November 2016 YourDressage

YourDressage

November 2016

At the US Dressage Finals presented

by AdequanÂŽ with Lysa Hodgson

A United States Dressage Federation Publication

Welcome to Your Wonderful World of Dressage YourDressage is compiled by the United States Dressage Federation, written by participants from throughout the dressage community. The articles in this publication are submitted by people like you to share and be shared by all. Experience their stories as they navigate through the wonderful world of dressage and become friends with your dressage community.

It’s YourDressage, be part of it! If you would like to submit your story see the last page of this publication.

Get Connected

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

Give us your feedback. #yourdressage

What to See Inside Departments on the podium: LIDA Honors a Leader Raul de Leon was honored for his many years of service in furthering the sport of dressage on Long Island.

SADDLE SORES: Tales of a Horse Show Organizer: Chapter One Christina Keim shares her lessons learned on appropriate show volunteer footwear YOUNG & INSPIRED: My NAJYRC Experience For Rebecca Roman competing at NAJYRC is a dressage career highlight.

Heard ARound the Arena: At the 2016 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® Competitors got on social media to share their experiences USDF flashback: A Look Back at the USDF Conventions Recollections of the USDF annual meetings GMO SPOTLIGHT: Kansas City Dressage Society (KCDS) Take a look at this group member orginization.

Feature From Captain to Coach

Emily Stearns joined the Intercollegiate Dressage Association team and transitioned from captain to coach.

Cover story The Final Chapter

We get the final story on two of our riders from “The Road to the Finals” series.

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

2

on the podium

LIDA Honors a Leader

By Doreen Rose

A

fter a long career, filled with numerous awards and distinctions from around the world and being licensed as an instructor in seven different countries, the Long Island Dressage Association (LIDA) was proud to finally honor Raul de Leon for his many years of service in furthering the sport of dressage on Long Island, a place he has called home for many years.

Raul moved to the United States, from Cuba, in the 1960s.

A former Cuban junior jumping champion, he furthered his career in the United States by working closely with former United States Equestrian Team Coach Bertalan de Nemethy. From 1984 to 1990, Raul and Tad Coffin, an Olympic three-day eventing gold medalist, served as co-directors of the Westmoreland Davis

Raul de Leon being presented Honorary LIDA Membership by LIDA President Mary Mulcahy

Equestrian Institute at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia. When his contract ended with Morven Park, he returned to Long Island, where he continues to teach and train to this day. Raul has spent many dedicated years sharing his dressage knowledge and expertise with his students.

Raul is well-known and respected for applying classical principles to all disciplines, and has produced generations of talented riders for our sport.

Throughout his career, he taught instructors’ clinics, co-sponsored by the FEI and the International Olympic Committee, in South and Central America. In 1994, he was honored as American Riding Instructors Association’s (ARIA) Instructor of the Year.

Then in 2008, Raul was awarded the prestigious designation of Master Instructor, ARIA’s highest honor.

The Long Island Dressage Association presented Raul with his Honorary Membership at a recent General Membership

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

on the podium

Meeting. Raul was presented with a ribbon and a personalized plaque. Many of Raul’s students shared stories of when they first met Raul, and how much he has taught and inspired them throughout the years. Many thanked him for the seemingly endless patience he displays during lessons, never getting upset about repeating himself over and over (and sometimes over again)!

What mattered to him was teaching the importance of perfecting the basics of dressage. One student spoke of how much she admired Raul for his genuine interest in teaching. She mentioned that he pays the same amount of strict attention to detail with his beginner riders as he does during lessons with his most advanced students. Raul feels each student is equally deserving of quality instruction. Those in attendance could see the student’s admiration and respect for Raul.

After he was presented with his award, Raul reminisced about Raul de Leon instructing Long Island student Erin Bleakney

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

on the podium

his younger days, and shared stories of how he first learned to ride, and the series of events that led him to the United States from Cuba. Raul was very touched by the evening that was held in his honor.

Raul’s impact is far reaching, and the Long Island Dressage Association is proud to honor him for his service to our sport.

Congratulations Raul, and thank you for many dedicated years of furthering the sport of dressage!

Click here to rate this story . #yourdressage

Raul de Leon riding

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

saddle sores

Tales of a Horse Show Organizer: Chapter One

By Christina Keim

A

s I was getting ready to head up on a Saturday morning to volunteer at a Green Mountain Horse Association (GMHA) spring horse trial as a show jumping judge, I debated my footwear.

I mean, I wasn’t really going to be around the horses directly, or standing, so I could just wear something casual and comfortable, right?

Then, I remembered Chapter One from my someday to be published book, “Tales of a Horse Show Organizer,” and I threw my paddock boots in the car.

Chapter One: Consider Your Footwear At a show one particularly notable year, we were positively stuffed to capacity with entries.

