Cowboy Dressage Schooling Show Entry

Cowboy Dressage® Schooling ShowC 

MM Training and Consulting 

with Marcia Moore Harrison and Davalee Minden 

at MM Training and Consulting, 5985 Highway 95, Potlatch, Idaho 83855 

June 2-3, 2018

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Horse’s Registered Name               Please fill out one form per horse – rider combination                                                            Breed

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Printed Name of Rider     check one division           ⃝Open                  ⃝Amateur                 ⃝Youth 13-18              ⃝Youth 6-12                 ⃝Leadline

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Street Address or PO Box of Rider                                                                                                                     City, State, and Zip Code

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Area Code and Phone Number                                                                                                                                            Email address

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Signature of Rider (if minor, Guardian)                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Date

Entry -  Each horse is limited to 4 riding classes and 2 partnership on the ground classes each day

Enter class number from Class List on following pages

Date	(1) Class #	(2) Class #	(3) Class #	(4) Class #	Total
Saturday riding
Saturday ground
Sunday riding
Sunday ground
	Total number of classes

Make checks payable to Marcia Moore Harrison, 5985 Highway 95, Potlatch, Idaho 83855

Entry closing date is 5/24/18.  $10 post entry fees will apply to entries postdated after 5/24/18.

Class entry fee $15/riding class, $10/ground class		$
Special 2 day fee = $150 (includes 4 riding & 2 ground classes per day)		$
Stall $15 / night (limited availability)	# nights_____	$
Total Fees		$

Please provide your own feed. If renting a stall, bedding is provided.  Dry camping available.

Bad Betty Versatility Entry Forms

Bad Betty Versatility Challenge

Saturday, October 7, 2017        Walk-through 8am

Ground and Cowboy Dressage Divisions 9am-1pm 

Trail Division 1pm-5pm

Course open on Friday, October 6, 2017 for ride-through

General Rules

Entries due September 23, 2017.  All post entry fees will apply.  A release form and payment must be submitted before riding on course Friday or Saturday. 

Course maps/instructions will be provided the day of the challenge.

Obstacles or maneuvers will be judged with 30 seconds allowed per obstacle or maneuver. 

An adult must accompany all youth.  No stallions are to be ridden by youth.

Western tack and attire required including western hat (may be substituted by a helmet).

No training devices allowed.  Bosals, snaffles and riding with two hands are permitted at any age.  Cowboy Dressage rules and guidelines apply (see www.cowboydressage.com).

Different riders may not ride same horse.  Same rider may ride more than one horse in the same level. 

All dogs must be kept on leash and away from the riding areas.  No dogs on or near the courses at any time.

No abuse to any horse or animal will be tolerated.  Offenders will be asked to leave and will forfeit any winnings.  Judges may dismiss a horse or rider for safety reasons when well being of horse, rider or spectators is at risk. 

Description of Levels for all Divisions

Ground

Level 1 and In-hand – maneuvers will be performed with horse on lead

Level 2 - maneuvers will be performed with horse on neck rope

Level 3 – maneuvers will be performed with horse at liberty

Cowboy Dressage (all Cowboy Dressage rules apply, see www.cowboydressage.com)

Level 1 – test will be Challenge Walk/Jog Test 1

Level 2 – test will be Challenge Walk/Jog Test 3

Level 3 – test will be Challenge Walk/Jog/Lope Test 1

In-hand – test will be Partnership on the Ground Test 2

Trail

Level 1 and In-hand – obstacles performed at a walk only – appropriate for green horses

Level 2 - obstacles performed at a walk or trot only – includes but not limited to backing, side pass

Level 3 – obstacles performed at a walk, trot or lope – includes but not limited to trotting one-handed, loping small figures, haunch turns, backing on uneven ground

 Bad Betty Versatility Challenge Entry Form

Important:  Payment must accompany this completed registration form to be accepted.  No refunds without vet certificate.  Mail entry with payment to Marcia Moore Harrison, 5985 Hwy. 95, Potlatch, Idaho 83855.  Make checks/money orders payable to MM Training & Consulting.

Horse name:                                                                         

Owner name:                                                                                                Phone:

Exhibitor name:                                                        Age:                Email:

Address:                                             City:                                       State:         

$45.00 per division entered.  If entering all 3 divisions, $35.00 per division.  Only one level may be entered per division, per horse.  In-hand is $25.00 per division. No cross-entry of in-hand classes.  Freestyle is $25.00.  Cross-entry is permitted for freestyle.    Use separate entry blank for each horse entered.  Post entry fee of $55.00 per division if entry received after September 23.

