Junior Equestrian Festival Oct 9-11, 2015, Westport, Connecticut

The inaugural Junior Equestrian Festival (JEF) Hunt Seat Horse Show will be held October 9-11, 2015 at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut.

Have you heard of the College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) Horse Show held every spring in Wellington, Florida that gives high school equestrians an opportunity to compete in front of collegiate coaches? Well now the northern area of the country has its own version of this competition: the Junior Equestrian Festival (JEF) in Westport, Connecticut.

JEF Horse Show
The Junior Equestrian Festival is a two-day event organized to provide riders in grades 9-12 the opportunity to compete in front of college coaches and representatives. Competitors will draw a horse at random to compete in equitation on the flat and equitation over fences against other riders at a similar skill level.

JEF College Fair
Colleges and Universities nationwide will be invited to the JEF Horse Show to watch the riders compete. Riders will also be able to meet with college coaches one on one to discuss equestrian team and scholarship opportunities.

JEF Scholarships
A wide variety of scholarships will be available to JEF participants.  As an affiliate of the College Preparatory Invitational Horse Show (CPI), all scholarships provided at JEF will be administered and distributed by CPI. Here are the scholarships that JEF participants can apply for:

• CPI High Point Hunt Seat Rider
• CPI Essay Award
• The CPI Written Horsemanship Test Award
• CPI Journalistic Photo Contest
• CPI Champion of Service Award

JEF Mounted Clinic
If you think you're done once the competition is over, you've spoken with the college reps, and the scholarships have been awarded, you're sadly mistaken, because JEF is also offering a mounted clinic to a limited number of JEF participants!

The Details
The JEF Horse Show will be held in October 9-11, 2015 (that's Columbus Day weekend so it may be a school holiday for some of you) at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut.

For more information, competition and scholarship applications, and travel details, visit the official JEF website: www.juniorequestrianfestival.com. And keep checking back as the show date approaches for updated information.

And why am I advertising the Junior Equestrian Festival on my blog you ask? Because just yesterday I signed on to be one of two stewards for this amazing event! What can I say? When my good friend, USHJA certified instructor, IEA coach, and JEF Program Director Jane DaCosta asked me to be part of this incredible opportunity for young riders, I couldn't resist.

Other members of the show committee include IEA National Steward Sue Wentzel as my stewarding partner and United States Military Academy coach Peter Cashman as JEF Horse Show Coordinator. We'll be working hard to produce an event that showcases young rider talent to college recruiters and coaches, provides scholarships, and is tons of fun! I invite all my blog reader to join us this October for the inaugural Junior Equestrian Festival.

Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to like and share on Facebook.

Thanks!  --Amanda

2016 AYHC Symposium to be held in Conjunction with IEA Nationals Finals in Lexington, Ky

I am very pleased to announce that the 2016 American Youth Horse Council (AYHC) Annual Symposium will be held in conjunction with the 2016 IEA National Finals in Lexington, Kentucky!

So what is the 2016 AYHC Symposium and why am I so excited that it will be held in conjunction with IEA National Finals?

The AYHC Symposium:

• Is a three-day conference 
• Is open to youth and adults across all breeds and disciplines
• Offers a variety of educational and leadership building activities
• Provides the opportunity for youth and professional equestrians to connect with each other nationwide

We all know that the equine industry is driven by the relationships we build with each other. The AYHC symposium will give the IEA riders, parents, and professionals who attend 2016 IEA National Finals an opportunity to create relationships with other equine industry participants across breeds, disciplines, and geographical barriers and increase their equine knowledge and leadership skills at the same time.

Excited yet? I had the great honor and pleasure to attend the 2015 AYHC symposium this weekend in Redmond, Oregon along with IEA executive director Roxane Lawrence. I got to see firsthand the work this group is doing to share knowledge and connect youth to the horse industry. Here is a quick rundown of what went on last weekend.


2015 AYHC Symposium--Redmond, Oregon

FRIDAY
Youth Barn Raising 
The youth members were split into groups of three and given basic craft supplies (popsicle sticks, straws, marshmallows, tin foil, cardboard, etc.) and a scenario for an equine business (one was a thoroughbred racing facility, another was a working cow horse training barn). Each group had a half hour to build their facility from scratch using the supplies provided. When time was up they shared their design with the rest of the groups.

