New Utah Dressage Society Website Hey hey hey! We've updated our website! The new site should make it easier to find shows, check your membership, read the newsletter, and more. The change has been labor intensive, and we are still working out the kinks so we can get everything correct and fully functional. We appreciate everyone’s patience during the shift! Huge thanks to Adrian Ward for the massive amount of time and effort she's put into crafting this site! Rule Changes An updated policies and procedures manual is in the works. More news on this to come! New Board Members Sian Griffiths, Director of Communications Siân Griffiths lives and rides in Ogden, Utah. A former jumper turned dressage rider, she competes as an adult amateur, working her way up the levels with her beloved Holsteiner, Larry. After working in Development for the U.S. Equestrian Team from 1999-2000, Siân decided to pursue her passion for fiction writing at the University of Georgia. She now serves as a professor of English and Creative Writing at Weber State University and is the author of the novels Borrowed Horses (New Rivers Press), Scrapple (Braddock Avenue Books), the short fiction chapbook The Heart Keeps Faulty Time (Bull City Press), and, most recently, the essay collection The Sum of Her Parts (University of Georgia Press). She is thrilled to join the Utah Dressage Society team and encourages members to reach out to her at sian@utahdressagesociety.com with any news they would like to share. Kim Judd, Director of Membership From the time Kim could say "horse," she has loved horses! When she was a teenager growing up in Sandy, she went down the street to a family's stables, and asked to work in exchange for riding lessons. Unfortunately they usually forgot to give her lessons, but she got very good at mucking out stalls! Kim graduated from BYU with a degree in Ballroom Dance (which was also how she met her husband: they were competition partners). After living out east for 14 years, Kim and her family moved back to Utah, and she finally realized her dream of starting to learn to ride! Dressage feels like a natural switch from ballroom dance: the partnership, the technique, the constant striving to be better, then even better! After riding for 6 years, Kim's husband asked "when are you going to do a dressage show?" Becoming part of the Utah Dressage Society and entering shows has been such an amazing experience, and Kim is excited to use her extensive secretarial skills (developed over 22 years and 5 kids!) to help support the board of the Utah Dressage Society! Katie O’Neal, Director of Competitions I moved to Utah from Boston a decade ago, and have been involved in the Utah dressage community ever since! Most recently, I've been working as the assistant trainer at Revel Ranch Hanoverians and have become more involved in hosting clinics as well as the USDF instructor certification. I have begun my L program, and have also served on the NEDA board when I lived in Boston as the marketing chair. I would love to serve on the UDS board and support the growth of dressage in Utah. Dana Prior, Treasurer I grew up in southern California and started riding at age 10. I took a break from riding when I went to college in Washington to study Spanish and accounting. After passing my CPA exams I decided to get back into riding, which is not only where I was introduced to dressage, but also my lesson horse Harley, who I eventually bought. Because of my analytical brain, I immediately started loving dressage and we have been a team ever since! We have participated in many short tour shows over the years and just started showing in recognized shows this past season. I volunteer wherever I’m needed from scribing to gate calling or test reading. I look forward to continuing to volunteer by serving the Utah Dressage Society! Clinics Revel Ranch has some exciting upcoming clinics. Schedules will be posted on their website the week prior to the clinic. Here’s more information: April 5-6, Friday/Saturday, Sarah Geikie: Register here to audit! We are excited to bring 4* FEI judge & USDF Faculty member Sarah Geikie to Revel Ranch. With a deep focus on fundamentals of dressage, Sarah is a gifted communicator capable of coaching horses & riders to their personal best. This clinic will focus on correct training of horse & rider, and offer feedback on test elements, as requested. May 2-3, Thursday/Friday, Anne Gribbons: Register here to audit! US Olympic Team Coach, FEI 5* judge, Olympic competitor, Anne Gribbons has had many titles & palmares in her life, our current favorite being coach! We are beyond excited to bring Anne to Utah for our third year; she is simply one of the most insightful coaches we have ever