1

Inside this issue

2015 ADA Board ......................... 2

2015 ADA Show Schedule ........... 3

“Color And Bling” ........................ 4

Concord Ridge Recap .................. 5

“Ride-A-Test” Clinic Recap .......... 6

Cathy Penrod article ................... 7

Scott Henderson article .............. 9

Betty Jo Crosby article……….….....11

Trainer’s Corner……………..…..…….13

Tena Scholten Frieling article… ...14

ADA Youth article ....................... 15

Show Season is Upon Us

The days are getting longer, our spirits a little higher, and our

horses a bit happier.. It can only mean one thing – show season

has arrived! Each spring, as the temperatures rise and the pas-

tures dry out, we are once again left pouring over show bills,. cal-

endars, and rule books. We are reminded of why we worked so

hard over the winter, braving the cold and often dangerous road

conditions, just so we can work on our shoulder-ins and transitions

to the point of perfection.

Perhaps you don’t have ma-

jor plans to dominate in the

show ring this summer.

Maybe for you, it’s simply

about furthering your train-

ing and achieving perfection

for purely intrinsic reasons.

That’s okay! The beautiful

thing about dressage is that regardless

of the source of your drive, of what mo-

tivates you, it ’s there. That passion is

something we all share, and why we do

what we do. It ’s why we make sacri-

fices in certain areas of our life and

spend countless hours dedicated to fur-

thering our relationship with our four-

legged friends. Whatever your goals

may be, I hope that this issue of the

Rapport offers you something to take

away from it. In or out of the ring, cor-

rect training will always pay off. Many

of the articles have been written by our local professionals… We are an in-

credibly lucky dressage community to be surrounded by such talented, well-

spoken trainers!

Enjoy, and see you at the shows this summer,

Erin Tupper

**Please remember members are always encouraged to share articles, pic-

tures, and events within the Rapport. Material may be submitted to

tupper.erin@gmail.com

Rapport The The official newsletter of the All Dressage Association

May 2015

Photo by Lori Ann Thwing

2

2015 ADA Board

Officers Kathy Walters President, Show Sanctioning

Laurie Moore Vice President, Advertising

Linda Petersen Secretary

Sue Bardins Treasurer

Board Members Allison Trumbull Membership, Points, Website

Erin Tupper Newsletter

Kathy Collier Silent Auction, Annual Show, Banquet

Jennifer McClelland Advertising

Maggie Walters (Jr. Board Member)

Twitter, Instagram Communications

Barbara Anderson Library, Clinics, Education

Sarah Van Allsburg Social Media, Clinics/Education, Banquet/

Silent Auction

Debby Schaefer Library

Madison Collier Annual Show, Website, Art Director

Lori Ann Thwing Art Director, Social Media,

Haley Stubbart Show Sanctioning, Website

Whitney Petersen-McIntosh Omnibus

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Upcoming 2015 ADA Shows

Date Location Judge

June 6-7 Thomet Stables

Ada, MI

Kerry Petty (r)

July 18-19 Thomet Stables

Ada, MI

Glenda Warner (L)

July 25 Rivendell Stables

Lowell, MI

Colleen Forton (L)

August 1 Equine Eden

Belding, MI

Louise St. Amour (L)

August 15 Detersmination Equestrian Center Sue Thome (L)

August 29 Rivendell Stables

Lowell, MI

Bernadette Radke (L)

September 5 Serenity Farms

Byron Center, MI

Susan Snethkamp (L)

2014 ADA Community Events

ADA Members, please submit your barn clinic schedules to tupper.erin@gmail.com for

publication in future issues

September 12-13

ADA Annual Show &

Championship Classes

Thomet Stables

Ada, MI

TBA

October 3

Concord Ridge

St. Joseph, MI

Sue Thopme (L)

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COLOR & BLING

By Megan Behler

In 2014, I had the privilege to attend the USDF Regional’s in Lex-

ington, Kentucky. This is where I experienced the culmination of

the vast choices we have in show attire from the professional to

the amateur. This past January the American Equestrian Trade

Association showcased the latest trends and fashions by many of

the brands we have come to love. While attending both of these

events dressage coats seem to be getting the spot light. Overall

the dressage coats have seen a big change over the last 4-5

years. The classic look of the long frock coat is no longer desired

and black is not the only color choice! It is refreshing to see that

you can personalize your coat to showcase your barn colors,

compliment your horses or add a little pizzazz to your look with

rhinestones and piping. Fit is very important, the coat should

refine your silhouette. The technical fabrics and features allow

stretch and movement while maintaining the shape. The market

has many incredible new coats that give you a custom look at

affordable prices.

