2011 News
Flint Ridge Farm Halloween Weekend / TVDCTA Dressage Schooling Show
Flint Ridge Farm hosted their annual Halloween Weekend, with the TVDCTA Dressage Schooling Show on Saturday, October 22nd. Dolly Hannon, "S" returned once again as the judge.
Junior rider Kelly Sisemore
entered five classes and won them all, including a 70.800% in Training 3.
Riding three different horses (Half and Half, Bingo, and Opie), Kelly
also took the High Score Award for Intro (70.000%), Training, and First Level.
Maike Frye on Hoheit scored a 70.967%, the highest score of the day, in winning her First Level 3 AA class. She also won her First Level 2 class and had the High Score for First Level.
The best Open score was by Andrea
Pappano on Melanie in winning her Second Level 2 class.
Pappano had a total of four rides in the upper level classes.
Former national Pas de Deux champions Donna Barnes and Debi Gilbert competed in their specialty, scoring 64.250%.
Results are now available here.
Help Needed for Texas Horses
from Merry Schmidt
I received this information from a friend and would like to pass it along to the TVDCTA
members. There is a need for horse transport in Bastrop County, Texas to evacuate horses from the fires. Barns are catching fire and horses need to be moved immediately. If anyone knows a friend/family member in that area with a horse trailer who is willing to help, here are some contact numbers. Call Beth at 512-467-4893 or Rachel at 512-581-2940. Thanks.
Over 600 homes have been destroyed in Bastrop County, alone, according to FoxNews. The wildfires has compounded the emergency heat and drought situation in the state which has had a terrible impact on livestock.
September TVDCTA Dressage Schooling Show
The TVDCTA September Dressage Schooling Show was held on Saturday, September 10th at Red Horse Ridge in Brownsboro, Alabama. The judge was Mary Fowler, "R".
Results are now available here.
Learn Some Basics of Biomechanics and How it can Help Your Riding
Meris Greges
Since Dressage does not exist without movement, the study of the forces that cause movement can provide insight to help your riding. Biomechanics is the study of the application of mechanics to biological systems. The term mechanics was first used by Galileo to describe the force, motion and strength of materials. Movement of any kind results from internal and external forces.
Biomechanics can measure some of what is observed by riders and judges. Understanding the science of riding is not necessary to be a good rider, but it may help you understand some of the classical riding theory and help you implement it in your daily training. At the September meeting we can scratch the surface of some biomechanical concepts and how it relates to dressage.
Meris Greges has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and BS Exercise Science with a Biomechanics emphasis and a MS in Biomedical Engineering. She has taught a graduate level biomechanics class along with working on projects involving Olympic figure skating, spinal cord injury, and movement analysis of thoroughbred racehorses. She is a TVDCTA member, PATH (formally NARHA) certified instructor and Pony Club graduate with experience in dressage and therapeutic riding. She currently owns and trains her three dressage horses. She will talk at the September 20th meeting at 6:30 at deciBel research on what biomechanics is and some simple biomechanical concepts that you can use to better understand some dressage theory and improve your riding.
Seine Majestaet (1981-2011)
Judith Fiorentino
Steel Prize Stables mourns the passing of Seine Majestaet aka Zeus who arrived into this world in Germany with the name of Socrates on the 17th of June 1981. We don’t know when the name change occurred but he was imported into the United States as a 5 year old and as of that time all of his records show him as Seine Majestaet. We think he was called Zucker (Sugar) in Germany, which sounded like Zeus to Americans.
I purchased him in May of 1997 and have enjoyed him every year since then. I trained and competed him through Grand Prix. He was then retired to the school where he was ridden and competed by adults and children. It has been lovely to see him being led by children who were about the size of his head, and he has been Sugar to us all. Zeus left us on Saturday morning, the 6th of August 2011. He died peacefully in his stall and left a large hole behind in our hearts. However, we know he is delighted to be joining his friends who have gone before.
June TVDCTA Dressage Schooling Show
TVDCTA June dressage show was held at Steel Prize Stables in Madison, Alabama on Saturday, June 11th. The judge was Nina Warren "L", replacing the originally-scheduled judge, Leslie O’Neal-Olsen, “R”.
Results are now available here.
Equestrians Helping Equestrians
The Birmingham Dressage and Combined Training Association have put together an effort to help those equestrians who were impacted by the recent tornadoes.
They are asking for monetary or other donations.
Monetary Donations
may be sent to:
BDCTA / Tornado Relief
c/o Natalie Nixon, Treasurer BDCTA
1222 Woodlands Way
Helena, AL 35080
Please make checks to BDCTA and include “Tornado Relief” in the notes section
More information can be found on
their website www.BDCTA.com or by contacting
them at BirminghamDCTA@gmail.com. Please help spread the
word by distributing this information to those who may be interested.
April TVDCTA Dressage Schooling Show and Clinic
The first show of the year was held on Saturday, April 9th, at Steel Prize Stables in Madison, featuring judge Joan Humphrey, "S".
Go here for the results.
E-Mail Addresses
We have an updated list of email addresses and members here. Please check to ensure that your name is on the list and the email address is current. If you have any changes please contact Bob Duncan at bduncan@hiwaay.net.
TVDCTA Elections
TVDCTA elections and committee selections for 2011 were made at the November meeting. The following positions were decided:
President: Sonja Hinds
Vice President: Judith Fiorentino
Secretary: Sally Colocho
Treasurer: Paulette Harrell
Bylaws/Grievances: Marsha Laitinen
Nominating: Sonja Rich / Sally Colocho
Awards: Debbie Hill
Clinics/Shows: Judith Fiorentino
Meetings/Programs: Sonja Rich / Sally Colocho
Budget/Fiscal: Paulette Harrell
Newsletter/Website: Meris Greges / Bob Duncan
Membership: Paulette Harrell
Librarian: Cynthia Moore
Publicity: Sally Colocho
Volunteer Coordinator: Sabrina Byrum
CT Coordinator: Beth Johnson
