Conference noted::equitation

    
    Linda, 
    
    	I know of 2 people.  The first is Jenny Heaton from Francestown.
     She competes in 3-day.  She owns/runs Harmony Hill farm.  Her number
    is 547-8819. 
    
    	The second is DeDe Bowles.  She is a young instructor, just
    getting started teaching - but has been competing for quite awhile.
    She is in Dunbarton NH.  Number is - 774-3611.  I know Dede has
    some cross country fences at her place.
    
    Sherry
    
    

    Tom Ordway, Brunswick Maine is EXCELLENT!  (I don't have his phone
    number right now.  When I find it I'll post it.)
    
    He has done lots of eventing at many levels.  His students from
    when he was in the Midwest did VERY well.  I road with him for quite
    a while and I learned lots from him.  He is also good at stadium
    jumpng.

    You can always try Mike Plumb - I think he's in Dover, MA.
    It depends on whether you agree with his methods/tactics
    of training.
    
    If you belong to the USCTA, there must be a list of instructors
    or contacts available in one of their publications/omnibuses?
    
    Tony Provencher of Omega Stables in Haverhill, MA also comes to
    mind.  He has a nice XC course on his property (some very interesting
    jumps!)

    I do, absolutely the best.  My trainers have a very successful farm
    in Uxbridge, MA.  The wife does eventing on a national level.  They
    are very serious and very good.  They train not only the horses,
    but the riders.  I know that the wife has been long listed for the
    Olympics twice.  If you would like the number to call, than let
    me know.
    
    stephanie

    
    I've recently been nominated to coach a group of riders for a 
    local CT club. They are novice and starter levels with a wide
    range of experience (complete novice to local hunter show level)
    with a everything from green horses to my-parents-bought-me-the-
    most-expensive-horse-around-so-I-will-win type horses.  We are
    going to compete as teams in local mini-trials and novice level
    horse trials.
    
    I need some advice from novice riders on how to make learning
    easy and fun.  It's been a while since I've taught like this
    and I don't want to scare or confuse these folks. For the life
    of me I can't remember what it feels like to start  eventing.
    
    So I need ideas. An approach to making sense of dressage and
    learning Training Level 1/2 tests will help (not intensive
    dressage, just enough to get through a test at this point).
    How do we make cross country fun instead of scary for those
    who haven't ever been out of a hunter ring.  Stadium should be easy.
    We also need to have the whole group understand rules and basic
    conditioning.
    
    What did you find easy/hard about eventing?  What was scary for
    you and how did you cope?

    Right now we are planning on group schooling sessions, much like
    the pony club rally - some schooling, some lecture.  For the events,
    they are going to take turns grooming for each other, each novice
    rider has adopted a starter.

    I think what really got me interested in dressage was doing some
    "drill team" work.  Riding with others, in formations, really
    teaches you to control the horse, and I think instills some
    excitement in basic movements.  This might be a good way to get
    the kids interested in dressage, while teaching them a lot about
    control.  Its also very good for jumping, as it really teaches
    you to control the speed of the horse.  
    
    This might be something you would want to try.  Its a LOT of 
    fun!
    
    Joan
    

	 As far  as  X-C  is  concerned,  you  could hold some mini pace
     events.   If  there's  someplace  around  that  has  x-c  schooling
     appropriate  to  the  starter  &  novice levels, you could go, have
     everybody  walk  the course together, walk it in pairs, school over
     the  fences  in  a group, ride it in pairs, and then ride it alone.
     (Best if done over several sessions, so the horses and riders don't
     get  tired;  i.e.  walk  and school one week, ride in pairs 2 weeks
     later  and  ride  alone  2  weeks  after  that. This allows time in
     between for schooling at home.)
	
	 When riding  the  course,  come  up  with some sort of prize (a
     crop, horse treats, etc.) for the rider and/or team to come closest
     to the 'optimum' time (some preparation here needed on your part to
     figure out how long the course is and how long it should take @ 350
     mpm.)

