Jeepers is really happy that October is over. She thought I don't love her since I hardly had a chance to play with her all month. First in early October was CRDA’s Jean Kendall Memorial Show, followed by a bad cold, followed by the Centered Riding Clinic with Deb Moynihan. Both events were a success, as was the cold I believe you could say.

Months ago, while I was avidly watching the Olympics (when it was warm), I got thinking, "Wouldn't it be incredible if we could have a member of the US Equestrian Team speak at our Year End Awards Banquet!?" And I thought, "Why not? How hard can it be?" (my internal rallying cry).

Okay, mark your calendars for Monday, February 7, 2005 for our Annual Year End Awards Banquet. We are having Olympian Debbie McDonald, yes THE Debbie McDonald, (without Brentina unfortunately) as our keynote speaker!!!!! Members will get preference in seating. Since the banquet doesn't begin until 6 PM, Debbie has agreed to give a few, very few lessons. They will be made available to members only via a lottery. Stay tuned for details. This has all just come together and a lot needs to be ironed out. I will let you know as soon as I know. By the way, notice I have mentioned "members" twice in this paragraph. It is never to late to become one!

And speaking of members, we just mailed out CRDA’s membership form for 2005. We are offering an early bird special. Watch your mail boxes for the yellow form and if you don't get one soon, you can download it from our web site crdressage.org or call Carol Burkhart at (508) 359-9961.

Since I am already talking about next year, here is what we are
planning: Shows: May 1st, July 24th, August 28th and October 9th. Adult Camp May 20 – 22 with Sarah Geikie and Deb Moynihan. Clinics: Beth Baumert in January for a discussion/demo of the training scale; Kelli Mason in February doing a Friday evening talk on Musical Freestyle and a riding demo/discussion in April; a Jennifer Baumert Clinic in March; Meredith Morray doing a braiding clinic in April before the show season (maybe also clipping demo); a Bill Warren Clinic in June; Lynne Kimball Davis and Jeannie McDonald…..and the year is not even half over! If you are interested in helping out (I won't use the "V" word) with any of these please let me know. We will need all sorts of help to get all these clinics off the ground. You can also fulfill your volunteer hours by attending a clinic or camp or show and write an article. How hard can it be?

I never got an October Heard Along the Fence Line out, but I will just say that the October Jean Kendall Memorial Show was yet another resounding success thanks in part to all the volunteers that helped out. I heard from Kim Spangenberg, whose daughter Colleen, a Pony Clubber, rode in the show, as well in the Centered Riding Clinic, "I just wanted to let you know how impressed I was with the October show. I've never attended one before, but it was such a great day and everyone was so nice." Check out the article in the December issue of the Pedlar.

The two-day Centered Riding Clinic held in conjunction with the Norfolk Hunt Pony Club at Tower Hill Farm on October 23-24 was also successful with over 30 riders and auditors showing up at 8 AM on a cold Saturday morning. It was really wonderful to see so many moms and daughters learning together. There were even two mother daughter lessons.

Deb had two hours each morning to discuss the concepts of Centered Riding as well as offer "hands on" exercises, including using small trampolines. She had mini conga lines walking all around the huge indoor arena. Actually we were paired up with "horse" in front and "rider" in back. The rider put her hands on the horse's sides (rib cage) and practiced directing the horse with soft eyes vs. hard eyes and grounding (of the rider). I paired up with Sue English, who was a wonderfully cooperative horse! I learned a lot.

"We enjoyed the clinic and found that it all really hit home when we did the various exercises to get an idea as to what the horses were actually feeling when we were relaxed and when we weren't. It all seemed to make sense as to how sensitive they are and how being relaxed and grounded is so important to riding and developing that trust between you and your horse. It was a real eye opener!" Sue & Ally English.

The trampolines let the rider really feel the different gaits, and how you can be grounded and still move. She also supplied a rope so that the person on the trampoline could have "reins" with the help of an assistant "horse". Since she had only two trampolines, while waiting our turns everyone got to practice cantering about the indoor (on our own feet) doing flying lead changes and even tempi - for the more advanced. Cantering around reminded me of playing horses with my friends in the elementary school yard : - )

A few lucky riders rode both days, and even auditing Moms benefited from the clinic. "Amanda and I had a great time! Amanda was glad she rode both days. She said the first day was kind of like a warm-up for all she accomplished on the second day. She learned a lot about her position and how not to over arch her back so much, how proper leg position helped her sit deeper in the saddle and feel her seat bones more and what it really means to "open your hips". As a mom, who also rides, I wanted to give Amanda the boot, hop on her pony, and try some of that stuff myself! My turn next time." Deb Gildea

"I didn't realize what a difference the clinic made until my next ride after the clinic. WOW! I had a new horse under me! It turns out that I lean back, thus bracing with my body and discouraging forward movement. Now that I'm in a better place with my body, my rides have been full of impulsion!! Who knew?!" Emma Perkuhn.

Thanks to Lee Smith for going way out of her way in loaning two horses to people she never met so that they could ride in the clinic. Barbara Gokey also lent her old school master to a horseless rider. Thanks to Karen Whitney who out of the blue (or so it seemed to me) emailed and asked if I needed any help with the clinic.

There was also a Melanie Tenney Clinic in October, that Kate O’Brien ran. I heard from Barbara that it was awesome. Maybe Kate will write something up
: - )

One more note: Holly Mason is now at Tower Hill Farm every Thursday. Holly gave one of the lunchtime talks during the Adult Camp this past May. If you are interested in working with her, email dressagebydesign@cox.net. Holly works on the biomechanical issues of horse and rider. Barbara Gokey can't say enough wonderful things about her lessons. You can find out more at Holly's web site www.dressagebydesign.com.

Don't forget our Holiday Schooling Show December 5th at Apple Knoll. Good luck to all who compete in it.

See you in the saddle,

Jamie

P.S. I was wandering through some past Heard Alongs to find something or other (who can remember anything anymore?). I noticed that spell checker is a wonderful invention but if you have the wrong word spelled correctly ….. People have been so nice, no one has pointed these faux pas out. Or maybe it's just that there is no one out there reading them. So I've decided to start a contest. If you come across and error, typo, misspelling, wrong word usage email me. I’ll come up with a special award for the person who catches the most – dare I say errors - at the Banquet! Let's say from now through January.

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