Renee Leone is overseeing the Tag Sale at the show. If you want more information on that contact our wonderful new sponsor chairman Renee 315-299-4892.

We are very happy to announce two more of our judges: Scott and Suzanne Hassler from Maryland. Scott is an international competitor, was for many years the head trainer at Hilltop Farm, and is now the Young Horse Coach of the USEF. Suzanne also has competed internationally and is a wonderful teacher as well.

As I mentioned the Youth Board for the dressage4kids has been reorganized. There will be more info on the website, but anyone interested in joining should contact me immediately. Already invited to be on the board: Colleen Akin, Jaclyn Cartesio, Meagan Davis, Jamie Leone, Stephanie Nowak, Mica Mabragana, and Kat Mathieu. Board members will serve for one year. The board is expected to:

            - attend D4K meetings if possible.       
            - send suggestions of subjects to be discussed at the D4K 

            - read emailed minutes and make comments and suggestions via email.

            - meet at least twice a year -- at WEP and at YDF.
            - develop programs to be held at D4K activities.

            - assist adult committee members.

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Now on to a really exciting announcement about the FEI Pony Clinic. This year there will be three clinics - June 26 and 27, October 6 and 7 with Courtney King, and November 17 and 18 with Debbie MacDonald! Watch the website for more information.

For those of you in the northeast who are anxious to start showing a new show has been added in our area: Westchester Fairfield Dressage Association is holding a one day show on May 5 in Darien, CT. This will be a great warm-up show.

Jeff Kurtz has been wonderful updating our website and keeping things up to date. However we would love to find someone to redesign our home page so it is a bit better looking. Know anyone who would help out on this. Jeff will keep it going but would love some help in the artistic department.

And speaking of artists, don't forget that the artwork for the Festival cover design competition can be sent to me anytime. It will be black and white and is best if it is a vertical orientation so that it fits well on the program cover.

And lastly I hope that everyone will read the following and consider joining us in helping Courtney. She left with her horses on a plane to California at 4:30 AM last week, so we should get our first report soon. Don't miss out.

Become part of Courtney's Quest

After many years of working hard and living on a shoestring, Courtney King along with the Dutch warmblood stallion Idocus has a very exciting opportunity ahead of her. They have qualified for the US League Finals in California and will be going to the World Cup in Las Vegas in April. The top two finishers in the League Finals will compete as the US representatives in the World Cup. If she doesn't make the top two she will go to compete in an invitational competition that is part of the World Cup.

Courtney has to support Idocus herself: board, lessons, vet care, transportation, entry fees, etc. She has some sponsorship for his board and daily expenses, but there is one thing many people don't realize. When a rider is competing away from home like this (she will be gone almost a month) she not only has these expenses, but she has limited income from her usual lessons and training with all the expenses of mortgage, car payments, stall rentals, employee salaries, etc.

Also in her future this year is the strong possibility of going to the Pan American Games in Brazil with either Rendezvous or Mythilus and to the World Young Horse Championships in Germany with Wyoming. She will be competing in the Festival of Champions in Gladstone, NJ - in the National Grand Prix Championships with Idocus and in the Pan Am tryouts with Rendezvous and Mythilus, in the Young Horse Championships in NC with Wyoming, and in the Regional Championships in VA with these horses as well as the other horses she trains. Wouldn't it be fun (and educational) to hear all about these competitions as they happen.

Courtney is an example to the youth of today of what hard work and sacrifice can bring.  Dressage4kids, Inc. is raising money to give Courtney a scholarship to help her in her journey. Courtney has been a friend to D4K from the beginning donating her time to do  exhibitions, clinics, and to judge at the Youth Dressage Festival.  I hope you will consider helping Courtney's Quest by supporting her in this dream come true. With success this year she could be on her way to the Olympics next year.

For a donation of $50 from youth or $100 to $499 from adults you will receive an autographed photo and will be on her Quest List. She will send regular reports from her trip to the League Finals, from training sessions with Klaus Balkenhol, Debbie McDonald, and Stefan Peters, and from the World Cup. She will also send update reports on her progress between shows and reports from her upcoming competitions, lessons, and experiences. Already this year she has worked with Klaus, Debbie, Stefan, Scott Hassler, and Hubertus Schmidt. Courtney is a wonderful writer and very open in her discussions of what she is experiencing

For a donation of $500 to $999 you will also receive at least 4 DVD's of her training or competition throughout 2007. For a donation of $1000 or more you will also receive a free lesson from Courtney (that you may take yourself or give to someone else).

For more information on Courtney and her horses go to her website: http://www.courtneykingdressage.com

Please make checks payable to Dressage4kids, Inc. D4K (a 501c3) is donating the DVD's and photos so all of your contribution is tax deductible. Send to 25 Lake Avenue, Bedford, NY 10506 or give to Fern or Lendon. Mae sure you include a legible email address with your check.

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We also need a sponsor for the Pizza Party for the competitors on Monday evening as well as the Parents/Trainer reception at the same time. This would involve providing and setting up the food. If you, your stable, your club would be interested or know someone who might be interested, please let me know and I can tell you more.

If you are planning to compete in recognized shows this year now is the perfect time to get all your memberships and registrations in order with the USDF and the USEF.

I will not be able to do the Youth Clinics that I used to do with my staff at Gleneden during the summer. However we could do some afternoon clinics at nearby stables if people wanted. Just let me know.

I am still working on the FEI Pony Clinic for this year. I expect that I will have an exciting announcement soon about this. I am hoping that there will be two - one in the spring and one in the fall.

The National Championships for Grand Prix, the Pan American Trials, the Brentina Cup, and the National Championships for Young Riders and Juniors will be held in Gladstone, NJ in June 14 - 17. I am looking for two riders (12 - 16) to do FEI Pony exhibition rides. If you are interested email me -- graydressage@optonline.net. This would be a wonderful field trip for you to make. In one spot you will see the top Juniors, Young Riders, Young Adults, and International competitors from all over the US. Would anyone be interested in a D4K group sitting together and having some educational activities? Perhaps on Saturday? Let me know.