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Hello 2010! |
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Remember 2000?
It was a decade ago when we cheered in the year 2000. A new century, a new millennium. It’s been an interesting ten years, and as we look back we remember arriving here in LA LA land on September 8th, 2001. Our close friend Scott Wilson convinced us to leave the mountains of Snowmass for the dreams that only southern Californians can dream. He offered us his home, helped us get our feet on the ground and was always there to remind us to not take life too seriously. Rest in peace, Scott. We miss you.
Over nine years later we’ve carved our own niche and want to thank all of those who have supported us along the way. We are committed to our mission of creating solutions for the equestrian soul. New ideas abound and we are excited to launch each as they unfold in the next decade. We welcome 2010!
Coming Soon to Your Inbox...
Known for its unique perspective and creative content, the EquestriSol E-Newsletter will continue to appear in your Inbox and at select horse shows in print. With plans to venture into new territory, stay tuned for exciting coverage from coast to coast. In this issue we feature happenings at El Campeon Farms in two pieces, from Weekends Well Spent to A Stable Story. Plus read all about Dorothy (or is it Shelley?) in OZ and Joe Fargis showing them how it’s done in NoCal.
A Little Marketing Moment
Although marketing may seem unnecessary in tight times, we say au contraire! However, there are many ways to keep your name in front of the right people. We are currently developing new media packages that will not only be affordable but effective. Ask us for details. Plus our e-newsletter advertising is both far-reaching and targeted not to mention reasonably priced, so consider that an option not to miss. We will have a minimum of one newsletter per month and often more, so contact us to be a part of it!
Giving Thanks...
Whether getting out of the cold, competing for year-end finals and awards or qualifying for World Cups and USEF Euro Teams, and potentially WEG, equestrians and their mounts have migrated to various locales throughout the US to spend the winter.
We want to take a moment to thank the show managers who have made this migration possible. Although they are running a business, as are many of the trainers and exhibitors, their business is providing us with a place to ride, show, lesson, learn, laugh, socialize, win prizes, make friends, have fun and most importantly be with those amazing horses (and quite a few dogs too!).
We are all looking to make this year a good one, so let’s start by thanking those that make it possible. Mom, dad, trainer, horse, groom, show manager... Have you thanked someone who made the good things possible today?
Annual Meeting Musings - USHJA/USEF
USHJA
In order to uphold the mission of “fostering an educated community of equestrians that promotes the welfare of the horse and fairness in competition” the staff of the National Affiliate we know as USHJA and the host of volunteers on the long list of committees continues to expand. During the last half decade, USHJA has created a formidable impact on the hunter-jumper industry and will continue to do so.
Numerous agendas transpired at this December event, notably heated rule change discussions, committee meetings, year-end reviews and special awards...
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USEF
As the National Governing Body (NGB) of Equestrian Sport, the USEF’s mission “to inspire, encourage interest in, and regulate equestrian competition by ensuring the safety and well-being of horses… ensure the enforcement of fair and equitable rules and procedures… endeavor to advance the level of horsemanship in the United States.” Plus govern the sport. As well as provide vision, leadership and promote the pursuit of excellence. To achieve this mission, USEF lists twenty-four steps that members and staff undertake...
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What's New
We’ve seen a lot of innovation come down the electronic highway over the last several years. Some e-terms now commonly heard include the verbs to google, tweet and defriend. Not to mention that checking email on a computer seems to be passé, when you can check it on your Blackberry or iPhone. Both exciting and a bit scary that we have so many communication options, it can be hard to keep up...
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Conversations with Equestrians |
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Shelley Campf of OZ Incorporated
Besides donning her hunt cap, which earned her Indoor honors last year aboard Alexandra Zell’s green conformation hunter Costar, Shelley Campf wears numerous other caps in her own business as well as for the future of our sport.
Wearing multiple volunteer hats within the USHJA brought special recognition at the USHJA President’s Dinner in December, where Shelley was awarded Volunteer of the Year.
Rider, trainer, business partner, board member, committee chair, statistician, show manager, and entrepreneur describe her professional life not to mention mother of two, wife, gourmet cook and kick-boxer. When does she sleep?
