The ODS Board of Directors, the ODS Office and our Chapters Officers have all been busy over the past few months, working on the upcoming year’s schedule, doing the behind the scenes required administrative tasks (bland activities like securing insurance, taxes, etc) and preparing for this year’s show season.  We are happy to report that the ODS Fall Festival was successful, both by fulfilling its’ purpose of providing an excellent educational opportunity, but also, it was successful as a fundraiser for the ODS General and Education Funds.  Many thanks again to those who worked tireless behind the scenes to pull off this event.   If you renewed your membership by the 12/31 deadline, your Omnibus and Testbooklet are in the mail to you – the ODS Roster will be mailed sometime between February and March this year.

ODS Officer and Board Retreat

By the time most of you get to read this, the ODS Officer and Board Retreat will have already happened.  Each winter, around 25 people get together at the Silver Falls Conference Center and talk about ODS from Saturday through Sunday.  This year’s agenda includes a work session on committees and how to better utilize committee volunteers and then we will also be discussing the ODS Strategic Plan.  One of the goals of the annual retreat is to provide a place for ODS Chapter Officers to receive training and networking time.  This retreat is also a perfect opportunity for general members to become involved – if you miss out on this year’s retreat, please be sure to watch the calendar to sign up in time for next year’s retreat.

NW Horse Expo

The NW Horse Expo in Albany is coming up fast, mark your calendars for March 22-25, 2012.  Not only is it a great opportunity to visit the multitude of vendors and shop till you drop, you will see breed demonstrations from Pacific Northwest breed organizations, experience a wide variety of demonstrations from many other disciplines and see one of the top US dressage instructors and international competitors at work.  The Dressage clinician for the 2012 NW Horse Expo is Jan Ebeling.

2012 marks the 13th year of Oregon Dressage Society’s (ODS) involvement in the NW Horse Expo with our informational booth.  Our information booth is staffed by volunteers and features information on joining ODS and USDF, ODS Merchandise and books that we get from Horse Books Etc, that you can buy at a discounted rate.  If you are interested in volunteering to work at the ODS booth for the Expo you can contact the ODS Office atoffice@oregondressage.com.  For the past 12 year ODS has been instrumental in providing high quality demonstration riders for the dressage sessions at the Expo.  Initially the Expo organizers had tried to find their own demo riders but quickly realized that to provide the best experience for the auditors they needed to work with the local discipline organizations and therefore turned to ODS and its members for assistance with the dressage demo riders.  We are looking for demo riders to perform at the 2012 NW Horse Expo.  Please go to the ODS website for more information regarding demo rider selection.

Before coming to the United States, Jan Ebeling worked as an apprentice under late German master Herbert Rehbein and earned his “bereiter”, a German license to train horses.  In 1984, he moved to the United States to work alongside US Olympian Robert Dover while Dover was preparing for the 1984 Olympics.  Since becoming a US citizen in 1998, Jan has made many trips to the winners circle at the National Championships in Gladstone, NJ. In 2007, Jan and the mare, Rafalca made their debut in the Grand Prix arena during the World Cup in Las Vegas where he had been asked to demonstrate the Grand Prix test for a full house before the actual competition began and after a standing ovation, he realized that Rafalca had the talent to become an international Grand Prix horse.  In the fall of 2007, Jan was awarded a USET training grant and made the decision to return to Germany, taking three horses. Subsequent competition success proved the wisdom of that decision.  Ebeling and Rafalca returned to Las Vegas for World Cup 2009, this time representing the USA. In late 2010, Jan and Rafalca were selected as alternates for the USA World Equestrian Games team. However, after winning the Grand Prix and Freestyle at CDI-W Burbank, they won the right to represent the U.S. at 2011 World Cup Final in Leipzig, Germany, where they were awarded a 72.589 in the Freestyle and were the highest ranked USA rider.  Jan’s achievements for 2011, including being ranked 27^th in the FEI World Ranking on Rafalca, had exceeded his goals. In addition to competition, Jan always gives back to his sport; he accepted a spot on the Dressage Active Athlete High Performance Committee, a post that he will hold through 2012. Also, he is one of the clinicians with USDF for the Young Rider series, sponsored by USDF and held in different regions throughout the country, and will be the Adult Amateur clinician for California Dressage in 2012.  Jan and his wife, Amy, operate their own training and sales facility, The Acres, in Moorpark, CA. Jan is an active clinician, traveling countrywide and internationally teaching classical dressage and competitive riding. In the little spare time that Jan can find away from the horses, he enjoys playing soccer, biking, and spending time with his son, Ben.

