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  • 04/15/2026 2:15 PM | Maddie Ozbun (Administrator)

    The Midsouth Eventing and Dressage Association is pleased to announce new year-end awards to be presented annually at the MSEDA Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet. Voted on unanimously by the Board of Directors, these additions to the already robust year-end awards program are intended to drive membership, increase volunteer hours, and recognize the hard work and dedication of our community.

    The following awards are live and will be awarded for the first time at the 2026 Awards Banquet at the Shelbyville Conference Center on January 30th, 2027.

    In order to be in contingent for Year-End Awards, all riders must be MSEDA members and complete their mandatory volunteer hours.

    COMBINED TEST PERPETUAL TROPHIES

    Similar to MSEDA’s High Point Trophies for Dressage and Horse Trials, three new trophies will be added on recognizing the Combined Test High Point Junior Rider, Combined Test High Point Senior Rider, and the Combined Test High Point Master Rider. These awards are given to the rider in each category who has amassed the highest number of points. If you are interested in sponsoring one of these perpetual trophies, please reach out to awards@msed.org.

    YOUNG DRESSAGE HORSE

    A year end award ribbon will be awarded to the young dressage horse who has achieved the highest score. Riders must submit scores on a signed test. Tests must be emailed to theadmin@mseda.org by November 1st of the competition year in order to be eligible. Ties will be broken by the highest collective scores, followed by the highest first movement. Eligible tests are materiales, 4yo, 5yo, and 6yo tests.

    PONY AWARDS

    These new perpetual trophies will highlight the versatile ponies in the MidSouth Region. Each year the highest scoring pony in dressage and eventing will be awarded a perpetual trophy. In order to qualify for these trophies please email a copy of your pony card to theadmin@mseda.org. Don't have a pony card? No problem! Fill out this form and have your veterinarian sign it and email it to theadmin@mseda.org. Once the pony is 8 the pony status is permanent with MSEDA.

    SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

    Often overlooked, good sportsmanship is the foundation of competition. Each year MSEDA will award a sportsmanship award to a MSEDA member who's been nominated by one of their peers for exemplary sportsmanship. If you have a person you think is deserving please send a short description of what they did to deserve the award and a photograph to awards@mseda.org. Please note that all nominations may be recognized on MSEDA's social media.

    “This award is given to the competitor that demonstrates good sportsmanship, horsemanship, and a positive attitude at the shows. This is a rider that puts their horse first, and is the one that has a smile, even after a rough day. Their horse is well cared for, and they are well turned-out, and prepared when competing.This is the competitor that cheers for fellow riders, and that is willing to help others. This person understands that it is about the journey, and the relationships with their horses, and their friends.” Tracy Scott, Co-Chair of the Awards Committee explains.

    Also voted on by the Board of Directors, MSEDA is thrilled to announce the new Medal Program. Recognizing both Eventing and Dressage Riders, the Medal Program was created with the goal to recognize riders' growth throughout their career, similar to national award programs. Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals will be awarded in both Eventing and Dressage disciplines.

    “Our medals programs have been modeled after the USDF and USEA programs. We are truly excited to offer this program to our members and give everyone an opportunity to earn their bronze, silver and gold medals locally” said Kerri Sweet, Co-Chair of the Awards Committee.

    Dressage Medal Program

    The award may be achieved at an MSEDA-sanctioned show at Training, First, Second, Third, and Fourth Levels. Riders must earn scores of 60% or higher at the respective level at United States Dressage Federation (USDF) events, or 63% or higher at the respective level at schooling events. Qualifying scores must be achieved by the same horse-and-rider pair; scores from multiple horses may not be combined. The rider must be a current MSEDA member who has completed their volunteer hours, and the horse must be activated for that rider. Eligible scores may be earned at any MSEDA-sanctioned event beginning January 2026. All scores, along with the judge’s signature, must be submitted via email to theadmin@mseda.org by November 4 of the competition year in order to receive the award at that year’s banquet.

    Eventing Medals

    The award may be achieved at an MSEDA-sanctioned show from Starter through Intermediate levels. Riders must submit either three different scores earned at a horse trial, four different scores earned at a mini trial, or a combination of four total scores. Scores may be achieved on different horses. The rider must be a current MSEDA member who has completed their volunteer hours, and the horse must be activated for the rider. Eligible scores may be earned at any MSEDA-sanctioned event beginning January 2026.

