The Dressage for the Ages Show is looking for sponsors for classes. This show is a college scholarship fund raiser or the ODS High School Dressage Team members. Class sponsorships are $25.00 and may be tax deductable.
If you would be willing to sponsor a class please contact Gaye McCabe at: j-g.mccabe@juno.com or call 503-378-0309. The show is to be held March 13 & 14 in Salem.
The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) acknowledges that many high school equestrian athletes are not currently recognized by their school athletic programs unless their equestrian team is directly associated with the high school at the varsity level. In many cases, organized programs at the high school level do not exist and many young equestrians do not have a team or club in their area. Yet, the equestrian athlete dedicates as much, if not more, time preparing for competition as does any other athlete in a high school program. Additionally, the time commitment required of equestrian athletes often precludes them from participating in other high school varsity sports programs. As the National Governing Body for Equestrian Sport, USEF has created a program to recognize young equestrians’ accomplishments and to support their future involvement in the sport.
In addition to providing recognition consistent with other high school varsity programs, the USEF honors these equestrian athletes not only for honing their individual skills while training and competing, but perhaps more
importantly, for fostering the unique and often challenging human-to-animal connection required to create and sustain the teamwork and mutual respect required of a successful equestrian athlete/equine combination;
thereby recognizing and rewarding their efforts in the unique and unparalleled team sport of Equestrian.
Here in Region 6 we are trying to get a couple of new programs started to benefit Region 6 Junior/Young Riders and they are:
Our “Mentor” program is designed as a way for the older, graduated Jr/YR community in Region 6 to give back to the up and coming Jr/YR’s by offering discounted or free services and information to riders under 21 in Region 6.
Sometime in 2010 we intend to start a “Weekend Training Camp” for any rider in Region 6 under the age of 21.
The website will be an informative resource for all riders under 21 wishing to compete in dressage in Region 6. On the site you will find qualifying information, definitions, key dates, discounts and services from local retailers involved in the Jr/YR program, and much, much more.
We are trying to develop an “Active Rider List” of all Region 6 Jr/YR’s to allow riders to easily contact their peers. We will include “blogs” from Region 6 riders in order to see what they’re up to and learn what Jr/YR life is like.
If you are an active or previous Jr/YR in Region 6, please take a moment to send your information on to us so we can include you on the “Active Riders” list or in our Mentor program if you are interested in giving back.
Fund-raising is being organized NOW for the 2010 show season. We encourage anyone who would like to be involved with our fund-raising efforts to contact us. Please see the website for contact information.
Join us for a meeting from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at the Region 6 Mini-Convention in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, November 21st. We welcome all Jr/YR’s, parents, coaches, trainers or friends—anyone who has questions about the program, wishes to get involved, or wants to learn more about the website. Please let us know if you can attend! We would like to encourage any and all future and previous Jr/YR’s in Region 6 to come to this meeting and bring your ideas and thoughts about how to improve the regional Jr/YR program. Please also take advantage of the Mini Convention—attend the educational and regional meetings, enjoy lunch, and spend the day. Registration information can be found at www.region6.org. (It is not required that your register in order to attend the Jr/YR meeting, but is if you would like to attend the other regional and educational meetings.)
Please take a look around and let us know if you have any questions. All contact information can be found on the website or contact:
Jeremy Steinberg
(206) 799-5646 • jeremysteinberg@mac.com
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I am wanting to get the website up and running with enough content and commitments from people that I can bring the website to the Region 6 Mini Convention in November and include it in the presentation I am making so we can show everyone in Region 6 the young riders are here and really ready to get something done. For this I NEED your help! I need a couple of things from you all, but first let me say thank you for getting involved this far and getting on the mailing list. That is in itself the biggest thing we need help with, spreading the word and getting people on the mailing list so we can communicate to a large audience!
The things we need to get done and up and running on the website before the Region 6 Mini Convention:
-Rider Blogs. PLEASE, if you are a rider and have any interest in having your blog linked to the website, let us know!
-Mentors. We need more Mentors. If you have/know any previous YR’s that you can ask or tell us about we will get in contact with them.
-The Active RIder List should be full! We need to get more riders on the active riders list and PICTURES of them would be fantastic! We WANT AND NEED the people of Region 6 to feel like they “KNOW” the kids before they ask them for donations and start fund raising!
-Get the word out about the Mailing List!!!
-We need to find a “Fund Raising Co-ordinator”.
PLEASE pass this email on to ANYONE you know in Region 6 and tell them to get on the Mailing List. If you can help in any way, please also get in touch with me. I REALLY also want to get a couple of Rider Blogs started, so keep that in mind as you are talking to people or if you yourself want to start one. I am more than happy to help talk you through it!
