Dear Team,

This email contains everything and anything that you will need to know about the Equestrian Team for a loooong time. Please take the opportunity and read all the information contained below, as it is imperative for your personal knowledge!  I understand that it has been a rather rough start to the year, but that's done and over with. Let's move on to the greatest year that our team will have ever seen...

A word about lessons...each of you should have received a phone call from one of your board members regarding your lesson this week. If you haven't received a call, you will be shortly. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be on time to your designated pick up area. Drivers, be courteous enough to be there on time as well. As a general rule, pick up times happen one hour before the actual lesson is slated to begin. Remember that we wouldn't be late to any other appointment: let's not be late for our lessons. If you absolutely have to cancel, you MUST email Kathryn at kwells7087@aol.com and Kelly at kgentine@nd.edu in a timely fashion. Don't send word with your driver. Take responsibility for your actions!

At the lesson, there is a blue binder filled with sign in sheets on the desk in the front office. Before your ride, initial next to your name to show that you were there. In the front pocket of that binder, I have placed some goal sheets for you.  I want to know what your personal goals are! I will redistribute them at the end of the semester so that you can see how much you have improved. Please take advantage of this opportunity, regardless if you are club or team - This is a GREAT atmosphere in which to advance your ability.  Just leave the sheets there at Kathryn's this week after your lesson; I will pick them up on Friday.

Kelly Gentine has been gracious enough to keep things on the website current: go check out her hard work at www.nd.edu/~ndhorse!

Kathryn is hosting a horse show at her place this Sunday (non-IHSA affilliated). This is a MANDATORY club/team event - she needs help doing things like jump crew, gophering, etc.  There will be food there!!! It's going to be fun and it will be a wonderful opportunity to meet your fellow ND/SMC teammates. If you are interested in actually showing there, contact her.  We will start doing rides from Main Circle at 7:30am on Sunday. Don't groan: it's not that early!  If you have a car and you can drive, let me know ASAP. My info is below. Kathryn needs the help and quite frankly, it's the least we can do to offer our assistance for the morning and afternoon. Let's get a strong contingency there!  This show is also the time to sign up for the first IHSA horse show (see schedule below).

Kathryn, Kelly and I attended the Coaches' Meeting today in Lafayette, IN. We discussed many issues with the other participants in our region....Here's a rough outline of the minutes (at least the stuff which pertains to us....)

*All IHSA riders in the show ring MUST have an ASTM approved helmet. No exceptions.
*The Ohio University team's barn burned to the ground a few weeks ago and they are in desperate need of supplies - really anything to help them get their feet back on the ground. If you or your home barn are interested in donating anything, contact one of us or look at the website.
*We have had a change of region...we are no longer Zone 6, Region 2: We are now Zone 9, Region 1. Basically we lost all Illinois schools except for the University of Illinois and we did not gain any new competition. Our competititors are all in-state schools except for U of I.
*Definitely go check out the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association website too: www.ihsa.com. It has everything you could possibly want to know about the organization and all of the schools involved with it.
*And of course, we formulated the new show schedule...Here it is!

FIRST SEMESTER
IUPUI University (near Indianapolis): Sunday, October 13
Taylor University: Sunday, November 10
Saint Mary's of the Woods College: Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27

SECOND SEMESTER
Purdue University: Saturday, February 8 and Sunday, February 9
Taylor University: Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16
Tentative show dates: Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 30

Regionals at Purdue: April 5 or 6
Zones (at Purdue??): April 12-13
Nationals (TENNESSEE): May 2-4

Please note that these dates do not conflict with any football games!! Hooray...however, we had to compromise on the SMWC show. Know that while this is the last weekend of Fall Break, we still want you to show. If you fly into Indianapolis or South Bend, we can arrange transportation for you. But girls - NO shows on football game days!! How exciting, especially since the team is doing so well.  Club members, don't forget about your one free show. Let Kathryn know which show you want to participate in.

Now that you are armed with this information, I hope that the schedule will encourage all of you to sign up for Team Membership. We have an ultimate goal to make it to nationals as a TEAM this year.  We have the talent and YOU'RE it.  You can go to nationals as a Walk Trot student or an Open rider: Experience doesn't matter. Points do. The only way we can qualify is if people enroll in a Team capacity and compete at the shows to earn points.  This is going to be such an exciting year and we want EVERYONE involved in making this the best year Notre Dame has ever had.  THIS IS THE YEAR that we will make it happen, but we can only do it with your involvement and support.

Think about becoming a necessary component to our team: WE WANT YOU.  We have extended the drop date to this Thursday, September 26 by midnight.  Write it down, remember it. You will need to email kwells7087@aol.com and kgentine@nd.edu if you elect to drop, which of course we hope that none of you will. We are truly looking forward to an exciting year with you!

When you decide to do Team over Club membership, all you have to do is let Kathryn and Kelly as soon as you decide. Really: This is it - we have the talent!!! Let's cultivate it and really make a move as national competitors. I plan on being in Tennessee 8 months from now: anyone with me? I am so excited about this year and I hope that this enthusiasm is contagious....There are so many people who want to see us succeed: Let's really give our competitors a run for their money!

Remember that as board members, we are here to answer any questions that you may have, especially now as the show season is kicked off. Please do not hesitate to contact any of us with any questions that you may have regarding lessons, shows, or anything else about the organization. My information is below and you can always access any of us via the website.

I know this is a lot of info to digest in one email: but please, come be a part of something special! Contact us with any concerns

Sincerely, Meganne

Captain, ND/SMC Equestrian Team

P.S. Officers, Advisor, Coach: Please be advised that the above email list is the FINAL list. Each name up there is enrolled in a lesson time or is an associate member. Discard any previous email lists you may have, as they contact people not affiliated with our group.