Due Date NEAR

Just a quick reminder to everyone who would like to win NDA end of the year awards. The due date for score reporting is October 5, 2007. They are to be mailed to Julie Huffless, her address, and the reporting form is under the "awards" menu on the NDA website.

If you are using scores from the LEC Almost Summer Galas, you need to make photo copies of both sides of your test and send them in along with your scores.

End of the year awards will be handed out November 17th at the NDA Annual Banquet. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be recognized by NDA for your efforts in the show ring.

Friends of the Barn Blog (FOBB)

An FOBB, Andrea Garry (2007 NDA Schooling Show Training Level Open Champion) was quoted in a very heart warming article in The Grand Island Independent recently. Andrea is the riding coach of a young lady from Central Nebraska with Neonatal Onset Multi-Inflammatory Disease. Click here to read the article that discusses Janelle's struggle with her disease and how her horses help her through the tough times.

Way to go Andrea and Janelle!! We should all strive to have the ever present smile and perseverance that Janelle does!

Work Can Be Fun

Lincoln Equestrian Center is home to a riding club called "The Pony Posse." It is an all ages all disciplines club. We'll be hosting a combined Training Show October 14th, you should all come and have some fun! Contact me via email and I would be happy to get you some entry forms!

Sunday, the "LEC PP" assembled at LEC to work on our developing Cross Country Course. We all worked together with donated materials to make some really cool jumps. All in all it was a productive and fun day. Working on these projects together really makes the Posse feel less like a club and more like family.


One man's junk....

...is another barn's jump

Men? At the barn?

Admiring the day's work

Power tools, heavy lifting and kids don't go so well together, so Libby and Ana focused on developing inovative new hair styles for the ponies.

Fall brings chilly weather and hunting concerns

By Heather Smith Thomas and taken from The Horse.com e-news.

Horse owners often worry about safety of their animals during hunting seasons, especially if the horse's color might be mistaken for a deer or other large game animal. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to help distinguish your horse as a domesticated animal, rather than a potential target.

Visibility is key for horses pastured during hunting season, particularly if the animal is similar in color to common large game.

In Pasture

Fenced pastures are generally off limits to hunters without landowner permission, but it still helps to put signs along the fence stating it's private property. Check the hunting laws in your state--some state regulations require signage on the property to show no hunting is allowed.

Painting every few posts fluorescent orange can also help to alert hunters.

If you feel your horses might still be at risk, take steps to protect them. If they are turned out only part time, avoid putting them out during times of poor visibility, such as dawn or dusk, or during foggy weather. If you have options, keep them in pens or pastures close to your house and barnyard during hunting seasons, rather than in an outlying field.

To make sure horses are easily identifiable as domestic animals, bright colored cloth or ribbon can be braided into manes and tails. If your horse wears a halter, make sure it's a bright color. Hunter-safe horse clothing is also available. Protectavest, a Windham, Maine-based company that touts "If it can be shot at, we'll cover it in blaze orange," makes bright orange pasture "vests" for horses. The vests are basically the front half of a horse blanket. They also offer orange tail bags made of the same material. An orange horse collar that goes around the neck and fits under the throatlatch is safe for a horse at pasture, as the hook-and-loop closure tears loose if the collar becomes caught on something.

While Riding

If you have a choice, avoid riding on public land during hunting season, especially in wooded or brushy areas. The more bright color on your horse, the better. Some riders put a red or orange blanket over their regular saddle pad. Protectavest offers trail sheets to fit over the pad and under the saddle, covering the entire hind end of the horse like a quarter sheet. The company also makes orange dog vests, since many riders take their dogs along on rides.

When riding, always wear brightly colored clothing, such as bright blue, red, or orange--something that would never be mistaken for a wild animal. Avoid tans, browns, white, or light colors. A blaze-orange vest to put over your shirt or coat can be purchased at any sporting goods outlet. A bright orange helmet cover can also be used.

Another tip when riding through wooded or brushy country where visibility is poor: make sure a hunter can hear you even if he can't quite see what you are. Some riders tie small bells to their breast collar or other areas of tack so there is constant jingling as the horse moves. Singing and talking are good, but the bells give a constant signal that you and your horse are not a game animal.

By taking a few simple steps, you can make your horse's identity clear and reduce the risk of an accident.

Congrats

Congrats and thank you to all of the riders and volunteers that made the Nebraska Dressage Association Schooling Show Championships and the Movin On Up Schooling Show a success.

It was a brisk and chilly day but that certainly wasn't the feeling with all of the warm smiles!

You could tell that all of the riders had worked very hard to achieve some goals and all deserved to be there. Way to go!

The results will soon be posted on the NDA website.

High quality, excellent photos of the days events can be viewed on the DJK Photography website. Thank you Donna for capturing the best moments!!

Way to go horses and riders. We can't wait to see you next year!

Good Luck Dressage Stars

To all of our faithful blog readers, wherever you may be competing this weekend:

• Movin On Up Dressage Schooling Show
• Nebr. Dressage Association Schooling Show Championships
• Midwest Championships
• Any other shows we may have missed......
  

We wish you the very best of luck!

Support the USDF "L" Grad program

Pheasant Open I & II- Huron, South Dakota. Sept. 29 and 30th.

Home to the L program session D1, where they practice judging tests…

From Show Management:

"The show is taking late entries – and we’re especially looking for riders in Second level test 4 on Saturday and First 4 on Sunday. "

All info is on the DDE site www.DakotaDressageAndEventing.org

Its two show numbers, an in hand qualifier Saturday a.m. & the USDF BC west central series finals Saturday night…. with freestyle, & materiale classes too.


Best of all, INDOOR SHOW, with INDOOR WARM UP

Free Poster Give Away

First 2,000 registrants at PreveNile.com to receive free poster!!

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PreveNile is the only label approved "one-dose" West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine available. One dose protection makes PreveNile the perfect choice for foals, horses with unknown vaccination history, and as a booster for horses previously vaccinated with other West Nile vaccines. Act now while supplies last! Visit PreveNile.com today - this free poster is available to the first 2,000 registrants only.

Ask your veterinarian today about PreveNile - the superior, single-dose solution for WNV. I have one of these posters and they are great for the tack room!!!

Clarification

Attention all persons who have signed up for the Movin' On Up Schooling Show and or the Schooling Show Championships:

The two shows have been combined. Please check your email for ride times, and a full detail of the changes.

To all volunteers and spectators, the show will be held ONLY on Sunday at Fonner Park.

If you have further questions about changes, refunds, or other concerns please email or call Steve Gerdes.