Happy New Year, everyone!   2011 ended in a big way starting in November at the ODS Anniversary celebration weekend,  Cavalia coming to town, and the CMC annual Christmas party.

We had a very nice turnout and a great time at our party back on Dec 4.  The food was excellent, and as always the Ronning home was festive and cozy for a wonderful evening spent with good friends.  This special evening is always a favorite way to kick off the holidays.

A few gifts at the gift exchange were picked and stolen quite a few times, so there was quite a bit of begging, negotiating, and sad stories about why a particular gift belonged to the person that didn’t have it.  A couple of favorites were some beautiful  glass horse bookends, which Suzi managed to keep after the maximum steals allowed. Another favorite was a very cute horse rug, which Cary got to finally take home after it made the rounds through a few different people.   There were so many nice gifts this year, luckily, no one went home disappointed.
Our high point winners for the year were Robin Stern and Jacomo at Introductory level with a high score of 70.625%.  Great job, Robin and Jac!  The Training Level high point went to Jane Baer and her new horse, Gardenia, with a score of 61.25%.  What a wonderful way to end the first year showing a new horse.
2012 promises to be another exciting year for CMC.  In October we started a tentative calendar, and we have some wonderful ideas and things planned.
In October we elected new officers:  President: Sharon Knowlton; Vice President: Kris Brown; Treasurer: Jane Baer; and Secretary: Suzi Ronning.  Please contact any of us if you’re interested in joining our chapter, or have questions about any of the things we have planned this year.  We love to welcome new members and share the good times we have.
January 9 will be a regular business meeting to finalize the calendar for 2012.  Our February meeting will be held at Suzi Ronning’s to discuss final plans for the Bears Show, and then relax with popcorn and a dressage video.  March 3 and 4 is the Bears Above Ground Show in McMinnville.  We hope to see many of you riding at this show, as it’s a great weekend to shake off the winter doldrums and get back in the show ring again.  The rest of the year is what we’ve yet to finalize, but some of the things we hope to accomplish this year are a Pilates and Riding clinic, Ride-a-Test(s), a summer camping trip, tack swap and sale, more video nights and some educational speakers.

Best wishes to you and your favorite equines for a fun and exciting 2012….Sharon Knowlton

Welcome to the 2012 CMC Officers:

President:     Sharon Knowlton

Vice President/President elect:  Kris Brown

Secretary:  Suzi Ronning

Treasurer:  Jane Baer

Show Manager:  Sylvia Kantas

Volunteer Coordinator:  Patty Armstrong

###

The Chehalem Mountain Chapter Ride-a-Test held in July to benefit the Linda Acheson Education Fund was a great success.  Thanks to the people mentioned below CMC was able to raise and present a check to the ODS Linda Acheson Education Fund for $1005.

A big thank you goes to Amanda James of Clover Valley Equestrian Center for generously providing her facility for this event, and to the boarders who graciously shared their arenas with us for two days.  We couldn’t have done this without the appropriate venue and Amanda immediately volunteered her facility when we came up with the benefit Ride-a-Test idea.  Thank you Amanda for all the kindness you’ve shown our chapter and ODS over this past year.

Thank you to the instructors who volunteered their time and expertise to make this event successful for everyone:  Tracie Bjugan, Kathy Casey, Estelle Keating, Mija Paris, Anne Stevens and Suzi Ronning.  Had they not volunteered their time to this cause our funding idea could never have become a reality.

I also want to mention the instructors who volunteered and were waiting in the wings to work with our riders, had more people signed up to ride.  Thank you Ashley Bertell, Sarah Gammie, Debbie Spence and Debbie Spitzenfiel for also supporting the cause.

Each of the instructors I mentioned above responded almost immediately to the idea of a benefit Ride-a-Test.  They all believed in this fundraising event and were happy to volunteer their time to make this a success.  I’m sorry we didn’t get enough riders to utilize all of the instructors that were willing to help, but it was nice knowing these fine women were ready and willing to be part of this event.

Another thank you goes out to all our riders:  Laurie Adair, Kristen Astle, Jane Baer, Ashley Bertell, Kris Brown, Andrea Canning, Jo Ann Cooke, Bijoux Doherty, Kristina Durant, Jordie Gredvig, Sharon Knowlton, Chrissy Logue, Adrienne Raymond, Katherine Rickert, Suzi Ronning, Shannon Salyer, Lisa Scott, Amalia Thornton, Ralen Van Domelen, Ryan Westlund, Melanie Woody and Janis Worrall.

