PUCKERBRUSH
FARM
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Puckerbrush Farm is pleased to be the home of the University of Maine Dressage Club. Although still in its infancy, the club has doubled in size and energy this year. Members include both seasoned riders and enthusiastic newcomers to the sport. The team members have taken part in Puckerbrush Farm dressage shows with the hopes of improving their skills to attend Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) shows throughout New England. As everyone knows the cost of supporting our equine addictions is high and financial support from the University of Maine is limited. Donations, including equipment and funding, are always welcome. Please contact Puckerbrush Farm for more information.
IDA COMPETITION The Competition in a Nutshell The Dressage Club and Dressage Team represent the University of Maine in the Intercollegiate Dressage Association show circuit. The Intercollegiate Dressage Association, or IDA, has a show format that is a little different from the average state or sanctioned show. The first major difference is that the ‘Host’ team provides all of the horses for the competition. This eliminates numerous complications that could arise with each school trucking their own horses to the competition. This is a challenging arrangement for the riders because they are asked to compete with a horse they have never ridden. Therefore sound, talented and even tempered horses are imperative to the success of an IDA show. A team is comprised of four showing members who represent four levels of difficulty in competition. Each team has a First Level, Upper Training, Lower Training and Intro rider. For those that are not familiar with the sport of dressage, these classifications coincide with ‘tests’ that the horses and riders are asked to perform. For example, all First Level riders will be asked to ride the same First Level test. The host team divides the horses they will be providing into groups of four. Each horse also represents the four levels of difficulty, although some can usually be used for one or two different levels. A typical IDA show is structured in the following way: Each team gets a packet that contains team members’ numbers for the day and a packet that contains a schedule, the groups of horses and descriptions of each horse. The team also is told what horse group they will be riding. ‘Parade Riders’- usually non-competing dressage club members, ride the horses according to their group, descriptions are read allowed for each horse. This step is important because it allows the coaches and competitors to learn valuable information about the group of horses they have been given. Riders show their tests. Each rider is allowed a 10 minute warm up with coaching from their team coach. This is the only time they are allowed to ride the horse prior to their test. The day starts with the first level riders, followed by upper training, lower training and intro. The day ends with a tabulation of the scores and placing, followed by an awards ceremony.
Awards are given for the placing 1-6 of individuals in each level of difficulty. Awards are also given to teams placing 1-6 based on overall number of points earned amongst team members. Awards are given to the ‘High point’ and ‘Reserve High point’ riders. These are the riders that received the top two highest scores of the day, regardless of level of difficulty.
Club News Update: On Saturday, April 11th, the University of Maine Dressage Team finished a semester of competitions that included shows at the University of New Hampshire and Johnson and Wales University. The Dressage Team is part of the Dressage Club, which is a new but growing organization on campus that focuses on the horseback riding discipline of dressage. Members of the club enjoy weekly meetings that include informational sessions about all types of riding. They also enjoy discounted lessons with coaches Bryn Walsh and Rebecca Reed at the associated facility, Puckerbrush Farm, which is about thirty minutes from campus in Newburgh, ME. This past semester there were more club members participating in the show team than in previous years; there were seven competitors in total. The Intercollegiate Dressage Association competitions differ from normal equestrian competitions in that the club does not trailer horses to the show. Instead, the horses from the hosting facility are used; the teams draw a group of horses and coaches assign horses to each individual rider. The rider gets ten minutes to warm up with the horse before performing a pre-memorized routine called a dressage test. The University of Maine finished third out of all the participating teams for the year, and sophomore Kristin Brown received fourth place out of all of the First Level riders for the year. Kathleen Bailey, a successful equestrian who has been part of the club for her entire career at the University of Maine, graduates this year and will be moving to Scotland; the club is sad to see her leave, but is excited for her. The club will hold try-outs for next semester’s team on Maine Day, and the club is excited for a new team and new club members next fall. We now have two teams and many enthusiastic members! Member Biographies: Name: Kristin Brown—B Team First Level Rider Position: President Major: Biology Major Year in School: Sophomore Riding Experience: She has been riding for about eleven years, starting off as an Eventer and eventually changing over to Dressage. Horses: She does not currently own a horse, but has many favorites at Puckerbrush Farm including: Cino, Princess Fiona, and Labyrinth. She has been a member of the Dressage Club since her first year here at the University. She is very excited for next year and what it might bring! Name: Danielle Armitage Position: Vice President Major: Studio Art and Art Education Double Major Year in School: Junior Riding experience: I got my first horse when I was 5. I rode Western until I was 11, and then switched over to Huntseat, and later Dressage under the instruction of Jackie Smith, Sue Downer, Kerri Hills, and Bryn Walsh. Horses: Boots, Gemini, and Merriweather Obviously a major love in my life is horses and everything to do with them. I also enjoy creating art and I own a business selling equine related art and apparel. My fiancé and I love to travel, and hope to once we are both out of school, for now we at least try to get out to different interesting events around New England on our college student budget. Name: Maura Gorman—A Team Upper Training Position: Treasurer Major: Mass Communication with a minor in English and Public Relations Year in School: Junior Riding Experience: I've