Another good horse show!  We lucked out on the weather as it looked like it was going to thunderstorm everyday, but we only had one little rain shower.  Nicole did a great job, and received 65%’s in her Jr Team and Individual tests!  Foley had a terrific weekend, had the high score of the show on Friday with a 73% at Training 4, got a 77% in his material class, and a 75% in the USEF 4 Year Old test!  Pip was super, we had very rideable piaffe and passage work, received no scores lower than a 6 on those movements, and lots of 7′s!  Improvement!  Janet Foy gave us a 66.8% for a very consistent I-2 test.  We debuted our Grand Prix Freestyle, and it was a success!  I decided to change the entire piaffe-passage-trot routine Thursday night before the show (choreography and music)!  So Friday was my first time riding through the new freestyle. It went well, and we had a great time, a 74%!  I showed it again on Saturday, and had just about as good of a ride, and equally as much fun, for a 72.75%!  Now, off to Lamplight and hope it just isn’t beginners luck!

Dressage at Lamplight CDI was a successful show!  Nicole swept the FEI Junior Division, Pip had one good Grand Prix, and Foley had a terrific first away show!  Pip took home the Grand Prix Champion High Point both days.  On Friday we were the last ride of the day and lucky enough to ride in a thunderstorm!  I could see the black clouds roll in as I was getting on and by the time I went down centerline, there was rain and thunder!  Pip did excellent in the test, we got our piaffe, passage, and transitions and received a 64% from judges Natalie Lampling and Gary Rockwell (a 66% from Mr. Rockwell!!)!  Upon reviewing the video from our other rides, I just did not have him engaged enough in the warm up, we will work on that!  Foley was a super-star, very well behaved for his first away horse show.  He received a 75.8% in the Material, a 74% in Training 4, and a 73.6% in the USEF 4 Year Old Test!  Foley also received the Reserve Champion High Point at Training Level for the first show.  Working student Hannah did a great job grooming and taking photos, thank you!

Along with riding in the clinic I was also preparing my young horse, Foley, and Nicole for the upcoming Silverwood Dressage Show.  Saturday morning I was able to watch a few lessons at Tempel, go coach Nicole, and come back and ride in my lesson, then go back and show Foley! 

In my rushing around from clinic, show, clinic, show, I did not take enough time for my young 4 year old Foley before his first class.  He had been perfect the day before schooling (and everyday before that), so I didn’t think much of a little rushing before his test.  Bo

y was I wrong!  I got him ready, then got right on, and proceeded to get dumped right off!  Poor horse couldn’t handle the show atmosphere, and I didn’t give him the time to adjust!  Luckily, I was not hurt at all and the horse was fine, and I was able to get back on and have enough warm up time before my class started.  We ended up with a 68% at Training 4, his very first class, after the first time he bucked me off!  The next day he received a 71% at Training 4.  Nicole had a good start to the FEI Jr Qualifying season, placing second and third in her classes!  Dee and Dimitri had a good first show with a 65% at First level!

Nicole and Oxford

Kaye Eileen and Mooney

Gretchen and Maggie

Susanne Von Dietze Clinic

April 26-27 2010

Monday

9:00     Sue Gerstenberger        Liese                7 year old, Hanoverian, 1^st/2^nd Level    

9:45     Orrie DeCaster Queenston        11 year old, Canadian Warmblood, 4^th/PSG

10:30   Nicole Chaipetti            Oxford             14 year old, Dutch Warmblood, FEI Junior

11:15   Break

11:30   Jean Attermier              Logan               8 year old, Trakehner, 1^st Level

12:15   Gretchen Baxter           Maggie Quarter Horse, Training/1^st Level

1:00     Lunch

2:00     Amanda Johnson          Pip                   16 year old, Hanoverian, Grand Prix

2:45     Karen Fitt                     Letka               13 year old, Hannoverian, 1^st Level

3:30     Break

3:45     Margie Bjorkman         Winnie              7 year old, Hanoverian, 1^st/2^nd Level

4:15     Kaye Eileen Willard      Mooney           Paint Quarter Horse, 1^st Level

Tuesday

9:00     Sue Gerstenberger        Liese                7 year old, Hanoverian, 1^st/2^nd Level    

