Bench Fund

By Bess Reineman Bench Fund Chair August, 2008

Photos by Donna Meyer Region 9 Bench Fund To date $10,001 has been pledged & raised. Thanks to HDS, Fort Worth, Tri-State, & the numerous individuals that have graciously given. We call this the "Bench Fund”, but we are really supporting USDF Education...to insure that dressage educational grants, & programs will reach to all members. Each person that participates in a USDF event benefits, whether it is a show, clinic, camp, symposium, or seminar. We appreciate your help & support. Donations are tax deductible. Send donations to: Region 9 Bench Fund C/O Bess Reineman 3797 FM 2915 Lovelady, TX. 75851 Any questions, contact Bess at reinemanb@gmail.com or (936) 636-7245. Committee members are Donna Meyer, Evie Tumlin, Sally Chionsini and Frances Luse.

Nominations

By Kat Kyle Nominating Council Chair August 2008

These delegates will represent you- the participating members- at the 2008 USDF convention. Jan Colley Joan Darnell Paul Kathen Marilyn Kulifay Kathryn Kyle Sarah Jane Martin Evie Tumlin Youth Executive Board Nominees Faith Morris Thanks Jeanette Snow and Gillian Gourley our region's volunteer canvassers. GMO delegate proxies are due in the USDF office by October 1. GMO delegate authorization forms are due in the USDF by November 1. Thanks again !!!!! Any questions, contact Kat Kyle at horses@kyleranch.com. Other convention news: The 2008 USDF National Convention is December 3-7, 2008 in Denver, CO. Anyone looking for a roommate, please contact Evie Tumlin, etumlin@cedarwindfarm.com The 2009 USDF National Convention will be in Austin, TX!!!! Central Texas Dressage Society will be the host GMO. A regional committee has been formed to study ideas to help promote our region to the nation. Detailed plans will be discussed at the regional meeting during the Denver Convention. Put on your thinking caps, and let us know. 2009 Convention Committee: Jan Colley - Chair - jtcolley@aol.com Jen Jarvis- jen_bill_bmw@msn.com Susan Howard - reiterhof@googlemail.com Paula Gregory - PGrego@lsuhsc.edu Carolyn Vandenberg - vandenberg@gvtc.com Michelle Voorhees - ginni@flash.net Laurie Virkstis - mediatorwon@yahoo.com Bess Reineman - reinemanb@gmail.com

USDF Regional Adult Clinics

Next Clinic Scheduled for 2009

How to be chosen as a clinic participant

*From the November 2003 From the Director article

By Evie Tumlin Region 9 Adult Education Coordinator contact Evie at etumlin@cedarwindfarm.com There are a number of "little" things that you can do to improve your chances of being selected for these clinics as well as any other that you need to apply for. Keep in mind that the selection committee will have a number of applications to sort through and the more they have the pickier they may be about details. Here is a list of do's and don'ts that may well improve your chance of being selected. DO fill out the application completely. Missing pages or incomplete applications are usually the first ones in the "no pile." If you need extra space, include additional sheets. DO print or type the application. No one on the selection committee is into code work, and committee members don't want to take time to decipher unclear writing. DON'T have conflicting information on the application. Under Selection Criteria the first question is "At what level are you currently riding?" The ninth question is "at what level is your horse currently trained?" We all know a horse can be trained to a level above that which you are riding, but what often appears is the opposite. The answer of fourth in the first question and the answer of first in the ninth makes it difficult for the selection committee to determine what level you fit into. Viewing the tape usually fixes this, but don't leave it up to guesswork on the committee's part. DO send in a video. If there are a large number of applicants the second ones in the "no pile" are those without video. Remember the first ones were those with incomplete applications. DO put the level and test on the competition part of the application. Just the date, location and score are not enough. The videos have a special do's and don'ts section. DON'T send a video of a lesson or clinic. This often does not show all the horse's or your current work. DO make a special video for this. Show all your current work. First the work at your present level, that which is listed on tests from that level, then the work of the level you are schooling. If you are stating you are second level but don't show any shoulder-in or medium gaits the committee is likely to decide you aren't in fact second level. An option to this is to send a video of a ride at a show. DON'T send a tape that is 30 or even 20 minutes long. You can get it all in in 10-15 minutes, or fewer. When the selection committee has a stack of tapes to go through it doesn't want to see you spend 10 minutes warming up. DO make sure that all gaits are shown on the tape. The selection committee doesn't need to be wondering if the horse has a walk or a canter. DON'T have more than one horse on the tape. If you are applying with more than one horse use separate tapes. You don't want the committee to be wondering or guessing which horse is which. DO have the tape rewound and cued up to the start of your ride. Again when the committee has several tapes to go though "little" things start to irritate them. DO dress for the occasion. Formal attire is not necessary but breeches, boots, a shirt tucked in and neat hair are preferred. DO label the tape with both your name and the horse's name. DO make sure the video is current. The committee doesn't want to see what you and your horse were doing a year or even six months ago. DO check the quality of the tape. Tapes that are out of focus, jerky, bouncy, poorly lit (meaning that all that can be seen is a silhouette) are very difficult to view not to mention that some will make the viewers seasick. Remember you are one of many applying. A good clear tape is a necessity.