In Motion Sport Horses, LLC Dressage Training , Instruction and Campaigning | Starting Sport Horses with Balance and Forward Movement | Horse Training Granit Bay, Orangevale, Fair Oaks CA | Hand Made Lead Ropes
What a privilege for me to attend the Cascade Dressage Show in Tulelake, CA this year! With Covid affecting so many events and activities over the last year and some months, one is never “sure” that any event will actually happen.
This event was so special for me to have the opportunity to see and visit with many friends from Oregon! I was ground crew for many, reading tests, braiding, grooming, hot walker and all sorts of general horse care that is needed at a show. It was a happy time to support so many friends and fellow competitors, who have supported me!
I especially proud of a couple of young students. They were students of mine in Oregon. Now they are students of Deborah Beard. Deborah was my assistant and I couldn’t have run my business there without her! Deborah did a fantastic job of getting them both ready for their first rated show.
Addison, Abby, Asha and Deborah
Group dinner around camp after a long day
The Three A’s
Show secretary Kaye awarding Abby with High Point Jr Rider, along with coach Deborah Beard
The sunsets at Tulelake are always fantastic!
Asha and Sir Henry showing off his beautiful braids
Abby taking Henry for a morning walk
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Tinkerbell debuted at Third Level at this show. You’ll see some blunders, but even with those in the test, she scored a 65.455% and won the class. Just think what her scores will be as the training continues and she becomes more solid. Please disregard the added entertainment in the filming. I was disappointed to see there wasn’t a professional videographer at the show. So, a dear friend borrowed a tablet, which she didn’t know how to operate, in order to capture my rides.
September always brings the Oregon Dressage Society State Championships. This year I had the privilege to compete Tinkerbell, a 6 year old Oldenburg mare, belonging to Catherine Ulrey of Salem OR, at First Level.
A Grand Entrance
On Friday, we showed Second Level Test 2, Tinkerbell’s 3rd time of competing at Second Level. The overall test went well, with us falling apart at one point, earning just a 4 when she lost her lead in the counter canter. She still received a score of 68.077%.
Then the Championship Classes were on Saturday and Sunday. We competed for a First Level Title in the Open Division. Saturday we rode First Level Test 2 and scored 65.938% Sunday we rode First Level Test 3 and scored a 69.118%. For the championship is averaged between both tests. We ended up 9th overall.
June 2015 brought yet another show for Tinkerbell. This time we stepped up the expectations and debuted at Second Level. Of course when one signs up for a show, you have no control of how the secretary will schedule the classes. Guess what? The first test of the show was a Second Level Test 1. We pulled off a 65% and were second in the class!
Tinkerbell
The second test of the day was First 3. Tinkerbell earned a 69% and first place.
On Sunday, we rode Second Level Test 1 again and earned a 67% and First 3, earning a 73%, winning both of the classes! I was so proud of her! She also earned the High Point Oldenburg award for both days of the show!
Tinkerbell made her 2015 show debut at the Central Dressage Classic I & II in Powell Butte, OR on June 13th and 14th.
Tinkerbell on a walk with her owner, Catherine Ulrey of Salem, Oregon
She showed First Level Test Two and Three on both Saturday and Sunday. Here are the scores: Saturday First-2 62%, First-3 70% and Sunday First-2 64%, First-3 70%. Notice a pattern? Tinkerbell seemed to need the first test of the day as warmup and then she showed relaxed and lovely in the second test of the day!
Off Tinkerbell’s back in the warm-up
She came home with one First Place and Three Seconds! Pretty proud of this young, green mare!
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The fall weather was great for a horse show in Southern Oregon. However, as one can expect with horses, not everything goes as planned. Tinkerbell was entered into three classes on Saturday, October 11th and two classes on Sunday, October 12th. Her owner, Catherine Ulrey, came from out-of-town to help, watch and enjoy her mare.
