March 2015 Newsletter
MPPC COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
President: Rachel Van Dissel Ph 0467 581 063 [email protected]
Vice President: Sharyn Jong ph 0407 838 908
[email protected] MPPC POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 114, Secretary: Gayle Halford Mount Pleasant SA 5253 ph 0416 286 778 [email protected] MPPC EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] Treasurer: Sharon Clarke ph 0414 666 179 MPPC WEBSITE: [email protected] www.mountpleasantponyclub.webs.com
Rally Coordinator: Alison Kay MPPC FACEBOOK PAGE: ph 0437 035 682 https://www.facebook.com/Mount.Pleasant.PC?fref=ts [email protected] Don’t forget to “Like” the Mount Pleasant Pony Club Chief Instructor: Julie Jackson Facebook Page. Please feel free to add photos and ph 0419 850 793 reports to the facebook page. [email protected]
UPCOMING MPPC RALLIES AND EVENTS:
SUN 1st March 2015: MPPC Rally and ODE Working Bee in afternoon SAT/SUN 28-29th March 2015: ODE Working Bee and overnight sleep-over, ½ day rally on Sunday SAT 4th April 2015: ODE Working Bee SAT/SUN 11-12th April 2015: MPPC One Day Event (No April Rally) SUN 3rd May 2015: MPPC Rally SUN 17th May 2015: MPPC Showjumping Day SAT/SUN 6-7th June 2015: Lower North Zone Championships (Two Wells Pony Club) SUN 14th June 2015: MPPC Rally (Week late due to Zone Champs) SUN 5th July 2015: MPPC Rally SUN 2nd August 2015: MPPC Rally SUN 13th Sept 2015: MPPC Rally (Week later due to Father’s Day) SUN 4th October 2015: MPPC Rally SUN 11th Oct 2015: MPPC XC Training Day SUN 1st Nov 2015: MPPC Rally SUN 6th Dec 2015: MPPC Christmas Rally
MPPC – March 2015 Newsletter
UPCOMING RALLY PLAN:
The next MPPC Rally is on: Sunday 1st March 2015
Gear check is at 9:30am – please be prompt so we can start the first lesson on time.
Groups First Session Second Session Afternoon Session 10am-11am 11.15am-12.15pm 1.30pm -2.30pm
Megan Jones Games with Julie Chandler in Show jumping with Allan Working Bee for ODE Pink Group the Corral
Wendy Schaeffer Games with Julie Chandler in Show jumping with Allan Working Bee for ODE Green Group the Corral
Stuart Tinney Flatwork with Barb Henderson X-Country with Julie Jackson Working Bee for ODE Yellow Group
Shane Rose X-Country with Julie Jackson Flatwork with Barb Henderson Working Bee for ODE Red Group
Corral Show jumping with Allan Games with Julie Chandler in Working Bee for ODE Blue Group the Corral
Afternoon Session Working Bee: Please bring cordless drills, crowbars, spades/shovels, claw hammers, wire cutters/bolt cutters, chainsaws, any spare railway sleepers, shifters, left-over ‘outdoor’ paint, post- hole diggers and anything else that may be of use.
Groups are as follows:
Megan Jones (Pink Group): Nikia Heaven, Madison Halford, Ashlee Kay, Kirsty Murnane, Chloe Jong, Gemma Lind and Georgia Gibson.
Wendy Schaeffer (Green Group): Tommy Shepherd, Annalise Drever–Borchardt, Bonnie Thompson, Sherrie Fechner, Erin Keogh, Bella Swanson, Jessica Topham, Bethany Hodson, Clare Pearce and Katie Hay.
Stuart Tinney (Yellow Group): Lisa Bates, Tina Grech, Tracey Jacobs, Sharyn Jong, Alison Kay, Lisa Laughton and Margo Scott.
Shane Rose (Red Group): Gayle Bates, Viv Bretherton, Fiona Camac–Lambert, Sharon Clarke, Darren Clarke, Tania Drever, Julie Jackson, Caroline Dear, Sarah Thomson and Anne Easton.
Corral (Blue Group): Scarlet Knight, Josh Van Dissel, Daniela Featherstone, Alisha Klitscher, Brianna Klitscher, Skylah Harvey, Holly Horsburgh and Maya Compton and Lilly Compton.
