EQUESTRIAN UPDATE JANUARY 2001

2000-ANOTHER GREAT YEAR

What a great way to start the Millenium! We ended 1999 with a super demonstration at the NARHA Conference in Cleveland, demonstrating Futures and Dressage competition for hundreds of TR professionals. Mary Green and Lisa McCann made quite an impression on Linda Fritsch's Rochy and Marple. As a thank you, ACORD purchased dressage letters for terrific host Fieldstone Farm.

April's Variety Salute Benefit and Dressage Clinics generated nearly $13,000. Six of the qualifying Paralympic riders and two developing riders rode in Jerry Schwartz' two-day dressage clinic. Kebbie Cannon, Amy Gee, Barb Grassmyer, Mary Green, Becca Hart, Deb Lewin, Lisa McCann and Lynn Seideman enjoyed the great horses and Jerry's expertise. We were ably assisted by volunteers MaryJo Beckman, Jim Campbell, MaryAnn & Jerry Dalton, Joelle Devlin, Ernie & Linda Fritsch and Nora Grassmyer. Carrie Schwartz' Benefit was exciting and successful: beautiful decorations, awesome silent auction items, terrific food and an incredible equestrian performance. A great weekend of fun, education, money … and great press!

Funds from the Variety Salute went towards: Travel and lodging expenses for the final Paralympic selection trials at the USET in Gladstone. Developing Rider Competition Camp in Georgia ACORD Team Challenge at the North American Young Riders' Championships in Denver. We are most grateful to Carrie & Jerry Schwartz for spearheading this first Variety Salute.

Our first Competition Camp for Developing Riders at the Georgia show in July was a great success. Camp Director Jay Johnson did a tremendous job. Mary Frankel recruited terrific horses, and the 12 developing riders all did well at the show over the weekend. Campers' travel and show expenses were sponsored by ACORD. This fourth annual Georgia Horse Show had the largest number of participants ever - 118 riders competed over the weekend supported by a huge number of volunteers. The Victory Party on Saturday night was the best ever, with music, dancing and surprising talent presentations. Major funding was received from the Stacey Ann Boe Foundation, and ACORD sponsored expenses for 24 first-time competitors.

Directly following the Georgia camp and show, we were off to Denver and High Prairie Farms for the ACORD Team Challenge at the North American Young Riders' Championships. Six talented young riders: Bret Brannan, Amy Gee, Becca Hart, Chris Lipe, Meghan Strigh and Schoena Townsend did us all proud with their musical Kurs. As they did at Tempel Farms last year, the able-bodied young riders from around the United States gave us a warm welcome, as did all the NAYRC volunteers and staff. Sandy Dota was our Chef d'Equipe and Hallie McEvoy served as Team Challenge Coordinator. Our great staff: Nancy Brooke, Louie Dota, Mary Frankel, Linda Fritsch, Mary Mitten, Sandy Rafferty, Jan Strigh, Carrie Schwartz and John Stevenson. ACORD funded travel and lodging expenses and we are grateful to the Helen Kriebel Foundation for sponsoring our 2000 Team Challenge.

PARALYMPIC DIARY from SYDNEY

Nora Grassmyer did a terrific job organizing a communications group and keeping us all informed by email during the Paralympics. She was overwhelmed with replies from her very first report. None of us had realized the huge numbers of people who had something to do with getting this team to Australia and were thrilled to hear the news.

I thought everyone would enjoy this "Paralympic Diary", compiled from comments by our team members and the Paralympic media office.

John Stevenson travelled to Sydney working the Olympics and was Stable Manager for the Paralympics. John and fellow Brit Doug Smith had their work cut out for them working 16-hour days getting everything ready for the horses and riders; just like we faced in 1996 with the hairy transition from the able-bodied Olympics. They were pleased to see so many familiar faces at the venue. John had been "on the road" since our Georgia show and had "many tales to tell and no time to tell them" in an email October 14.

Fortunately, things were very well organized when TeamUSA arrived in Sydney. Accommodations, food and transport were just fine. Opening Ceremonies were great, but lots of very loud rock music - organizers issued ear plugs to the athletes down on the field! The event was sold out and carried on television.

