Reminders!

Have you...


- Picked up your show board package from the riding school tack room?


- Submitted your Show Selection Form (Due March 5th)?


- Scheduled lessons and practice rides if your show board started this week?  


See you in the barn! 

Recommended Read

Here are a few more great reads!


Ever wonder why sitting the trot seems impossible? An excellent article on how to improve your sitting trot - "You Can Master the Sitting Trot - Really!" by Sandy Howard


An older article but very appropriate - "Get Ready to Event" by Jimmy Wofford


VIDEO:  Safely Wrap Your Horse’s Legs with Max Corcoran.  This video clearly explains how to properly apply stable wraps, a skill all show level riders should possess.  

Attention Team!

If you have not sent in your lesson availability for March/April please do so ASAP!  Your lessons WILL be changing this session as Lindsay is in South Carolina for all of March.


If you have not yet handed in your Show Selection Form, please remember to check ALL shows you are available for.  I need as many options as possible to make the trailering schedule work.


* EDIT! The May Will O Wind has been changed to a Cross Country Derby instead.  It is a combination of stadium and XC fences set at the appropriate height as per EC levels.  Scores are table 'A', based on time. The rider closest to the optimum time (over or under) gets the most points for the round.  Only the scorer knows the optimum time (calculated as per EC rules). Any refusals or rails will be penalized by adding time to your round. The points for each round are added together to determine your score and the placing. Assistance on course from your coach or others is allowed and encouraged! 


Entry Fee: $85 OEF membership is mandatory.  


Casual attire, but riders must have a Cross-country vest, helmet and boots as per EC rules. Helmets must be worn at all times while mounted.


More information on the fun day and entry instructions will follow shortly.

If you are show boarding, there is an envelope for you to pick up in the Riding School Tackroom with your boarders agreement, please fill out and return ASAP!

THANKS EVERYONE!

Spring Boot-Camp!

* Edit - This is a one week clinic, not camp and is appropriate for show level riders.  March Break Camp is also available.  


Monday - Friday, March 14th - 19th 

Winter is almost over so it’s time to kick it into high gear for spring! This program will be hugely beneficial for those competing this season or in the future but would also be appropriate for anyone who is very committed to their riding.  The dressage lessons will be ½ hour semi-private lessons to maximize individual focus (+ 15 min. warm-up & cool down after).  Jumping lessons will be group classes and will be 1hr.   Mental training sessions will be after lunch daily, 1 hr in length.  We’ll head out on a field trip to Richvale on Thursday for their Annual Big Bag Sale.  The camp will conclude with a mini-competition on Friday at 2:00pm, parents are welcome to come watch and cheer!

                                                                 

DETAILS

·             Hours: 9:00am – 4:00pm (Thursday - 5:00pm, Field Trip)

·             Age: 10+

·             Rider Level: Minimum requirement is able to ride an Entry level dressage test and canter a 2’4” course.  If you are unsure if you meet the requirement, please ask your instructor.

·             Max. Participants: 12 – We can only accommodate 12 riders for this program so spaces are LIMITED.  Register now!

·             Cost: $331.86 + HST = $375.00 (Lunch available for $25/week incl. HST)

Day	AM	PM	Mental Training
MONDAY	Lunge Lesson w/ Video Analysis of Position	Dressage Lesson – Focus on Basics	Goal Setting: immediate, short & long term goals
TUESDAY	Dressage Lesson – Work on Test Movements	Jumping Lesson – Grid work w/ Video Analysis	Create training plan for next 6 months
WEDNESDAY	Dressage Lesson – Dressage test run-through (written comments)	Jumping Lesson – Connecting Fences	How to optimize your dressage score
THURSDAY	Dressage Lesson – Individualized focus on points that need improvement	Jumping Lesson – Riding a Course	How to analyze and walk a show jumping course
FRIDAY	Dressage & Jumping: Run-through for mini-show – focus on how to warm-up effectively	SHOW - Mini-competition with combined dressage & stadium course	Focus on show prep including braiding, grooming and tack-cleaning.

­At the end of the session, riders will receive a written analysis and take-home training plan.

Winter Training Program

We are going to be running a dressage training session this Friday night, 5:30pm - 7:00pm.  Please learn the 1 test at the appropriate level.  Tests can be found on the Equine Canada website.   

Recommended Read

Hello All!  I know Mondays are the worst, so make the time until you get back to the barn go by quicker by reading some of these great articles by Jane Savoie.  I found these articles after I reading and thoroughly enjoying one of her books.  "It's Not Just About the Ribbons" It's About Enriching Riding (and Life) with a Winning Attitude discusses using mental strategies to become a better rider including overcoming fear, tension, frustration and even improving your position.  It was fun to read, not like a textbook, and had many great tips on how to improve your riding outside of the saddle.  It's great for those that can't get more than 2 or 3 hours a week in the saddle but also for those that are serious about taking their riding to the next level.

So even if you can't run out and buy a book today, enjoy reading the articles! There are some great videos too.  See you in the barn!

Location for Show Team Meet & Greet!

With the large size of our show team this year, we have decided to rent a room at the Nobleton Community Hall so that we can all be together (rather than spread people out between the camp trailer and house!).  The Community Hall is located at Hwy 27 & King Rd behind the CIBC bank and is only 10 minutes away from the barn.  We will be in one of the activity rooms upstairs and we'll post a sign on the door to direct people to the correct place. Here are directions to the hall:


View Larger Map

The meeting will be from 6:00pm - 8:30pm and parents are welcome to stay for the duration.  For any parents that would like to drop-off and return for the paperwork portion of the meeting, please return at 7:30pm (we had originally said 7pm).

We look forward to seeing you all then!

Recommended Read

Hello All!   Every Monday I will post a link to an interesting article to do with riding, training, horsemanship, grooming, etc.  If you come across something you think we should share, send me an email.

"Where to Look Before Jumping" - By Jim Wofford with Elizabeth Iliff

Also, always recommended is Eventing Nation.  It's a great site to keep up to date with everything to do with eventing in North America with tons of great articles, interviews, videos and more!

Show Team Questionnaires Please!

If you have not submitted your Show Team Questionnaire yet, please get it in ASAP!  We would like to finalize horse assignments this week and require everyone's details to do so.

Just a reminder that our FIRST 2011 Team Meeting will be Friday, February 18th at 6:00pm!  This meeting is mandatory for all team members and we ask that parents of our junior members arrive at 7:00pm for the boring, paperwork part of the meeting. We are going to supply pizza and drinks for all.  If anyone wants to bring some munchies or dessert, that would be great!

I would love to post photos/videos of our team's lessons.  If anyone has a parent/friend who is willing to risk frostbitten fingers, please send in your photos or videos!

We will also be adding team bios and a Sponsors page to our blog this week.  It would be fabulous if all team members could submit a photo and a brief bio by Friday at noon.  I thought a terrific way to get these in on time is I will reveal your horse assignment for this season when we post the bio's on Friday afternoon.  You won't find out your horse until I get your bio!

Bio Format
Name:
Age:
Horse: Will be added in for those show boarding :)
Previous Experience:  i.e. Showed Entry in 2010, riding for 4 years, etc
Goals for the Season:

Thanks everyone! See you in the barn.