worked with. This symposium-style clinic will feature horses of all levels as they train correctly toward the pinnacle of the FEI work & Grand Prix. Hope you see you all ringside. If you have upcoming events at your barn that you would like me to share on Facebook or in a future newsletter, please let me know at sian@utahdressagesociety.com Summer Shows Summer is around the corner with a wealth of competitive opportunities. As you start making your summer plans, be sure to check out the list of upcoming UDS-recognized shows on our website. If you want to attend a show not currently recognized by the UDS, no problem! The process for how to get that show recognized can be found here. Banquet Thank Yous Our annual banquet was a huge success, thanks in no small part to our sponsors. We’d like to extend our appreciation to Bellwether Farm, Revel Ranch, Sage Creek Equestrian, and Southern Belle Riding for sponsoring cocktails, and to the following businesses for donating auction items: Amelia Newcombe, Anna Buffini, Anna Marek, Bit and Bee, BB's Apparel and Boots, Chile Dog Photography, Chris Dickinson Photography, Cloud 9 Therapy, CV Equine Therapy, European Equine, Feeling Fine Equine Therapy, Flying O Beef, Horse Crazy, Impulsion Images, In the Loop, Jenny Powers, JJ Tate, Joe Dickinson Dog Training, Katie Duerrhammer, Kaylee Jarvis, Korey's Canine Cuts, K1 Kouture, Lorri Karpinski, Lumiere Bridle, Manely Long Hair, Mountain Point Equine Hospital, Niche Homes Studio, Ogden's Own Distillery, OM Riding, Optimum Equine Services, Purple Hippo Soapery, Redmond Salt, Riposo Medical Spa, Rural Ave, Saddle Fit 4 Life, Select the Best, Simply Eden, Snowbasin Resort, South Valley Equine, Stable Wear, and The Wandering Chiropractor. If you’re looking for businesses to support, we encourage you to support those who support us back. As someone new to the team, I also want to thank my fellow UDS board members. I joined as preparations were in full gear, and the amount of work board members put into obtaining auction items, calculating awards, fetching and updating perpetual trophies, ordering food, arranging bartending, processing banquet tickets, and doing so much more–well, I was blow away by the amount of time and effort board members put in. It’s an honor to work with such a dedicated team. My hat’s off to you! Year End Awards 2023 Perpetual Trophy Winners Charles Bering - Training Level Charell Garcia, Klassic 79.423% Utah Dressage Society - First Level Charell Garcia, Klassic 75.833% Oquirrh Dressage - Second Level Tara Miller, Adonis 64.857% Anakako Melody Memorial - Third Level Lori Barrett, Magnum KV 68.75% Laura Williams Tolman Memorial - Fourth Level Sydni Cook, Rosa Red 70.395% Deer Meadow - Prix St George Sydni Cook, Quite Chocolate 64.559% Nick Van Pelt Memorial - Musical Freestyle Sydni Cook, Rosa Red 72.55% Sean Porter Buell - Pony TOC Lori Barrett, Magnum KV 68.75% Sage Creek Master's - 55+ Gary Lawrence, Posh 73.448% 2023 Year End Award Winners Training Level - AA CHAMPION: Whitney Loftus, Fortius 68.382% RESERVE CHAMPION: Adrian Ward, Lucky Luke 67.8% 3RD PLACE: Leslie Edison, Rosaria 65.976% 4TH PLACE: Mindy Simmons, Piper 63.72% 5TH PLACE: Lindi Kopecko, Ostentatious 63.666% Training Level - Open CHAMPION: Charell Garcia, Klassic 79.022% RESERVE CHAMPION: Ashley Adams, Lopaka 70.505% 3RD PLACE: Sydni Cook, Last Man-O-Man 70.246% 4TH PLACE: Dana Denison, Doeke W 67.603% First Level - AA CHAMPION: Dana Prior, Harley 66.917% RESERVE CHAMPION: Siân Griffiths, Larimer Square 66.308% 3RD PLACE: Whitney Loftus, Fortius 65.348% THIRD LEVEL - OPEN CHAMPION: Ammie Lords, Dimora SCF 62.25% FOURTH LEVEL - OPEN CHAMPION: Ammie Lords, Dimora SCF 62.389% PRIX ST GEORGES - OPEN CHAMPION: Sydni Cook, Quite Chocolate 63.922% RESERVE CHAMPION: Stacy Palen, Eridani 60.49% 3RD PLACE: Bethany Wilhemsen, Great Responsibility 59.755% FREESTYLE (Training-2ND LEVEL) - AA CHAMPION: Kim Davis, Encore SS 64.583% FREESTYLE (Training-2ND LEVEL) - OPEN CHAMPION: Dana Denison, Doeke W 67.559% FREESTYLE (3RD/4TH LEVEL) - OPEN CHAMPION: Morgen Bastow, Hemmingway BL 71.608% 2023 Short Tour Year End Award Winners Introductory level - Jr/YR CHAMPION: Isabelle Auckland, Reddington 67.417% Training Level - AA CHAMPION: Lori Jameson, Parade Blue 67.823% RESERVE CHAMPION: Vanelda Ruth Moss, RAF USA War Hawk 63.300% Training Level - Open CHAMPION: Dana Denison, Doeke W 71.682% First Level - AA CHAMPION: Brittani Frade, Saint 66.203% First Level - Open CHAMPION: Sara Kirby, Davy Jones 63.759% Second Level No Qualifiers Adolphi Educational Grant This grant will be awarded to UDS members who are striving to increase their education and contribution to their GMO and USDF/USEF. The UDS will award one $500 Adolphi Educational Grant per year. Since Johanna Adolphi and her daughter Eva-Maria Adolphi have worked for years on the Board of Directors of the UDS, Eva would like past or present UDS Board Members to be given first consideration for the grant, in recognition of their service. Deadline: June 1

