April 14th Results

First I want to say a big thank you for all the exhibitors, families, and instructors who came out.  I also want to thank Betsy Price owner of Southern Heritage Farm for her lovely facility.  My volunteers Leann, Raymond Trouve, Junior, and Jesse.  Hard to run a show by yourself. 

Thank you to our sponsors Anne Crowell (www.adcsaddlery.com) and ProActive Wellness Concepts (www.pro-activewc.com/)

The photographer was Bruce Harbin, http://www.infocusbybruce.com  Please check his website, he said he should have the shots up by Wed or Thursday.

Krister Swartz “L”

1.       Introductory Level  A

1^st-Marcy Heacker & Power Comotion 75.263%

2^nd-Doug Harrison & Romantic Holiday-67.00%

3^rd-Deidre Howard & Pippin’s Pretty Picture-63.00+%

4^th-Kayla Marbert & Walk This Way-63.00%

5^th-Dough Harrison & Sweet Romance-60.00%

6^th-Kayla Marbert & Lucky Dice-58.00%

2.       Introductory Level B

1^st-Lori Hancock & Roxy-75.625%
2^nd-Diedre Howard & Pippin’s Pretty Picture-73.00%

3^rd-Muriel Nanninga & Secret-70.625%

4^th-Lori Hancock & Glenhaven’s Danny Boy-70.00%

5^th-Doug Harrison & Romantic Holiday-69.062%

6^th-Doug Harrison &n Sweet Romance-63.00%

7^th-Bailey Abel on Tess Tarrgon-57.50%

8^th-Kim Abel on Wheezier-51.562%

3.       Introductory Level C

1^st-Muriel Nanninga & Secret-69.75%

2^nd-Alaria Moss Odyssey-69.00%

3^rd-Alaria Moss Harp-67.00%

4.       Training Level 1

1^st-Erika Krause & IdleHour Amarula-71.666%

2^nd-Budi Tulodo & Alaria Moss Odyssey-69.583%

3^rd-Autumn Schuler & Fizz City-68.958%

4^th-Tiffany Turley & Rockpointe Twilight-67.291%

5^th-Theresa Markwalter & RattleNSnap Favorite Son-62.916%

6^th-Budi Tulodo & Alaria Moss Harp-61.00%

5.       Training Level 2

1^st-Erika Krause & IdleHour Amarula-69.821%

2^nd-Isabella Meier & Infrared-69.107+%

3^rd-Autumn Schuler & Fizz City-69.107%

4^th-Susan Morrison & Carmen-65.179%

5^th-Theresa Markwalter & RattleNSnap Favorite Son-63.750%

6^th-Tiffany Turley & Rockpointe Twilight-62.321%

6.       Training Level 3

1^st-Susan Morrison & Carmen-61.00%

2^nd-Brittany Croll & Whisteria Lane-58.20%

3^rd-Isabella Meier & Infrared-54.40%

7.       Prix Caprilli TOC

1^st-Laura Mahoney & MD Grace E-78.636%  (Prix Caprilli Intro)
2^nd-Laura Mahoney & MD Grace E-75.384% (Prix Caprilli Training)

8.       First Level 1

1^st-Jeanne Binder & Custers Run-70.172%
2^nd-Jennifer Cejpeck & On Starr-61.121%
3^rd-Sherri Valsamis-Picasso-54.655%

9.       First Level 2

1^st-Jennifer Cejpeck & On Starr-64.864%
2^nd-Brittany Croll & Whisteria Lane-63.338%
3^rd-Jeanne Binder & Custers Run-62.837%
4^th-Sherri Valsamis & Picasso-57.027%

10.   FEI Young Horse TOC

1^st-Samantha Apple & Signal Fire (5yo Final Test)-68.40%

11.   FEI Young Horse TOC

1^st-Jennifer Mutchler & Floete (Prix St. Georges)-68.75%

Introductory Level High Score: Lori Hancock & Roxy, 75.625%

High Score of the Day (excluding intro): Erika Krause & Idlehour Amarula (Training 1) 71.666%)

Reserve High Score of the Day (ex. Intro): Jeanne Binder & Custers Run (First Level 70.172%)

The Buildup...

