SWVADA has hosted Adult Dressage Camp for 14 years. It is operated by the guidelines set forth by the USDF Adult Camp Program guide except that we offer private, not group lessons, as both instructors and riders from past camps have preferred. Riders of all levels and experience are welcomed and encouraged. We have had campers learning to post the trot and professional riders looking to put the finishing touches on their FEI mounts. Our camps are held over 3 days with 8 to 10 mounted sessions per instructor.
Participants benefit from a plethora of educational opportunities at our camps. In addition to the excellent mounted instruction, campers are able to interact with the clinicians in both formal and informal Q & A sessions at mealtimes and during breaks. Other unmounted educational opportunities have included Equestrian Yoga, Saddle Fitting, Equine Massage, and Centered Riding demonstrations. Campers also have access to SWVADA’s extensive video and DVD library. The educational opportunities are plentiful and first rate, but what makes this experience truly special, is the level of camaraderie and generosity of spirit that has been demonstrated year after year making each camp a memorable and cherished endeavor. This fun, highly charged and supportive learning environment transforms a seemingly routine dressage clinic into the magic we call SWVADA Adult Camp.
Testimonials from SWVADA Campers
I believe that this camp is the best educational opportunity for dressage enthusiasts in our area and the biggest reason that I continue to contribute so much of my time to SWVADA. The generosity of spirit and goodwill that is exhibited at these camps keep me coming back year after year.
Marie Klimchuk
Bedford, VA
Veteran Camper and 2010 Camp Coordinator
This was my first year at camp and if the check book allows it, I will be back every year until I am unable to get on a horse! I anticipated having a “nice” time, not the best time of my life. Loved Liz Steacie! Loved the campers! There is seldom anything that I am completely satisfied with but camp was one thing I wouldn’t change anything about!
Lucy Lokant
White Sulfur Springs, WV
2010 Camper
I had high hopes when I left Mathews, and camp exceeded my expectations. I was sure that the clinicians would be great and the venue wonderful. But, I was completely unprepared for how supportive and fun everyone was. Who could know that a group of such different people could offer such a great team for each other? We all have dressage in common, but our horses our different, we come from different backgrounds, and we have different goals. No matter. We all could understand the challenges and celebrate when somebody — no matter who — overcame a hurdle. Whether the challenge was a fear of cantering or getting that perfect pirouette, there were always cheers and congratulations for rider and clinicians.
Becky Paquet
Mathews, VA
2010 Camper
I had a marvelous and meaningful time. It was a transformative experience in many ways, certainly in my partnership with my horse, but also in other ways as well. As a first outing together it was a huge success as I came away with not only much more confidence, skills and knowhow, but also with friends and support way beyond what I would have imagined. Never before have I felt the love of clapping during several awesome moments of roundness and coming through at the trot, and the support that ultimately helped me and Pepper so much in developing increased confidence and competence as a partnership.
Vicki Kirch
Centreville, VA
2010 Camper
Camp was my vacation every year and I so looked forward to it. Spending time with my horse, enjoying wonderful friendships, and receiving top dressage instruction made for the best weekend escape ever!
Gary Goodale
President of SWVADA
The first SWVADA Adult Dressage camp was held in '96 at Penmeryl Farm
and I went with a borrowed horse, Battle Beam, and little experience. I
was very much an intro rider and ended up rooming with one of the
instructors! Had to miss the 2nd year since my husband, Tom, had been
in Hungary for 7 months...felt it would be nice of me to stay home! As
the years have gone by, I missed one other due to my favorite horse,
Bailiwick, being injured. Missing a camp is hard...the friends we have
made and the instruction are special! After that, I have not missed a
year of going. I, always, signed up for camp, looking forward to it and
really excited about it. This year, 2010, I kept regretting the thought
of going..have been not riding as much after a big scare riding at a
show. No more showing for me, so, I just decided to stay busy with
being a SWVADA volunteer. But, after witnessing and helping to organize
a ride for a sight challenging dressage ride, my desire for riding
suddenly came back. The fear seemed to subside and I rode at home
determined to make the camp. Camp 2010 was wonderful....made me realize that it is important for me
to take time for myself....probably was the best one that I ever attended.
Going to camp....it's just one of those things that I do for myself and for supporting SWVADA.