    You can learn more about the medal program at mseda.org/Medals-Program


  • 03/26/2026 6:34 PM | Maddie Ozbun (Administrator)

    At the start of the competition season, I talk to each of my clients to set goals for the new season and make a plan, and usually a back-up or two, to accomplish their goals. As I step into the MSEDA presidency this year, I find myself doing the same for our board, our membership, and our sport in the midsouth region. Thanks to Julie Congleton’s leadership over the past five years, we have an active and passionate board, a growing membership, and a variety of educational and competition offerings for our competitors. In 2026, the board will focus on membership growth, improving our competitions, and providing engaging and affordable educational opportunities to our membership. 

  • 03/11/2026 7:08 PM | Maddie Ozbun (Administrator)

    A chance to ride with 5- time Olympian, William Fox-Pitt? I signed up before I even  thought about it. How often did an opportunity like that come along? Let’s go! I didn’t hesitate for a second. Not until it got closer to the clinic, that is.

    For those of you that don’t know me, I have been in the eventing world for a while now, but I am getting a bit long in the tooth. I have managed to take 4 or 5 horses up through training level, and done a few prelim CT’s, but it is safe to say, my glory days are over. Jumps look a lot bigger now, and green horses have gotten a lot less amusing. My current mounts are Wiley, a slightly quirky TB that has fox hunted a lot, and evented a little, and my young, green, very chubby draft cross, Westley.

    Winter being winter, for someone with no arena on their property, I kept at it the best I could, until the snow hit, and stopped me cold. I didn’t ride at all for about 6 weeks so I was greatly cheered to get going again with Angela Ariatti’s help and arena. I had 2 weeks to get up to speed for the clinic. Angela was a bit nervous because in January, I had the brilliant plan to ship up to Lakeside and jump Wiley around some courses. I judged the hunters there on Saturday, and figured on Sunday I would skip around the 2’6 jumpers. After all, Wiley ended his season at a Novice CT. They say horses keep you humble, and I guess I was due, because Wiley wouldn’t even jump a 2-foot vertical! He wasn’t nasty about it. He just wasn’t having any part of jumping in that closed up arena. I spanked, I cajoled, I begged. Nada. We didn’t get around a single course! Most folks would think there was a serious problem, but I know Wiley pretty well. He just didn’t like it there, and no meant no.

    Sure enough, jumping at Angela’s went well, and I was starting to get my confidence back up after the winter hiatus. Then disaster struck. 4 days before the clinic, Wiley was lame left front. He managed to get kicked in the field. I momentarily considered taking Westley. I had a quick chuckle imagining careening around the ring on an obese woolly mammoth that hadn’t been ridden all winter, and has only gone starter, in front of an upper level phenom before I sobered up. (Thankfully, or I would have died.)

    PC: Leah Vasquez Photography.

    After hosing and dosing Wiley, he was sound and good to go by clinic day, although a bit keen with a few days off. Off we went! We were riding with 2 friends the first day, that both had more experienced mounts, and many less years of aches and pains then in my worn body. As we warmed up, I watched some of the novice group before us, and thought it seemed a bit high for Novice. I started wondering what the heck had I been thinking when I signed up. When we entered the ring for the meet and greet, I mentioned that we were a beginner novice group, as the fences didn’t seem to be coming down much. The Great William replied, “Are you making excuses already?” Gulp!

    That session consisted of some bounces, singles and a combination. We practiced tight turns, and not giving up on our line so we could make it happen. Key take aways were maintaining straightness and rhythm while worrying less about a perfect distance. He is a big fan of trotting jumps to warm up so that the horse has to think about his leg placement, with less rider input. Also, if we had a stop, he wanted us to back up rather than circle over the smaller jumps. He stressed keeping the horse’s options clear, which basically meant few. When presented with a jump, they need to jump it. I was extremely pleased that it went rather well for all 3 of us, and I was only called a chicken once.

    It was the second day that had our eyes popping out, mine and Wiley’s that is. The soft going switched our cross country session into a Kamikaze arena cross. The ring was strewn with trash cans, dressage letters, plastic rocks, orange cones, and anything else that didn’t look like a jump. There was even a faux corner and a brush jump so skinny it had to be on Ozempic. (Westley would have gotten lodged there for certain if I had brought him!) I am quite sure that crafty Mary Lowry had some involvement in this set up. Adding to the excitement, we had a gaggle of pony club kids having a splash fest in the near-by water complex. Wiley wasn’t particularly confident entering the ring, but after a spook at one of the trash can jumps, and a stop at the Liverpool, he settled right in.

