What Your Score Means
I heard a number of disappointed riders after the last show. The main comment was that they didn’t have many positive comments on their score sheet. Well, there’s a reason why. The judge’s responsibility is to evaluate and verbalize, in a minimum of words, what would make the score higher. For instance, if you got a 5 as a score, the comment should reflect why it wasn’t a 6 or what essential element needs improving. Also keep in mind That this must be done before the next movement is started. That’s pretty quick. Comments must be concise as well, or the scribe will have a hard time writing it in the box and keeping up with the test. Your entire test usually takes about 6 to 8 minutes. After which another rider starts and expects the judge’s undivided attention.
At the bottom of your test you will often see a general comment. That is the place a judge will usually write the most reoccurring or important element that needs your attention. This is an area where they can quickly write other comments. If a judge takes too long the show will gradually get further and further behind time. If you are riding later in the day and thought your ride was at 1:20, it could easily move to 2:00, if the judge took even 1 or 2 minutes more. The judge also has a responsibility to show management and the competitors to try to keep the show running in a timely manner.
Another thing to keep in mind is the score itself. It is not at all like school. If you got a 55 or 60% on a test you might be sitting in study hall and losing your allowance. In dressage a 60% is a very respectable score. If you are new to the sport or riding an older school horse you will see some 50% scores.
Keep in mind schooling shows are practice shows. They are designed to help you get comfortable with showing. You have an opportunity to work on improving your basics and learning the ropes. If you own a horse it’s a great way to try a new test or bring a nervous horse along.
Take it all in stride (Pun intended!) and have a good time!
Show and Clinic Entry Deadlines
Students and parents,
Please find below a list of some of the upcoming events
I have put most of the deadlines in for entries and payment. I am not going to hound you to get things in on time. That’s your responsibility. I would like to suggest that you take the entry form from the AZ Dressage Omnibus and fill in all pertinent info. You can even have me sign the trainer section. Then, make copies and fill in for each show. Please plan ahead. I will NOT allow forging my signature any more. It was embarrassing to have the show secretary point out two typos in my name in a single signature.
So plan ahead. NO EXCUSES.
Entry due: This means it has arrived with payment in full to the secretary.
Keep in mind: You can not participate in any clinics or go to away shows if your board payment is not paid in full.
Clinics: You MUST pay by the due date. I will not hold spots beyond that date. Also, you have enough time to look at your calendars and commit, prepare( ride your horse on a regular schedule), and show up.
WHAT"S HAPPENING NEXT
Next projects hopefully before the end of summer will include shade systems for some of the pastures. Check the CARA wish list at the end of this page if you want to help!! (hint, hint)
Mommy, Me and Pony too Class ,
Allison Nacktgeboren held 3 successful "Mommy, Me and Pony too classes" . This class introduces children from 3 to 6 to horses. Each child has the opportunity to groom and then ride “Harry Spotter. Fee is $25/per child. If you are interested contact us. Our next classes will be announced shortly.
SADDLE CLUB
Next meeting will be announced shortly. It will be from 9 to 11 am. We would appreciate if one of the parents brings refreshments. This is a fun and FREE club for all horse Carzy kids. No riding, just learning, games, and fun!
A note about Lessons and clinics:
"There are many roads to Rome" While there is only one classical way to train a horse, a good trainer can and should use different exercises to help different horses learn movements. A perfect example is the exercise where we do haunches in at varied degrees, angles and bends.
To get the most out of your lesson try to follow your teacher's instructions without interruption or questioning. Perhaps in a clinic or lesson with another trainer you might be told to do something one way. In your subsequent lesson you are told to do it a differnt way. It makes it difficult to teach with interuptions, such as, "but so and so said do it with more bend."Just follow what the instructor you are working with at that time tells you.
The clinicians and instuctors we have here are all very good and are working with you toward the same goals.