PLEASE NOTE THAT RESULTS ARE PRELIMINARY! We ask that you review your scores and advise of any possible errors or omissions NO LATER than December 12! Email competitions@utahdressagesociety.com with any changes. PRELIMINARY 2023 YE RESULTS - Updated 12/2/2023

Don’t forget!! 2023 competitors have until November 15th to submit your 2023 volunteer hours! Four hours of volunteer time are required to qualify for year end awards including cumulative YE awards, short tour YE awards, and perpetual trophies. Do you still need volunteer hours?! CONTACT US for last minute volunteer opportunities! Click the“Learn More” button below for more information and to find the submission form Learn more

Please consider running for a UDS Board of Directors position! In addition to our regular board positions up for election this year we will also have open positions for Director of Competitions and Treasurer. The annual election will be held in October 2023 for the President, Secretary, Director of Membership, and Director of Events positions (term to run 2024-2025). Board positions are 2-year terms. The treasurer and competitions director positions will be held “interim” for the year of 2024. More details will be published and sent via email to UDS members. Per the UDS Policies & Procedures, voters and candidates must be on the recognized membership roster by July 1st of 2023. Please contact us if you are interested in more information or are willing to serve on a nominating committee. Thank you! UDS Board of Directors

THANK YOU to Sage Creek Equestrian for hosting the USDF Instructor/Trainer Dressage Development Seminar (Teaching) this weekend!! We also want to show our gratitude to our USDF faculty Sarah Geikie & Dolly Hannon, instructor participants, our demo riders, and auditors. Thank you all for joining us and making it a great event. We hope to see you October 28 & 29th for the lunging segment Rock N Horse in Alpine, UT. Watch for details to come for participants, demo rider/lungers, and auditing!

Enrich Your Dressage Education: Join Us for a Premier Learning Experience We're thrilled to invite all those who share a passion for dressage – whether you're a seasoned rider or new to the discipline – to join us at the upcoming USDF Instructor/Trainer Development Seminar on September 9th at the picturesque Sage Creek Equestrian in Heber City, Utah. Event Details: September 9, 2023 Sage Creek Equestrian, Heber City, Utah Not an Instructor? No Problem! Even if you're not participating as a demo rider or active participant, this seminar holds immense value for auditors as well. Our expert USDF faculty instructors Sarah Geikie and Dolly Hannon will cater to the entire audience, ensuring a comprehensive and enlightening learning experience for all auditors. Bonus: As an added incentive, auditors will have the opportunity to earn 4 USDF University credits. Immerse yourself in an enriching atmosphere of learning, camaraderie, and passion for dressage. 🎟️ Reserve Your Spot as an Auditor Today! Featuring USDF faculty members: Sarah Geikie FEI 4*Dressage Judge, USEF “S” Judge, USDF Certified Instructor/Trainer through 4th Level & Dolly Hannon USEF ‘S’ Dressage Judge, USDF Certified Instructor/Trainer through 4th Level 🙌 Call for Sponsorships: Support Dressage Education We believe in the power of collective support to foster excellence in dressage education. As we gear up for this prestigious event, we invite interested parties to consider becoming a valued sponsor. By partnering with us, you're not only aligning your brand with a community of passionate dressage enthusiasts but also contributing to the growth and development of dressage. Sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels, allowing you to choose the level of engagement that best suits your organization. Benefits include prominent brand visibility throughout the event, exclusive networking opportunities, and the satisfaction of nurturing the future of dressage education. For more information on sponsorship packages and to discuss how your organization can become a part of this event, please reach out to us at communications@utahdressagesociety.com Sunday’s session will be closed to auditors. Demo riders applications have closed. Participant spots have been filled. We extend a heartfelt expression of gratitude to our event host and sponsor, Sage Creek Equestrian, whose unwavering support has made this event possible.

