Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Quiz Champs from Northern Lakes!


The USPC East Championships just finished up and I have really exciting news to report.

 

Northern Lakes took 2nd place out of all the C teams!!!! (USPC joined junior Cs with senior Cs).

AND from that, four members were chosen to represent the United States at the International competition, and 3 of the 4 are from Northern Lakes Region:

3rd place for international team placement: Anita Frasier !!!!!!!!!!
2nd place for internantional team placement: Anessa DeMars !!!!!!!!!!
1st place for international team placement: Mara DeMars!!!!!!!


 

Three our of four members chosen to represent the USPC internationally are from Northern Lakes Region!!  The international competition is in October on the west coast of Canada.

                             Please join me in congratulating them!

 
NLR D's you have big shoes to fill in your upcoming Midwest Championship :)  Remember to have fun!

This is why it is so important to rally.  In pony club, you have the opportunity to not only qualify to compete nationally, but internationally!  Anessa, Mara and Anita, we are very proud of your accomplishment that you achieved through your dedication and hard work. Way to go ladies and their mom's, DCs, and volunteers of the regional Quiz rally all who supported their efforts!!

Friday, July 19, 2013

Regional Rallies & More


Rally!!!   It is official, we are holding a qualifying eventing rally in conjunction with Steepleview 's Horse Trial over Labor Day Weekend!  Why go home with a possible ribbon when you can go home with two and maybe 3?  The Northern Lakes Region is picking up the cost of horse management so this qualifying rally will not cost you more money than the horse show costs.  Get your teams together, and sign up so that you can get a stall before stalls are gone!  It's time to qualify for 2014 Festival!

 
Jump Crew: If you are without a horse, or otherwise unable to do the eventing rally, we need you! Help jump crew Sunday morning (Labor Day weekend)  for the Steepleview Stadium rounds.  Remember to wear appropriate barn shoes and a polo always looks nice and represents your club nicely.

 
Reminder: Did you get your entries in for the non qualifying Dressage Rally to your DC last Friday?  Your DC needs to get those teams to the organizers for that rally this week! 

 
Hot Weather tips:   Hydrate: Did you know that not only is it important to drink water, but sometimes in extreme heat you need more than water, you need Gatorade to replenish your electrolytes?  Your horse could also need electrolytes in extreme heat.  You can just sprinkle it on their food.  If you add it to their  water bucket, always make sure they have a second bucket of water just in case they don't like the taste of flavored water so that they drink. If their water troughs water gets warm, they may not want to drink it either, so refill those water troughs or buckets regularly with cool water.   Tube paste electrolytes are also available for the equine after an extreme workout in the heat. You can find electrolytes at the feed stores and most tack stores like Dovers.  If your horse is "blowing" where his nostrils are breathing in and out rapidly and he is not sweating when he should be sweating, hose him off immediately. He may have developed anhydrosis which if left untreated could even result in his death.  Call your vet. 

 
Also, when you  hose your horse off, be sure and scrap them off as the water can act like an insulator and keep them overheated.  A bucket of ice water and sponge will help your horse get through the day's lesson.  Have a groom, parent, or helpful friend nearby, and again, scrape the ice water off afterwards. 

 
Finally, immediately after dismounting, remove your helmet and cross country vest to allow your body to cool down.  And, consider riding in the early morning or late evening when possible.  And never leave your dogs in the car!

 
Do you know the signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke? Go to www.ponyclub.org and learn more.  Know the signs!    For those very, very  hot days, you may want to not exercise your horse that day. 

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

FREE admission to the MN State Fair!

Come Volunteer for EquiMania! receive a free T-shirt and free entrance to the State Fair!
 
EquiMania! is a brand new exhibit coming to the 2013 Minnesota State Fair.  It is an award winning educational program that was developed at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada in the form of a traveling exhibit.  This 5,500 pound display was viewed by over 873,000 trade show visitors in 2010 and is excellent in entertaining huge crowds. 
 
The EquiMania! exhibit includes display stations covering a variety of horse topics such as:
 
            Nutrition                                  Anatomy                                             
            Horse Behavior                        Diseases and Parasites
            Horse Careers                          Horse and Farm Safety           
            Horse Welfare                         And MUCH more!                  
 
Each station is equipped with unique educational displays, activities, and quizzes to engage youth from both urban and rural backgrounds.  Visitors will have fun learning about the care and welfare of horses and exploring the many career opportunities within the horse industry.
 
After partnering with EquiMania! at the University of Guelph, the Minnesota State Fair has agreed to create an exact replica of the exhibit to be housed at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.  The replica will be used annually at the Minnesota State Fair.
 
This is a huge opportunity for Minnesota to be a leader in educating the public about industry issues and the horse in general.  That is where you come in!  Volunteers are what make EquiMania! so extraordinary, without people, clubs, and other organizations willing to volunteer, EquiMania could not exist. 
We would like to invite you to volunteer for a shift at EquiMania!
 
Volunteer requirements:
            1. Each volunteer must be a minimum of 16 years of age
            2. Each volunteer MUST show up for the shift they sign up for.
            3. We require each volunteer to have a background with horses and be knowledgeable to answer rbasic questions.
 
That's it!  Every volunteer will receive a free EquiMania! T-Shirt and free entrance into the fair for the day they work. 
 
The fair runs a total of 12 days, from August 22nd to September 2nd.  Each day will consist of seven shifts of two hours each.  Each shift will require 15 volunteers.  This might seem like a lot initially, but thankfully the horse community is always willing to help out, especially for a good cause.
 
