Soft Feel is the mission and guiding principle of Cowboy Dressage®. It is a wordless, intimate and for some a spiritual communication within the partnership between horse and rider. Soft feel is not only sending messages but having the sensitivity and awareness to feel and receive messages sent by the horse. The timing and use of the release, relaxation, preparation and execution are the fundamentals of Soft Feel.
–Full “Mission and Vision Statement of the Cowboy Dressage World” found at www.cowboydressageworld.com/membership-with-a-handshake/
Thank you to our corporate sponsor Spalding Fly Predators. “No Flies = Happy Horses” When the horses are happy we are happy!
There is a Cowboy Dressage World CALENDAR Coming
This is going to be the best place to find and post any and all Cowboy Dressage events.
Submit: www.cowboydressageworld.com/clinics-shows-and-gatherings/add-an-event/
Striving for Straightness, A new Educational DVD By Eitan
It is about time Eitan released a new Educational DVD. Well he finally did it and it is definitely worth the long wait. Now Available, Striving for Straightness. 36 min. $25. Visit cowboydressage.com/storefront.html to order.
For the Cowboy Dressage rider, both old and new, riding a straight line can be challenging. The straight line is the first and last impression that we make before we salute the judge at the beginning and end of our test. Finding the midline and sticking to it is the key to making the right impression and getting that perfect 10.
In this short video we will explore how the Cowboy Dressage Challenge court can help both horse and rider to find their center. We use small circles to help the horse strengthen and supple one side at a time to become straight as he travels. The Challenge court provides several opportunities for riding straight lines and all of those lines are demonstrated by horse and rider as well as through helpful diagrams. We will discuss simple changes that can make a big difference to your success finding the line of travel on the court. So, saddle up and join us on the Challenge Court as we learn to travel the straight and narrow path!
Gathering and Finals 2017 Update
The CDW Partners are working hard to bring you the best Finals to date. There will be some scheduling changes allowing for shorter days of competition. Top Hand will run on Sat in arena 1 during the rest of the show. The qualifier will run in the am and the top 5 in the afternoon.
The event dates will be Sept 5-10 at Murieta Equestrian Center, Rancho Murieta, CA (Near Sacramento, CA) the first two days are educational featuring our first Finals Power Clinics.
Power Clinics to be offered at 2017 Gathering and Finals
Cowboy Dressage World is very excited to announce a new and highly educational program for our exhibitors at this year’s Gathering and Finals.
If you have ever attended a Cowboy Dressage World Power Clinic you know how very special they are. Below is a description of the Power Clinics and how they will be offered at the 2017 Gathering and Finals held Sept 5-10 at Murieta Equestrian Center, Rancho Murieta, CA
- Each Power Clinic will be 3 hours of mounted riding instruction. (Session) Twenty-four riders will be allowed for each session. The twenty-four riders will be divided into 3 groups of 8 riders. Each rider will ride 50 minutes with each clinician and then after a 10 min break rotate to the next clinician until a complete rotation has taken place. That will conclude the session.
- Each clinician will cover an important topic that relates to better horsemanship. The sessions will progress in horsemanship skills. Session two will cover more advanced horsemanship than session one etc.
- It is our goal to offer three sessions and possibly four depending on time allowed and the demands time-wise of entries. We hope to have one evening session for those that arrive later in the day.
- Each 3-hour session is $150. You can ride as many sessions as you like. You will be able to pre-register on the cowboydressageworld.com website or on the Gathering and Finals Entry Blank.
- You must be an exhibitor to participate in the sessions. Auditors $25 per session.
- Session topics to be announced soon.
New Educational Sponsorship’s for Finals 2017
We are getting our new educational packages for Finals in place. Here is an outline of what we will be giving away. If you would like to sponsor one of these packages please contact JoAnn Gillespie at: rawkinghorseranch@gmail.com. They will also be posted with the 2017 Gathering and Finals Entry and Premium and on the cowboydressageworld.com website in the future.
Each CDWPA Member will also be able to give away an educational package of their choice. Lessons, clinic slots etc. Please contact Debbie Beth-Halachmy for sign ups. eitanndeb@gmail.com
All the educational packages are drawings, not an award so everyone has a chance to win big!! Enter as many as you like, but only once please!
- Eitan’s Cowboy Dressage School of Horsemanship
- Lyn Ringrose – Moe’s Cowboy Dressage Boot Camp
- Garn Walker clinic or lessons
- Wyatt Paxton will be giving a challenge court with gate.