We would like to inform the membership that Ginny Sorenson has resigned as interim president of the Utah Dressage Society Board. We are thankful that Ginny served us so diligently over the last several months. She helped usher in a new era of collaboration, organization and amazing educational opportunities. As work takes her in a different direction, we wish her luck in and out of the show ring this year. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to growing the sport of dressage in the state of Utah. We are pleased to announce that our current Vice President, John Maznicki, will be stepping in as interim president for the remainder of the term. John brings many years of experience in the dressage community in Utah to the board. His work provides him with a unique perspective that will benefit the entire membership. We are excited to have John come on as our interim president and see the growth that will arise from this. Please contact us if you are interested in filling the interim Vice President position!

THE EQUINE ATHLETE VIEW Written for Utah Dressage Society Spring Into Spring with Your Equine Athlete A Vet’s Perspective By Haleigh Lundgreen, DVM March 2023 It’s Spring! Let's talk about getting you and your horse out of the winter blahs. Your equine athlete will need your support. How do you achieve your goals while keeping your horse sound and happy? What should your horse’s spring vet care look like? Spring and Fall are the best times for semiannual routine vet care. This includes: vaccines, fecal, Coggins, dental float, possibly de-wormer. Let’s break that down: Your horse should be receiving specific vaccines every 6 months (Spring and Fall), based on your veterinarian's recommendation. Proof of vaccinations is required for shows - both schooling and rated shows. Vaccinations must be current within the past six months for equine influenza and equine herpes virus. Fecals should be done 1-2 times annually prior to de-worming to determine if your horse needs de-wormer. Worms continue to become more resistant to de-worming medication. Administering these medications when unnecessary can lead to ineffective treatment. (NOTE: Some insurance programs, such as ColiCare provided by Arenus, Platinum and Smartpak, require annual fecal exams – check your policies!) Drawing blood for a Coggins during scheduled routine care guarantees your horse is qualified to cross state lines or go to a facility where it is required within the next year. No one needs the stress of an ‘emergency’ Coggins test! A dental float should be done once a year. If delayed, your horse will need it before the next scheduled vet care. Some horses require dental care every six months, or more frequently based on your veterinarian’s recommendation. A horse's first dental visit should be before you put a bit in their mouth, or no later than three to four years old. The dental exam needs to be performed by a veterinarian who can legally and knowledgeably administer intravenous sedatives to your horse for the procedure. Dental visits are like farrier work, they are part of horse maintenance and should not be considered optional. This is also a great time to get any routine blood work done (especially if your horse is on medication) and radiographs (x-rays) of your horse's feet for the farrier. Let’s discuss your equine athlete further. If you are riding your horse consistently, you have an athlete that will, at some point, require additional, non-emergent vet care. Often horses require extra treatment, even if their physical activity isn’t consistent. The common term for this is ‘maintenance’. Budget for your horse’s maintenance. Doing a gait evaluation at the beginning of the season, with or without treatment, and a recheck in 30 days, gives you an abundance of information and allows for a personalized approach to your horse’s healthcare and maintenance. Ideally, your horse will receive a gait evaluation two to four times each year by your veterinarian. These exams do not always require treatment; the goal is to take a proactive approach. I observe lameness before most owners, riders, and trainers (it’s my job!). By the time an owner, trainer, or rider spots lameness, we are working at a deficit. If pain and lameness are caught early and treated early, downtime and long-term effects for your horse are significantly minimized, improving long-term soundness. It also gives you the freedom to choose your horse’s downtime associated with certain treatments, (i.e., not the week of a show or event you already entered and end up