Had any of these riders not taken the time or interest to sign up and ride with us we never could have raised the money we did, so a big thank you to each of you for coming to ride for us.

Last, but not least, a big thank you to the volunteers who kept the event running smoothly, and weathered the cold and rain on Sunday to put away the arena: Ashley Bertell, Kris Brown, Amanda James, Sylvia Kantas, Cary Kraft, Janet Kraft, Suzi Ronning, Becki Watt, and Janis Worrall.  We rely on volunteers for every event, show and clinic that’s put on, so we appreciate the people who are willing to give up their free time to make these things happen.  I don’t know that we can ever thank our volunteers enough, but we hope they know how much we appreciate all that they do, so other people can enjoy what they love doing.

Even though CMC managed to raise $1005 for the education fund there is still a long way to go.  If ODS members manage to raise $1000 a year going forward, it will still be 14 years before the fund can be used; that will be 2025.

Making the fund a reality is going to take everyone’s help and commitment.  I would like to encourage everyone and every chapter to find ways to raise money for the education fund, and for all members to support any benefit sponsored for the fund.  Our benefit Ride-a-Test was ridden by 10 CMC members, 3 general members and 9 riders that are not ODS members.  Think how much more we might have raised had more than just 13 of the current 1000+ ODS members ridden with us, or made a small donation.  Sharon Knowlton

We had our monthly chapter meeting June 6 to discuss final plans for the Benefit Ride-a-Test Event to be held July 16 and 17.  I hope by now everyone has received a copy of the entry form, or gone to the ODS web site to retrieve a copy.

Why a Ride-a-Test???  While at the ODS Retreat in February, I heard that the Education Fund had not been gaining over the past few years.  I brought that message back to the CMC members and they were quick to step up and suggest ways that we could help raise money for the fund.  We decided on a 2 day Benefit Ride-a-Test with all proceeds going to the Linda Acheson Education Fund.

Linda not only held various officer positions in ODS and in the Chehalem Mountain Chapter, but was a great friend to many of us, and a huge advocate for educational opportunities.   The fund was created in Linda’s memory when we lost her in 2004, but it must have a balance of $50,000 before it can start giving back to ODS members.  The fund is currently around $35,000, so we’d like to help grow that to the $50,000 needed, so members of ODS can start benefitting from what Linda started for us.

Amanda James of Clover Valley Equestrian Center graciously donated her wonderful outdoor arena for our use.  Riders can ride a test of choice in a full court sand arena and have 30 minutes of instruction to improve their test.  So far, 10 top trainers and judges in the area have volunteered to work with riders to improve their tests.

We picked July 16 and 17 not only because it’s the weekend before Dressage at Devonwood, and will give riders the opportunity to practice their test in a full court sand arena, but we’re also hopeful that by then we’ll be in the middle of some beautiful summer weather.

We encourage all levels of riders to take advantage of this wonderful educational opportunity.  Even if you’ve never ridden a test and wondered what it might be like; this is the perfect time and place to give it a try.

Because of the full court arena, we encourage riders working on their Pas de Duex, Quadrilles and Musical Freestyles, to take advantage of the instruction and the full court arena.

Please visit the ODS web site for more information and entry forms.  This event is for all of us, so we need everyone’s support to make it a success….please plan to ride with us.   Hope to meet you there.  Sharon Knowlton

Top dressage instructors, trainers, judges and the Clover Valley Equestrian Center have donated their time and resources to help you improve the test of your choice at the

Chehalem Mountain

Ride-A-Test

July 16 & 17

To benefit the ODS / Linda Acheson Education Fund

To be held at Clover Valley Equestrian Center

14275 Tangen Road, Newberg, OR  97132

Questions?  Call 503-780-9398

All levels welcome        No experience necessary        Readers available

Rider Information:

Name:

Address:

City:                                                                  State:                          Zip:                                     Phone Number:

Email Address:

Test to Ride:             

All tests will be ridden in a full court sand arena
Pas de Deux, Quadrilles and Musical Freestyles are encouraged to participate

Day/Time Preference* (Circle One)

Saturday AM or PM       Sunday AM or PM    Saturday AM            Saturday PM

Sunday AM              Sunday PM          No Preference of Day or Time

* Please note: Scheduling with the instructor best suited for you will be easier, if you can be flexible with your day and time preferences.

