NCDCTA December 2009

AA Spotlight: Susan Craft

It is always difficult to squish a personality into this short column. It is doubly difficult with someone I know very well. This month’s spotlight is on Susan Craft, a friend and client of mine. Susan has keen skills from years of loving horses. However, Susan also seems especially competent at getting along with people. It always impresses me how unusually accommodating and patient Susan is with friends and acquaintances. Theodore Roosevelt said, “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is: knowing how to get along with people.”

Susan bred, raised and trained her show-horse, Paxton. He is the large, bay, Oldenburg gelding often seen as her loyal partner bouncing around Region 1 dressage shows. He won some first and second level classes this season. Her TB mare, Annie, is the dam of Paxton. Annie is also the mother of Ebella and Donizetti, younger Oldenburg babies that Susan bred, raised, and keeps. Susan also owns Bodie, a palomino QH, and Sanibelle, a three year old Oldenburg bred by Lou Rascoe. Susan takes care of all the horses herself and keeps them turned out 24 hours per day. She brings them in to be fed and checked twice per day. She takes regular lessons from her local instructor (me) or her favorite clinicians: Sarah Giekie and Chris Hickey. She rides 2-3 horses most days before or after her full day of work. “Last year I learned just how difficult this sport is and how much effort you have to put into it. I learned that you have to earn it and work for it… My philosophy of life is: not to look at why I can’t do something, but how I am going to do it.”

Susan is a licensed CPA and works for Willis Re. Inc. as SVP/Controller. She is single. Her son, Michael and her stepson, Eric, are grown. Susan became a first time Grandma in 2009 when Eric and Janelle gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Braylon. Although, she doesn’t surrender to a Grandma cliché, she says, “Something about a grandbaby just melts your heart.”

Susan is also adored by several dogs and cats at her farm in Elon, NC. She says, “The farm’s best feature is that it is set back by itself and is very peaceful. You can escape the rest of the world.” To reach this sanctuary, you drive down a long, unmarked drive flanked by copious countryside. After curving around the pond, it invites you to a home blanketed in windows and a full wrap-around porch where the ceiling fans evoke hints of a gentle life. Beyond the home, the wooden barn is also bordered by porches. The paradox of this rustic Southern style is: Susan is actually a relocated Yankee.

Paxton appears to have Susan’s acquiescence and a remarkable ability to get along with others. I wonder if perhaps the real secret ingredient to getting along with people is being able to “escape the rest of the world” in a peaceful sanctuary brimming with a family of animals.

December 2009 Ask the Expert – Kathy Rowse

Q: What is the purpose of the “stretchy circle” and what are judges looking for? I know that the directives specify: quality of stretch over back, forward and downward into a light contact while maintaining balance and quality of trot. But why is it that some judges don't mind if my horse comes a little behind the vertical, yet others penalize me for it. How low should the poll be? Does it matter if there is slack in the reins, or if my horse gets on its forehand? Sincerely, Uber-Struggling

A: The Ideal

Keep in mind that a stretchy circle must start by keeping the rhythm, tempo and balance that you have already established in your working trot. Frequently horses speed up, fall on the forehand and lose the inside bend. As the rider asks, the horse should lower and lengthen his neck, seeking the bit. We should see improved suspension and swinging in the back. The horse should maintain contact -- a loose or flopping rein is a tell-tale sign that the horse is not staying connected back to front.

Think of the stretch in two ways – DOWN as well as OUT. Some horses go down with the neck but not out as they curl behind the connection. More often we see horses that lengthen their neck but do not go down, in fact bracing against the bit or with a loose rein but no connection.

As a judge, I don’t use the terminology “behind the vertical” for the stretch circle. If the horse goes so low that his nose is down near his knees, he must bring his nose slightly in or he will go too much on the forehand. This may cause him to look slightly behind the vertical, but if you rotate the picture up around his axis, then his poll would be the highest point. This differs greatly from the horse that ducks his nose to his chest and avoids the contact.

The Aids

How do you get this ideal stretch? Many riders become fussy with their hands, incorrectly trying to see-saw the head down, but this makes the horse stiffen rather than relax. Begin by mentally checking your horse’s balance, bend, suppleness and tempo in the working trot.

