The
PONY EXPRESS

Editors: Sheila and Patrick Deane, 103 Springfield Crescent, London, Ontario N6K 2W1

Telephone: (519) 473-9144; E-mail: pdeane@julian.uwo.ca

VOLUME 100 NUMBER 2 (June, 2000)

Happy Faces at Regional Tetrathlon!

By the time that you read this edition of the Pony Express, we will have completed two of our Regional events for this year. Quiz and Tetrathion are now as they say, history. Our thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Baird for running an excellent Quiz, and to Mr. Bailey for organizing a super Tetrathion. Those of you who attended these events will agree.

As we move into the summer, keep in touch with your D.C. regarding deadlines. We still have many more fun times left. Don’t miss out.

See you at P.P.G. on Saturday, July 8th in Fergus.

Ralph Rainford

Quiz was held on May 6th, 2000 at Centre Wellington District High School in Fergus. 170 Pony Clubbers were entered and 146 turned up on the day to compete, representing 11 branches. Awards were given in 6 divisions for both teams and individuals as well as the overall Branch Results. A copy of the results was given to each club on quiz day and results are also posted on the website.

16,835 questions were marked and scored in time to allow us to begin presentations before 2 pm. The marking room was extremely hot and I sincerely thank all those people who helped out, especially Crawford Dales and Virginia Buchanan-Smith, who have not had any children in Pony Club for many years. If any one feels they could do a good job in the marking room please make sure you volunteer for it next year.

Our Technical Delegate, Joanne McCartney did an axcellent job as usual; Ralph and Paula Rainford organized the school; Anne Hull and her Mill Ridge crew provided a great food booth; Susan Roth, Sheila Deane and Lana McGroty ran the very useful Tack Sale; Lindsay Thompson and Katherine Field spoke to Pony Clubbers about testing. I am extemely thankful to all these people, as well as all the parent volunteers, for helping to make this an enjoyable day. Congratulations also to all members who participated in Quiz. I thought the standard of knowledge was excellent. These were not easy questions and you should all be very proud of yourselves for being involved in Quiz.

The Regional Trophy is in bad condition; after many years of temporary patching up it has fallen apart. It is being repaired and will be presented to Guelph Pony Club as soon as it is ready.

The Albion Pony Club had a great fundraiser last month that I thought other clubs might be interested in. We had an “Artistic Photo” day!

Here’s how it works. You contact the company (Artistic Photos) who will supply a photographer, hair stylist and make-up person for the day. You sign up people interested in getting their picture professionally taken and their hair and make-up professionally done. The cost to them is $30.00 plus GST. The $30.00 gets them the hair and make-up and one 8 1/2" by 11” picture!

They are given an appointment (from start to finish it takes about 1 1/2-2 hours) and we spread the appt every 15 minutes or so. When they arrive they are fluffed and primped by the make-up and hair people and then they chose 4 different outfits from the photographer’s stash!

The photographer takes several pictures, one of which is included in your cost, and the other pictures are available for sale.

The day Albion did it- we booked the photographer (a professional is a MUST) but one of our Mom’s volunteered her time doing the make-up (she has a beauty business) and another Mom (a hairdresser) volunteered to do hair!

We had 28 people booked for the day and we made over $500.00 in profits for the club! We anticipate making more money when the people come back to see the pictures because Artistic Photos are also giving us a cut of any money they make on the additional photos!

Everyone had such a good time.. ..the girls LOVED it! One girl got the session as a belated Christmas gift as a “Thanks” for training her all last year from another girl. They did family shots, mother and daughter shots, anything at all!

If anyone in the Region is interested in getting some more info about this fundraiser please call Carolyn Jackson from the Albion Pony Club at (905) 936-5136.

Corrie Yeoman
 

Victoria Jackson gets ready for her artistic photo shoot.

1. Choose your music carefully. Play hundreds of selections while you ride. Have some input from other people and no necessarily horse people. Your music should appeal to anyone!
2. Once you have selected the music you think is suitable put 2 or 3 versions of your freestyle together. Perform the freestyle in front of an audience of family and friends to get their opinion.
3. Don’t choose music which doesn’t suit your horse. (i.e. Don’t use classical music for a cute, small horse)
4. Don’t choose music just because you like it; it must go with the gaits of your horse. Sometimes a metronome can assist in determining the exact rhythm of the paces of your horse.
5. Your horse’s personality should correspond to the music. This can make a big difference to the overall effect of the freestyle
6. Never use one selection of music only. This can become very boring and I know of no horse that has all 3 paces in the same rhythm.
7. Try not to switch from one genre of music to another. It is a good idea to use similar types of music otherwise it often seems disjointed. I try to use selections from the same CD if possible! Very often recording levels are quite different from CD to CD and therefore adjustments must be made.
8. Make sure the music has a strong beginning and ending. Music that trails off is usually not suitable.
9. Only record from CD’s! It is the only way to get a professional sounding tape! (Record onto a high quality tape! Using a poor tape produces poor sound...don’t try to save a little money if it means the quality of sound suffers!)
10. Don’t splice in the middle of a musical phrase. This will interrupt the flow of the music.
11. Make sure the input level is high enough but not so high that the music becomes distorted.
12. Choose music which sounds good outdoors. Some music doesn’t carry well in this type of venue. What sounds lovely in the car or in the comfort of your living room may not sound so good in the great outdoors!
13. It is not illegal to use vocal music but remember it can be distracting.
14. Don’t use background music. The music you use should enhance the presentation, not be superfluous to it.
15. Don’t use music which is too extravagant. An upper level horse can carry this off but not a Basic horse.
16. Try to select original music but remember it is often nice to have on-lookers recognize the music you are using.
17. Always make at least 2 copies of your freestyle tape. You will be amazed at the number of things that can go wrong at a competition. I’ve had more than one tape mangled in a tape machine.
18. Put clear, concise instructions on both the tape itself and the case. It is surprising how easily a case can be misplaced!
19. Try to talk to the person who will actually be playing the tapes at the show. They usually appreciate some instructions; remember they also want everything to run smoothly.
20. If possible (especially at recognized shows) do a test run of the tape before the class. Many shows encourage this practice!
21. Do not try to use every second of the maximum time allowed. Many tape machines run at slightly different speeds and this can cause problems if you are too close to the time allowed.
22. If something happens to your tape or (EEEE GADS! !!) they play the wrong tape, remember you have the option to start again.
23. Videotape your freestyle at the first few shows. If it doesn’t seem to be working don’t be afraid to make some changes.
24. Don‘t forget to pick up your tape at the end of the show!

1. Read the requirements!
2. Never put in movements above the level of the freestyle you are performing.
3. Plan the pattern to emphasize the strong points of your horse.
4. Fit the music to the pattern not vice-versa. The fluidity of the pattern is essential.
5. Try to be original. Look through all the tests but try not to have a freestyle which is just a re-hashed test.
6. Time the pattern in various conditions. Make absolutely sure you are not over the allowed time!
7. Do not ask your horse to perform movements he is not absolutely comfortable with.
8. Your beginning and ending should be particularly interesting; remember you want to catch the judge’s eye.
9. Don’t make the pattern too confusing! I have often watched freestyles and I have wondered what on earth the rider is doing!
10. Remember..this is supposed to be FUN! Enjoy the performance!!

Opportunities: Selling, Buying, Events, etc..