Steel Prize Stables for Dressage: 2009

Sunday, December 20, 2009

More Christmas Party

Here is the Steel Magnolia Quadrille Team of eight saluting the

audience and getting ready to perform their musical ride:

After the outdoor rides we went into the indoor for the canine agility demonstrations. No pics since those guys went too fast.

We were then ready for the Star Spangled Banner sung by our own operatic diva, Catherine Hoop.

The only thing left was to attack the food tables. Which we did !!

Again, many thanks to those who braved the elements to make our Open House such a success.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Christmas Party

We would like to thank the more than 125 hardy souls who showed up

for our 26th Christmas Party and Open House. They braved overcast

skies, serious cold and cutting wind for some great rides and

excellent food.

Here are some of the "Rail Birds" watching the rides in the upper ring.

One of the rides they watched was a Musical Pas de Deux by Sarah Williams and Brittany Gambee. They rode to an introductory song "Silver and Gold" sung by Burl Ives. Their costumes reflected this theme. Here they are saluting the audience before starting their ride.

We also had the Magnolia Buds added by their instructor, Nikki Cecil in a "Doggydrille". With real dogs yet !!

More to come........

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

USDF Symposium 2009

The Symposium featured an excellent selection of riders and horses
to illustrate Jan Brink's Communication: A Two-way System of
Understanding. Jan discussed and demonstrated the importance of
expressing a signal system that eases the communication between horse
and rider. I thought he did a great job of communication but when it
went awry he smoothly turned to finding a solution for horse and
rider that made the experience better for both. With the clinics
that I have attended and the Symposiums on the National stage, I
think many attendees don't realize that the rider has quite a role to
fill -- to be able to ride to the standard expected and execute the
instructions given. It can be quite a challenge.

Monday, December 14, 2009

SPS Christmas Party

We have had our last practice for the Christmas Quadrille and it was
fitting to be in the mist and we will be doing the performances in
the upper competition ring for the first time. Looking at the
weather: wear warm clothing, good warm shoes/boots and we will be
performing regardless of the weather. The good part is the food and
dog agility will be indoors! My direction on what food to bring: we
will be furnishing ham and turkey, rolls, cider, coffee, and hopes
that there will be lots of chocolate.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Convention & Symposium in Austin

I'm BACK! And it was a great convention. Starting with a nice
hotel, the Renaissance Austin Hotel, and convenient meeting rooms
and schedules of Councils and Committees that also enabled the
Delegates to attend the education sessions as well. Of course, since
my flights were uneventful and my luggage was on the carrousel when I
arrived in Austin and back home that was an added plus. I am on the
Membership Committee so I shall give you a run down on the items
coming from this group. I also attended the Adult Education Council
and the GMO Council. The Adult Education Council oversees the Adult
Clinics given through all 9 Regions. The Region 3 Adult Clinic was
held in Ocala in October.

The Symposium was held over Saturday and Sunday with a lecture
Saturday evening. The clinician was Jan Brink and the topic:
Communication: A Two-way System of Understanding. We were in a
climate controlled arena -- emphasis, wear your big coat over layers
because climate controlled temperatures change drastically when they
roll up the big door between horse and rider combinations -- and
there were 8 of those! I will be posting information gleaned from
the lecture and symposium in my lessons and on this site.

Glad I went, glad to be home.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Off to Austin.....

I'm of to Austin, Texas to attend the USDF Annual Convention and
Symposium. We have a jam packed agenda from Committee and Council
meetings to University Education sessions to Youth education to the
Trade Fair to the Board of Governors (BOG) General Assembly to the 2
day symposium itself which features Jan Brink.

Some of the presenters and panelists are: Hilary Clayton, Terry
Ciotti Gallo, Sandy Howard and Jane Savoie.

As usual, I will attend the BOG Assembly as a voting Participating
Delegate. I expect there to be votes on dues, replacement of BOG
members, and, restructuring of the BOG as well as other items which
may come up.

Look here for a report upon my return.

Judith

Friday, November 27, 2009

Debbie Rodriguez Clinic Dates

Here are the dates for the Debbie Rodriguez Clinics in 2010:

9 - 10 January
8 - 9 May
28 - 29 August
20 -21 November
Please be sure to check our calendar to see if there are any changes
or additions.

Show Date

SPS is pleased to announce that it will hold its Spring schooling
show on 10 April 2010. The judge will be Leslie O'Neal Olsen "R"
from Villa Rica, GA. She judged here last year in our August show
and both competitors and volunteers were pleased with her.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving -- and we have many friends and animals to
give thanks for having in our lives. The horses are fluffing out
their winter coats with the cold coming in and enjoying their days.
We have clinic dates for Debbie Rodriguez for next year and we are
all hyped on the riding aide of the Unisit which she introduced at
her last clinic and which we have added to our riding routines. If
you are interested, stop by the barn and watch us work.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

This must mean we are rich !!

