MSEDA News

By Sarah E. Coleman

Shelley Ryan is the 2017 recipient of the Christine Brown Memorial Grant, given each year in honor of avid eventer Christine Brown to a deserving MSEDA member to further their equine education.

 “I have worked many years as an organizer and volunteer at area horse trials and combined tests​,” says Shelley. “I am a big proponent of schooling shows and became a MSEDA Technical Delegate for their sanctioned events,” she explains. Sanctioning of equine events is important to Shelley. “I would like to increase that support in promoting sanctioning of schooling shows that are not currently sanctioned, but [that] are interested in becoming sanctioned with MSEDA. 

“We also need more officials for the MSEDA schooling shows. Besides being educational, the officials program allows us to help newcomers to the sport learn the rules at the schooling shows so they might not find themselves overwhelmed at the recognized events,” she notes.

In what she will use the $1,500 grant money for, Shelley says that she “has spent the past 18 months apprenticing to become an USEF ‘r’ TD. The experience I gained by being a MSEDA TD fueled my interest in going to the next level,” Shelley says. “Most certainly, working the schooling shows provided me with opportunities to learn about conflict resolution, using the rule book to interpret and answer questions, and [how to] provide a fair and safe playing field for horses and competitors.

Shelley would like to offer that she would be more than happy to help anyone thinking of hosting a schooling show, wishing to sanction with MSEDA or becoming a MSEDA TD. You can email her at shelleywryan@gmail.com for more information on how she can assist you.

“I wish to thank the MSEDA Board and all the officials I have mentored with for facilitating this opportunity to give back to our Eventing and Dressage community,” says Shelley.

By Sarah E. Coleman

New Year’s resolutions generally fall into general categories: those that help us feel better (eat better/work out more/meet new people), those that make us a better person to others (volunteer more/spend more time with friends/let go of stress) or those that fulfill person goals (travel more/ don’t spend as much time on social media/read more).

The good news is, life with the horses can help us in almost every aspect of our lives, from being more active (ride more!) to expanding our social circle to reading more. Horse showing and even lessoning or trail riding exposes us to many people we wouldn’t normally get a chance to meet and engage with; reading books and blogs on everything from equine ailments to training and conditioning expands our base of equine knowledge and keeps us constantly learning.

What were some of your resolutions this year? No matter the area of the country or the discipline, many of the equestrian community’s goals remain the same:

To not grimace and make my horrible “concentrations face,” as I really am having fun! –Dr. Jill Stowe, Nicholasville, KY, dressage

Literally to just ride my horse. Simple as that! – Leah Alessandroni, Midway, KY, eventing

Megan Hephner

Listen to what my trainer says! – Meghan Hephner, Fort Worth, TX, reining

Try not to pull on my left rein. – Lexi Pejnovic, Panama City, FL, hunters

Chelsea Smith

Schedule horse time every day. All through 2017 I pushed my horses to the back burner so I could work more. I need more horse time. – Chelsea Smith, Paris, KY, eventing

To have fun with all my students! -- Heather James, Lexington, KY, eventing

To compete more than just schooling shows – Ashley Jamison, Lexington, KY, eventing

Remember how far we’ve come instead of worrying about how far I think we have to go – Natalie Nevills, Georgetown, KY, eventing

Be braver (I have literally no idea how to do this, but it’s my goal!) -- Leslie Potter, Lexington, KY, eventing

Get back into work after time off due to an injury (him) and busy semester (me); prove the long-ear sceptics wong; keep riding fun and training versatile. – Holly Jeanne, Iowa, Dressage

Outside rein! – Jenni Gelatt, MA, hunter

Enjoy the ride and just spending time with the horse. If we improve along the way, that’s just gravy. – Holly Caccamise, CA, eventer

Get my confidence back up and jump a nice, solid 2’6” course. – Chelsea Magee, Lexington, KY, jumper

Lauren Pontoppidan

Do more work without stirrups to improve my leg and improve my automatic release. – Lauren Pontoppidan, New Orleans, LA, hunter

Sarah Coleman

Ride more. Worry less. – Sarah Coleman, Lexington, KY, hunter

By Sarah E. Coleman

The MidSouth Eventing and Dressage Association’s Annual Awards Banquet was held on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Lexington Hilton Downtown.

MSEDA members, friends and family members were able to dance to local Lexington favorite The Fever, eat a fantastic meal and mingle outside the usual confines of a horse show or event.