 
Shift times available to choose from:
Thursday, August 22nd to Monday, September 2nd
Shift 1:  7:30-9:15
Shift 2:  9:00-11:00
Shift 3:  10:45-12:45
Shift 4:  12:30-2:30
Shift 5:  2:15-4:15
Shift 6:  4:00-6:00
Shift 7:  5:45-7:30
 
Shifts are designed to allow incoming volunteers time for training.  You will not need to arrive before your shift begins.
 
Volunteers are able to work as many shifts as they wish, as many days as they wish.  Some clubs have expressed interest in creating two or three groups of 15 volunteers and spending the day at fair rotating shifts.  If this is something your club or organization is interested in, that's wonderful!  We absolutely encourage this rotation - but you are urged to decide on a day as soon as possible and contact me so we can make sure that day is blocked off.
 
Volunteer Opportunities:
Individuals/Small Groups – Individuals and/or small groups can volunteer for one or multiple shifts.
Shift – A group of 15 people to volunteer for an entire shift.
Shift Rotation – A group of 15 people volunteer for a rotation of shifts throughout the day.
Day of Volunteers – A club or organization provides all of the volunteers needed for an entire day. 
         (Additional benefits are included with this option!)
 
We welcome all volunteers!  Please be sure to pass this information along to any other person, club, or organization you feel would be interested.
 
Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments:
            Cell phone: 320-232-3221
            E-mail: nikkiosterdyk@gmail.com
            Like EquiMania! on our facebook page: EquiMania at the Minnesota State Fair
 
Thank you for your help and support!
 
Nikki Osterdyk
Minnesota State Fair
EquiMania! Superintendent

Monday, July 15, 2013

Plan Ahead for USPC Festival 2014!


                        PLAN NOW FOR 2014 FESTIVAL CHAMPIONSHIP YEAR!!!  Next one in 3 years!!

 

NORTHERN LAKES REGION is planning to have a qualifying EVENTING rally at Steepleview over this labor day weekend, Aug 31-Sept 1/13. THIS YEAR qualifier for next year's festival!   We are trying a late season rally with the idea that your horses will be more conditioned in late summer 2013 than they are in Springtime 2014. We need secure a Chief Horse Management judge before we can for sure say its qualifying, so you may want to hold off a few days before entering the horse trial if you are doing it to qualify.  We will let you know once we secure that judge! Closing date is August 18th.

 

Lakeshore Region (east WI & Upper Michigan) is having a qualifying Dressage and Show Jumping Rally 8/24/13 -8/25/13. THIS YEAR's qualifier for next year, Festival ! This is after our NLR non-qualifying dressage rally 8/3/13..

 
Lakeshore is having a Polocrosse qualifying rally 8/17/13 THIS YEAR qualifier for next year, Festival! Their RS has formally invited us to their rallies and I also give permission for you to go to another region to qualify this year.  And we have invited all neighboring regions to our rallies.

 
                                                        2014 Qualifying Rallies:

 North Central Prairie Region generally has an open eventing rally at Fox River Valley Horse Trial in late June.

 
We, Northern Lakes Region, DO  plan to have a qualifying Dressage and Show jumping Rally in the Spring or Summer 2014, and a qualifying Quiz Rally in the Spring.  We will try to have those dates and venue's by this October. 

 
Go to our website to sign up for our rallies http://northernlakesponyclub.org or Lakeshore Region's to sign up for their rallies.  You won't want to miss Festival in 2014, it only comes around every 3 years! And the next one is 2017.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Dressage Rally Deadline Fast Approaching

DRESSAGE RALLY DEADLINE is JULY 12

All competitor registrations for the August 3rd Dressage Rally are due to clubs by July 12

Get your team together for a fun, 1 day rally in Rochester, MN!  Overnight stabling and camping on site is available.

Forms and information flyer are available on the Northern Lakes Region website at:
Dressage Rally Info

Sunday, July 7, 2013

D Camp Fun!

A MESSAGE FROM REGIONAL SUPERVISOR, LINDA MURPHY

"W0W! So many D's having their annual best time of the summer at D camp!  Thank you Lexi Robinson and Maddie Kanda for teaching and helping the D's! 

Pony Club games at D Camp!


“Teaching at this year’s D Camp was a new experience for me.  I enjoyed getting to know so many new kids and adults and I believe the experience helped me grow as a pony club instructor.  Teaching mounted lessons and horse management is one of the things I enjoy best about pony club!  Staying overnight in the UW-River Falls dorms created a closeness between campers and instructors that truly helped make the camp so much fun!”
            ~ Maddie Kanda, C3 Dressage/HB, Croixisde Pony Club


Now you are ready for the rally August 3rd so sign up and join us for more summer fun!  Find out what it is like to rally at the Dressage Rally. Just like at camp, you can bring a C to help you out. If you don't have a whole team of 4 + a stable manager, don't worry, we will put you on a team.  So sign up and join us for fun in August.  Sign up forms are on our website


We have several members headed to both Midwest and East USPC Championships this year competing in Quiz.  Good Luck to all of our Northern Lake Region representatives!
 
 
Thank you also to Barb Longe & Annette Rold for organizing a fantastic National Examiner Camp.
Thank you to the Schweiss Family for hosting this annual regional event.
 
 
Tayler & LeSoir from NE Camp 2013