Eighty stalls of temporary stabling were full, with overflow in the main barn and even a few stashed at neighboring facilities.

To accommodate these riders, we set up a fourth dressage arena.

The facility layout is a little bit

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

saddle sores

sprawling, with most of the show (secretary’s tent, scoring, awards, three arenas, and one large warm up) clustered together; stabling is out of sight from this, around the corner and down the road. Ring four was set adjacent to stabling, so for the competitors down there, I would imagine it felt like they were at a completely different horse show. Though we had radio communication with the group up the road, for the most part we had little awareness of what, specifically, was going on down there.

I was scoring as per usual; my two pugs and I were stationed in the air conditioned trailer, surrounded by computers, calculators, printers, and white out.

Historically, our dressage shows seem to be plagued by high temps, humidity, and sometimes disruptive thunderstorms. While I wore my traditional khaki shorts and polo, in deference to my scheduled role as scorer and the heat, I only had a pair of Crocs with me.

Sometime towards late morning on the first day of the show,

we received a call that the EMT was urgently needed down at the warm up for Ring Four. A rider had been bucked off and landed quite badly, certainly concussed.

The speaker reported that the horse had headed down the road at a pretty good gallop, towards the dairy facility…which borders a busy intrastate.

Everyone leapt into action; the EMT was mobilized, the TD notified, show staff buzzing here, there, and everywhere. I kept waiting to hear on the radio that the horse had been caught; the call never came. I picked up my own radio and asked if anyone had caught the horse, or knew where the horse was. No response.

The horse was loose. No one was looking for the horse. The horse was heading for a busy highway.

I hopped into the car and sped off for the dairy facility.

When I arrived, one of the dairymen, all casual like, said to me (in a true New Englander accent), “We were a-wondrin when ah you hoss ladies was gonna

come looking”.

“So the horse came through here?”

“Ayuh.” I glanced around and saw neither tracks nor a horse.

“Which way?”

“It upset the cows, ya know.”

“I am sorry about that.

Which way, please?”

He vaguely gestured off towards the edge of the facility, towards the wooded tree line. I took off in that direction at a jog.

Somewhere in this process, I had thought to call our barn manager and have her notify the local police. As I neared the trees, I caught sight of horse tracks—the horse was clearly still moving at speed, and headed straight into the woods.

So there I am—running after a loose horse (which I still have not seen), towards the highway, in my Crocs, in a swamp. And all of a sudden I just sort of sunk in—my foot slid into a print from the horse and the next thing I knew, I was stuck almost hip deep in the muck, with one leg. I managed to extricate both my leg and my trusty Croc, and I was totally November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

saddle sores

covered in swamp mud. My colleague Sarah had now caught up to me; she was a distance runner and had jogged the entire way, catching up to the same farmer and then following me into the brush. Together, we made our way out through the rest of the swamp and broke out onto the

shoulder of the highway. It wasn’t clear which way the horse had turned, so we each headed in a different direction and began running.

I kept waiting to hear squealing brakes, or galloping feet, but after a few minutes, I was instead approached by a cruiser with blue

lights flashing. Sarah was sitting in the passenger seat, and the officer rolled down his window.

“The horse has been caught, and I saw you two out here, so I figured I would give you a ride,” he said.

“Hop in”. I slid into the back seat.

Fun fact: The back seat of police cruisers is just a plastic shell, which worked out quite well for my “swamp creature” self.

As the officer drove us back, we came upon our naughty dressage horse—a beautiful, flashy chestnut with chrome, still in full tack, BEING RIDDEN by a gentleman in his tennis shoes and shorts. The man was clearly a horseman, and rode in the style of a saddleseat rider or similar.

The horse’s head was up and he was smartly stepping along as the gentleman purposefully trotted him along the side of the road.

We provided police escort to the pair all the way off the highway and back to the Ring 4 warm up, where the whole situation had begun. The rider did not let up on the horse until they had reached the arena, where he smartly dis-

mounted and took the reins over the head.

The horse’s owner ended up receiving offsite medical treatment, but her barn mates assumed possession of her horse and we broke up to continue our respective duties of show management. The advantage of my Croc attire was that with a good hosing, I looked moderately presentable and was only modestly stinky for the rest of my day in scoring.

But I will say that, if I had to do the whole thing again, more sensible shoes would have been appropriate. It doesn’t really matter what job you are supposed to be doing at the horse show, I guess there is always a chance you will need to catch a loose horse.

And this is why at GMHA, I wore paddock boots for my nonhorse involved volunteer role.

I still have the Crocs.

Click here to rate this story . #yourdressage

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

YOUNG & INSPIRED

My NAJYRC Experience

By Rebecca Roman aving the opportunity to compete at the FEI North American Junior/ Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) is definitely the highlight of my dressage career, so far. I competed in the Young Rider division in 2015 and 2016, and the relationships and memories I made at this event will last forever.

