This is a competitor friendly show, relaxed atmosphere, great show for green horses and riders.

Our judges are Anne Appleby (r) from Olympia Wa. and Paige Ruhl (L) from Emnuclaw, WA.  This is Paige’s first time judging in our area.

Here is your chance to qualify for the ODS League Championship show in one weekend!

For more information or  questions contact Melissa Frazier at northwestdressage@gmail.com, cell 360-921-1012

Hope to see you at the show!!!!!

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August 26-29, 2009

Location: Make your Mark Stables, Springfield, OR
Instructors Include: Kim Barker and Kathryn Daniel

For more information and registration please contact Kathy Darneille at

(503)982-1044 or crosbycreek@canby.com

Click here to view the informational flier – NWVCamp2010

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Helm Saddles offers professional saddle fitting, flocking and Albion Saddle sales.

Please contact Paula Helm at 425-457-1105 and paula.helm@gmail.com.

www.HelmSaddles.com

**Helm Saddles is a current ODS Business Member.  In return for paying higher dues, ODS Business Members are permitted to send 1 broadcast e-mail per quarter.  Please contact the ODS Office for details.

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The American Quarter Horse Association has been researching and studying the sport of Dressage for the past nine years. Through the efforts of countless individuals, including input from staff at USDF and USEF, dressage will become an AQHA-approved event beginning January 1, 2010.

AQHA registered horses, shown by exhibitors who are current individual members of AQHA, will be eligible to earn points at USEF/USDF dressage competitions.  AQHA has created a high-point recognition program for the AQHA open, amateur and youth divisions for first through 10^th place in each division and the highest award to be highest-point-earning registered American Quarter Horse in each division, including points earned in training Level 4 through Grand Prix.

The following link to the AQHA website contains additional information, including a FAQ page, information on hosting a dressage event, and the competition license for the horse.  http://www.aqha.com/showing/guidetoshowing/dressage.html

There are certain requirements of the USEF/USDF competitions before exhibitors can earn points with AQHA.  Competitions will complete a short application and pay a fee of $50 per competition for approval from AQHA.  This must be received by AQHA at least 60 days in advance of the competition.  USEF Dressage judges must have an AQHA membership in order for the points earned by the competitor to count.  (See AQHA rule 438).  Each competition, with the name of the judge(s), will appear in the Show Calendar of at least one issue of the American Quarter Horse Journal.  The Federation is excited about this new AQHA program.

If you have any questions please contact Valerie Smith, at the USEF Competition Department at 806-376-4811 or Rose Newman, chair of the ODS Show Committee at 360-281-6550.

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You are in luck!

1. We still have a few slots left on Saturday and Sunday (2^ND Level and above), and we will waive post-entry fees until those rides are filled.
2. We have more than a few slots left on Friday. Not only will we waive post-entry fees on those rides, we also are ADDING SECOND LEVEL TO FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE!

Yes! We are adding four classes on Friday:

110 – Second Level Test 1

111 – Second Level Test 2

112 – Second Level Test 3

114 – Second Level Test 4*

* specify if Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Championship Qualifying

Again, post-entry fees for all classes will be waived until ride times for that day are filled.

About the judge…

All classes on Friday will be judged by Dr. Heather Cocklan-Nichols (r), Los Alamos, CA

Dr. Cocklan is an active dressage competitor and judge. She apprenticed with (S) dressage judge Sandi Chohany throughout high school, college and medical school, bringing several horses of different breeds up the levels from Training through Grand Prix and earning her USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals along the way. She is a Doctor of Optometry with a practice in Santa Barbara. This year, she is and her Oldenburg mare, Imagine, are competing at Prix St-Georges. We chose Heather because we know that she gives constructive comments, doesn’t hesitate to use the entire scale of marks, and is fair to all breeds. We are pleased and proud to welcome her back to Oregon!

About post entries…

• If you have already entered the show and wish to ADD a 2^nd Level test or two on Friday (or Saturday or Sunday) you may do so by email (to Phaneuf@Canby.com).
• If you have not yet entered the show, your entry will be processed in order by date of postmark. We urge you to get your entry in the mail immediately! If your entry is postmarked after all ride times for your requested day(s) are sold, those rides will be wait listed and subject to post-entry fees.

Questions?

• Prize list and entry form may be downloaded from www.oregondressage.com.
• Ride time availability will be posted at www.dressagepro.com starting this evening.
• For everything else, please contact Show Secretary Kaye Phaneuf at Phaneuf@Canby.com or (503) 651-3037.

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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.

Thank you,

Gaye M McCabe

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Past ODS Youth College Scholarship Recipients

2006

Eric Nolan

Jill Jackson

Bethanye Satterwhite

2007

Barb Ayers

Megan Pettitt

Catherine Pike

2008

Jordan Martin

Alex Carey

Alycia Smith

Alexandria Lindahl

Amy Nicole Rufener

Angeline Desquesnes

2009

Madeline McKallip

Brett Stallings

Ryann Nolan

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Twenty six people attended the January retreat.  Eleven of the 17 chapters were represented.  General Members were represented by 2 people. We had a very interesting presentation by our Treasurer, Christopher Main, about what it means to be 501(c)3  tax exempt educational organization.  It was a real eye opener.  For example, we are prohibited from making any political or religious statements in publications or websites, we cannot promote, not give the appearance of promoting, any commercial enterprise, we need to have the documentation for sponsorships, including providing sponsors written confirmation of the tax exempt contributions.    I think the major take away from the discussion is a reminder that all of us, the Board, Chapters, and individual members all make up ODS.  If a chapter, for example, does something that violates the IRS rules, we are all responsible and accountable. We will be working on some guidance for distribution to the memberships and chapters about some of these issues with an eye towards a more thorough understanding of our responsibilities.

