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Terry Rose and Betsy Greene presenting 'Horseperson Of The Year' award to Lynn Dow at the VHC Annual Meeting in March

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HEADS UP!!!
VHC Underwrites UVM Extension Helmet Poster

Dr. Betsy Greene, VHC member, UVM Faculty and Vermont Equine Extension Agent, brought a wonderful opportunity to the April 5th director’s meeting. Betsy has created a “HEADS UP!!!” how to properly fit a riding helmet poster, and she offered VHC the opportunity to underwrite the project and place our logo alongside the UVM Ext logo. Safety committee members were thrilled with the idea and the directors agreed this is a great collaboration between VHC and extension to promote helmet safety and proper fit. This 11 x 17 poster will be printed soon and made available at Everything Equine & Horses 2005. Stop by the VHC booth if you are interested in purchasing a poster for your barn, or shop.

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Vermont Horse Council
6TH ANNUAL TRAIL RIDE
September 23rd, 24th, 25th.
Tunbridge Fair Grounds

The entry form will be ready in the July newsletter. So mark those calendars and we will see you all there.

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BOOK REVIEW
by Lynne A. Miller

Lessons in Lightness: The Art of Educating the Horse
by Mark Russell with Andrea W. Steele,
The Lyons Press, Guilford, Connecticut, 2004, 174 pages, hardcover $22.95

Lessons in Lightness is one of those rare books that while explaining an approach to riding, perhaps, more importantly inspires us. It instills in the reader the enthusiasm and commitment to true teamwork with the horse. Lessons in Lightness leads you through the steps and thinking processes for the kind of dialogue with your horse that can lead to ‘artistic equitation’. English and Western riders alike will catch the joie de vivre that riding with lightness imparts.
In Lessons in Lightness, Russell explains this concept and method using a four step approach for each movement: an explanation of the principles involved in the movement; the how-to section; the liberal use of diagrams and photos; and sidebar notes. There are frequent reminders that patience is of the utmost importance and that horses learn at different rates. What one horse may understand in one or two lessons may take another horse weeks. The trainer must take this into account and adjust the training schedule accordingly.
Throughout Lessons in Lightness, Russell emphasizes the three stages in developing the horse’s gymnasticism: relaxation, flexion, and strength building. Terms that may already be familiar to riders are expanded upon in the context of working toward riding with lightness and take on entirely new meanings. Lessons in Lightness deals with such thought provoking topics as: the 3 track shoulder-in and the 4 track shoulder(s)-in, competitive school versus the artistic school, value of the seldom practiced counter-shoulders-in, horse’s and rider’s one sidedness, circle training, timing the aids to the horse’s hoofbeats and the significance of in-hand work.
Lessons in Lightness presents a refreshing approach to communication with your horse. Indeed, the use of the word ‘educating’ in the title is a key. This excellent book with its reams of valuable points is one that you will want to refer to again and again. When reading the book, you will likely find there are just too many passages to highlight. Every paragraph, if not every sentence, seems to be a point to remember. Perhaps the best way to use this book would be to read it through in its entirety in order to fully understand the logic and sequence, then go back to the beginning. Whichever way you choose, you will gain sound and useful insights into reaching for the goal of riding with lightness.

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Thanks to the rest of our members for renewing their dues!
Terry Rose, Susan Mitchell, Cindy Cross Greenia, Beverly McMullin

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GREEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST

Would you like to ride your horse in the Green Mountain National Forest?
Well, there is good news and bad news. At the present there are about 12 miles of approved horse trails in GMNF. However, there are many more miles (if not hundreds) of existing trails in the GMNF that are already opened to VAST, mountain bikers, cross country skiers, hikers, etc. You, the horse back rider, CAN NOT use these existing trails as they are not approved for horses. You CAN NOT ride on a trail in the GMNF unless that trail is posted open to horses by the Forest Service. However, you may ride your horse anywhere in the GMNF except these already existing above mentioned trails.
I am asking NOW for your help in organizing a committee to work with the Forest Service to get these existing trails approved for horse back riding. The Forest Service has indicated that they may be willing to aid us but they want to know how these trails will be maintained if approved to be opened, and by whom.
I have been working on opening these existing trails to horses for the last year and a half, but we must organize to proceed and I need your help.
The Forest Service plan, that is out for public review and comment, for a 90 day period, is being shown to the public now. It has no plans for additional horse back riding trails. We need to convince them that the horse community will be a willing partner in getting these trails open and maintained.
Please contact me if you are willing to assist in getting more trails opened in the GMNF.
Sincerely, Steven Noble
278 Sunset Drive, Salisbury, VT 05769, 802-352-4774 (Home), 802-388-9079 (Work), 802-388-3458 (Fax) or Email: dldc@together.net

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CENTERED RIDING CLINIC
WITH SARAH SEIDMAN
Sunday, May 15 at Water Tower Farm in Marshfield

$50.00 per person for all day, auditors welcome
Stalls will be available
TO BENEFIT VHC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
It’s spring and after last years very successful and fun clinic with Sarah another clinic will be held on Sunday, May 15th, 2005. The clinic will be all day, starting at 9:00 a.m. and ending around 4:00 p.m. The fee will be $50.00 per person. Limited to 12 horses and riders. No limit for auditors. Please bring a current coggins and rabies certificate. You must be a Vermont Horse Council Member.
Centered Riding is a new way of teaching the classical principles of riding. It answers the questions of “how” when the riding instructor tells you” what “ to do to communicate with your horse. It gives you a new perspective on riding as well as life. By becoming aware of how your body works and its unconscious habits and patterns of movement, you can begin to give your body permission to function unhampered. Through the use of the Four Basics- breathing, soft eyes, balance and centering— you can learn to use your own balance, suppleness and coordination to allow the horse to respond with increased balance, poise and forward motion. The clinic will include these activities and principles:
1. Both unmounted and mounted exercises designed to teach human anatomy and function.
2. That centered riding is appropriate and helpful for all ability levels and for riders in any discipline; western, English, pleasure, competitive trail, jumping, etc.
3. That it’s a gentle, non-threatening and fun way to get to know yourself and your horse better. The general schedule is usually about an hour and a half lecture/unmounted work and then hour-long mounted “ classes” usually grouped by ability, with a break for lunch. As always, Helmets, shoes with a least a quarter inch heel (no sneakers) and comfortable unrestrictive clothing.
About the instructor: Sarah Seidman is presently at the third level of the four-level Centered Riding instructor program and authorized to teach CR clinics. She was introduced to CR by Fourth level instructor Sally Haney, and has since received instruction from the founder of CR, Sally Swift, and Fourth Level instructors, Susan Harris, Sandra Code-Cabell, Lucy Bump and Mary Fenton who has helped coach three time endurance champion Becky Hart to Victory. She has also studied under dressage instructor Judi Whipple of Breckenridge Farm in Barre, Vt. Sarah has spent 40 years with horses, from hunter/jumper lessons and hot-walking polo ponies as a child in Michigan to working cattle on a ranch in New Mexico, to running her current business, Pease Farm Stables, in Middlesex, Vt, which uses the techniques of CR to teach trail riding, dressage and introductory jumping to adults and children. Pease Farm also offers training and boarding and summer day camps. Sarah has been a recognized CR instructor since 1992 and credits it with transforming both her teaching and her riding “CR is a fun and common-sense approach to riding. My horses love it and it’s really helped me learn to use my body effectively.” she said.
Please contact me as soon as possible to reserve your space. I can be reached at home at 244-5064, please leave a message. Or email me smsrumor@hotmail.com. Look forward to seeing you there.
- Susan Mitchell

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