	 Stadium is  stadium  and  you can practice that to an extent at
     local  horse  shows  or at home. You can put jumps in a pasture and
     use that as your stadium 'arena'.

	 You should  also  teach  the  kids  how  to  tell if a horse is
     overtired,  overheated,  dehydrated,  etc.  Teach  them how to take
     pulse  and  respiration on their own and each other's horses. Go on
     group trail rides at a walk and trot. Teach the kids how to tell if
     their  horse is in condition. Discuss electrolytes. Get a vet in to
     help,  preferably  one  who  knows eventing and might have been the
     'officiating vet'.

	 Other ideas  include  going to some of the big events to watch,
     or  even some at the levels you want to compete at. Walk the course
     as  though  you would ride it (for the small courses). With the big
     courses,  use  them for comparison. Explain how the low-level jumps
     help  teach  the horse how to jump the upper level jumps. Point out
     things that the 'big-time' riders do that are good.

	Video-tape rides and do critiques.

	 Try to  get the kids to see the figures they will ride in their
     dressage  tests;  that it's not just 'do this from point A to point
     B'  and  'do  that  from point B to point C'. Have each kid pretend
     they are a judge and say what they did or didn't like about a ride.
     Switch  horses  and  do  the  same thing again (you get a different
     perspective when dealing with someone else's problems!!)

	    If I think of any more ideas, I'll post 'em.

     

    This is a good start.
    
    Most of these people (some are adults) have regular (weekly) hunter
    type trainers, so they at least should have the jumping basics.
    Unfortunately, most (if not all) of their jumping has been in an
    enclosed area. The first XC should be interesting. My first goal
    is to get them through a starter level mini-trial safely and without
    getting eliminated.  Then we'll work on a winning strategy.
    
    For dressage, we are going to do some individual schooling and then
    let each of them ride the test while the others critique.  I think
    it's important that they learn to comment without being overly
    "catty" (a definite problem on the local hunter circuit).  We've
    got a permanent dressage arena to use for our inaugural schooling
    session.
    
    Stadium shouldn't be too much of a problem.  I'm going to set up
    the course that our first event used last year and school them through
    that.  There's some differences in the type of fences used (like
    fan fences, hogs backs, and the way the fences are marked/numbered
    and decorated, which we will try to simulate.  And I need to remember
    to cover little things like saluting the judge and waiting for the
    starting bell.
    
    XC schooling won't be available till after the first event.  It
    seems like there's a myriad of things to remind them of - like
    what to do in the starting box, what a penalty zone is, what a refusal
    is, and don't forget what to do if you approach someone in trouble
    at a fence.  And then there's how to ride the course.
    
    I've got some good help.  On of the "moms" has agreed to be my
    logistics coordinator - to get everybody where they are supposed
    to be on time and with the appropriate equipment.  And we have
    our own personal video cameraperson.  This is going to be fun!
     
    Any more suggestions?  
    

>    what to do in the starting box, what a penalty zone is, what a refusal
>    is, and don't forget what to do if you approach someone in trouble
>    at a fence.

	 Have them volunteer to be fence judges at a local event. As far
     as  run-outs,  refusals,  penalty  zones,  and that stuff goes, the
     Technical  Deligate  should  be able to tell them that stuff at the
     fence judges briefing.

    Very good idea!  And we could use a few scribes this weekend
    for a dressage show.
    

    Start with having them read the rule book and various
    issues of the USCTA magazines -- they always have a lot of
    information in them.

    Just a progress report...
    
    We are having a lot of fun, and winning a surprising number of
    team competitions.  The neat thing is the attitude. These people
    are getting along incredibly well - no nasty competitiveness at
    all.  We've only had two little problems, one lady got so excited
    XC that she hyperventilated and one kid fell of into a water jump.
    The kid got up laughing.