It was a wonderful venue to celebrate all the hard work that went into a terrific 2017 competition year! MSEDA would like to recognize the following winners:

Volunteer Julep Cups

Given to recognize the effort of outstanding volunteers.  The cups are awarded to the 12 individuals with the most volunteer hours worked at MSEDA sanctioned shows. We had two ties this year for hours!

Daphne Mervin	84 hours (tie)
Marjorie Hines	84 hours (tie)
Bev Henson	84 hours (tie)
Mary Ann Andres	88 hours
Cheryl Steele	89 hours
Megan Carr	90 hours
Carol Lee	105 hours (tie)
Marian Zeitlin	105 hours (tie)
Spencer Millard	118 hours
Shelley Ryan	122 hours
Vicki Baumgardner	122.5 hours
Ron McGinley	133.5 hours
Mary Fike	143.5 hours
Debbie Hinkle	155 hours

Kob Ryen Memorial Trophy Winner: Mandy Weissmann
Named for Kob Ryen, who brought eventing to the Bluegrass and was a founding member and first President of MSEDA. Voted on at the Annual Meeting by the general membership and awarded to the individual who has done the most to further the purpose of MSEDA during the year.

FEI Certificate of Achievement: Julie Congleton and Madison Deaton Awarded to any rider who has achieved a minimum score of 57% at the FEI Level at a USEF/USDF recognized competition. 

Dressage Show of the Year: MSEDA Dressage at the Park
This award is given to the Dressage Show that was best run, and most desirable to attend in 2017.

Outstanding Horse Trial or Event: Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day Event & Team Challenge
This award is given to the Horse Trial or Event that was best run, and most desirable to attend in 2017.

DRESSAGE YEAR-END AWARDS

Dressage High Point Junior Rider: Blake Park
This award is awarded to the rider under 18 who has amassed the greatest number of points competing in dressage during the competition year.

Dressage High Point Young Rider: Madison Deaton
This award is awarded to the rider 18-21 who has amassed the highest number of points in dressage during the competition year.

Dressage High Point Senior Rider: Joan Gariboldi
This award is awarded to the rider between 22-49 who has amassed the greatest number of points in dressage during the competition year.

Dressage High Point Master Rider: Susan Harris  
This award is awarded to the rider 50 and over who has amassed the greatest number of points in dressage during the competition year.

Dressage High Point Adult Amateur Rider(s): Tracy Scott and Amelia Jean Foster
This award is awarded to the amateur rider over 21 who has submitted a copy of his/her USEF amateur card to the Points Chair and amassed the greatest number of points in dressage during the competition year.

The Spy Games Memorial Trophy:  Dressage High Point Award: Joan Gariboldi and Bravo
This award goes to the horse AND rider who have amassed the greatest number of points in dressage during the competition year.  The perpetual trophy was donated in 2009 by Julie Moses in memory of her horse "Spy Games" whose strength, kindness and perseverance touched all who knew him. 

The Tundra Memorial Trophy:  Dressage High Point Mare:  Joan Gariboldi and Cantata
This award is awarded in memory of Susan Posner’s mare Tundra. Awarded to the activated mare who has amassed the greatest number of points in dressage during the competition year. 

Dressage Company's Musical Kur Award: Alison Otter and Sing a Song LC
This award is given to the activated horse and rider who have amassed the greatest number of points in dressage during the competition year.

YEAR END AWARDS: EVENTING

The Craig Bryant Memorial Trophy - Eventing High Point Junior Rider: Gracie Elliott
Named for the son of Don and Martha Bryant, organizers of the Mumford Horse Trials, and awarded to the rider under the age of 18 who has amassed the highest number of points in eventing during the competition year.

Eventing High Point Young Rider: Anne Czerwonka
This award is given to the rider between 18-21 who has amassed the highest number of points in eventing during the competition year.

The Bennett Trophy - Eventing High Point Senior Rider: Megan Moore Named for the son of Joy Bennett, Joy has long been associated with the Covered Bridge Pony Club in Louisville.  This trophy is awarded to the rider between 22 and 49 who has amassed the highest number of points in eventing during the competition year.

The Helmut Graetz Trophy - Eventing High Point Master Rider: Anna Kjellstrom
Named for Helmut Graetz, long-time MSEDA member, coach and volunteer. This trophy is awarded to the rider age 50 and over who has amassed the highest number of points in eventing during the competition year.

