Dressage4Kids - Atlanta Youth Festival

2013 Dressage4Kids

Elizabeth Molloy - Owner, Trainer, Coach at Taramia Riding School, Cumming, GA, shares her story taking her students to 2013 Dressage4Kids, Michigan Festival Once again, preparing for a trip is half the fun and the excitement was building while I did last day errands of picking up the rental car, a few groceries for the drive, and batteries for the camera. I actually had a full days of riding and lessons to do and hoped to hit the road by 12 noon. Okay, 1:00 PM. We always take the scenic Hwy 53 out to get to I-75 which is windy through the North Georgia mountains but fly by it on the way back preferring straight roads after a long drive.

First stop Louisville, KY to see our now good friends we met last year at MI D4K, Allison and daughter Madison Deaton.

We were a scramble team last year, being sent by US Pony Club, and had only finally met at the actual show. I was so nervous hauling that far last year and Allison had offered her gracious Kentucky hospitality both then and now, putting us up for the night. We ate

nice supper in and simply swapped horse show stories.

Madison had tragically lost her horse last year, had bought her new one Stuart who then randomly colicked and is now recovering, putting her on Plan C, a borrowed horse whom she proudly displayed her 1st Place ribbons and High Point award showing First Level under renown judge Janet Foy. This was firing up Nick, who because he trains privately at home vs. a big boarding stable, gets quite competitive when he sees his would be competition.

And Yes. I do that on purpose!

After two days on the road, setting up base camp at my family’s and a trip down memory lane to my high school with Nick and one of my street gurl buddies, we reached the gates of the lovely Kim & Frederick Boyer’s Hampton Green Farm. We had arrived!

Nick and Raj performing Training Level 2. Photo credit Kevin Lund The entrance to Hampton Green Farm

This year we opted NOT to bring a horse, saving our hauling $s for US Pony Club Championships instead, and brought prize donations from Liz Pizzo Equine Designs including a nice framed print.

Also different this year was for me to observe the behind the scenes as I was determined to bring this event down to Atlanta. I locate the Show Secretary Tent and unloaded my art loot to approving nods and see what I can do to help. Then we settle in to watch Lendon’s EDAP clinic.

EDAP is the Emerging Dressage Athlete Program in which students apply for online and has interest grows in an area can come “to an arena near you!” This is a two day clinic so were watching the improved 2nd day’s work, and at all levels.

Students had a variety of issues from being slightly timid on their new horse to achieving the cadence of the Passage.

Lyn Kendall, the Show Manager was gracious enough to arrange to have owner Jennifer Kaiser bring over her sale horse Friesian for Nick to ride. This meant he was increasing his own handicap by catch riding.

Most competitors were on their own horse.

This had lots of potential to go really wrong as he didn’t even have an opportunity to ride the day before the show, only day OF the show.

PAELLA BEING SLOW COOKED OVER COALS IN THE GROUND. FREDERICK BOYER LOVES TO COOK AND PROVIDED WONDERFUL SPANISH INFLUENCED FOOD. AT LUNCH NICK CORRECTED ME REFERENCING TO WHAT I THOUGH WAS QUICHE AS “NO MOM, THAT’S FRATA DE POTATOE!”

By now the clinics were winding down and this wonderful aroma of Paella being cooked over ground coals promised a delicious dinner.

I was meeting with Betsy LaBelle who had helped form our Pony Club Team last year and now was endeavoring to bring D4K down to Area III Regionals in 2014. She applauded my enthusiasm to come to Michigan 2 years in a row now and wanted to put our heads together to bring it to our new locations. We are

sitting a random table, way in the back of the set up, that I would later describe as it had to be worse table on grounds because of the slant (quite literally one side was 12” lower than the other due to the natural grass terrain, we were almost catching our food before it slid off the plate) when suddenly she references a mild mannered young man sitting quietly a chair next to Nick as “Liz and Nick, I’d like you to meet Nicholas Fyffe”, which was the keynote speaker of the evening. I am quick to recover from my

look of embarrassment that I didn’t recognize him and shake his hand.

While we had googled him, I am the first to admit I have a hard time keeping up with what’s going in Georgia, let alone the USA , so that would make chasing what the Aussies are up to not quite in my bandwith. But of course, this is why we attend an event like this to jump beyond ourselves to learn from the best!

Lendon spoke briefly and then handed things over to Nicholas Fyffe who shared his story of growing up with horses as his Mother and grandfather had race horses. He credits his parents to this day for being the most influential teachers of Horsemanship and work ethic that their lifestyle demonstrated on a daily basis. He spoke fondly of his first pony (Shetland of course) “Tinkerbell” and their vivid memories including the fact he was only allowed to groom for the first year as they were both at the seasoned age of 3 years old each. He was a member of his local Pony Club, competed locally in his youth, and by high school caught the eventing bug.

This was fueled by the success of the Australian Olympic team securing Gold at the 1992, 1996 and then the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 1999, Nicholas became obsessed enough to approach the Olympic Coach Heath Ryan for a working student position which he did and remained there for 3 years. He started and competed young horses, became the stud manager for the Ryan’s breeding program; he competed almost every weekend in either Dressage, S/J or Eventing for the Ryans and got his first exposure to International Competition.

He also passed his exams and became accredited Level 1 Coach with the NCAS.