Color doesn’t stop there! If you wear a navy coat why not a navy

helmet to finish the look? Helmets can be seen in brown, grey and navy to match the coat. One K and Charles Owen have classy options

with style and price in mind. Brown can be seen in boots, saddles and bridles and should not be overlooked. Brown adds a subtle hint of

sophistication and presence. If you have brown and a little bit

of bling, watch out, this pair is turned out to impress.

It’s all about the Bling! It is everywhere from saddle pads, helmets, brow band, whips, gloves, boots, breeches, show shirts, irons, spur

straps, belts and stock pins are all getting the jewels! I am a girl that loves a little bling and I find it fun to add a little sparkle to my look! A

wise trainer and friend once told me, “bring to attention what you want noticed.” In another words some of those items are great but a

small sprinkling would be plenty, save some for everyday schooling. If I were to choose one item to update this spring it would be the bri-

dle. This can add so much to dress up the horse’s appearance and adds a level of presence and class in the arena. The browband has many

choices. One with a little color in the gems from your coat will make the look pop! A dainty line of crystals that dip into a gentle wave will

look great on the long feminine head. Don’t forget about the noseband, add a wide padded white or patent band and you have framed

your horse face with refinement! The options are endless and there is a look for everyone, have fun with it! Millbrook Tack is prepared and

ready to assist you with all your equestrian needs.

This show season add a little Color & Bling , because dressage is beyond black and white.

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CONCORD RIDGE ~ MAY 2015

Who DOESN’T want to ride in a breath-taking, state-of-the-art facility?! Although early in the season, it was

clear that a large number of our ADA riders were anxious to kick off the show season in style! With over 50

riders signed up to halt at “X”, the first-ever ADA show held at Concord Ridge was a huge success. Many were

impressed with not only the facility itself, but it’s friendly staff and well-run event. Thank you for joining the

ADA circuit, Concord Ridge, we look forward to many more shows to come!

Photo by Lori Ann Thwing

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Ride-A-Test Clinic ~ May 2015

On Saturday, May 16, 2015, I had the pleasure to attend A.D.A.’s Horse & Rider

and Ride-a-Test Clinic on the beautiful grounds of Thomet Stables in Ada, Michi-

gan. This excellent all-day clinic combined three informative presentations about

horse and rider fitness in the morning with four ride-a-tests and judge commen-

tary in the afternoon. The morning speakers included Scott Henderson of Equifit-

ness, a physical therapist who specializes in rider conditioning; Dr. Pamela Ditonto,

a homeopathic veterinarian chiropractor; and Fran Cilella of The Animated Horse,

an equine massage therapist.

Focusing on their particular specialties but also integrating with the other presen-

tations, the speakers discussed horse and rider fitness and then demonstrated

various techniques to achieve flexibility, balance, alignment, suppleness, and re-

laxation. After a pleasant lunch break and friendly conversation with fellow dres-

sage enthusiasts, I had the privilege to hear expert commentary from “R” dressage

judge Betty Jo Crosby as she evaluated, scored, and instructed riders on how to

improve their test performance. Ms. Crosby also suggested specific exercises to

help riders establish more effective connections and communication with their

horses, and the improvements were obvious as the riders repeated their tests. I

came away from this clinic with so much helpful information along with such a

positive impression of A.D.A. and its members. What a wonderful resource and

supportive group of people dedicated to the well-being of horses and the sport of

dressage.

Thank you, A.D.A. for offering such an enjoyable and educational clinic!

Tina Mong

Photo by Katharina Picard

A big “thank you” to all those that participated, as

well as our many local professionals that made this

day a huge success!

