ODS Tracey Lert “Introducing the 2007 Tests” Clinic coming this weekend:
This auditor focused clinic on Saturday February 3rd to be held at DevonWood Equestrian Centre in Sherwood, OR includes a lecture and an introduction of the 2007 USEF Dressage Tests including demonstrations of the movements. Read more by clicking here.

New Technology:
The ODS Office is pleased to announce an RSS feed now available from the ODS Website. The address is: http://www.oregondressage.com/news/feed/. RSS is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated digital content, such as news feeds, blogs or podcasts. For more information on RSS, please visit Wikipedia.

Omnibus & Test Booklet in Mail:
The 2007 ODS Omnibus and 2007 ODS Test Booklet were mailed last week. Meanwhile, PDF files for all shows listed in the 2007 ODS Omnibus have been uploaded to the website. The official page for Omnibus updates will be www.oregondressage.com/omnibus.html - watch this page for updates and corrections throughout the year. Please report missing mailings by e-mail with correct mailing address and membership number to office@oregondressage.com.

Dressage For the Ages Show:
The “Dressage for the Ages” show is fast approaching. The purpose of this show is to raise money for college scholarships and that it is the first of it’s kind in the Nation — “ODS again leads the way again”. Last year we were able to award three (3) $500.00 college scholarships for ODS High School Dressage members. If anyone would be interested in sponsoring a class or donating to the scholarship fund please contact Gaye McCabe at J-G.McCabe@Juno.com

Bears Above The Ground Show:
Melinda Golis (L) will judge Saturday and Suzi Ronning (L) will be judging Sunday. For more information about this show, please visit the official webpage http://www.cmcchapter.org/bears2007/.

Final Reminder - ODS Instructor/Trainer Brochure Listings Due February 1st in order to make brochure to be handed out at the Mane Event Expo and at the Northwest Horse Fair:
ODS complies an annual Instructor/Trainer list and prints a brochure that is available to non-members and members by request from the ODS Office or from our booths during multiple horse shows, expos and other events. Instructors/trainers wishing to be listed in this brochure need to fill out the Instructor’s Achievement and Continuing Education Report and send it in by the deadline. The form located on the ODS Website (http://www.oregondressage.com/instructorscertification.html) If you have a difficult time downloading the form, the office would be happy to mail you a paper copy - please call the office and leave your name and member number on the voicemail if nobody is available. Please assist us by ensuring that your form is neat and legible (or have a student type it up for you!). This form must be returned by February 1 so that we can create an up to date 2007 ODS Instructor / Trainer Brochure in time to be handed out at the Mane Event Expo (Ridgefield, WA) and at the Northwest Horse Fair & Expo (Albany, OR). We will accept updates throughout the year, so be sure to send an updated form in the case that you move, change phone numbers or e-mail addresses.

2007 ODS Membership Application Processing:
All applications received through 1/19/2006 have been processed and cards are in the mail. Memberships are added to the current ODS online membership list as they are processed. Please note that it can take our office several weeks to process and send you your membership card. However, if you know that you have mailed in your membership application, have allowed plenty of time for processing, and your name is not yet appearing on the online list, please contact the ODS Office by e-mail or phone to double check our records. Thank you.

ODS Dressage Show Volunteer Training Offered on Saturday of the “Show Biz” weekend:
Rose Newman is organizing a weekend of show training on February 24th and 25th at the Wilsonville Holiday Inn. Saturday will focus on training Dressage Show Volunteers and is free. We will provide training for common Volunteer Positions such as Scribing (with Raymond “Spike” Cornelius (L) as providing comments from rider videos for live scribing practice), Scoring, Ring Steward (Saddlery checker) with Kaye Phaneuf, “r” Technical Delegate and more. Sunday will be a more intensive look at the responsibilities of show managers and show secretaries - the fee to attend on Sunday is $40 to non-members and $30 to ODS members. Snacks and meals will be provided on both days — they are sponsored in part by several of the local ODS Chapters. For more information on this event, please click here to view the flier posted on the ODS website or contact Rose Newman at 360-281-6550.

ODS “L” Program information published on the ODS Website:
Francy Haupt, volunteer for the Oregon Dressage Society, has announced dates for an upcoming USDF “L” Program to be hosted by ODS. Session A, an introduction to Judging and Biomechanics, will be held March 31st and April 1st, 2007 with Janet Brown-Foy in the Newberg/Beaverton Area. Read more by clicking here.

