Two ODS Members have qualified to participate in the inaugural “Brentina Cup” to be held in Gladstone, NJ this summer. Congratulations to Jennifer Schrader-Williams and Nicki Grandia! E-mail the ODS Office if you are interested in helping them fund their trips to the east coast and we can forward your message. In addition to these two qualifying, ODS Member Jeremy Steinberg is currently ranked in the top ten for the USEF Foundation Festival of Champions at Gladstone.

IMPORTANT FEI DRESSAGE TEST INFORMATION - EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2006.
FEI FREESTYLE TESTS: Please note the FEI has just released new Freestyle Tests for Junior, Young Rider, Intermediare-I and Grand Prix levels which must be used by all competitions as of June 1, 2006. The actual movement requirements for competitors have not changed; however, the coefficients for artistic marks HAVE changed, and technical marks have been revised to reflect the addition of a score for halts in each test. Please discard any previous test editions. All FEI tests are available for download on the FEI website, USEF.org. Questions? Contact Jennifer Keeler, National Director of Dressage, jkeeler@usef.org or 859-225-2024.

Competition season is now in full swing. I hear reports that our early shows, both USEF/USDF recognized and our league shows, have been over-subscribed. They’ve filled on the opening day—or shortly thereafter. For those of you planning to show this summer, consider this a reminder to send in your entry on the opening day.

The need for additional shows and show venues is great. Although the ODS board itself produces four large shows: Recognized Championships, League Championships, The Adult Team, and the Juniors/Youth Team shows; and our chapters produce several high quality shows, it’s clear we’re not keeping up with the demand. If you are interested in putting a show on, or if you have a suitable facility for shows, please contact the office. We’ll share the information, and provide resources or advice as best we can.

Lest anyone think that four shows are not enough work for the board, I’m please to remind everyone that the ODS Sport Horse committee is putting on the First Annual ODS Breeders’ Showcases. These are two back-to-back Sport Horse shows on August 12th and 13th at Devonwood. The judge for the first show is Merijane Malouin. Deborah Harrison will judge the second show.

The show will be part of the USDF Breeder’s Championship Series as a Northwest Qualifier. Dressage Sport Horse prospect classes, breeding stock classes, DSHB In-Hand Classes, individual breed classes and Materiale classes will be offered. Rose Newman is managing the show and the show secretary is Diana Muravez from Temecula, CA. It will be a great opportunity to watch some beautiful animals in fantastic setting. Come get acquainted with local breeders while you improve your eye for horseflesh.

In support of the ODS members who are Sport Horse breeders, you’ll see the Northwest Sport Horse Breeders Association (NWSHBA) handler’s clinics and their Sport Horse Breeder’s Classic Show listed on our website. Although this is a separate non-profit organization, there is significant overlap between our members.

The ODS will be meeting in early May in Bend. Rose Newman and Corinne Stonier are working with the Central Oregon Chapter of ODS on a scribe training session to coincide with our visit. Lisa Koch has volunteered her services to judge videos while scribe trainees try their hand at keeping up! Thank you, Lisa.

Here’s an early reminder to save the date for the annual ODS banquet on September 2nd. From a recent conversation, I know that Tori Kelly is working on a new ODS video featuring adult amateurs. Her video production for the ODS 30th Anniversary was such a hit that we’ve featured it at two banquets. She has set a high standard to replicate! Watch for an e-mail from Tori soliciting videos, anecdotes, and remembrances from adult amateurs.

Have a safe and successful show season. Until next month,

John