ANRC
Kira Gainey said it better than I could in an email to the equestrian program;
“ANRC Nationals was a great success this weekend!! I heard endless praise this weekend from all our visitors about the property, the barn, the jumps and you!!! The Equestrian Center looked amazing and the show ran as smoothly as we could have hoped (even with our very newly created scoring program-thanks to Marsha and Sam Black!)
I'd like to thank everyone who helped out and supported our program and our ANRC 2009 team in any way...those who helped with the Easter weekend paint party, pulling tags off of flowers, setting the course, handing out ribbons, brushing jumps, building islands, scribing for the judges, demo riding for the judges (and ALL the spectators...talk about stress :), handling the in gates, raking the rings, wiping off boots, juggling horses/stalls, cheering for the home team, just coping with all the excitement, etc, etc.
And I would like to especially thank the 2009 ANRC team...Kelsi, Rob, Alexis, Caroline, Audrey, Lindsay, Morgan, Alex - you all were amazing in ALL your efforts this weekend and the time leading up to it. Thank you for the hard work both on and off the horses. We are so proud of you and could not have done it without you!!!!
Thank you all for, as always, being a gracious and wonderful host college!!!”
IDA
I spent my weekend in Findlay, Ohio at an equally amazing event - IDA Nationals. St Andrews students Greta Friesen and Lauren Parker competed in the First level and Introductory divisions respectively. Greta placed 12th nationally while Lauren placed 10th nationally.
Donna Fowble accompanied us to Ohio and served as chef d’equipe. Lauren’s Dad made the drive with the girls and wrote a long “to do” list of things that will be needed next year when we host. I am very grateful to him for being the chauffeur and documenting the competition from an outsider’s perspective.
Findlay went above and beyond in their organization of the event. A Hawaiian theme for the weekend was reflected everywhere from the welcome Luau to the ring decorations. Betsey Steiner gave a very inspiring motivational speech Friday evening and was available all weekend to talk to students and riders. What a great opportunity for everyone!
Results Summary
Team Competition - Saturday
1. University of New Hampshire
2. Virginia Intermont College
3. Delaware Valley College
Individual Competition - Sunday
First Level Test 4 - Greg Schmid of Otterbein College 72.105%
Training level Test 4 Jessica Forend of Johnson & Wales University 70.800%.
(This division was so close that the judges were asked to break the tie between Jessica and Ashley Parsons from the University of Findlay. )
Training Level Test 2 - Laura Thompson of Averett University, 68.214%
Introductory Level Test B – Colleen Grant of Otterbein College, 67.500%
Complete results: http://www.findlay.edu/ida2009championship/
Next week IHSA Nationals!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
We Love April at SAPC!
April is always a crazy month and this year particularly so with SAPC hosting ANRC Nationals next week, IDA Nationals in Ohio the same weekend and IHSA Nationals in Murfreesboro TN the following weekend.
Our eight ANRC riders, their coaches Kira and Lindsay, Peggy and a few students that stayed on campus for Easter have been hard at work painting jumps, washing fences, fixing the ring footing, and generally tidying up the facility for the competition next week. The temporary stabling is being assembled down by the farm house and the maintenance crews have been going full force, putting the finishing touches on the outside course, dragging paddocks and rings and mowing like crazy. Not forgetting the horses, they are schooling great, looking fabulous and only giving their riders an occasional heart attack with pulled shoes! My contribution? Making points for shad bellies for the girls and a tie for Rob.
Wednesday I head up the road for Findlay Ohio. I am meeting T (Teresa McDonald from VA Tech.) in Wytheville VA. We have meetings is Thursday and Friday and then the fun begins. Findlay has gone all out with their plans for Nationals including a golf cart decorating contest and dog agility. Greta & Lauren are driving over night (with chef d’equipe Donna )Thursday to be there for the golf cart contest, and the Friday dinner with speaker Betsy Steiner. They don’t show until Sunday but will have a chance to see the horses go and soak up the excitement of a National competition.
As if that was not enough as soon as this weekend is over we are shipping horses to Murfreesboro early Monday for IHSA Nationals. Kira, Sarah & Lindsay are travelling with them. In hunt seat we have one rider - Rob Jacobs in Novice fences (we live in the most competitive region in the country for IHSA). The western team and individuals will be driving out there with Carla later in the week.
Phew! Finals are right around the corner and then graduation. (The eq. staff plan to fit a riding instructor retreat and spa May 2 & 3 to keep ourselves from getting bored!)