FROM THE MUCK BUCKET
Please remember to clean up the grooming areas. We do expect each and everyone to sweep up and pick up hoof cleanings, hair and manure. there are buckets, brooms, shovels convienently located. Please do not just sweep things onto the aisle or by the horses turnouts. Also, rmember to empty the tack cleaning buckets in the drive ways. The water attracts mosquitos and flies.
PARENTS ANDSTUDENTS SWEEP UP AFTER EACH RIDE. THIS INCLUDES SHOWS!!! Remember that horses after lessons and after shows need grooming and attention Plan accordingly. After all... "It is the Disicipline of our Sport!"
Also we are having some problems with Students borrowing from the wrong tackrooms. Only take things from the CARA Tackroom and tack cleaning station. Do not go into other tackrooms.
Thanks
Bathroom/Laundry room
If you use the facilities you are expected to keep it clean and wipe out the sink. We will ( in addition to the obvious) provide paper towels and liquid hand soap. You are expected to tidy up the sink area. If you use the shower, you must bring your own supplies AND take them home again. Any shampoo etc will be either thrown away or taken for use on the horses. Don’t leave stuff in there.
Blanket cleaning
You can contact Estrella Blanket at http://www.estrellahorseblankets.com/
They will pick up your blankets and deliver them valley wide... Ron will be here on April22nd. You will need to have your items labeled. You can put a label and safety pin on them. They also apparently sell fly masks and sheets and blankets. This might be a great web site to visit!! Also he told me he has discount blankets on sale that are not listed on the website!!!
Ron 602-505-7374
1> TURNOUTS: Also, friendly reminder if you turn your horse out in one of the pastures near the arenas, and they run around and tear about , please remove them ASAP so that they don’t disturb other riders. The Schmitz pasture on the west side of the arena is the one that most often causes disruption. Either this week or next week we will be irrigating so pastures will be closed during that time. Also, please do not turn out horses in the pastures near the arena, if you have a runner during the Zuther Clinic this weekend.
From our rules:
· If your horse is in turnout and is disruptive to ongoing lessons or riding you MUST bring them in.
· Boarders may use paddocks for turnout Time is limited to 15 minutes when others are waiting for turnout.
· All Turnouts Must be supervised. Please do not leave horses unattended – they will be taken in
· ALWAYS REMEMBER SAFETY when turning horses out. Always enter turnout and turn around so that you are nearest to the gate. Horses should be quietly released.
· Absolutely, NO chasing or “Playing” is allowed.
2>CLIPPING :Kendall will be clipping on Thursday late am or early afternoon. I need payment by Tuesday evening (make checks payable Kendall Brookhart). Clips are $125. ( Theresa –talk to Kendall) So far there are only two people signed up on the board. Until we get blanket bags, you can hang 1 blanket on your stall. Talk to me about this.
3> Tack Rooms I realize we have some tight quarters in our tack rooms so I am reprinting here the rules regarding space. If you have more than 1 box, or 1 can for feed please consolidate and take items that are not allowed home. We have ordered additional bridle racks. Here is what we have as our standard:
· CARA staff will assign a tack room depending on the barn your horse is stabled in.
Owner may have only 1 CARA approved tack box or cabinet not to exceed 38” by 24”. Boxes that are in disrepair must be either repaired or removed. Boarders may have, if space allows 1 standard sized metal or hard plastic garbage can for feed. Cara will provide saddle racks and bridle racks. Boarders may not bring freestanding saddle racks. All items other than 1 saddle and 2 bridles MUST be secured in the tack box. All feed/supplements must be stored in feed can. Any feed that does not fit in this can, must be stored at home. During cool months boarders may have a blanket for their horse. April 1st all blankets must be taken home or placed in boarder’s trailer for storage.
· If space is limited, CARA my ask you to take additional items home. CARA staff may move any box in order to rearrange the room. No one else may move another person’s belongings or rearrange the tack room without speaking to Dorie first.
4>Farrier Releases: I am also Including a Farrier release please have your farrier sign it and return it to YOU. You then need to bring them to me, or put them in the payment box.