    Not much for dilly-dallying, William started us on short bending line courses with roll backs. We had 5 in our group today, and hardly any problems so he started raising the jumps! Beginner novice? Heck, we were jumping novice, and I am pretty sure the upright barrels with a flower box on top and the skinny chevron would have qualified as training. By far, the most interesting jump was the 2 trash cans side by side long ways with picket gates strewn across them that were jumped from end to end, that was also a skinny with gaps between the standards. I wasn’t certain that any horse, but especially Wiley, would be able to tell it was even a jump. But we did it! All 5 of us were able to do the courses and finish on a high.

    After the clinic, I got some interesting messages from friends. Some that said they could have warned me. Some that said those lines were insane! Almost all that said Wiley and I did great. That felt pretty darn good. The best thing I got from the clinic was a well-needed boost to my confidence to start the season. So, if you get the chance to ride with the incredible WFP, I would highly recommend it. Just remember that if he says parallel that means the oxer, and a chevron is an arrowhead. Then just keep kicking!

  • 02/23/2026 9:51 AM | Maddie Ozbun (Administrator)

    January is always a time for reflection—looking back on the previous year and setting goals for the new one, both in horse sports and in life. Luckily for me, I get to spend most of my January in sunny Ocala. I arrived on January 14, and after a couple of days unpacking and getting the horses settled, I pretty much hit the ground running.

    While in Florida, I plan to ride with Peter Gray and Hannah Sue Hollberg. My first introduction to Peter was at the 2024 AECs, where I scribed for him. His dedication to teaching was immediately apparent from the judges booth. He is a wealth of knowledge, and after that experience, I knew I wanted the opportunity to ride with him in the future.

    Hannah Sue is no stranger to Area VIII. I had the opportunity to ride in a mindset clinic with her this past spring at Erin Strader s farm in Georgetown. I walked away from that clinic feeling invigorated and excited to apply everything we worked on over the two days. I m incredibly thankful that both of these professionals have been so welcoming and generous in sharing their knowledge.

    My first lesson with Peter Gray was on January 17. Peter put eyes on both Canvasback—known around the barn as Shack (owned by Cathy Wieschhoff)—and Zambian (owned by Lisa Thomas). He began by asking thoughtful questions about what I ve been working on, each horse s strengths and weaknesses, and their upcoming competition schedules. Since this was our first lesson together, we used the ride to evaluate warm-up routines, focusing on lateral suppleness and responsiveness to the aids so both horses could work through their entire bodies.

    We started with a walk exercise: riding a 20-meter square and performing a quarter turn on the forehand at each corner. The goal was to ask the inside hind to step under and through the turn while staying active. At the same time, we worked on increasing and shortening the walk stride. To lengthen the step, I allowed my hips and seat to swing and move with Shack; to shorten it, I closed my knee and thigh and thought about gently blocking the energy of his topline with my seat. While it sounds simple, the walk is often one of the hardest gaits to influence without creating tension or losing rhythm.

    As the lesson progressed, we spent significant time developing travers (haunches-in) at the walk, eventually building toward the beginnings of half-pass. We created the bend by riding an eight-meter circle in the corner before continuing down the long side in travers. I used my outside rein to half-halt and regulate the front end, my outside leg to activate and bring the outside hind inward, and my inside rein to maintain suppleness and bend. Over time, this work progressed into half-pass at both the walk and trot. While the lesson was slow and technical, it was mentally demanding for both Shack and me.

    Zambian, on the other hand, is full of talent but can be a bit on the lazy side. Lisa Thomas gave him a very positive start after his racing career, and I m thrilled to have the ride on him. Picture the classic lesson pony who slowly falls through the inside shoulder with no bend through the rib cage, making the circle smaller and smaller until he s standing happily in the middle—and the rider doesn t even notice. That s Zambian.

    We approached his warm-up differently, focusing heavily on responsiveness to the inside leg to encourage bend through the rib cage and prevent him from falling through the shoulder. Peter had me hold both reins in my outside hand while walking on a ten-meter circle and spiraling out to a 20-meter circle. With my stick in my inside hand, he had me reach back and lightly tap Zambian s inside hind—between the hock and stifle—while reinforcing the aid with my inside leg. This helped clearly communicate that when I use my inside leg, I m speaking directly to his inside hind. We did this exercise in both directions, and it was incredibly effective in improving responsiveness without creating tension or quickness.

    One quote from Peter during this lesson really stood out to me: When we re working on the early stages of suppleness—just getting them to bend left and right—we don t worry about activity, forwardness, or march. We just want them to bend. Horse yoga.”

