The PONY EXPRESS
Editors: Sheila and Patrick Deane, 103 Springfield Crescent, London, Ontario N6K 2W1 Telephone: (519) 473-9144; E-mail: pdeane@julian.uwo.ca VOLUME 99 NUMBER 1 (MARCH 1999) 
Diving into the new year
Chair 's Message The 1999 Pony Club Year is off to another fine start. By the time you read this, the Regional Executive will already have held two meetings this year. The dates for the various Regional events have been set, and some workshops have already taken place. More will happen in the coming months.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many parents here in W.O.R. for their dedication. Without you, this programme cannot survive. The Executive deserves a special thank you for all the hours that they devote to pony club. A group of people from our Region recently travelled to Winnipeg to participate in a disciplines conference. Thanks to Virginia Buchanan-Smith, Connie Thompson, Michelle Rainford, Annie Baird, Del Zelmer and John Baird. These people gave up a weekend to look after the business of pony club on your behalf. Thank you, folks, for taking time from your busy schedules and representing our Region so well. As always, we are very proud of the pony clubbers in W.O.R.. Now we have something else of which to be especially proud. The Inter-Pacific Exchange Team for 1999 has been selected. I am pleased to announce that our own Annie Baird, Lindsay Thompson, and Jeff Zelmer have been selected to the team. This year the team travels to California for the event. Congratulations! We have a travel fund policy in our Region which provides funding for our pony clubbers who compete in national and international events. In order to assist in this funding, we are again holding a pony club raffle to raise the money needed. Each family is asked to sell a minimum of $20.00 worth of tickets. The draw, for many wonderful prizes, will take place at D Rally. Thanks to each Branch for your gift, and to Gayle McPherson and Paul Bartle for arranging the first place prize. Your D.C. and Branch executive have further details. As the weather improves, and we look forward to spring and eventually summer, I trust that you are working on your riding skills, as well as conditioning for you and your mount. Perhaps it will be this season when you register for an event that is new, or improve your skills enough to move to a higher level. Regardless, keep riding and have fun! Ralph Rainford From the Junior Executive Chair Members, please note: a new Junior Executive Chair (or Co-Chairs) is required to participate in Regional meetings. There is a possibility of sharing this position, and all that is required is a willingness to share opinions and the ability to co-ordinate and attend meetings. If you are interested in taking on or sharing this position, please contact Annie Baird, (519) 822-1487.
What is Dressage? Dressage is a French word which, when literally translated, means; training." It is a system for training horses and riders to use the natural gaits of the horse-the walk, trot and canter-and the natural aids of the rider-the hands, legs and seat-to guide and control the horse.
Dressage builds flexibility, obedience and gymnastic ability in horse and rider. In the days when wars were fought on horseback, these qualities could mean the difference between Life and death for the mounted soldier. At the highest level of dressage (known as "airs above the ground") horses were trained to leap, kick and turn in the air, as fighting strategies. Although these movements are only seen currently in the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, two of the last remnants of these "high school" movements are seen in the highest levels of dressage competition. These movements are the canter pirouette and the piaffe. The canter pirouette is a 180 or 360 degree turn at the canter and the piaffe is a high stepping trot on the spot. The lower levels of dressage emphasize the natural gaits of the horse/pony on straight lines and circles. The horse reams to carry his own weight and that of his rider with safety, balance and elegance. Success in dressage requires years of practice, discipline and talent for both horse and rider. In dressage competitions, each horse/rider combination performs a set test for one or more judges. The competitors are allocated marks for accuracy as well as for the paces, obedience, flexibility of the horse and the effectiveness and the poise of the rider. The gradual progression of dressage exercises not only results in an obedient, balanced pony, but also improves the "seat," co-ordination and feel of the rider. Developing these exacting skills is an immense challenge, requiring an abundance of self discipline. In the end, you and your pony will have built a solid foundation together: he/she will be strong, supple, and a pleasure to ride!
Three Reasons Why Dressage Arenas are Lettered the Way They Are
1. The very first dressage ring was built by the lowest-bid contractor.
2.The letters are consecutive and in alphabetical order, in a now-extinct language spoken only by early 18th-century Hanoverian carriage drivers.
3. The other letters in the alphabet are there all right, they're just invisible -- what do you think your horse has been spooking at all these years?
Ouiz Practice Questions 1. A pony's paces are in two, three or four times according to the number of beats in each stride In what time are: 2. When showing off a pony at the halt, where should you stand and how should you hold him? 3. List as many different horse boots as you can. 4. What name is seven to a tail with the end cut square? 5. Prom where does the wall of the hoof grow? 6. What is the body temperature of a healthy horse? 7. What is the official birthday of all Thoroughbreds? 8. How many inches are in a hand? 9.Where are the three places for feeling the pulse? 10. What do you call an area of dead skin caused by saddle pressure? 11. In which year was the Pony Club formed? 12. What is the maximum prize money which may be given at a Pony Club competition?
with Ann Mary Bettenson and Scott Mallory Sunday, April 11, 1999. Scott is a saddler. Ann Mary is an instructor who has worked with top show jumpers, racehorses and carriage horses. Her expertise in the area of dynamics and needs of the individual horse complements Scott's work in Saddlery. For more information and registration, please call Sandra at Go-Between Riding Stables (905-945-0119). Cost: $10 before April 3rd: $15 After April 3rd. Clinics with Cheryl Gibson, International Lecturer and Equestrian.
April 17-18, 1999 Paige Lockton
Paige is a Pony Club "A " graduate and was shortlisted for the Canadian Team from 1991-3. She has dedicated her lifetime to riding, competing internationally and training with the most renowned horsemen in the world She has developed a sound system of teaching and shares her enthusiasm for the sport with everyone from Pony Clubbers to international level riders. 9 May, 1999 Caledon Riding and Hunt Club Spring Eventing Clinic sanctioned by the OHTA)
Park Lane Ranch
Summer Employment Opportunity.
For sale. Welsh Pony Mare. Great for beginning rider. Asking $1250. Call Herb Murray at (905) 957-7122 for more details. Wanted. Quiet horse or large pony for beginner child. Call Sandy Zelmer (905) 9362658. Wanted. Mare over 16hh, solid built. Nice mover, not necessarily sound, for brood mare. Call Sandy Zelmer (905) 936-2658. Wanted. Small horse or large pony for eleven year old D2 rider. 14hh to 15.3hh. Should be suitable for D2 Rally now, C Rally next year, and Pretraining eventing. Must be safe, sane and sound. Willing to pay right price for right animal. Experience showing or eventing or Pony Club competition preferred. Call Erika Clarke (Albion Pony Club) 905-729-4290. Standing at Stud. "Rather Well." 3 year old almost black, thoroughbred stallion by Raj Kapur. Already 16hh. Breathtaking movement. His six 1999 foals are due soon and can be seen. Introductory offer for 1999: $300. Call Sandy Zelmer, 905-936-2658.
1. a)4 b)2 c)3 d)4 2. Stand in front, facing the pony, and hold the bit or headcollar with one hand on either side 3. Brushing, coronet, knee, hock, over-reach, polo, sausage, speedi-cut, tendon, travelling. 4. A bang-tail 5. Coronet 6. 38 degrees Celsius, (100 - 101 degrees Fahrenheit) 7. The 1st of January 8. Four 9. a) under the top of the lower jaw b) the cheek artery above and behind the eye c) on the inside of the foreleg by the knee 10. Sit-fast 1 1. 1929 12. No money prizes are allowed
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