Despite our wet winter, it’s not too early to start thinking about your entry for the championship show– the ODS League Championship Show, that is. On June 10th and 11th, ODS will sponsor a league championship show at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. The show will run in the same format as the ODS recognized show championships. Riders will perform the two highest tests of the level with the points combined to place the classes.

To ensure good participation, only one qualifying score of 55% or better is required. Likewise, the qualifying period for this inaugural show is very generous. Scores earned at an ODS recognized league shows anytime during 2005, and up to the 2006 closing date, can be used to qualify. (Next year, the qualifying period will be May 2006-April 2007). This year, the classes are limited to Intro-Second Level. If there is a demand, higher levels might be considered for future shows.

The show will include championship classes for the High School dressage members; and as space allows, open classes on first morning of the show. The opening date for entries is April 10th and close May 10th. Please see the omnibus, or www.oregondressage.com for more details.

While I’m on the subject of the omnibus, I’d like to commend the Publications Committee on the revamped omnibus. It’s been reorganized, color-coded, re-formatted, and rules checked and re-checked. The omnibus is receiving rave reviews from members, as well as from USEF and USDF who proof it. Thank you to the team: Kaye Phaneuf, Barb Funk, Nikki White, Siobhan Barker, Rose Newman and Corinne Stonier for a job well done!

As the show and clinic season kicks off, I want to encourage show management and clinic organizers to obtain w-9 forms from the professionals you hire. These can be downloaded from the web. If you have trouble finding the form please call or email the office, or me. We’ll get the form by fax, or by mail if necessary. Make sure that the information is complete and legible. It would be helpful to have the professional’s email address and/or phone number on the form, too. It’s very difficult to meet our tax filing obligations with complete and accurate data if we have fragments of information.

I hope to see many of you at the NW Horse Fair an Expo at the Linn County Expo Center in Albany, OR. Although the expo has a distinct western flavor, we always see many friends and sign up new members. Sandy Howard will be the dressage clinician on Friday and Saturday, (March 17th and 18th) . Her presentations will focus on biomechanics of the rider. We’ll need help in staffing the ODS booth. Please contact Corinne if you can help us out.

Until next month,
John