The road to the competition itself can be very challenging physically, mentally, and emotionally. The qualifying period is one of the most difficult aspects of the NAJYRC, because you are competing against your friends for a spot on the team. It is not easy to be supportive of fellow riders during this time, because everyone desperately wants to make the team, and only four riders are chosen. This past year, there were nine girls trying to qualify for the Young Rider team for my region, Region 3. Stakes were very high and the competition was tough. Qualifying for

PODCAST

H

Podcast Alert

Check our podcast 137 for an interview with NAJYRC triple gold medalist Nicholas Hansen

the team, with so many other talented riders, was such an honor and privilege.

If someone were to ask me what my favorite part of the NAJYRC competition was, I would not be able to give them just one answer. In my opinion, there is not one part of the competition that is better than another, and everything that goes on for the entire week is enjoyable. This past year, the opening ceremony was one of the more memorable nights of the week. The ceremony was held at the Promise Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center and, over the course of the night, there was a cutting demonstration, a live band, a bull ride, and a giant bouncy house. The memories of dancing the night away with all the other Region 3 girls will stay with me forever.

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

YOUNG & INSPIRED

The competition itself is such a unique experience because you are able to watch other riders, competing in different disciplines. It’s always fun to hang out and watch the cross country. I was amazed at the fitness of the horses, galloping

through those courses. My delicate dressage horse, while he’s in great physical shape, would not make it through one of those courses. I also loved watching the show jumpers. I started jumping when I first began riding, but quickly realized that

I did not have the nerve to jump over things more than a foot off the ground, which resulted in my transition to dressage. The dressage portion of the competition is, of course, my favorite. Aside from competing in the event, the best November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

YOUNG & INSPIRED

part is cheering on the other girls in my region, both Juniors and Young Riders. I loved standing beside the show ring and rooting on my team. Watching them all grow as people and riders, even just over the course of one year, is incredible.

Overall, the best parts of this competition are the new relationships we created that will last us a lifetime. Before participating in NAJYRC, I hardly knew any other girls my age, when I went to competitions. Now it’s almost impossible for me to attend a show and not have friends there. This competition is all about building these relationships and forging connections. While being a part of the silver medalist team, and receiving the silver medal, is one of my greatest personal achievements, creating new friendships with other girls my age, who are all amazing riders and even better friends, is what the competition is all about.

Click here to rate this story .

w w w.us d f.o r g

Advice, Guidance, & Insight TAILORED TO THE DRESSAGE COMMUNITY

#yourdressage November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

From Captain to Coach

By Emily Stearns

Coach Emily Stearns (far right) leads the UNH IDA Team into the ribbons

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

I

started riding at a very young age, mostly trail rides and the occasional lesson. In elementary school, because I wasn’t busy enough with ballet, sailing, soccer, and music lessons, I somehow convinced my parents to take me to weekly riding lessons. I was drawn to eventing and dressage, and by the time I was in middle school I was competing on some fantastic lesson ponies in local events. As I grew older, I threw myself into the “barn rat life”, for more catch rides and any extra barn time I could get. I attended high school at Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA, and continued my riding with their program and joined the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA). I had never ridden hunters or equitation before, so that first year on the IEA team was purely educational. I rode on the Dana Hall IEA team each year of high school, and during my senior year I was elected to captain the team.

After high school, I took a year off to figure out what I Emily Stearns with her coach, Sarah Hamilton Rigg

wanted to do with my life (and to ride as much as possible). After my gap year, I went on to complete four years at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). There, I received my Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with a focus in Equine Management and a minor in Animal Behavior. During college, I was looking for more ways to make friends and wasn’t interested in joining a sorority. One day, while I was at the barn, I discovered a flyer for joining the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) team. I knew from competing in IEA throughout high school that I loved the team aspect, but recognized that the hunter and equitation style wasn’t “my jam”, so I chose to sign up for IDA tryouts over the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). Tryouts lasted all day, and there were a lot of great riders. But, to my surprise, I made the team my first semester of freshman year.

During my senior year, I was once again elected captain, this time of IDA. My best friend on the team had been elected the

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

Emily with some of her IDA Teammates

year before, so I was psyched to lead the team along with her. The camaraderie was my favorite part about IDA. My co-captain and I were passionate about bringing the team together, and made a huge effort to organize monthly team bonding activities like dinners at the dining hall, t-shirt decorating, and poster makingall things that were easy to organize but made for a great time.

The UNH Equestrian Team is small and tight knit. The mem-

bers of the IDA team came from various majors, and it was nice to have friends involved in other programs within the university.