Horse Smarts Roundup
This was a horsemanship quiz set up like a lab practical. There were ten stations each with ten questions, for a total of 100 questions. Stations included equine diseases, harmful plants, anatomy, genetics, etc. The students were given two minutes per station. The top three scorers were recognized during the banquet Saturday night and presented with a certificate and cash prize!

Adult/Professional Round Table Discussions
While the youth were busy building barns and showing off their equine knowledge, the parents and professionals participated in a series of small group round table discussions including:

• Social media tools to promote, fund raise, and communicate
• Conflict management
• Curriculum and educational tools for youth
• Risk management and safety
• Developing leadership skills in your youth members
• Keys to growing your membership
• Youth/collegiate equestrian teams-how to get started (Roxane led this discussion)

Local Area Barn Tour
Buses were provided to take participants around to local barns to see these equine businesses up close. This part of the symposium will be amazing in Lexington!

SATURDAY
Saturday morning was filled with talks given by professionals from all areas of the equine industry. Three talks were given at the same time, one each targeting youth, adults, and professionals, though anyone could go to any of the talks. The hardest part was deciding which one to attend! Here were Saturday mornings offerings:

Session One:

• Youth: The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (Roxane again)
• Adult: Environmental Stewardship I
• Professional: Equine Risk Laws and Liability

Session Two:

• Youth: Youth Equine Olympics (held at local barn 4U Performance Horses)
• Adult: Equine Welfare, Fact versus Emotion
• Professional: Environmental Stewardship II

Session Three:

• Youth: Youth Equine Olympics (continued at 4U Performance Horses)
• Adult: What is the AYHC and Why Should I Join
• Professional: Building Partnerships with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (these are the mustang folks, really cool to hear what they do on a day to day basis)

Arena Demonstration
Saturday afternoon everyone loaded up on buses to watch an arena demonstration on ranch sorting and team penning. As an east coast resident where it seems hunt seat riding has most of the spot light, I loved that the arena demonstrations focused on western events. Those kids out in Oregon are so comfortable working around cattle and other livestock on their horses. Very cool!

Awards Banquet
Saturday evening we all got together for some good food, entertainment, and awards. Afterwards, the youth had their own round table discussions.

Youth Round Table Discussions
Topics they discussed:

• The problem of unwanted horses
• How to combat cost of horse keeping
• How would you resolve the issue of overbreeding?
• Educating owners who don't understand horses
• Loss of trails and riding areas
• If you could ride any horse (alive today or not) who would you ride?
• Attracting youth to the horse industry 
• Keeping youth involved in the horse industry
• New York City carriage horses, should they be banned or not?

SUNDAY
The symposium wrapped up on Sunday morning with three more rounds of talks.

Session Four:

• Youth: Leadership Strategies for your Organization
• Adult: Ten Fun and Educational Activities for the Busy Horse Leader
• Professional: Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals 

Session Five:

• Youth: Improving Equine Welfare in South America
• Adult: Managing Multiple Disciplines and Skill Levels in One Arena
• Professional: Marketing and Social Media

Session Six:

• Youth: Talking Terror (equine fear response)
• Adult: Communication--Videography and Beyond
• Professional: Animal Welfare Issues

Whew! I'm worn out just thinking about everything I did and everything I learned last weekend!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to attend this conference. I left Oregon with a greater understanding and appreciation for important topics in the equine industry as well as many new friendships and professional connections.

I can't wait for the IEA riders that attend the 2016 National Finals to have these same opportunities.

For more information on the American Youth Horse Council, visit their website:
http://www.ayhc.com/

Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to like and share on Facebook.
Thanks!  --Amanda

Summer Riding--10 ways to stay in shape for IEA season

First off, a huge congratulations to everyone who has made it though their zone finals and qualified for Nationals in Wellington or Oklahoma City!

But for the majority of IEA riders whose season has come to a close, here are ten things you can do this summer to stay in shape and be prepared when the 2015-2016 IEA season starts back up in the fall:

1. Attend a clinic. There is always more to learn, and getting a different perspective can help you become a more well-rounded rider. Consult your local hunter/jumper or breed association website to find some clinics in your area. If you're able to ride in the clinics, great! If not, you can always audit and learn a ton by watching.

