ISSUE # 11 DEC 2017 CANADIAN PONY CLUB Inside this issue: From the Judge’s Booth 2 Super Ponies—Blaze 3 Branch ABCs—Delacour 5 Breed Basics—Knabstrupper 6 Meet Your New Youth Rep— 7 Rebecca Holleman Merry Christmas from your 8 Our new columnist Rebecca Schoenhardt with Red New National Chair—Jane Fury—her retired Pony Club mount. Canadian Equestrian(ne)s- 9 Shane Adams—Jousting Great Grooming 10 Art Contest— See Page 4 for Down the Rabbit Hole 11 details! THE MANE ISSUE PAGE 2 From the Judge’s Booth with Rebecca Schoenhardt Don’t you just love watching really great dancers posture in your riding with deep long legs, eyes stride out on to the stage prior to their music begin- straight ahead, and the unmistakable look of confi- ning, or figure skaters taking their position before dence twinkling in your eye. And your horse has to the routine starts? When a truly great performer demonstrate the same outlook! Admittedly, this steps out you know before they even begin that last part is trickier – how do you get a horse to this is going to be something special! The whole think of himself as an immensely confident dancer audience holds its breath and eagerly looks on in instead of whinnying for his buddies back at home anticipation. So how do we get that same re- or the hay net he’d to which he’d like to return? sponse from our judge before we salute at X? This is where you can’t have enough practices. Let’s start with table stakes: every rider should be Why wait until the horse show to see how your neatly turned out; a rider’s long hair tied up under a partner responds off property? Instead, jump at properly fitted helmet; clean breaches, jacket, and every chance you can to get your buddy onto the boots; a neatly tied stock. You want to show the trailer and ride in a new location, even if it’s just judge that you’re well prepared for the job ahead, around the corner from your barn. The more fre- and the first visual clue is how you’re presented. quently he’s in unusual circumstances, the more When it comes to the horse there are some non- usual such outings become, and so by the time negotiable basics as well: every judge loves to see you’re at the horse show you’ll both benefit from a a horse who is sound, in good weight, suitably fit track record of building your mutual confidence in for his job, with a shining coat, tidy braids, a well one another. brushed tail and face, and whose tack and saddle pad are well fitted. These items won’t win you the And from confidence stems the most important first place ribbon, but they do keep you in the run- way to impress the judge: having fun with the work ning for it. at hand! I delight in seeing a horse that is happy in his work and eager to please his rider. And the So beyond dressing the part, how can you and icing on the cake is a rider who is happy in the your partner make a really positive first impres- good work that she and her horse are accomplish- sion? ing together. Think back to our example of the dancer or figure Have fun and C U @ X, skater. They stride out with head held high, broad shoulders held back, and with an era of athleticism and confidence. You need to emulate that same Specialising in themed gift boxes for horses and the riders who love them. New surprise PEG boxes are released each season. A PEG box delivers high-quality products that are curated for you and your horse or pony. A very appreciated gift for the horse lover in your life. PEG is also a full online shop, filled with trendy, earth-friendly and ridiculously cute equine-themed products. DEC 2017 PAGE 3 Super Ponies (& Horses)- NB/PEI—Blaze This is Blaze, lovingly taken care of and ridden at riders have qualified for National Competitions the Hampton Riding Centre, home of the Hampton thanks to their awesome partnership with Blaze. Pony Club, in New Brunswick! Blaze turned 21 this year and has been a pony club mount since 2008! Blaze is so special that the Hampton Riding Centre has even named an award after him at their annual Blaze is fre- June Horse Show. This award goes to the top Pony quently the first Clubber in the cross rail division. Some years, the horse anyone pony clubber has even won with Blaze!! who comes to pony club Without Blaze, many riders wouldn’t have made it meets. He loves to where they are today. Thank you Blaze for your to be groomed many years at the Hampton Pony Club, here’s to and definitely many more! has a special place in his heart for young children. His gentle demean- our makes him an obvious choice for nerv- ous or new rider. Blaze is an expert at lunge lessons and loves to show new riders how fun it can be to have a lesson! Blaze is a club favourite for trail rides. Fun fact about Blaze: he doesn’t like motorcycles Blaze’s biggest (and most favourite!) accomplish- ment is watching his riders learn and all the great students he’s taught to ride over the years! Many THE MANE ISSUE PAGE 4 Contest Time Again! Win a $25 gift card! Draw, sculpt, photograph or paint a piece entitled “Winter Pony Woes!”. Must be a 2018 member in good standing to participate. Submit artwork with Newsletter Contest in the subject line and in- clude name, age, branch, region to Cat @ [email protected] Divisions are: HorseMasters, youth 12 and under, youth 13 to 18, seniors 18-25! (Divisions may be combined if entries are low!) DEC 2017 PAGE 5 BRANCH—ABCS—DELACOUR PONY CLUB ABS The Delacour pony club has the features that was in need of work, the Delacour and Pegasus etched thirty years of pony club repair was our memorial rock wall Pony Clubs hosted a Regional memories in the grounds here in which had been out of commis- rally. the Southern Alberta Region. In sion for so long no one re-called We had fantastic, cooperative fact, Delacour Alumni are now anyone jumping it! It is very satis- weather (if not a bit hot, but we hauling their children’s ponies fying to see it back on the course. Albertans won’t be heard com- here on Wednesday nights to plaining about such things!) lots begin yet another generation. of super volunteers and 5 teams Membership numbers have competed in the D Rally along ranged from 6 to 30 over the with 4 individuals in the C Rally. years. 2017 saw fourteen mem- bers aged 8 to 17 attend Regional While C Rally didn’t attract Quiz, camps, shows and rally enough interest to host a team from E to C level riding and C2 event, the C level entrants rode theory. One of our senior mem- as individuals on the same day as bers, Carlie Wells, a newly ac- D Rally. This elevated the chal- credited B member, represented lenge. Almost every one of the C well at National Quiz this year competitors was either captaining placing 9th individually. a D rally team or involved in some way with their D level teams. To This past fall, the Delacour Pony nearly no one’s surprise, they Club added The Beverly Bishop tackled it all with true pony club Memorial Award which will be character. Judging by all of the placed on our cross-country smiles at the end of the long and course. This bursary awards the hot day – everyone had a fabu- pony clubber who exemplifies the lous time! Loyalty – Character – Sportsman- Our little cross-country course It has been a great accomplish- ship motto. Despite her broken now boasts jumps for every pony arm, Rebecca Anderson dedicat- ment for both of these clubs to club level from E to A! There are rally together to see the course ed herself to helping out at Pony a wide variety of obstacles includ- Club each week and was a signif- and pony club grounds fit to con- ing ditches, culverts, banks, wa- tinue for the coming decades of icant contributor at several ter, coups, a chevron and our sig- events. It was fitting that Rebecca pony club adventures and to nature jump which this year was share it with our region. Bring on was presented with the award raised, literally, to new heights. that was initiated by her late the Next 30 years! grandmother. Rally – The Crown Jewel of Pony Club Thanks to many, many volunteer hours from the community over Rally epitomizes the past few years, the Delacour what pony club is Pony Club grounds have under- all about. Featur- gone some major modifications ing the four chief beginning with the building of 20 elements of the outdoor covered stalls and an ad- program; quiz, dition to our clubhouse of two dressage, stadi- washrooms and a storage room! um and cross country and With some grant money and our blends it into a supportive Delacour Ag Society, team format high- both the Delacour and Pegasus lighting the Pony Clubs, who operate out of sportsmanship, the Delacour grounds, worked loyalty and character that we all tirelessly to refurbish the arena hear so much about. fencing and re-build the 20-year- old cross country course.