Through my teammates, I learned about different programs and clubs and found myself taking classes that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. While the riding and the chance to compete was always a big part of why I loved participating in IDA, the team dynamics and friendships I made kept me returning for all four years of my

undergrad. When life got stressful, I always found myself gravitating towards my teammates.

After graduation, I accepted a barn management and instructor position for an eventing barn on Cape Cod, but I still wanted to pursue my Master of Science in Equine Science. Then one day, I received an e-mail from my old coach explaining that they were looking for someone to coach the IDA team. I couldn’t find a reason to say no- I’d had such a great time participating

as a student that I figured it had to be just as much fun coaching! ​The transition from rider to coach was relatively smooth. The team members were incredibly helpful and kind in helping me orient myself to the more administrative tasks associated with coaching. My previous experience as a captain was also extremely beneficial. I started coaching with solid knowledge about the need for good team morale and cohesion, and made it my priority to ensure equal and willing

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

eTRAK Extra

Want to know more about intercollegiate dressage, read the article “Ride for the Team.”

Emily coaching

participation from all members.

My favorite part about being a coach is watching my riders work towards something and succeed.

The UNH Equestrian Team (our joint IHSA and IDA teams) puts together a banquet at the end of each year, and seeing them all come together and congratulate each other on a great year is an awesome feeling. I feel like a proud mom! My least favorite part is whenever my students have to struggle with a disappointment.

Whether it is making a mistake in a test, getting the tough draw of the day, or not placing as well as they thought they would, it’s my job to remind them that, at the end of the day, those five minutes in the ring aren’t a summary of their entire life, and as cheesy as it is, there’s always next time.

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

My biggest triumph was definitely taking our senior intro rider to IDA Nationals in New Jersey. It was her first and only year on the team, and it was awesome to watch her qualify. I was so proud to be standing in the ring with her for awards (she placed fourth!), but I was even more proud of how incredibly supportive the rest of the team was of her.​ The main goal I have for all of my students is to always respect their fellow teammates and the horses they ride. I also want them to be willing to recognize that everyone Emily with student Kathryn Wembacher at the 2016 IDA Nationals at Centenary College Equestrian Center.

they work with has something to contribute, regardless of how big or small that might be. Being part of a team is about being able to come together to achieve something, whether it’s with horses or with people. The relationships I built with my coach and team members, as a student, are ones that have stuck with me through my post college life, and supersede any points or placing I had. I hope my students are able to find that as well.

Click here to rate this story . #yourdressage

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

get your gear from the

Men’s/Women’s US Dressage Finals Hooded Sweatshirts $34.95

US Dressage Finals

presented by Adequan ®

at the USDF Store Men’s/Women’s US Dressage Finals Polos $29.95

US Dressage Finals Long Sleeved T-Shirt $11.95

2015 US Dressage Finals T-Shirts $5.00

US Dressage Finals Hat White $14.95

US Dressage Finals Tumblers $8.95 US Dressage Finals Travel Mug $11.95 US Dressage Finals Women’s Vests $59.95

US Dressage Finals Travel Bag $7.99

Check out these and other US Dressage Finals items in our online store!

w w w.usdf.org/s tore

The Final Chapter

By Jennifer M. Keeler

Although we finished our stories following these three riders through their attempt at qualifying and going to the 2016 US Dressage Finals presented

by AdequanÂŽ at the Kentucky Horse Park we thought we would find out what happened to our riders. We already know from our last issue that Cindy Olson did not qualify, but what happened with our other two riders, Amy Paterson and Lysa Hodgson? Here are the rest of their final stories.

Amy Paterson with trainer Melissa Allen, Cindy Olson, and Lysa Hodgson

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

Ride of Redemption Amy Paterson and Wies V/D Klumpert Region 4

A

fter riding the equestrian roller coaster of being crowned 2014 Intermediate B Adult Amateur Champion at the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, to having the worst test of her career just a year later, it looked like Amy Paterson’s mission to return to Kentucky for a ride of redemption with her Dutch mare Wies V/D Klumpert (or “Wie”) was almost a foregone conclusion. The pair had earned two victories at the Grand Prix level at the Great American/ USDF Region 4 Championship, entries had been submitted, travel arrangements made, and Paterson couldn’t wait to get back in the Alltech Arena for another shot at glory.

But horses have a way of humbling us all. In the final days leading up to the Finals, a quick check of online day sheets indicated a letter no one wanted to see next to Paterson’s name. “If you looked up my name on the US Dressage Finals website for ride times, you would find it…

with a big fat ‘S’ next to it for scratch,” she explained. “I managed to keep Pandora in its box through Regionals, but an illtimed and placed kick by Wie in her literally padded stall left her with a sore hind ankle. So instead of celebrating in Lexington, we are on day 40 of tack walking.

Thankfully the last vet check was encouraging, and we should be trotting by December and back to full work in January.”