2. Attend a clinic or take a lesson outside of your usual discipline. Trying out a new discipline will not only expand your horizons, but it can also improve your riding in your current discipline. Want to improve your equitation on the flat or horsemanship? Take some dressage lessons! Want to improve your equitation over fences? Head to an eventing clinic! You may even discover a new passion. Several of the western riders on my IHSA team are hunt seat riders who were looking for a new challenge.

3. Lease an IEA horse from your coach. Some IEA mounts don't have as heavy of a workload in the summer when IEA isn't in session. You could ask your coach if you could lease or half-lease an IEA lesson horse during the summer. You might even get a chance to show the horse at some local shows.

4. Visit colleges and tour their riding facilities. Even if you're just a freshman, you can call up a college coach and ask to come for a visit or even take a lesson. Coaches are always looking for new talent. Don't be shy. Call them up and schedule an appointment.

5. Attend a big competition as a spectator. Go see a grand prix, hunter derby, or reining futurity. Youtube is great, but nothing beats the feeling of being there in person. Not only will you get to watch the experts up close, but the adrenaline rush of sitting ringside as the professionals do their thing may inspire you to take your riding up a notch.

6. Watch good riding on youtube. The beauty of the internet is that you can watch multiple events in various disciplines in one sitting. Personally I love eventiontv.com. They put out some great training videos and some pretty funny ones too!

7. Read! There are a ton of good horse books out there. In the summer without school work you will have more time to read for fun. Start with George Morris' Hunter Seat Equitation, and when you're done with that ask your trainer for additional suggestions.

8. Take some time off. You may be a little burned out after the end of a long season. If so, take some time off and give yourself a chance to miss riding. And don't feel guilty about it. Everyone needs a break now and then. Afterwards you'll come back re-energized and ready to work.

9. Ride!  It doesn't have to be the super-intense, preparing for the postseason, type riding. Just get in the saddle and go. Take some lessons or spend some time on the trails. If you stay in riding shape during the summer you won't have to worry about getting your strength and coordination back once IEA lessons start back up.

10. Reflect. Spend some time just thinking about all you have accomplished and what your goals are for next year. Then make a plan for reaching those goals. Making it to regionals is a good solid goal, but try to think of some intermediate steps to help you get there. For example, a good goal would be to be able to do 20 minutes of no stirrup work without a break. Work with your coach to set goals that are reasonable and make a plan to get there.

Beloved IHSA horse Oliver enjoying a nap in the sun

Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to like and share on Facebook.
Thanks!  --Amanda

Horsemanship Patterns--IHSA Western Semi-Finals

The 2015 IHSA Western Semi-Finals are this weekend and I'm looking forward to heading up to the Ohio State University this Friday with University of North Georgia western rider Jaime Nesemeier.

Jaime qualified for semi-finals by placing second at regional finals a couple weeks ago. If she places in the top four out of a possible sixteen riders in her division this weekend, she will advance to IHSA National Finals in May.

Needless to say, we are both very excited.

Today's blog post provides a link to all the potential western patterns the IHSA horsemanship riders may be asked to perform and gives my personal tips for successful completion of those patterns.

I know IEA western horsemanship riders don't currently perform western patterns in IEA competition, but those riders can still benefit from studying and practicing these patterns in anticipation of one day being IHSA western riders themselves.

IHSA Western Semi-Finals Horsemanship Patterns
Here is the link to the approved western semi-finals horsemanship patterns on the official IHSA website (scroll down to the bottom of the page)

http://ihsainc.com/events/western-semis

All possible patterns for the semi-final show are posted beforehand on the official IHSA website (and thank goodness for that because they are quite intricate!)

You will see there are five horsemanship patterns listed per class, with the exception of the advanced and open classes, which have a whopping thirteen potential patterns.

Each horsemanship class has sixteen riders, so they are run in two preliminary heats of eight riders each. Then the top eight of the original sixteen are called back for the final. The top four riders in the final advance to IHSA National Finals to be held in West Springfield, Massachusetts (the same venue where 2014 IEA Hunt Seat National Finals were held) this May.

From this list of approved patterns, the judges will select one pattern per class for the preliminary heat and one pattern per class for the final heat. The selected patterns will be posted the morning of the show.