The horse owners were wonderful and the horses very nice, lots of thoroughbreds. TeamUSA matched with their assigned horses fairly well. Mary Green bailed by choice when her "fresh" horse bolted, cracking her helmet in half and requiring a short trip to the local hospital. Mary was then assigned Proud One, a grey Arab cross gelding with whom she was very pleased. Robin Brueckmann drew Duke Albawy, a 15-year-old thoroughbred, a nice horse, not as fancy as some of the others … but it was felt that Robin could medal with an accurate ride. Lynn Seidemann's horse Country Cousin, an 11-year-old black appaloosa/stock horse cross, was wide and safe. Hope Hand drew Nicholas, a 19-year-old TB/Clydesdale gelding, who was consistent, pretty and had a great medium extension. Kebbie Cannon was assigned Seabreeze New Idea, a 13-year-old Anglo/Arab gelding and Kathy Whelan was matched with Chrome Deluxe, a 9-year-old chestnut quarter horse. The team looked terrific with their horses … but then so did everyone else!

The weather was cold but there were few major problems and spirits were high on October 18, the first day of training. Security staff were everywhere and very efficient. An official e-mail address was produced, and the IBM Surf Shack with 50 computers allowed everyone to communicate with the folks left at home. TeamUSA's tack room was all set up with curtains and saddle racks.

The sun finally came out October 20 and the weather was beautiful for the first full day of training. The team was able to get into Sydney and enjoy dinner at the famous harbor - a much-needed break. During freestyle practice in the main competition arena, "observers" noticed that at least four other Grade IV riders were practicing to Beatles music, so Robin's musical ride got redone in a hurry.

In the stable, John and Doug were still winning the juggling game of needs of management, owners, riders and coaches. October 20 and 21 were training days, followed by a rest day on October 22 and one more training day on October 23. It was pouring rain on October 24 for the official warm-up competition. The warm up tests were important for each individual rider … and the four riders making up each national team were chosen after the warm-up scores were in. Our team felt that the judges may have leaned toward the "favorites", but we mostly understand that riding dressage on borrowed horses is not an exact science. Their rides were good, but the spread between a gold medal and fifth place was only 3 points!

The championship tests were ridden October 25 for Grades II and III, and were followed by Grades I and IV on October 26. Mary's championship test was absolutely lovely but marred by a rein-back instead of a halt at X. It was felt she would have won the class without the excess enthusiasm from her horse.

Musical Freestyles were performed on October 27 and 28 with beautiful weather, bright blue skies and a slight wind. These scores also counted towards the team medals and there was a large crowd of eager onlookers. Hope's music was "theme from Annie", Lynn rode to a medley of western music and Kathy performed her popular "Mayberry RFD". "Theme from Titanic" was Kebbie's choice; Mary rode to a jazz compulation of "Tequila", "Java" and "PSS"; while Robin's ride featured music from "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

The crowd vigorously applauded Mary Green's test, and Mary told the reporter, "His medium trot was so strong and big; he's a little horse but he has such big movements. I love to ride a beautiful horse." Alas, there were scoring errors on the championship tests, requiring a new medal ceremony. Scores reported by the BBC, the Paralympic website and the Sydney press officer were confusing, but it was all sorted out with New Zealand in first place. Eleven countries competed for team medals: 1st Great Britain 203.83 2nd Netherlands 202.92 3rd Denmark 199.25 4th Norway 197.64 5th Australia 195.31 6th Germany 193.09 7th USA 190.21 TEAM USA members: Robin Brueckmann, Kebbie Cannon, Mary Green, Hope Hand

I was surprised to hear that there was no "closing party" - a definite equestrian tradition is to let your hair down and dance on the tables the final night before saying goodbye to your new friends. The Australian people got high marks from everyone-friendly, cheerful, helpful, always with a smile. It was still the trip of a lifetime for most of the team and we are proud of them! Welcome home, ladies!

WORLD POLICE & FIRE GAMES

A terrific, huge international event! The Indiana Horse Council is looking for owners willing to lease competition horses to those police- and fire- men and women who are unable to import their own horses. The games are scheduled next June 8-16 in Indianapolis; Equestrian runs June 11-13. The WPFG offers classes in Western Reining, Western Trail, Hunter Hack, first and second level Dressage, Show Jumping, English Pleasure, Barrel Racing and Pole Bending. Several female ACORD people are signing up as volunteers - we can't wait to meet all those guys in uniforms!