Ask for the stretch with a softly suppling inside rein and allow the stretch by following with the outside rein. Add a little inside leg at the start to encourage the horse to take a more active step into your allowing reins. Add a little outside leg if needed to keep your horse turning on the circle. Think of the stretch occurring by increments. Each soft response that you achieve, add a little more leg to encourage additional stretch. At all times the horse is responding to pulsing of the legs and the giving of the reins to stay round and down until the rider chooses to pick up the reins again and establish a working connection. The final part is to incrementally retrieve the reins while maintaining the increased swing in the back.

Exercises

To help riders understand this stretch, I ask them to make trot-walk-trot transitions while stretching on the circle. This helps the rider to understand that they can still make half halts while stretching and encourages the horse to step through during the up and down transitions. If your horse hollows his back and disengages his hind legs, then you still have some work to do to further enhance your horse’s basics.

Kathy Rowse began judging dressage in 1990, and received her USEF “S” license in 1999. She has earned her USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medals and has coached her students to earn their own USDF medals. Kathy is based in Suffolk, VA where she and husband Mike Rowse run Silverleaf Farm, a dressage training facility. She currently trains and competes with her Swedish gelding, “Basie”. In their spare time, Kathy and Mike enjoy Ballroom Dancing. For more information, go to www.silverleaffarm.org.

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ON BONDING - AND CHAIN LETTERS
By Sue Smithson

Shelby Gray’s essay in this issue about bonding with her Mom reminded me of my horse’s recent layup from a tendon injury. Topaz and I did some forced bonding: He, with a bump on his tendon, and me, with lead shank, paperback novel, and frown on my face.

Hand grazing a layup is a lot like mucking stalls. It’s one of those boring, endless, monotonous tasks whereby one’s mind wanders into various streams of consciousness. Sometimes I think of politics. What? Picking manure reminds you of politics too?

But this time consuming rehab started my mind wandering in other directions. I wondered if and when we’d ever be back in the show ring again. And if so, will I be so SOFT (Slow, Old, Fat, Tired) that I won’t be able to get through a test? Will he have forgotten everything?

For one-horse amateurs like me, it’s very frustrating when your only horse is laid up. It’s tempting to dream about trading him in on a new model… but how? Perhaps I’ll start a chain letter:

I’ll send a simple chain letter to six other riders who are dissatisfied with their horses at the moment. Then, ship Topaz off to the horse owner at the top of the list. In a few days, I should receive 374 horses, and at least one of them should be a keeper. The letter would contain strict warnings against breaking the chain, or face dire consequences. Horsemen are all so superstitious, it’s bound to work. I’ll write: “Have faith in this. Do not break the chain under any circumstances. One person broke the chain and got her old horse back…”

Look for my letter in your mailbox soon.

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NCDCTA MINUTES, November 3rd, 2009

The NCDCTA Board met by teleconference at 6:30 p.m. Present: Jennifer Mitchell, Dave Stuckey, Lynn Leath, Anita Quinn, Robyn Hahn, Diane Paige-LeFevre. Sue Smithson, Suzanne Mullen, Donna Kelly. Excused Rebecca Mikells, Carol Kelly.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT:
Everything seems to be running along smoothly at this time.

Information has been posted in the newsletter and on the website announcing the WEG raffle. This exciting raffle offers the winner two tickets for the Dressage Series in the Main Stadium as well as paid hotel accommodations. The total for the hotel and tickets are valued at $3600, but one lucky winner can have it all for a $50 ticket or $25 and an NCDCTA volunteer card. For more information see Dave Stuckey and fill out the form included in the October newsletter.

VICE PRESIDENT:
Membership:
Steve will be sending another email blast out this month to remind those members who have not renewed yet or reregistered their horses.

HOY:
Currently 12 divisions have been sponsored with about 9 more promised. Hopefully we will have all our divisions sponsored by the holidays.

GALA:
Banquet preparations are well underway for the HOY Gala January 9th 2010 at the very popular Childress Winery in Lexington. Members who want to use Pay Pal to make their banquet reservations have that option now.

EVENTING:
A total of 13 horses are registered for the Steuart Pittman clinic, which takes place November 7th at Falcon Park in Clayton. Initial interest has sparked for a symposium in 2010 for re-starting off the track Thoroughbreds. More details will be forthcoming.

DRESSAGE:
Lynn Leath reported the Kathy Connelly Symposium was a great success. Kathy was delighted with the quality of riders in NC. The 91 auditors who attended on Saturday, and the 60 auditors who attended on Sunday had many varied questions for Kathy, and most stayed until the bitter (cold) end. An online survey is being compiled to get feedback about this year’s educational activities, and what members would like to see for 2010.

