Olympic Dream Program Journal

For those of you who never had the chance to see it, here is my journal from my experience during the 2012 Young Rider Olympic Dream Program.  Hope you enjoy!  I will post pictures soon. 

 

Living the Dream

When I first heard I was chosen to participate in this year’s Young Rider Olympic Dream Program, I knew I was in for the experience of my life.  I had always wondered how the lifestyle of European equestrians differed from ours, but seeing if first hand really brought to light some of the differences that could help improve dressage in the United States.  It was such an honor to visit seven of the best barns in Europe, and I am so excited to share what I have learned in hopes to inspire others just as I have been inspired by these amazing people and their horses.

Beginnings – Arriving in Germany

My journey began when I arrived at the Phoenix Harbor Airport at 5 AM on Sunday, August 12th.  My first plane took me to Newark, New Jersey, where I met up with the other young riders and our chaperones.  So, along with Nicole DelGiorno, Jaclyn Pepper, Jenna Detandt, Eliza Sydnor, and Ashley Perkins, I got on the Lufthansa airplane headed to Düsseldorf, Germany.  Our plane touched down at 6:05 AM on Monday, August 13th.  After a nice breakfast and coffee, we were off to visit our first stable of the trip!

First Stop: Jan Bemelmans, Coach of the Spanish Dressage Team

The entire group could not wait to get started on our first adventure!  However, we hit a small bump in the road.   We thought we had scoped out Jan’s barn before grabbing a quick breakfast and coffee, but it seems we had found the wrong place.  After stopping in a lady’s yard, who was none too happy about us piling out of the car taking pictures, we went for a little tour of the countryside before finally finding the right driveway.  Nonetheless, we made it there unscathed and were floored at how large and immaculate his facility was.  It consisted of numerous grassy paddocks, a hot walker, a round pen, an outdoor dressage arena, an indoor arena, a jumping arena, several trails around the property, and many brick barns.  Jan leases about 15 of the stalls himself and has access to all arenas, trails and other equipment.  Soon we were directed to the right arena to meet Herr Bemelmans himself.  When we first walked in, he was just finishing up with a stallion.  After he took the horse back to the barn, he showed us around and told us a little bit about how he runs his barn and maintains his horses.  They all go out in turnout and are put on the hot walker for a bit to warm-up before they are ridden.  Bemelmans only likes to keep twelve to fifteen horses in training now because he likes the amount of time he can spend on each horse.  He even helped out with the grooming and care of the horses while we were there. 

After the small tour, one of Bemelmans’ Russian students brought out her seven-year-old Hanoverian who is currently schooling Grand Prix.  She warmed him up, and then handed the reins over to Herr Bemelmans.  He plays with shoulder-in, renver, travers and half-pass.  He then incorporated some half-steps and passage, always mindful of the horse’s rhythm and balance.  Bemelmans would even reach back and touch the horse’s croup with his hand to engage the hind legs.  Herr Bemelmans appears to have great control with his seat, managing the horse’s suppleness and contact easily.  After finishing up with some easy canter work, Jan let the horse stretch to the buckle in the trot with the horse properly taking the contact down and stretching out his back and neck.  After that, Jan mounted a young 5-year-old that has been in training with him for about three months.  He said it is a future horse for a junior rider and that his main goal is to keep the contact softer because the horse tends to get quite strong.  Bemelmans really seems to like the horse and thinks it has great potential.  It is a lovely horse, and though Bemelmans has to make some strong half-halts to keep the horse’s power in check, he produces some lovely work.  These were the only horses we saw go today as Monday is mostly an off day for Jan Bemelmans.  However, even seeing these few horses go was a wonderful pleasure.  Bemelmans has super elasticity in his horses and he obviously cares greatly for them.  He is such a nice man and even took us to lunch afterwards and allowed us to pick his brain about his training philosophies.  Overall it was a great way to start of the trip!  We went to the hotel soon after that where the group was able to get in a nice nap before grabbing our first German dinner.

Fleyenhof – Hubertus Schmidt, German Master

The next day we arrived at the Fleyenhof, where Hubertus Schmidt trains.  After being promptly escorted to the side of the indoor arena, we were quickly focused on what was going on inside.  Herr Schmidt had the busiest barn out of all the trainer’s we visited.  I am guessing we probably saw at least twenty to twenty-five horses go in the half a day we were there.  There were always four to six horses in the ring.  Herr Schmidt always had a horse going, along with Finish Olympic Team rider Emma Kanerva, who has been training with him for seven years.  He also had a Bereiter and two other working students.  Hubertus’s son even rode one of the Grand Prix schoolmasters the last hour we were there.  Apparently he decided to start riding when he was into his twenties!  With the ring being so busy at all times, the riders did not get as much help from Herr Schmidt as some of the riders did at other facilities.  However, they had the opportunity to ride some amazing mounts as all of the horses we saw there were superb quality.