Horsemen and women must regularly face disappointment in sharing their lives with horses, but the dramatic change in fortune hit Paterson harder than expected. “At first I surprised myself by being pretty stoic when it became obvious she wouldn’t be ready in time for Finals,” she said.

“However, the week of Finals was a different story. My husband Find out more about the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® here

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

deserves sainthood – I would spontaneously break out into tears and he would immediately hug me and say, ‘what can I do to help?’ Sniff, sniff and I would feel better again until the next Facebook memory popped up with my posts from the 2014 and 2015 US Dressage Finals…boo hoo…hug hug…sniff sniff….and I’m off again. For some people it’s wine; for others it’s a long walk on the beach; but for me it’s pizza.

I watched the USEF Network live feed of ‘my’ Adult Amateur Grand Prix class on Friday and drowned my sorrows in pepperoni pizza.”

In the grand scheme of things, Paterson admitted that missing a horse show is nothing but a minor speed bump, and all that matters is that her horse is on the mend. “However, the US Dressage Finals are truly special,” she continued. “Even if it is as a volunteer/spectator, I am not going to miss that show again.

Between my ‘boo hoo’ moments, I really enjoyed all the coverage and reading the back stories be-

hind the participants. This show really means a lot to so many people.

“Riders, you have heard this before, but take it from me: if you and your horse are healthy and sound, take advantage of every moment and opportunity you have. It all can change so quickly. I am looking forward to next year and will give Wie plenty of time to heal and leg back up.

I am lucky enough to have her little four-year-old sister Hibiscus (by Charmeur out of Sarina V/d Klumpert), and who knows…. maybe I will be lucky enough to have both girls at Finals next year!”

Click here to rate this story . #yourdressage

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

Nervous Nellies UNITE! Lysa Hodgson and The Usual Suspect Region 1

O

f the three amazing riders profiled in this inaugural Road to the Finals series for YourDressage, perhaps the competitor who believed she had the smallest chance of actually making it to Lexington was Lysa Hodgson of Aberdeen, NC and her PMU rescue The Usual Suspect (“Bogey”). But ultimately, she would be the only one to trot down centerline at the world-renowned Kentucky Horse Park on a crisp November morning. But first she had to drive all day to get there – and as any competitor knows, road trips can be just as nerve-wracking as waiting for the judge’s bell to ring.

Hodgson admitted that the week leading up to her departure was incredibly stressful between working, packing, cleaning and worrying. “I kept waiting for that ‘one thing’ to happen that would keep us from leaving,” she explained. “Would something Lysa riding her horse, The Usual Suspect, at the Finals. Photo by Kathy. Lanham

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

happen to the truck or trailer?

Would Bogey get an abscess or hurt himself out in the pasture? I thought that ‘one thing’ did happen when my 24-year-old retired mare decided to use my right foot as a launching pad when something startled her just days before we left. But thankfully no – my foot wasn’t broken, and since I already have to wear a compression sleeve on that foot as a leftover from the treadmill incident (Ed. Note: see the August issue to read more), so that kept the swelling down. It looked like if something was going to stop this adventure it was going to have to happen on the road.”

The drive from North Carolina to central Kentucky may be scenic, but it’s no fun when pulling a horse trailer. “I was terrified,” confessed Hodgson. “Not only were we driving through the mountains, but I was letting my husband drive the truck and trailer, which is something I never do. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a choice – I suffer from vertigo Lysa and her husband Terry Photo by Kathy Lanham

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

Podcast Alert

PODCAST

Lysa snapped a photo of Bogey “laughing” at Terry

and because I knew the twisting, turning, steep grades and pressure changes would potentially cause an attack, I couldn’t take that risk. I realize that a ninehour drive is very reasonable compared to what many competi-

tors faced, and the mountains we have are nothing compared to any mountain range out West, but for me this was a BIG deal.

In the end, I had to close my eyes several times and I made a lot of big gasps, but the trip was

uneventful. Terry did a great job driving, and it also helped that we had my neighbor, Heather Mehal and her husband Don, following us in their truck. I had faith that between four adults and two trucks, we could handle

Listen to podcast 143 for an interview USDF President George Williams about the Finals

one horse and one trailer.”

Hodgson was pleased to see that when the team arrived at the Kentucky Horse Park on Thursday, Bogey walked off the trailer and settled right in. This being her first time to the facility, she couldn’t help but be impressed.

“The venue is spectacular. We have the Tryon International Equestrian Center close to home in North Carolina, and it’s also a phenomenal facility, but the Kentucky Horse Park just oozes an old-school royalty type feel.

They’ve clearly ‘been there, done that’ when it comes to hosting world-class competitions. Everything was beautifully done. All of the officials and volunteers knew what they were doing and what was going on, the footing was always perfect, and the rings ran on schedule.