    We did a lot of horse yoga” with Zambian. When we moved into trot work, the focus remained on lateral suppleness and riding the inside hind under the body, while also developing a slower tempo with a bigger step, rather than a quick tempo with a short stride.

    On January 18, I had my first light jump school with both horses at Hannah Sue Hollberg s farm. It was absolutely pouring rain, with temperatures in the low 50s—definitely not the Florida weather I had envisioned, but still better than January in Kentucky.

    We jumped both horses with the same idea in mind. Hannah Sue places a big emphasis on the horse drawing” to the fence. This doesnt mean getting strong or dragging the rider, but rather teaching the horse to lock on and give the feeling of, Oh, I know where I m going next.” You can tell this is happening when the horse s ears are focused forward toward the fence, rather than flicking around the environment or constantly back at the rider.

    We spent a lot of time developing this feeling, which required me to focus on my body position and avoid being busy or loud in the tack. Hannah Sue emphasized that in the final three to four strides to a fence, she almost wants to be bored—her job is done. She s established the balance, shown the horse where it s going, and made the necessary adjustments. In those last strides, she simply holds her position, supports the horse s balance with her lower leg, and lets the jump come to her. Sounds easy, right? We all know better.

    Zambian is a very different ride than Shack and can be a bit behind the leg. One comment from Hannah Sue that made me laugh was, The lazy ones are like a diesel engine—you ve got to let them run for a little bit before they lock on.” That rings very true for him. We ended the lesson discussing bitting options for both horses, something we ll continue to evaluate and experiment with during my time in Florida.

    It was an incredible first week, and I m excited to see how much progress we make while I m here. I m thankful to Cathy for allowing me this training time—being immersed in this environment provides endless learning opportunities. I m also incredibly grateful to my husband, Mike, and my friend Olivia for holding down our farm in Paris, KY, so I can be here focusing on my own development. I feel supported, and my ears are forward and locked on to 2026 and everything this year has in store.

    -Nikki Burns


  • 02/12/2026 12:28 PM | Maddie Ozbun (Administrator)


    The Riding Your Best Test panel discussion, featuring Peter Gray, Karen Winn, and Susan Posner, brought together practical insights from judges and riders alike, starting with one key area: the warm-up. You truly can’t do too many transitions. Transitions sharpen responsiveness, balance, and focus without drilling movements.

    Riders are encouraged to hack around the venue, incorporate multiple warm-ups, and keep intensity low. Relaxation matters more than repetition. As Peter Gray put it, one of his favorite comments to write at the end of a test is, “Happy horse, happy judge.”

    When you enter the ring, think of your tour as an introduction. Show the judge something your horse does well around the outside of the court. Judges want you to succeed, and each movement starts at a 10, working downward, not the other way around.

    Scribing was another key topic. Scribes should never text during a test, and riders should remember that judges are allies, not adversaries. Presentation matters too: clean tack, clean horse, and polished basics. As Karen Winn noted, choosing a new saddle pad over another lesson will not raise your score—fundamentals will.

    Riders were reminded not to overdo the bling. Basics improve scores, not decoration. A new rule was also highlighted regarding number holders, which must now have numbers that are 1.5 inches tall and 3/8 inches wide.

    Horse welfare remains paramount. Judges can issue warning cards, and if frustration builds, riders should take a walk break on a loose rein and breathe. Public perception matters, and how riders handle stress reflects on the sport as a whole.

    If a judge blows the whistle, riders should calmly trot up and listen to instructions. Questions are welcome—communication is encouraged. Riders should study the directives, use corners to balance the horse, and understand that bending and flexion are essential components of quality movements.

    One of the most commonly weak movements discussed was the free walk to medium walk transition. A helpful fix is adding a five-meter circle before the transition to maintain relaxation and balance. Keep the idea of the free walk in mind and resist the urge to rush into collection.

    In the end, thoughtful preparation, respect for the horse, and attention to detail are what consistently produce better tests—and better partnerships.


  • 02/12/2026 12:27 PM | Maddie Ozbun (Administrator)

    Training the Young Horse: Building Confidence Before Competition

    Peter Gray’s Philosophy on Development and Patience


    Peter Gray’s approach to training young horses is deeply rooted in patience, perspective, and responsibility. Growing up in Bermuda, galloping ponies through sand dunes and competing at just a handful of shows each year, Gray developed a mindset that prioritized horsemanship over pressure.

    Pony Club played a major role in shaping his foundation, as did an upbringing where it was “never the horse’s fault.” One of his most impactful beliefs is that knowledge is passed down, and how we train reflects who taught us.