We hope that you will join us in the ODS booth at the 2012 NW Horse Expo! Watch the ODS website for updates.

Until next month,

Rose Newman (rose_newman@yahoo.com)

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YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS….

The Inn at Gig Harbor, February 4, at 6:00 p.m.

If you haven’t RSVP’d to our Banquet invitation yet, it’s not too late! Do it now and it’s only $39/person. This is our yearly Fundraiser, to help fund the shows and clinics and other programs planned for this year, so come and support your local dressage club!

For more information on how to: Go to www.lpsdc.com

Delicious food

Fun get together with your friends from this area’s horse community (and others…)

Find out more about LPSDC and our plans for 2012 (if you are showing dressage this year (regardless of level) you have to come!)

Outstanding Live & Silent Auction (we feature Mariners tickets, Golf package, Jewelry, Essential Oils, Chiropractic Evaluation and Massage, Chiropractic session for your horse, Fly Fishing 101, Beading class, Trainer’s lessons, “horse stuff, non-horse stuff (for you guys!) and LOTS MORE!

Dessert Auction (proceeds go to a local charity)

Our 2012 Calendar & clothing will be available for purchase

2011 Awards Presentation (if you become a member and show in our shows, it could be you up there next year)

As you can see there is a lot going on February 4, so stop thinking about it and send in your RSVP today! We would love to have you and your friends coming!

See you there!

2012 LPSDC Officers, Banquet Committee, volunteers and members!

Christine Erikson
3316 154th St NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98332
253-549-6485

A little reminder of what ODS is about:  The purpose of theOregon Dressage Societyis to educate, promote and inspire its members and the general public through programs, publications and competitions, in a way that enhances the image of Dressage and promotes the welfare of the horse.

At our last meeting, those of us that were there brainstormed and came up with a few suggestions on what our chapter could offer this year, we came up with these ideas: (more…)

Dear ODS Members,

Except for the two exceptions listed below, the ODS Awards Fee is $1/per ride down the centerline or DSHB for ODS approved shows, regardless of ODS Membership.

• Exception: shows hosted by organizations other than ODS Chapters outside of the state of Oregon or Clark County, Washington, the $1/per ride down the centerline or DSHB go applies only to ODS Members – show secretaries MUST cross reference the most current ODS membership list posted on the ODS website and be sure to charge this fee to all ODS members.
• Exception: for breed restricted shows (Arabian, Morgan, etc), the $1/per ride down the centerline or DSHB go applies only to ODS Members – show secretaries MUST cross reference the most current ODS membership list posted on the ODS website and be sure to charge this fee to all ODS members.

If you ride in a show approved by ODS that is subject to an exception listed above, it is your responsibility to declare your ODS member number and to pay the ODS Awards Fee to the show’s secretary.  Shows approved by ODS but subject to either exception may or may not have a space in their entry form for ODS Awards Fees – please be “heads up” in these situations!

Please contact Edwin A. Miller, the chair of the ODS Awards Committee at eamgroup@aol.com or (541) 482-2902  if you have a question about this procedure, or contact the ODS Office at office@oregondressage.com if you are not sure you have paid in for awards at shows with exceptions.

Thank you,

ODS Office

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Wellington, FL –  Week two at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center began for Para-Equestrian Dressage riders Thursday, January 26, at the 2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3. Canada and the United States of America went head to head in the team competition resulting in an early lead for the United States. With top scores reaching the 70% mark, the United States showcased their determination and progression over the past year. In addition to the U.S.A. and Canada, other countries represented were Bermuda, Finland, Ireland, Japan, and Mexico making up a total of 29 horse and rider combinations to display their top Team Tests. Representing the ground jury was Katherine Lucheschi (ITA), Hanneke Gerritsen  (more…)

This article is courtesy of © 2012 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Guenter Seidel and U II. © 2011 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Günter Seidel, the three-time U.S. Olympic bronze medalist, will campaign the California-owned Fandango for a place on the American team for the London Games this summer.

Fandango, owned by Marie Meyers of Moorpark, California, is a 17-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Feinbrand x St. Urgard x Figaro) that has been competed by Marie in California, mostly at national shows but at CDIs in Thermal and Burbank in 2010.

The arrangement for Günter, aged 51 of Cardiff, California, to campaign the horse through August of this year was made with the help of Ed and Camille Penhoet of Toyon Farm in Napa Valley in Northern California.

