REGION 6
By: Cera Olson — Region 6 Director
What a heatwave of a summer we are having. Hope everyone is finding ways to stay out of the sun. I a super impressed with all the different ways everyone is keeping active this summer! Can’t wait to see the results of your hard work! Thank you to everyone who took the survey I sent out. I am going to compile the results, reach out to the AOs and discuss the results with them and then I want to have a members meeting where we can talk about the results and a way ahead as a Region. In the meantime, Thank you for all the volunteers we have had at our events and the involvement throughout the summer. There are several licensed shows coming up in Auigust and September ahead of Championships, so a few more opportunities to qualify, if you are still looking for the scores. Also some play-days and schooling shows, if you want a more low-key setting to school obstacles and introduce new horses, or just have some fun with awesome people!
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or feedback. I am always open to ways we can improve our service to our members!
Here is the EZC Website on usawe.org, if you haven’t seen it yet!
https://usawe.org/we-events/
NEWE
Our first show of the season was held June 8th at Equanimity Farm in New Hampshire with “r” judge Andre Ganc presiding. The following day Andre conducted a clinic which was attended by many of the competitors. This was the biggest NEWE show to date with 19 entries from level 1-5. It was a beautiful day in the northeast with friends and a lot of spectators from the area. Many thanks to all of the volunteers who pitched in to help in every way.
Coming up September 8th and 9th is a WE collaboration clinic with Elaina Enzien and Stephanie Hayes at Gelinas Farm in Pembroke, New Hampshire. Elaina, owner and herdswoman of Gelinas Farm will be teaching the cattle clinic portion and Stephanie the Ease of Handling clinic. Clinic info is available at https://www.newenglandwe.com/
Many of our NEWE members are busy attending shows outside of New England in hopes to qualify and attend the 2024 Eastern Zone Championships. Good luck to all of our members in your pursuit!
NYS Working Equitation
Next week marks the start of our long weekend of clinics and shows. We’re holding clinics with Susan L. Watkins and back-to-back licensed shows in Schaghticoke, NY, July 19-22. The show is closed, but entries to the clinic can be taken as long as their is still availability.
NYSWE is also providing local training/lessons, offering open schooling sessions, and holding two schooling shows in October. Many of our events are offered in both Ancramdale, NY and Bloomfield, NY.
· Working Equitation Weekends (Ancramdale/
· Open Schoolings (Bloomfield) – Wednesday afternoons. Book here. https://calendar.app.
· Schooling Shows (Ancramdale/Bloomfield) – October 13
· Clinic with Susan L. Watkins (Schaghticoke) – Friday, July 19
· Clinic with Susan L. Watkins (Ancramdale) – Monday, July 22
Become a member or see all of our events at https://www.nyswe.com/
Member Highlight: Nicole Lee – L5
I was introduced to Working Equitation many years ago while living in Washington State. Julie Alonzo was the impetus behind creating a national working equitation organization and making sure that clinics and shows were happening at the Oregon Horse Center. At my first show, it was immediately obvious that this was a fun, rowdy and happy bunch of people! Everyone talked to each other and cheered each other on – it was an inclusive atmosphere, welcoming a blind horse (Endo the spectacular), mules (Watch him jump and bray at the same time!), beginner riders, experienced riders, amazing Western outfits and horses and me, a dressage rider. All were welcomed, encouraged and cheered on.
And now, many years later I find the same warm and happy WE people on the East Coast and I’m so grateful to find my tribe here. My heart horse Mannie is 18 years young and my plan is to progress to L6 shortly… learning to ride one-handed is both a challenge and a process! But Mannie is up for it and we’ll continue to enjoy the WE ride!
Facility Highlight: Equanimity Farm, NH
In the beginning of 2024 at the top of Covid, my husband and I bought a beautiful 15 acre, 15 stall equestrian property in Southern NH. I brought my almost retired horse to the farm and filled the barn with the rest of his herd. We were primarily a dressage/boarding facility. I heard about WE, I was intrigued with putting all those lateral moves to practical use. Our 1st introduction to WE was when my husband and I took a trip over to a the neighboring – Gelinas farm. The rest is history! We watched a cow clinic and we watched EOH. We met Stephanie Hayes and never turned back. I love the variety of riders, the variety of horses and the camaraderie of all. We are proud to be an Affiliate Organization with the super sport of Working Equitation.
