The nights are getting cooler, we have heavy dew on the ground in the mornings, the days are shorter, yes summer is winding down. We have had a busy and eventful summer.

In April Casey our Farm Maintenance Manager took a very long road trip out to Idaho and brought home 2 Knabstruppers, Halifax and Paula. Halifax who is a 3 yr old colt by Harlequin Middelsom, is owned by Donna Current, he promptly went into training with April, who is prepping him for  the KNN inspection in October.

April has Halifax going and under saddle and even going out on trail  rides.  Here they are setting out.  Halifax is coming along fine.

In June we had our Horse Trials/CT /Dressage day, we had several Barn participants, Hillery and Afton, Ethan and Scrap (who won their division), April and Payana, April and Impy and Beth rode Aviator. Michael rode Bolder and Melissa rode Jack.

We also had a VADA-CH schooling dressage show in June ably run by April and Alison. We had a great turn out.

In July we had a 1 day clinic with Mark Stopford, every one enjoyed their day and learned lots.

In August we went to the Eastern Region Andalucian Horse Clubs open dressage show at the VHC. April and Payana qualified for the GAIGS at the first go at First level, April and Xafaire won a Training level class and Melyni and Xavoy almost got their 60% at 4th 3 (59.2% so close).

Melyni and Xavoy are scheduled to do a musical freestyle exhibition at the Shenandoah County Fair August 29th  and April and Halifax are doing their first ever dresssage show at VHTs Fall Fest starter Horse trials Aug 30th. March Ryan will be taking Aviator to that same show. Wish them luck.

More soon!

We have the return of Matt McLaughlin to Cedar Creek Stables on July 17-19. All riding slots are filled, but there is plenty of room for auditors.

We will have food available, so come on out and enjoy the lessons.

We also have a Shenvada schooling show on the Saturday July 18, for entries contact Anita Scruggs at Shenvada.

Hope to see you there.

MW

Thanks to Debbie Winters and her failthful staff  for a great 2008. Debbie has just sent me the provisional calendar of events for RWP for 2009.

AS we get more info we will keep you posted. But for now this is what she has planned!

March 21st- Ttouch clinic- 12:30 to 4:00pm?

June 20-  Special Olympics Area 5 Equestrian Competition
At RWP 9am to 1pm
July 25th- Open Horse Show– at RWP
August 15- Fun Horse Show-  at RWP
October 24th- Student Horse Show-  at RWP  9am to 1pm

2009 Therapeutic Riding Sessions:

____Session 1   February 23 to April 4

____Special Olympic Session:     April 6th to June 13th

____ Session 2                          April 13 to May 23
____Session 3                  June 8th to July 18
____Summer Session     July 27th to August 22nd
____Intro Riding            July 27th to August 8th
____Session 4                Sept. 7th to October 22
___  Image Enhancement Program:
3 hours per day, once or twice a week based on the client’s needs and
Supervision level. Starting dates are adjusted based on needs of the
Clients

For more info on the activities of RWP, to volunteer to help please contact Debbie Winters  <Dwintersw@aol.com>

Wishing everyone a Prosperous New Year and I hope you all had a great holiday.

Belatedly I have the the followup on our Matt McLaughlin Clinic.

We had a great clinic with Matt. Helpful as always, Matt steered us through our various holdups and hang ups.

Matt and Melyni and Xavoy, all concentrating!

Melyni got to work on activating X’s hindlegs and getting him to work over his back, then to half passes and flying changes.  Finally once they had that hind leg activated and the canter uphill, then onto the beginnings of canter pirouette.

April with 2 young horses to ride, got to work on suppling and bending and getting them to move off the leg. She and Impy and Payana did a lot of  work leg yielding on the wall and across the arena. There was some frustration but finally success. Both young mares benefitted enormously.   Impy finally beginning to work over her back and Payana beginning to understand the half halt and the need for rythmn!

Matt worked Xavoy and Payana in hand on the beginnings of piaffe. Melyni and April tried their hands at it as well, sadly Melyni needs a lot of work on her timing! April did much better getting the beginnings of some decent rythmn with X.

Many thanks to Matt, Heather, Maureane, Anne, Ronnie, Kathleen and all the barn staff for making this clinic such fun.

We had a great time, and learned a lot. There was a lot of homework handed out as well.   Matt will be back in the Spring, I hope we get some more spectators.  There is always a lot to be learned by watching others. Even if what you learn is what not to do!!

We will have a Pot Luck lunch during Matts clinic. Come on over and watch the clinic and enjoy chili and soup. Bring a chair and a warm coat and boots!

Contact Melyni for more information.

Matt McLaughlin

Matt McLaughlin studied primarily under Chuck Grant, USDF Hall of Fame member and recognized father of American Dressage. As a working student he not only furthered his dressage riding skills, but also learned the art of training horses in haute école for exhibition riding/performances. Matt spent the next seven years as the Principal Rider, Head Rider, and eventually Head Trainer for the Royal Lipizzaner Stallion Show where he trained as many as 16 stallions and riders for the daily performances all over North America, Europe, and Australia as well as performing his own high-energy solo acts. He has successfully trained horses through Grand Prix which have gone on to compete nationally and internationally as well as multiple horses finished in haute école including Capriole, Courbette and Levade. His dedication to the training of horse and rider is based on his system of horsemanship that integrates classical principles of dressage and Natural Horsemanship techniques with a focus on controllability of the mount.

Matt is currently training and showing horses for competitive dressage and in 2006 was awarded the USDF Bronze and Silver medals.

Although he teaches and trains all levels, his passion is training piaffe, passage and haute école.

For more about Matt McLaughlin, visit
www.matt-mclaughlin.com

Nov 29, 30,  Dec 1st. Matt McLaughlin Clinic at Cedar Creek Stables.

A few slots available, lessons $100. each
Overnight Stabling available at $30 per night (stabling checks payable to Ride With Pride please). Bedding included, but not hay.
Auditors $5.00 each, payable to Ride with Pride.

Contact Melyni Worth on Ph: 540-294-3003 or email Melyni

Come and join us, learn and have fun.

Rides fro Training Level to 4th level.

LiL Ricky and April show jumping phase of the HT

Nov 9th was our Fall Horse trials and dressage show. We had a super turn out, with 55 rides. Everyone seemed ot enjoy them selves. April Reedy rode two of her young horses Lil Ricky and  Impressions Pride in the Advanced Green HT’s and Baby Green Ct’s, both horses won their respective divisions.

Payana did Tr 4, and did well, esp since she had to do it in the small arena! Not much room to canter a baby!

Our dressage judge was Gaby Hooten, from Roanoke.

Everyone seemed to have a good time.  Many thanks to Penny Ross for organizing this event. and to all ther stalwart helpers who helped us run it.

Impressions Pride (Impy) and April in the showjumping phase of the CT.

X-C jumps up to Novice/training. Nice easy course for Beginners and below.
Contact Penny Ross at vahorsetrials.com

Contact Debbie Winters at CCS to find out more.

Contact Debbie Winters at CCS to find out more.