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MPPC – March 2015 Newsletter
A few tips for riders at rallies:
Please do not forget to sign the Attendance book before the rally starts (both riders and parents helping) so that you are all covered by insurance. Whilst signing the attendance book, please also fill in the form next to the book letting the club know if you will be staying for the afternoon session, and which group you will be joining (if a choice is available). Gear Check is at 9:30am in the area in front of the club rooms, please make sure you are ready on time. Lunch is from 12:30-1:15pm, please bring a sweet or a savoury dish to share. Rallies are usually held on the 1st Sunday of the month unless the Mt Barker forecasted temperature is over 35 Degrees Celsius, and the rally will be either cancelled or held earlier in the morning. Whoever is parked closest to the main road gate, please make sure that it is closed ASAP and before the start of the rally. No EXPOSED jewellery is allowed to be worn at Pony Club Rallies. No MPPC members are allowed to ride on Non-Pony Club grounds (including the Oval and Playground area) at any time. Please also ensure that all manure is picked up and placed in the bin provided and not under trees.
Information for new members wishing to join MPPC:
If anyone is contacted by people wanting to join our club, the process is as follows: They will need to complete a Membership Application Form (available on our website or from the Secretary) which will then be put before the committee at the next meeting. Please note that committee meetings are only held once a month, so it may take up to four weeks for a response. The applicants will then be notified of the decision by a committee member following the meeting.
ONE DAY EVENT INFORMATION:
Planning has started for our 2015 One Day Event on April 11th and 12th. Please note that ALL members are expected to help out at the ODE and at the Working Bee’s (listed below), and we will need lots of helpers. No experience is needed for many of the roles at the ODE, and a list of jobs available will be provided at the rally on 1st March. We will be need members and parents to assist with the following roles: Dressage and Show Jumping Pencillers, Parking Attendants, Gear Checkers, XC Judges, Marshallers, Runners, Canteen Staff and Cooks, and many other jobs! ODE WORKING BEE’S: Sunday 1st March – Starting after lunch at the rally (no afternoon lessons). Saturday 28th March - With overnight camp and morning rally on Sunday 29th March. Saturday 4th April - 9am start (Easter Saturday)
MPPC NEWS:
Please send all your photos, reports, results and classifieds for inclusion in the Newsletter to the MPPC email address by no later than the 25th of each month. We need you input for the newsletter, and everyone loves to see pictures and hear how everyone is going with their horses! TALUNGA PARK: A reminder that no MPPC members are allowed to ride on Non-Pony Club grounds (including the Oval and Playground area) at any time. Please also ensure that all manure is picked up and placed in the bin provided and not under trees. Nominations for the monthly “Mount Pleasant and Districts Sportsperson Awards” must be received by the tenth day of each month. Nominations can be posted to: “Sportsperson of the Year” C/O Nick Seager, 4 Seager Rd, Mount Pleasant SA 5235.
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MPPC – March 2015 Newsletter
PHOTO’S FROM THE BEACH CAMP:
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MPPC – March 2015 Newsletter
LOWER NORTH ZONE UPDATE:
Calendar of upcoming events in the Lower North Zone:
MOUNT PLEASANT PONY CLUB: 11-12th Apr 2015 One Day Event 17th May 2015 MPPC Showjumping Day WILLIAMSTOWN PONY CLUB: 18th April 2015 XC Training Day 30-31st May Williamstown PC ODE BAROSSA VALLEY PONY CLUB: 22nd Mar 2015 Dressage Day (Circuit) GAWLER RIVER PONY CLUB: 21-22nd Mar 2015 One Day Event (Grade’s 5, 4 and 3) 29th Mar 2015 Show Jumping Day (Circuit) 24th May Gawler River PC Dressage Day (Circuit) 9th Aug 2015 Derby Day 26-27th Sept 2015 Encourage ODE TWO WELLS PONY CLUB: 1st Mar 2015 Gymkhana 4th April 2015 Dressage Day (Circuit) ZONE DATES: 8th March 2015 H Lindquist Dressage Clinic (TWPC) 21-22nd March 2015 G Rolton Eventing Clinic (TWPC) 25-26th April State ODE (TWPC) 6-7th June 2015 Lower North Zone Championships (TWPC)
Please see the PCASA Website for more information: http://www.ponyclub.asn.au/events
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MPPC – March 2015 Newsletter
LOWER NORTH ZONE – YEARLY ACHIEVEMENT PATCH AWARD
This award is presented at Zone Championships. For riders to qualify for a patch they must attend 4 out of the 6 events on offer for the year. Events chosen for possible qualification may change from year to year. The patch is to be sewn onto the right sleeve. The patch is awarded to the rider and not the combination so a rider can use more than one horse to qualify. Riders need to get the form signed by the officials at the relevant event (usually event secretary). Events listed are all from competitions within our zone with the exception of State Championships. Completed forms are to be bought to zone meeting by clubs delegates at designated time.