Chapter Officers — Please Read:
Insurance: a reminder that chapters are asked to submit all known 2007 dates (show/clinic/meetings that involve horses) to the ODS Office ASAP on the current Chapter Insurance Form. The form (PDF or Microsoft Word versions) can be found on the Show & Clinic Management page - http://www.oregondressage.com/showmanagement.html. All dates of chapter hosted events that involve horses must be reported to the office, even if the facility is already insured. Please call the ODS Office if you have any questions.
Officers: chapters are asked to please submit current chapter officer rosters to the ODS Office ASAP. So far, we have received information from only about seven chapters out of our seventeen.
Rosters: Chapter Rosters are not posted online. If your chapter would like a current mailing or e-mail list, please be sure to contact the ODS Office about 5 business days before you plan on sending your mailing so that the office can e-mail you the most current list.

Attn USEF Recognized Show Managers/Show Secretaries:
No Signatures Required on USEF Horse ID Application:
The form used to get a USEF horse ID has changed. The pre-numbered form is no longer used. The new form for Horse ID is the USEF Horse Application. When a horse ID is requested on this form, no signatures from the steward or competition secretary are required as the Horse ID cannot be used for points. There will be no charge for Horse ID numbers that are issued via the internet to members of USEF or its affiliates for: 1) horses that are life recorded, registered or otherwise identified or listed with a USEF discipline affiliate, or 2) horses registered with a USEF breed affiliate. Horses not meeting the above criteria must have a completed USEF Horse application indicating on the application the request for a Horse ID before a number will be issued. This form can be completed on the internet, free of charge, at www.usef.org or via mail for a fee. Requests for Horse ID numbers using the paper format of the Horse application will be charged a $10 non-refundable fee. If you have any questions regarding Horse ID, please contact Lisa Owens at lowens@usef.org.
Updated Rule To Take Effect Immediately:
GR213 : Competition Permission and License Application Disputes — To view the rule online, please go to: http://www.usef.org/documents/ruleChanges/591-
06.pdf. If you have any additional questions, please contact the Competitions Department at 859-225-6959.

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Francy Haupt, volunteer for the Oregon Dressage Society, has announced dates for an upcoming USDF “L” Program to be hosted by ODS.

Session A, an introduction to Judging and Biomechanics, will be held March 31st and April 1st, 2007 with Janet Brown-Foy in the Newberg/Beaverton Area. Session B, Judging Criteria for Gaits and Paces, Movements and Figures will be held May 26th & May 27th with Tracey Lert. Session C, Collective Marks, Equitation, Rider Biomechanics, Basics and Freestyle will be held July 7th and 8th with Trenna Atkins. Session D1, Judging full tests at each level will be held August 5th through 7th at the Lake Oswego Hunt Club Dressage Show (this session is open only to participants and is closed to auditors). Session D2 and final testing dates will be announced at a later date.

The ‘L’ Education Program is a fantastic educational opportunity for everyone. Competitors, trainers and instructors gain insight into the evaluative techniques of judging. It qualifies individuals to be able to judge schooling shows and it is the starting point to enter the USEF ‘r’ Judges Training Program.

For more information on this program, including costs and applications for both participants and auditors, please visit the page on the ODS Website dedicated to this “L” Program (click here for the link) or contact Francy directly at 971-832-0244.

The Oregon Dressage Society Presents Tracey Lert Introducing the 2007 Dressage Tests Saturday, February 3, 2007 DevonWood Equestrian Centre

This auditor focused clinic includes: Lecture and an Introduction of the 2007 USEF Dressage Tests and Demonstrations of the Movements

Tracey Lert is a nationally known dressage competitor, trainer, instructor and “S” dressage judge. She is a member of the USDF “L” Faculty and a USDF Certified Instructor through 4th Level. Tracey has earned her USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medals with horses she herself trained. In addition she has earned both USDF Silver and Gold Freestyle bars. She has been on the USET Long List and the Developing Horse and Rider list with several horses.

Registration from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.; clinic scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: $40 advance purchase (Postmarked by January 27, 2007)
$50 at the door
$10 discount to Oregon Dressage Society MEMBERS

Payment: Checks to: Oregon Dressage Society
c/o Kimberlee Barker, 825 NE Granger Ave, Corvallis, OR 97330
Information: Kimberlee Barker 541/609-0300 or 541/745-3052

Location: DevonWood Equestrian Centre
25033 SW Pacific Highway
Sherwood, Oregon

Download flier (8.5″ x 11″) to hang in your barn, tack store or another location to help ODS advertise this clinic

Congratulations to Helen Ferguson, the North Willamette Valley Chapter Treasurer and Treasurer and member on the ODS Championship Show Committee. She and her horse Galahad have been awarded the 2006 Gifted Fund $750 scholarship to study with Dr. Thomas Ritter.