Thanks everyone!
Jeremy Steinberg
12730 Odell Rd NE
Duvall, WA 98019
206-799-5646
Carol Jackson, the ODS High School Team Coordinator wants everyone to know that there are 3 clinics the Youth Program has been invited to for free auditing.
Lendon Grey is at DevonWood this weekend. Please join us in welcoming the three-time Olympic rider & current CEO of the Dressage Foundation, Lendon Gray to DevonWood this Thursday through Sunday (October 15-18). There are no parking or admission fees to attend this event. Auditing fees are $15 per day with no pre-registration required; ODS High School Team Members are being given free auditing. Current schedule is available on the DevonWood website.
Michael Etherly is at Tanz-Pferde October 16 – 17 – 18. Michael Etherly is a USDF Silver and Bronze Medalist whose equestrian career began at age four. While he has successfully competed in jumping and eventing, Michael’s love is dressage.
For more than a decade Michael has worked with Olympic medalist Steffen Peters and he considers Steffen his mentor. From his training with Steffen, as well as clinicians such as Christine Traurig, Michael Poulin, Robert Dover, Debbie MacDonald and Dietric Von Hopffgarten, Michael has developed a successful program that helps horses and riders steadily progress through the levels.
In addition to his experience in North America, Michael has trained in Europe with some of the sport’s luminaries, including Jean Bemelmans, coach of numerous Olympic medalists.
Michael has brought along numerous young horses, nearly a dozen of his horses have reached the FEI levels and his students have earned numerous USDF Regional Championships, as well as USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.
Michael considers a few areas his specialties:
* Teaching correct rider position.
* Explaining the half-halt.
* Starting young horses.
* Working with stallions.
* Bringing out the brilliance in FEI horses.
* Helping riders accomplish their goals, from first level to grand prix.
ATTENTION
The dates for the Region 6 FEI Jr/YR Clinic have been rescheduled to:
Saturday October 17th and Sunday October 18th
USDF FEI Jr/YR Clinic Series – Region 6
featuring SUE BLINKS
In 2002 Sue Blinks was named Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year after helping the United States earn its third consecutive Olympic Team Bronze Medal. Blinks was a member of the United States Equestrian Team’s (USET) Silver Medal Team at the 2002 World Equestrian Games. She won the Stateline/USET Dressage Championship in Loxahatchee, FL qualifying her for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia aboard the Hanoverian gelding Flim Flam. She was also a member of the fourth place USET squad at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome, Italy. Sue has numerous Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Freestyle wins.
The Saturday and Sunday clinic will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. It will be held at Paddock Woods, Gig Harbor, Washington.
Please contact Erica Powers at USDF for more details – epowers@usdf.org
Lexington, KY— The Fourth Annual United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Youth Sportsman’s Award, sponsored by Breyer Animal Creations®, will kickoff for the 2009 competition year May 1, 2009.
This award recognizes youth members of both USEF and a USEF Recognized National Affiliate for their participation in the community and equine industry and is focused on developing leaders in the equine industry.
To be considered for the award, the following criteria must be met:
• Active membership in good standing with USEF and a USEF Recognized National Affiliate
• Must be 17 years old or under as of December 1, 2008
• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment and dedication to the promotion of the horse
• Serve as a positive role model for peers
• Participate at any level of competition, including local, regional or national events
• Exhibit characteristics that exemplify positive sportsmanship principles
Applications may be obtained on the USEF website, www.usef.org (under ‘Youth Programs’) or through the youth’s USEF Recognized National Affiliate, beginning May 1, 2009. The USEF Recognized National Affiliate will nominate its winner (and an alternate) to be sent to the USEF by October 31, 2009. Each winner will then be considered for the overall award.
In addition, each National Affiliate winner will be recognized during the USEF Annual Meeting and invited to a career workshop (meals and accommodations provided) in Lexington, Kentucky. The workshop will be an opportunity for the youth to learn about different career opportunities within the equine industry, visit area horse farms, and meet some professionals in the equine industry.
The overall winner of the USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award will receive a trophy, a $1,000 scholarship to be paid to the educational program of their choice and a lifetime membership to USEF (valued at $2,500). In addition, the name of the Award winner will be submitted as a candidate for the USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year Award.
For more information on the USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award, please contact Jennifer Mellenkamp, Director, National Breed/Discipline Affiliates and Youth Programs, via email at jmellenkamp@usef.org or call (859) 225-6955.