“I am thrilled that Marie made this opportunity available and that Camille and Ed’s gracious support is making it possible. I know the horse really well and he’s a super talent,” Günter said. “Right now we’re focused on getting ready for the upcoming selection trials.”

In addition to his Olympic success, he was also on the World Equestrian Games team that won silver at Spain in 2002 and bronze at Aachen, Germany, in 2006.

With Fandango, he participated in an exhibition at the 2009 World Cup Final in Las Vegas with his “Phantom of the Opera” themed Pas de Deux.

Under his owner, Marie Meyers, Fandango was the 2008 Intermediaire II U.S. Dressage Federation Horse of the Year, and finished fourth in the 2006 U.S. National Championships at small tour.

Günter rode horses for Jane and Dick Brown for more than two decades until the partneship ended last year which left him without an Olympic prospect until now.

Dear ODS Members,

Corrections for the 2011 ODS Horse/Rider Awards are due January 30, 2012

Preliminary awards lists have been posted on the ODS Website for the 2011 ODS League Show Horse/Rider Awards, the ODS Licensed Show Horse/Rider and Freestyle Awards and the ODS DSHB Awards – please follow the links in the comments section. Corrections must be turned into the correct awards volunteer (listed on each webpage) by 1/30/2012; any errors discovered after this date will only be corrected online (reprints of plates to be at the members’ expense).  Click here for the Sport Horse Awards: http://www.oregondressage.com/sporthorseawards.html or click here for the Horse/Rider Awards for League and Licensed (including freestyles): http://www.oregondressage.com/riderawards.html

Nominations for the 2012 ODS Futurity are due January 31, 2012

The ODS Futurity consists of riding two tests at the ODS Championship Show in September – USEF Training Level Test 3 and USEF First Level Test 1. The futurity is open to all horses four to six years of age who have not shown at First Level or above (or equivalent test) prior to nomination (including ODS League shows).  The point scores from both tests will be added and the highest total will determine the winner. Both owner and rider of the horse must be ODS members in good standing at the time of the futurity; owner need not be the rider.  Horse must be nominated each year and have fees paid each year prior to competition.    To review all of the ODS Futurity Rules and to make a nomination, please visit http://www.oregondressage.com/2012_omnibus/2012-Futurity.pdf.  Refer to ODS Championship Show Omnibus listing for futurity class entry fees and other show fees that may apply.

Applications for Participants in Part 2 of the USDF “L” Education Program are due February 1, 2012

Oregon Dressage Society is proud to be hosting the second part of the USDF “L” Education Program in 2012.  This program is especially important for ODS because of the tremendous opportunity for learning this program offers participants of Part 1 and of the continuing education opportunity this program provides for current “L” program graduates.  Additionally, the ODS League Show approval requires at least an “L” graduate to be used as an official.  Having candidates successfully complete this program will increase the pool of available officials for approved ODS League Shows.  The application period for the USDF “L” Education Program, Part II presented by ODS in 2012 is now open.   Part II consists of Sessions D1, D2, Sitting/Scribing with “R” or “S” Judges and the Final Exam.   Only 10 participants can be accepted and a few slots are still available.   Auditors are not permitted.  Candidates will selected on a first come first served basis.    Please refer to the ODS website (http://www.oregondressage.com/lprogram.html) for further information, criteria and the application form.

Thank you,

ODS Office

Ice and Snow Damage – Cause of Leaks in the Roof

The condition known as “ice dam” due to the buildup of snow and ice on your barn roof (or your house) may be alleviated by following this suggestion.  Using a long-handled snow puller, pull the snow from the roof back just a few feet from the edge of the eaves before ice has a chance to form.  By simply removing the snow along the edge of the roof, you will give melting water a chance to drain from the eaves and prevent the formation of ice dams that may damage your roof.

Please do not get on the roof to remove snow buildup. This is dangerous and you could easily damage the roofing material resulting in leaks when it rains.

Contact Blue Bridle, 1-800-526-1711, for help in insuring your horse or your equine business!

Lexington, KY – The dressage world descends upon the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, FL for the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach. Fifteen riders from six countries have accepted invitations to compete at the prestigious event which runs January 26-28 at the CDI5* level.

The U.S. effort is led by last year’s defending champion Steffen Peters (San Diego, CA) who returns to the venue in which he swept to victory last year on Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farm Ravel. Ravel, now 14, first represented the U.S. at the 2008 Olympic Games, and has gone from strength to strength since that trip. Peters was also the double-Gold medalist in October at the 2011 Pan American Games with Weltino’s Magic.

But the (more…)