Hubertus Schmidt was one of my favorite riders to watch.  He was so tactful and made everything look so easy.  Hubertus had such confidence in everything he did, obviously the result of years and years of training.  Almost every single horse that he rode was trained to Grand Prix, evidence that his system clearly works to produce top Grand Prix horses time after time.  We saw a lot of great piaffe there as well, an example of how engaged and active he keeps his horses.  All of the riders really seemed to keep active impulsion while maintaining a correct and steady rhythm, something that riders struggled with at other stables.  It was amazing to see this German master at work and I was so inspired by how natural and light he made everything look.  Hubertus Schmidt is truly one of the greats and it was a pleasure to see him in action.

Going Back in Time – The History of German Dressage

On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, we had the fantastic opportunity to visit the Warendorf State Stud and the DOKR, which is the German Olympic Training Center.  It was a great opportunity to see how the German’s history has given them an advantage in the equestrian world.  For example, the Warendorf State Stud was founded in 1826 and is almost as old as the United States itself.  Their depth in knowledge in breeding has resulted in high quality horses that are the norm instead of the exception like in the United States.  Also, visiting the DOKR was definitely one of the highlights.  The facility was immaculate and riders from every discipline were there training.  Seeing all of the pony riders, many probably future Olympic hopefuls, was like watching the whole puzzle come together.  Their whole system has been so successful because they know how to find and train talented young riders while breeding high quality horses able to match the talent now needed to be the best in the world. 

Moving Forward – Monica Theoderescu, In the Footsteps of a Legend

By Wednesday we were starting to get into the flow of things, in short eat, sleep and drink horses!  After driving through the beautiful entrance gate, a nice lady escorted us out to the amazing outdoor dressage court.  Monica was riding her nine-year-old Westphalian mare named Tattoo.  This horse has been very successful at the small tour, placing 4th at Aachen and 2nd at Munich this spring.  One of Monica’s students, 16-year-old Jessica Blackmore, was also riding this day.  She rode three of her own horses and also had the privilege to ride Balagur, the famous Orlov Trotter trained by Monica’s father, George Theoderescu.  Balagur is an amazing horse, even at age twenty-two.  He could still do a wonderful piaffe for a 10 with his grateful little rider.  It was such a joy to see how happy this famous horse is, and he was a great example of how kind training can keep a horse happy and healthy for years. 

Monica rode a couple different horses for us, one of them being Whisper, her most famous Grand Prix mount.  Whisper looked like he had such a kind character, both in the stable and under saddle.  Monica was able to produce very tight pirouettes with all of her mounts, which she attributes to a balance between collection and freedom.  Whisper’s tempi changes were also the straightest I have ever seen.  Monica also rode her horses extremely forward, especially in the beginning of her rides.  It was probably more forward than I would ride my own horses for such a prolonged period of time without many transitions, but when she brought them back they seemed to come into collection without any fuss.  Monica also seemed to have very strong contact with her horses, but it was extremely consistent and all the horses were very foamy and happy in the contact.  In fact, the horses at the barn had the quietest mouths I saw there.  Another interesting fact about Monica’s stable was that she had the means to only care for about fifteen horses at a time, many of which she owned herself.  As she showed us each horse, her love and respect for each animal shone through.  It was touching to see the relationship she had with her horses.  Monica is not living in the shadow of her father’s legend; she is stepping into his light and doing her best to make him proud. 

Fun Times – Morton Thomsen, Teaching the ABC’s of Dressage

We made the long six-hour drive to Denmark on Wednesday night where we had a good night’s sleep at the Scandic Hotel.  On Thursday morning we headed to Morten Thomsen’s gorgeous barn.  As with Monica, most of the horses belong to Morten and his wife, Sarah.  However, he said everything is always for sale!  They have their own breeding operation and usually end up with at least two foals per year.  If something happens, as in this year’s case where one of the foals died due to complications, then they purchase foals at the Verden Foal Auction.  All of their horses were lovely and they obviously know what they are doing breeding and buying young horses.

Morten has a whole system compiled to train and break his young horses.  He starts with a lot of ground work done in a rope halter, teaching the horse to yield to pressure, bend, sidestep and lift their legs in response to pressure from a stick.  Morten explains that he wants to be a teacher, always patient and understanding.  He said that the basics are like the ABC’s for horses, an essential part of their knowledge.  Morten also tells us that learning must be fun for the horse, when it stops being fun, then you no longer have a partner.  When training, you must never punish a horse for giving an answer, even if it is the wrong answer.  If you always stop the horse from trying, pretty soon they will no longer care and shut down mentally.  You must reward them for attempting to give you the right response.  If the answer is not right, don’t get mad, just keep consistent pressure until they figure out the question and form the right answer.

I had the most fun at the Thomsen’s barn.  It was really a small family there, with only two riders working for Morten and Sarah.  Everyone there was extremely friendly, open and sweet.  They served us an amazing lunch on Thursday and answered every single question we had in detail.  We were able to watch at their barn all of Thursday and the first half of the day on Friday.  It was a fantastic experience and I wish everyone there the very best.