Ground Division
Level 1	$
Level 2	$
Level 3	$
In-hand	$

Cowboy Dressage Division
Level 1	$
Level 2	$
Level 3	$
In-hand	$
Freestyle	$

Trail Division
Level 1	$
Level 2	$
Level 3	$
In-hand	$

 

Division fees              $__________

($105.00 if entering all 3 divisions, In-hand is $25.00 per division, freestyle is $25.00)   

Mandatory office fee $__10.00___

Haul in fee   ($5.00 per day, applies only if not camping) $__________ 

Dry camping ($25.00 per night) $__________

Stall fee ($15.00 per night) $__________ 

• ·      Total fees owed         $__________

Bad Betty Versatility Challenge

Scoring

Judges decisions are final.  Scoring will be based on a 0-10 point system with 10 being the highest points possible for each maneuver or obstacle.  Judges will score each maneuver or obstacle and provide comments as appropriate.  All maneuvers will be judged on fluidity, connection, partnership and correctness.  Bonus points will be added in the areas of soft feel and harmony and partnership. Score sheets with comments will be available at the end of the day.

 Judges and Callers

There will be one judge and one scribe for the Ground division and one judge and one scribe for the Cowboy Dressage division.  There will be two judges and two scribes for the Trail division.

Callers for the Cowboy Dressage division will not be provided.  Please plan accordingly.  A caller may be available for hire on the grounds for $5.00 per test called.  Please see Cowboy Dressage tests, rules and guidelines at www.cowboydressage.com.

Awards

Champion and Reserve Champion Bad Betty Versatility awards will be given.  A belt buckle will be the top award for the highest cumulative score of all three divisions: Ground, Cowboy Dressage and Trail.  

Awards will also be given to the High Score in each of the three divisions: Ground, Cowboy Dressage and Trail.  The highest score in each division will be determined by the total number of points earned on the ride according to the judge’s scorecard. In addition, a cumulative High Point award will be given in each of the three levels: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.  These awards will be determined by the total number of points earned on all rides ridden within a certain level.  For example, a rider that enters and rides at Level 2 in all 3 divisions will have a greater chance of winning this award than a rider who enters all 3 divisions but chooses a different level for each. 

Champion and Reserve Champion awards will be given for In-hand, to be awarded for the highest cumulative score of all three divisions:  Ground, Cowboy Dressage and Trail.  There is no cross-entry with other classes.  In-hand is not eligible for the buckle.

Champion and Reserve Champion awards will be given for Freestyle, to be awarded to the highest scoring freestyle test as set out by Cowboy Dressage rules.  Cross-entry with other classes is permitted.  Freestyle is not eligible for the buckle.

Awards will be calculated for one horse/one rider (or handler). 

You Are a T.R.A.I.N.E.R!

Everything I know about myself, and other people, I learned from my horse.  Well, if I didn’t learn it directly from a horse, working with horses helps me refine what I know and sinks that knowledge deep in my heart. I’ve worked in the corporate world at a few organizations in executive roles such as HR, quality assurance and training.  I’ve gained knowledge and experience through the years, but if I have a real human problem, I tend to work it out by thinking about what I would do if the person were a horse.  Seems a little crazy, doesn’t it?  But it works.  For example, I’ve used the stress/recovery methodology to improve team performance and our horse color tool (What Color is Your Horse, Really?) to develop team cohesion. And as we were explaining to our MM Training interns the other day, having the mentality of a trainer sets us up for success in the workplace.  Trainers are thinkers.  They are problem solvers.  They learn to rein in their emotions and respond in a way that will create positive change, even under stress. Trainers ask powerful questions and look for feedback to improve.  Trainers are good listeners, as they listen to other people and to the horse.  They are educators and are excellent at adjusting to a personality or situation in order to move things forward.   These skills are highly valued in the workplace.  Heck, they are highly valued anywhere. If you are working with a horse you are a trainer! For example, trail obstacles present many opportunities to be a trainer of your horse.  There are several elements involved in this discussion, so we developed an acronym to explain our philosophy. 

