Half-Halt The Newsletter of the Southeast Virginia Association JANUARY 2009 Volume 24, Issue I

2009 Board of Directors Happy New Year from SVDA! ◊ President Janice Mumford The 2008 Adequan USDF All [email protected] Breeds Award ◊ Vice President Robyn Nunnally Debbie Basta and Groms Galena [email protected] Adult Amatuer Champion ◊ Secretary Breed: AWR Tristin Hardy [email protected] Second Level ◊ Treasurer "Open" Reserve Champion Rebecca Kelly Breed: AWR [email protected]

Second Level ◊ Schooling Shows Sarah Miller [email protected] ◊ Scholarships The Dressage Foundation Sandy Johnson Announces James Koford [email protected] Wins the $25,000 Anne ◊ Newsletter L. Barlow Ramsay Grant Wendy L. Murray [email protected] Go to page 2 for com- ◊ Membership plete story! Danielle Rowland 757.255.0524 Congratulations Jim! [email protected] ◊ Ways and Means Corrinne Meadows [email protected] ◊ Awards SVDA Welcomes Carol Gonyo 757.436.2374 George H. Murray Jr. [email protected] ◊ Clinics and Programs Born December 12, 2008 Kathy Rowse 757.255.0524 9lbs 13oz [email protected] 19” long

From.. Your Newsletter Editor

◊ SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA DRESSAGE ASSOCIATION IS A GROUP MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES DRESSAGE ASSOCIATION ◊

About Half‐Halt The Dressage Foundation Announces James Koford Wins the $25,000 Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Grant Half‐Halt is published monthly by the SVDA and provided as a Lendon Gray, President and CEO of The Dressage Foundation, has announced service to its members. News that James L. Koford, of items, show results, calendar Raleigh, North Carolina, of events, photos, classifieds has received the first and services directory are "Anne L. Barlow Ramsay incorporated into the newsletter. Annual Grant" in the amount of $25,000, for high performance training DEADLINE FOR NEWSLETTER in Europe during the sum- IS THE 25th OF EACH MONTH mer of 2009. "The Selec- tion Committee was im- pressed with Jim's creden- Wendy L. Murray tials, commitment and his Newsletter Editor/Webmaster training plan to gain valu- [email protected] able international experi- ence," said Gray. "The Dressage Foundation is proud to provide him and his horse, Rhett, the funding to help showcase an SVDA encourages its members American bred horse in the international arena," she said. to submit articles, member updates, information and Dr. Anne Barlow Ramsay (FL) established a Charitable Remainder Unitrust in pictures for publication, however, SVDA reserves the 1999, to provide an income stream to her horse and rider for a ten-year right to edit, reject or use term. She worked with John Boomer, then President and CEO of The Dres- materials as and when sage Foundation. "The remainder funds were designated to come to The deemed appropriate. Dressage Foundation in 2009," said Boomer, "and now her sizable fund will yield the $25,000 grant annually well out into future years." "The purpose of Dr. Ramsay's Fund is to showcase talented American-bred horses ridden by SVDA Members: United States citizens, by providing money to train and compete in Europe," Boomer added. Submit your Show "Koford and Shirley McQuillan's (Touchstone Farm, KY) Dutch Warmblood, Scores for publication Rhett (R Johnson, Dam: Madette by Hendo), will be in Half-Halt by training with Conrad Schumacher in Germany emailing Wendy at during July and August of 2009, and competing at [email protected] shows in Holland, Ger- many, Belgium and the Czech Republic," said Lendon Gray. "I'm so proud of Jim and Rhett. As a breeder you always hope for the perfect match for your youngsters and Those two are a per- fect partnership. Its fun to watch." Shirley McQuillan adds. "Dr. Ramsay is a Renaissance woman -- a wife, mother, medical doctor, business executive, volunteer, world-traveler and equestrienne," said John Boomer. He added, "Dr. Ramsay is now estab- lishing a second Charitable Remainder Unitrust, with the remainder funds again coming to The Dressage Foundation in 2019, to continue her schedule of $25,000 annual grants far out into the future years." Boomer concluded, Visit us online: "Anne Ramsay's creative, distinctive gift is remarkable for its longevity -- it will be helping Dressage riders and American bred horses for a very long time to come." www.gosvda.org Said James Koford: "WOW!"