The Gifted Fund was established at The Dressage Foundation “To provide funding support for Adult Amateur Dressage riders who are working to sharpen their skills.” The objective of the Gifted Fund is to enable the adult amateur Dressage rider to set aside time to take some concentrated work with their horse/s and trainer/s, away from the pressures of job and family. The Gifted Fund was seeded with Donations from Carol Lavell, which were received in special remembrance of her great Dressage Horse, “Gifted.” Dressage enthusiasts who are particularly interested in assisting adult amateurs are also giving support to this Fund.

For more information, please visit the Dressage Foundation Website. The 2007 Gifted Fund Application Deadline is September 14, 2007.

While we are waiting for the CD of tests to come from USDF in order to have the ODS Dressage Test Booklet printed, members may download the abridged versions of the dressage tests (movements only) from the National Federations’ respective websites. The ODS Test Booklet will contain the complete tests (including directive ideas) in addition to what is available online.

New 2007 Training Level through Fourth Level Dressage Tests Posted Online:
Follow this link The abridged format only has the number of the movement(s), the letters and movements to be executed at those letters, and any score multiplier coefficient.

New 2007 USDF Introductory A and B Tests and other USDF Tests Posted Online: Follow this link. The abridged format only has the number of the movement(s), the letters and movements to be executed at those letters, and any score multiplier coefficient.

Please let Corinne in the ODS Office know if you have any questions about the Dressage Test Booklet.

Thanks to a comment from an ODS Member, edited on 1/12/07 to add the link to the FEI Tests. 

By the time you read this column the new year of 2007 will already be underway! But, at this writing I have just returned from the USDF annual convention and symposium in Kansas City. Your ODS and Region VI representatives in my opinion had a little more intense experience than the past couple of years. We elected a new Region VI director from a slate of three good candidates. Donna Longacre was elected. I had a chance to get acquainted with Donna at the convention and I look forward to working with her for the next few years. She is enthusiastic and has a lot of valuable knowledge and experience. I think she will be an asset to USDF members at the regional as well as the national level.

Due to huge increases in health insurance premiums for our hardworking and dedicated USDF staff, and rising vendor fees for credit card purchases our USDF budget was not able to be balanced without a cut in programs or an increase in revenue. No one was in favor of cutting programs, but, the issue of increasing revenue was hot at the Board of Governors when we assembled on Friday. In the end by a margin of less than 50 votes it was decided to pass the balanced budget by raising revenue in the following three ways:
1. Discontinuing the $15.00 refund GMO members receive when they pay for their Participating Membership. This does not affect people who are only GMO members or those who join USDF as Participating Members without joining a GMO.
2. Raising the Lifetime Horse Registration fee from $65.00 to $85.00.
3. Creating a non member fee of $20.00 per show for non USDF members entering approved shows. These changes will be effective in the 2008 membership year.

I was especially pleased to present a check for $3,000.00 as our second installment on our Capital Campaign pledge. $2,000.00 of this check came from the Mid Valley Chapter and the remaining $1,000.00 was from our Championship Show proceeds. This puts us at the halfway mark for our pledge in just 2 years! I’m very proud of ODS and the chapters which have participated to move us toward our goal of $20,000!

Later in January our ODS board, chapter representatives and other interested members will be attending our annual retreat at Silver Creek Falls. Your dedicated ODS executive board, regional directors, directors at large and other ODS members will be planning the year to come and discussing and deciding on issues. We are looking at our bylaws, our current form of board representation and our league show and championship programs, as well as other topics.

ODS will be hosting an L graduate program in 2007. Francy Haupt is heading this program and received the go ahead from USDF at the convention. More information for applying for the program as a candidate or auditor will be available soon.

I am also happy to announce that our recognized and league show award plates will be sent out on time this year thanks to John Craven who is taking over recognized awards and Gene Hall who is continuing to do the league show awards and a host of members (organized by Corinne Stonier) volunteering to do data entry. This is just one of the many examples of why ODS is such a great GMO because we are able to work together to accomplish our goals.

ODS recently lost one of our Lifetime Members, Lynn Loomis, he died of lung disease recently. He is survived by his wife Alice Loomis (founder of the Central Oregon Chapter), his three children and grandchildren. Lynn was a hearty volunteer at almost all our Chapter League shows in the past three years it was a shock to lose him suddenly and he will be missed.

Happy 2007, I look forward to seeing you all at the upcoming shows and educational programs! Please look at the calendar of shows and clinics on the ODS website to see the amazing number of events that are already scheduled.

Thanks for your support in 2006! Marsha