    Gray compares riding a young horse to meeting someone for coffee — casual, relaxed, and without pressure. You wouldn’t expect a full commitment immediately, and you shouldn’t expect it from a young horse either. Over time, that relationship becomes like an “old married couple,” built on trust and understanding.

    A correct training pathway means that every day, every week, and every month, the horse approves. You never ask for something beyond the horse’s mental capacity. Because of this, when Gray takes a horse to a show, the horse doesn’t feel pressure — it has never experienced pressure at home.

    He strongly believes it is better to move up a level a year or two late rather than one day too early. In today’s sport, we often show too much and train too little. For four-year-olds especially, Gray advocates taking them out as non-competes, exposing them to the world without expectations. If there’s a birthday party in the neighborhood, take the horse. Let them see life before adding the stress of competition. He also emphasized that moving up too early and having a horse loose confidence can set a partnership back by a year; his recommendation is to over-prepare for the move-up for optimal chances at success. 

    Gray also discussed the shift in eventing after the removal of the long format, which led eventers to search for the same type of modern sport horse as jumpers and dressage riders. While scope and movement are emphasized, he cautions that genetics matter deeply, and America still lags behind Europe in breeding development. The dream event horse blends blood, bravery, and durability — and that starts long before the first show.

  • 02/12/2026 12:25 PM | Maddie Ozbun (Administrator)

    How to Mentally Ride Your Best Test

    Dr. Samson on Preparation, Focus, and Performance


    Dr. Samson emphasizes that riding your best test starts long before you enter the arena. Mental performance, like physical performance, is something that can be trained — and it begins with preparation.

    Success, she explains, is roughly 85% preparation and 15% in-the-moment execution. Preparation includes studying the test, knowing your horse, planning logistics, and creating routines. These are all things within your control. The remaining 15% is about accepting and adjusting — managing what happens in real time when things don’t go exactly as planned.

    Self-awareness is the cornerstone of strong mental performance. Riders should reflect on questions such as:

    What helps my performance?

    What stresses me out?

    How does competition stress affect me?

    On a scale of 1–10, where do I perform best in terms of energy and arousal?

    Every rider has a Zone of Optimal Functioning, and that zone looks different for everyone. Understanding where you perform best allows you to regulate your emotions and energy more effectively on competition day.

    Patterns and routines reduce stress. When riders know what to expect and follow familiar processes, the brain stays calmer. This includes physical preparation, mental rehearsal, and planning for each phase of the competition day.

    Dr. Samson also encourages riders to create fire drills — clear responses to common problems. “When this happens, I will do this.” Having a plan reduces panic and keeps riders focused on solutions rather than mistakes.

    Breathing is often the first indicator of stress or over-arousal. Intentional breath work can quickly regulate emotions and refocus attention. Riders should also pay close attention to their language, especially during post-ride evaluation. How you talk about your performance shapes how you process it. Accepting where you are is not the same as settling — growth comes from honest evaluation paired with intention.

    Dr. Samson led members through various exercises that can be completed prior to, during, and after competition to garner success. She reminded members that, as riders, we have more control over our success if we have better preparation and more tools when the competition doesn’t go as planned.

  • 02/12/2026 12:20 PM | Maddie Ozbun (Administrator)

    So You Want to Ride Your First FEI: What You Need to Know

    Insights from Cavan Allen


    Making the leap into FEI competition can feel overwhelming, but with the right preparation and understanding of the system, it becomes far more manageable. According to Cavan Allen, the most important point to understand is that FEI riding is as much about organization and responsibility as it is about performance.

    Competition starts with your USEF number. You receive one number, and it follows you everywhere throughout your career. This number connects all of your memberships, results, and registrations, making it the backbone of your competitive identity.

    From there, riders must register with the FEI, which introduces an entirely new layer of requirements. One of the biggest misconceptions is about the horse passport. Receiving a passport does not mean you are finished — it means you are just beginning. The passport is a living document that must be kept current and accurate throughout the horse’s career.

    The FEI Horse App is an essential tool for modern FEI riders. Vaccination records, temperature logs, and other critical health information can all be tracked digitally, making it easier to stay compliant and organized. That said, Allen stresses the importance of maintaining hard-copy vaccination records as well. Keeping records can save riders from unnecessary stress or disqualification.

    USEF resources are invaluable during this process. Riders should lean on official guides and checklists rather than relying on word-of-mouth or assumptions. Understanding the paperwork is just as important as understanding the test.

