy a Signed Copy at wwww.LosAlamosDressage.com

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Horse Treats By, Meredith Rogers

Sometimes funny stories just happen to involve horses. Life really is stranger than fiction. Enjoy...

On May 29, 2011, Alexander Forbes was attending a protest at the Maribyrmong Immigration Detention Centre in Australia. He subsequently decided to sue the police, claiming he was salivated on by a police horse, causing his clothing to become wet, and he further became upset when others noticed the amount of horse saliva on his clothes.

After September 2013, a 63-cm miniature horse named Charlie was kidnapped from his stall at the National Horse Show in Citta di Castello, Italy. Reported to be the world’s smallest horse, police suspected Charlie was being held by the Italian mafia for ransom. The horse has since been found in a secluded area about 250 miles from where he went missing.

Todd Helton retired from the Colorado Rockies baseball team on September 25, 2013, after 17 seasons. Instead of a watch, however, the team presented him with a horse.

The then-6-year-old, black tobiano American Paint Horse gelding is a three-time champion (roping events) named NXS A Tru Bustamove; he came with a custom saddle. Mr. Helton does have a ranch and recently purchased a horse for his daughter, so he won’t be trying to stuff the gelding in an apartment or anything like that. .

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The Amateur Dilemma By, Meredith Rogers

I am sure I am not alone in breathing a sigh of relief that we made it through 2020.

Many did not. To our horses, going from December 31 to January 1 is no different than going from November 30 to December 1 or from December 15 to December 16 for that matter. They expect to be fed, go out with their friends, and see us. But, for us humans, it signals both an ending and a beginning. We look back at where we were and how much we grew (or didn’t), and plan for the future. However, this year, the changing of the calendar has a bit more meaning. Both as individuals and as a society, we’ve been through a lot and we are all changed for it.

So where do we go from here? We will never go back to the way things were exactly, and that might be a good thing. This pandemic has taught us that we cannot survive (literally) without each other. The horse community has always been tight, and this past year showed how much we care about each other. We wore masks to protect our friends; to provided financial support where we could, and just were cheerleaders for each other. There was also a lot of progress in making horse sports more inclusive. We are now not afraid to talk about the importance of diversity, and I’ve seen improvements on this front in the form of equestrian articles and advertisements that feature persons of color.

I’m not one to make resolutions, but this year I’m going to try to be kinder, because you never know how heavy someone’s burden is. I’m going to speak up if I see or hear something that brings others down, so no more keeping silent at inappropriate jokes or comments. I’m going to try to shop small and local to help my neighbors who may be struggling to live their dreams. I’m going to make sure my friends and family know how much I appreciate them instead of assuming they know. I’m going to take my dog for more walks because that’s how she knows I love her (that and treats, but I don’t want a porker this time next year). I’m going to make sure my horses are given the best chance to succeed, and with my riding, I’m going to invest my all. Not that I haven’t been doing this already, but I’m going to be more conscious of and more deliberate in the choices I make, including taking more chances.

My motto has always been “buy the purple shoes”. I read this a number of years back in a story about an old woman who was asked her secret to happiness. She said to not be afraid of what others think of you and to do what makes you smile. If you want to wear purple shoes even when everyone else is wearing black, then buy the purple shoes and be damned! There are so many other ways to say this, such as “life is too short, so live it to the fullest,” and “you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than those that you did.” The year 2020 brought this home in more ways than one. Here’s to a better 2021 for everyone.

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Western Dressage It’s All About The Journey

By Joann Sarni

I found out that waiting for the results of a show as massive as the 2020 World Show can raise your anxiety level to new heights. You watch your videos over and over again, picking them apart over the slightest things and you start to wonder if you were good enough to even enter such as show as this.

In total, 15 judges had to judge 2,267 rides from 50 classes. Imagine being the show secretary for this one! The WDAA show secretaries, Susan Peacock and Dini Swanson, sent an email at the end of “Phase 3” that the judging was complete and they would announce the placings on November 10.