An old European proverb states, "You can measure the extent of a
farmer's prosperity by the height of his manure pile."

From the AQHA magazine.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Sad Day at SPS

We are sorry to report that we lost one of our school horses - Dundee
- yesterday at the age of 29. He was a TB gelding and had been in
our school program for 19 years. Dundee was a good natured horse who
taught many students, both child and adult, to ride. We will miss
him greatly.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Debbie Rodriguez Clinic

There was some great fall weather when I arrived in Huntsville for a dressage clinic at Steel Prize Stables. Temperatures were in the low 70's and the sun was shining. It doesn't get much better than that in November. Recently at home one of my students was cleaning out the tack room and came across a Unisit, a strap that helps position you into a more correct seat, hip and back position. I asked if I could borrow it and brought it along to let some of the riders at Steel Prize play with. Everyone that was willing to give it a try felt a longer leg position with most everybody comfortably lengthening their stirrups. Some of the riders had a light bulb moment feeling the security that correct posture brings. In the lessons each person warmed up at the walk, trot and canter before trying the Unisit. Then after some work with the Unisit they tried to get that same feel without the device. While experimenting with that was fun and useful it was nice to see riders keep that longer leg position through their regular work and add an exercise or two that was new to them. For some of the training level riders it may have just been adding some smaller circles and figures into their work while some of the more advanced riders concentrated on staying centered while alternating leg-yield and half-pass across the diagonal. At first the leg-yield to halfpass was a challenge for riders to keep both themselves centered and their horse aligned to the long sides of the arena. However after a few attempts the horses alignment stayed steady through the change of flexions. With no shows in the immediate future it was nice to address some of the basics and keep things simple. When I return in January it will be good for the riders to have an idea of their show season goals to see if we can put some of this week-end's learning toward those goals.

Until then, Debbie

Sara practices her position on Freeda.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Christmas Party

Steel Prize Stables will host its 26th annual Christmas and open house party on 19 December at 11:30.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

September Show at Poplar Place

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Ride to Win

Have you ever wanted to learn how to do much more than just ride a horse? Have you ever wanted to challenge yourself and develop into a true horseman? If so, Steel Prize Stables is the place you need to be. It is here that you will learn the discipline and skills needed to not only ride, but to participate at the highest level of dressage competition. Both you and your horse will learn valuable lessons from Judith Fiorentino, a bronze, silver and gold medal winner for achievement as recognized by the United States Dressage Federation.

Judith's many years of experience will guide you on your path to excellence in riding either for your own pleasure or in pursuit of your own collection of medals and ribbons. Client activities include group or individual lessons, regularly scheduled clinics presented by recognized judges and accredited instructors and on-site schooling shows.

About the Barn

Steel Prize Stables is a full service boarding and training facility. Its 28 stalls are home to horses whose riders are in an ongoing training program in the fine art of dressage. Amenities inside the barn include ample size stalls, a wash rack, boarder tack room, school tack room, feed room, office, restroom and hay and equipment storage.

Horses are fed and turned out daily. Each animal receives regularly scheduled visits from a licensed veterinarian, an equine dentist, massage an chiropractic personnel, as well as a farrier.

In the Ring

When you are ready to ride, you have the choice of either a lighted indoor arena that is the standard training level dimension of 20 meters wide by 40 meters long with full length mirrors on one long side and one short side, or, if the weather is right, you are invited to ride outside in the full regulation size outdoor arena which is 20 meters wide by 60 meters long with full length mirrors on one short side.

The large upper ring, once used for jumping is now primarily used for shows and clinics and is approximately 38 by 90 meters.

Tacking Up

We are barn casual most of the time, however, when it comes time to ride you will need the following: a properly fitting English dressage or all-purpose saddle, saddle pad and English bridle with snaffle bit. Some school saddles are available for beginning riders.

Riders will wear English breeches, riding boots (paddock boots with half-chaps are acceptable) and seasonal style shirts tucked into breeches. USDF approved helmets are a requirement and will be worn at all times when you are engaged in training with your horse.

Optional training equipment may include gloves, spurs and whips for riders and polo wraps for horses. Judith is available for consultation for show apparel and equipment, and precision riding groups such as the Steel Magnolias will dress in matching ensembles during exhibitions.

Contact Us

Judith Fiorentino, Owner and Instructor

125 Christopher Drive
Madison, AL 35757

256-682-1200 (cell)
256-837-5474 (residence)
email: steelprize@knology.net

Hours: Monday through Sunday 8:00am - 7:00 pm
Lessons: 1 Hour/By Appointment Only
Clinic/Shows: Quarterly/By Announcement

Affiliation:
United States Dressage Federation (USDF)
United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)

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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

August 8, 2009 Schooling Show Ride Times

Rider Name

Horse Number

Class Entered

Division

Ride Time

Schmidt, Merry

First 3