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Your Greatest Potential for Success By Cathy Penrod

“He who fails to plan is planning to fail “

- Winston Churchill

It is said that if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there. What path will you be taking 2015? Give yourself the

greatest potential for success by creating goals that are clear from the inside out. Without the confusion of doubt and the thought process

that there are solutions and opportunities for everything good and bad that crosses your path, success is usually not a matter of it, it’s only

a matter of time.

The process of mastery is a combination of planning, commitment, and evaluation/feedback – and then, if warranted, modification. How

are you planning and creating powerful goals, so you can move in the direction of mastery? Are your goals based on performance expecta-

tions, outcome or mastering your ride?

Your Ideal Performance

Start with the end in mind by looking at your ideal performance. Imagine that you are riding at the top of your game. You are absolutely

and completely satisfied in all ways including how you internally showed up for this performance. With as much detail as possible, what

would you have done and accomplished? How would you feel before and after your performance? Now, imagine your performance is over,

what feedback would you receive? How important are these comments? Now, think about the qualities, beliefs, attitudes, and skills you

would need to have/exhibit for this ideal performance to occur.

With the above in mind, what goals and mind shift do you need to have to ride to your ideal performance?

Different Types of Goals

Since we are all different and what motivates one versus another can vary significantly, set goals that work for you and will help you per-

form better. Here are types of goals, in increasing order of energetic power:

Performance – avoidance: Goals in which you demonstrate and validate your abilities by avoiding looking incompetent or underperforming.

These goals can create anxiety and judgment.

Performance – approach: Goals in which you demonstrate and validate your abilities by achieving a specific outcome, or by outperforming

others. Performance-approach goals can be useful as motivators, although because they depend on an outcome, they are also associated

with judgment.

Mastery goals: Goals which are designed to increase your competency, understanding, and long-term success. Mastery goals are not de-

pendent of on a particularly outcome, as all outcomes can lead to learning and growth.

Core goals: goals that reflect your ultimate desired results.

Know What You Really Want

Most confuse performance goals with ultimate goals. In other words, we believe that what we are looking for is the outcome itself, when in

fact, the ultimate goal is the feeling of satisfaction, triumph, peace, happiness, or joy that occurs once the goal is achieved. For example, if

you want to win as champion and you achieved that, you’d probably have a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Or you’d gain

respect in the eyes of your fellow riders. Your core goal was what you get as a result of that win – the satisfaction, respect, and sense of

accomplishment.

Cont’d

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Penrod cont’d

Why do you ride? Explore your true goal. Write your main goal with respect to performing, then write what feeling you will gain from at-

taining it. Try and pick a single word and finally, write “by when” you will achieve your goal.

Guaranteed Success Game Plan

Sometimes, we get derailed and stressed because our performance is not going the way we’d hoped it would.

The ABC method of setting performance goals allows us to consciously set goals BEFORE we perform. Having an ideal plan (plan A), a

backup plan (plan B), and a backup to the backup plan, called a safety net plan (plan C), ensures that you will ALWAYS be successful in your

performance.

Your “A” plan is ideal – that’s the ideal outcome you could experience through any given situation. Your backup B occurs when you can’t

achieve your “A” plan and you then change your focus to gain something more achievable, and still valuable. And if neither your A nor B

plans work, Plan C changes the focus again so that you still experience a successful performance. Remember it is up to you to decide what

success is, and making a conscious choice in the moment as described here allows you to choose success as you define it in the moment.

Think about an ABC plan for your next performance, lesson or ride.

Lastly, make time to celebrate all your accomplishments, no matter big or small.

Happy riding!

Cathy

Cathy Penrod is a certified professional Performance Specialist with 34 years of knowledge of the equestrian world and has more than 19

years of leadership, mentoring and coaching experience. Cathy specializes in helping riders break through internal barriers, conquer nerves,

and take their performance to the next level using customized programs such as The Spur Factor Process and COR.E Performance Dynamics.

Find out more about Cathy and EquiCoach at:

www.equicoach.net

cathypenrod@equicoach.net

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When I first meet an equestrian client, my primary focus is balance.

Where do we see the imbalances? The premise is that no one's body is completely and evenly balanced.

