The Gifted Fund

Doris Leacy

USDF Region 5

Getting Down to Business!

When I first read about The Gifted Fund in the Tucson Dressage Club newsletter Transitions, I thought it was a great idea. However, I did not apply for it because I would never be selected, so why bother. Then Pat Baker-Hutter had a meeting with all of her students on what our goals were and where we were planning on going next show year. I helped Pat put on the meeting so we each brought some things to share. Pat showed them her USDF gold medal and some awards she had won. I brought some of my certificates from USDF. We wanted to encourage everyone to reach her goals and move forward. I had a copy of Transitions with me that had the article about The Gifted Fund and told everyone that was eligible to apply for it. That's when I decided to apply for it myself. My goal for the 2003 show year was to move my buckskin quarter horse, Poverty Joe Jack (Lil Joe), up to Second Level. I knew we would be in for a lot of hard work but I was ready for it. With The Gifted Fund grant, I had enough money for 13 lessons. Pat and I decided she would ride Lil Joe for 6 days so she could teach him all of the Second Level moves. Boy was Lil Joe surprised when Pat rode him and he actually had to work really hard the whole time. Lil Joe got better each and every day that Pat rode him. He started work every day just like he was doing it all night in his sleep. They worked on a lot of transitions -- canter to trot work. Pat also worked on his counter canter, canter to walk, walk to canter. He did some really nice half passes and turns on the haunches. I was very pleased with the way he performed for Pat every day. I think he knew this was a special week of training and he had to try his hardest. Now if only I can do the same in my lessons.
Next it was my turn riding Silver Star, Pat's 13 year old Thoroughbred gelding trained to Second Level. Boy was I surprised on how different the two horses were. It was a humbling experience for me to ride another horse. You can get into so many bad habits by riding just your own horse. If I put my leg a little too far back I had haunches-in. Too much pressure from one leg and we leg yielded. I was getting frustrated because I couldn't even ride a straight line. I was ready to give up dressage all together. My lesson with Silver Star went a whole lot better the next day. After my first lesson it just seemed like I couldn't get him to do anything I wanted. Mostly just going straight would have been nice. But after I saw how well Lil Joe did I told myself to stop feeling sorry for myself and start working harder. We worked on turn on the haunches, half pass, walk-canter transitions and a little bit of canter to walk. Overall it was a good lesson and I learned a lot about myself and of riding other horses. I finished the lesson feeling good about what I did and what we had accomplished. One day I rode Pat's other horse Iome, a 13 year old Dutch Warmblood mare trained to Prix St. Georges. Talk about having a powerful horse under you with a big engine! It is totally amazing to me how each horse is so different. When I asked Iome to trot I felt this powerful engine start up and then I started to panic, wondering if I would be able to handle all that power. Iome was another great teacher. She taught me to use my seat and legs, not just my hands. We did half pass, leg yield and turn on the haunches. On another day I had a lunge lesson on Lil Joe with no stirrups or reins. For the first 10-15 minutes, he trotted and cantered while I lifted my legs alternately to loosen up my leg muscles. Then we went into the dressage arena where I at least got to use my reins, but not my stirrups. It was a very good lesson in getting me to let go with my knees and stretching my legs down without gripping. We also worked on simple changes and transitions – walk-canter-walk. Lil Joe was such a trooper for doing all that work with Pat in the morning and then doing it again with me in the afternoon. Summary: Joe and I have to get down to business and not just plod along in the arena anymore. We have to stay focused from the time we enter until we leave on a loose rein. I need to keep up all the good habits I learned from Pat in my week of work. I really learned a lot from riding other horses. On "graduation day" (my last lesson), Lil Joe gave me the best ride of my life. He was so good and light and smooth. I really loved it. We did all the Second Level moves in every test excellently. Thank you Gifted Fund for my wonderful weeklong experience. I'm inspired to continue my dressage education. Thank you to everyone who made my dream come true: Carol Lavell for having the scholarship and helping adult amateurs; The Dressage Foundation and Selection Committee; Carolyn Vandenberg for writing one of my recommendation letters; Pat Baker-Hutter for writing my other recommendation letter and for letting me use her two horses in this training; my husband Alan Leacy for always supporting me both financially and mentally. Alan is always by my side, he's my groom. RV driver, video photographer, and musical freestyle music man and best friend. Most of all I want to thank my partner in dressage, Poverty Joe Jack, for putting up with me. He's such a trooper and is always ready to go to the next show. He has taught me so much.

Gifted Fund Application

Applications for the 2012 Carol Lavell Gifted Fund, for training in 2013 are due in The Dressage Foundation office on or before September 15, 2012.
Application

Information - Read before completing application!