Late Summer 2002
Fitness Edition
OFFICERS
Gloria Cameron
District Commissioner
Eileen Pritchard-Bryan
jt. DC
Phoebe DeVoe
Treasurer
Joanne Salerno
Secretary/Newsletter
Hope Pearce
Membership
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| Pony Club Tetrathlon - A Fitness Challenge
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The Maryland Region Tetrathlon Rally was held this past July 13 and 14 organized by Greenspring Hounds PC. Participants in this event are challenged to prepare for four different elements: riding (show jumping), swimming (a predetermined length which is timed), running (cross country of predetermined length and timed), and shooting (air pistols at a distance of 10 meters). This sport requires skill and physical endurance and those who prepare and participate in the rally are all winners.
Even though it is a competition, it is also an opportunity for each person to achieve their "personal best" and the sense of accomplishment is wonderful to behold. The Tetrathlon Handbook and Rules states "USPC Tetrathlon provides a challenging competition requiring sound, practical horsemanship and general athletic ability. It encourages Pony Club members to broaden their interest in riding, condition their own bodies, and become multi-sport athletes".
Next summer there are plans for Long Green Pony Club to hold an introductory clinic for our members to experience this sport. Any members who are interested in training for the 2003 Tetrathlon Rally should look at the Handbook and Rules in the LGPC library and discuss this activity with their parents and the D.C. Also talk to Alison H. and Ellen C. who were active participants in past Tetrathlons for several years - and did quite well!
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1. "Conditioning" is:a) a legal term used by polititians
b) permission given by a parent in certain circumstances
c) the process of getting a pony or fit
2. Nutrition is:a) a word used in a national spelling bee
b. important to build strength and "condition"
c. the name of the Preakness winner in 1998
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3. Three types of conditioning for horses are:a. overeating, no exercise, never warm-up or cool-down
b. aerobic, anaerobic, interval training
c. Wella Balsam, Cowboy Magic, Thermasilk
4. To get a pony fit, you must ride at least:a. four times a week
b. when your friends want to hack out
c. once in a blue moon
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| A PONY CLUB PLEDGE...words to remember
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| "As a member of the United States Pony Club, I stand for the best in sportsmanship as well as horsemanship. I shall compete for the enjoyment of the game well played and take winning and losing in stride, remembering that without good manners and good temper, sport loses its cause for being. I shall endeavor to maintain the best |
traditions of the ancient and noble skill of horsemanship, always treating my horse with the consideration due a partner. I shall strive at all times to uphold the high ideals of the Pony Club."
Written by a very wise, unknown person
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| DC's Corner...Common Sense Fitness for Horse and Rider
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| Recently, President Bush, announced a national "fitness drive" to encourage improved health and physical fitness in the US. There is no argument that physical fitness improves achievement, productivity and quality of life - it should be an important goal for everyone. Riding is often overlooked as a means to stay physically fit, but in fact, success in riding disciplines requires strength, coordination and aerobic stamina. Pound for pound, racing jockeys are recognized as possibly the most physically fit of all athletes. Dressage riders, endurance competitors, and riders who enjoy the jumping disciplines all focus on development of muscle groups (including those
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abdominals!) to excel in their sports. Cross training in other sports is encouraged to improve riding effectiveness.
Fitness in your horse will produce the same improvement in achievement and quality of life. Horsemanship taught in pony club includes instruction in conditioning your horse or pony. Knowledge of basic health care, the vital signs, and understanding equine movement and gaits is the beginning. Preparing your pony for competition develops respiratory health and develops muscles for performance, for both horse and rider - it makes sense!
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| Ellen C. made us quite proud again at the annual show jumping rally!!! With three clear rounds, plus a clear speed round and an equitation award, she had a good day. Her scramble team did not fare as well, but everyone had a good time and enjoyed the two day format of this rally. Katie Rose as coach, did her usual fabulous job, and Rachel S. was a great stable manager. Ask Ellen or Rachel for details.
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From the LGPC Library - Video Review -
Interval and Conformation: Survival of the Fittest
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Unfortunately, this poorly made video has little to offer in the way of instruction or entertainment. If the speaker's voice doesn't put you to sleep, the background music will. A tripod would have been a good idea since the movement of the camera during filming gives the viewer motion sickness. I watched it while reading a good novel at the same time and I deserve a medal for this review.