Trainers are:

Thinkers.  Training horses requires problem-solving skills.  For our teen interns, developing these skills now will set them head and shoulders above their competition when it comes time for them to get in the job market. Problem-solving skills are fairly rare, so there is always a need for people with these skills.  Trainers use these skills all the time.  Every horse is different and will present an entirely new set of problems.  It takes creativity, a willingness to try something new and different, and a mindset that is able to break down a problem into smaller parts that can be solved.  It also requires thinking through problems, rather than reacting with emotion, which brings us to….

Rational.  Trainers are able to rein in their emotions.  Training can be very frustrating.  It’s easy to get bogged down and react out of anger or think you will never advance this horse.  It is also easy to blame the horse for problems.  Trainers are able to step back and see the situation from a perspective outside of their feelings.  They can take their emotions out of the equation and focus in on the horse’s strengths and what the horse is doing well and work forward from that point.  Responding in the way that the horse needs you to respond, rather in the way that you feel like responding, is a sign of maturity.  Like a good parent, trainers give their charges what they need, not always what they feel like they deserve.

Trainers:

Ask questions of themselves, others and the horse.  This is one of the most powerful tools in a trainer’s toolbox.  One of my employers had an edict of “Ask “why?” five times”.  The idea was that by the time you answered “why?” the fifth time you had probably found a real solution and not just a band-aid fix for the problem.  In addition, asking questions helps others learn by stimulating critical thinking and promoting deeper understanding. Asking questions of the horse helps you realize where the horse is in their development and attitude.  If you ask your horse to do a maneuver and their answer is “no” then you have work to do, either in their mind and heart or in their skill level. 

Improve.  Trainers willingly receive feedback from others and most importantly, receive feedback from their horse.  The horse has many ways of telling us the state of their being, and trainers recognize and respond to this input appropriately.  Trainers are in a continual learning mode.  They attend clinics, go to lessons, read articles, and apply what they learn. We love that when you ride in Cowboy Dressage you receive detailed feedback on your test and in such a timely manner that sometimes you can apply the feedback before your next test! Trainers are also exceptional listeners.  They hear not just what is being said, but how it’s being said and even hear what’s not being said. How powerful would it be if we applied the tool of listening that intently to all of our relationships? 

Notice.  Trainers read a situation and most importantly, read their horse.  They can often avert a harmful or dangerous situation.  They know when a horse is being optimally stressed for improvement, and can back off and give recovery time to a horse that has been overstressed. As our friend, Jenni Grimmett, said in her article, Manana Principle, “There are no short cuts in good horsemanship.”  A good trainer notices and believes in what is good for the horse, not just what is good for people, and they are always looking for the win/win. They have discernment and insight into behaviors based in principle, compared to behaviors based in expediency or convenience, and can make good judgments about what might be right or wrong. They make decisions based on principle, which takes the guesswork and anxiety out of decision-making.  Decisions are easier when made by following tenets of belief that were made objectively and with wise input, rather than in the moment.  

Educate.  Trainers are teachers.  They are teaching their horse what to do or what not to do every moment they are with them.  We believe professional trainers should be trying to work their way out of a job.  Like a good counselor, trainers teach others the skills they need to be successful rather than keeping someone tied to their apron strings.  How many have seen the owner whose trainer has not done a good job of educating them?  They are perched on a horse they do not know and the horse doesn’t know them.  The instant anything out of the norm happens, the situation disintegrates to catastrophe.  There is no connection or understanding between owner and horse and nothing they can fall back on in times of stress.  Good trainers teach people to be more than owners.  They teach people about relationship. 

Reach.  Trainers stretch themselves.   They are willing to adjust to what is needed at that moment.  They try new things, step out of their comfort zone and they are continually learning and growing.  Sometimes what they try doesn’t work, so they reach out and get input or find a new solution.  They set big, audacious goals and then work hard to achieve them.  They discipline themselves to be better than they were yesterday.  They keep themselves in training, along with their horse. 

If you would like to know more about becoming a trainer of your horse, or how learning to be a trainer of your horse relates to and will improve your human relationships, please contact us.  We offer lessons, workshops, and clinics and look forward to helping you develop these skills! Our upcoming Trail Obstacles workshop addresses training specifically to develop the emotional and mental stability needed for a horse to handle those scary trail challenges.   Please contact us for more details at www.mm-horsetraining.com or on Facebook at MM Training and Consulting.

First Impressions Do Count

I enjoyed Martina Bone’s blog titled 10 Things to Improve Your Score.  If you didn’t get a chance to read it, here is the link: http://posemucklfarm.com/blog1/2015/06/29/10-things-to-improve-your-score/. 