9:45     Orrie DeCaster Queenston        11 year old, Canadian Warmblood, 4^th/PSG

10:30   Nicole Chaipetti            Oxford             14 year old, Dutch Warmblood, FEI Junior

11:15   Break

11:30     Kaye Eileen Willard      Mooney           Paint Quarter Horse, 1^st Level

12:15   Gretchen Baxter           Maggie Quarter Horse, Training/1^st Level

1:00     Lunch

2:00     Amanda Johnson          Pip                   16 year old, Hanoverian, Grand Prix

2:45     Karen Fitt                     Letka               13 year old, Hannoverian, 1^st Level

3:30     Break

3:45     Margie Bjorkman         Winnie              7 year old, Hanoverian, 1^st/2^nd Level

4:15     Jean Attermier              Logan               8 year old, Trakehner, 1^st Level

Chuck Swan has agreed to be the official videoer for the Susanne Von Dietze clinic.  If you would like your ride videoed contact him.  www.chuckswan.com

Lilo Fore with Katie and Nirvana

On Sunday I went down to Tempel Farms to audit the IDCTA clinic with Lilo Fore.  A few of my students were riding in the clinic, and they had a great time.  Lilo is a very encouraging instructor, and has a high standard for her students.  The horses and riders worked hard, finishing their rides more forward, engaged and going up to the contact!  Great job, Deanna and Katie!

Congrats to Amanda Johnson Dressage LLC’s 2009 IDCTA Award Winners!

Special Awards

IDCTA Horse Person of the Year: Deanna Hetrich

Dressage Awards

IDCTA Dressage Journey Award

USDF – First through Fourth Level: Amanda Johnson, Pip

FEI – Prix St Georges through Grand Prix: Amanda Johnson, Pip

USDF Freestyle – Open: 2nd Place Amanda Johnson, Anakin 72.361%

Grand Prix - Open: 2nd Place Amanda Johnson, Pip 65.319%

Intermediate II – Open: 1st Place Amanda Johnson, Pip 68.2%

Intermediate I – Adult Amateur: 3rd Place Renee McKinley, Abend 61.875%

Prix St Georges – Adult Amateur: 1st Place Renee McKinly, Abend 62.566%

Third Level – Junior/Young Rider: 3rd Place Nicole Chiapetti, Oxford 64.835%

Second Level – Open: 4th Place Amanda Johnson, Jamaal 70.041%, 5th Place Amanda Johnson, Glissando 67.643%

First Level – Open: 2nd Place Amanda Johnson, Anakin 72.726%, 3rd Place Amanda Johnson, Glissando 72.579%

Training Level – Open: 4th Place Amanda Johnson, Vemilion B 74.000%

Training Level – Adult Amateur: 5th Place Kaye Eileen Wilard, Anakin 70.023%

Green as Grass/Introductory: 1st Place Deanna Hetrich, True Colors 70.800%

Eventing Awards

Novice – Adult Amateur: 1st Place Deanna Hetrich, St. George 29pts

Balance in Movement

Amanda Johnson Dressage is proud to announce a clinic with world renowned seat specialist Susanne Von Dietze at Silverwood Farms April 26-27, 2010.  We are excited to welcome Susanne back to the area!  Susanne is the author of Balance In Movement: The Seat of the Rider and she also has a DVD based on the book.  For information about riding or auditing contact Amanda Johnson at 319-331-3241 or send an email to ajohnsonborchardt@gmail.com

Help spread the word!  A printable flyer is found here:  susanne_von_dietze_2010

Nicole and Oxy

Canter

Medium Trot

Flying Change

We had our second clinic with Conrad Schumacher.  He was pleased that all of the horses had improved since the last clinic.  The day before the clinic we had a huge thunderstorm which made the ring very wet the first day.  Despite the very cold temperatures and windy weather, the horses were mostly well behaved and we had some great rides.  With Pip, we worked on getting the piaffe more active, and lowering his haunches more.  Conrad was pleased with our canter zig zag, 2 tempis and 1 tempis.  My homework for the next clinic is to get the canter pirouttes more honest.  Anakin was much improved since the last clinic.  He was going more forward, straight to the bit.  We started some flying change work and got some very nice changes.  Nicole had great rides with Oxy, and improved a lot the second day.