Our eight ANRC riders, their coaches Kira and Lindsay, Peggy and a few students that stayed on campus for Easter have been hard at work painting jumps, washing fences, fixing the ring footing, and generally tidying up the facility for the competition next week. The temporary stabling is being assembled down by the farm house and the maintenance crews have been going full force, putting the finishing touches on the outside course, dragging paddocks and rings and mowing like crazy. Not forgetting the horses, they are schooling great, looking fabulous and only giving their riders an occasional heart attack with pulled shoes! My contribution? Making points for shad bellies for the girls and a tie for Rob.
Wednesday I head up the road for Findlay Ohio. I am meeting T (Teresa McDonald from VA Tech.) in Wytheville VA. We have meetings is Thursday and Friday and then the fun begins. Findlay has gone all out with their plans for Nationals including a golf cart decorating contest and dog agility. Greta & Lauren are driving over night (with chef d’equipe Donna )Thursday to be there for the golf cart contest, and the Friday dinner with speaker Betsy Steiner. They don’t show until Sunday but will have a chance to see the horses go and soak up the excitement of a National competition.
As if that was not enough as soon as this weekend is over we are shipping horses to Murfreesboro early Monday for IHSA Nationals. Kira, Sarah & Lindsay are travelling with them. In hunt seat we have one rider - Rob Jacobs in Novice fences (we live in the most competitive region in the country for IHSA). The western team and individuals will be driving out there with Carla later in the week.
Phew! Finals are right around the corner and then graduation. (The eq. staff plan to fit a riding instructor retreat and spa May 2 & 3 to keep ourselves from getting bored!)
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Zone Qualifiers & Clinics
IHSA Hunt Seat Regionals was a great success for SAPC. The following students qualified for zones which will be hosted by Mary Washington this Saturday April 4th.
Walk Trot - Jessica Gesel
Novice Flat - Rob Jacobs
Audrey Bolte - alternate
Novice Fences - Rob Jacobs
Intermediate Flat - Audrey Hayden
Jaci Ayers
Intermediate Fences - Alexis Stevenson - alternate
Open Flat - Kelsi Peterson
The Scott Evans clinic last Saturday and Sunday was fabulous. Scott is able to give his students just what they need emotionally as well as physically. His brand of sports psychology offered confidence to students who doubted themselves and a wake up call to those that need to work a little harder on fitness and technique. I picked up some great pointers for motivating my students.
The Dottie Morkis was clinic on Thursday was another great learning opportunity for riders and auditors alike. Dottie’s teaching talent is the ability to hone in on a horse and rider partnership and diagnose exactly what they need to work on. Her lessons demand 100% concentration from the riders. Each horse/rider combination came away with one or more things to work on. I enjoyed a great afternoon and picked up a lot of new ideas for improving my students in dressage. All the horses were excellent and huge improvements were seen during the sessions with Dottie.
The Riding Council “Slave for a Day” Silent Auction last week was a great success with some money being raised for the program. (Can’t wait to get the dressage tack room cleaned & organized)
This weekend at SAPC we have our final Open House for the academic year. I know all the teams will be practicing with IHSA Zones, IDA Nationals, and ANRC right around the corner. Good luck to all SAPC Equestrians in the next couple of weeks.
Walk Trot - Jessica Gesel
Novice Flat - Rob Jacobs
Audrey Bolte - alternate
Novice Fences - Rob Jacobs
Intermediate Flat - Audrey Hayden
Jaci Ayers
Intermediate Fences - Alexis Stevenson - alternate
Open Flat - Kelsi Peterson
The Scott Evans clinic last Saturday and Sunday was fabulous. Scott is able to give his students just what they need emotionally as well as physically. His brand of sports psychology offered confidence to students who doubted themselves and a wake up call to those that need to work a little harder on fitness and technique. I picked up some great pointers for motivating my students.
The Dottie Morkis was clinic on Thursday was another great learning opportunity for riders and auditors alike. Dottie’s teaching talent is the ability to hone in on a horse and rider partnership and diagnose exactly what they need to work on. Her lessons demand 100% concentration from the riders. Each horse/rider combination came away with one or more things to work on. I enjoyed a great afternoon and picked up a lot of new ideas for improving my students in dressage. All the horses were excellent and huge improvements were seen during the sessions with Dottie.
The Riding Council “Slave for a Day” Silent Auction last week was a great success with some money being raised for the program. (Can’t wait to get the dressage tack room cleaned & organized)
This weekend at SAPC we have our final Open House for the academic year. I know all the teams will be practicing with IHSA Zones, IDA Nationals, and ANRC right around the corner. Good luck to all SAPC Equestrians in the next couple of weeks.
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