The body is amazing with its ability to adapt. When a person presents herself to me, I'm seeing a body

that is in the midst of this process. I describe it this way, "we are all onions with different layers depending

on what we've been through". Every rider has a unique story. Depending on what the rider's body has ex-

perienced-accidents and injury, or in some cases not experienced-lack of exercise and fitness, the rider

presents herself in a unique way. All of us wear these "layers" and are constantly in the process of adapta-

tion and balance. Most of us do not have "symptoms" and, as a result, do not feel an immediate need to

undergo correction.

On the other hand, the sport of equestrian demands precise balance. As a result, these layers of the onion

must be peeled away to help facilitate this balance. This is the releasing phase of Equifitness. Some of

these layers can be released immediately, and others take time. As layers are released immediate and

noticeable changes take place. The body responds to this releasing by reorienting itself. Picture a mario-

nette hanging from its strings. Now picture a pair of scissors cutting the string that is suspending the

marionette's right elbow. What happens when the string is cut? The arm immediately drops to a different

level. However, this is not the only thing that occurs in response to the cut string. The marionette then

reorients itself three dimensionally in space moving until it reaches a new balanced point. As more strings

are cut, more localized changes occur along with the complete reorientation.

Based upon the two responses, the releasing and reorienting process is both immediate and then slower

over time. Both parts of the process are important. Quite often, traditional treatment focuses on aggres-

sive, direct technique via manipulation and aggressive stretching. These types of techniques focus on re-

moving as many layers of the onion as possible in one session. The body responds to this by protecting

itself, and most often cannot handle such dramatic change. I will discuss the body's response to this ag-

gressive type of treatment in a later post.

As tissue is being released, two very important physiological changes are occurring. First, soft tissue is changing, allowing for rebalancing the clients body-release, and second, the Central Nervous System

ACHIEVING BALANCE VIA RELEASING AND

REEDUCATION

By Scott Henderson, PT

10

Henderson cont’d

(CNS) is adapting to this change as the release happens and continuously as the client moves into her activities-reeducation.

This CNS "processing" is ongoing in our bodies. We have nerve endings from the top of our head to the bottom of our feet.

These nerve endings are continuously monitoring and affecting change. The signals, from the nerve endings, are being trans-

ferred to the brain, which processes the signals, and then sends signals back which "tell" the muscles and organs to change/

adapt. This miraculous process is accomplished in milliseconds. This process is vital in the way the rider and the horse interact

with each other as well. We will dive into this vital "horse-rider connection" another time.

Now, getting back to the client. Most, if not all clients present with an imbalance in their pelvis. This is almost always due to

soft tissue tightness. Clients also often present with what appears to be a leg length issue, but this is not the case. The issues

are up in the pelvis and hips. As a result of the tightness, the pelvis is held in an unbalanced fashion, there is an unequal leg

length, and a tremendous amount of compensation in the client's upper body. Often there are areas of pain in the lower back,

upper back, hips, shoulders, and neck. These are the layers of her onion. As we slowly begin to release the layers of the onion,

the body begins to change. These changes bring the client closer and closer to a new and improved balanced state. With these

changes, there is an immediate change in how the client stands and presents herself to her horse in sitting. As trainer Kathy

Walters pointed out in the last post, "a crooked rider leads to a crooked horse". The new and improved rider presents herself

to her horse in a much more balanced state. Not only does the rider present better, but because of the changes in her soft tis-

sue and her central nervous system she is better able her to communicate with her horse as her system is more sensitive and

responsive to the signals being passed back and forth between the horse and rider. The result is starting with her horse bal-

anced in the saddle, and then the ability to more clearly communicate with her horse during her ride. This begins to remove

the barriers that were once preventing her from completing maneuvers. This leads to a happy rider, happy horse, and happy

trainer. The Equifitness journey has begun, but is far from over. The process takes time as the body needs time to adjust to the

released tissue and for the reprogramming to occur in the central nervous system. The next step is to add strength and stability

as these changes are occurring. We will discuss this important step in our next installment.

Scott Henderson PT founded Equifitness as highly-specialized personal conditioning for eventing, dressage, and western com-petitors. Scott spent the past 30 years as a licensed physical therapist, and he’s been developing sports-specific conditioning since 2000. Equifitness helps riders achieve a new level of competitiveness and enjoyment, by improving their ability to balance, respond, and communicate, which creates a more productive horse–rider relationship and experience. For more information go to equifitnesstraining.com or contact us at info@equifitnesstraining.com.

