News & Events
Fort Worth Dressage Club The Fort Worth Dressage Club is a club devoted to dressage and dressage activities for its members. We work throughout the year to FWDC show table provide educational opportunities and fun activities for our members. FWDC holds monthly meetings at Szechuan Chinese Restaurant off Bryant Irving the 4th Monday of every month at 6:30 PM. Check out our pictures of members and activities on our website at www.fortworthdressageclub.com. FWDC hosted a clinic with Bill McMullin, a “S” judge and a USDF Certified Instructor through FEI, a USDF Trainer Faculty Member, and a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medalist. The clinic was held May 21-22 at the Patterson Circle P Ranch in Aledo. This was a very successful clinic with 9 riders at all levels. Mr. McMullen shared his expertise and had many exercises for riders to work on to improve their horse’s performance. Riders and auditors came away with more knowledge and ways to improve their individual horses. We want to again thank the Patterson’s for donating their facility and being such gracious hosts! Circle P, a full boarding facility owned and operated by Jennifer and Mike Patterson, generously donated their beautiful facility, including stalls and lunches, both days to FWDC. Learn more about them at www.pattersoncirclepranch.com. FWDC will hold its schooling show June 5th at Willow Draw in Weatherford. The entry form is on our website. Whether you are riding or watching, please join us for a relaxed, fun show. We will offer the USEF dressage tests, Western dressage, eventing dressage and gaited dressage. FWDC activities throughout the year include our annual awards banquet to recognize members achievements throughout the year, which also includes a silent auction to benefit our Scholarship fund, USDF/USEF Recognized show, schooling show, low cost clinic, pool party, video night and other dressage related activities. This past year we also hosted a bit fitting clinic and brought in an expert in proper bits for your individual horse. It was very well received and a great educational experience. FWDC sends out group e-mails to members to keep them informed of club activities and other dressage events in the community. Let me know if you would like a dressage event known to other dressage enthusiasts and we will get the word out. Join FWDC and learn more about the wonderful sport of dressage. We welcome all levels of riders on all breeds of Rhonda Pool & Plegario horses! w 20
SouthWest Horse Trader June 2022
Competitive Trail News In The SouthWest
LEISURE DIVISION OFFERS STEP UP OR PERMANENT HOME Three years ago the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) introduced the Leisure Division to its trail competitions in every region across the United States. This division of competitive trail offered one-day shorter distances and slower speeds than traditional NATRC events. The Leisure Division When introduced in 2019, the Leisure has been Division (LeD) was targeted at riders new to a Huge distance riding and new to judged trail events. Success! In a very short time, it became clear to NATRC leadership that there was a need for the Leisure Division, not as an introduction to longer, faster 2-day events, but as a destination division. Feedback from LeD competitors confirmed theories that many trail riders loved competing in judged events, but did not have the time to dedicate to conditioning their equine partner to ride longer than 10 miles, faster than 3.5 mph or for two days in a weekend. Beginning in 2021, NATRC began to offer Leisure Division Only competitions. This decision opened up many opportunities to sanction events at more private ranches that could not support 25 miles of trail required for the Open Division. The benefit of the Leisure Division is that it can be a destination division, but it can also be an introduction to Novice or Competitive Pleasure Division that are generally 15-24 miles per day, for one or two days, at 4-5 mph, which is mostly trotting or loping/cantering. LeD takes away the fear of the unknown about distance competitive trail. For more information about NATRC, its Leisure Division and upcoming event, contact Elaine Swiss at swissranch@earthlink.net or for on-line information on natrc.org. w
SUMMER TRAIL EVENTS MOVE TO THE MOUNTAINS
The summer months in the Southwest are bereft of trail competitions as national organizations focus on events in New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Minnesota, the Dakotas and New England. Local organizations like the Texas Trail Challenge Club host fun get-togethers with or without horses at local lakes. Traveling with horses to trail competitions in northern or mountain climes can be refreshing and fun with proper planning. Be sure to secure all necessary equine traveling papers (health certificates) from a licensed veterinarian as you plan your route. Each state has a State Veterinarian and requirements may vary. Overnight accommodations for horses and driver can be found online, and generally are affordable places to garner much-needed rest on the road. Some locations require certified weed-free forage (hay), and many will provide it for purchase. Events in cooler locations can be found for the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), NATRC and others on their websites www.aerc.org and www.natrc.org. w