Frolicking Around – The Verden Foal Auction

On Friday night we made it down to Verden for the foal auction.  I constantly wondered how people can pick out a future international star when the foals are only three to six months of age.  We met Sarah Thomsen there as she was looking for a horse and she explained that she doesn’t look for super flashy horses, but horses that show a lot of looseness in the shoulder and suppleness in the back.  It was a great educational experience, but I would hate to have the pressure of picking out what I thought to be a great horse at such a young age because they were all just too cute!  Also, we got to witness the purchase of the foal that went for the highest price during the whole weekend.  Dandolo (De Niro x Florencio) went for 48,000 €.  It was a very exciting auction and we were lucky to witness it!

Halfway There – Klaus Balkenhol, Classical All the Way

On Saturday morning we had the privilege to visit the great Klaus Balkenhol and his daughter Anabel, known as Belli.  They have quite the stable, complete with gorgeous green pastures and a wonderful outdoor arena backed by the Balkenhol’s colorful garden.  After watching Mr. Balkenhol teach and ride, it was obvious the he has one hundred percent faith in the training scale.  He preached lightness, consistency, and patience to his riders.  These horses had the best rhythm and relaxation out of all the horses I saw.  I loved seeing how he let the horses take their time warming up without putting on any pressure to be fancy, so that they built up their energy later in a natural and easy way.  It was a pleasure to see the training scale at work and how easy it is to develop a horse using the classical system.

Belli Balkenhol is also a wonderful rider and she was very open with us about her opinions regarding training and the systems in use today.  She does not agree with any methods that force the horse to be obedient or submissive, but praises riders who let the horses’ natural talent, grace and beauty shine through.  Belli also complimented the United States by saying that we appear to have great team camaraderie and having an open mind instead of a rigid system that can provide for fun and inventive training methods.  I loved seeing the whole Balkenhol family relationship because they all loved the horses so much and their team work brought these horses to their best form physically and mentally.  I look forward to seeing more great things from Belli Balkenhol in the future! 

Show Time – Local Show in Coesfeld, Germany

On Saturday afternoon and for half of a day on Sunday we were able to attend a local jumping and dressage show in Coesfeld.  Belli Balkenhol and one of Klaus’s riders, Sarah Rogers, were also competing on Sunday and did a great job, with Belli winning her class on a fantastic little stallion.  There were also some young horse classes that I thoroughly enjoyed watching, one of the highlights being Helen Langehanenberg showing a couple magnificent babies by her Olympic stallion Damon Hill.  All in all, the show wasn’t that different from a show in America.  Even though all of the horses we saw were of great quality, I don’t think that the riding is necessarily much better than that of the United States.  I was excited to see that the US really isn’t that far off from reaching the excellence of the Germans if we work extremely hard and put our best effort into both breeding and training.

Fun and Games – Wolfram Wittig, the Class Clown

By Monday we were starting to realize that our trip was coming to a close soon, and it was a sad thought.  That made us all the more determined to make the best of the time we had left!  Wolfram Wittig’s stable was a great place to go when one is in need of some lighthearted fun.  Herr Wittig is a very nice and funny man, more than happy to let us watch that day’s proceedings.  We only got to see him ride one horse, a feisty stallion named Bertolli.  Herr Wittig was very patient with this stallion, letting him have a bit of fun on this lighter day of work.  He was very insistent that the horses must think of dressage as enjoyable.  As he puts it, “I don’t want the horses to feel like their field time is where they can enjoy their life and the ring is only time for work without any pleasure.”  When both horse and rider enjoy their work, it can be magical. 

Also very interesting was Wittig’s breeding program.  Many of his horses are sired by his great Grand Prix horse Breitling.  Wittig also said that he enjoys owning and training his own horses and likes having a smaller barn so he can oversee their progress.  One thing that stood out in his horses was their straightness.  They all seemed happy in their work and Wolfram’s riders seemed to get a lot of help with their riding even though he stated that he likes riding himself much more than coaching.  He was a very nice man and seems to have carved out a successful program for his horses to remain fit and happy in their work.

Saving the Best for Last – Schafhof, a Place of Dreams

During our final day in Germany, we had the privilege to visit the Schafhof, home of Ann Kathrin Lisenhoff, Klaus Martin Rath and Matthias Rath.  As we pulled through the gates, we were met by a lovely lady who promptly showed us to the barn where she said, and I quote, “Matthias and Totilas are waiting for you.”  The grounds and the stables were immaculate, and it is amazing to think that the family only maintains this barn for their own private horses to breed and train. 

We got to see a variety of horses go under Matthias, Ann Kathrin and a couple other riders all coached by Klaus Martin.  Every rider had a wonderful seat and quiet hands, and all the horses had wonderful impulsion and carrying power while maintaining lightness of the forehand.  I was very impressed by the patience both Matthias and Ann Kathrin had with their mounts, and their love of the sport was clear by the expressions on their faces.  The history at this barn was incredible and obviously, generations of work have produced this successful program.  The entire family was more than happy to answer our questions and share their joy with us.  It was very refreshing to see people who, even though they had the means, do this sport just for the joy of working with these incredible animals. 

