Register early as space is limited!

This is the third of the winter schooling show series hosted by the Willow Ridge Riding Club.

We had a great turnout with about 50 participants — so much we really did have to limit class sizes. Dressage was held Saturday night and Krystl Ahrens was our judge. She brought her considerable experience and knowledge about competitive dressage and gave some great feedback and supportive comments to all competitors, who looked great out there! There weren’t any dressage freestyles this time, as the two entrants had to scratch after spending the whole morning rearranging soggy stalls. Next time, they promise to be there, and expect to not be the only ones!!

On Sunday was the bulk of the show, with experienced ApHCC and SHF Heritage judge Dave Roberts as the judge. The day started with showmanship at halter, and then moving on to the English classes. There were no entries in the 3′0 or 3′3″ over-fences classes, but every thing else was packed.

The musical freestyle was again dominated by reining and western riding, and again it was Nicole Brown vs Michael Yingbull. Nicole was sporting a grey beard and hillbilly outfit, riding to the tune of “White Lightning” on a pale cremello stallion. Michael caused a stir in a grass skirt on his buckskin mare, dancing across the arena to the Chipmunk’s version of “Witch Doctor”. Both competitors are planning to get more creative yet for March, and again, they want more to join them!

The day wrapped up after the Western rail and pattern classes, including the ever-popular trail class, and of course, reining.

The next show will be March 20-21, 2010. Dates have been changed so we don’t interfere with the SHF Annual Conference in Regina. There is another change to the format. Dressage will be on Saturday, and Sunday will open with Showmanship At Halter and then move on to the Western classes. English classes, including over-fences with a match-the-clock jumper round, will follow the western classes. If you have any requests for different classes to be held, just let the club know — if we get enough requests, we might be able to make it happen. Registration deadline is March 8 and the forms are available. As with any winter show, show stalls are mandatory. If the last show was any indication, get your entries in as early as you can, as stall space is limited, and so are class sizes.

Contact Lynn Sander at ml.sander@shaw.ca if you are able to volunteer at the show or for administrative duties prior to the show.

Dates: January 30-31, 2010

Judges: Krystl Ahrens, Dave Roberts

Who can enter: Anybody on a horse.   (some restrictions apply, see form for details)

Registration Deadline: January 18

Download Registration Package: Click here to download January Registration Form

More info, pictures from last show: click here

Questions?  Email michael.yingbull@gmail.com

The dates are:

• November 22, 2009 – register by November 16!!!
• January 31, 2010
• March 20,21, 2010

For more information and to download the registration forms go to

http://www.willowridgestables.com/event … ing-series

It’s also on facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=171179837807

This is a great way to set some goals and get some feedback, and maybe try something new without the pressures of a “real” show.

There will also be a fun and creative “freestyle” event so you can showcase some talent! Western or English or whatever, even just Walk/Trot, you can get crazy with costuming or not at all, whatever you like! Seasonal or quirky. You can do it individual, pairs, or in a team. Should be fun especially for the kids, or maybe to test run your reining or dressage routine, or drill teams, whatever.

Description

2010 Clinician — Dianne Eppers of Grayslake, Illinois!!!! Dianne has over 12 World & Reserve World titles and has coached six national all around youth exhibitors. All Around Events are her specialty and she is known nationwide for her successful students in Showmanship At Halter.

Sessions will be offered in Showmanship, rail events, pattern events, trail and possibly western riding if interest warrants!

Packages available which include clinic, stabling, banquet ticket & 2010 membership. Deposits are required to hold your spot, please contact Karen for more information.

16 Riding Spots available for Main Clinic; 10 Mini Clinic Spots – book today!

Held in conjunction with our Annual General Meeting & Awards Banquet for 2009 Show Season.

Kevin Maxie Clinic-Oct. 16 & 17

Jumping & Flat
Willow Ridge Stables

Kevin is establishing himself as an elite-level show jumping rider and trainer based outside Guelph, Ontario. Born to an equestrian family who are involved with veterinary medicine, br…eeding, show hunters, and dressage, horses have been a lifelong pursuit. Starting with the Canadian Pony Club, Kevin was exposed to sound horse management and a myriad of equestrian activities from a young age.

In his teens, and following the path of his mother’s breeding program, he became increasingly involved in dressage working with Liz Hazlett, Mary Ambrose and culminating as a working student with Pan-Am gold-medalist and World Equestrian Games athlete Nancy MacLachlan. Over the course of his development, Kevin gained a deep appreciation for the classical pyramid of training with respect to the dressage horse.

However the athleticism and excitement of show jumping proved irresistible. This led to a long-term training and riding relationship with Mike and Stephanie Grinyer of Campbelleville, Ontario. Under Mike’s guidance and tutelage Kevin began to build a successful track record developing and competing on a wide range of show jumpers. His biggest successes came from taking horses with a dressage background and introducing them to the jumper ring. His long-time partner Leonardo traveled this path, eventually finding success together through the Grand Prix level.

Upon completion of his M.Sc. in applied mathematics at the University of Guelph, Kevin decided to expand his show jumping horizons by moving to Middleburg, Virginia to train with double Olympic Gold medalist Joe Fargis. Working with a show jumping legend, Kevin learned much about the business of training horses and riders at the highest levels of the sport in North America. Joe helped refine Kevin’s equitation and show jumping methodology over the next two and half years.

While in the United States Kevin also had the good fortune to work with French team member Yannick Patron who helped mentor him in the relationship between classical dressage and its relationship to show jumping. Kevin considers Yannick influential on his current views of riding and training show jumpers.

In the spring of 2008 Kevin returned home to the Guelph area to continue teaching horses and riders a winning show jumping system. He currently owns and shows his 7 year old, Canadian warmblood mare Urika. A horse he developed from the age of 4 years old, Urika is developing into an exceptional athlete. Having started her show career as a 6 year old in Wellington, Florida she finished the same season ranked in the top 15 of all 6-year-old show jumpers in the United States.

Continuing into 2008, she and Kevin achieved top results during the winter circuit in Florida in the 7/8-year-old young jumpers. This summer Urika has moved up to the 1.45m level and is competing very successfully in the Jump Canada Talent Squad and the OHJA Rising Star series. She finished her 2008 season competing in the Next Generation Challenge at the Tournament of Champions followed by her first appearance at the Royal Winter Fair in the National Talent Squad Championships. Urika was the Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeder’s Association’s “Feature Horse” in April, 2009.

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Kevin taught a successful Clinic last March, and is returning for October: A two day, three ride clinic at Willow Ridge, Friday October 16th (evening) and Saturday October (afternoon & evening). 17th, from 5pm-10pm.

Small group sessions grouped by skill level and interest.

Groups may be jumping, or just focusing on flatwork for all sessions, depending on interest of the rider.

$195/rider for 3 lessons.

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Kevin Maxie Clinic

Showjumping / Equitation Clinic, from beginners to the experienced

Time:5:00PM Friday, October 16th – Oct. 17

Location:Willow Ridge Stables

michael.yingbull@gmail.com

Trail Ride, Bingo Rally, and modified TREC-like event

OCTOBER 10, 2009

All ages, family event, everyone welcome.  If you ride a horse, and we don’t care how (so long as its safe), you are invited!!

Kick off the Thanksgiving weekend with a trail ride with friends, family, and horses.  Then get a taste of a modified TREC, a kind of competitive trail riding that started in Europe but is just as challenging here on the prairies.

Please RSVP before October 5 — we need to know numbers!!

Location: Willow Ridge Stables
Host: Riding Club

More info: http://www.willowridgestables.com/trectober
or email trectober@gmail.com