Her number one point, “first impressions do count”, struck a chord with me.  As a former hiring professional, corporate trainer and HR Manager, and now as a clinician and coach, I know how critical first impressions are. 

Making a good first impression is incredibly important because you only get one shot at it. I know this sounds harsh, but as humans we are conditioned to judge people within the first second of meeting them—and our opinion often doesn’t change. This is called thin slicing.

Thin slicing is when we take a mental snapshot of someone and guess his or her competence, confidence and likeability in less than a second. Researchers think this is a survival mechanism that we have developed to decide very quickly if someone is friend or foe.  In the first 10 seconds after meeting someone we develop over 100 perceptions of him or her, some subconsciously.  Think of all the determinations that go through your mind as you are introduced to someone new; male or female, height, weight, perceived attractiveness, level of confidence or nervousness, ethnicity, length of hair, personal style, firmness of handshake, ability to make eye contact, enthusiasm, professionalism, friendliness, education, economic status, marriage status… and the list goes on and on. 

The importance of first impressions carries over into our presentation on the Cowboy Dressage court.  Judges are human and are drawn to an appealing picture.  At the distance you and your horse are from the judge’s stand, the bigger pieces of the picture, such as the overall blending or contrasting of the colors of your clothes and horse, become more important than the smaller details, such as the stamping on your chinks.  You want to achieve a picture of partnership and the colors and style you choose can either add to, or detract from, your look of harmony with your horse.  When considering how to spend my wardrobe budget, I allot a larger amount to the purchase of my hat and chinks or chaps.  These items cover a good portion of what the judge sees, and they will last a long time if they are of good quality and well cared for.  Buy a neutral color and they can be used on several colors of horse.  I spend less money on tops as I can often find what I want on clearance.  It is easy to find tops in a wide variety of colors and styles to add diversity to my look.  And of course, a new scarf or a vest can add a touch of drama or a more classic look as needed. 

The most important part of your first impression is your horse.  In Cowboy Dressage we honor our partner, the horse.  A properly fed, conditioned, groomed and cared for horse is paramount.  The horse is the biggest part of your picture of harmony and he must be your first consideration.  Preparing for a test at a Gathering begins months in advance and includes training and practice as well as proper feeding, veterinary care, hoof care, and grooming.  I also have a chiropractor on my team and she has been a very valuable addition.  Tack must be appropriate, properly fitted and clean.  Honor the horse with your on-going care and he will reward you ten-fold.  It’s just the right thing to do.

If you’d like to know more about how to put together your picture of partnership and harmony for a rock star first impression, please contact us.  We offer Performance Coaching clinics and workshops, and can also add an evaluation of you and your horse to any lesson to provide tips and ideas.  In addition, our x2x3 clinics and workshops delve deep into the bottom of your test to help improve your score.  We look forward to helping you shine!    

Liberty and Partnership on the Ground Clinic Recap

A big thank you to the great group of participants at our CD Partnership/Liberty Clinic this weekend! Our goal was to help everyone see the value in having a ground game and also inspire them to take their relationship with their horse to another level, by pursuing Liberty. They told us we accomplished both ;-).

Kori Smith What an amazing weekend! The power of creating such a connection with your horse is hard for me to describe. To me it’s priceless! You can’t really appreciate it until you have it!

Chris Harpole This was my first CD clinic I’ve ever attended and it was awesome. The support and inspiration among the group was amazing. Thank you Marcia and Davalee for inspiring me more. Excited about the upcoming CD riding clinic next month!

Debbie Ragan · March 13, 2017 

Top rate clinicians that provide an atmosphere of professionalism and a wealth of knowledge that is the backbone of their instruction in helping you and your horse develop a solid partnership while making it fun for all!! Thank you so much I can’t wait to attend another clinic with Marcia and Davalee!!

Katie Bane · March 13, 2017

Outstanding! Excellent communication with the rider and the horse, deep understanding of what makes the horse tick, and a no nonsense approach to improving your equine relationships! I loved it!

 

Rachelle Wernecke Moore Had such a great time and learned a lot ! Thank u so much for the opportunity and the experience, a truly amazing clinic with amazing teachers ! I enjoyed every little bit of it and gaining the confidence and a relationship with cash was 💯 worth every little bit . Thank u Marcia and Davalee for all you help, time, effort and patients . Can’t wait for more !