North American Dressage Trainers' Club
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2008 FEI Course for Young Horse Dressage Judges

2008 Clinic & Symposium
 
Wednesday, March 12th - registration begins at 8:00 a.m.; rides start at 9:00 a.m.
 
Thurday, March 13th - registration begins at 8:00 a.m.; rides start at 9:00 a.m.
 
Friday, March 14th - registration begins at 7:30 a.m.; rides begin at 8:15 a.m.
 
Saturday, March 15th - registration begins at 8:00 a.m.;symposium begins at 8:45 a.m.
 
Sunday, March 16th - registration begins at 8:00 a.m.; symposium begins at 8:30 a.m.

NEW Location - Treasure Coast Farm, 5656 SW Ludlow, Palm City, FL 34990

March 12 - 17, 2008 (see daily format/schedule below)
 
Judges interested in taking the FEI Course & the Certification exam on Monday, March 17th, please contact either Jennifer Dillon (NADTC secretary; nadtc_secretary@verizon.net), Mary Smith (USEF; msmith@usef.org), or your National Federation for instructions on how to apply.

click here for clinic auditing form

Pre-registration (ends 2/29/08):  $50 per day.
Walk-ins end after 3/1/08:  $60 per day.

click here to download symposium auditing form

Pre-registration (ends 2/29/08):  $95 per day.
Walk-ins and after 3/1/08:  $125 per day.

The FEI Dressage Tests for Young Horses may be designed to showcase the most talented dressage prospects, but the theory behind their making applies to any horse, both young and old.  The clinic and symposim will discuss the many ways to navigate the training scale and to apply classical dressage theory to all stages of riding and to all stages of development of both the horse and the rider.
 
Come learn why the tests were created, how judges are supposed to interpret and "judge" the tests, and how riders should train the movements at home versus riding them at a competition.

Daily Schedule
 
All days except Monday, March 17th, are open to the public for auditing.
 
March 12 & 13 - open clinic with Christoph Hess;  $150 for 1 hour semi-private.
 
March 14 - clinic with Christoph Hess for symposium demo riders.
 
March 15 & 16 - symposium featuring FEI Course Directors Linda Zang and Stephen Clarke; auditing open to professionals and amateurs alike.
 
March 17 - testing for qualified candidates to receive their FEI Young Horse judge's designation.  (This day is closed to the public; only judges taking their YH exam and riders used in the testing may attend).
 
 
This will be the first time a judge's forum is open to the public, regardless of professional or amateur status!  Come see and learn how judges are trained for the FEI Dressage Tests for Young Horses.
 
Check back as items will be posted as soon as they are finalized.

Saturday, March 15, 2008
tentative schedule

8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Registration (required each day)
8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Welcome & Symposium Opening
8:45 a.m. -11:15 a.m.
Theoretical Discussion - Part I:
 
1.  Video sequence of selected rides from the 2007 World Championships for Young Horses.
 
2.  Training Principles for Young/Beginning Horses - The first half of the training scale (rhythm, suppleness, and contact) and its relationship to the FEI Young Horse tests.
11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
break
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Anatomy of the Horse and the Principles of Movement
12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
lunch
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Practical Demonstration - Part I
 
Commentary of the basic gaits (walk, trot, and canter) and the affect of a horse's shape and conformation on his way of movement.  The basic paces will be discussed as well as how to judge a horse's ability of movement.  There will be an in-depth conversation about the relationship between rhythm and tempo, the first pillar of the Training Scale, to the basic training principles of young horses.
3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
break
3:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Practical Demonstration - Part II
 
Discussion of the second and third pillars of the Training Scale, suppleness and contact, including how to improve suppleness and how to work toward correct contact between hand and mouth.  There will be a demonstration of some of the movements in the FEI Young Horse tests, including how to train the movements and how to ride them in a test.
5:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Closing for the day.

Sunday, March 16, 2008
tentative schedule

8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Registration (required each day)
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Theoretical Discussion - Part II
 
Training Principles for Young/Beginning Horses - the second half of the Training Scale (impulsion, straightness, and collection) and its relationship to the FEI Young Horse tests.
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
break
10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
FEI Dressage Test for 5-Year Old Horses (Final)
Ridden by . . .
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
FEI Dressage Test for 5-Year Old Horses (Final)
Ridden by . . .
12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
lunch
 
1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
FEI Dressage Test for 5-Year Old Horses (Final)
Ridden by . . .
1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
FEI Dressage Test for 5-Year Old Horses (Final)
Ridden by . . .
2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
FEI Dressage Test for 6-Year Old Horses (Final)
Ridden by . . .
3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
break
3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
FEI Dressage Test for 6-Year Old Horses (Final)
Ridden by . . .
4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
FEI Dressage Test for 6-Year Old Horses (Final)
Ridden by . . .
5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
FEI Dressage Test for 6-Year Old Horses (Final)
Ridden by . . .

5:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Symposium closing.

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