December Newsletter

Dear Area VII Members,
December brings us to the National USEA meeting in Nashville TN.  By the time this is printed many of you have already made your decision about coming or not since it will be December 7-11 at the Sheraton Music City Hotel.  Throughout the convention there are many great presentations ranging from rider and horse fitness, organizing events, professional and amateur focused topics.  Recap on the Pan American Games and preparing for the NAJYRC to name a few.
This year’s keynote speaker at Nashville is Clayton Fredericks, from Wiltshire, England. Lifting the inaugural World Cup title in 2005 could be regarded as a turning point in Clayton’s competitive career for over the following year, he went on to take the titles at Chatsworth, Saumur, the British Open Championship and took the individual silver and team bronze medals home from the World Equestrian Games. Recently riding Ben Along Time he won the Rolex Kentucky 4**** event.  To escape from it all Clayton can often be seen in his rock band Snatch as lead singer. Clearly a talented rider and entertainer, I’m looking forward to listening to his presentation.  Saturday’s Awards Dinner will once again feature eventing legend Jim Wofford as Master of Ceremonies for the year-end awards.  This is always a great evening and the inspiring stories are priceless and motivational for anyone there.
We will present a recap of some of the national meeting highlights at our Area VII annual meeting and awards banquet January 21, 2012 at the Edgefield McMenamins in Troutdale Oregon.  Dr. Katja Zellmer and Dr Erica McKenzie from OSU College of Veterinary Medicine will be presenting some of the highlights of their equestrian exercise physiology research and share some of the recent equipment they now have to monitor and investigate horse health and provide options for therapy at Oregon State University.   Our afternoon keynote speaker is Buck Davidson, from Ocala FL, discussing his recent success at the Pan American Games. 
Please consider contributing a gift basket/item to the silent auction. This is one of our best fundraisers that benefit the entire membership.   The proceeds from our silent auction help bring educational speakers to the meeting and keep the costs of the meeting affordable for everyone.   Contact Barb Barke (b.barke@yahoo.com), our meeting organizer or myself (Luigi@areavii.org) to arrange delivery of your silent auction item if you aren’t able to bring it to the meeting or if you would like to send it early.  
Early registration for the Area VII annual meeting ends January 6th.  Please mail the form and payments to Lorilee Hanson (address at the bottom of the form).  A digital copy of the form is available at www.areavii.org.
After several changes in the calendar for 2012 we finally have a complete schedule.  None of the changes were made without consulting the organizers involved and the Area Council who represent our membership and some of these changes are only for 2012 and then some of these dates are planning to shift back to normal in 2013.  I’ll get both the 2012 and proposed 2013 schedule up on the Area VII website as soon as possible.  I have highlighted the dates that have changed from 2011 so you can see them easier.
May 18-20           NWEC (I-BN)
June 8-10             Aspen (I-BN)
June 22-24          Inavale (T3D,I-BN)
July 6-8                 Whidbey (I-BN)
July 13-15            Rebecca (CCI2/1, CIC3/2/1, P/T3D, A-N)
Aug 3-5                 Young Riders (P-BN)
Aug 10-12            Stanton Farm (P-BN, Intro Test)
Aug 24-26            Caber (I-BN)
Sept 7-9               Aspen (A-BN)
Sept 22-23           NWEC (I-BN, Intro Test)