“I was lucky to be stabled in

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

Lysa and Bogey. Photo by Kathy Lanham

the heated Alltech barns, which were a saving grace when it was in the 20’s outside and I had to bathe and braid,” she continued.

“I brought so many types of blankets for Bogey not knowing what to expect, but I ended up leaving him naked every night because it was so warm in the barn with

the doors closed. But honestly, if I get to come back in the future, I’m not sure what I will do in terms of stabling. I definitely wanted the full experience this first time and that meant being in the Alltech barns and close to all of the action in the Alltech arena.

However, all of the lower level

classes are held in the rings up the hill, much closer to the shed row barns, and the small rentable round-pen paddocks are up there as well, something Bogey would have really appreciated.

The shed-row barns are also right beside part of the cross-country course, so there is easy access to

acres and acres of grazing. While the Alltech barns are just across from the same grazing area, you have to walk up a paved hill, and across and down a paved road.

The shed-row barns really limit the amount of walking you have to do on pavement although they don’t completely eliminate it. I don’t think that’s a big deal if your horse is good, but for the explosive types like Bogey the pavement was very nerve-wracking.

On the other hand, the Alltech barns offer heated bathrooms, as opposed to a port-a-potty for the shed-row barns. They also had real wash-racks with warm water, as opposed to just a fence to hitch up to and cold water for bathing. All of the barns have paved floors, so stall mats were definitely needed,” she advised.

On Friday, it was time to get back in the saddle for the pair’s first day of schooling. By this time, the show was well underway with six competition rings running concurrently, and even with the expansiveness of the facility, the grounds were buzzing with activity. “There were limited

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

Lysa and Bogey on day three of finals, preparing for their freestyle

open schooling areas, mostly just a large covered ring on the other side of the competition area, and I HATE riding in covered/indoor rings,” said Hodgson. “To top it off, that morning Bogey was incredibly explosive. Just getting across the pavement to the lunging area was a feat. I couldn’t

even handle him myself. Heather is much taller than me and that really helps when hand walking a very large, badly behaving horse.

It also helped that she wasn’t worried about the pavement – it was his job to stay on his feet, not hers. We put 30,000 steps on our Fit-Bits that day walking

him back and forth, and back and forth, until he finally settled down. Even though I’ll admit I was scared, my ride in the covered proved to be uneventful. I couldn’t get up the courage to canter, but there were no ‘episodes’ and we all considered it a success. In hindsight, I’m so glad

we decided to arrive on Thursday even though my championship rides weren’t until Sunday because it gave us a good chance to see everything and get him settled.”

Saturday dawned frosty but sunny for Hodgson’s first day of competition in a warm-up Training Level Test 3 class, part of the Dressage in the Bluegrass open show running in conjunction with the Finals. “It was more for my own nerves than anything else,” she laughed. “Heather took us back to the covered arena since he’d been in there the day before, and then to the designated warm-up area for that ring.

I was so proud of both of us! The warm-up went great even though there were lots of other horses in the rings, and he was very relaxed and at ease with everything. The test itself was fine – it wasn’t spectacular, but I was happy to have a safe positive ride. I was thrilled later on when I found out how well we did – third out of 17 with a 68.400%!”

But on the big day, their newfound momentum fell a little

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

flat. “Sunday morning I could tell Bogey was very tired – he didn’t need any lunging, he didn’t react to the slamming port-a-potty doors or zooming golf carts, and he didn’t jump at the horses acting up as he passed the lunge area,” Hodgson remembered. “He definitely peaked on Saturday, but on the other hand I felt safe, and

it was such a good feeling. He warmed-up beautifully, but unfortunately in our Training Level Adult Amateur Championship he really wanted to stop to use the bathroom instead of pick up the canter in the second corner. That didn’t go so well and it definitely affected the rest of our test because we finished dead last with a

62.650%.....almost the same score we received when we did our very first Training Level test years ago. You can’t get any lower than dead last at Training Level.

“Our First Level Freestyle Adult Amateur Championship class was a little more than an hour later in a different ring with a different warm-up area, but

I still had my safe tired horse,” she continued. “Surprisingly, we ended up way ahead of our music – I’m not sure if it was the amazing footing pushing him along or if he was just that tired and heavy that we were freight-training our way through the test. We fared slightly better, placing 17th out of 24 entries with a 63%. Regardless, it wasn’t the test I wanted, but it certainly wasn’t the worst we could have done. And we survived!”

Even with a disappointing final placing, Hodgson emphasized that she accomplished her goals. “We arrived safely. We completed our tests. We finished with a number, not a letter. Nobody died. We had fun, we made new friends, and we made it home safely,” she noted.