While we did not get to see Totilas being ridden, we had a nice visit with him in his stall.  He was a very sweet horse and Matthias could not hide the fact that the horse is his life’s pride and joy.  He and his father stated that they only sell a few horses when they are young if they feel they won’t fit into their program, but the rest stay with them for life.  Klaus Martin said Totilas will never be sold as he is now a part of their family.  It was a pleasure visiting all of them and I wish the whole family the best in the future.

The End – Changing Inspiration into Action

On Wednesday we all went our separate ways and headed back home.  It was a very sad day and I loved every single member of our little group.  I know we will be friends for life after sharing this monumental experience.  I was also strangely excited to be going home.  I could not wait to put all of this information to use and am so motivated now to become the strongest rider and trainer that I can be. I also hope to help and inspire others on their own journey.  I owe so many thank you’s to numerous people, especially everyone who agreed to meet us and help us on our journey, Beth Baumert, Michael Poulin, Jenny Johnson, and all others from The Dressage Foundation.  I also want to thank all the girls on the trip that made it such an enjoyable and memorable experience.  Finally, I need to thank everyone at home who has supported me on my journey up to this point.  This list is extensive but includes my trainer Ashleigh Luca Tyson, the entire team and clientele at Westwind South Dressage, and my mother and father, Annie and Glen Chamberlain.  Thank you all!  I will do my best to make you all proud and deserve the wonderful path you have set before me.

Living the Dream

     Wow, where has the time gone?!  The Young Rider Olympic Dream trip is almost over!  We are just closing out day 7 of this amazing journey throughout Germany and Denmark.  We only have two places left to visit before I am back on a plane and back to the real world.  All I can say is that I am so honored to have been chosen for this program.  The things I have seen and learned over here will provide me with tools for years to come.  I will give you guys a quick review of what I have learned so far, and then I will give my full report once I get home and get my journals all cleaned up! 

     So, the first thing that hit me right away is that there is so much history with horses in Europe.  They have State Studs and Training Centers dating back hundreds of years.  The Westfalen State Stud that we visited was older than the United States itself! I think that this gives them a great advantage.  After all, the horses are practically part of the air, the earth, and the water.  Having equestrian sports as part of their backbone has given these trainers government funding, year of great breeding, and the knowledge to make top notch Grand Prix horses time after time.

     Also, each trainer has their own system that works to keep both them and their horses happy.  So far we have visited Jan Bemelmans, Hubertus Schmidt, Monica Theoderescu, Morten Thomsen, and Klaus Balkenhol.  Each legend has different tactics, philosophies, and methods that have helped them reach the top of the sport.  However, there weren’t any two trainers that were exactly the same.  Every trainer implemented some training tools that I liked and also some that I probably wouldn’t use myself.  This has been great for me because I have been able to build my own little tool box to put into my own training system.  This just goes to show that every rider and every horse is different, so being flexible in your training is a must.

     There are so many wonderful things I am learning here, and I can’t wait to share my detailed journals with you!  For now I am off to bed to get ready to see Wolfram Wittig and Matthias Rath tomorrow!

Catherine Rose Chamberlain

Inspiration

Well, tomorrow I leave for Germany to start on the Young Rider Olympic Dream Program! I cannot believe the day has finally come and I am so excited to begin this incredible journey.  Some big stops on our itinerary include visits to Jan Bemelmans, Hubertus Schmidt, Monica Theodorescu, Wolfram Wittig, the Linsenhoff’s barn, and Morten Thomson.  I will try to post updates as often as I can!  I really need to give a huge thank you to the entire Dressage Foundation, most importantly Beth Baumert, Jenny Johnson, and Michael Poulin! 

     Also, it has been super exciting watching the Olympics the past couple of weeks!  The quality of the horses and riders in the dressage competition was unbelievable.  All of the riders have inspired me to push myself even more to be the best rider I can be and make it to the top!  Congratulations to all the riders for even making it to the Olympics, and special congratulations to all the team and individual medalists! 

     Finally, Sophie arrived safe and sound a few weeks ago!  She is such a sweet heart and we have really become close already.  I am currently working with a super horseman who will be helping me back her and train her the next couple of months.  We have already done tons of groundwork and are planning to get on her for the first time when I get back from my trip.  Wish us luck!

Now I better go finish my packing, but look for more updates on my trip soon!  🙂

Catherine Rose Chamberlain

The Next Chapter

Hello everyone!

     I’m sorry it has been so long, life has gotten quite busy for me over the past several months.  Last August I started working for my trainer Ashleigh Luca Tyson as a full time working student and have had the amazing opportunity to work with many incredible horses and people since.  I have learned so much and I feel like a completely different rider and person from who I was last year.  I feel so lucky to be where I am today and really would like to give Ashleigh a big thank you for helping me so much on this journey!  I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for me over the next year!