having to scratch). I often find when this proactive approach is taken, horses gain soundness year after year rather than getting worse. This approach also allows your veterinarian to have a very personalized relationship with you and your horse. This also helps to know what problems are new versus what is chronic and can drastically change what diagnostic and treatment avenues are recommended. As your horse’s advocate, what can, and should you do? This is the crucial and often the most overlooked piece. Making sure your horse is using their body properly can absolutely be the difference between lameness and soundness, especially when it comes to neck and back pain. The effects are not immediate but build over time, for better or worse. There are many devices that can be both helpful and harmful depending on the way they are used. Be cautious not to overuse or improperly use training systems. I highly recommend rehabilitation exercises focusing on the back and abdomen for every horse. These exercises include butt tucks and sternal lifts done from the ground. Other helpful strengthening tools include Equicore band system, Sure Foot equine balance pads, Pessoa lunging system (caution, easy to misuse), laser therapy, Assisi loop and the Bemer Blanket. These tools are great, but I cannot emphasize enough that if misused, they can injure your horse. Discuss practical protocols with your veterinarian and trainer. Your horse has a team: you, your veterinarian, farrier, trainer/coach (if you have one), and perhaps other equine professionals, such as a massage therapist, saddle fitters, chiropractors, etc. No one individual can do it all and should not be expected to. Everyone should work together to get you to your goals. Your team should answer your questions and be willing to educate you. Taking the team approach will be the most efficient path for you and your goals, in or out of the competition ring. Bring on the sun and outdoor adventures! About the Author: Hello fellow UDS members! I am Dr. Haleigh Lundgreen, owner of Paragon Equine Sports Medicine & Chiropractics and fellow dressage rider. A little about me: I grew up a hunter/jumper and have always been a crazy horse girl. This passion lead to my career as an equine sports medicine vet. This career has afforded me the opportunity to work with top vets, trainers and horses of our sport in Wellington, FL. I attended Colorado State University, where I received a degree in Equine Science and Biomedical sciences. I continued at CSU School of Veterinary Medicine for vet school. After vet school I completed an internship in Weatherford, TX at Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery, a large sports medicine practice. These experiences confirmed my passion for sports medicine and the equine athlete. This past year my horse, Ruger, and I dove head first into the world of dressage (for the first time in my life). We had a great year, starting with the schooling shows, graduating to the short tour shows and “bridged the gap” into our first recognized dressage shows. We had a blast doing it and can’t wait for this coming season and meeting all of you! I’m excited to write these articles for you. If there are any topics you want to hear about, please let me know!

March 11-12: Jeremy Steinberg. USEF High Performance Rider & former USEF Youth Coach Jeremy Steinberg brings his expertise to Revel Ranch for 2 days of intense learning. Before working to develop the U25 Grand Prix rider program, Jeremy rode under the legendary Herbert Rehbein at Gestüt Vorwerk. Jeremy brings competitive German training softened with a Classical approach in a way to support riders & horses of all levels. Register to audit here. April 15-16: Sarah Geikie We are excited to bring 4* FEI judge & USDF Faculty member Sarah Geikie back to Revel Ranch. With a deep focus on fundamentals of dressage, Sarah is a gifted communicator capable of coaching horses & riders to their personal best. This clinic will focus on correct training of horse & rider, and offer feedback on test elements, as requested. Register to audit here. June 13-14: Anne Gribbons US Olympic Team Coach, FEI 5* judge, Olympic competitor… Anne Gribbons has had many titles & palmares in her life, our current favorite being Coach! We are beyond excited to bring Anne to UT for the third year; she is simply one of the most insightful coaches we have ever worked with. This symposium-style clinic will feature horses of all levels, as they train correctly toward the pinnacle of the FEI work & Grand Prix. Register to audit here.