Please contact IHC, Mindi Vaughn if you know of a horse that could be leased to a foreign rider. Ph 317 692 7115 IndEquine@aol.com

CALIFORNIA PARALYMPIC TRAINING CAMP SEPTEMBER, 2000

I was happy to be in the beautiful Sierra Foothills in September to observe the final Paralympic Training Camp. Nora and Bob Grassmyer were hosts extraordinaire for riders Hope Hand, Mary Green, Kathy Whelan and Barb Grassmyer. At his Half Steps Farm training/breeding facility, Geoff Laurin assembled a stable of 10 borrowed horses for the clinic. Geoff's aim was to challenge the riders' weakest areas so they learned how to "quickly make a plan to handle and ride this horse if they drew him in Sydney". Geoff further challenged the riders to plan a strategy to mesh a twosome into the combination of beauty, style and harmony that is dressage. Geoff said, "Handicapped riders are much more willing to try new things and work harder. I think most of the non-handicapped people take things for granted. Most handicapped people do not. They want to learn. They try hard every single lesson. These athletes know a lot and are lifelong riders. They are not riding easy horses. They are safe horses, but they won't do the work for the rider. The thinking rider is the rider that gets ahead and the one that will get a little better score". Many people say that dressage is like ballet on horseback. The rider's goal is to bring out the best in the horse, creating perfect harmony. Harkening back to the sport's military origins, Laurin described the ideal dressage horse as one that will go to war and "listen to you absolutely no matter what is going on around you." Fostering this kind of relationship with a horse can take years, but TeamUSA members will establish it in a matter of days because they are assigned horses on a random draw. It was a wonderful weekend … Nora wined and dined everyone in splendid style and Geoff even had special training shirts with the Paralympic logo made up for the riders. The Training Camp, funded by the USOC, got lots of big-time media attention.

2001 VARIETY SALUTE

Benefit & Dressage Clinic Planning is well under way for our second annual Variety Salute in Chicago May 3-6. Our first event last year, spearheaded by Carrie and Jerry Schwartz, was an absolute success all the way around. Two days of intense clinics and a gala benefit reception to raise funds for ACORD's riders and all our activities. Lest you worry that we all work too hard, here's a photo of last year's planning meeting with Nagy, Jim Campbell, Carrie and Jerry on Finesse during Jerry's winter training sessions in Venice. It was wonderful to escape to the sunny breezes of Florida in February. Carrie and Jerry Schwartz have already worked wonders for riders with disabilities, and we are thinking up new projects all the time. We are definitely blessed to have them on our side. And to think we owe it all to Peter Lert, a freak snowstorm in Denver and a lucky table selection at the USDF Awards Dinner in 1999!

REFLECTING BACK

I was having dinner the other night with some of my ACORD family (in honor of John Stevenson's alive-and-well return from the Olympics and Paralympics), and of course we were talking about horses, therapeutic riding and competition. It is amazing to realize the number of people going forward with horses and people with disabilities since they got involved with ACORD events. Carol Wooley is the most "famous" - she roared home from the '96 Paralympics to start the Carousel Riding Center in Warner Robins, Georgia. Jay and Sharon Johnson formed the Discovery Horse Center in 1998 in Gilroy, California. Leslie Jacobs and her family volunteered at the Paralympics, they are now running Jacobs' Ladder in Hanhira, Georgia. Linda Fritsch was involved with disabled riders for years, but now she and her horses are a significant contributor to many of our competitors' successes, both at shows and at home. Gail Willumsen and Jane Peyton from National Geographic have become terrific horse show volunteers. Wills Park (our Georgia show home) has started training riders in conjunction with Mary Frankel. Lesley Lautenschlager and Rhonna Crook (thank you, Carrie & Jerry Schwartz) instituted classes for disabled riders at the Indiana Dressage Society Sweet Charity show this October. It's a good feeling.

OH! NOW I UNDERSTAND!