Midnight Sam Memorial Trophy - Eventing High Point Award: Mooney McGuire
Named in memory of Irene Roechel's horse, Midnight Sam, this trophy is awarded to the activated horse who has amassed the highest number of points in eventing during the competition year.  Irene was a founding member of MSEDA.

The Pony Club Award: Winner: Madison Deaton, H-B HM, C-2 Traditional, C-3 Dressage member of Covered Bridge Pony Club in the Midsouth Region
Given to the MSEDA member in good standing who accumulates the highest number of points and is also a member of a recognized Pony Club. 

The Tessie’s Brite Star Trophy and Eventing High Point Adult Amateur Award: Kelly Rover
This award is given to the rider over age 21 who has amassed the greatest number of points competing in eventing during the competition year.

The Philosopher Trophy - Eventing High Point Mare: Carlie McClearin
Named in memory of Bryn Wilborn's eventing mare, Philosopher, this trophy is awarded to the activated mare who has amassed the highest number of points in eventing during the competition year.

The Grasshopper Trophy - High Point MSEDA Off the Track Thoroughbred: Promisethemoon
Named in honor of Megan Moore’s Off the Track Thoroughbred, The Grasshopper, this trophy is awarded to the high point Thoroughbred in the Eventing Division.  The horse must be tattooed or have a TIP number and be nominated for eligibility.

Hall of Distinction Awards: Julie Congleton with Utopia; Madison Deaton with Rasputin in Dressage; Megan Lynn with The Natural E in Eventing
Awarded to any MSEDA member in good standing who has completed an FEI competition. 

MSEDA offers multiple grants to its members to apply toward continuing their equestrian education. Winners for 2017 included:

• The Christine Brown Grant: Shelley Ryan
• Educational grant: Courtney Calnan and Samantha Kline
  

MSEDA will feature each of these winners in upcoming e-news. 

By Sarah E. Coleman

Featured Grant Winner: Samantha Kline, $500 MSEDA Educational Grant 

For Immediate Release
Contact:
Mary Fike
MSEDA Organizer
hmf@iglou.com
859 621 2479

December 10, 2017 – Lexington, KY – The MidSouth Eventing and Dressage Association (MSEDA) hosted eventing great David O’Connor as part of their year-end awards banquet and educational forum on December 2 and 3, 2017. An international rider and coach, O’Connor’s overarching theme through both the classroom and demonstration settings was that all training, whether dressage, showjumping or cross-country, should be done with the horse’s perspective in mind.

Beginning at the Lexington Hilton Downtown, O’Connor offered insight into the sport of eventing and its evolution, as well as explaining his thoughts on where the discipline is now and where it is poised to go. Saturday’s afternoon session walked attendees through the general theory behind how he develops horses and riders, and the basic skills he feels are essential for eventing success.

Photo by Smith Equine Media, LLC

Lexington-based MSEDA member Kristen Brennan attended the educational sessions on Saturday and was thankful to hear O’Connor emphasize the importance of the “lower level” rider in eventing. “I really appreciate that,” she explained. “At the end of the day, the working amateurs and juniors, and parents of juniors, who are riding at Prelim and below are who are supporting the majority of our events. Just because you don’t have Olympic aspirations doesn’t mean you aren’t important to the sport.”

Sunday brought seminar attendees to the beautiful Valley View Farm in Midway, Ky. Riders in Beginner Novice, Novice, Training and Preliminary rode under David’s watchful eye as he kept the audience engaged and learning throughout the day.

Chelsea Smith of Paris, Ky., appreciated that David focused on the greener horses and how to get them going properly in the Beginner Novice group. “The Training group had more-experienced riders and he focused more on the horses, which was neat. So often clinic focus solely on the rider, so it was great to focus on the horse and discuss what makes a horse better-suited for the job,” she explained.

Photo by Smith Equine Media, LLC

Chelsea’s favorite takeaways from Sunday included that “O’Connor stated several times that riders need to work more in forward seat—even in dressage. With each group, he commented on rider position and he wanted to be sure that the rider’s shoulders are parallel to the horse’s shoulders and that the rider’s hips are parallel to the horse’s hips--it’s the rider’s job is to become part of the horse’s motion.”

MSEDA is thankful for the ongoing support of O’Connor, who focuses on bettering both horse and rider athletes through safe, systematic training.