SCHOLARSHIPS COMMITTEE:
Thanks to all who applied for the NCDCTA scholarships and congratulations to our winners. Those who did not receive a scholarship were encouraged to reapply next year.

Winners: Jr/Yr = Natalie Blikslager
Ammie = Nancy Love
Pro = Christan Trainor


COMPETITIONS REPORT:
The 2010 Down East Dressage Show has been moved from the original date of June 19 & 20th to June 12th and 13th.

Some changes are taking place with regard to the Labor of Love Dressage Show and Sport Horse Breed Show traditionally held the Monday following the Dressage Show.

In 2010 the "NCDCTA Sport Horse Breeding Show" will revert to the show's original name of "NCDCTA Sport Horse Breeding Show and Fall Classic."

Dressage classes will be added to the Monday Sport Horse Breed Show competition to include GAIG/USDF Qualifying classes at all levels so that competitors wishing to qualify with scores from two separate shows will be able to do so in one 3 day weekend.

TREASURER:
The NCDCTA budget is within expectations for a down year and a sluggish economy. The Board also discussed ways to promote the raffle for the tickets and hotels to the 2010 WEG. The raffle, along with planned silent auctions, will help satisfy the $16K NCDCTA pledge to the USDF capital campaign.

NEW BUSINESS:
The coach of the St. Andrews IDA team (Intercollegiate Dressage Association) has requested that we support the IDA National Championships to be held at St. Andrews in April. The board agreed we would offer a sponsorship of some amount to the championship. Jennifer would follow up.

Dave put forth a motion for a one-time waiver to the rule that prohibits board members to act as judges for an NCDCTA licensed show. This would be a one-time exception for four hours one day at the 2009 Harvest Moon Championship show. The motion passed unanimously

The meeting was adjourned at 8 p.m. The next board meeting will be held December 8th.

Respectfully submitted by Suzanne Mullen, Recording Secretary

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NEW BITS

OPPORTUNITY CLASSES
For those who enjoy dressage schooling shows but haven’t yet tried nationally licensed competition: many recognized shows next year will offer the new “Opportunity” classes from training to second level. No memberships or horse I.D. are required, and even the $15 per horse USEF drug fee is waived for these classes. This offers an inexpensive way to try out recognized competition!

HEADS UP QUARTER HORSE OWNERS:
The American Quarter Horse Association is now offering AQHA licensing for USEF/USDF Dressage Shows in 2010. Horses may now earn AQHA points in dressage, which increases their value and helps qualify for the World Championships. Look for “AQHA Licensed” on the prize list to see if the show you plan to attend is approved, and check the AQHA website for details.

BREED SHOW TO ADD DRESSAGE CLASSIC:
The 2010 NCDCTA Sport Horse Breed Show will add “and Fall Classic” to its name. It will offer regular dressage classes on Labor Day Monday, along with the traditional menu for breeders in the main ring. As a separately licensed show from the Labor of Love, it will offer two qualifying opportunities in one three day weekend. With the Great American Insurance Group / USDF Region 1 Championships scheduled for Williamston next November, this should peak some interest for those looking for last minute qualifying opportunities. The Labor of Love will also be the NCDCTA Championships next year, offering double HOY points in all Championship classes.

CAROLINA HORSE PARK has hired a new course designer: Tremaine Cooper of Harwick, MA. will be designing the tracks in 2010. Assisting him for the lower levels will be Jeff Kibbie of Michigan. Additionally, Robert Stevenson of Southern Pines will be the organizer of all five horse trials in 2010. “I want a different flavor for all five events,” Stevenson said.

RAFFLE TICKETS ON SALE:
The raffle tickets for a trip to the World Equestrian Games are now on sale! The package, which includes prime seating for two for all dressage sessions and hotel accommodations, is worth over $3K. Raffle tickets are only $25 with a NCDCTA volunteer card, or $50 without card. See www.NCDCTA.org for details. Proceeds from this raffle benefit the USDF Capital Campaign.

SILENT AUCTION:
Items wanted for the HOY Banquet silent auction to benefit the NCDCTA’s pledge for the USDF Capital Campaign. Contact Dave Stuckey 919-967-7335 or anoddduck@aol.com

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2009 NCDCTA Scholarship Award winners

The NCDCTA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 training scholarships. We had 7 applications in our first year with the revised format, even with only one month’s notice! All the applications were strong, and we hope to have more applications and an even tougher choice next year.