2 | SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA DRESSAGE ASSOCIATION ◊ JANUARY 2009

Rushcreek Quenby 06/17/1982– 12/18/2008 Submitted by Anita Rees

As I type this I’m looking out the window, waiting for a man from down the road to come with his back hoe. I can see Quenby in the front paddock covered with a patched up wool plaid cooler. It looks like she’s taking a peaceful nap. I wish there was a way to turn back time and say she’s only lying down resting. Last night after work I went out to feed the horses. Quenby was whinnying but I’d never heard that tone before. I had a sick feeling something was wrong. She was down, covered with sweat and exhausted looking but still struggling to get up. Her LH leg was immobile. Our friends came over and we all tried to keep her still. When Dr. Sweeney got here he said we could try getting her up but I knew she’d go down again and possibly break a leg trying to stand. She had a bad heart murmur, and had been having problems with her hind legs for several months. I’d had her on bute and she did seem more comfortable but it wasn’t fair to let her suffer anymore. I’d been dreading this day for a long time… had a feeling it was going to happen soon, but still wasn’t ready.

Quenby was an amazing horse. She was bred in Nebraska by Rushcreek Land and Cattle Company. They have the largest cattle ranch in the state and at the time used all arabians for working the cows. I read an article written years ago about the ranch and one of the foreman was quoted as saying their Ara- bians could do twice as much as any ranch bred quarter horses in half the time. They bred for disposition and athletic ability. Most of their horses would never win a halter class but they have good minds and are tough, sound horses. The first time I rode her we were in the mountains in Pennsylvania and she was a very green broke 6 yr. old. She wore a bridle that had a loop over one ear, no throatlatch. She put her head down to scratch and next thing I knew the reins were in my hand but the bridle was dangling under her neck. It could have turned into a bad accident but luckily all she wanted to do was eat grass.

I never had the money for lessons and Quenby didn’t much care for the ring anyway. I started training and conditioning her for distance riding. The first year I must have fallen off her at least once a week. She’d spook for fun- just sort of dip her shoulder and spin around. She could do it from a stand still if she wanted… Very athletic. After she dumped me she’d stand and look down at me, or maybe wander a few feet away to graze. As far as she was concerned it was all a big game.

I finally managed to stay on her most of the time, we started competing in CTR and endurance rides. Over the years she did very well, winning lots of rides and championships. She definitely had her own ideas about how to do things. One time we were training on trails in a state park. The hills were so steep they taught rock climbing techniques on one side. On the way up Quenby refused to stay on the marked . I got tired of fighting so gave her the reins and let her pick where she wanted to go and the footing was much better. I nearly got decapitated by branches but she had an easier time negociating the trail and in her book that’s what counted. Another thing she abso- lutely hated was trotting at the vet checks. She’d be fine on the rides and get stronger and stronger on the trail but when we came into the vet check she saw no reason to use anymore effort. She’d snake her neck out and pin her ears, acting like she was exhausted. I’d practically be dragging her on the end of the lead rope. But her low pulse rate always gave her away.. in distance riding there is some- thing called a CRI (cardiac recovery index) the idea is to stress the horse by riding maybe 25 or 50 miles, take a base line pulse, trot them off for a measured distance then retake the pulse 60 seconds later. It should be the same or lower than it was originally. Anything 8 or 12 beats higher usually means there is a metabolic problem. . Years ago we finished a 100 mile ride in the deep sand in FL. Quenby had done great the entire ride but we got to the final vet check and she did her usual “I can’t move another step” routine. Her baseline pulse was 36. I thought “oh great Quenby how are you going to manage to get that again?” after 60 seconds it was the same. I was thrilled. At the end of 100 miles (once away from the vet check) she was perky and pulling me around acting like she’s just been on a casual trail ride.

At the rides I’d always give her lots of hay and carrots… she stayed in a portable electric pen near the trailer. During one ride apparently I’d left a bale of hay too close and she managed to stick her head under the wire and pull the entire thing into her pen. By the next morning she’d devoured most of it and must have pooped 200 times during that 50 mile ride.. but other than that did fine.