Learn more about MSEDA, how to become a member, upcoming shows and events and more at mseda.org

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The MidSouth Eventing and Dressage Association promotes and preserves the sports of eventing and dressage in the Mid-South area by providing leadership and education to its members and to the community at large. To further these goals, MSEDA will provide educational opportunities, host and sanction fair and safe competitions, promote the welfare of the horse and rider, and reward the pursuit of excellence from the grassroots to the FEI level. Mseda.org

By Kristen M Brennan, PhD, Alltech Inc.

Whether it is human or equine, nutrition can be confusing. Many horse owners never really think about nutrition past “my horse gets a scoop” and if their horse is fat or thin. But you do not have to have a PhD to understand the basics of nutrition. In this series, I aim to demystify equine nutrition for horse owners.

Dr. Kristen Brennan and Marcus

The Equine Gastrointestinal Tract

Before we can cover how to understand nutrition to properly feed your horse, we need to review the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract anatomy of the horse. The digestive anatomy of horse dictates how we should feed them and why their ideal diets are so different from our own. Horses are true herbivores, meaning they consume plant fibers to meet their daily energy requirements.  They are what are considered a hind gut fermenter, meaning they have the capability in their lower gastrointestinal tract to break down tough fibers found in plants to get the nutrients they need.

Digestion begins in the horse’s mouth. Horses chew, or masticate, and feed is mixed with saliva forming soft boluses. Saliva acts as a buffer for the acidic environment of the stomach and contains small amounts of enzymes that aid in the breakdown of feed. From the mouth, feed travels down the esophagus into the stomach. Because horses lack a two-way valve between the stomach and the esophagus, they have little reflux ability making their digestive tract a one-way street at this point. As horses had evolved to graze continuously eating small amounts throughout the day, the total volume of the stomach is small (about 10% of the total digestive tract) and feed only remains in it for a short period of time. While in the stomach, feed mixes with acid and pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down proteins into smaller pieces, to start the digestion process.

From the stomach, feed passes to the small intestine where most of the nutrients in the feed are digested and absorbed.  Through the help of digestive enzymes, proteins are broken down into amino acids, fats are broken down into smaller lipid molecules, and sugars and starches are broken down to glucose. After breakdown occurs, these products (along with most minerals and vitamins) are absorbed through the intestinal wall into the blood stream to be used by the cells of the body.

The remaining digesta moves to the cecum. The cecum serves as a large fermentation chamber, allowing the horse to breakdown plant fibers with the help of bacteria and other microbes that populate the cecum. The microbes take plant fibers and synthesize nutrients such as vitamins and fatty acids which are then absorbed through the cecal wall. After the cecum, feed continues microbial digestion in the large colon. Here water, fatty acid products from the microbial digestion, and some minerals are absorbed.  The remaining digesta, containing what can’t be digested or absorbed by the horse, passes to the small colon and rectum where water is absorbed and fecal matter is formed.

What is a Nutrient?

The next question you may ask is what is a nutrient? Simply defined, a nutrient is a component in food or feed that is necessary to support life. We can break nutrients down into two major classifications: macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are those that are required in higher levels in the diet and for horses, these include water, protein, and energy sources (carbohydrates and fats). Micronutrients are those that are required in small, or even trace, amounts such as vitamins and minerals.

In the next part of this series, we will cover what each of these nutrients are, why they are necessary and what feedstuffs are sources for each.

It’s finally here! The MSEDA Annual Meeting and Banquet has arrived! If you haven’t bought your tickets yet for the banquet or the demonstration this weekend, fear not! There’s still time.

By Sarah E. Coleman

A Kickoff to a Fun-filled Weekend

This educational and fun-filled weekend will begin with the MSEDA business meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Lexington Hilton Downtown; this meeting is open to all MSEDA members. Next up is real talk on the state of eventing by legendary international event rider David O’Connor. After lunch, David will return and speak on the systematic training of the event horse and rider. His insight and knowledge on the sport of eventing is beyond measure; we hope you make it out to listen to this icon in person!

Rounding out the evening will be a fantastic dinner, silent auction and awards banquet, with music provided by local (fantastic!) band The Fever. After watching and awesome photo slide show and recognizing those of you who work and play so very hard, we expect everyone to strap on their dancing shoes and really let loose!