The WDAA Social Coral was buzzing with pictures of riders and their horses, as were all passing the time away as we waited for the results. My test scores were posted to my personal account and emailed to me with the judge’s comments a week prior to the class placings. I was very happy to learn that Blondie and I scored a 64.75% in Test 3 and a 66.667% in Test 4. Would that put me in contention for a ribbon? Probably not, especially with 123 entries in Test 3 and 96 entries in Test 4. I knew that my horse and I did the best we could and that’s all I could ask for.

DRUMROLL PLEASE! As promised, on November 10 at 8 pm, the results were in.

Blondie and I placed in the top 50 in both Test 3 and 4. We also placed 12th out of 26 in the Amateur Horsemanship/Pattern B class. This was more than I expected from a horse that was restarted in March from an injury. This gave me the confidence to continue to compete on a national level.

I watched my tests again. This time along with the judge’s comments, and I made note of where I needed to improve. Comments included, “horse drifting on centerline,” “bracing in downward transitions,” “tight legs,” etc. All these critiques were put into my toolbox to fix for next year.

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STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE “If you quit now…You’ll end up right back where you first began. And when you first began, you were desperate to be where you are right now. KEEP GOING!” – Joann Williams, who competes at WD 4th Level and scores consistently in the 80’s with her Welsh Cob Gelding named Gallod FFantastic posted this on the WDAA Social Coral after the entries had closed for the World Show. Many riders like myself started to question the decision of entering this show. She posted this phrase with the comment “Somebody needs to see this today.”

She was right. We did.

Stepping out of your comfort zone is part of The Journey. I took that post to heart, copied it, and pasted it where I can see it. Regardless of what your personal goals are, quit now and you will never achieve your goal.

My goal for 2021 is to finish in the top 20 at the Intro Level and place in the Horsemanship class at the 2021 Virtual World Show in June. I also want to compete in Basic Level Test 1 & 2 by September for the WDAMI BOSS Fall Show. It’s going to take a lot of hard work to get there, but…If you quit now…. You’ll end up right back where you first began. And when you first began, you were desperate to be where you are Right Now. KEEP GOING!” Have a happy and healthy new year everyone and I hope to see you in the ring next year.

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World Show Stats:

NJ Western Dressage Page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2954634571241516 Western Dressage Association of America: https://westerndressageassociation.org/

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BUSINESS MEMBERS Jersey Palms Farm

Rhythm and Blues Stables

177 S. Stump Tavern Road Jackson NJ, 08527 609.213.5745 KWLYNX@comcast.net www.jerseypalmsfarm.com

12 Hill Rd. Allentown NJ 08501 609 306-8221 RBLStables@aol.com www.rhythmandbluesstables.com

Anjelhart Equestrian Center

Irish Manor Stables

38 Millers Mill Rd, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 609.758.7676 lacavacreations@aol.com www.Anjelhart.com

718 Sergeantsville RoadStockton, NJ 08559 908.237.1281 info@irishmanorstables.com www.irishmanorstables.com

Good Times Farm

Heart’s Journey Stable

278 Jackson Mills Road, Freehold, NJ 07728 732.409.2882 gtts@optonline.net www.GoodTimeFarm.com

425 Kromer Road Wind Gap, PA 18091 610.863.6616 mmorehouse@epix.net www.heartsjourneystables.com

Equisential Equine LLC 111 Snyder Ave Bellmar NJ 08031 717.649.4799 bryner.2@gmail.com

EVENT CALENDAR ESDCTA’s Calendar contains the complete and up to date list of ESDCTA’s registered shows. It also contains other activities that ESDCTA feels are important to our community.

Click the link to view The Event Calendar

https://www.esdcta.org/home/omni-calendar/ COLLECTIVE REMARKS

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WWW.ESDCTA.ORG January 2021 COLLECTIVE REMARKS

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