     In the meantime, I have a few very exciting announcements.  First of all, I am officially graduated from High School as of May 2012!  It feels so great to have accomplished graduating a year early with a 4.1 GPA and now I plan to take a little time off over the remainder of this year to figure out what is next for me academically.  To keep me busy, I have enrolled in an Equestrian Fundraising School provided by the Dressage Foundation to learn more about approaching sponsors, how to present myself to businesses and other important life lessons.  I’m sure it will prove useful for the future! 

     Speaking of the Dressage Foundation, I am one of the four Young Riders chosen from across the country selected to participate in their Olympic Dream Program this year!  Read more about us here: http://www.dressagefoundation.org/2012_Olympic_Dream_Participants.htm.  During August 12th through the 22nd we will travel through Europe visiting the best dressage stables and competitions to see just what it takes to ride at the highest level of the sport.  I am so excited and honored to be a part of this program and I look forward to keeping everyone updated on my adventures throughout the trip!

     Last but certainly not least, Chance is getting a baby sister!  My family and I have just purchased a darling little Westphalian mare in the Netherlands.  “Sophie” is three years old and has not yet been started under saddle, so we have a lot of work to do!  It is a dream come true for me and I am so looking forward to starting a partnership with my precious little girl.  She arrives in the U.S. this week and should be coming to our barn in a couple of weeks!  Look for more updates on our journey together soon! 

 

    That’s about it for now.  Chance and I are looking forward to some fun shows this fall once we get through this summer heat, so I will let you know what’s in store for our future in the next few months.  For now we will just try to stay cool and have some fun this summer!  Wishing you a wonderful 4th of July!

~Catherine Rose Chamberlain~

~ Into the New Year! ~

 

     The holidays have passed and we are now into 2012!  I was both happy and sad to see the end of 2011.  On one hand, it ended up being quite a tough year as I shattered my elbow in May and had to go through a long and painful recovery.  On the other hand, 2011 opened up many new opportunities and changes as I met several wonderful people, had amazing experiences, and rode numerous incredible horses, so all in all it turned out pretty well and I am now living my dreams!  I really don’t have any major New Year’s resolutions, but there are a few things I would like to accomplish.  I feel I have really improved a lot in my riding since becoming a working student back in August for my trainer Ashleigh Luca Tyson, but there are always things that we can improve upon in dressage.  So, I hope to find different and more creative ways to use my body to communicate with my horse, to increase my patience and understanding of training a horse, and to create fit and happy athletes with the horses I have the privilege to work with.

Receiving my United States Dressage Federation Silver Medal Rider Award in December of 2011

     I also wish to do several shows in both Arizona and California this year.  I am working with a new horse right now named Accolades, a big 12-year-old, 17.3 hand Holsteiner.  We are going to start out at some local Arizona shows and hopefully finish off the show season by doing a few CDI’s in California.  It is always fun to have a new project and so exciting to see the progress made each week!  It would be great if we could also squeeze in a few clinics with some great clinicians this year, as well.

Riding Accolades

     I am graduating from high school this spring, so now I need to figure out how to fit in college and still continue on my quest to becoming a professional rider and trainer with the goal of representing the U.S. internationally.  I also plan on continuing to work on my fitness and health so that I can be in just as good of shape as the horses I ride!  And most importantly, I will strive for happiness because I believe that happiness is success, no matter how many ribbons you win or how big of scores you may receive.  If you are happy then you have indeed accomplished something great.  In dressage we all strive for perfection, but I have come believe that perfection means accepting your flaws and doing your best to overcome them.  After all, we are only human!  We all make mistakes big and small, but the biggest battle we will ever face is recognizing our errors, doing our best to make amends, and then brushing ourselves off and swinging once more into the saddle, both figuratively and literally.  So, here’s to a Happy New Year for all!  I wish you the best as we head into what I hope will be a wonderful year!  Live it up! 

Looking forward to 2012!

~Cat~

 

 

~ Giving Back – Charlotte Bredahl-Baker Clinic Benefiting The Dressage Foundation ~

Charlotte Bredahl-Baker and I

 

         This year, The Dressage Foundation and Renee Isler were generous enough to award me two grants out of the Renee Isler Support Fund; one in March to participate in a clinic with Shannon Peters and one in September to participate in a clinic with Günter Seidel.  As everyone at The Dressage Foundation has been so kind and supportive, I really felt that it was my responsibility to give back to them in any way I could.  After speaking with Renee, I came up with the idea to hold a clinic to benefit The Dressage Foundation.  It all took off from there!

Riding Annie

          The first and most important task was finding a great clinician.  My aunt, Shari Patterson-Blaylock, a horse trainer in Payson, AZ, recommended Charlotte Bredahl-Baker because she used to train with her when she was younger.  I emailed Charlotte and she was gracious enough to agree to come to Arizona for a two-day clinic.  She even donate one day at no cost so we could raise even more for the Foundation!  Jim and Cathy Heitel, owners of Round Mountain Ranch, donated their facility at no cost.  I was able to fill the clinic fairly easily as so many riders were eager to work with Charlotte.  Many other details went on behind the scenes, such as organizing ride times, making lunches, attracting auditors, etc.

Annie and I in the clinic.

