Linda Acheson Education Fund Benefit Ride-A-Test

We’ve lined up some great instructors for the July 16 and 17 Ride-a-Test! The instructors that have committed so far are Suzi Ronning, Tracie Bjugan, Ashley Bertell, Debbie Spence, Debbie Spitzenfeil, Estelle Keating, Anne Stevens, Mija Paris, Kathy Casey, and Sarah Gammie. Be sure to thank them when you see them, as we really appreciate their support and couldn’t do this without them. We're still hopeful that other instrutors will sign on with us, but Sharon won't send out another appeal until we see how riders respond to the event with entries. Entry forms have been sent out to all Chehalem Mt. Chapter members and will soon be posted on the ODS website and around area barns and stores. Crossing our fingers for a sold-out benefit to put more money in the coffers of the Education Fund!

To put an event like this on, we need volunteers, so please keep some time open that weekend to help. Sharon would like six people in the morning and six people in the afternoon to cover the various jobs each day, so we’ll need 24 people for the weekend. The jobs are detailed below; the sooner you sign up, the more likely it is that you will get the job you request. Volunteers willing to do whatever is needed are welcome, too. :-)

Scribe: Take notes for the instructor during the test and serve as timekeeper for each lesson. Not as involved as scribing at a show, so it should give you a chance to watch the rides and listen to the instructor. We are looking for one person to scribe in the morning and one person to scribe in the afternoon each day, so four scribes are needed for the weekend.

Parking Attendant: Help in one of three areas to keep trailers moving and the driveway clear. Amanda has graciously offered the use of her facility, so we need keep things clear and moving so as not to disrupt her boarders or her business. Sharon is looking for three morning attendants and three afternoon attendants each day, which might be more than we need, but the facility is quite large so more attendants will mean less running.

Hospitality: Work with riders and observers to be sure people are in the right place at the right time, and answer questions. We need one morning person and one afternoon person each day.

Floater: Fill in for people doing other jobs during breaks, read tests, carry messages, direct lost/confused people. We need one morning person and one afternoon person each day.

We will have a chapter meeting on June 6, 7:00 p.m. at Clover Valley Equestrian Center to discuss final details and review how the sign up is going. See you there!

April activities

Monday, April 4 saw 14 of us present at Clover Valley Equestrian Center to hear a presentation by Cydria Schaefer, DVM, CVA. Cydria is a certified Yoga and Centered Riding instructor, and is starting studies in the Feldenkrais Method of Awareness Through Movement. Cydria discussed the bio-dynamics of the body and how our movement affects our horses, and explained how she helps riders work more harmoniously with their horses. There was keen interest in having her back for a clinic, so stayed tuned for more on that.

A thermography clinic is already scheduled for Saturday, April 23 at Clover Valley Equestrian Center. Starting promptly at 1:00 p.m., Miriah Stuart will be scanning five demo horses and explaining the results; it will be a great opportunity to learn more about thermography and how it might help our horses.

February meeting

We had a FULL house for our February 7 chapter meeting at Clover Valley Equestrian Center outside Newberg. The 25 in attendance included several visitors; we hope they decide to join us as members!

Sharon and Patty recapped the ODS retreat for us. One of the things discussed at the retreat was the Linda Acheson Education Fund. Since Linda was an active member of CMC until she died and we put on the first Benefit Shows, we decided to look into putting on a Ride-a-Test benefit for that fund this summer. Michelle is looking into a judge(s) for that, along with dates that will work. We plan to hold it at Clover Valley Equestrian Center, thanks to our generous hostess!

With the Bears Show coming up on March 5th and 6th, that was a primary item of business. The show still has rides available; the closing date is February 22. We are still in need of volunteers; if you haven't signed up to volunteer yet, please email Janis Worrall at will.janis.worrall@gmail.com.

Lastly we discussed upcoming meetings and events (in addition to the Ride-a-Test benefit). Our March meeting will be a celebratory pizza party at Abby's on March 14 at 7:00 p.m. Our April 4 meeting (back on the first Monday night of the month) will feature special guest Cydria Schaefer to discuss the training she does with body awareness and riding. Towards the end of April we are planning a thermography clinic with Miriah Stuart. On June 25 JoAnn Cooke will host a trail course play day at her arena/farm, and on September 25 we'll head back to JoAnn's for our chapter picnic (with trail ride and elections).

In member news, our treasurer Andrea Onstine is sporting a sparkly engagement ring!
The wedding date is September 17; congratulations, Andrea!