“While the championship rides were far from our best performances, I had a horse who was relaxed in the warm-up rings and well behaved in the show ring. He wasn’t fazed by all of the beautiful flower arrangements around the rings or the large glassed-in judge’s booths. He didn’t even notice the large electronic leader board,

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

something neither of us has ever seen before in a ring. He was super tired, but he was so well behaved for those rides without even a hint of squealing, bucking or bolting. It makes me want to go back and try even harder next time.

“The whole experience was so emotional, way more emotionally draining than I expected. We had so many ups and downs over that five-day period,” Hodgson continued. “I was so worried about the drive, and then I didn’t even want to ride at all on Friday because of Bogey’s antics. I was honestly happy that we made it safely and was seriously considering just going home without competing. Then to have a great result on Saturday in preparation for the big day, only to have that big day be anti-climactic and a little disappointing. However, it was only disappointing because I actually rode and survived and he was well-behaved, and I know we could have done better. If he had been acting up and bolting and bucking, I would have been thrilled just to have stayed on and in the ring.

“I feel like we just returned from venturing out into a bigger world and we’re better for it, even if it was terrifying at times. I want to take a little of that new found bravery and try to apply it our everyday life here on the farm.

Besides, we’ve already been to the Finals so if something happens while pushing boundaries at home….oh well! No one can ever take away our Finals experience. We finally made it thanks to a huge team effort and a lot of patience and perseverance. The whole thing was an amazing experience, and I’m still in awe that it actually happened. I’m not sure I will ever be able to repeat it, but at least we can ‘check the box’ that we›ve done it once!”

Well done, Lysa and Bogey.

And we look forward to seeing you next year. - JMK

Click here to rate this story . #yourdressage November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

November 30-December 3 • St. Louis, MO

2016 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention Join us at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch for

Dressage at the Arch

Listen to audio previews of some of the Featured Education Sessions at usdf.org/convention Thank you to our sponsors

Heard around the arena

What interesting or fun thing have you heard lately? Send it to us using #aroundthearena

Competitors at the US Dressage Finals presented by AdequanÂŽ shared their experiences.

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

USDF FLASHBACK

A Look Back at the USDF Conventions

A

fter the framework was put in place following the organizational meeting in February 1973, it was time to fill in the structure that would become USDF. The USDF’s inaugural business meeting was held in November 1973, once again in Linclon, with more than 50 participants representing 22 organizations. Stephen Schwartz, from California Dressage Society, became the first USDF president and Lazelle Knock who represented four East Coast clubs, was elected vice president.

Since then, USDF has held a convention for its members every year. USDF will meet this year in St. Louis, MO, November 30 - December 3. We take this opportunity to take a look back through the years.

Find out more about the 2016 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention here

In Nebraska in 1973, Hardin Crawford, Arlene Rigdon, Chuck Grant, Migi Serrell, and Sally O’Connor join in a lively discussion

In 1974, Horse of the Year Awards and bronze, silver and gold rider medals were introduced

Stephen Schwartz, USDF’s first president

Captain John ‘Jack’ Fritz was asked to chair the founding meeting. Fritz handled the meeting with authority, interspersed with his trademark humor, and was instrumental in getting everyone to work together.

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

USDF FLASHBACK

1976 – 2001

Kay Meredith, who became president in 1977; Ivan Bezugloff Jr., USDF’s first treasurer; and outgoing president Stephen Schwartz at the 1976 convention

USDF founding member Migi Serrell at the 1978 USDF convention. Her American Dressage Institute was the closet to a national dressage academy the US has had.

USDF founding member and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient John “Jack” Kimbal (FL) at the 1987 USDF awards banquet

To usher in 2002, USDF’s “Year of the Freestyle,” the 2001 convention featured a panel with freestyle experts Kay Meredith, Tom Noone, Sue Blinks, and Janet Foy

New England Dressage Association past president Paul Cormier at the 2001 USDF convention

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

2010

USDF Bylaws Committee Chair Chris Trentelman is at the podium, flanked by (from left) USDF staffer Deborah Dunivant, USDF Secretary Janine Malone, USDF President George Williams, Parliamentarian Kirk Overbey, and USDF Executive Director Stephan Hienzsch

Honorees, award winners, and their families and friends gather in the ballroom for the Salute Gala and Annual Awards Banquet

New England Dressage Association President Paul Cormier and USEF dressage technical advisor Anne Gribbons at the Salute Gala

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

2011

Ravel, owned by Akiko Yamazaki (left), was the 2011 Adequan®/USDF Grand Prix Horse of the Year. With her are USDF president George Williams, rider Steffen Peters, and Luitpold Animal Health (makers of Adequan®) senior manager Allyn Mann.