$35 per rider/per test payable to CMC ……ALL proceeds will be donated

Mail completed form(s) with your check to:

Sharon Knowlton / 13994 SW Chehalem Ct / Tigard / OR 97223

Please complete one form per test, but you can send multiple forms per envelope

Sorry I can’t make the event, but I would like to make a donation to the Linda Acheson Education Fund in the amount of $______

You can print and use this e-mail as registration or download the form from the ODS website calendar – click here: http://www.oregondressage.com/2011_documents/2011-CMC-Ride-A-Test.pdf

We hope to see you there!!

###

Dear ODS Members,

I hope you’re enjoying the somewhat warmer weather, even if it has been rather wet out there.  I’m sure sunnier, drier days can’t be too far off.

CMC had a nice gathering for the ‘Thank You Pizza Party’, but missed all of you that weren’t able to make it.  I hope to see you at our next event.

I want to remind you of our chapter meeting this coming Monday, April 4 at 7pm at Clover Valley Equestrian Center.  Our speaker is Cydria Schaefer DVM, CVA.  Cydria is a certified Yoga and Centered Riding instructor, and is starting studies in the Feldenkrais Method of Awareness Through Movement.  Cydria will be discussing the bio-dynamics of the body and how our movement affects our horses, and explaining how she helps riders work more harmoniously with their horses.  Cydria also offers individual and/or group lessons with exercises on and off the horse, to help with body awareness.  If we have enough interest, we may want to schedule a clinic with Cydria for anyone interested.

Another reminder is for our Miriah Stuart Clinic on Thermography on Satruday, April 23 at Clover Valley Equestrian Center, starting promptly at 1pm.  Miriah will be scanning 5 demo horses, so it will be a great opportunity to learn more about thermography and how it might help any one of our horses.

Hope to see all of you on Monday,

Sharon, CMC President (wred.rider@frontier.com)

###

The Bears Show took place the first weekend in March, and was a huge success. The weather cooperated for competitors to enjoy two full days of rides.   We were lucky to be able to be the first show to help ODS continue celebrating its 40th Anniversary.  We asked competitors tell us how ‘40’ related to them and then awarded an ODS 40th Anniversary sweatshirt to 3 of the most creative entries.  Our winners for the anniversary sweatshirts were Tami Platt, Stephanie Willius, and Quinn Iverson.   Everyone put a lot of thought into their answer, so picking the winners wasn’t an easy task.

(more…)

The next CMC meeting is February 7th at the Clover Valley Equestrian Center in Newberg.  We’ll be discussing final plans and preparations for the Bears Above Ground Show, and will be gathering ideas for activities, clinics, and ride-a-tests for the coming year. (more…)

The next CMC meeting is February 7th at the Clover Valley Equestrian Center in Newberg.  We’ll be discussing final plans and preparations for the Bears Above Ground Show, and will be gathering ideas for activities, clinics, and ride-a-tests for the coming year.

March 5th and 6th is the Bears Above Ground Show at the Yamhill County Fairgrounds in McMinnville.  Please contact Janis Worrell at will.janis.worrall@gmail.com, or call Sharon at 503-780-9398, if you can volunteer some time at the show.  This is a 2 day show, so we appreciate any time you can spare to help.  We also need some people on Friday night, March 4th, to help set up the arena. If you live near the fairgrounds and have some time Friday evening, we’d really appreciate the help.

Please note…..We are not able to provide videos of every ride at the Bears Above Ground show, so the $10 office fee is no longer required with your entry; however, there will be a videographer available for you to hire at the show, if you would like to have your rides recorded. We hope to see you at the show. – Sharon Knowlton

###

January 7, 2011

The previously scheduled Chehalem Mountain Chapter meeting which was to be held on Monday the 10th of January has been cancelled.  “We realized that the Ducks are competing with our meeting on Monday, so we opted to cancel our meeting, so that people could watch the game,” said CMC President Sharon Knowlton.

The next CMC meeting will be held February 7th.  Contact the CMC President for more details.

###