The SF Chronicle just published an article on San Francisco's wish to host the Olympics/Paralympics in 2012. Included was a discussion about why Sydney was considered so successful in spite of the problems that accompany any event of this magnitude-the Australian people really wanted everybody to be happy and the volunteers worked hard to assure this. Those of us who toiled behind the scenes in Atlanta in 1996 to function in spite of APOC are given some insight in the article: "The organizing committee (APOC) arrogantly believed that American ingenuity was all it was cracked up to be and they weren't eager to please anybody. The organizers stubbornly insisted that their games were not a logistical disaster, that they were fabulous, right before moving on to jobs with the Florida Board of Elections."

THIRD ANNUAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SHOW

And a beautiful day it was - the weather was perfect this year! More than 50 riders gathered at Heritage Park in Rancho Cucamonga (Los Angeles) on Saturday, October 7. Showmanship began the day, with four divisions, followed by Equitation and Pole Bending. Obstacle ran all day, and I was again fortunate that Pat Morris let me judge the classes. Paralympic volunteer Shelly Derbes was a capable steward and great company during the waits between rides.

Pat's group at Rising Stars was wonderful - everything ran smoothly and everyone enjoyed themselves. I do believe the only glitch was the PA system early in the morning - but announcer Jane Peyton took care of that in quick order. The riders loved her British accent as she directed the next class to line up next to the "Car Park." Patrish Lawrie was everywhere with her digital camera, creating personalized key chains. The Silent Auction was full of tempting goodies, and a delicious lunch was served.

Community interest in this show continues to grow and it is heart-warming to see the wonderful support for the show and Rising Stars. RC Mayor Bill Alexander always shows up to welcome us with great affection and the local equestrians pitch in as volunteers for the event

BARB SPINDLER rules at THORNCROFT

At the annual Memorial Day weekend Thorncroft show, Barb Spindler of Pal-O-Mine in New York took home the following awards: E.W. Garbish Trophy for Outstanding Achievement Hope Montgomery Scott Perpetual Memorial Trophy-Reserve Thorncroft Perpetual Trophy-Reserve Pretty nice weekend for Barb, huh? CONGRATULATIONS

LOVE FROM DENMARK

From Brita Andersen to Carol Wooley in Georgia (On the Danish team, Brita took home the gold on Carol's Carousel in 1996. As a result of her Paralympic experience, Carol started a TR center in 1997.) Brita writes to the riders at Carousel Riding Center, and they want to share her thoughts with all of you.

Hello everybody- My name is Brita, and I rode Carousel at the Atlanta Paralympics in 1996. He was a very special horse to me because we won the championship together, the highest thing a rider ever can reach. I hope you all take care of him. I have just seen your web site of the Carousel Riding Center. Now I think I know you all a little.

I am very proud that my ride has started all this. I hope you all love riding just as much as I do. When I ride, even though if just for a walk in the forest, which I enjoy just as much as winning a competition, I feel like I am walking myself. Suddenly I can walk and run as fast as I want to and go places where I cannot by my wheel chair.

You all have to have an aim with your ride, whether it is sitting alone on the horse, riding alone without anyone to hold the horse, or to try out for the US team as Carol has told me one of you are. When you have reached your aim, find a new one. You always have to have an aim to work towards. Since 1996 I have trained hard to try to go to the Paralympics once more and in October I am going to Sydney. I hope you all will wish me luck.

With love to all of you from Brita

NICE E-MAILS TO RECEIVE Virginia Martin writes me "Donna Neith had a ball at the (first annual ACORD Developing Rider Competition) camp. I've just bought a horse much like the one she rode in Georgia and she is in 'seventh heaven'. He is slimmer than some of the other horses that she has ridden and, Viola! No spasms - Yippee! Donna said it is like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one".

Team Challenge returns to Tempel FarmsYoung Riders-WE WANT YOU!

The ACORD Team Challenge at the North American Young Riders' Championships is seeking riders with any disability between the ages of 16-23. The Championships are hosted this year by Tempel Farms in Wadsworth, Illinois and run August 6-12. The competition is an FEI event. Riders are expected from Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean Islands, and every part of the United States.

Each ACORD rider will be part of a team made up of young riders who compete in the disciplines of Show Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. Our discipline is Musical Freestyle Dressage. Test scores of ACORD riders are added to scores from the other rider's disciplines, determining the overall Team Challenge winner.

This is a unique opportunity to show off our skills. Riders will bring a horse or we will find a suitable mount. We anticipate funding for travel and lodging expenses.