The ODS Strategic Plan is now up and going.  One of the major initiatives is the establishment of a Financial Oversight Committee.  The committee is to conduct an annual audit of ODS finances, forecast areas of potential growth and loss, evaluate the financial impact of current and future programs, and develop a proactive funding strategy.  Claire Evans will chair the committee.  Other members are Randie Croshaw, Rose Newman, Dolores Morgan and Christopher Main.  I strongly believe that the work of this committee will have a major impact on the operation of ODS in the future.

We are also implementing an initiative to analyze past revenues and expenses for all aspects of ODS finances and be more proactive with preparation of detailed projected budget and monitoring of our annual budget.

I think everyone should have an idea where your dues money goes.  Last year your $60 dues breakdown went like this:  $17.00 to USDF Participating Membership dues, $8.00 to Flying Changes Magazine subscription, $9.50 to ODS Publications of the Omnibus, Roster and Test Booklet, and $25 for operation of the ODS office, Insurance and other ODS programs.  This year the  USDF dues increase to $20, the Flying Changes subscription to $9, and the publication costs to $11, leaving only $20 to support the ODS Office and Programs.  Obviously we have a challenge on our hands.

Another Strategic Initiative is the development of annual survey of ODS membership to determine member satisfaction, areas that need improvement, suggestions for dropping or adding programs, plus some other information to determine desires and needs of membership.  A team is now starting to work on the survey.  Expect it to show up in your “you’ve got mail” this December.  I’m telling you about this now so you can give some serious thought over the summer and be ready to give meaningful and insightful input to the survey.  Francy Haupt and Debra Ringold are on the committee.  As of this writing I’m still looking for someone to take charge of it.

We’ve ramped up the Education committee and charged them with addressing the educational needs identified in the survey.  The committee will develop an educational plan, also considering cost and feasibility, and present recommendations to the Board.  Francy Haupt chairs the Education Committee.  Other members are Lou Anne McKown, Debra Ringold, and Rose Newman.

One of the constants at the retreat is the willingness of the non-board members to step forward and volunteer to participate in these important initiatives.  I can only hope it continues as we compete these goals and move on to the next stages.

ODS/USDF Membership year is November 1 through October 31.  As of the first week of January ODS membership was about 860.  Later in the year that number typically goes to about 1100 members.  It’s a rather unfortunate phenomenon that memberships start to roll in around the start of show season, frequently rush orders for a show the next week.  We’ve been working very hard to make it easy for membership renewals, being the first GMO in to be able to renew on line using the USDF website.  The timing of renewals is very important to ODS.  Renewing promptly allows us to do a better job with our planning and budgeting process, getting our publications printed and distributed and, very importantly, helps to determine the amount of representation ODS is permitted at the USDF convention.  Additionally, several clinics offered on our calendar are open to member-only, it helps our organizers accept member into these restricted activities because our insurance company considers a “member” to be “defined as individuals that are paying dues, as defined by the club’s published roster and in good standing, abiding by the club’s bylaws.”  So please, if you haven’t renewed yet, take a few minutes and get it done.  Mark your calendars with a reminder to renew again in November.

Many of you are aware of some USEF rule changes regarding competitions that take effect this year.  All licensed shows have to be rated, there are requirements for show management, changes to the types of classes allowed and so on.  Most of the changes don’t affect competitors directly but there is one you should be cognizant of.  There is a new rule that scores obtained in a modified arena cannot be used as qualifying rides for Regional Championships.  Competition Management is supposed to announce any arena modifications in the prize list so you are aware of them.  Modifications can include things like the ring might be a little short or the geometry doesn’t allow entering the arena at A.  Competitors looking for qualifying scores should pay close attention to the prize list and look for modification announcements.

I am pleased to announce the ODS Board of Directors approved applications from the Northeast Oregon Chapter and the Cascade Chapter for the Connie J. Keith Adult Amateur Camp Grants.  The Grants provide $1000 to help defray the costs of a minimum 3 day long residential camp to provide educational opportunities and training for adult amateurs.

Spring is rolling around that means lots of events happening around the state.  Keep checking the ODS website for news and calendar of upcoming events.

-Ed

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Because of the Adult Team competition falling on Easter Sunday, I am making the following changes to the show.

First big change – both team tests will be ridden on Saturday.  Open classes will be available as time allows.

SUNDAY – will be an open show only – we will offer open classes and the Dressage Trail class,  a costume class and the Challenge of the Ages class.  If anyone has something they would like to see added, just let me know.  I know there was some interest in a Prix Caprilli class, but I know nothing about it or how to run it.  If someone would like to run the class I’ll accept entries for it, just let me know.

Please check out the listing on the ODS website (http://oregondressage.com/showsandclinics.html – or directly to the prize list at: http://oregondressage.com/2010_Omnibus/2010-AdultTeamShow2.pdf) or contact me at J-G.McCabe@juno.com if you have any questions.

Late fees will be waived through March 26th.

We will do a dinner on Saturday evening for anyone interested.  The cost to competitors will be $5.00.  One possibility is going to Izzy’s pizza.  If you have any other ideas let me know and I’ll pass it on to Karen Hanek who will be handling the dinner.

I hope this helps people out and doesn’t make things too confusing.

Thank you,

Gaye McCabe (j-g.mccabe@juno.com)

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