USDF Historical Recognition Committee Chair Anne Moss (PA) gets chummy with a life-sized nutcracker

USDF President George Williams gets a kiss from USDF Adult Amateur Grand Prix Trophy winner Melissa Hogan

View of San Diego Bay and the city beyond from the Cabrillo National Monument and Old Point Loma Lighthouse

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

2012

GMO baskets on display

Mardi Gras-masked members of the Southern Eventing and Dressage Association staffed a “tourist info” table

USDF Treasurer Steve Schubert’s got ’em—perhaps to celebrate the uneventful passage of the USDF budget

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

2013 - The 40th Anniversary of USDF

Silent auction items, USDF and sponsor displays, and more beckon convention-goers

Board of Governors delegates enjoyed a USDF 40th-anniversary cake and cupcakes at the convention

Trainer, author, and judge Charles de Kunffy (center) is inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame by USDF Historical Recognition Committee chair Anne Moss and USDF President George Williams

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

GMO SPOTLIGHT

Tell us about your GMO. #GMOSpotlight

Kansas City Dressage Society (KCDS) Group Member Organizations (GMOs) are the foundation of USDF and integral in bringing dressage and dressage education to the masses. Stay connected with your local dressage community and support dressage at the local level by joining a GMO in your area today!

USDF GMO Established: 1974 Locality: USDF Region 4, Kansas Website: www.kcdressage.com How many members does your GMO have annually, on average?

185 members.

Tell us about your GMO. Kansas City Dressage Society (KCDS) is one of the oldest dressage societies in the United States. Founded in 1973, KCDS was actually present at the inception of USDF. We, along with 21 other organizations, helped devise and implement USDF’s first bylaws and elect the first slate of officers. We were one of the largest dressage organizations in the country at that time and became a charter member of USDF. Since that time, KCDS strives to educate people in our area about dressage, and hosts two USDF-recognized shows, in addition to several schooling shows, annually. Our shows offer a very friendly atmosphere to come and showcase your young horse, or your nationally recognized Grand Prix mount. We take pride in the volunteer spirit that one finds here in the Midwest, and we love hearing from our judges and show staff that we have such incredibly friendly people volunteering at our shows.

In addition to our friendly atmosphere, KCDS also supports its members financially. This past year, two different scholarship opportunities have been created. We offer a traditional type scholarship, for riders to further their riding education, and we also offer a scholar-

ship to help with the financial rigors of college. Both of these scholarships are open to all of our members.

Does your GMO offer unique classes or activities that cater to youth, adult amateurs, or professionals? If so, please provide a brief description.

KCDS has been host to the L program, as well as symposiums with Olympic level clinicians. We have had adult camps in past years, and we are currently discussing bringing the camp back this next year.

We also have highly qualified individuals that come to the area and host clinics on a regular basis.

What type of educational events does your GMO offer?

KCDS offers a University Program, to further the education of our members. Members receive credits towards their diplomas through reading materials, watching videos, and various other educational activities selected by the director of the program.

What type of “fun” events does your GMO offer?

KCDS has several fun events though out the year. We love our barbeques here in the Midwest, and have an annual barbeque event at our first show of the season. We also have an ice cream social during the summer show. But our biggest event is our annual banquet and awards gala. This is a huge fundraiser for us, and feeds our scholarship program. Along with socializing and eating, we have a silent auction and a live auction, complete with auctioneer. It’s a huge success and a major highlight for our members.

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

Visit www.usdf.org for a list of GMOs in your area.

GMO

Support dressage and connect with your local dressage community by joining a USDF Group Member Organization today!

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE

We Want Your Story

Learn More About Dressage

YourDressage is a chance to share your story with the dressage community. Send submissions to epubs@usdf.org.

We will need photos to go with the story, with a preference for candid shots that are clear and well composed. Please submit photos as JPEG formatted files. Also, if you have any video(s) that we can use, related to your story, make sure to include their hyperlinks.

Have questions about dressage and the United States Dressage Federation, use the following links to learn more.

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at epubs@usdf.org

About Dressage

Education

usdf.org/about/about-dressage

education@usdf.org

USDF Podcasts

About USDF

usdf.podbean.com

usdf.org/about/about-usdf

Online Learning/eTRAK

Calendar

usdf.org/e-trak

usdf.org/calendar

Youth

Membership

usdf.org/education/youth.asp youth@usdf.org

usdf.org/join membership@usdf.org

Group Member Organizations

usdf.org/store merchandise@usdf.org

Find a GMO in your region

Horse Registration

Note: USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear Search for a GMO by zip code when mounted. For complete rules regarding helmets refer to the gmo@usdf.org USEF Rule Book. Click here.

Disclaimer: The United States Dressage Federation does not guarantee that all submitted stories will be published. Any opinions expressed in the pages of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Dressage Federation

Store

usdf.org/faqs/horse-registration.asp horseregistration@usdf.org

For more information, check out the USDF Member Guide available on this app!

November 2016 Z YOURDRESSAGE