                Now I show horses and so I know how much as an exhibitor you can get wired the week before a show.  For some reason I get that way too when I manage a show.  Especially the first show of the year.  I have a concussion (hit my head against a shelf), so my sleep pattern has been messed up.  Every day for the past two weeks I’ve been doing show related stuff. 

                Last time despite being exhausted I did barn work and rode my horse.  I didn’t get home until 9:30pm.  When I got home I got ready for bed.  I was lying in bed thinking about the labels I printed out for the test.  It wouldn’t leave me alone. 

                So at 11pm at night I got out of bed, pulled out all the tests, labeled them and finally I went to bed.  And I slept great.  I didn’t wake up until my annoying alarm went off.

                Today is Thursday and my to-do list is getting smaller.  Tonight’s task is to clean the dressage arena, mostly cobwebs and dirt so just a quick broom, maybe a little hosing here and there.  But I may just leave that for the thunderstorm tomorrow. 

                Countdown begins…  Hope to see you on a beautiful spring day.  Hopefully I’ll catch up on my sleep eventually.  J

MDS Ride Times-14 April 2013

I tried to accomodate all requests.  If you see a problem please let me know, mitchellsporthorses@gmx.com  

900	intro c	Budi Tulodo	Alaria Moss Harp
908	intro a	Doug Harrison	Sweet Romance
916	intro a	Kayla Marbert	Lucky Dice
924	training 1	Budi Tulodo	Alaria Moss Harp
932	intro a	Diedre Howard	Pippin's Pretty Picture
940	intro b	Doug Harrison	Sweet Romance
948	intro b	Lori Hancock	Glenhaven's Danny Boy
956	intro b	Kim Abel	Jacinth
1004	intro b	Bailey Abel	Tess
1012	intro b	Diedre Howard	Pippin's Pretty Picture
1020	10 min break
1030	intro a	Kayla Marbert	Walk This Way
1038	intro a	Doug Harrison	Romantic Holiday
1046	intro c	Budi Tulodo	Alaria Moss Odyssey
1054	intro b	Caroline Ogren	Penny
1102	intro b	Doug Harrison	Romantic Holiday
1110	training 1	Budi Tulodo	Alaria Moss Odyssey
1120	intro b	Muriel Nanninga	Secret
1128	intro b	Lori Hancock	Roxy
1138	intro a	Marcy Neacker	Power Comotion
1146	intro c	Muriel Nanninga	Secret
1154		10 min break
1204	prix caprilli intro	Laura Mahoney	MD Grace E
1214		Lunch Break
1245	prix caprilli training	Laura Mahoney	MD Grace E
1255	remove fences
105	training 1	Erika Krause	IdleHour Amarula
113	training 1	Autumn Schuler	Fizz City
121	training 1	Theresa Markwalter	Rattle N Snap Favorite Son
129	training 1	Tiffany Turley	Rockpointe Twilight
137	training 2	Isabella Meier	Infrared
145	training 2	Susan Morrison	Carmen
153	training 2	Erika Krause	IdleHour Amarula
201	training 2	Autumn Schuler	Fizz City
209	training 2	Theresa Markwalter	Rattle N Snap Favorite Son
217	training 2	Tiffany Turley	Rockpointe Twilight
235	training 3	Brittany Croll	Whisteria Lane
243	training 3	Isabella Meier	Infrared
251	training 3	Susan Morrison	Carmen
300	Break
308	First Level 1	Jennifer Cejpeck	On Star
316	First Level 2	Brittany Croll	Whisteria Lane
324	First Level 1	Sherri Valsamis	Picasso
333	First Level 1	Jeanne Binder	Custers Run
342	First Level 2	Jennifer Cejpeck	On Star
351	First Level 2	Sherri Valsamis	Picasso
400	First Level 2	Jeanne Binder	Custers Run
412	Prix St. Georges	Jennifer Mutchler	Floete
422	FEI 5yo Final	Samantha Apple	Signal Fire

Coffee for Change

Coffe for Change is our mini-fundraiser.  I love volunteering.  My personal view is that we should give back to our community and help out whenever we can.  Each show we'll be featuring a different non-profit group. 
So bring a dollar and your favorite mug and we'll bring the Keurig. 

