Wow the weather has been all over the place. Right now its wonderful, in the 70’s and Jeepers and I have been taking wonderful walks in the woods with Pam, Bigger, and Wilson. Jeepers is very fashion conscious, she just got new shoes and last week a new hairdo! Doing better than me.

We were contacted by the Norfolk Hunt Pony Club about holding another Centered Riding Clinic. So here we are, having Deb Moynihan back on October 23 – 24 for a two-day Centered Riding Clinic at Tower Hill Farm in Mendon. The two-day clinic will begin each morning at 8:00 with a lecture and unmounted groundwork, followed by mounted semi-private rides beginning at 10:00. The lecture/groundwork is for all participants, as well as auditors. There is the option to ride both days or just one.

You can check out our web site crdressage.org for more information on Deb and Centered Riding. Semi-privates: $35 for Pony Clubbers and Junior CRDA members; $45 CRDA adult members; $55 non-members. Auditors $5. To sign up for both days, just one, to audit, or for additional information contact Jamie Greenebaum (508) 533-5075 or jamie@g2partners.com. Overnight stalls are available for those interested for an additional fee.

Arlene Schuler said to me, "The show went off without any problems, you won’t have anything to write about!" Don’t think that’s possible, LOL. The Summer Schooling Show on July 25th was a terrific success. While we didn’t have quite the number of entries as the Spring Show we still had enough to fill a third ring in the morning. Pam Murray who was show manager/point person for the entries made an executive decision to add that ring and thereby not have much of a waiting list. Then she and I had a momentary panic when we realized that we had to find an other judge in less than a week. Another hurdle in this Learner Show Manager Program. Arlene Schuler did a terrific job as show manager for the day of the show. She lined up the volunteers, kept the office humming along all day, and got the scores out in a relatively timely manner.

The Championship/High Percentage Award went to Jill DeGregorio with a score of 72.500%. Jill showed the Right Stuff when she told me, "I hopped up and down and acted like a little kid when I found out, and I’m not embarrassed to say it!" She went on to offer thanks, like on all those awards presentations you see on TV, "I want to thank Kathy O’Leary who came over to my house the night before to braid McCoy. Also I want to thank Pam Murray and Kelli Mason who have helped me so much. CRDA has such a well rounded program with clinics and schooling shows, you guys are wonderful!"

Reserve Championship was won by Shannon Driscoll with a score of 71.153% and Junior High Point winner was Casey Marcotte with a 68.000%. Sorry guys I didn’t get to talk to you.

You are all wondering what I was up to at this show. Well I had fun
(LOL) laying out the show rings, the show program and reshuffling the ring schedule as the last minute scratches and corrections came in. I really try hard to get the ring schedule done so I can get the times posted on the web site early in the week. But then by the end of the week there seem always to be changes. Don’t know what the answer to this is.

Feedback – please! Do you like the times up before Thursday, as we have been posting as early as Tuesday, or doesn’t it matter and should I just hang loose and get them posted later in the week? Please send me your thoughts.

I also found myself directing the trailers and keeping the cars out of the trailer parking area. I recruited a very helpful teenage boy "in the orange sweatshirt" to handle this, until he came over to me and said he had to watch his sister ride. So if anyone knows who he is, or if he is reading this, please let me know his/your name. Looking back I remember thinking at around 10:30 or 11:00 that we could not park one more trailer. So I began to pray, "Oh please God, don’t let another trailer come driving in." And I also thought, "Why aren’t these people leaving!" It all worked out. Not one more trailer came up the driveway before several trailers miraculously left.

I also found I had time to interview to a number of the competitors. I’ve included their comments in the article that will appear in the September issue of the Pedlar. Thanks to all who took a the time to talk to me. I hope I have not misquoted anyone.

CRDA would like to thank Jane Sheehan, r, and Karen Monks Reilly, L, who judged all day, and Patty Montana, L, who answered my panicked email to judge at the last minute. I think she deserves special commendation for a half day of Walk Trot and Leadline classes.

Lee Smith and her daughter Jenny, supplied all the food when Pam found out the Chuck Wagon Lady was unavailable. Lee and Jenny made the sandwiches, baked cookies, manned the concession table, as well as competed in (and won!) the Leadline class. I have to mention that Jenny also rode a second Leadline test by herself, or as Patty Montana noted on her test "loose".

The list of volunteers who gave up their Sunday included Laurie Roberts, Nancy Small, Stephany Small, Doris Parker, Kathy O’Leary, Pam Santos, the boy in the orange sweatshirt, Cinny Little, Kristen Arena, Chris Dunham, Erin Cummings, Claire Cummings, Dot Iorio, Donna Cameron, Carolyn Wolfe, Christine Taylor. If you read this list and think about lists of volunteers at any of CRDA’s events you will notice that a core of people strangely appear time after time after time. So if you have not seen your name typed by me, please consider volunteering at our next show or event.

Speaking of volunteering……it is time to think about next year’s elections. Interested in throwing your hat, coat, boots, britches, and socks in the ring? Want to be President? Vice President? Treasurer? Secretary? Membership Coordinator? The terms end in December. We need some fresh and willing bodies to step up. If you want to explore what it is the officers do, come to a monthly meeting, the First Wednesday of the Month, 7:30 at Apple Knoll’s Party Barn.

See you in the saddle.
Jamie

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