          This is the first clinic I have ever organized, and I’m proud to say that it went even better than I had hoped.  But, there were many nerves and frantic phone calls trying to make it happen.  In the few weeks before the clinic a few riders had to drop out for various reasons that were scheduled to ride in the clinic.  My own horse even got a hoof abscess a couple days before the clinic, so I had to borrow a horse from my trainer Ashleigh Luca Tyson.  There were so many scheduling changes and other concerns.  Luckily, all of the crises were averted and everything fell into place for the clinic. 

          Charlotte is a great clinician and everyone greatly enjoyed their rides with her, including myself.  She was super patient and understanding with each horse and rider, pushing them but never overstepping any boundaries.  Every single auditor seemed to take something valuable away from the clinic as well.  All in all I would say it was a great success.  After counting all of the profits from the clinic, I concluded that I was able to raise about $1,500 for The Dressage Foundation! 

          If you have ever been lucky enough to receive support from The Dressage Foundation, or if you just appreciate everything they have done for American riders, trainers and breeders, seriously consider giving back to them in some way.  It can be something big or something small, it really is the effort that counts.  They have done so much for so many people, I feel it is our turn to help them out so they can continue to support and help develop American dressage.  I hope to put on a clinic at least once a year to benefit The Dressage Foundation, so if there are any top riders or clinicians out there that would be willing to donate at least part of their time to teach a clinic here, please contact me at crcdressage@yahoo.com.

          Lastly, there are so many people I need to thank for helping me.  These include Charlotte Bredahl-Baker for teaching the clinic and donating her time, Jim and Cathy Heitel for loaning the use of their facility, everyone at Westwind South Dressage for their kindness and support, the Arizona Dressage Association for loaning their sound system and Chad Farmer for setting it up, Brianna Boone and her mother Karen Windsor-Worrel for their help during the clinic, my parents Annie and Glen Chamberlain for helping me run the clinic, my trainer Ashleigh Luca Tyson for letting me ride her mare in the clinic, Renee Isler for her continuous help and support, and countless others!  Thank you all!  Also, THANK YOU to The Dressage Foundation for their tireless work and dedication to American dressage! 

~Cat~

http://crcdressage.homestead.com

~ What’s Happening This Fall ~

                Once again, Chance and I have had a busy month!  We went up to Flagstaff on September 16^th-18^th for a fun show, and he was super in the show ring!  It was so great to feel him really working with me and trying his best to get the job done.  The second day we rode our first Prix St. George test without any big mistakes!  You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdTdS1yG6_U

                The Dressage Foundation (www.dressagefoundation.org), a nonprofit organization geared towards providing financial support to dressage riders of all levels in the United States, has done a lot for me this year.  I really wanted to give back to them in some way, so I have organized a clinic this upcoming weekend on October 22^nd and 23^rd.  All of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Dressage Foundation to help them support dressage.  Charlotte Bredahl-Baker, a tremendously well respected judge and clinician, has agreed to come in to teach the clinic and she is even donating half of her time!  I will be riding in the clinic, too, and am very excited about it.  If you are interested in auditing the clinic, please email me at crcdressage@yahoo.com for the form.  Thanks!

                Also, here’s an article about the KWPN-NA’s Willy Arts Grant that I received this year: http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2011/10/14/chamberlain-burch-lahey-awarded-3000-kwpn-na-training-grant.  I want to thank the KWPN-NA, Little Creek Farm, and Willy Arts for their amazing generousity!!!

                A while back, my family and I did an article for Arizona’s 202 Magazine.  The picture is below and the text says: 

“How do you manage your family’s extracurricular activities with school and work?”

Catherine Chamberlain, 16
“I currently train in the Olympic Equestrian discipline of Dressage. I have a very rigorous training and competing schedule throughout the year, especially during springtime. Some days I will be out at the barn riding and working for several hours. I also compete in California quite often and will be away Wednesday through Sunday during the week. I attended private school through Sixth Grade, but when I got very serious about Dressage I was missing too much school and it was harder to stay on top of my workload. That’s when I decided to try online school with Arizona Connections Academy. It allows me to receive an exceptional education while still pursuing my dreams with my horse. It is a great option for kids with serious extracurricular activities like me.”

Elizabeth Chamberlain, 19
“I chose online school at Arizona Connections Academy during High School so I could purse my passions of acting and singing/songwriting. It’s extremely challenging. Although it is more flexible, you have to be extremely disciplined to go on and do your schoolwork online. You have to have self-discipline and have strong time management skills. If you are able to do it, though, it can be very rewarding. It allowed me the time and flexibility I needed to go on auditions and to focus on my music. With hard work, the payoff is great.”

Annie Chamberlain, 42
“Both my daughters’ extracurricular activities require a lot of time and travel. By attending online school at Arizona Connections Academy, they have both been able to pursue their individual goals and dreams. When we have to travel for competitions or auditions, they are able to take their school with them. The curriculum has given them a good foundation for college and they actually have more time to explore subjects when something peaks their interest. Online school allows us to spend a lot of time together as a family and I’ve enjoyed watching my daughters grow and mature into wonderful young women.”

