DreSSage & Ct

www.midsouthhorsereview.com • ©Mid-South Horse Review • April, 2022 17. dressage & Combined training

Bunny Hop USDF Show

Article & photos by Nancy Brannon mid-South Dressageacademy (mDa), hernando, miss., started its 2022 Dressage show season march 26-27, 2022 with the uSDf rated Bunny hop Dressage Show. Judge was Debbie riehl rodriguez “S” from Colorado, with tD Joyce hardesty. owner elizabeth Clifton was pleased with the turnout, although she said this is usually their smallest show of the year, owing to the weather and the fact that folks haven’t had much opportunity to ride. however, the fair weather and pleasant temperatures (high 50s, low 60s) drew riders from a five-state area: Louisiana, alabama, arkansas, tennessee and mississippi.there was a full day of rides both days, running from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. elizabeth was also pleased to see at least six young riders at this show (ages 15-18) who were riding at third and fourth levels. Caitlyn massey, of massar Stables in arlington, tenn., rode mikato at third and fourth levels and scored a whopping 80% in uSef Dressage Seat equitation. randi Cron, of huntsville, ala., rode expertaCB at third level, scoring 68.250%. Lauren hammond, also from massar Stables, rode fantasia at third level and uSDf Dressage Seat equitation, scoring 76.000%. emerson Blandford, of murfreesboro, tenn., rode Stortebeker in fei young riders. aislin falasco rode unscripted at third level, scoring 68.125%.and last year’s first and second level champion adeline Batcheller brought a young horse (5-year-old) to show at training level.

“it’s nice to have a bunch of young riders coming along so well, ” elizabeth said. mDa will host a Jr./young riders clinic June 3-4, 2022 with Jos Sevriens, followed by a schooling show June 5th.

there is always delicious, nutritious food for lunch at mDa, too. a solid favorite is the rosemary bread that elizabeth gets from mrs. hippie eats in downtown hernando. [check it out at https://www.mrshippieeats.com/] the bread is fresh baked from scratch with no preservatives. on Saturday at this show, there was a green salad, homemade egg salad, and homemade (made by marty, from scratch) chocolate chip cookies. alex du Celliee muller had a high score of 76.200% in the uSDf materiale Class on nikita 3h. natasja kraska rode her new horse navarro d’noble in training level, scoring 70.345%. amanda molter had high scores of over 70% on Diamond Caliente in third level. find full results from this show at www.foxvillage.com. next at mDais the fairytales-themed schooling show april 24, and the uSDf Spring time shows,april 30-may 1.

Aislin Falasco on Unscripted

Ashley Martin on pixelated GWF Deborah Gordon on lantonio Jill Zednick on Virtuoso

Another Chapter?

By Adara, a German Riding Pony, as recorded by rider Michele Harn; Photo by Sara Ryerson there’s a strange light headed towards my pasture. What’s going on? it’s 5:30 a.m. on Saturday march 19, 2020 so it’s pitch black. fox hunting season is over so i’m confused. i should be on break! “Darry Doodle, where are you?” she calls out into the night. i try to hide behind a tree, but my glistening white hair, thanks to the bath i had yesterday, gives me away.

“We have a new adventure today. you ’re gonna love it!” She must be writing a novel because i’ ve lost track of how many “new adventures” we’ ve gone on. Let’s see, there’s been Carriage Driving, Combined Driving, Competitivetrail riding with obstacles, and fox hunting so far. turns out, this one is new for her too; something about dancing and jumping. maybe this has something to do with the endless roundy-round trotting we’ ve been doing lately. i’m happy for the hay net in the trailer and pleased i didn’t have to be confined for long. She says we’re going to Southwind Stables in olive Branch. mississippi for a Ct (combined test). it’s still dark as we arrive, but i smell horses, so i’m sure it’ll be okay. my girl takes me on a walk in an arena with lots of painted, cut-up trees. She says something about trotting over these painted branches later this morning after we do a dance in the covered arena. after brushing me so much i thought i’d be bald, she puts on my saddle and bridle and we go ride with the painted branches. other horses and their people join us. Soon we’re headed over to the covered arena for our turn to dance. the lady at the table rings a bell and we go off to the right. i hate going to the right, so i let my girl know about it. then the lady at the table rings the bell again. oops, my girl kept me trotting when i was supposed to walk. i’m patient with her, knowing she must be nervous trying something new. after some time at the trailer with my hay net, we go back to the painted branches. i was so excited to canter, but my girl said,

“no, we need to trot and develop rhythm and relaxation. ” i think she over-uses those words. i like trotting over the painted branches and hope she’ll bring me here again. Before we leave, they give her a paper with numbers and words on it. the lady at the table wrote that i have “nice bounce, ” but that my girl needed to keep me “between the legs. ” i hope that doesn’t mean more roundy-round trotting. oh, and they also give my girl a pretty ribbon and a cup filled with peppermints for me. i like this place! on the way home, i think about how fun the day was and how i hope she’ll take me to more Cts. i tell the other horses at home about it and now they want to go, too. But i’m the special one who goes places and they stay home. it’s good to be sparkling white so i’m easy to find.

Southwind Stables Ct on march 19 was the first of several in the 2022 memphis eventing series. these Combined tests include a Dressage test and a stadium jumping course.

Michele Harn aboardAdara

18. April, 2022 • ©Mid-South Horse Review • www.midsouthhorsereview. com Freedom Reigns Ranch Fundraiser

Photos by MG Equine Photos freedom reigns ranch held a fundraiser horse show at Walnut trace farm in nashville, tenn.on march 26-27, 2022. the show featured a variety of classes, from Jumper divisions with gambler’s Choice and equitation; games; hunter equitation, and beginner classes. there was even a special prize for the best

decorated horse and rider. this was a lotsof-fun show with 100% of the proceeds going to freedom reigns ranch and its mission to serve young folks who have experienced significant trauma or challenging circumstances in their lives. and sometimes horses need rescue from traumatic circumstances. freedom reigns provides care for rescued horses, too. thanks to maya goldfarb for sharing some of her photos with us. See more photos at: https://mgphotos.squarespace.com. Freedon Reigns founder Carissa Ramsdell (left) with a show competitor

© MSHR

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