The Regionals are just around the corner! Later this month, September 22-24th, Devonwood Equestrian Centre will host the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region Six Championships. This is the first time, at least in my memory, that Oregon has hosted this show.

The show is huge undertaking. ODS and other USDF organizations in our region owe many thanks to the show management team of Lothar Pinkers and Helen St. Amand, (from EI and Whidbey Island respectively), who have produced successful and profitable shows at multiple venues. They’ve been at the helm when the show was at Donida, Fox Ridge, Emerald Downs, the Idaho Horse Center, and now at Devonwood.

The regionals are not just another horse show. The rules and regulations are stricter and management is held to a higher standard. As an example, any entrant who qualifies and submits their entry by the closing date must be accommodated at the show. As the sport of dressage has grown, this quirk has made the venue selection critical. The number of rings and the stalls cannot be accurately predicted until the close of entries. This also makes scheduling a challenge since the championships are limited to a three day weekend.

There has been casual discussion of extending the show to a four day show, or doing away with the open classes and the Northwest Dressage Championships (NWDC). Both ideas are not practical. In reality, the open classes and the NWDC both bring in extra revenue to help offset the cost of the championship classes. In addition, they are valuable warm up classes. Extending the show dates requires additional time and costs for both show management and the participants. Many entrants are traveling a day on either side of the show dates already. Please recognize that show management is juggling numerous issues and challenges while making the show run smoothly.

Region Six members can grateful that Gaye McCabe, our Region Six director and the team of Pinkers and St. Amand have been able to put the show on sound financial footing while offering our riders a quality show. The fact that our region has its own management team and sponsors the show itself, is somewhat unique in USDF. It’s very common for other regions to contract with a show management company to produce the show. This leaves the outcome in the hands of a third party and I’m led to believe that the results sometimes suffer.

In order to ensure the 2006 show is successful, it is important that ODS members turn out to support the show by volunteering. Analyses of recent championships show that nearly one volunteer is required for each rider. Volunteers with or without show experience will be greatly appreciated.
Come watch some of the finest horses in the Northwest and support Region Six at the same time. Let show management know we appreciate having the Regionals in Oregon.

I hope to see you there, John