The video offers a description of interval training for race horses. the speaker talks about muscular development and mentions a lot of anatomy while the viewer watches a race horse exercised around and around and around... (you get the picture). He then talks about cardiovascular development. The viewer then gets to watch a close up of heart rate
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monitors being placed on a horse and that horse being saddled while listening to a discussion of exercise research. And there is more... Cut to a film at a racetrack with an exciting race in progress - however, the commentary is in Japanese (no kidding!!!) This is followed by more boring film and actually a fair discussion of maintaining soundness, identifying potential injury and avoiding it, and a great method for applying ice-cold leg bandages - this is shown in minute detail, but may be worth fast forwarding the tape to see.
The title of the last portion of the video, "Conformation: survival of the fittest" is misleading. It is not about physical fitness - it reviews desirable conformation and explains how horses are more likely to stay sound with good conformation.
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August Meeting Notice:
Thursday, August 22, 6:00 P.M.
Turn-out Presentation for both horse and rider at Thornridge Manor. Also, riders going to the D Dressage Rally will practice their tests before a judge!
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| D Rallies: Dressage - August 25, Show Jumping - September 14, Eventing - September 29...If you haven't already done so, any D's interested in riding or being a stable manager for these rallies, contact our D.C. right away to discuss how to qualify.
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Addendum E of the Horse Management Handbook has been revised. This policy states that all mounts in a USPC sponsored activity shall be serviceably sound and healthy and instructions provide related definitions and rules. These include two important definitions:"Medication is defined as any substance that is not water, salt, electrolytes, or supplement and is not considered a normal foodstuff. Supplements (including vitamins and nutraceuticals) are substances that are added to a horse's diet that are not normal foodstuffs or medications." The instructions and guidelines of this policy contain important information about who may give medications and supplements, and required information for the stall card, feed chart and other documentation and procedures for USPC sponsored activities. Please read and understand this policy. The current version of Addendum E can be found in the LGPC library or downloaded from the USPC website, forms section under rule book Addendums.
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FILL IN THE BLANK:
Match the knowledge requirement with its rating test level D-1 through C-3
(answers can be found on page 5).
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1. Describe ways to know if your pony is properly cooled out.
2. Measure and record pulse, temperature, and respiration of own pony in front of examiner.
3. Discuss conditioning and how to condition for PC activity of candidate's choice.
4. Describe care of pony after strenuous work, to include cooling out, inspection of legs, watering and feeding.
5. Know one reason for cooling out pony after exercise.
6. Know vital signs at rest and after work.
7. Know basic condition of own pony.
8. Present written outline of a 6-8 week conditioning and feeding program in preparation for a specific competition of candidate's choice.
9. Discuss different methods of conditioning for various activities.
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Test Your Knowledge
Match these Fitness Terms with their Definitions:
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1. Base line vital signs
2. Overloading
3. Cardiovascular systems
4. Normal equine respiration at rest
5. Recovery time
6. Azoturia
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A. 8 - 10 breaths/minute
B. "tying up"
C.Time it takes for vital signs to return to normal
D. Heart and blood vessels
E. Normal temp, pulse and respiration for your pony
F. The body is subjected to work beyond its limits
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42 Lauren Knoll CT.
Baldwin, MD 21013
(410) 323-6561
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CLASSIFIEDS
For Sale: jumping saddle...Steuben CS94 17" excellent condition. Call (410) 817-4017
For Sale: 16.5" Pessoa a/o saddle. Good condition, new billets padded flaps. Asking $800, Call (410) 838-7900
For Sale: 17.5" County Eventer, mahogany brown, #3 tree; excellent condition, very comfortable xc saddle, $750...call (410) 329-6561
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Answers to fill in the blank quiz:
1. D-2; 2. D-2; 3. C-1; 4. D-3; 5. D-1; 6. C-3; 7. D-2; 8. C-2; 9. C-3
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Congratulations: Best wishes to Jessica C. on her marriage to Bill K. on June 29!
Congratulations: After a grueling weekend of hard work and NERVES, Alison H. is one of Maryland Region's newest A's (as well as Nick L. of Marlboro PC). We are all so proud to have her represent LGPC!!! Now, if she could only remember to keep her tack clean!
Congratulations: Jessica R., Lindsey Z., and Taylor Z. for their success at the Dressage Young Riders competition in July.
Condolences: Our thoughts are with Eileen Pritchard-Bryan and her family on the loss of her mother.
Wow: In the July issue of "Dressage Today" magazine, there is an article about a clinic given at "Phoebe DeVoe's Thornridge Manor" - we knew she'd be famous!
Name Confusion? Please note: USCTA is now USEA (United States Eventing Association); AHSA is now USA Equestrian; Combined Training will be known as Eventing (which will be the universal term for CT); Know-Down is now "Quiz"
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