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The USDF, in partnership with Dover Saddlery, is sponsoring a new medal program designed for adult amateurs riding at the Second Level. The USDF/Dover Medal Program will be held at participating horse shows across the country in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and includes regional awards and a national championship award annually.
The USDF/Dover Adult Amateur Medal will be awarded to the adult amateur who is a USDF member, riding at the Second Level, with the highest score of at least 58% or better in the designated USDF/Dover Adult Amateur Medal Class. This class is not an additional class; rather, it is a designated class from
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the existing horse show offerings. There is one USDF/Dover Medal class per horse show.
The USDF/Dover Adult Amateur Medal class shall be selected by the horse show management based on the following order of priority:
1. a Second Level Adult Amateur class, or if not available,
2. an Open Class with Second Level Adult Amateur riders, or if not available,
3. any class with Second Level Adult Amateur riders.
To be eligible, a rider must be a USDF adult amateur member in good standing. No additional memberships are required. Each USDF/
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Dover Adult Amateur Medal winner will receive a custom USDF/Dover pewter medal and neck ribbon, and will have a press release announcing the win at the horse show disseminated to his/her local media sources and will be listed in USDF Connection.
All USDF sanctioned horse shows are invited to offer the USDF/Dover Adult Amateur Medal Program.
The USDF/Dover Adult Amateur Medal class designated at the BEAT THE HEAT SHOW is class number 68, Second Level Test Four.
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The first session of Dressage University was held on a gorgeous, breezy Sunday in march at Aim High Equestrian Park. Thirteen lucky horse lovers--eight riders and five auditors--were treated to a 90-minute in-depth, hands-on study of some basic dressage techniques by local trainer Michelle Manshardt. The participants ranged from beginning dressage enthusiasts to second level competitors, but all gleaned some fresh perspectives on establishing and improving communication with their horses.
Studying dressage seriously since 1995, Manshardt has developed a teaching philosophy that encompasses classical principles as well as natural horsemanship techniques. She summarizes some of her beliefs in this way:
At its core, dressage is comprised
of two main components: technical
mastery of specific skills, and grace-
ful harmony with another being of
willful mind and spirit. It is both art
and science, and at all times we
should acknowledge it as such. In
my session for Dressage University
titled "Isolation and Separation, A
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Study of the Independent Move-
ments of the Fore and Hind Quarters,"
my focus was on developing a feel
for how to influence your horse
correctly to perform these basic,
yet highly important maneuvers.
In order to achieve communication,
with your horse, you the rider must
make efforts to establish a consis-
tent vocabulary. As with any student
learning a new language, it is help-
ful to first establish the meaning of
single words before trying to form
sentences or learn conjunctions.
This is exactly what the session was
about, teaching your horse (or
refreshing yourself) that these two
single phrases, yielding your front
end and yielding your hind end,
are building blocks to the sentences
of leg yielding, shoulder-in, travers,
collection, half-halt, etc."
The session began with riders on the ground, using their entire bodies to direct their horses away from pressure. Later when mounted, the riders used rein, leg, and seat aids to achieve the same responses. Michelle guided each participant through any "sticky" parts and was quick to point out when correct efforts were made by both horse and rider. During the head-to-the-wall leg yield exercise, a happy Debbie
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Legner was heard to say, "I can't believe how quickly Nana is responding to my aids!"
Overall, the participants were pleased with the instruction and the opportunity to expand their learning opportunities. At the end of the session, each rider had a few minutes to demonstrate what she had accomplished and to ask further questions of Michelle. Peggy Nicholas described the session as a "positive" learning experience, and Eileen Swiers was excited about having on-going continuing education available to her. Noel Hansen appreciated being able to expose her beautiful Warmblood to a new place. Pia Cuneo liked both seeing new faces and catching up with old friends.
To bring the session to a close, Michelle reminded us that
with each of the exercises, horse
and rider both have distinct responsI-
bilities. The rider's job is to properly
set up the situation and then wait;
and it is the horse's job to seek com-
(Continued on page 3)
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