Glen Chamberlain, 47
“The online school Arizona Connections Academy has been a great program for our family. Both of my daughters, Elizabeth and Catherine, are very active in outside interests. Catherine is a high level Dressage rider, and Elizabeth is an actor and singer. The school allowed them the flexibility to pursue their goals, while at the same time, getting a great education. I have an MBA, and feel that the education they have received in high school surpasses what I received in traditional school. They have been able to do their school work in a flexible manner, which allows them to travel out of state, and conduct needed training for their extracurricular pursuits. Connections Academy nurtures well rounded kids that achieve both academic excellence, and excel in other important life pursuits.”

                Next up, Chance and I will compete at the Region 5 Dressage Championships in early November at Westworld in Scottsdale, followed by our first Young Rider qualifier in Tucson, AZ a couple of weeks later!  Wish us luck!

~Cat~

~ Guenter Seidel Clinic ~

     Chance and I were able to participate in a two-day clinic with Guenter Seidel on September 3rd and 4th, thanks to a generous training grant from the Renee Isler Dressage Support Fund out of the Dressage Foundation.  The first day started out great!  I loaded Chance on the trailer and headed to Kim Yacobucci’s Horseshoe Spring’s barn about 10 minutes away with my mom and dad.  We got there a little bit early so Chance could relax and I could watch some of the other rides.  Right away I could tell I liked Guenter’s style of coaching.  He was very patient with both horse and rider, but he was still able to push them to get the best out of the team.  He always strived to keep the horse happy and willing to work.  Guenter made certain that the rider was being tactful in their approach with the horse and that they were always striving to do the best job possible. 

     Soon it was my time to ride, so I went and go Chance ready.  I was hoping he was grown up enough now at nine years old that I wouldn’t have to lunge him so he could save his energy for the lesson (our ride time was 12:30 p.m. and you can imagine just how hot it was!).  Luckily I was right, when I hopped on we got right to work.  Guenter watched my warm up a little bit and made a few suggestions here and there.  He said not to worry about making the horse round in the warm-up, let them take their time and stretch out their muscles.  Then we had a little walk break and picked up the collected trot.  Chance always has a nice, cadenced trot with much suspension, but sometimes he gets a bit behind my aids and a tad stuck in the bridle.  So, Guenter had me work on a little bit of lateral work in the beginning to get him bending and supple throughout the body.  We did some shoulder-in and half-pass with a few medium trots in between to wake him up.  Then, we worked on walk-trot transistions to get Chance to gain a sharper reaction off the aids.  Guenter had me settle into a nice trot, ask for the walk, and once I got one or two steps push him right back into the trot again.  It took Chance a few tries to catch up with me, but soon he got it and we moved on to the canter work.

     At first we did some transitions within the canter, moving forward into extended canter, coming back into pirouette canter, then into collected canter, etc.  Then, we did some nice half-passes and Guenter reminded me to keep the jump and bend throughout the whole movement.  He also emphasized how important the preparation is.  He said to come straight onto the centerline, quarterline, etc. and then develop the bend you want and start the half-pass, or else it is easy for the horse to fall out with the shoulders or to lose their balance in the turn.  Next, we did a few lines of tempi changes and Guenter was happy with Chance’s obedience to the aids as well as his straightness and length of stride.  He asked me to do three one tempis on the quarterline to test his quickness to the leg aid.  At home Chance and I have worked on these a couple of times, but not much so I hoped we would get them right.  Chance was great, but at first I had to remind my legs to stop asking for the changes after only three!  Guenter said to only ask for the minimum number at first so you can end without any mistakes. 

     Finally, we finished with some quarter pirouettes in a box shape and then let Chance stretch in the trot and end for the day.  He was such a good boy and I was very happy with him!  I took him home with my parents and gave him lots of treats!  Soon, we were out the next day for our second and final ride of the clinic.

     The second day I rode him in the double bridle instead of the snaffle bridle.  Sometimes Chance doesn’t seek the contact quite as much with the extra bit in his mouth, but that day he felt fine as Guenter reminded me to always keep a soft and playful connection with the bits, never hindering the horse’s motion or stopping the circulation of energy, especially in the collected work.  We started with the same swinging trot in the warm-up, but today we focused more on the canter work.  Guenter really worked with me on the pirouettes and told me to stay a little bit more organized and thoughtful in my preparation and riding of the actual movement.  The pirouettes have been the hardest thing for me in the Prix St. George tests, but he said not to worry, that it just takes time to gain the proper feeling and tactfullness required for such a complex movement.  He told me to try to slow down the movement and take my time, which  seemed to help as I didn’t rush through it quite so much and Chance didn’t lose his balance in the turn.  We did a few lines of nice changes, worked on the collected canter with transistions within and between the canter and walk, and then we came down to the trot work.  Today we played a bit more with changing the tempo and collection of his trot.  Once again the goal was to keep Chance quicker off the aids and lighter in the bridle.  Chance felt great at the end and it was so nice and enjoyable to be in such harmoy with him.  Overall it was a fantastic weekend and I loved both of my lessons!  Chance is such a great horse and I am really looking forward to a great year with my buddy! 