List of cdwpa packages and more to follow. Details will be posted at cowboydressageworld.com
Advertising in our bi-monthly News Letter will be available in the May issue
Our bi monthly News Letter will be offering banner ads and classifieds in the May publication. If you want to adv there will be a pay pal button at cowboydressageworld.com. You will make payment there and send banner and/or ad copy to donna@cowboydressageworld.com. Charges and specs will be available on the cowboydressageworld.com website in time for the May issue.
Please have your adv in to Donna by the 15 of the month preceding the issue month. For the May issue that deadline would be the April 15th.
Cowboy Dressage World Welcomes JoAnn Gillespie as its new Events and Media Coordinator
JoAnn will be helping us with a multitude of tasks. We look forward to her expertise. She says she will be cracking “the whip” and getting us in better order. Hope you can herd cats JoAnn!
New and Improved CDW Professional is ready for business!
After a strong learning curve we now have our new and user friendly CDWPA website up and running. If you wish to become a professional member and/or judge, check it out at CDW Professionals,
Sheryl Strathman is now our new clinician coordinator for the cdwpa. Please contact her for any questions and applications at: horseplayx5@gmail.com or 785.640.0550 Lyn Ringrose-Moe will continue to manage the judges.
June CDW Show
The sun will be at it’s summer best for our June 23-25, 2017 Show at Murieta Equestrian Center, Rancho Murieta, CA. All tests will be offered including the revised w/j/l #6 and all new # 7 and walk/walk. This is traditionally a large show with over 400 rides so get your entries in on time to assure riding times. This is a great show to ready you and your horse for finals. Of course there will be a free clinic preceding the show to help you along with your horsemanship.
If you have not been to the facility lately you will be happy to hear that all the barns now have shade screens across the isle ways and matted stalls. Bring your misters and you are set for comfort and fun.
As a side note our 2018 Feb show has been moved to April 20-22. No more “winter” show!
Cowboy Dressage World Banners and Brochures
If you sent in requested information for a CDW Banner and CDW Brochures you should be receiving them in the next month. These are being generously supplied by our Presenting Sponsor Spalding Fly Predators.
Speaking of “Flies” that time of year is fast approaching. Eitan and I have been using the Spalding Fly Predators for many years and they are a leading part of our ranch and horse management. We hate the flies as much or more than the horses so these little predators do an important job. They make us feel better as well as our horses.
If you wish to use these “ bugs” please contact spalding-labs.com or call 1-866-404-3895. Don’t wait until the last minute when the flies are out. Get a head start and feel the love sooner.
Many new tests are now available online
Including Walk Walk Tests, Revised Walk Jog Lope Test 6 & NEW Walk Jog Lope Test 7!
cowboydressage.com/competition.html
cowboydressage.com/images/pages/competition/JudgesScoresheetsTestDiagrams.html
Photo provided by Marlene du Plessis from Cowboy Dressage World of South Africa, Saerita Muller and her pony at a clinic practicing Cowboy Dressage Partnership with Elisha Mokhoanzi (who personally helps twenty lead-liners!)
Facebook has a new Handshake Members Page
www.facebook.com/groups/522062977954651/
Handshake Member Karen Viani with Connie (Wranglers Party Girl) Photo by Marta Michilizzi
Please take note that all of Eitan’s Cowboy Dressage Educational posts on Facebook will now only be on the Cowboy Dressage Handshake Members Facebook Page. This is a closed group and you must be a Handshake Member. Become a Member now for free and be prepared to be inspired. Sign up at: https://cowboydressageworld.com/membership-with-a-handshake/ All Cowboy Dressage Clinics and Events will be posted on the Cowboy Dressage Facebook Page
Dr. Karl is on the Mend
As many of you may already know that our much-loved Dr. Karl was on the job doing a Cowboy Dressage Lecture at the Pomona Horse Expo when he suddenly did not feel well. He had to be hospitalized. Thankfully our friend John Alcorn was in attendance and helped Dr. Karl through his ordeal. Dr. Karl is recovering and doing well. You can send healing thoughts and well wishes to karl@stormwalker.com
Garn Walker will be taking care of Dr. Karl’s CDWNA duties while the good Doc recovers. You can reach Garn at garnwalkerstables@gmail.com
Thank You John Alcorn, Phyllis and Clay Scott and the lovely Miss Short for taking good care of Karl.
Garn Walker goes Hollywood
Cowboy Dressage World Partner Garn Walker is hosting the CDW E Learning Program. If any of you have ridden under Garn you know what a committed educator he is. Garn is in his element teaching the educational live horsemanship segments. Sign up and Tune in! Get with the program! cdwelearning.com
He can also be found at these upcoming Events:
The Mane Event Expo Alberta April 21-23 & Arizona May 26-28. Also a Clinic and Show in Oklahoma May 16-21.