All riders perform rail work and one of the patterns during their preliminary heat. Then the riders who are called back for the final perform additional rail work as well as another pattern in the final heat.

The judges also have the option of asking for additional testing after the riders have completed the rail work and pattern, such as switching horses or riding without stirrups.

The riders will draw a horse for their preliminary round, then the finalists will draw again for the final round. They will not ride the same horse they rode in the preliminary round unless they draw it again for the final class.

My rider, Jaime, will be competing in the Novice Horsemanship class. Here are the five patterns she may be asked to execute.

These patterns may seem a bit intimidating at first glace, especially considering the competitors will be performing them on horses they've never ridden before, but here are a few tips to make them seem a little more attainable.

1. Remember, everyone is in the same boat--Here is a little mental preparation to get you started. Sure the patterns are challenging, but remember that they are equally difficult for everyone. You've earned your spot at this level of competition and you deserve to be in that pen just as much as anyone else.

2. Keep breathing, take your time, and finish one maneuver before beginning the next. Break the pattern down into its component maneuvers and take your time. Give each maneuver adequate attention in the pen. Don't get ahead of yourself. For example, in novice pattern C, when performing the simple change, make sure you make it all the way down to the walk before asking for the new lead.

3. Think of horsemanship patterns like Mexican food. I love Mexican food. I probably eat at our local Mexican restaurant about once a week, and what I've found is that Mexican food is basically all the same ingredients put together in different combinations to make various entrees. It's all just a mix of beans, rice, cheese, meat, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, and/or guacamole.

The same is true with horsemanship patterns. They are all just a bunch of simple maneuvers (straight lines, circles, serpentines, pivots, changes of gait, collection/extension within gaits, halt, back, etc.) put together in different combinations. Practice the individual maneuvers by themselves, then put them together to make a pattern. Seeing the patterns as just a collection of ingredients can make them seem a whole lot less overwhelming.

4. Be ready at the cone. This is a big pet peeve of mine when I'm judging. Be ready to begin your pattern when the rider in front of you finishes. Stand ready at the first cone and look at the back of the judges head so that when the judge looks in your direction you make instant eye contact and show that you are ready to go.

5. Know your back number. This is another pet peeve of mine. If the judge asks to rider 249 to step forward and go first, know if that's you, and if it is, get on that cone and go!

6. Show consistency in your pattern shape, speed, and rhythm. If the pattern has two extended jogs (novice pattern B), make sure that both jogs have the same speed and rhythm. If the pattern has two circles and one is supposed to be larger than the other (novice pattern C), make sure they have the same shape and that one is larger than the other. If the pattern calls for a regular lope and an extended lope (novice pattern E), make sure your extended lope shows a bigger stride than your regular lope

7. No matter how bad you think things are going, keep riding! This is a tough one for a lot of folks. Maybe you feel like you messed up your pattern right from the beginning and it causes you to change your whole demeanor, dropping your head, slouching, or not finishing your pattern with the confidence and ring presence you started with. Remember that these patterns are tough, and its rare for anyone to have a perfect go, so keep working through you pattern. Even if you make a mistake at the beginning you may be able to make up some lost points by riding well through the remainder of the pattern. If things are going really poorly and you feel like you need a re-ride, trust that your coach has your back and will make that call if necessary. Keep riding until the announcer tells you to stop.


For those of you who are going to semi-finals, best of luck! If you're attending the one at Ohio State, come by and say hello. I love meeting my readers :-)

If you're an IEA rider, ask your trainer to run through some of these patterns with you. It will improve your overall horsemanship and help prepare you for college riding.


Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to like and share on Facebook.
Thanks!  --Amanda

Spending Time Out of the Ring

Happy Daylight Savings Time! The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer, and many young equestrians are feeling a bit of spring fever as they gear up for IEA post season competitions or regular horse shows in the summertime.

If this change in the weather inspires you to get out to the barn more often, I challenge you to spend some time outside the ring.

Many serious competitors thrive on working hard and may even feel a little guilty about missing out on a training day to just spend some down time with their horse. But taking a moment to rest and spend some quality time with your equine partner outside the ring is healthy and in the long run will help your riding as you develop a stronger bond with your horse.

I encourage you to take a trail ride, or ride in the pastures if you don't have trails nearby. Just walking and feeling the rhythm of your horse's steps can get the two of you in tune with one another. Allow him to mosey along as you look around and remember why you started riding horses in the first place.