5> Trail Riding : One more side note: This weekend several people went trail riding. This was a first for us. So, have updated our rule book to accommodate those ADULTS that wish to trail ride. We will add a separate liability release specifically regarding horses that leave CARA grounds. NO horses in Full training can go off property and anyone 18 or under needs to speak with me. If you are an adult and wish to ride off property please sign the attached release.
Thanks Dorie
Queen Creek’s Central Arizona Riding Academy student, Brittney Klasic Brings Back a Team Gold
At age 9, Brittney Klasic, like many young children dreamt of horses. Little did anyone realize that nine years later, she would stand atop a medal podium with the North American Junior Young Rider Team gold medal around her neck. Two months ago, she was ranked second in the nation. This allowed her to compete at the Festival of Champions in San Juan Capistrano where she finished 5th for the junior National Dressage Championship. She and her ten year old Hanoverian horse, Wadi Draa were one of four riders representing the United States Dressage Federations Region Five at the north American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Parker Colorado July 28th through August 3rd. Her performance helped the team bring back the Gold team Medal. This is the first time in the history of the competition that the region has won a Junior Team Gold medal.
Additionally, team members Brandi Roenick won the individual Gold and Morgan Heinrichs won the freestyle gold; Making this a clean sweep of all possible gold medals for the Junior Dressage team.
The North American Junior and Young Riders Championships (NAJYRC) is the premier competition for the Young Riders, in the Olympic equestrian disciplines of Eventing, Dressage, and Show Jumping. Riders are invited to compete via each country’s national equestrian federation in North and Central American, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, as well as each province of Canada, each USA Equestrian Zone (Show Jumping), USDF Region (Dressage), and USEA Area (Eventing). The broad range of competitors attending the Championships produces an Olympics - like atmosphere throughout the competition week.
Dressage is a French term meaning “training” and its purpose is to develop the horse’s natural athletic ability and willingness to work making him calm, supple and attentive to his rider.
If you are a history buff, you might be interested in reading more about the beginnings of dressage that date back to Xenophon in Greece and include a long line of riding masters, both from the military and the famous riding schools which developed during the Baroque era.
Currently, competitive dressage involves nine progressive levels incorporating multiple tests within each level. Special tests are also written for musical freestyle, sport horse breeding and performances incorporating multiple horses and riders. Tests are revised every four years by the United States Dressage Federation, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).
Success in dressage is dependent on the rider’s position and ability but because of the goal of the training, many horse breeds can be quite successful.
Watching dressage can be very exciting, especially the musical freestyle rides or tests at the FEI (highest) levels.
Central Arizona Riding Academy (CARA) is a premier lesson, training, and boarding facility of Arizona. For more than twenty five years they have welcomed adult and children, beginners though advanced riders, both interested in competition and pleasure riding. Trainers Ulrich and Dorie Schmitz are both international competitors having ridden through the highest level of dressage and National Judges. Ulrich is also an International Event judge and Sport horse judge. Both hold the United States Dressage Federation Bronze, Silver, and Gold riding medals. Together both Ulrich and his wife Dorie have taken children to the NAJYRC more than 15 times. Many of their students have gone on to successful professional equestrian careers. Former student, Kim Severson, currently is ranked one of the top riders in the world and represented the United States at the Athens Olympics, bringing back the individual silver and team bronze medal in Three Day Eventing. The Academy also has many successful adult amateurs riding in the National ranks. There are also students who do not compete, but have learned to enjoy riding in a safe and friendly environment.
CARA relocated to Queen Creek, Arizona two years ago and currently is accepting new students of all ages. Currently the youngest rider affectionately known as the barn mouse is Julia Brokow, age 5, of Chandler. She and her two sisters are part of the “Barn Rat program” in addition to regular lessons; the barn rats have monthly free educational and fun get togethers to promote camaraderie and friendship. Students travel from all over the state and from out of state to train in Queen Creek. Anyone wanting more information about children and adult riding can call 480-963-1310.
Congratulations to all of our CARA Stars!!!!