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An individual sitting in a dressage

judge’s box behind the letter “C” has a

revealing view of the horse and rider as

a test is being ridden. Questions are

answered regarding the preparation for

the movements required in the test.

And, in too many cases even more

questions are raised about that preparation.

What has happened to the simple requirement for accuracy in the

school figures? The judge makes the assumption that the rider will

present fairly accurate lines of travel on straight and curved lines

and that the marks will be given for quality of the gaits, impulsion

and submission (cooperative effort on part of the horse). It is not

normally a concern that school figures will be overlooked as an

integral requirement in a test.

I must say that this lack of accurate figures is most likely to be seen

in the Introductory and Training level tests, but it also shows up at

First level when the rider does not have control of the horses tempo

and lacks the ability to utilize an efficient half-halt. I have to admit

that since giving up my judging licenses with the national federation,

it is only at schooling shows that I have been judging in the last

several years. However, schooling shows are held for the express

purpose of introducing inexperienced horses and/or riders to this

sport. And this, to my mind, is why it is very important that

inexperienced riders be given the training necessary to understand

and to be able to ride the simple school figures. It is a basic

demonstration of the rider’s ability to control the horse. It requires

accuracy and is the basis for advancement in all future training.

School figures are basically an exercise in geometry – the placement

of certain lines within a specifically measured arena. A 20 meter

circle has an exact placement between the long sides of the arena

with a 10 meter radius around the center of that circle. It is easy to

calculate but not always as easy to keep on the precise line. This is

where the trainers, parents and coaches need to come into play.

They need to show clearly where that circle is and then patiently

teach the rider how to ride it. It takes practicing the circle accurately

over and over again to get it right. It serves also to teach the rider

(who teaches the horse) how to apply the aids so that accuracy can

be obtained while riding other curved lines as well as truly straight

lines. Riding well is the goal whether for fun or at a competition.

Granted, the level of sophistication in any given dressage test is

based upon correct training at previous levels. And it stands to

reason that corners will be ridden at Training level with a lesser

degree of depth in a corner than at tests of medium difficulty, but it

is very important that the rider demonstrates the ability to ride a

curved line while riding a corner. Look at the directions

for riding a test and use a pencil to trace the exact line on which a

horse should be traveling after the halt at X. Note how tight a turn

should be to go from “C, track left” to “H-X-F, change rein”. In fact

trace the line of an entire test and then have “eyes on the ground”

to help the rider see how accurately it is actually ridden.

Accuracy is a demonstration of thorough preparation of horse and

rider for the work at hand. It is no different than studying a subject

in any school. The rider should know the subject well and be able to

“prove it” if good marks are to be awarded. Judges are not in an

adversarial relationship with the rider!! There is nothing that gives a

judge greater pleasure than awarding 7’s and 8’s and 9’s. But, the

rider has to earn those marks. Correct preparation and accuracy

count for a lot of points!

So, coaches, parents and trainers and riders, please give the basic

school figures the attention they deserve and reward yourself with

the satisfaction you will gain from positive results and good marks at

competitions. Bjc

A Note from the Editor- This article was first published in the

August 2012 edition of The Rapport. With permission from the

author, and due to the timeless nature of the information, this

article was again published. As an added tool, the author also

recommends acquiring a whiteboard to practice accuracy of

movements on.

THE VIEW FROM C: ACCURACY COUNTS

By Betty Jo Crosby

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How many times have you thought to yourself “I don’t have a fancy horse; those other girls have been riding longer than me - or - I can’t

afford lessons every week”. That’s okay! The beautiful thing about dressage is that we are rewarded in the ring for quality and accuracy.

Judges are carefully trained to look for specific things to reward and critique during your tests. Remember, they don’t know the breed of

your horse, how long you have been riding or who you do or don’t ride with. They just look at the movements presented before them and

give feedback based on what they see.

Below are 5 practical ways that you can maximize your test scores this summer:

1. Know your tests: Make sure that you have read over

each test carefully. It is important to not only know what

and where the movements are but also the Purpose of the

tests (which change as you go up the levels) and what the

Directives are for each movement (see insert). This informa-

tion will give you insight as to what the judges are looking for;

it’s not just a circle for the sake of doing a circle, they want to

see that you can maintain bend and balance and that you have

control of the size and shape of that circle.