Tip from the Trainer
By
Lyn Ringrose-Moe
Those of us enjoying Cowboy Dressage and its training philosophy understand that we want to ride our horses with a soft, rounded topline with the nose slightly in front of the vertical. (The vertical plane is considered the line drawn from the base of the ear to the corner of the mouth, usually following fairly closely the line of the cheek piece of the bridle).
For most of us, it is difficult to know when our horses are in front of the vertical, on the vertical, or behind the vertical from the saddle.
Here is a simple way to determine if your horse is behind the vertical: If the crown piece of your bridle, or the base of the horse’s ears is not visible from the saddle, your horse is behind the vertical plane.
Photo 1: Poll Elevated; Head In front of the Vertical Plane
Photo 2: Horse’s Head on the Vertical Plane
Photo 3: Horse’s Poll Low; Horse’s head behind the Vertical Plane
There are many possible causes. Here are a few:
The horse is not creating enough energy coming from the hindquarters.
The rider is holding the reins too firmly and not allowing the horse to elevate and lengthen the neck.
Some horses coming from other disciplines have been ridden this way for a while and have developed compensatory muscles as well as the behavior of dropping the bit with the least bit of connection from the rider. Patience and understanding are required from the rider when re-educating horses with this problem.
Catch Lyn’s Clinics and Schools at Rawking Horse Ranch in Briones CA:
May 31 – June 4
rawkinghorseranch.com/ event/lyn-june-2017/
August 26 – 27
rawkinghorseranch.com/ event/lyn-ringrose-aug-2017/
Lyn will also be a featured clinician at the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo in Denver, Colorado March 10-12
“I would like to invite anyone and everyone interested to come out and meet myself and the Colorado Cowboy Dressage members over the 3 days.”-Lyn Ringrose Moe
The website is: www.rockymountainhorseexpo.com
Cowboy Dressage World Indiana The Hoosier Horse Fair & Expo
Sheryl Strathman and Eitan Beth Halachmy
Indiana State Fairgrounds
March 31- April 2, 2017
The Hoosier Horse Fair & Expo is a 3-day event celebrating and promoting the equine industry. The expo serves as the primary fundraiser for the Indiana Horse Council, which positively impacts the growth, retention, and development of the horse industry. The longevity of the event can be attributed to our commitment to diversity, quality, and true presentation of each segment of interest. Come join us!!!
Wy-Not Cowboy Dressage, by Wyatt Paxton & Judge/Clinician Nonny Largent,
is sharing Cowboy Dressage in California and Oregon. Find them in CA at Cottonwood Creek Equestrian Center March 18th, April 8th, and May 13th. For more dates and locations contact them at www.wy-notcowboydressage.com/
Please Note; in the future ALL EVENTS should be posted on the cowboydressageworld.com calendar.
The Newsletter will not be gathering or posting events as it did in the previous issue. Thank you for your participation in use of the appropriate, single, communal calendar.
The Rules and Guidelines have been updated for 2017, check out the improved Vaquero Division section!
Good to know:
During discussion at this year’s Cowboy Dressage Judges Meeting they realized an important situation riders have been unclear on. If you are a rider at a gathering and decide for whatever reason you should not continue with the test, or be considered for competition, you are more than welcome to stop your own ride. Your judge wants you to feel successful. If you would rather forfeit a score to use your whole time to ride on the court and work with your horse, or in the middle of your ride you think it is in your horse’s best interest to stop, STOP. It is your test. It is your partnership.
Larry Whitesell of Whitesell Gaited Horsemanship
donated his time, and a clinic, during the 2017 Cowboy Dressage Judge’s Meeting. The educational experience helped our already great judges further understand gaited horses, and gave them a valuable resource for future questions. Thank you Larry Whitesell for your outstanding contribution.
www.whitesellgaitedhorsemanship.com/
Remember Your Resources!
Keep in mind Eitan and Debbie Beth-Halachmy have a new e-mail address:
Sara Uhalde is our Newsletter Guru and she has graciously taken on the task of managing the new Handshake Membership page on Facebook. Boy is this popular. Check it out on Face book but first you have to be a Handshake Member…so worth it!
Please get your newsletter “chat” in to Sara at sarauhalde@yahoo.in.
Remember that advertisement goes to donna@silvermoongraphics.com
Click Here to View Our Sponsors
~Happy Trails!
