February 2015

Members who qualified for

dressage at champs!

Number First Name Last Name

Q 31 Audrey Rosen

Q 12 Melanie Zuercher

Q 11 Emily Zuercher

Q 36 Lillian VanWinkleQ 43 Lexi RayQ 1 Jenna BrownQ 38 Madison SmylyQ 32 Tatum EdgeQ 2 Maya WentzQ 42 Hannah WhitakerQ 3 Samantha WiedrickQ 39 Resh MekQ 44 Kayla EismanQ 41 Amy HodickQ 37 Molly Kennedy

Rating Achievements!

Joan Marchand - C1 Traditional

Audrey Rosen - C1 Traditional

Natalie Tanski - C1 HM, D3 Flat

Olivia Tanski - C1 HM, D3 Fences

Drew Cheek - D3 Flat

Rachel Crisp - D2 Traditional

Kani Schram Traditional, D2 HM, D2 Flat - D1

Special thanks!Phillip Dutton and Christa Gandolfo For- inviting Cypress Springs PC to a clinic and insisting they get good seats to hear every word!

Sea Fox held their rating at Katy Rosen’s farm, and their examiner was Mary Frances Denton thank you for helping with this rating!

A Special Event!On December 29th Cypress Springs Pony Club had the pleasure of attendinga Phillip Dutton clinic held at Christa Gandolfo's Oakmont Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.  A big thanks to Christa for inviting us to attend and to Phillip who insisted we sit up close so that we could hear every word.  Go Pony Club!

As of Jan 28th the following Sunshine Region Members were

in the TOP 5 in the USEA Leader board for Junior

Riders.

For Beginner Novice:Amy Hodik ( C1 Traditional Tuscawilla) 1st

Emily Zuercher ( C2 Traditional Fox Hollow) 1st t Novice:Rachel Morgan (HB Horsekeeters)  2nd Training:Madison Olesh ( C2 Traditional South Lake ) 4t 

February meeting suggestions

Mounted Lesson: Topic “Maintaining Rhythm and Balance at the Walk, Trot and Canter” What better way to teach flatwork than by “jumping”?

Unmounted Lesson : Update each member’s Flowchart for their next certification level. Your Club Instructor to sign and date each box as the activities are done.

*For more info on lessons please read the RIC’s Quarterly Newsletter! *

D DayJanuary 17, 2015 saw the Sunshine Region’s first D-Day educational workshop in several years. With 30 participants and 12 Junior Council members present to teach, the weather was perfect and our location, Tack Shack of Ocala, could not have been better. Our participants learned about proper attire, pony parts, stall maintenance, saddles, bridles, quick-release knots, and helmet safety. After a quick lunch everyone was happy to head into The Tack Shack of Ocala to end the day with a $5.00 coupon and 10% off of their purchase. Thanks to Jenna Brown and Madison Olesh of South Lake; Jean Thomas, Jane Thomas and Kanyon Walker from Wekiva Basin; Samantha Wiedrick of Cypress Springs; Emily Zuercher from Fox Hollow; Amy Hodik, Lexi Ray and Hannah Whitaker from Tuscawilla; and Rachel and Elizabeth Morgan of Horseketeers! Great job Pony Clubbers. I know the region is already looking forward to next year’s event. A special thanks goes out to The Tack Shack of Ocala for being so supportive of our event. Keep your eyes open for upcoming Junior Board volunteer opportunities! For more information, be sure to contact Trish Morgan, Junior Board Advisor at trishmorganRN@gmail.com.

Sunshine Region Pony Clubbers Participate in the USEA 2015 ICP East Coast Symposium at

Longwood Farm, Ocala, Florida

Jean and Jane Thomas, age 15 and both C2/HB members of Wekiva Basin Pony Club were

recently selected to be demo riders with their young mounts at the USEA 2015 (United States

Eventing Association) ICP (Instructor Certification Program) East Coast Symposium

held January 19 – 20 at Longwood Farm, Ocala, Florida.

Each year, USEA brings in a guest instructor for the symposium in order to further the education of the riders and audience; which is primarily composed of certified instructors attending in a continuing education capacity, and auditors eager to learn what the guest instructor has to impart. This year, the guest instructor was Mr. Christopher Bartle, a native of Yorkshire, England and current Coach for the German Event Team.

Kicking off the first day, Jane rode her 5-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Big Bad Buckaroo, in the dressage phase along with another adult amateur rider and her horse. All dressage riders were asked to submit, in advance, two or three movements they hoped to work on with Mr. Bartle. Jane submitted shoulder-in, improving the leg yield and lengthening of stride. Mr. Bartle helped both riders with some

excellent exercises using ground poles to improve their accuracy in riding figures as well.

Later that afternoon, Jean rode her 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Junior Mint, in the show jumping phase. Mr. Bartle worked with the small group of five riders and horses for an hour and a half and focused on accuracy, balance and straightness. He also stressed the importance of outside bend to help achieve balance in the horse.

At the close of the first day, Mr. Bartle gave a lecture entitled “Rules for Cross Country Riding.” The second day followed with Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country instruction for more advanced riders many of whom are professionals.

Overall, the symposium was a great success and always draws a large crowd. Many Olympic veterans were in attendance, including Jimmy Wofford, David and Karen O’Connor, Richard Lamb, Jane Sleeper, Doug and Jessica Payne, Marilyn Little and many others (can you name how many of these were also in Pony Club?)

This was a great experience and a wonderful opportunity to gain helpful knowledge and skills from one of the greatest equestrian coaches in the world and these two Pony Clubbers are very thankful to USEA to have been able to participate. Be sure to watch for next year’s symposium on the USEA website or Eventing Nation for your chance to apply as a demo rider or attend as an auditor.

February 2015 pictures

Leader board USEA

BN Emily Z

Training Madison Olesh

Jean at the Symposium