     THANK YOU to Renee Isler and The Dressage Foundation for their generous training grant!!!  Your dedication to the entire dressage community is outstanding and I am so grateful!  : )

~ Cat~

~ What’s Happening this August/Septmeber ~

Hi,

     I just wanted to share this article with you, it’s about Chance and I and it was featured in the August 27th issue of my local “Warner Wrangler” newspaper:  http://www.wranglernews.com/2011/08/28/passion-keeps-young-rider-pursuing-u-s-title-with-her-best-friend/. 

     Chance had a nice little vacation after he arrived home from Kentucky, and now we’re gearing up for a clinic with Guenter Seidel next weekend!  The Dressage Foundation (www.dressagefoundation.org) was generous enough to give me a grant to participate in this clinic, so I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to them and Renee Isler for supporting me!  I will post a new blog and pictures/video next week.   

     Also, I’ve begun riding as a working student for Ashleigh Luca Tyson at Round Mountain Ranch (www.roundmountainranch.com) and it’s been great!  I love riding all of the different horses and feel that it is an amazing chance for me to further my riding abilities.  So thank you Ashleigh for giving me this wonderful opportunity, you are truly a great teacher!!!  : )

     I’m planning to do Young Riders once again next year, and the first step for Chance and I is to do a smaller warm-up show in Flagstaff September 17th-18th to gear up for the new season!  Then we have a clinic with Charlotte Bredahl in October and the Region 5 Championships in November.  I really just want to get more experience and composure in the ring this year, and my number one goal is to have fun with my horse!  He is a great partner and I am learning so much from him, so I’m ready to sit back and enjoy the ride.  : )  I’ll keep you posted!

 

~Cat~

www.crcdressage.homestead.com

 

~ Home Sweet Home! ~

    After about 11 days in Kentucky, I’m finally home!  Even though I had an absolute blast at the 2011 FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships, it was good to sleep in my own bed last night.  Chance should arrive home later this week, probably Friday or Saturday, and he will definitely get a nice little vacation after all of that traveling.  The heat and humidity alone takes a great toll on the horses, especially coming from such a dry climate as Arizona.  I get a little vacation myself this week, then it is back to school and work next Monday!

     It was a couple days too late, but last Friday, the day after the Individual test in Kentucky, I had the best lesson in my life on Chance!  I went back and watched the videos of my rides to see if I could pinpoint what I could do better to help Chance perform to the best of his abilities.  I know Chance is a super talented horse, now I just need to figure out the best way to showcase it.  I learned many things, including Chance and I are still very inexperienced at this level and it would do us some good to show this fall so we can learn how to keep our mindset and composure in the arena so we can perform just as well as we do at home.  Chance is still so young at 9 years old and he really counts on me to be there every step of the way to guide him through the tests, but unfortunately my young age and inexperience does not always allow me to ride him as well as I could in the show ring.  So, I think it will benefit us both to get some more miles in the show ring so we can really show our full potential.  Next, I realized that Chance does have a bit of an attitude sometimes and he gets really angry if I surprise him with my aids or a movement without sufficient preparation or consistent reminders of his frame and way of going during our ride.  That means it is my job as his rider to always let him know what is coming next and to keep him together the whole time so I do not have to scramble to get him ready for, say, a pirouette.  Chance really needs me to ride him EVERY SINGLE STRIDE and a lightbulb went off for me on Friday so that I was finally able to do that for the first time in my life.  This new way of riding really helped the quality of his canter and he was truly more honest and willing than ever before.  So even though the show did not go quite as I had hoped, I feel I really got more out of it because it forced me to step back, look at the whole picture, and change my riding for the better.  Chance is not an easy horse, but I know he will shape me into a better rider because of it.  Plus, it will really help when my arm is stronger and it is recovered 100%.  I was trying to convince myself that I could go back to riding and everything would be as easy as it was before the accident, but unfortunately that was not the case and my lack of preparation and strength hurt us in this competition.  Luckily it is getting better and stronger every single day so it will definitely be easier when I do not have to worry about that weakness.  I am so excited to work extremely hard and prepare for another great season at Young Riders!!!

 

    Although I am very happy to be home, I already miss my teammates from the Region 5 Young Rider team Brandi Roenick, Madeleine Birch, Aylin Corapcioglu, and the Region 5 Junior team Taylor Lindsten, Devon Wycoff, Brook Santangelo, and Tali Hershafft.  It was so exciting getting the Team Gold medal this year and  I am so proud to have been on a team with these amazing girls!  I have a feeling we will have another great team next year as many of us are trying out once again! To see some pictures from my adventure in Kentucky, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catherine-Rose-Chamberlain-CRC-Dressage/106735296078314#!/media/set/?set=a.141542869264223.38541.106735296078314&type=1. 

Me, Aylin, Maddi, and Brandi

~ Cat ~