We are so grateful to those who generously supported the UDS with Omnibus advertising and donating bidding to the very successful silent auction! The 2023 Omnibus will be available digitally and a paper copy will be mailed to UDS members. Supply is limited so join or renew now to get your copy! Thank you all! Hilltop Dressage ~ Rural Avenue ~ Keene Dressage ~ Animal Health Options ~ South Valley Equine ~ Bella Stables ~ Rocky Mountain Large Animal Clinic ~ High Altitude Saddlery ~ Impulsion Images ~ In the Loop PEMF Therapy ~ Millbrook Farms ~ Sage Creek Equestrian Silent Auction Donors Sage Creek Equestrian European Equine Equestriess Atelier Savina Buendia Shades Salon Becca Tolman/Impulsion Images Brian Allred Brickyard Boxing Acrely FarmsWhite Birch Equestrian Performance Kim Henneman Leslie of Winter Farms Amelia Newcomb Dressage Charell Garcia Adrienne Lyle Lumiere Clovis Equestrian RideIQ Simply Eden Emmie's Edibles Feelin Fine Therapy Sixteen Cypress Mary's Botanical's Snowbasin Resort Legend AKA TsJIP Fan North Ster Eagle Equine Grand Meadows Devoucoux Rural Avenue Horse Crazy Mountain Point Equine Cal Ranch Maya&Me Creations Anjas Blanket Service HyGain Horse Crazy Ashley Adams Gut X Wasatch Pony Club Paragon Equine Touch of Dutch Dressage Horse Listening Lorri Karpinski Mellissa’s Stitches OM Riding/Lisa Bauman Havens Cloud 9 Therapy Optimum Equine Services Lindi Kopecko/Spay & Neuter of SLC

Written By Leslie Edison (UDS Barn Owners’ Advisory Board Member) Recently, Sydni Cook, Winter Farms Head Trainer, and I had the opportunity to attend the Adequan FEI Level Trainers Conference held in Loxahatchee, Florida. This conference provided eight horse/rider pairs the opportunity to ride in front of a panel of four international judges. These judges (Lilo Fore, Linda Zang, Henk Van Bergen, and David Hunt) provided instruction and insight into training techniques intended to bring out the best execution of upper level movements like the canter pirouette, tempi changes, passage, and piaffe. While fully disclosing my limited skillset, I will share my observations and take-aways. First, the horse/rider pairs covered a broad spectrum of experience and expertise. All trainers in their own right, the riders ranged from current top-tier competitors to older adults to up-and-comers in their twenties. Similarly, the horses represented a wide range of skillsets, exposure, and breed lines. The skittish young horse, the tried-and-true show veteran, the confident athlete, German, Swedish and Dutch warmbloods, a PRE, a German Riding Pony, all took turns in the ring with their respective riders. Before the panel honed in on specific exercises, they provided each pair with the time needed to work through their individual warm-up routines. Relative areas of “weakness” were identified and discussed, and from that point on, the panel got down to work coaxing out improved performances. When working on the canter pirouette, the judges couldn’t emphasize enough the word CANTER. Nearly every pair began their work cantering in 8 meter circles. Coming down centerline on right lead, the rider completed a circle to the right at L. The circle had to be perfectly round and arrive back on centerline. A lead change was executed at X, followed by an 8 meter circle to the left at I. If the canter did not stay collected yet rhythmic, then it was not correct. Over the course of several passes, dependent upon each horse’s ability, the circle was compressed. The canter itself, however, was not allowed to lose quality at any point. The exercises for passage and piaffe, started at the walk. The horses were asked to collect, collect, collect until they made a few half-steps. Once the pairs demonstrated relaxed and consistent half-steps, the trot was introduced. With certain pairs, a judge moved along the side of the horse and gently tapped the hind legs to encourage more pronounced steps. This exercise was kept short and ended as soon as the horses demonstrated understanding. Tempi changes were also approached with tact. The judges focused most on improving each rider’s position as the way to improve the horse’s performance. Maintaining a straight line, keeping the rider’s position back and connected to the saddle to influence collection and lighten the horse’s front end, allowing the rein connection to give horse’s room to make the change, all came into play. For more insightful and detailed descriptions of each exercise, I encourage anyone to reach out to Sydni. She will be more than happy to walk you through the various methods used to get to the desired results. For me, I left the Conference feeling confident that the future of dressage is in good hands. At no time during the rides was a tense horse allowed to stay that way. The judges would step back from the exercise, take the horse back to a very basic gait, rebuild the horse’s confidence, and address any issues of misunderstanding with each rider. If those visible changes were successful, then they would try again. The judges repeated stated that the sport is moving away from the tense, albeit highly dramatic, performances that may have been rewarded in the past. The new direction for all rides will include visible relaxation in horses and riders. And, as we all know, happy horses perform best.

