Lower Puget Sound Dressage Club
This article, we are featuring our young riders and their ponies!
Fall Fling Show – Our final show of the year was Sunday September 3rd at the lovely Green Hills Equestrian Center in Gig Harbor. With a signup of 85 rides, it was another very full show. We owe a special thanks to Nicol Hinde (L) from the Bellingham area who presided as our judge. The best part of the day was the INTRO A – SUPERVISED CLASS for all our young riders. With 8 entries (ages 5 to 12), the competition was stiff and riders intent on winning a ribbon! Here is Bailen Ness, our first rider in on Cash in on Breeze during the trot work. Bailen is 8 years old and trains with his mom, Beth Anderson-Ness at Starr Valley Farm.
Our Featured Junior Rider: Stella Thompson
My Bio: I am 14 years old and live in Anchorage, Alaska. I spend my summers in Gig Harbor, WA with my Aunt Tina and Uncle Cliff. They live on 5 acres with horses, dogs and cats.
When did I start riding? I first started riding when I was 7 at the Rocking B Riding Club in Anchorage, Alaska. There I learned a lot about grooming, handling horses and basic riding skills. When I was 9, I made my first visit to Gig Harbor and have been returning every summer since. The last three years I arrive the day school lets out and stay for the entire summer. I also come at my spring and winter breaks and any weekend that my school schedule allows.
Horse/Horses: I rode my aunt’s OTTB Dressage schoolmaster, Refire, the first two years that I came down and showed him at Training Level in my first dressage show. I also rode their Tennessee Walker, Velvet. When Refire was retired at age 27, I was so devastated. I just loved him, he was sweet and he was such a great teacher. He is 30 now and oversees the activities at the barn. The next summer I started as a working student for Jill Seely at Clover Valley Riding Center. There I rode Jill’s horses Nelson the first year and then Marrakech for the last two seasons. This last summer, I also got to ride Maestro, who’s owner was not able to ride due to medical issues. I ended this summer riding my friend’s horse, Liam as she was too busy to ride him. I have shown through First Level in Dressage on both Marrakech and Maestro at the LPSDC League shows. When I am in Alaska finding horses to ride is a little harder, but this school year I plan to ride at one of the stables in Anchorage and hopefully half lease a horse.
Why do I love to ride? I LOVE animals. But I love horses the most because they are amazing animals and you form a great bond with them. You can progress as a team in your skills. They are also awesome because you can talk to them and they are great therapy animals for when people are having a tough time.
What are my future plans? I plan to be a vet and continue to ride horses.
Many thanks to Stella, her aunt Tina Hansen (who rides Prix St. Georges on What A Girl) and Stella’s awesome trainer, Jill Seely!
And Don’t Forget! – Mike Osinski Clinic – Mike Osinski has officiated at several of our shows and has also worked with our riders in the Ride and Review clinic following a show. Mike is a USEF Senior (S) Dressage and FEI 3* judge and has been a licensed judge since 1986. He is an active competitor who has earned the USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals, as well as the Bronze and Silver Freestyle bars and numerous Horse of the Year awards. In 2016, he was one of the judges at the USDF Finals in Kentucky.
This year, we are pleased to announce that Mike will be coming back to our area to conduct a two day clinic at Starr Valley Farm on October 14th and 15th. Auditors are welcome! Go to www.lpsdc.com for more information.