been doing the hunter/jumpers for 14 years and just started adding dressage to the mix last year when I joined the team. Horses: Semiautomatic, "Andy," a 1996 14.1hh dark bay Welsh/TB gelding who's schooling some lower level dressage stuff and LOVES to jump; Trick or Treat, "Boo," 1993 13.2hh dun paint who's on lease to Puckerbrush as a lesson pony; Indigo, 1999 15.3hh dark bay Hanoverian/QH who is at home being fat and friendly! The dressage club is a great way to meet a really diverse group of girls (and guys!!) who all have at least one thing in common. Puckerbrush is also a great barn community to be a part of. I love it! Name: Gina Edwards—A Team Intro Position: Secretary Major: Wildlife Ecology Major/Studio Art Minor Year in School: Freshman Riding Experience: Ridden for ten years (nine years at Music Vale Farm, one year at Fox Ledge Farm with Ann Guptill) Name: Lauren Flanders—B Team Intro Position: Public Representative Major: English with a mathematics minor Year in School: Freshman Riding Experience: 11 years of Centered Riding with Judy Cross in Dover-Foxcroft, ME. I’m very excited to apply this to dressage riding! Horses: I owned a paint mare named Ginger for a short time, and she still has a big place in my heart. I am also in love with a tb gelding named Rhythm, who I took to a two-phase. At the moment, however, I do not have any horses. Besides riding, I love writing, reading, music, and my family—which includes my cat and my Chris. My cat’s name is Snickers, named by my sister, who is in grad school to become a large animal veterinarian. Name: Eileen Stirling—A Team Lower Training Position: Captain Major: Undecided Year in School: Freshman Riding Experience: 13 years Horses: Joey (Georgia's Joey 12) and Coco (Tequila and Coke 28) I'm Eileen, a freshman, and I love dressage club!! It's so much fun getting to know everyone, and just being around people who love horses just as much as I do :). The lessons are also a plus, I've learned so much in just two months! My interests include, dressage, eventing, singing, doing community service, reading, writing, and spending time with family and friends, my pets, and the boyfriend of course. On an ending note, Caddy is my idol, and the cutest goat that thinks he's a dog to ever exist on this earth! I live in South Berwick, Maine, with my parents.... I have one 29-year-old brother and I have two dogs (Roscoe, a beagle, and Maisie, a Scottish Terrier, and a Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrot named Baxter...who’s a girl, not a boy…long story!) Name: Kaitlynn Pouliot—B Team Lower Training Major: Engineering Physics with Honors Year in School: Freshman Riding Experience: 8 years of riding as a Hunter, jumper and eq rider. I had absolutely no dressage experience prior to joining the dressage club. Horses: I have a 10-year-old 16.1hh bay Tb mare that I've owned for a year and foxhunt, trail ride, hunterpace and show in the hunter ring with. I also have a 17hh bay Appendix QH gelding that I've competed in hunters, eq and jumpers with. I took him to the New England Equitation finals in 2007. Name: Jenn Bonk-Brown—B Team Upper Training Major: Equine Business Management Year in School: Freshman Riding Experience: 13 years of hunter/jumper riding Horses: Stutz Valentino stabled at Puckerbrush Name: Kathleen Bailey—A Team First Rider Major: New media Year in School: Senior Riding experience: I began riding at the age of 4 when I was allowed the last 15 minutes of my sister’s lessons. Since then, riding has been a major part of my life. Since we did not own a horse, I would clean stalls and do barn work for lessons or a chance to ride. Most recently I have worked summers at the Kennebec Morgan Farm. Because I have ridden at so many different barns and accepted any opportunity to ride, I have tried many different disciplines including barrel racing, showing, Hunters, western, jumping, eventing, and of course, Dressage. Although I love jumping, I appreciate Dressage and the wonderful foundation it provides for all the riding disciplines. I look forward to competing this year on the University of Maine Dressage Team. Horses: Don't own any, but a few that have played an important role in my life are: --Emmas Mint Milano--Norwegian Fjord, first horse that felt like my own, the pony that could do it all, but with a serious attitude. We were an unstoppable team, of course, until there was a lovely patch of grass near by. --Guisseppi (Dan)--Beautiful chestnut Warmblood/Tb, with a lot of talent and plenty of personality to back it up. He taught me so much and gave ma a greater appreciation for dressage. --Kennebec Angel--A Morgan with a lot of talent and personality, but rather hot and has a slightly unstable mind. She taught me patience and the importance of bond between horse and rider. --Kennebec Rugby-(son of Angel) The cutest darn colt I've ever seen, and have been lucky enough to work with, and hopefully continue with. I also balance my time with the horses and riding club with playing Rugby for the University of Maine Name: Melody LaPlante Major: Business Administration Marketing Minor: Equestrian Studies Year in School: Junior Riding Experience: Riding Saddleseat since I was about 10 years old, Started dressage my freshman year of college Horses: Don’t own any but I enjoy working with Tita, a Standardbred Mare at the university and riding Tiny, a Belgian thoroughbred gelding at Puckerbrush farm whenever I get the chance. I have been president of the club for two years and I really have enjoyed watching it grow and flourish. I am very proud to be a part of this club and its show team. I will be traveling to Sevilla, Spain in January of '09 to study abroad for a semester. Name: Elizabeth Lewis Major: Forest Resources Year in School: Second year graduate student Riding experience: ~5 years with the dressage club (dressage with a little jumping and vaulting on the side) I love the water and woods and hope to gain more experience with kayaking and camping with my family. Recently a new mom to a beautiful boy Ethan and married to a wonderful man whom I met in the military. Going on 9 years in the Army National Guard and have done a tour in Iraq. Love all animals and can't wait to start riding again! Everyone in the club is very friendly and open and accepting! Club News Update The Dressage Club is now doing a monthly tack cleaning fundraiser. Keep an eye out for flyers around the barn. Support our team and get shiny-clean tack in return! We appreciate the support. We will post competition dates for the spring semester as soon as we find out when they are. We love to have people cheering us on!
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