And what about all those rainy days?

For those of us without an indoor place to ride, the spring rains can present challenges for riding. But just because its raining doesn't mean you can't go out to the barn. Rainy days are the perfect opportunity to give your horse a "spa day." He will love the extra attention you bestow on him as you spend the afternoon grooming, pulling the mane, trimming whiskers, and bathing if its warm enough. If its not raining too hard or storming, you can take him out for a quick hand graze when you're done.

When you look back on your experience with horses, I'm sure you will remember the ribbons you've won and the awards you've received, but hopefully you will also treasure the time you've spent with your equine partner outside the ring.

For example, I love the picture I chose for the blog today. It's UNG rider Kristin Cisewski and team horse Dax. We were at an IHSA show and I looked over my shoulder and the two of them were snuggling together. Dax pulled away right as I snapped the photo as if he was embarrassed to be caught, lol. Those who are familar with Dax know we call him the "aggressive cuddler" because he's always nosing the person holding him. He craves human interaction.

I know I spend a lot of time on this blog discussing horse shows and training tips, but it is in those moments between all the training and competing that I remember why I got into horses in the first place. Now off to the barn I go on this rainy Tuesday. I think a few of the ponies could use a good grooming...

Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to like and share on Facebook.
Thanks!  --Amanda

UNG rider Kristin Cisewski and Dax caught cuddling outside the arena, lol

ZONE FINALS!

Congratulations to all IEA riders who made it through their regionals and are qualified for zone finals! For this week's blog, I discuss what hunt seat and western riders should be doing to prepare for zone finals and increase their chances of success once they get there.

A quick note before we begin, a couple weeks ago, I published a blog post titled "Regional Finals!" that discussed the structure of regional finals and how the show is run. Zone finals are run in the same manner. For information on the logistics of zone finals, click HERE to read that blog post and simply substitute 'zone finals' everywhere you see 'regional finals', lol.

Now, onward to zone finals:

Hunt Seat Riders: Practice the Hunt Seat Rider Tests
Here is the list of hunt seat rider tests that may be asked at zone finals. You should practice these tests in your lessons until you are comfortable performing them on a variety of different horses.

1. Asked an appropriate horsemanship question that is tailored to the rider’s ability level
2. Halt
3. Sitting trot
4. Two point position at the walk and/or trot
5. Figure eight at trot, demonstrating change of diagonals
6. Figure eight at canter on correct lead, demonstrating simple change of lead
7. Change Horses
8. Ride without stirrups
9. Change leads down center of ring, demonstrating simple change of lead
10. Canter on the counter lead. No more than eight horses may counter canter at one time
11. Half-turn on forehand and/or half-turn on haunches
12. Jump a shortened course
13. Trot a jump not to exceed 2’6”

Which tests the judge may ask riders to perform is determined by the class level.

From the IEA rule book, here is a list of each IEA hunt seat flat division and which tests the riders in each division should be capable of performing:

Classes 9 & 12:  Beginner Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat, Tests 1-7

Classes 8 & 11:  Novice Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat, Tests 1-8

Classes 7 & 10:  Intermediate Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat, Tests 1-9

Class 6:  Open Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat, Tests 1-13*

*I think it's fair to assume tests 12 & 13 would only be asked in open fences, not open flat.

Western Riders: Practice the Western Rider Tests
Here are the tests that western riders should be practicing for zone finals.

1. Ask an appropriate horsemanship question that is tailored to the rider’s ability level
2. Individual performance on the rail
3. Halt and/or back
4. Figure eight at the jog
5. Change horses
6. Lope on specific lead and stop
7. 360 degree turn
8. Figure eight at the lope, demonstrating a change of lead (through the walk or jog)
9. Ride without stirrups
10.Simple change of leads in a straight line

Just as in hunt seat, which tests the judge may ask riders to perform is determined by the class level.