We also played around with team penning- the first time I tried it I’d had a little too much to drink, and had no idea what I was doing. I just rode on a whim, after watching some local cowboys. . Quenby had never worked cattle before but that’s what she was bred for and she excelled and really seemed to enjoy it. We ended up doing team penning on and off in between rides, just for variety. She also liked being in parades where she quickly figured out which children were throwing the candy and treats off the wagon and tried to get her head right up on the edge of the wagon and flap her lips wanting more. It was hilarious.

About 8 yrs. ago I leased her to friends in SC. At the time we were living in South Georgia and Quenby had a hard time dealing with all the bugs. She then started her 2nd career as a broodmare. They bred her to their nice stallion Bellisimo Chance. She was a wonderful mother and passed on her disposition and athletic ablities to her babies. Once we moved to Virginia I brought her back home in foal again. In Aug. 05 she produced Gunner. He’s unlike any arabain I’d ever seen- 4 while stockings, bald face and 2 blue eyes. I thought maybe she’d been bred to a paint by accident! He has her lovely disposition and has taught us a lot working with him and watching him grow up.

It’s so hard to loose a special friend. Horse people understand that special bond. No matter how many times we go through this it never gets any easier. I’m grateful to Dr. Sweeney for coming out quickly and being so compassionate in a situation where there was no good outcome, also our friends Kathy and Richard who stayed with me most of the night and helped, and my husband Mark who was at sea and couldn’t be here but sent his love and moral support.

3 | SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA DRESSAGE ASSOCIATION ◊ JANUARY 2009

SVDA SUNDAY AFTERNOON GROUP LESSON FORM Mail application with Payment & coggins to: Kathy Rowse 1468 Peppercorn Lane Suffolk , VA 23432 [email protected]

All Group Lesson Locations have indoor arenas! January 25 Janice Mumford at Princess Anne Farm in Va Bch February 8 Brgitte Peterson at Happy Valley in Suffolk February 22 Kris Montgomery at Becky Kelly's farm in Va Bch March 1 Kathy Rowse at Silverleaf Farm in Suffolk

Please Enter the Following Information:

Horse's Lesson Date: Rider's Name Name: Home Phone Work Phone # Cell Phone# # E-Mail Ad- dress Please Briefly Describe your Riding Level/Abilities:

Group Lesson Date/Instructor Name: ______

Please Note any special time requirements or restrictions:

______

Are you flexible on ride times? YES or NO (circle one)

Please include a check made payable to SVDA in the amount of $15.00. Refunds will not be permitted except with vet cer-tificate!

Please Read and Sign at the bottom: The Equine Activity Liability laws of the State of Virginia, VA Code Ann. Sec 3.1‐ 796.130 state among its statutory provisions that , “NOTICE: Intrinsic dangers in equine activity, include (i) the pro‐ pensity of equines to behave in ways that may result in injury, harm, or death to persons on or around them; (ii) the unpredictability of an equine’s reaction to such things as sounds, sudden movement, and unfamiliar objects, per‐ sons, or other animals; (iii) certain hazards such as surface and subsurface conditions; (iv) collisions with other ani‐ mals or objects; and (v) the potential of a participant acting in a negligent manner that may contribute to injury to the participant or others, such as failing to maintain control over the equine or not acting within the participant’s ability.” No Participant nor any participant’s parent, guardian, or representative shall have or make any claim against or recover from any equine activity sponsor, equine professional, or any other person for injury, loss, dam‐ age, or death of the participant resulting from any of the intrinsic dangers of equine activities. It is further under‐ stood that each owner, rider, spectator, and other participants assume any and all risks of loss or injury and agrees to hold harmless, regardless of negligent acts or omissions SVDA, Inc., USDF, USEF, its instructors, officers, directors, agents, show management, show committee, and all other personnel.

SIGNED: ______DATE:______PHONE/E-MAIL:______Parent sign if under 18 years of age.

