Rated Show Season In the Books
The Utah Dressage Society extends its congratulations to our members and to the farms who hosted another remarkable summer of rated dressage shows. Thank you for creating such beautiful, welcoming spaces in which to make our dreams happen!
UDS Short Tour–Now with Traditional and Western Dressage
At the writing of this newsletter, we’re only days away from the UDS Short Tour on October 5, 2024. This show will feature traditional dressage classes as well as schooling classes in western dressage–a first for the UDS. We’re excited to see where everyone arrived with their training, here at the end of the season, as well as to gauge the interest in Western dressage and, with luck, to welcome a new group of competitors into our community. Entries close Oct. 1. If you would like to earn some volunteer hours to qualify for year-end awards, we would love to have you!
Run for Office and Join the UDS Board!
We’re looking for people who want to spend a few hours (honestly, often more than a few hours) each month to build and support dressage opportunities in Utah. If you would like to support the Utah Dressage Society and earn volunteer hours for life on completion of a two-year term, please consider running to be a part of the team!
New 2-year terms start effective January 1st. The following positions are up for re-election:
Director of Education
(Open position for 2025-2026)
The Director of Education shall develop educational programming to meet the needs of the members.
Vice President
Treasurer
Director of Competitions
Director of Communications
Educational Scholarships
The UDS board is pleased to award our fall Education Scholarships to Ashley Adams and Taylor Lemmon. Each will receive a $250 scholarship to reimburse costs spent towards their dressage education after they submit a short article about their learning experience. We will share these articles in a forthcoming newsletter so that others can share in their education. You can read the latest contributions from past awardees Melanie Muirbrook and Whitney Loftus below. Melanie was awarded a scholarship this past spring and Whitney last fall.
Quick Feet and Clean Changes
An Essay on How I Used My UDS Educational Scholarship
by Melanie Muirbrook
I was a recipient of a 2024 scholarship from the Utah Dressage Society. The funds
I received from the scholarship enabled me to attend the Amelia Newcomb Clinic
held at Millbrook Farms in April.
In this clinic we were asked what we most wanted help with during our rides; I
personally wanted to develop the collected canter and get clean flying changes,
among other related issues.
Day 1: Canter work and more canter work. We worked on getting my mare’s
back feet quicker with more engagement and that she needs to be more
accordion-like where I can collect and extend easily. We also worked on her
somewhat lazy walk. Amelia had me insist on getting an immediate response or I
have to give a stronger aid. My mare would sometimes break into a trot but
when she transitioned back to walk, the walk was more engaged and forward.
Day 2: We started with a leg yielding exercise, just a few steps to the right, then
a few to the left, to develop a quicker response in the canter work. We also used
the halt with a few backward steps directly into a canter depart to build the
engagement of the hind leg. Cantering squares also improved the engagement
and jump of the canter.
Day 3: Amelia really focused on transitions and ensuring I kept her round and
moving off my leg. Not just any transition, but great transitions. Riding
downward transitions forward and upward transition need to be prompt. I was
privileged to have Amelia get on my horse and demonstrate a clean flying change
in each direction which pointed out that the problems with the flying change are
my weakness to change.
Overall I appreciated such a learning environment where I was leaving with tools
and exercises that will help me accomplish my riding goals with my horse.
A Clinic With Trisha Kerwin-Bell
An Essay on How I Used My UDS Educational Scholarship
by Whitney Loftus
I am very grateful to the UDS for their dedication to providing opportunities for riders to further their education. It is truly making a difference in our Utah Dressage community. I am truly honored to have been awarded the UDS Educational Scholarship. With the Scholarship Award I was able to participate in a two-day clinic with Gold Medalist and USDF L judge graduate Trisha Kerwin-Bell. We received invaluable instruction and were able to make some big leaps in our second level schooling in preparation for the upcoming show season. Huge thank you to UDS for fostering education and supporting our Utah riders in achieving their goals!
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