If you ride unassisted at the Advanced Trot level or above and you have dressage competition experience … you should join us for a fabulous week at Tempel. Please contact Nagy for full information: Fax: 408 261 9438 danivar@aol.com Or call me at 408 261 8292 for more details

UPHA CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS at the AMERICAN ROYAL

Rebecca Hart takes first place! Fourteen riders with disabilities were truly treated like royalty in Kansas City November 9. The well-organized UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup class rode in front of three judges at the Kemper Arena. Ushered in by buglers in uniforms and mounted on Miss Jane Marple, Becca Hart rode first and gave a flawless performance. Marple never missed a beat and the judges (not to mention the great crowd) were most impressed! Deb Lewin, last year's winner, was Reserve Champion.

Linda Fritsch, Becca and family are now invited to the UPHA annual conference in Virginia in January for a recognition banquet! Class Coordinator Renee Biggins was "fantastic and did just everything for the riders." Many thanks to Sandy Rafferty for working hard to get the qualifying UPHA classes rolling at many of our horse shows around the country. We look forward to seeing even more riders in UPHA classes at future shows.

Stephen & June Rouse attended and were happy to be there to cheer on the riders during the exciting evening. Stephen attended ACORD's Competition Camp in Georgia last July and really had a great time. They even met a new local Operating Center volunteer who is eager to get their riders involved in competition. Warm Congratulations to All!

Exerpted from ACTIVE LIVING Jeffrey A. Tiessen, Publisher

It was not that long ago when the Paralympic Games were seen as something nice an athlete could do with other 'handicapped people'. There will be remnants of that kind of thinking for years to come, but where we stand today, things have changed by leaps and bounds. Many kids learn exactly what the Paralympics are in school and the opportunity to meet a Paralympian or to meet an Olympian is an equal thrill.

People are seeing Paralympic athletes in flashy TV and magazine advertisements. Canadian Broadcasting ran a series of Paralympic athlete profiles, just as they did for the Olympians. Features in The Oprah Magazine, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Home Depot's promotion of their Paralympic employees … prove the good news goes on.

Things are changing. Mindful of the limited profile of the Paralympics only 10 years ago, things have come a long way. What may be most encouraging is that on many fronts it is the female athletes who have gained the greatest exposure. Maybe, just maybe, the Paralympics are just a little ahead of the times.

VELVET VOICE CAMPBELL makes his JUDGING DEBUT at TRAV SHOW

Lots of us have enjoyed Jim's announcing at various ACORD shows and events, as well as at many able-bodied horse shows. He is a rider and a terrific volunteer, helping us with many aspects of organizing competitions and special events. Now he's added judging to his skills! At TRAV's Virginia show in October, Jim judged Equitation, Costume, Special Olympics and the UPHA class. Many positive comments were heard about his judging … and of course when not busy he helped line up the dressage classes and served as Music Tech for the kurs. "Seemed like he was everywhere and he added much to the show" said MaryJo Beckman.

Manager Barbe Ford was pleased to announce the High Point honors of the show: Walk: Cathy Barrett, Astride with Pride Minimal Trot/Jog: Tammy Bolen, Loudoun Intermediate Trot/Jog: Rachael Atol, EQUI-KIDS Advanced Trot/Jog: Ashlyn Myers, Hoofbeats

I am longing to get back to a TRAV show-this is a high-class group who do a great job and enjoy the process.

Printed on the Convention Information page of USDF Connection magazine, November issue, was this wonderful article and photo:

"DISABLED RIDERS SPECIAL GUESTS AT 2000 CONVENTION

USDF has invited two disabled athletes to attend USDF's annual convention in Cincinnati this December as informal ambassadors. Chris Lipe from Powder Springs GA and Mary Green, Jackson MI, will be performing a pas d'deux during the Black & White Evening of Elegance Benefit dinner to be held at Paxton Farm on December 1.

American Competition Opportunities for Riders with Disabilities, Inc. (ACORD) Executive Director, Judy Serie Nagy, of California says, "The opportunity for these athletes to perform in front of a national group of dressage enthusiasts is one that is very thrilling. Our sport has grown so fast and our riders are becoming so very accomplished. This USDF convention will give us the opportunity to spotlight our talented athletes." ACORD is one of the generous sponsors funding the participation of Chris and Mary at the USDF convention and benefit dinner.

