University of Maine Dressage Club

PUCKERBRUSH FARM

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.

The UMaine show team had three shows in the spring season. The dates and placing are listed below:

Johnson and Wales – March 29^th

UNH- April 6th

UMaine- (hosted at Puckerbrush Farm)- April 13th

The results for these shows are the following:

Johnson and Wales:

Team A: Kristin Brown(Upper Training)

Maura Gorman (Lower Training)

Melody LaPlante (Intro)- 4^th place

Team B: Sarah Wiltbank (Lower Training)

Elizabeth Lewis( Intro)

UNH:

Team A: Kristin Brown(Upper Training)

Maura Gorman (Lower Training)-

Melody LaPlante (Intro)- 5^th place

Overall Team Placing: 5th

Team B: Sarah Wiltbank (Lower Training)

Elizabeth Lewis( Intro)

UMAINE:

Team A: Kristin Brown(Upper Training)

Maura Gorman (Lower Training)- 1^st Place- Reserve High Point

Melody LaPlante (Intro)- 5^th place

Overall Team Placing: 4^th

Team B: Sarah Wiltbank (Intro)

As a team UMaine placed 3^rd overall in year end awards!

We would all like to thank our dedicated Coaches Bryn Walsh and Rebecca Reed for a fantastic season

Club News Update:

We are anticipating some wonderful new members to join our club in the fall! And remember, we love spectators!!! So feel free to come cheer us on at any of the events we host or compete at. Go Blue!!

Dont forget!! the Dressage Clubs Annual Wreath Sale Fundraiser is just around the corner! feel free to contact Melody.LaPlante@umit.maine.edu for an order form or more information.

Thank you to our local Sponsors:

Double A Tack

Freeport Tack

Katahdin Trail Saddlery

Merchants Automotive Group

The Getchell Agency

As always, we appreciate your support in fostering these incredible athletes!

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