From the IEA rule book, here is a list of each IEA horsemanship division and which tests the riders in each division should be capable of performing:

Class 1: Varsity Open Horsemanship, Tests 1-10

Classes 2 & 5: Intermediate Horsemanship, Tests 1-8

Classes 3 & 6: Novice Horsemanship, Tests 1-6

Classes 4 & 7: Beginner Horsemanship, Tests 1-6

While at Zone Finals, Keep Up with the Schedule
The last thing you want is to be late and get flustered at the last minute. Ask your coach to share with you what time the morning schooling, course walk (hunt seat), and draw are scheduled to occur, the order of classes, and when your class is scheduled to run. Then you can follow along as the show runs and be where you need to be at the right time.

Find Out As Much As You Can About Your Horse
You will probably draw a horse you haven't ridden before. You may be tempted to sleep in or hang out with your friends in your tent with some hot chocolate during the morning schooling, but the best way to figure out your horse before you mount up is to watch your horse being ridden by a professional. You can also seek out the owner of the horse and ask them for any tips or advice for your ride.

Turn Yourself Out to the Nines
Your show attire should be spotlessly clean and fit perfectly.

Hunt seat riders: Get your coat and shirt dry cleaned and polish your boots until you can see you reflection in them. Invest in a solid black crop with no wrist strap. Dress conservatively. A navy hunt coat is always appropriate, though black hunt coats (not dressage coats) are also very much in style. You can't go wrong with a long sleeve white show shirt, though any conservative color is fine. If you don't have a nice show helmet and are in the market to buy one, now is the time.

Western riders: Get your clothes dry cleaned and make sure your chaps are clean, especially at the bottom where you may have stepped on them once or twice. Invest in nice pair of spurs that fit your boots and won't move around on your foot (except beginners, who aren't permitted to wear spurs). Get your hat shaped by a professional. Any western store can do this for you.

Varsity Open Championship Hunt Seat Riders: Know the Jump Numbers
If you make it to the hunt seat varsity open championship class, you will need to know the numbers of the fences from the individual varsity open fences course. It's possible that the judges will want additional testing during that class and ask the announcer to say something like, "canter fence 3, canter fence 4, trot fence 7, halt and return to the line up."  You will need to know which fence is which in order to perform the test.

Know your Back Number
The judges may call certain riders into the center of the arena or ask for additional testing using rider back numbers, so you need to know your number. Have your friends or coach ask you what your back number is a few times before you go in the ring so you're sure you know it.

Keep Riding
If your ride isn't going as planned, or if your horse is spooking or misbehaving, keep riding! Your coach will be on top of things and will ask for a re-ride if necessary. Whatever happens, don't give up. Ride your best from the moment you enter the arena until the final results are called.

Enjoy the Experience
Last, but certainly not least, there is more to zone finals than just your ride. It is a huge accomplishment to make it this far, and you should be pleased with yourself no matter how you place in your class.You have already shown that you are among the best of the best in your entire zone, and you have nothing to prove. Enjoy the experience.

Also, most zone finals offer other activities besides the horse show, such as a spectator party and written horsemanship test. Take advantage of these opportunities to socialize with other riders in your zone and increase your equine knowledge.

Now go out there and do your best and have fun. If you get a ribbon, awesome! If you make it to nationals, congratulations! I'll see you there ;-)

Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to like and share on Facebook.

Thanks!  --Amanda

10 Tips for Surviving an Ice Storm

Those of you who are friends with me on Facebook know that I had quite an eventful week. We had an epic ice storm here in northern Georgia on Monday that pulled down trees and knocked out power to thousands of residents for days.

It seems that my little town of Dahlonega, Georgia took the brunt of the storm. A picture of the aftermath taken on Hwy 9 just a couple miles from my farm was featured on the Georgia Power website.

Our power, and thus our water (we're on a well), went out Monday evening around 5pm and didn't come back on until about 1pm on Friday. I learned a lot in that 92 hours, most notably that I'm a southern girl who can do without all this winter weather, lol.

Here is my advice for surving an ice storm with no power or water while living on a horse farm.

1. Have an alternate form of caffeine readily available. I don't function well without coffee (understatement of the century to anyone who knows me, lol) and my coffee maker wasn't interested in performing without electricity. I got by with a coke zero I found in my fridge.

2. The horses don't know anything is amiss.  Really, they don't know the power is out. The first day I was really worried and stressed about how they would cope. Then I realized a day without power is just like any other day to them. They woke up, got their morning feed and some extra hay (they liked that part), then headed out for a day of grazing in the pasture. A couple of them rolled around in the snow (we got a light dusting along with the ice on the trees), but otherwise, it was business as usual. They all had blankets on and were nice and warm underneath when they came back inside in the evening.

