Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Continuing Education for Horse Owners

My Horse University is a national online program for horse enthusiasts based at Michigan State University (MSU), one of the top U.S. universities in equine science and management. Founded by MSU's Department of Animal Science, MSU Extension, and MSU Global, and in partnership with EquiSearch.com and eXtension's HorseQuest, this program offers equine education courses and resources that can be tailored to achieve your horse management goals.

Here are the courses currently being offered:
Horse Behavior & Welfare
This course is designed to help you understand your horse's behavior and how to apply the right management strategies.
This course explains everything you need to know to help you select the horse that's right for you!

Something to consider for those frosty winter days??

Monday, August 27, 2007

Closing Dates Approaching!



Just a friendly reminder that the Nebr. Schooling Show Championships will be held on Sunday, Sept. 9th at Fonner Park. Entry information can be found on the NDA website and are due by Wednesday, Aug. 29th.


On Saturday before the championship show will be an open dressage schooling show. Movin' on Up Dressage Schooling Show entries can also be found on the NDA website. All scores from this show will count for qualifying for the 2008 Nebr. Dressage Assoc. Schooling Show Series. Just think, you could already get qualifying scores for the next year!! Also, this show is offering all USEF levels, so take this opportunity to show at the next level up. Get a judge's feedback on what you need to work on over the winter. Entries are due by Saturday, Sept. 1st.


If you cannot join us to show, please volunteer hours or come to cheer on your friends!

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Clinic-in-Review: Alison Sader-Larson

Last Saturday and Sunday, Reinbow Dressage Center and Pine Ridge Stables were hosts to a clinic by Alison Sader Larson. Dobby and I participated in the clinic and were pleased with the instruction we received.


 
Heidi and her mare Stella work at Reinbow with Alison.

In our two lessons Alison worked with us on becoming more forward so that Dobby's hips were in full swing. This was achived by taking the rail and pushing very forward, more forward than we would normally ride in our tests. After full forward, and throughness equally in both reins was achieved we went on to work with lateral movements. I'm sorry to say Saturday or lateral moves weren't that great.

Sunday, well, Sunday was a different story. On Sunday we maintained our forward trot but were able to achieve better lateral movements. Our shoulder-ins were wildly better, to the point that Dobby, Alison and I worked on Half-pass.

For half-pass Alison had me ride shoulder-in down the wall, then ask for a few steps of half-pass using my outside leg, then once he moved over 3 or so feet straight into shoulder in, and then a couple more steps of half pass. We had really brilliant moments. Very inspiring. Sunday we also worked on counter canter. Working the exaggerated forward trot the day before was extremely helpful in achiveing better quality movements all around. It will be an excersize I return to often.

Thanks to Kim and Ann at Pine Ridge for hosting Dobby and I for the weekend.

Also thanks to Heidi for bringing Alison back to Nebraska.

Enough Already




Is it just me, or does watching Doppler Radar make anyone else nervous for the safety of their horse. I can't wait for this stormy weather to be over, the stress of watching yellow and red blobs pass over my stable is giving me a condition.

Last night was terrible, I watched the guys on 10/11 diagnose the "bow echo" of the storm. Though the storm itself was little more than heavy rain by the time it got to Lincoln, the urgency with which the storm was discussed made me wish LEC had a storm cellar of stalls for our boys and girls.

How are all the rest of you faring? Under water? Lost buildings, trees?

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Pony Finals Update

For the latest news on the 2007 USEF Pony finals, click here!

Keep checking back to HunterJumper News for more information throughout the week.

Busy Busy Busy

Are you ready for the coming weekend? It's gonna be a busy weekend for dressage enthusiasts in Eastern Nebraska.

Saturday, the 18th Colby Creek is hosting it's inaugural Dressage show in Ithica Nebraska. This is a busy month for Tara and Colby Creek! Last weekend they hosted a NHJSSC Hunter/Jumper show!

Saturday and Sunday there will be an Alison Sader-Larson Clinic hosted by Heidi Basler and held at both Pine Ridge Stables (morning rides) and Reinbow Equestrian Center (afternoon). Sader-Larson is a home grown dressage talent. Prior to moving East to further her training, Alison resided in Lincoln, at what was then Wilderness Stables. In her younger years she represented Region IV at the North American Young Riders Championship. Today she is a professional trainer and clinician working out of her stable in Minnesota, as well as wintering in Florida.

Alison was the first person I ever saw ride a Grand Prix test. I am excited to have an opportunity to participate in a clinic with a woman who left a strong impression on me as a kid.

To all our readers, I hope you are able to get out and enjoy your weekend whether you are competing, volunteering, auditing or just bumming around your barn.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

FYI: USEF Pony Finals

While we dressage ladies have been busy qualifying for the Schooling Show and Regional Championships, our smaller and, many times cuter,counter parts have also been working hard to qualify for the USEF Pony Finals.



The 2007 USEF Pony Finals are going on right now (Aug 13-17) at the Kentucky Horse Park. Several hundred ponies ranging in sizes and experience will be tested over the course of 3 days under saddle, and over fences.

Pony Finals is a hunter/jumper event.

This year, two ponies from Nebraska have qualified. The adorable Amos, a chestnut pony owned by Megan Rigge (sp?) as well as Cappy, the oft times grouchy but talented white pony owned by Cheri Harker, and ridden by Megan Rigge. Both ponies are trained by Sybil Greene.

First hand accounts, results and photos of this exciting event will be posted in the future. Until then, good luck to our local ponies!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Misunderstanding

Perhaps like me, you've looked at the entry form for the Movin' On Up Schooling show and thought "Gee, I didn't know NDA issued member and horse numbers?"

Then, like the good organized horse owner/competitor you are, pulled out all your NDA information and searched for your numbers only to find that in all of your stuff there simply is no NDA member number.

It MUST be a misunderstanding! An oversight. No biggie.

I sent an email to NDA Membership Chair, Sandy Harman requesting another copy of my missing numbers. In her kind email response, she informed me that many believe such numbers exist, but in reality, there are no such numbers.

NDA member numbers: the Big Foot of Midwestern dressage competitions.

Long story short, when you are filling out your entry forms for the Movin' on Up show, or any other show for that matter, disregard the NDA member number boxes. There simply aren't any.

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Reminder.....

The closing date for Dressage on Colby Creek is fast approaching. It officially closes on Wednesday, August 8th, but show management is willing to accept entries through the weekend.

This will be a wonderful show. The facility is beautiful!!

If still interested in riding please email show management and download forms here.