    Allen also offered a helpful analogy when explaining European passports. Think of a European passport like a birth certificate, while an FEI passport functions more like a driver’s license. One establishes identity; the other allows participation. Knowing the distinction helps riders navigate international requirements with confidence.

  • 11/03/2025 12:19 PM | Maddie Ozbun (Administrator)


    2025 MSEDA Team Challenge presented by Hagyard Equine Hospital brought new levels, increased participation, and, as always, a fabulous end to the eventing season in Area 8. 

    We cannot recap the competition without first thanking our organizing team led by Mary Fike, our secretary Erin Murphy, our wonderful officials and staff, and the amazing volunteers who came out in droves to help the event run smoothly. There are far too many people to individually name, but we know the competition, quite literally, could not go on without them! 

    A special thank you to our sponsors who helped fund the event and provide amazing prizes for our competitors. Hagyard Equine Hospital for continued support as the Title Sponsor, Ashbourne Farms and The Tack Shop of Lexington for sponsoring use of the Rolex Arena for Show Jump, Kentucky Performance Products as the presenting sponsor, Kentucky Equine Research and Tess Utterback Realty for supporting sponsorships. Our FEI and Classic Format divisions were sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, Rider Hopsitality sponsored by Neuman Insurance, and flowers sponsored by Heronwood Farm and Meadow Lake Equestrian Center. We had amazing prizes and awards sponsored by many wonderful companies.

    This year, we added four starter divisions with about 50 entries and a FEI 1* division, which boasted 18 entries. It is a pleasure to support the grassroots of eventing through the starter divisions, and the beginning of many horse's and rider's FEI journey with the 1*. Offering a multitude of levels brings some of the top riders in our country to the Horse Park, while also catering to local competitors. We had about 600 riders at the event this year, with 45 in the FEI divisions, 70 in the classic format divisions, and 100 teams across the levels. 

    We welcomed Carol Kozlowski to lead our classic format riders through their Novice and Training Classic Three Day journey, with educational meetings, course walks, and support through the weekend. Riders learned about the importance of appropriate pacing, balance, and position for steeplechase. Kozlowski also offered steeplechase, cross country, and show jump course walks that were very well attended.

    Our MSEDA Teams brought the action this year. Special congratulations to our beginner novice team: Natanya McMahon on Quality Minutes, Joshlyn Hernandez on Kynymont Indelibly Irish, and Jennifer O'Niell on Snowscape, who won the team competition out of 25 beginner novice teams. 

    We loved seeing the team spirit shine in costumes on cross-country day. Our costume contest winners, sponsored by Winners Circle Trailers, were the "Disney Villains". We loved seeing all of the creativity in the costumes this year. 

    As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, we welcome feedback from competitors, trainers, and volunteers so we can improve and continue to run this competition as a pinnacle of the eventing season in our Area. The MSEDA Board thank you for joining us in 2025 and we hope to see you in future years! 

  • 06/06/2025 1:26 PM | Maddie Ozbun (Administrator)


    The MSEDA Long Format Clinic held May 25 th at Masterson Station Park was a hit with all that attended. A total of 8 riders, from Beginner Novice through Training level participated. The clinic was a fun learning experience, with a varied group of riders, from a few that had already done Long Format competitions, to some considering entering one in the future.

    The clinic consisted of 3 phases of instruction; the jog up, the steeplechase portion and the vet box. Our clinicians, Kerry Millikan, Cathy Weischhoff, and Sarah Escaro shared their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm. Kerry provided tips to perfect your jog up, along with stories from her past, and comments on today’s trends. Cathy and her crew not only set up the steeplechase portion, instructed, and broke it down, but they provided entertaining scoring and cheerleading, too. Dr. Sarah was able to bring her knowledge as an FEI vet to address many topics for not only the vet box, but for general show horse care, as well. Refreshments were enjoyed during this section, while discussing a variety of useful information.

    Anyone could benefit from this clinic, even if not planning on doing a Long Format event, because the level of experience and instruction provided a fun learning atmosphere in a creative way. It offered an opportunity to learn from the best at a very reasonable fee. How often does the chance to learn from an Olympian, 2 KY3DE riders, and a FEI certified vet, all in 1 clinic, come up?

    Masterson Station Park was the perfect venue for the clinic. The hunter ring pavilion provided an escape from the rain for the vet box portion. Many folks brought this clinic together, including Shelley Ryan, and Cathy, for taking great care of Masterson Station Park.  Most of all, thanks to our 3 clinicians for their positivity and generosity.

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