Professional: Christan Trainor, Southern Pines, NC
Christan will be using her scholarship to help fund some recent training time with Nicole Uphoff. She plans to write an article outlining these sessions to accompany video footage to help educate NCDCTA members on the specific exercises Nicole uses in training.

Amateur: Nancy Love, DVM, Cary, NC
Nancy will be using her scholarship toward several scheduled training sessions with Linda Zang over the next months preparing her new young horse for the 2010 GAIGs. Since Nancy is a veterinary radiologist by day, she will be using her unique skills to write an article for the NCDCTA newsletter about different imaging modalities available for evaluating equine injuries.

Junior: Natalie Blikslager, Apex, NC
Natalie will be using her scholarship for a clinic with Dr. Cesar Parra as she aims her new mount for the FEI Junior tests next season. Natalie will be running a fund raiser at the NCDCTA Championships at the Harvest Moon Dressage show in Williamston in November. Look for it!

We want to congratulate the winners, and look forward to hearing about their training experiences. Members can refer to the website for full details on the scholarship process, which will close for next year’s applications on September 1, 2010. Specific questions and ideas on strengthening your application can be forwarded to Robyn Hahn at robynhahn(at)bellsouth.net.

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HORSE SHOWS: MORE THAN SCORES AND RIBBONS

How sharing a horse strengthens Mother-Daughter bond
By Shelby Gray

My mom and I have always been close, with conversations roaming from horses to boys at school. She is a second pair of ears that I can always count on being there. My mom is the one person who made my biggest dream come true: she helped me find the perfect horse and then surprised me by buying him without me even knowing! There are many things I could go on about that we have done together but this year tops them all. This year we shared the same horse, going to shows riding different tests and having to deal with the possibility of getting the last ride and having to ride the “tired” horse instead of the “perky” one.

Due to the age and weight of my own horse, he was not in the best condition to show. So my mom offered me a show season on her horse, Stonehaus Memories, known as Orrie around the barn. I thought at first I’d much rather be showing my own horse. I would later find out that sharing a horse with your mom is the best thing ever for a mother - daughter relationship.

The first show we did together this year was in Asheville. Thanks to our coach and trainer, Karen Brame, mom didn’t have to fret about hauling up and down Black Mountain! Working third shift had made it hard for us to go to horse shows so that was one less thing to worry about. I missed school Friday and we left early to get everything ready. The three hour drive was a fun time, talking about everything that might happen at the show that weekend.

“Now Orrie might not be perfect, so don’t get mad if you mess up, OK?” “I know mom,” I responded, kind of irritated.

Truth is, I didn’t want to be reminded. That was what I was scared of the most. Here I was riding my mother’s horse, who I maybe had sat on three or four times prior to the show. I will admit it, I WAS NERVOUS! Yet in the end everything was great and my mom was so proud she was crying as I entered for my first test.

As the shows went on, our relationship became stronger and stronger. Talking about how it is when Orrie is tired, it’s exhausting yet when she’s not she can be handful to control. At these shows I saw many mothers and daughters who would barely talk to each other. They were just there to show a horse, not to have fun or hang out together. It was as if they just so happened to be at the same place at the same time. For us, yes we are mother and daughter, but we are also like the two ladies at the coffee shop who gossip about the neighbors. This is precious to me… my mom is the only mom I have and I don’t want to waste any minute together. Yes we get into fights or as we like to call it, “loud talking” but everyone has flaws and seeing each other’s flaws makes our bond stronger.

So as the dressage year comes to an end, there’s one person I want to thank and that is you, mom, for making my memories with you and Sonehaus Memories the best that they could be. And for those of you that don’t know us, next time you’re at a horse show and you hear or see us Gray girls on Stonehaus Memories, know that we’re there together and strong. I love you mom and I can’t wait till next year!

Editor’s note: Shelby Gray is a Middle School student from Belews Creek, N.C.

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NCDCTA EVENTING CLINIC WITH STEUART PITTMAN
By Amanda Miller Atkins

I was excited to host the Steuart Pittman clinic on November 7 at Falcon Park Farm in Clayton. Anita Quinn did a great job setting the schedule and keeping everyone on track, and we could not have asked for more beautiful weather.