Don’t forget to renew your membership sooner than later.  If you let your membership lapse you might miss a couple issues of Flying Changes as well as your subscription to US Eventing.  For Adult riders by renewing your membership before the annual meeting you will get an AR member discount on the Buck Davidson clinic following the Annual Meeting on Sunday January 22.  The location of this clinic is still in progress, contact (Magsnags@aol.com) or Devin Robel (devinrobel@hotmail.com) to participate in this clinic as a participant or auditor.
I would like to thank Maggie Rikard for her outstanding service as the Adult Rider coordinator for many years.  Starting in January John Merriwether will take the reins as the next Adult Rider Coordinator.  2012 is also the year the organizers of Area VII vote for their next area council representative.  John Camlin has done an outstanding job representing Area VII organizers, thank you for your service.   Also when you get the chance, welcome Melissa Beardsley as our next Area VII Chair, I’d like to thank her for stepping forward and taking on this leadership opportunity.
Have a great holiday season.
Luigi
Adult Rider Report:
One last educational activity to round out a great year. The Eric Smiley clinic held at Blackwood Farm, thank you Melissa and crew, in Redmond, was a huge success despite Mother Nature. Hardy NW eventers braved 2 days of fairly consistent rain to ride with the Irish legend. And no, just because he is from Ireland does not mean he liked the conditions! After a trip to REI he was a much happier and dry clinician the 2nd day. Eric's teaching philosophy is "keep it simple".  He teaches the basics of good riding and communication with your horse. He challenges you to be straight and correct over simple exercises then to take that and be successful over more challenging ones.
We were all treated to delicious homemade soups to warm us at lunch while we chatted with Eric and fellow riders- perfect. Thank you to Lou Leslie for organizing.
Moving on to 2012- We start the year off with a clinic following the annual meeting. Very excited to bring Buck Davidson to the Portland area. This will be an Adult Rider sponsored clinic but is open to all. Discount to members so make sure you have joined or renewed. Buck will be a keynote speaker at the meeting telling us about his successful medal winning trip to the Pan Ams in Mexico.
The popular annual camp has been scheduled for May 25-27th at NWEC. I am thrilled to combine it with a clinic with Leslie Law and announce that his lovely and talented wife, the 'other Lesley' will be teaching at camp. Other clinicians TBA. Watch your e mail for more details.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the annual meeting. We will have a drawing for prizes for those attending as well as the drawing for 4 $250 Educational Bucks Certificates. To be entered (do not need to be present) you need to send me the details of your volunteering activities for 2011. Anything involving eventing- recognized and unrecognized events, derbies or clinics, anywhere you helped out. For every 10 hours you will get a ticket in the drawing. So let me know! Magsnags@aol.com
I also want to announce that I will be stepping down as Adult Rider Coordinator. John Meriwether has agreed to assume the role. I hope that you will give him all the support and help that you have shown me over the years. I know John will bring new energy and continue to build and improve the BEST AR program in the country! I will continue to be very involved- you don’t get rid of me that easy:) and will organize camp for 2012.
Calendars
When you read this the calendars for 2012 will be at the printers. You will be able to pick up at local tack shops that have advertised with us or have them mailed to you for the cost of postage. At writing the following have committed to distribute, Bills Country Farm and Feed Enumclaw, Gallops Saddlery Tigard OR and The Grange Tack and Feed in Issaquah. Watch your e mail and Facebook for when they are available and any other locations.

Young Rider Update

It’s the end of the year which means next month is a whole new year.  In January the Area VII Annual meeting will be held at the Edgefield McMenamins in Troutdale, Oregon.  This meeting will take place on January 21, 2012 the speakers for this event are Buck Davidson an individual bronze medalist from the Pan American Games as well as Dr. Katja Zellmer and Dr. Erika Mckenzie  from OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.  Young Riders are encouraged to go to the annual meeting because there will be a meeting for all young riders and also the Area VII Young Rider year end awards are going to be presented.  To register for this meeting go to areavii.org, you can also find more information about the annual meeting on the Area VII website.  Young Riders have already begun planning for 2012 so if you have any ideas or feedback please email Piper.  Since it is the end of the year that means that everybody needs to start planning on renewing their USEA membership and Young Rider membership.  Don’t wait and miss out on exciting Young Rider activities.  Thank you again to all of the volunteers, parents, members, and sponsors, for making 2011 a success.  WE couldn’t do it without you!  Let’s make Area VII Young Riders the best in the US!  Brynn