2. Collective Marks: Similar to the Purpose and Directives, the Col-

lective Marks will cue you in to what the judge is looking for

throughout the test. Think of them as the underlying “themes”.

These are the ideas you need to take in the ring each time you

school as they are key to everything the judge will be looking for.

3. Geometry: This is such an easy way to improve your

scores! Correct geometry doesn’t take any particular

talent, just an eye for detail. Do you know how to

properly ride each movement? Having proper ge-

ometry does more than make your test “pretty” – it

has a practical application. For example, if you ride

sloppy corners you may be setting yourself up for a

poorly balanced transition on the next movement.

Here are some basic geometry guidelines:

** The riders shoulder should be parallel to the letter

when the test reads “at” – i.e. “walk at A”, YOUR

shoulders should be at A, not the horses’ nose or tail.

** A corner should be ridden the same as ¼ of a 10 Meter Circle (see diagram)

TRAINER’S CORNER ~ KIMBERLY BENCH

13

Bench cont’d

** When riding a “change rein across the diagonal” (i.e. M to K) make sure you complete the corner BEFORE leaving the track, as

your shoulders pass M leave the track, arriving again at K and make sure you create a proper corner after as well. It should be

ridden C to M (corner) M to K (diagonal) K to A (corner).

** There is no change of posting diagonal on the shallow loops. You SHOULD, however, show clear change of bend.

** Ride onto the center line like you are doing half of a 10 Meter Circle (K-D or F-D) vs trying to do a 90 degree turn at A

Be Prepared: The easiest way to maximize scores is to be prepared. Make sure you’ve put the proper time and commitment into get-

ting yourself and your horse ready for competition. Don’t wait until the last minute to look at the tests. While I don’t advise riding

them over and over, I do suggest you have them in mind during your workouts and think about how the movements are strung to-

gether. Can you do them in sequence? Is one way harder than the other? Do you know you what aids you need to properly prepare

for each transition? Do you know how your horse will react when he’s in a new environment? Does he load in the trailer? Knowing

the answers to these questions can make for a much more relaxed show experience for both you and your horse. At Benchmark Dres-

sage we use a checklist to pack for each show. It lists everything we need for our trip, right down to hair pins and hoofpicks. We al-

ways make sure we are packed and ready the day before and have checked and re-checked our list. We also plan to leave with plenty

of time to arrive to our destination early. This makes things run much more smoothly and helps everyone stay calm, happy and fo-

cused.

Here are some tips for before-the-show preparation:

** Haul your horse someplace new to practice

** Make sure he’s fit enough to handle an entire day/weekend of showing

** Go through the tests mentally ( i.e. set up cones in a “people-sized” arena and walk the test and mentally ‘ride’ it as you go- or,

I personally like to use a white-board and draw the test out using different colors for different gaits/movements)

** Make a check list with everything you will need for your weekend away

** Pre-pack when able (we have show trunks with equipment set aside specifically for shows and clinics – things like water buck-

ets, saddle racks, hay bags, etc.)

** Practice loading your horse

** Take lessons or participate in clinics (if you can’t afford to take lessons, auditing is a low cost way to glean lots of helpful infor-

mation and many trainers will be happy to let you observe as they ride and teach)

** Know the current rules that apply to your level (refer to your ADA or USDF Omnibus)

** Arrive early

** SMILE

My students have started calling competition “Showcation”. I believe this is because, as a team, we are well prepared so that we are able to enjoy our show experiences. Taking steps to ensure you are really ready for your show will take a lot of pressure off both you and your horse, which then allows you to focus and just have fun, which I think is key to success. Remember while you are riding to SMILE. (Even though you might be terrified as you make your way down the cen-terline!) Don’t rush yourself through the test. Remember, it is now required that you be immobile for a minimum of 3 seconds after the halt, so pause for just a few moments after your salute to take a deep breath, settle in, and allow your-self and your horse a second to focus on the task at hand. Dressage is a sport that requires discipline. As an athlete all through high school

and college, I can really appreciate how difficult it is. In many ways it is the hard-

est thing I’ve ever done. But because of this, it’s also one of the most rewarding

things I’ve ever done, too. For me, Dressage is all about the commitment to qual-

ity; it is the result of good riding day after day at home. Putting in a good test at a

show is just the icing on the proverbial equestrian cake. Enjoy your rides and

best wishes for a safe, successful and FUN 2015 show season! See you at X!