Nicholas Skillen sitting with Nicholas Fyffe

He groomed at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain for Heath Ryan who has successful in both 3-Day Eventing and Dressage.

While preparing for the Games in Germany for six weeks leading up to them, he came to a firm decision to concentrate on Dressage Only. He went Pro at the age of 20, citing that Ignorance can be Bliss.

He was lucky to have Bonnie Holstein take him under his wing, providing him horses which resulted in a World Ranking at the end of 2003 and the title of Youngest Grand Prix Rider at the Austrialian National Championships.

From that point on, he traveled a good bit between Germany and Austrailia continuing to build his successful career.

His business Nicholas Fyffe Dressage is currently residing in Toronto , Canada during the summer and Wellington, FL in the winter.

Nick taking his test glaring at me for being too close

2013

Dressage4Kids

Nick and Raj performing Training Level 2. Photo credit Kevin Lund

Next morning, 8 am Test Taking time!

Lendon is very serious about her tests, removes cell phones from the tables, spreads the kids out and so no same test takers are at one table, and this year, didn’t even give them back, only allowing them to be looked at. Nick had studied on the 2 day drive up but I was nervous for him. Last year he scored only an 88 which started him off in 4th place where he finished. This year he improved to a 92 which was a great relief securing him 2nd place. Lendon by now had heard of Nick catch riding and was somewhat intrigued, wishing him “Good Luck” sarcastically. As we went to help unload horses and setup the stall, I laughed at the ingenuity of using a snow sleigh to haul the heavy stuff across the grass.

I had 20 minutes to quickly throw in a French Braid before the Turn Out Inspection. I simply let Nick know that this year, we weren’t there to win that piece of the competition. “Raj” as they

called Siraj, was a drop dead gorgeous stereotypical Friesian.

Stoic, just awaited his commands and reeked of all the wonderful breed characteristics you find in Friesian.

Nick at Turn Out Inspection. After doing Formals for Pony Club, this is a breeze!

Nick put in a very solid steady test except for a minor mistake preparing for the Stretch Circle which has become Nick’s nemisis. Siraj was beautiful and for a minute I started calculating what I could sell in order to purchase him.

After the ride, Nicholas Fyffe’s job is to provide feedback for the kids.

He complimented Nick on his steady hands and encouraged him to wear white gloves. He also nodded with approval of keeping the horse in his nice 2nd level frame citing that he carried himself well.

Shortly thereafter, we were estatic to learn that Nick earned a 69.107%, leading his division, which, owner Jen was Thrilled with.

Off to the Warm Up back in the Indoor, where I reminded Nick to use more outside aides turning as he was a heavier horse than we were used to.

Owner Jen nodded approvingly at their progress and then we were up.

Siraj’s owner Jen Kaiser happy with our ride.

Having a break in our day now, It was Nick’s turn for the mandatory volunteer time. The Show staff remembered how much Nick enjoyed last year and assigned him again the Porta Potty Duty, much to his chagrin!

2013

Dressage4Kids snow sleigh to haul the heavy stuff

Nicholas Fyffe giving Nick

After lunch, it was time for Equitation, the group class back in the indoor.

Nick decided to drop his stirrups one hole longer right before he went in which only lead him to a comment that his leg got drawn up and he should shorten them a hole. While he rode steadily and kept the horse nicely in his frame, he also misheard an instruction that was meant for another rider due to there not being a microphone, leading the entire class the wrong way around the arena. So, Nick came out of this feeling like he did quite poorly.

Bummed out, he took care of Raj and offered to help load the trailer trying to shake this off while I went and checked his score.

My family was with me, and Uncle Jerry had to almost sit on me while I squirmed insisting I let Nick find out himself that he had actually won the class! Equitation scores don’t quite

points. This I took to heart and am still advising it to my students.

follow typical dressage scores and can be high in the 80’s and even 90s. Last year Nick earned an 82, but this year due to the consistency of his ride, he earned an 85%, leading the class by half of a percentage point! His competition was Very Good.

I look forward to bringing Dressage4Kids down to Atlanta. We will run a one day event to get this off the ground. I am honored to have invited Gwen Poulin as our Keynote Speaker. Mark your calenders for October 19 and 20, 2013 at the Georgia International Horse Park. See you there!

Lendon presenting Nick with High Point Award and poses

Equitation Score Sheet

This put Nick into the lead of the entire division. Nick also won High Point Training Level !

After all the formal pictures, Kim Boyer and Lendon encouraged Nick to think about WIT in Florida at the Hampton Green Farms Wellington locating. They offer stall sponsorship and chatted about how people maneuver through school.

This experience has created an opportunity to meet top riders and get a glimps of how they earned their success.

This carries an underlying theme of Preparedness meets Opportunity, as no rider got to where they are without working really hard. I appreciate the educational piece to this show, as we had Lorraine Stubbs “O” close us out with her brief story of attending the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, and what could any rider down to the Intro kids do to improve their tests. She encouraged everyone to think about their halts as that is 20 points of your test.

Concentrating on the straightness and immobility can allow you to keep more of those

Lendon Gray's Dressage4Kids coming to Atlanta October 19 & 20, 2013 at the GIHP (Ga. International Horse Park) DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM

http://www.taramiaridingschool.com/ Atlanta_Youth_Festival.php All the riders in front of Hampton Green Farm.

Back in Indoor for Equitation Class