It’s important to recognize the people and entities that have made this fun-filled weekend possible. They include:

• Awards Program Sponsor: Kentucky Performance Products
  
• Drinks and Dancing Sponsor: Excel Equine
  
• Gold Medal Sponsor: Original Depler
  
• Silver Medal Sponsor: Indian Hill Equestrian Club
  
•  Bronze Medal Sponsor: Holmestead Stables and Dr. Bryan Fraley

Additional Sponsors:

• Kevin Donahoe Horseshoeing
  
• Lebanon Equine Clinic
  
• Foxwood Equine Sports Medicine
  
• Northrop Equine Veterinary Care
  
• Dr. Nancy Adams
  
• Stacey Monroe Horse Massage
  
• Bannon Woods Equine Hospital
  
• Robert Spencer Equine Podiatry Services

Sunday Funday

The education and fun continue on Sunday, as MSEDA members are welcomed to the beautiful Valley View Farm in Midway, Ky., for a demonstration of riders and horses with David O’Connor. With sessions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., David will cover required skill sets at all levels of competition. 

Come Play

This entire weekend is dedicated to celebrating YOU, the MSEDA members who make all of this not only possible, but deeply fulfilling. This weekend we celebrate not only your accomplishments and goals as riders, but your deep knowledge of and respect for our disciplines, the horses, and each other. Here’s to a wonderful weekend!

Click here for more information.

Winters can be long and ugly, especially if you have limited riding space (no ring) or limited time—and no lights. It’s also quite easy to get disenchanted when you take a look at the long-term weather forecast and see that you MAY get to ride once this week and then …. Well, the weather doesn’t really go that far into the future to know when you can ride again.

By Sarah E. Coleman

If your horse is spending more time in his stall this time of year (or even if he lives out and his riding hours are limited), it can be worthwhile to offer him some things to do to while the weather outside is frightful. Recent studies have shown that enriching your horse’s environment can lead to many positives, among them the reduction in stereotypies like cribbing and weaving, but also allowing them an outlet for their energy.

These studies have also shown that horses who have enriched stall environments also are less fearful of new objects and people and the same horses express less defensive behavior. 

Suggestions for Enrichment

Eventer Alison Wilaby made big waves this year at the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover, where she won the Dressage division and placed second in the Eventing Division on Chapter Two, a 2012 gelding by More Than Ready. “Deuce” was bred in Kentucky by My Meadowview LLC and last raced at Turfway Park; he had 15 lifetime starts with $71,952 in earnings before partnering with Ali to take the Makeover by storm. 

By Sarah E. Coleman

A Kentucky Transplant

Contact:
Mary Fike
MSEDA Organizer
hmf@iglou.com
859 621 2479

Eventing Superstar David O’Connor to Offer Educational Opportunities in the Bluegrass

October 16, 2017 – Lexington, KY – the MidSouth Eventing and Dressage Association (MSEDA) will welcome eventing great David O’Connor to the Bluegrass as part of the year-end awards banquet and educational forum on December 2 and 3, 2017.

Beginning at the Lexington Hilton Downtown, O’Connor will offer insight into the sport of eventing on Saturday, Dec. 2. During the morning session, he will take an overarching view of where the discipline is now and where it is poised to go. Saturday’s afternoon session will cover O’Connor’s training system of both horse and rider.

O’Connor is uniquely qualified to offer an educational symposium of this caliber; he competed in two Olympic Games, a Pan American Games and a World Equestrian Games before transitioning to the administrative side of international eventing. He has held top coaching roles for both the United States and Canadian eventing teams, and was the President of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) from 2004 to 2012. Additionally, O’Connor was inducted into the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Hall of Fame in 2009. 

On Saturday evening, attendees of the educational forum are invited to stay for the ever-popular MSEDA Year-end Awards Banquet, which will be emceed by O’Connor. Open to all equine enthusiasts, the evening promises to be a good time, with delicious food, a live band and a member video.

On Sunday, horse-and-rider pairs of all skill levels will clinic in front of O’Connor’s watchful eye at Valley View Farm in Midway, Ky. O’Connor will focus on the skill set required of both horse and rider at the different levels, breaking down the theories into easy-to-understand concepts.

The entire weekend will be focused bettering athletes, both horses and riders, and celebrating their success in the show ring.

The registration fee is $60 per person for the two days. For more information, please click here.

Click here to register online