April's Feature Charity: Shirley's Angels Boxer Rescue
A representative from SABR will be there for any questions. 

My Significant Other

You won't be seeing my significant other at the show series.  I do not actually board at Southern Heritage Farm.  I board about 15 minutes away at a private barn in Catlett.  SHF was my 2nd choice, but the indoor arena won out so I'm where I am.

I saw Lilly on justappaloosas.com  It was a super floaty trot shot, she was probably a few months old.  Beautiful face, perfect slash of color, and she looked like she had sass.

I did what every horse person knows not to do.  I fell in love.  I emailed her breeder, she sent me a video.  I was hooked.  Me a poor college kid, who was selling her current horse because I was a poor college kid, was getting another horse.  What was I thinking?

I don't regret the decision.  April 2005 she came to VA a lanky 2yo filly.  She's opinionated, a little crazy, but she's a good girl generally.  She helped me get serious about dressage.  She's super scopey and fantastic over fences, but she requires a braver person than me.

Past few years have been topsy turvy with job insecurities, injuries (both of us), but hopefully this year we'll finally be able to show First level and qualify for BLMs.  We'll see.  If all else we'll just have fun.  Because that's the point of showing.  Having fun right?  :)

Prix Caprilli

Prix Caprilli isn't a new thing in dressage.  It's been around for a long time, it's just not that popular in the United States.  It's basically a dressage test with a few jumps. 

MDS will offer Prix Caprilli tests.  We'll be using these tests:  http://swfda.org/Forms%20PDF/PRIX-CAPRILLI%20TEST.pdf

Jump heights.
Intro: 18" cross rails
Training Level: 2'
First Level: 2'3"

Right now we have one rider who's doing the Intro and Training Levels for our April show.

My first show!

Managing shows I get these emails all the time:

I'm so sorry to bother you, but I've never shown dressage.  I'm normally a (fill in blank usually hunter) rider but this looks cool (or my hunter/jumper horse is trying to kill me and I need a less dangerous sport).  

First off never be sorry to ask questions!  That's how we learn.  I was in the same boat as you.  I was a hunter/jumper rider who dabbled in dressage.  My mare who is a very scopy jumper was a dirty ducker.  So I ended up in the dirt way too much and so I needed something less dangerous.  I always liked dressage but when forced with a career change I started to love it.  

Here are often the questions I get asked:

What do I wear?

You'll see that some people will always wear full show attire.  But you don't have too.  For dressage that's a dressage jacket (usually black), helmet (approved!), white breeches, white gloves, tall boots, stocktie, and pin.

But we're a schooling show.  My friend Danica (showing at Quantico) is wearing suitable attire for this level.  Polo shirt, breeches, and tall boots.

Paddock boots and Half-chaps are perfectly fine.  

Braiding is optional.  

Another common question.

Where can I get the tests?  

I always recommend for someone who's never shown to enter intro level.  It's a nice way to learn the letters, to learn the sport and get your feet wet.  

USDF manages Intro level tests and some specialty tests: USDF Dressage Tests

USEF manages Training levels-4th Level .  

Now there are another organization that has dressage test, FEI.  But normally most folks use the USDF and USEF tests at schooling show level.  

Gaited Tests: http://www.nwha.com/dressage.html

Western Dressage: http://www.westerndressageassociation.org/western-dressage-rules-tests/

USEA: http://useventing.com/competitions/dressage

Prix Caprilli (dressage tests with jumps): http://www.dreamrider.org/PRIX-CAPRILLI%20TEST.pdf

Arena layout

Two arena types.  Intro levels and most USEA tests are done in the small arena.

I hope that helps!