Vicki Milliron

USDF Region 2

Making the Leap to the Next Level

In December, 2002, I was thrilled when I was notified that I had been chosen as the winner of The Dressage Foundation's Gifted Fund scholarship for USDF Region 2.

I immediately started planning for my extensive training session with my instructor, Wolfgang Dellefont, from Sarasota, Florida. I have been working with him monthly for five years and every spring he comes here for a five to seven day clinic. Our clinic was scheduled from April 23-27, and I rode every day.

On the first day, we worked on getting Ella, my 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare, more in front of my leg. Riding countless transitions she got lighter and quicker off my leg and her self-carriage improved. We also worked on the transitions into and out of the medium trot and canter. We are working on Second Level and with the new tests we have our work cut out for us.

On the second day we again worked on transitions and collection. Last year our collection was not really developed but over the winter it has improved. We also worked on maintaining better balance and jump in the counter canter.

On the third and fourth day we started working on some of the movements in the Second Level tests. Ten meter circles left and right coming down the center line at trot and canter, three loop serpentines in canter with a simple change of lead each time crossing the center line, shoulder-in, haunches-in, and many other movements in the tests.

On the fifth day we worked on riding the entire Second Level test 1 in a full size ring. After working in a small indoor all winter it took a couple times of riding the test to get comfortable with all the adjustments from a small to standard ring. The medium trot across diagonal seemed to go on forever. We still have a lot of work to do to make the tests competitive, but the five-day clinic was a big help in getting started.

Many thanks to The Dressage Foundation for offering this program for adult amateur riders. I hope other adult amateurs take advantage of the program and apply for The Gifted Fund scholarship. It was very helpful to me and I truly appreciated winning the scholarship and having the financial help with my training.