LNZ Dressage Clinic with Heather Lundquist PCASA State dressage coach and selector Sunday 8th March 2015 At Two Wells Equestrian & Pony Club, Aunger Road, Lewiston 1 x 1 hour group lesson (max 3 riders) $25.00 for all PCASA members Bookings essential as places are limited Get your entry in early to avoid disappointment Contact Rebecca Puro. Ph: 0438 828 305 (before 8pm) Entries to: PO Box 436, Willaston SA 5118. Timetable will be available on: www.twepc.com.au
LNZ Eventing clinic with Gillian Rolton EA Level 3 Coach and 2x Olympic Gold Medalist
21st and 22nd March 2015 At Two Wells ODE grounds (Bec and Marcus’s place) 2 x 1.5 hour group lessons (4-5 riders) $100.00 for all LNZ pony club members This is a two day clinic (must ride same horse both days) - 1st day = flat towards jumping, 2nd day = cross country Bookings essential as places are limited Contact: Rebecca Puro. Ph: 0438 828 305 (before 8pm) Entries to: PO Box 436, Willaston SA 5118 Timetable will be available on: www.twepc.com.au
There is also a session on Saturday night on Conditioning and Feeding Eventing Horse, and Julie has offered to accommodate anyone who would like to go.
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MPPC – March 2015 Newsletter
Helen Barnes Flatwork Clinic Sunday, 12th April, 2015 Belvidere Pony Club is hosting a Riding Clinic open to all financial Pony Club members. This clinic will cater for all levels of riders from led, beginners through to advanced. Coach: Helen Barnes is an EA Level 1 Dressage Coach and Dressage Judge. Costs: $25 for 1 hour lesson - Flatwork Class with Helen Barnes. Maximum of 4 riders per class. Current Pony Club card MUST be presented before riding. No card, no ride. All Pony Club rules apply. BBQ lunch and drinks are available for purchase.
SA GOVERNMENT “SPORTS VOUCHERS PROGRAM”
The State Government have a "sports voucher program" on offer. Under this program, every South Australian primary school aged student is eligible for a $50 voucher towards enrolment fees from a registered sporting club. Equestrian is listed as an eligible sport.
It only takes a minute to register for this through Sports Vouchers - Office for Recreation and Sport
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If you have any photos, results , reports or classified that you would like included in the next edition of the MPPC Newsletter, please send them to the MPPC Email address by no later than the 25th of the month. 7
MPPC – March 2015 Newsletter
A FEW TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR DRESSAGE SCORES:
By ‘occasional’ dressage judge, Tina Grech
I instructed a couple of lessons titled “Riding an Accurate Dressage test” at the February Rally, so thought I would put together a summary of what was mentioned during the lessons as a reminder to everyone.
At the lower levels (ie Pony Club Walk/Trot, Grade 5/4 and EA Preparatory and Preliminary), the judges are really looking to see that your horse/pony has true, regular paces and is calm and obedient to the aids. However, the most important thing to remember when riding your test is Accuracy. Although things may go wrong during your test, as far as the judge is concerned, the test must be ridden as accurately as possible and this can gain you many extra points, regardless of how your horse is performing on the day. If you learn your test correctly, make your transitions where they should be and know the geometry/size of the arena, you will always pick up marks for riding an accurate test.
I will go through a few of the lower level movements one by one to provide a few tips on how to pick up those few extra marks:
Learning the test: Everyone has different ways of learning dressage tests and memorising them. Many learn by remembering the letters, and others (like me) learn by remembering the pattern of the test. Many tests are repeated on the opposite rein, so tend to ‘mirror’ the same movements. Try and find the way that best suits how you learn, and then practice the test by rewriting it on paper, doing it on foot, visualising it in your head and of course on your horse if you are lucky enough to have an arena. If you have trouble learning tests, most Pony Clubs and even Dressage Club’s allow you to have a caller, however it is still a good idea to try and remember the test as much as you can.
Beginning the test: When the judge has rung the bell and you are about to go into the arena, make sure you are circling in the direction the test asks you to turn at C. Ie, if the test asks you to ‘Track right at C’, then make sure you are circling to the right before you enter the arena. Also ensure that you are circling on one side of the arena, the side that will give you a good straight entrance into the area without wobbling before you have even started your test (ie if you are circling right, then circle on the right side of the arena so you can enter straight at A). When you do your last circle before entering, make sure you circle on the INSIDE of the marker “A”, so that you get a better line coming into the arena. Remember that some of the lower level tests DON’T have a beginning halt, so don’t forget to learn your test well first!