Never intending to be a professional in this industry, love changed her tune. Not just falling in love, but her passion for horses and teaching led her down a path that has proven to be successful, rewarding and continuously challenging.
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Weekends Well Spent |
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Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum Clinic
Each year as the holidays approach, competition is on the back burner and clinics abound. We cover two in this newsletter, but we know there were also well-attended George Morris clinics up and down the west coast. For those who wrapped up the year learning from some of the world’s best, we commend you.
As mentioned in this issue’s A Stable Story, El Campeon Farms is an ideal setting for equines and equestrians, which holds true for the Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum clinic hosted by Oak Grove Stud on November 20-22, 2009. Combine fabulous southern California weather, great footing, focused riders, devoted auditors, delicious food with Michaels-Beerbaum and the results are remarkable.
We spoke with several riders who participated at varying heights and observed Sunday’s session. Riding at the 1.20m level, Michael Whang excelled tremendously. Encouraged by his trainer Duncan McIntosh, this was Whang’s first clinic. Kenneth Vinther decided he and his young horse Cagney, who participated in the 1.30m level, couldn’t miss the chance to learn from one of the best riders in the world. Recent winner of the USHJA’s EAP National Training Session and top junior rider Ricky Neal also discussed the challenges he faced during the clinic that ultimately taught him more than the aspects that went smoothly...
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Learning from the Masters |
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Joe Fargis at the Menlo Circus Club
by Alden Corrigan and Christy Schroeder
On an unusually crisp December day in Atherton, California, Joe Fargis stands in the middle of the outdoor ring at the beautiful equestrian center of the Menlo Circus Club. His Paul Newman blue eyes are intently watching the students participating in the first day of his two day clinic as they execute his instructions with varying degrees of accuracy based on their ability.
Fargis, now 60, has owned and operated Sandron Farm in Middleburg, Virginia since 1978 with his partner Conrad Homfeld. He continues to compete successfully in Grand Prix at many of the top horse shows in the country, and as a testament to his contribution to the sport, has was awarded the USHJA Lifetime Achievement Award for 2009.
This double gold medal winning Olympian in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and silver medalist in the 1988 Seoul Olympics has never lost sight of two critically important facets of our sport; the welfare of the horse and education of the rider, serving on the USHJA Horse Welfare Committee, and teaching clinics around the world when he’s not attending a horse show.
Fargis began riding in Vienna, Virginia under the tutelage of Jane Dillon at her Junior Equitation School. In 1966 he went to Francis Rowe’s Foxwood Farm in Crozier, Virginia and stayed there for the next twelve years, until he began training with the legendary Bert de Nemethy. “I use tools today that I learned from my early riding teachers. They were wonderful. Everything they said thirty and forty years ago still sticks. When I grew up we were at the barn every day learning something, and the horse show would be occasional. Now the horse show is frequent, and you’re never at the barn doing your homework. It’s gotten upside down...”
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A Stable Story |
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Söhnke ‘The Happy German’ Theymann
This is a tale of a faraway place where a young German has happily landed and is now spreading his wings. Many of us know the name El Campeon Farms, but may yet not know Soehnke Theymann.
El Campeon is certainly the home of champions. The multi-faceted farm continues to host clinics, film sets and commercial shoots, and without question is one of the finest equestrian facilities in California, if not beyond.
And now back to Soehnke (which is the English translation for Söhnke). Certainly destined for greatness, he is named after a famous German Olympic Medalist and Chef D’Equipe, Sönke Sönksen. He comes from a family with a strong equine background - his parents own a breeding farm in Dortmund, are both Grand Prix level riders and his sister has ridden on the German Dressage Team.
I was introduced to Soehnke a few seasons ago and although also from German descent (Freundlich means friendly), admittedly I had a hard time remembering this very German name. So to break the ice, I asked him how to say it and if there was another name he went by. "Zunkah" is how one might translate it phonetically, but to those who have gotten to know him in the show ring call him ‘the happy German’ as coined by our very own Janet Fall. And he explained that others, like Sophie and Ty Simpson, simply call him Tim...
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Waldenbrook Farm - new site
coming soon!
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