Here you will find archived news from 2004, reports and editorials from the board of directors. An archive of the Equestrians’ Institute e-Flash can be found here. Timeless stories about and by members can be found here.

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Musical Freestyle Dates
I would like to keep you up to date on the upcoming 2006 Equestrians' Institute Musical Freestyle Clinics with Karen Robinson. In the spring of 2006, we will offer a clinic the weekend of February 10-12 at Bear Creek Farm. There will be 10 riding spots. We will also offer the Friday night lecture to set the context for musical freestyles. At this lecture, design principles as well as what judges look for in a successful freestyle will be covered. I attend this presentation every time and always learn something new!!

For those of you interested in a 2006 competition freestyle designed by Karen, here is the information you will need to follow in order to receive your freestyle in time for your shows in 2006. Anyone who wants a freestyle delivered between March and May of 2006, you must have a video and a $100 deposit to Karen before Christmas 2005. Refer to www.applausedressage.com to learn what needs to be in your video. You can also contact Karen directly by e-mail: Karen@applausedressage.com Riders who choose to wait until the new year or until the February Clinic to commit to a competition freestyle will be able to do this with a freestyle completion date of June 2006.

Several of you have expressed interest in riding in this clinic. This clinic is open to all riders interested in freestyles if you are working with Karen to design a competition freestyle or riding to music for fun. Please let me know your interest by sending a reply e-mail. Equestrians' Institute members will be given priority if the clinic overfills, so be sure and send in your 2006 Equestrian Institute memberships.

We also plan a Karen Robinson Musical Freestyle Clinic in the fall at Pacific Moon Equestrian Center in 2006. The date to be announced.

Let's Dance,

Kathleen Doyle

(425)957-7294
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Board Opportunities within E.I.
Make a difference and expand your horizons
Would you like to make a difference and have fun? We are looking for smart, passionate, and dedicated individuals to join our team for the following opportunities:

Eventing Director – Manages and provides strategic direction for the Eventing Division. Responsibilities include: planning, budgeting, general oversight of Eventing related activities (Organizers are responsible for managing specific events i.e. Horse Trials), liaison with national organizations. Successful candidates will have strong leadership skills, experience managing a team, excellent communication skills, be passionate about Eventing and dedicated to the further development of the sport. This is a volunteer (unpaid), part-time (approximately 5 -10 hrs/wk, possibly more w/events), voting Board position.

Webmaster- Manages the website; includes developing overall website design and strategy, and day to day management/updating of the site. Successful candidates will have strong technical background in website design and management, HTML, experienced with formatting files and working with web browsers, and understanding of databases and networks. This is a volunteer (unpaid), part-time (approximately 2 - 10 hrs/wk), voting Board position.

Dressage Co-Director – This position works closely with the Dressage Director and will be main candidate when the Dressage Director position becomes available. Position with work with the Dressage Director in planning, budgeting and help with oversight of the Dressage related activities (Director works closely with the Organizers of recognized shows, schooling shows, clinics, etc.). Ideal candidates will have strong leadership skills, experience managing a team, excellent communication skills, be passionate about Dressage and dedicated to the further development of the sport. This is a volunteer (unpaid), part-time position (approximately 5 - 10 hrs/wk, possibly more w/events).

If you are interested in one of the above positions or know of someone who may be interested, please contact me at Janastef@yahoo.com or at 206-920-2902.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Jana

Jana Steffen
President, Equestrians' Institute

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2010 World Equestrian Games to be held at Kentucky Horse Park
For the first time, the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) will be held outside of Europe in 2010, when the games come to the United States. The announcement of Kentucky's successful bid to host the games was made half-way around the world in Bahrain on December 6. The Kentucky Horse Park, soon to be the permanent home of the USDF and its National Education Center, will be the venue for all seven FEI equestrian disciplines which make up the WEG, including dressage.

Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher was all smiles as he made the announcement to an enthusiastic crowd of industry leaders gathered for a press conference at the Kentucky Horse Park. He observed, "This will be an unprecedented opportunity for our Commonwealth to showcase itself to the world. We are known as the epicenter of the equestrian world and we have a deep appreciation for all things having to do with the horse. I know that we will stage a very successful series of competitions."

United States Equestrian Federation President David O'Connor also noted that the FEI World Equestrian Games would cement the Kentucky Horse Park as the center of equestrian events in the U.S.

The games will take place during two weeks in the fall of 2010 and have estimated ticket sales of 300,000. More than 1,000 athletes representing 50 countries are expected to participate. The games will be broadcast live from the Kentucky Horse Park to 40 countries and reported world-wide by more than 1,000 members of the international media.

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USEF 2006 Rulebook Availability



The USEF 2006 Rulebook, with changes that go into effect December 1, 2005, is presently available on the USEF web site at http://www.usef.org/content/rules/ruleChanges/.

If you wish to receive a hard copy of the supplement prior to the scheduled release of the comprehensive 2006 Rulebook. Please go to USEF Supplement Request, enter your membership number.

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E.I. Grant Recipient – Madison Cushman
Conrad Schumacher clinic
My name is Madison Cushman, presently 14 years old and I was chosen as one of the recipients of the Equestrians’ Institute Jr./Yr. Dressage Grant. I ride a 6-year old Hanoverian gelding named Caruso. We bought Caruso as a three-year old and I was determined to train him up the levels. With the help of my sister Caitlyn, my mom, and trainer Roxanne Christenson, we have had two very successful show seasons. This upcoming season I am striving to compete third level. Never having ridden the new movements or higher degree of collection and engagement, Roxanne suggested I ride with the acclaimed Conrad Schumacher in his clinic at Trilogy Training Center and Bear Creek Farm. Normally I pay for all my own clinics, but this was the perfect opportunity to use the grant money because I would not have been able to afford his clinic by myself.

The clinic was scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, October 24 and 25 at Trilogy Farm and Training. I was so excited! On Monday Conrad got to know Caruso and me, and we worked through many different exercises. One exercise we used was on a circle, increasing and decreasing the size, using his markers (shavings placed on the footing). This exercise helped us achieve greater connection and got Caruso really using his back. I also had my stirrups taken away, which made me very aware of where my body was and how I used it to aid for different things. By the end of the first day I had learned so much! I couldn’t wait for more!

On Tuesday I started Caruso out very round and forward. We practiced many mediums, making sure the transitions were clear and distinguishable. We made sure I had control over Caruso’s actions by doing a medium across the diagonal, collecting at X, and then finishing in medium. Conrad also had me work on collection, turn on the forehands, and walk to halt transitions, all the time keeping Caruso supple and round. With a tap of the whip Caruso’s rump would lower, and in the halt it would also make him give to the bit. By the end of my second ride, Caruso was very responsive to the aids, and I was riding like a “German girl.”

This was an amazing experience for both Caruso and me, and I learned more than I ever thought I would from my two rides with Conrad. I want to thank Equestrians’ Institute for awarding me this wonderful opportunity to ride with a top-notch trainer. The Dressage Grant was an incredible blessing, Thank You!

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