We hauled to the show grounds on Friday, set up and schooled. Tinkerbell became quite relaxed as she acquainted herself with her new surroundings. We settled her in for the night and left to feed and settle ourselves. We arrived early Saturday and took Tinkerbell for a walk before braiding. We still had some time to kill before tacking and warming up for our first ride. We left the mare to happily munch on some more breakfast.
When we returned to her about 25 minutes later, it was apparent that something was a miss. She had bonked her head and cut it open. Not a big cut, but bleeding. The USEF rules don’t allow a horse to be shown if there is any blood present. I appreciate this rule, as it protects the animals. Tinkerbell certainly had hit her head hard enough, as well, that she was uncomfortable, probably touting a headache. Needless to say, we scratched out of all our classes on Saturday.
Sunday being the new day that it was, started fresh. I had missed the Dressage Rider Test for First Level on Saturday. I really wanted to make it up, so we scratched from our First Level Test 1 class and did the Rider Test. It went pretty well for my first attempt at it. We scored a 65.6%. Next we competed at First Level Test 2. Tinkerbell came in second, with a score of 63.6%, missing first by one point.
We were able to pick up one more ride later in the day. It was First Level Test 3. I had never practiced the test on Tinkerbell, nor had I schooled her at counter-canter. I also hadn’t ridden the test in a year. It’s a good idea to bring along a test book to a show. You just never know what you may need to review. I practiced the counter-canter during my warm-up. She was great! In we went to the competition ring. Of course, it was the best test of the day and we didn’t get it on film! She scored a 67.5%. Again coming in second, one point behind the leader.
Catherine and I are very proud of Terrific Tinkerbell. For no more schooling than she has had and to arrive at her first Rated show, we think she did really great.
I just have to say how very proud I am of three particular horse 4-Hers: Jasmine, Kaelyn and Celena. You girls and your mounts did TERRIFIC at jumping and dressage this year.
Jasmine earned a Second Place award in Hunter Hack
Kaelyn earned a Second Place award in Hunter Hack, her first ever jumping competition!
Selena won her Jumping Class!
Each one of you have learned and progressed at jumping and your flat work. It really showed during your classes this week. I’ve enjoyed teaching you and your horses. I look forward to helping each of you learn more and more!
In usual style, the Jumping Clinic at Eastern Slope Ranch in Baker City, OR is always a blast. The students, some new and some repeats, were attentive and inquisitive.
Saturday morning session of flat work. One must have effective flat work to jump well!
Percy and Leslie Dickerson always do a nice job hosting the clinic.This year with the help of Kevin Rasmussen and others, they added a cross-country course to the ranch. They did quit a nice job of building fences and will continue to add to the course for seasons to come.
A zig-zag complex for three different levels, with Lydia Anderson on course.
This fence was built all in fun specifically for long time student, Annika Anderson and her mount this season, Halo. They didn’t jump this obstacle, nor were they suppose to! 🙂
Annika Anderson aboard Halo contemplating tactics to the other side of this giant hay bale.
Saturday afternoon we schooled over a grid of gymnastics on the grass and then headed to the cross country course to school. Each horse and rider combination had an opportunity to practice jumping all the fences of the course, preparing for the following days competition.
Leah Vengley on Chewey, a very green, but willing horse, building confidence going through the grid.
Erin Swanson aboard Red. Red earned the “Most Improved Horse Award” at the clinic.
Sunday morning found me sitting at the judges table, with scribe, Drea Rasmussen for the competitors Dressage Tests. It was the first time for me to see each of these riders actually in a competition. I am very proud of each one!
Marilyn Williams and Blue
To wrap up the days Derby Competition, Leslie presented the awards. She went all out for the winners of each division. Awards for the clinic were also given to Marilyn Williams for The Most Improved Rider and Erin Swanson’s horse “Red” for The Most Improved Horse.
The Award Ceremony
All in all, it was a terrific weekend. I look forward to heading back across the state for another clinic at Eastern Slope Ranch in 2015!