2008 Volunteer Hour Totals

Alexis Albright 6 Michelle O'Connor 2 Jayme Albright 8 Kelly Piland 4 Karen Barnard 6 Susan Redmondini 4 Debbie Basta 8 Anita Rees 14 Tina Bodnar 4 Beth Rippel 23 Emma Burdette 10 Diane Rombs 12 Pam Burdette 4 Danielle Rowland 39 Melissa Chamberlain 1 Kathy Rowse 64 Paige Christiansen 4 Chris Rush 4 Robin Criswell 10 Dawn Sherrill 69 Lisa Croxton 9 Julie Shilling 12 Sharon Decant 10 Carol Smith 15 Lisa Dickman 4 Ryan Spanagel 13 Reeta Edmondson 12 Julie Spencer 4 Ginger Endresson 11 Koryn Staehling 5 Kenzie Endresson 11 Donna Stenstrum 10 Kya Endresson 22 Evin Stovall 1 Susan Erb 7 Bettina Strobach 8 Femme Sole 2 Amanda St. John 26 Susan Forrester 4 Alexis Taves 3 Carol Gonyo 36 Allison Taylor 21 Veronica Gregory 8 Susan Watkins 8 Claudia Griffiths 36 Yolanda Williamson 19 Tristin Hardy 52 Mary Winchell 37 Valerie Harrell 12 Abby Zezeski 4 Jennifer Hippensteel 16 Jessica Zoskey 4 Sandy Johnson 35 Stacy Johnson 7 Final Totals for 2008 1056 Nikki Jordan 10 Rebecca Kelly 24 Denise Kutta 13 Marylyn Leonard 14 Laura Liskey 4 Ariana Mahek 14 Barbara McArthur 8 Joan McClellan 4 Joanne McClellan 16 Sarah Miller 33 Kris Montgomery 4 Janice Mumford 43 Wendy Murray 36 Carly Nunn 8 Robyn Nunnally 45

Get Ready for 2009! SVDA Members need 4 hours of Volunteer points by July in order to be eligible for Year End Awards!!

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8| SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA DRESSAGE ASSOCIATION ◊ JANUARY 2009

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Trainer Directory Feed/Tack Stores

Tristin Hardy‐Dressage Robyn Nunnally‐ Dressage Danielle Rowland‐ Dressage Chesapeake Saddlery ‐Horsemanship 757.986‐4498 757.255.0524 2337 Mt. Pleasant Rd. 757.615‐4975 [email protected] [email protected] Chesapeake, VA [email protected] www.chesapeakesaddleryva.com www.elfenridge.com Brigitte Peterson‐Bereiter FN‐ Kathy Rowse‐ Dressage Dressage‐Eventing‐Jumping 757.255.0524 Old Dominion Hay Sandy Johnson‐Dressage 757.934.8300 [email protected] 21090 Roff Lane 757.582.2939 [email protected] www.Silverleaffarm.org Smithfield, VA [email protected] www.happyvalleyequestrian.com www.olddominionhayva.com Janice Mumford‐Dressage

757.986.3037 Sue Remondini‐ Dressage Sesroh Tack Shoppe [email protected] 561.901.5800 1408 South Church Street [email protected] Smithfield, VA 23430 www.qecdressage.com www.sesrohtackshoppe.com

11 | SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA DRESSAGE ASSOCIATION ◊ JANUARY 2009

Boarding/Training Facility Elfenridge Dressage @Bridlewood Estates SVDA SERVICES DIRECTORY 2601 Nansemond Pky Suffolk 757.615.4975 [email protected] www.elfenridge.com

Indian Point Farm 821 Kings Fork Road Suffolk, VA 23434 757.923.3276 [email protected] www.indianpointfarm.com

Bellwether Farm 5375 Mystical Lane, Gloucester 804.695.9542 [email protected] www.bellwetherfarm.org

Starlite Dressage 1913 Whaleyville Blvd. Suffolk, VA 23434 757.613.0320 or 757.934.8300 [email protected] www.happyvalleyequestrian.com

VADA 2009 Clinic with Anne Gribbons

April 4-5, 2009 Details Coming Soon

13 | SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA DRESSAGE ASSOCIATION ◊ JANUARY 2009

The Newsletter of the Southeast Virginia Dressage Association

Wendy L. Murray 124 Rockland Terrace Suffolk, VA 23434 Tel. 757.328.3700 E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.gosvda.org

We’re on the Web! example.microsoft.com

Tag line goes here. Renew your SVDA Membership for 2009 Today! Form available on www.gosvda.org