The centre line and halt: When you enter the arena and are riding down the centre line, try and ride straight towards the judge, with a smile on your face. Your horse/pony should be straight, looking directly forward and on the centre line. Keep an even pressure on your legs and reins and correct any ‘wobbles’ by using leg pressure to push your horse back onto the centre line if needed. If your test has a halt at the beginning, keep an eye on the markers B and E using your peripheral vison (without turning your head) and prepare to come back to the walk (for only a few steps!) and halt at X. Your body should be at X, directly between the B and E markers. If your horse tends to swing its hinds out coming into the halt, you may need to correct this by putting your leg slightly behind the girth to push the hinds over before settling down into the halt and saluting. If your horse tends not to stand well in the halt, try to halt, salute and move off before your horse gets impatient. Move off confidently from X, use the above techniques to keep your horse straight an on the centreline, keep smiling and remember which way you are going to turn at C!
The Transitions: As with all transitions and changes of direction, PREPARATION is the key. Think about the next movement several strides before the marker, and warn you horse with a half-halt that something is about to happen to ensure smooth and accurate transitions. For the lower level dressage tests, there is often some leeway in the test, such as ‘Between H and C, Working Canter’ or ‘Halt may be though the walk’. As you move into the higher level tests, the transitions must be at the exact markers and there is much less room for error. If the instruction is to perform the transition AT the marker (ie A, M, B etc), your transition should be as your body is in line with the marker, not before or after, otherwise you will lose marks. 8
MPPC – March 2015 Newsletter
Patterns and Shapes: Whether going straight up the centre line, along the side of the arena or performing a 20 meter circle, the horse MUST be looking in the direction it is going. I see many horses/ponies looking outside of the arena going along the long side or even on a circle, and this is a big No No. It is almost impossible to ride an accurate test if your horse is not looking where it is going!
When riding through the corners of the arena or performing turns or circles, ride your horse from your inside leg to a steady contact on the outside rein to create the correct bend. Your horse/pony should have a nice even bend through their body around your inside leg, so that their body curves along the circle and you should just be able to see the inside eye of your horse when riding a 20 metre circle.
Make sure your circles ARE 20 metres (ie touching the long side makers on both sides of the arena) and that they are round in shape, not an egg! This is a very common mistake that people make, as they don’t realise that an arena is 20 meters wide. I find a little trick is to ride to ‘points’ on the circle, ie: break the circle up into 4 points and just concentrate on getting to each ‘point’, a quarter of the circle at a time (without making a ‘diamond’ shape of course!) This also applies to serpentines (see left). Make sure you ride each 20mt loop to be the same size and shape and that your serpentine is a set of three half circles joined together with 2-4 strides on a straight line.
Don’t forget to use as much of the arena as you can by riding into your corners, and remember that corners are not a 20 meter circle and need to be ridden as such. If you cut the corners, you may not have given yourself enough time and space to prepare your horse/pony for the next movement.
Free Walk: This is an important movement and easy to gain points on (and it is sometimes worth double points too), so it pays to practice this one at home. Most importantly, ensure that you let your horse/pony stretch down into the contact by allowing the reins to slip through your fingers so that they are longer (but not lose and loopy!). I see many riders that don’t even give their horse/pony a chance to stretch down by hanging on to the reins, therefore showing no difference from the normal ‘medium walk’ to the ‘free walk’. You also need to ensure that your horse/pony is “Marching” (not dawdling) so you achieve a good over-track (meaning the hind feet are landing ahead of the tracks made by the front feet), plus make sure your horse travels straight across the diagonal. Ensure you set up the diagonal by riding deep into the first corner so your horse is straight to start with, and then allow your horse to start stretching down before picking up the reins before the opposite marker/corner.
Once you have worked on your accuracy, you then need to think about RHYTHM and PACE. At the lower levels of dressage, you don’t need to have your horse/pony in a perfect ‘on the bit’ outline, so concentrate more on forward movement (but not rushing!) and a good regular rhythm. A judge would much prefer to see a horse/pony working in a good rhythm and happily going forward into a soft contact, than forced into an outline that causes the horse to have short choppy strides and may result in resistance. Try and ride your horse/pony forward in all paces and through all transitions, and remember it is just as important to ride forward in the downward transitions as it is in the upward ones. Going more forward does not mean faster, it means that the horse is going along with more energy, power and impulsion.
Last but not least, don’t forget to ENJOY yourself and have FUN! At the end of the day, most of us ride for enjoyment and because we love our horses, so smile and be proud of yourself and the fact that you are out there giving it a go!
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