Chris, Mary and Judy will attend the Meeting of the new USDF committee "Competitive Dressage Riders with Disabilities", chaired by Peter Lert. They will also have an opportunity to speak at several USDF Regional Meetings and are looking forward to meeting many USDF members."

SANDY DOTA REPORTS on the BLACK & WHITE EVENING of ELEGANCE at USDF

On December 1, I had the opportunity to attend the Benefit at Paxton Farm in Batavia, Ohio which was part of the 2000 USDF Annual Convention. Chris Lipe and Mary Green performed a wonderful pas de deux. It was choreographed by Linda Fritsch, as Mary was busy competing at the Paralympics in Sydney and Chris had never ridden a pas de deux before and wasn't quite sure where to start! Linda, on the other hand, was familiar with both riders and was able to put together a ride that would compliment both riders' skills and riding styles - it was magnificent!

As the theme was black and white, Chris was dressed in a tux with long tails, Mary wore a black silk blouse, long black skirt, and her helmet was covered in black lace and elegant flowers. Both rode black horses, Miss Jane Marple, a Throughbred/Percheron mare, who was ridden by Chris and Rochmaninoff's Rhapsody, a Russian Warmblood gelding who Mary rode. No one would have believed the limited amount of time these riders had to practice their pas de deux, as their performance was "spot on."

Expanding on the black and white, theme the first performers at the benefit were a black Freisan and a black Andalusian. This was a high-energy performance of the breeds' natural gaits as well as some entertaining trick performances. Then Chris and Mary performed their pas de deux to music from the movie "Sense & Sensibility". Next, we all watched in awe as the Tempel Lipizzans were shown working "in hand" performing the levade, airs above the ground, passage and piaffe. Then we oohed and aahed as they performed a mounted Quadrille.

If this wasn't enough, all the performers were called back into the Paxton Farm arena for a final bow and victory gallop. While Chris and Mary were in the arena, all trotted; however, after they safely exited the arena we saw the Friesian and Andalusian whizzing around at an excited gallop and the graceful Lipizzans doing their elegant collected canter. All received standing ovations.

During and after the dinner that followed these performances, many people congratulated Chris and Mary on their ride. You wouldn't think Chris was only 17 as he mingled with the crowd, posing for pictures when asked and he truly seemed to be enjoying the celebrity status, as was Mary. I found it extremely heartwarming as I overheard more than one person tell Mary how wonderful she rode and that she was truly an inspiration to them.

Yes, the audience of 300 plus did not see two disabled people riding that night, in their minds what they saw was two people who performed elegant dressage to music. It is through the efforts of USDF Performance Coordinator Carrie Schwartz that this wonderful opportunity was made possible. We are grateful to the USDF for this tremendous opportunity in Cincinnati. We also thank our generous sponsors: Paxton Farm, ACORD, USCPAA and the Georgia Dressage Society.

NAGY: It was indeed wonderful to enjoy the warm interest of so many dressage enthusiasts all during the convention. We attended several USDF Regional Meetings where Chris and Mary generated lots of enthusiasm-and we definitely enjoyed Paxton Farm's great party!

WHAT IS ACORD?

We act as an umbrella organization in the United States to promote quality competition and education for athletes with disabilities. This involves support in many ways - shows, clinics, fundraising, promotion, conjsulting and sharing expertise. ACORD works together with members of many equestrian organizations and has a travelling volunteer staff to support events. ACORD is a 6-year-old non-profit 501c3 corporation, Federal Tax ID #770375896. President: Karen C. Lang ACORD warmly welcomes your input and support. Our Goal: more riders at more shows

We wish you well in the New Millenium Happy 2001 !

EQUESTRIAN UPDATE is a quarterly newsletter published by ACORD with input from members of America's equestrian organizations. EQUESTRIAN UPDATE covers competition opportunities for athletes with disabilities in the United States and internationally.

We welcome your items. Please fax, mail or e-mail to:

Judy Serie Nagy    

Fax 408 261 9438

5303 Felter Road, San Jose CA 95132

danivar@aol.com

http://members.aol.com/ACORDCOMP/