News and Events - 2009
November - The month began with the fun and informative NEDA Fall Symposium featuring Hubertus Schmidt. It is always helpful to watch other riders under the guidance of a master horseman such as Hubertus, confirming classical and correct training. Saturday evening was the NEDA Year-end Awards Banquet in which Wiebren Fans Mirn and Leslie won the Reserve Champion Open at Third Level. Wiebren is owned by Randa and Mike Pehl of Lincoln, Mass. Shannon Hendrix and Don Toroo garnered the 4th place Year End Award at Training level, so a big congrat to this team who had a very successful show season. Lindenwood Farm in Durham NH hosted a clinic with Leslie and a fun group enthusiastic riders. Leslie will return again to teach on Sunday Dec. 13th. Everyone please have a safe and healthy holiday season!
October - October 4th was a sunny and beautiful day as Sally Jennings and her lovely Morgan, Fleetwood, made their US debut competing at the Charles River Dressage Schooling Show in Millis, MA. Fleetwood behaved like a true gentleman earning scores in the 60's and ribbons in each class entered. Congrats to both! Katie Murphy brought Fitty down to the Virginia Horse trials to compete at Prelim and placed 8th out of a huge field and her team placed third in the Team Championship so congrats! Leslie and Wiebren performed their Zorro Freestyle (pictures soon) at the City to Saddle Benefit held at Apple Knoll Farm in Millis, MA. Wiebren performed fantastically and was cheered on by his many friends including Gary, Betty and Amy Caine. Sadly, we now must prepare for winter after a fun and busy fall season!
September - Another busy month with a trip to Western MA and a clinic at Dragonfly Farm. All the horses and riders did their homework and there was great progress in all the riding and training. Special thanks to Katie Rocco who hosts the clinic very graciously. Randa and Mike Pehl's fantastic Friesian, Wiebren Fan Mirns, again won both his classes at the Beland Stable Show and was high scoring horse at Third Level (68.605 and 70.00%). Shannon Hendrix was Reserve Training Level Champion at Region Eight's NEDA Fall Festival, with many high ribbons and scores in every class entered. Katie Murphy moved First Glance (her young event prospect) up to Preliminary Level and earned 6th place first time out at this challenging level! Leslie and Gary went to the Devon Dressage Show for the first and had a blast with their friends Matt and Angie Voss. Everyone took part in the traditional dance in the arena on Saturday night even in the pouring rain.
August - This was a busy month for judging schooling shows (4) and traveling to Baltimore to see old friends Matt and Angie Voss. Leslie, Gary and Betty had a fantastic vacation with the Voss' and enjoyed their tremendous hospitality! Mary Compton and Pamela won both of their Fourth Level tests at Dressage at the Seacoast, and won high score Fourth Level on both Saturday and Sunday. Centerline Events August show, in Saugerties NY, was a great success for Shannon Hendrix and Bobbi Haney. Shannon had high placings and scores in all her Training Level tests with Don Toroo (66.40%, 67.143%, 67.20%) and Bobbi and her horse Metrical secured her last qualifying scores at Second Level Test 4 with 63.810% and 60.465%. Congrats to these hard working Adult Amateur riders who both have very demanding jobs! Katie Murphy, our hard-working event rider who also has a full time job and Graduate school, finished in first place at Huntington Farm Event on her lovely mare Infinite Skye. Skye finished on her dressage score of 32 points which translates to a 68%!
July - July was a difficult month as Leslie lost her longtime partner and friend Jaguar to stomach cancer. In his true Jaguar style, he never showed any symptoms or complaints until the end and so it came as a shock to everyone, vets included. He did not suffer, which is the small consolation. We would like to thank everyone for their kind words and expression of sympathy during this difficult time. On a brighter note, Leslie was the Dressage Instructor for the UNH Adult Event Camp for the second year and enjoyed seeing new and previous "campers".
June - Despite the record rain in the month of June, there were definite bright spots for Leslie and her students! Our Event riders had an outstanding month. Katie Murphy on her two horses, Sky and Fitty, had great dressage tests to finish high in the ribbons at Hitching Post, GMHA and Groton House, congrats to Katie! Deb Bumbacca and Trial Promise had a fantastic outing at Mystic Valley Hunt Club Event to finish fourth with Tri performing his best competition dressage test to date. Laura Derick and Mac were high score winners at Training (69.2%) and First (65.55%) Levels at the June Bradford Equestrian Center Show. This was Mac's first time competing at First Level and he did not disappoint. Mary Compton and Pamela were the High Score Winners at Fourth Level (67.9%) on Saturday at UNH Dressage, securing their Fourth Level scores in their quest for the USDF Silver Medal. Wiebren, owned by Randa and Michael Pehl, has a stellar season winning many tests, 3 out of 4 rides at NEDA and all his Freestyles. Wiebren had a particularly good Fourth Level Test (70.93%) and was High Score Winner for the Show on Saturday at Mystic Valley Hunt Club Dressage.
May - May brings show season which started with the NEDA Schooling Show at Strongwater Park in Tewksbury,Mass. Congratulations to Kevin Goggins, Laura Derick, Shannon Hendrix, and Emily Demtracopoulos on their great results. Leslie had a great outing the following weekend at the NEDA Spring show. Riding Wiebren fan Mirns, owned by Randa Pehl, they won 3 out of their 4 Third Level tests with scores ranging from 64% to 69%. However, Shannon Hendrix was not to be outdone! She traveled to Saratoga, NY with Don Toroo and was high scoring team of the whole show with 73.9! Bellini, Shannon’s long-time partner, met the challenge that Donni put out and was high score 3rd Level horse with 61.1% winning his share of great prizes. The month ended with a fun a clinic at Katie and Doug Rocco’s Dragonfly Farm in western Massachusetts. What wonderful hosts and a picturesque farm. The teaching day was full of talented horses and riders with a clear desire to learn.
April - Boulder Brook Stable in Lee NH hosted Leslie for a wonderful clinic at their beautiful new facility with enthusiastic students and well behaved horses. The “C” session of the CVDCA’s “L” program made for further learning, fun and camaraderie with fellow dressage devotees. These programs are great to audit and really help to understand the Training Scale and methods of judging dressage. Longfellow Farm hosted a Ride-Review-Ride with Leslie judging and it was great to see so many good riders working to improve their test riding skills.
March - The first weekend in March brought the “B” session of the CVDCA’s “L” program. Although the weather was cold and dreary, the education and fun dinners with fellow “L” graduates made for a great weekend overall.
February - Rising at 4:00 AM on Sunday February 1st, Leslie made the long drive to the "Weekend Educational Programs" in Woodbury CT to attend the "How to Teach" seminar organized by Lendon Gray. The 'How to Teach" all day program was an excellent presentation of varied subjects and challenges presented to dressage/riding instructors. Presented topics ranged from: how muscles learn, learning styles, dealing with fear and teaching styles. It was a outstanding learning experience and a recommended weekend for all riders of all ages.
Leslie also audited the A session of the CVDCA’s “L” program to keep her knowledge and skills fresh.
January - Happy New Year to All!
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