The day started with dressage lessons, with a strong attendance. Auditors were able to watch a variety of horses from young to experienced. Stuart had a great eye for detail and he could make horse and rider go better in minutes! Stuart rode a few horses, and riders could see a big difference after his work. I wasn’t even scheduled to ride, but I was so amazed by his teaching, Stuart taught me a dressage lesson during his lunch. I told him exactly what I needed to work on and right away I started seeing an improvement. He made everything clear with a positive attitude, and I walked away with loads of confidence and plenty of homework.

The afternoon was out in the cross-country field. Once again, I was privileged to ride in the second group. We started out putting fences together to create a rhythm, trying to be consistent to each fence around the field. Then we schooled more technical elements, including corners, narrows, and the big mound. Keeping the consistent canter in mind, we brought it to the ditches and trakeners. We finished up splashing around in the water, and everyone enjoyed it. Everyone left feeling like they could tackle any cross-country course after their lesson. The best part of this whole experience is how clinics help bring everyone together for an opportunity to learn. It is important for all us to support our local clinics so they can continue to be available to us. If you ever have a chance to ride with Steuart, take it! You will walk away more educated and confident. Thanks to NCDCTA and all participants for a great educational opportunity.

Editor’s note: Newlywed Amanda Miller Atkins is managing Falcon Park Farm, a new eventing facility in Clayton. Thanks to Falcon Park for hosting this NCDCTA clinic.

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OCTOBER SYMPOSIUM: A SMASH HIT By Liz Bromberg

The only drawback of the NCDCTA Kathy Connelly Symposium was “It just seemed the weekend was too short” noted Stephanie Crowder. Indeed, the weekend of October 16-18 flew by at Lynn and Cliff Leath’s North Star Training Center, Chapel Hill.

Riders and auditors alike appreciated Connelly’s training style. “Kathy seems to me to be the consummate teacher,” said Jennifer Mitchell. “Her goal was to show the rider the way to improve the horse's training (but) she was just as concerned that the auditors were learning…It inspired me to see someone who is just as comfortable coaching riders at a major international competition, (as teaching amateurs) the mechanics of a half-halt or a correct hand-to-hand whip change.” And Connelly did it all with a touch of humor that kept riders and horses relaxed, and spectators smiling.

Including auditors in the discussions, Connelly prompted leading questions for a better understanding of issues. On Sunday she offered a demonstration on use of the piaffe whip, showing the group how to become proficient with the whip before using it on the horse.

Connelly frequently reiterated “everything is within every person's grasp, if they want it.” She talked about her own education, from watching the warm-up at Aachen to working with trainers throughout the world, so that she could train her own horses. Connelly stressed that teaching a horse to piaffe is not magic; anyone can do it, if one is willing to put in the time and effort to study and learn.

Equipment Check
At the beginning of the symposium, Connelly assessed each horse’s tack and fittings. In some cases, she pulled an item out of her seemingly-bottomless equipment duffle and let the rider try it out. For example, adult amateur Lisa Gorsuch explained that her mare, Ruby “is a very powerful mover (who) runs through the half halts. (They) have had difficulty with achieving throughness with the more collected work at second level.” Connelly recommended a bit change, and offered her Conrad Universal "Balkenhol" single-jointed snaffle with elevator rings. The bit exerts more pressure on the poll and is soft to the mouth, which allowed the 100-pound rider to more effectively haft halt her 1,400-pound horse, with a “man-sized” half halt. Connelly explained that the bit is not competition legal but would be helpful for schooling at home. (The schooling paid off in short order as Gorsuch and Ruby posted high scores in Lexington the following week.)

Position Check
Connelly often referenced the “Balance Box”, where “the rider’s vertical axis intersects with the horse’s horizontal axis…where your seat comes together with your hands. (We) need to stay in that place (and we) need to keep trying to align ourselves…and keep the horse coming up from behind and active.”

According to Donna Kelly, Connelly “corrected every rider's position – to shorten our reins, sit deeper, lower our hands, elongate our spine and sit straighter and on the vertical, etc.” And as each rider made position adjustments, balance improved and “the aids became more effective. The horse became less encumbered and freer to obey the aids. Transitions became crisper, cadence in the trot and canter became clearer, and piaffe/passage looked effortless.”

Training Principles
Connelly’s training principles resonated with riders:
• Attention to detail and a focus on the basics, noted Laura Pendleton. “At every level, the exercises were similar and all had the purpose of solidifying the training scale… She would not allow a pair to progress until the basics had been achieved.”