THE EQUINE ATHLETE VIEW Written for Utah Dressage Society Maintaining an Equine Athlete in the Winter: A Vet’s Perspective By Haleigh Lundgreen, DVM January 2023 Let’s face it, riding in Utah in the winter is hard. This article is about the Do’s and Dont’s of riding through the winter: ways to keep your horse conditioned while still giving you and your horse a little R&R from the show season. Horses are like us; it is healthy to have changes and cycles in training for their brain, muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. We’re going to start with the basics. It’s always about the basics, right? If you do not have the basics, then you have nothing upon which to build. Nutrition! Winter is calorically harder on horses than summer. Now is not the time to back off of their nutrition and supplement program. You may need to make minor adjustments to maintain proper body condition but don’t take the winter off on your horse’s nutrition. Shelter! Providing proper shelter from wind, rain, snow and sun (yes, even the sun in winter!) will allow your horse’s body to focus on the work instead of keeping itself alive. This applies to the heat of summer as well. Water! Yes, this seems obvious but pay attention to your horse’s water. If it is too cold or frozen over, they may not be drinking or enough, if at all. A dehydrated horse leads to a cascade of undesirable consequences (i.e. colic). 45 degrees or warmer is the ideal temperature for water. Beyond the Basics Winter riding in cold weather is all about slowing it down. Spend more time at the walk. Take longer to warm up. I recommend at least 15/20 min walking prior to any trotting. This allows the joints to warm up, increasing the health of the joint fluid allowing it to better cushion the joints. This leads to less inflammation and joint point. This will also decrease your risk of injury to tendons, ligaments and muscles. Do the exercises you’re working on or learning at the walk. As a rider, I know it can feel slow and tedious. However, when you lean into it, you realize that it requires a whole different set of muscles which can be very challenging. It is great for your horse’s brain and is low impact for your horse's body. Use your ground poles and cavallettis, in hand or in the saddle. There are many rehab and muscle-building exercises that use hills and poles that are low impact and can be done at the walk. I highly encourage these exercises as they work on micro-stabilization of the muscles and joints which will translate into more correct movement. An excellent tool for these types of exercises, especially for the dressage athlete, is the book, 55 Corrective Exercises for Horses by Dec Aristotle Ballou. Winter is a great time to consider taking your horse to a water treadmill or rehab facility. Many of these facilities will allow you to come in and ride your horse. The Don’ts of Winter Riding Don’t skip shoeing cycles. Often I see horses that are still in work through the winter but owners skip winter farrier visits. Unfortunately, I’m seeing them to diagnose a lameness that resolves with proper foot care, or could have been prevented in the first place. Don’t put your horse away wet. This is an oldie but a goodie. Putting your horse away wet after a ride can cause your horse’s body temperature to drop rapidly. This can lead to colic and other illnesses. If needed, blow-dry their hair, body clip/blanket or do ground work and walking exercises to avoid your horse becoming sweaty. Don’t procrastinate on vet work. Every horse is an individual, but in my experience if the vet work has been delayed 3-4 months when it is warranted now, the horse is significantly more sore in 3-4 months and requires more extensive vet care. So if you’re inclined to wait until spring, my advice is not to wait. You may think you’re saving money by pushing it off, but I promise you’ll end up spending more. Winter is a great time to allow your horse some well deserved time off but doesn’t mean you have to stop riding, working and progressing. Many of the above ideas can be accomplished without an arena and in the snow. Take advantage of the slow down and just enjoy your horse! About the Author: Hello fellow UDS members! I am Dr. Haleigh Lundgreen, owner of Paragon Equine Sports Medicine & Chiropractics and fellow dressage rider. A little about me: I grew up a hunter/jumper and have always been a crazy horse girl. This passion lead to my career as an equine sports medicine vet. This career has afforded me the opportunity to work with top vets, trainers and horses of our sport in Wellington, FL. I attended Colorado State University, where I received a degree in Equine Science and Biomedical sciences. I continued at CSU School of Veterinary Medicine for vet school. After vet school I completed an internship in Weatherford, TX at Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery, a large sports medicine practice. These experiences confirmed my passion for sports medicine and the equine athlete. This past year my horse, Ruger, and I dove head first into the world of dressage (for the first time in my life). We had a great year, starting with the schooling shows, graduating to the short tour shows and “bridged the gap” into our first recognized dressage shows. We had a blast doing it and can’t wait for this coming season and meeting all of you! I’m excited to write these articles for you. If there are any topics you want to hear about, please let me know!