14

The ADA has meant a lot to me over the years. I remember my very first ADA show back in 1995. It was at a fairgrounds, I think maybe the Lowell fair-grounds. I was so nervous, it was my first horse show besides the equestrian team I was on in col-lege. When it was time for me to get ready I needed help with tying my stock tie and Laurie Moore was there to lend a helping hand. She maybe doesn't even remember helping me, but I will never forget her willingness to both help me and teach me to do it myself! The ADA was a great place for me to get my start in dressage. I enjoyed going to the banquet at the end of the year and earning year end awards. I also enjoyed my time on the board. It meant a lot to me to be able to give back and meet more people who had the same passion as me. As I started to teach I also brought my students to the ADA shows. The ADA shows are high quality and have served as a great spring board for showing at the USDF shows for both me and my students. I also like to take some of my young horses to the ADA venues because they are generally very quiet shows and therefore a great place to accustom inexpe-rienced horses to the show environment. Over the years it has been very rewarding for me to watch my young and inexperienced students grow to love dressage because of the beginnings they encountered at the ADA shows. Now that the ADA has decided to honor those showing at the USDF level at the year end awards banquet the entire team at Centennial Acres can be honored for their yearly accomplishments at one event. We are very excited about that! The beginners can look forward to their chance at USDF recognition and the more advanced showmen can honor and rec-ognize the younger generation in their achievements as well. What a fun night that was this past winter at the awards banquet when they did these awards for the first time! The sense of community among the local trainers at the ADA events is something I've really grown to appreciate over the years as well. We have a great bunch of trainers in west Michigan and I respect and admire each one of them! It's so fun to watch other barns cheer each other on at the

shows and wish each other well in their rides. I think that the social aspect of our sport is what makes it special, we don't compete against each other, we compete with each other and cheer each other on to our highest personal potential. I really enjoy cheering each other on!! Here's to another great show

season everyone!! Cheers!!

Abby Haworth and “Steve” on the left, Tena in the middle, with Nikki Steggerda and “Poppy” on the right. Taken in 2013 at the Annual show.

By Tena Scholten Frieling

Amy Schierbeek and “Adora” on the left , with Sherri Timmerman

and “Steve” on the right. Taken circa 2006. “Steve “ was passed

down from Sherri to Abby Haworth.

FROM ADA TO USDF… AND BACK!

15

What ADA Means To Me: Youth Rider of the Month

Lizzie Lundeen

My name is Lizzie Lundeen. I am 11 years old and I attend Lakeside Elementary School. My horse's name is Champ's Proof

(Champ). He is new to us, and we really love him. I take lessons from Whitney Petersen-McIntosh who is part of Laurie

Moore Dressage. Sometimes I ride at Rivendell Stables on my favorite school pony named Trixie, and sometimes Whitney

comes to teach me on my horse Champ who lives at Centennial Design Farm in Caledonia (where they have the coolest

barn cats ever, named George, Ringo, John Paul, and BW). Champ's best friend is a horse named Rebel. My favorite thing

is to ride lots of different horses so that I become a better rider. Fortunately, Champ knows lateral work so Whitney has

had me work on some leg yields and other fun things this spring (it's fun to go sideways!). I believe that dressage done

properly is the most humane way to ride a horse. So even though it's difficult, I am going to keep working at it! Champ

and I are looking forward to going to some ADA shows this summer with Whitney and my friends Sydney, Maria, Kat, and

Ella. We also recently joined the Grand River Pony Club and plan to go to several pony club events, including a really fun

one where you get to borrow a "mini" horse for the weekend! In the summer we are going to pony camp at Rivendell Sta-

bles for a whole week which will be really fun. This spring I have been working hard to get Champ to become relaxed, soft,

round and on the bit. When I am not riding, I love to play lacrosse and basketball, ski, do gymnastics (I am upside down

most of the time), and sing. I feel very lucky to have horses in my life. See you this summer!