• Patience was a priority. “We have all the time in the world… There are no shortcuts. The long way IS the short way, which isn't really that long."

• Clear communication: Susie Wiedman particularly appreciated Connelly’s emphasis on “being focused every second that you are riding because you are always communicating something to the horse and you want it to be the right communication!”

Green to Grand Prix

With each ride, from green to Grand Prix, Connelly asked riders three questions which set the tone for the session:

1. Is the horse in front of and quick off the leg?
“You never want to act like a princess,” Connelly said. “But you want to ride like one. You want to have to do as little as possible. Use a light leg or a quick leg, not a strong leg.” So each time you ride, you must “test the battery to see if it has enough charge” (if the horse is electric to the leg). If not, then “turn the dial up with a double quick leg,” but not with a stronger leg.

2. Is the horse straight?
Connelly “is soft-spoken but tough and demanding,” said Gorsuch, “She nailed me on straightness. She wanted the horse in shoulder fore, with the inside hind traveling between the front feet.” This was the case for everyone, professionals and amateurs alike, across the levels. Connelly used a variety of exercises with each pair, incorporating counter-bending, renvers and travers on straight and bending lines, in all gaits and through the transitions, to supple and straighten the horses.

3. Is the horse through?
Connelly repeatedly reminded her audience that, "A half halt is one half the halt…There are degrees of the half halt, from one to ten. There are times when a ten half halt is what the horse needs so that eventually you can get the job done with a one.” However, “the application (of the half halt) is a life-long experience…horses need it in different degrees…some are electric to the leg, some to the bridle.” They are all different, so no fixed rules apply. If your horse isn’t listening, you might “sometimes use a size seven or eight half halt a couple of times…so we can use a two or three the rest of the time…how long, how strong depends…what’s important is if the horse gets it.” Connelly explained, “The amount of half halt depends on what you are trying to achieve…If you go to someone’s house and ring the doorbell and it doesn’t work, but you look through the window and see they are sitting there in the living room, do you just give up, turn around and go home?” (The answer would be NO.) However, regardless of the degree and timing of your half halt, Connelly stressed that half-halts should be intermittent to give the horse time to react. We want to “warn them, not ambush them.”

Step-by-Step Half Halts
To clarify the half halt, Connelly described a four-step process:
1. Apply seat and leg aids, riding the horse to the bit.
2. Close the hand to stop the forward motion of the horse's energy momentarily and transfer more weight onto the hindquarters.
3. Soften – a critical step.
4. Repeat step one.
Kelly noted that Connelly “had riders at all levels apply the half halts on specific beats of the gaits and at intervals of every third stride…to maximize their use of their aids and half halts so that they worked less but produced better results.”

Train with Love
Throughout all the work, Connelly made it clear that the well-being of the horse takes priority. She implored riders to “train with love,” and stressed the importance of praising the horse, building his confidence, and recognizing progress wherever it occurs. Tami Batts remarked on Connelly’s evident love for the horses, “We hope to always train…with the horse’s happiness and welfare at the forefront, but I think Kathy has a special knack for that.”

Connelly warned riders not to let their emotions or frustrations get in the way of training, but to “Snap out of it!” (Remember the scene from Moonstruck where Cher slaps Nicholas Cage?) “Don’t get emotional on the horse; don’t pull on his mouth; keep him light,” said Connelly.

She also urged riders to think from the horse’s perspective, on how it must feel to be repeatedly corrected and have your efforts go unappreciated: “Why should I show you my poetry when all you do is correct the spelling?” That is, we shouldn’t pick at every little thing. Instead, we need to praise our horses for the things they do well to give them confidence and encouragement. Only then will they become our partners.

More to come?
Donna Kelly spoke for all when she said, “Leath needs a boatload of kudos for her effort in organizing this event... She donated her facility which is first rate…(she and her husband) Cliff opened their home up and hosted a dinner for the demo riders and Kathy Connelly Friday evening which was a great way to get to know each other.” Susie Wiedman added that co-chair Beth Ayers also “did a super job of organizing,” and expressed her hope that “NCDCTA continues to offer these events in the future (because it) was a valuable weekend for everyone.” Leath, as NCDCTA Dressage Education Chair, agrees. She envisions an on-going series of “first-class learning opportunities for our membership” to fulfill the NCDCTA’s educational mission.

For more information about Kathy Connelly and the NCDCTA Symposium participants, go to www.NCDCTA.org.