3. Take care of your non-horse pets. My barn cat, on the other hand, needs a little extra care in the cold weather. I usually put him in the heated kitchen in the barn when it gets really cold, but with the power out and temperatures forecast to drop into the single digits Wednesday and Thursday night, that wasn't an option.  So I boarded him at my vet's office. They offered a special deal, about half-off the normal boarding rate for people caught in an emergency situation.

4. Find alternate living arrangements for yourself. I learned that I can stay in my house without any form of heat when temperatures dip into the single digits for approximately one night. There is only so much warmth to be gained from piling on layers of blankets. I think my house got down to 37 degrees at its lowest point. I was lucky that my friend Rebecca let me stay with her for two nights, the first of which was her birthday. Surprise! Your birthday present is me and all my dirty, wet barn clothes and boots taking over your guest bedroom.

5. Make sure all of your pasture troughs are full to the brim the day before the storm. This really was the saving grace for me. I was away at a horse show out of state the two days leading up to the storm, but I instructed my barn staff to fill the troughs and keep them full.  They did, and I am so grateful that we had four 100-gallon water troughs full of fresh water. We were able to dip the stall water buckets into the pasture troughs to fill them. Not the easiest thing to do in the middle of an ice storm, but it works in a pinch.

6. If you get low on water, call the fire department. At the close of day three with no power to run the well pump, we were getting low on water in the pasture troughs. So we loaded up one of the 100 gallon toughs in the truck and hauled it up to the fire department to fill with their hose. You could actually get anyone who has power, water, and an unfrozen spigot and hose to fill for you, we just chose the fire department because, you know, firemen...

7. Pour antifreeze in your toilets. If you have a bathroom in your barn, you can pour antifreeze in the toilet before the temperatures drop and it might keep it from freezing and busting. The key is to do this before the temps drop, not after the toilet is already frozen, oops. Noted for future reference.

8. Be patient. If you're without power, more than likely so are countless others. I had quite a bit of time on my hands, so I drove around the county and saw dozens of power company bucket trucks out and about. I learned to be patient and trust that when disaster strikes, our linemen/women are out there working hard and they'll get to me eventually. I knew I was in for a long wait, so I decided to just settle in and make the best of it. I made many new friends at the various fast food restaurants where I hung out during the day along with other displaced residents, taking advantage of the free warmth and wi-fi, Everyone was eager to share their battle stories over cups of warm coffee.

9. Know your limits. I was supposed to take one of my western riders to a horse show on Saturday at Judson college in Alabama, about six hours away. I made arrangements with Coach Knight of Berry College to coach my rider at the show so I could stay home at take care of the farm. But then my power came back on Friday at 1pm and I briefly thought I could accompany my rider after all, but ultimately decided against it.  And good thing I stayed because just a few hours after the power came back, my well pump burst and water began flowing like a river out of the well pump housing. The good people at 'Prime Pump and Well' here in Dahlonega came out and got it all fixed up for me within a few hours. Then we got another round of snow on Friday night and I had to do the Saturday morning feeding. I'm often guilty of trying to do too much (aren't all horse people?), but I was proud of myself for being wise enough to know when I needed to stay and take care of my farm.  And my student rode well at the show and got some good ribbons under Coach Knight's tutelage, so it all worked out.

10. Get a little help from your friends. I have great friends, from my non-horsey friend Rebecca who put me up in her guest bedroom, to Coach knight of Berry College who coached my western rider, to the firefighters who filled the trough, to my barn workers who came out in the afternoon to help with cleaning the stalls and hauling buckets, to the countless students, parents, family, and friends who texted, called, and messaged me with offers to help. I'm a tough cookie, often more willing to figure things out on my own rather than seek help (again, aren't all horse people?), but I knew this situation would take more than my rugged individualism to get though, and I took advantage of the kindness and generosity of those around me. A huge thank you to everyone who pitched in!

I'm interested to hear stories from other folks who survived "Ice storm 2015." Fee free to share in the comments, and stay warm!

Ice Storm 2015 at Epiphany Farm in Dahlonega, GA
photo credit Amanda Garner

Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."

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Thanks!  --Amanda