Blanche Mahoney
Treasurer of SWVADA
Dressage camp. It is not the number of breaths we take that matters, but the number of moments that take our breath away or so the saying goes. That is what comes to mind when I think of dressage camp. I went to camp feeling so inadequate to be there as dressage was new to me and recovery from a fall prevented me from being in good riding shape. The instructors were beyond anything I could have imagined. They firmly but gently helped each individual and horse and improved each and every one. And, the "campers" were supportive and kindly in a manner which I have never experienced in my horse experience. As I reflect on the joyful times of my life, I will always breathe deeply and thankfully remember this experience.
Susan Savage
2010 Camper
FREE HORSE SEMINAR - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The 16th Annual Educational Sunday was held on March 20, 2011
SWVADA Educational Sunday Reaches Many
The Southwest Virginia Dressage Association held their 16th Annual Educational Sunday, March 20, 2011 at the Virginia Tech Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Each year SWVADA hosts this event which is free and the programs are designed to appeal to a diverse population of equine enthusiasts.
This event has always been well attended and eagerly anticipated by the equine community. This year had a large turnout with over 160 participants, including 10 presenters and an army of 31 SWVADA volunteers to keep things running smoothly.
This year, Dr. Katherine Wilson, Clinical Instructor of Large Animal Medicine for the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, started the day with a talk on Equine Tick Borne Diseases. Southwest Virginia has seen an alarming increase in cases of Anaplasmosis which is carried by ticks. Dr. Wilson also discussed Piroplasmosis, another tick borne disease that occasionally enters the U.S. from horses illegally crossing from Mexico. Lyme disease and its lack of clinical signs in horses was also discussed.
The Importance of the Natural Balanced Hoof was the next topic as presented by David Quackenbush, Virginia’s only certified Natural Balanced Barefoot Trimmer and Farrier. Mr. Quackenbush educated the audience on the importance of balancing the coffin bone within the hoof capsule to decrease stress on the ligaments, tendons and other structures that make up the hoof joints. He demonstrated hoof mapping and the Natural Balanced Barefoot Trim on two horses.
Classically trained dressage instructor, Patrizia Brooks of The Dressage Center of High Meadows, demonstrated the Art of Long Lining. This training method can be used to start green horses even before they are under saddle and in more experienced horses to prepare them for advanced movements. Ms. Brooks also gave a mounted demonstration on Developing Throughness and Improved Connection.
Attorney and equine enthusiast, Jen Wolz, of Wolz Law, PLC, helped horse owners understand some of the laws that pertain particularly to equine businesses. Managers of show and boarding barns as well as individual horse owners received information to help determine if they are in compliance.
The United States Dressage Federation made major changes to the 2011 dressage tests. A round table discussion on this topic, encouraging audience participation, was presented by a panel of dressage judges, instructors and competitors. Chair of the panel was Harriet Peterson, USEF “r” judge, USDF 4th level certified instructor and USDF competition silver medalist. Other panel members were: Beckie Mitchell, graduate of the USDF “L” judging program and USDF bronze medalist, Tracey Smith-Oliver, graduate of the USDF “L” judging program and USDF 2nd level certified instructor and Lynn Jendrowksi, a dressage competitor who has earned her USDF gold medal and gold freestyle bar and is an ARIA
certified instructor.
Tim Jennings of Professional Auction Services gave a talk on buying and selling horses through their auction service. Together with his brother Mike, they have over 30 years experience in managing a wide variety of horse auctions in 7 states. He discussed how horse owners can best prepare and present their horses, what to expect and how to determine what their horse is worth. For prospective buyers he discussed their access to the horses before the auction, access to radiographs, vet checks, the ability to ride the horses and how payment is handled.
Ending the day was a fun and informative demonstration on training and showing reining horses by Mike Jennings, also of Professional Auction Services. Mike has been an AQHA and National Reining Horse Judge for many years. Mike gave the audience a talk on the history of reining horses, information on some of their equipment and special shoes for those sliding stops. He demonstrated some of the early training exercises used for reining horses. He then rode a common competition reining pattern on his horse “Scoobie” with commentary on how this performance would be scored.
All day a busy used tack sale was in progress. Participants dropped off their equipment and while they were attending the presentations, SWVADA volunteers collected money for their sold items. Free equine door prizes were given to participants through the day.
The Southwest Dressage Association would like to thank all its presenters for donating their time and expertise and the Virginia Tech Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences for the use of the fabulous Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena and facilities.
