Greetings from the RS

Thank you to Lisa Woods for coordinating our Champs teams. We had over 30 participants on USPC Champs teams in all disciples except quiz and polocrosse (USPC did not run a polocrosse competition this year at Champs East). Thank you also to the many parent volunteers that helped out in the information tent, as well as, providing volunteer staffing for the many positions required to make champs happen! A special thank you to Pamela Kadlubeck for coordinating our Champs shirt orders, to Katie Baily for organizing our team dinner at Champs and to Staci Kaponis for organizing a team picture and assembling our team for the opening ceremonies!

Our wonderful VRPC RIC committee planned and delivered a series of upper level mounted preps using national examiners as clinicians. Thank you to Cathy Frederickson, Mary Schwentker and Kris Gerald for preparing these clinics to help prepare our national testing candidates!

It has been a busy summer and now it is time to prepare for our D-1/D-2 rally, 2016 qualifying Tet and Games rallies! In early September, we will host an Upper Level Mounted Testing for C-3, B and A candidates. We are looking for a few volunteers to act as IOs (impartial observers) for this testing.  If you are interested in supporting this very important volunteer role, please reach out to our RIC, Kris Gerald.

Finally as we begin the closeout of 2015, please think about who you'd like to see as your VRPC board for 2016. If you or someone you know is interested in filling a leadership position in 2016, please let our nominating committee know - Lisa Woods, Traci Sandberg, and Carrie Camp would love to hear from you!

Sydney M and USHJ Team Take Gold Medal

Congratulations to VRPC's Sydney M who competed at this year's USHJA's Child/Adult Jumper Regionals on July 1-5.  Her Zone 3 Team went all the way in the Children's Team finals to take the gold medal. The competition features individual and team classes over 3 days where riders from zones 3 and 4 competed at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina.  

Name: Sydney M, C-2/HM
Age: 13
Pony Club: Misty Brae Farm PC Riding Center
Horse:  Adonis D'Atzlan
Trainer: Kama Godek

How long have you been riding?
Since I was 7.  I just finished the eighth grade, and was the youngest on the
team. 

What is your horse's name, breed, interesting facts about him?
He is a 10 year old Dutch Warmblood from Middleburg, VA.  We have only had him since December when I found him on Facebook.

Interesting fact about the competition.
The competition was a challenging venue, with jumps ranging from 1.10 - 1.2 meters and the Oxers were 6 inches wider than tall.  The course on the final day, was the same as the Grand Prix course the night before. All four rounds were held in the George Morris arena with stadium seating on all sides and a massive Jumbotron.  It was an experience of a lifetime, and one of the most challenging four days of my career so far! 

Fall Rally Season - Tet, Games, D Rally
by Erin White

Virginia Region fielded two, five rider Junior Games teams at Champs! More games participants attended USPC Championships East than in any other discipline from Virginia Region.  

The team, We Got Game!, Grace, Ronald, Virginia, Scott JR from Casanova-Warrenton and Rachael from Deep Run Hunt Pony Club took overall first place in the Junior Games division. Truly a demonstration of the time, dedication, perseverance, teamwork, experience and maturity required to be a division champion since the team debuted in 2010. VRPC We Got Game! will again showcase Virginia Region and USPC at ROLEX 3-Day KY 2016 at the USPC Prince Phillip Cup, Kentucky Horse Park, next April 2016.

VRPC Pop Rocks, debuted new pinnies and games team colors for VRPC and placed 6th overall with Bailey, Meghan, and Ryann from Misty Brae; and, Alina and Bella of Dominion Valley. Special recognition was awarded to Alina is for outstanding horse management and the best care of pony in the entire games discipline at Champs.

Thanks, also, to all the VRPC families that participated in any way in the International Games Exchange from hosting a rider, to supplying an international competition pony, to attending the Daniel Stewart welcome picnic and cheering on the Internationals at the competition Saturday evening. 

CWPC invites riders to integrate games into your regular lesson and riding program and to attend games practices for fun!  Games offers the opportunity to attend Champs at 10 years old with D-3 HM, and International Exchange opportunities at age 14 and C-2.

Attend and continue to grow games, good competition and team work in the Virginia Region by fielding club teams and practicing now. 

Games Practice Schedule

Games practice, Saturday, August 15, 9:00-11:00AM, Great Meadow polo arena
Games practice, Saturday, August 22, 9:00-11:00AM, Great Meadow polo arena
Games practice lunch and family trail ride, Saturday, September 19, 9:00-11:00AM, Great Meadow polo arena 
USPC International Games Exchange application due October 15, Australia 2016
Games practice followed by family trail ride, Saturday, October 17,  9:00-11:00AM Franklin Park, Purcellville
VRPC 2016 Qualifying Games Rally & Annual Costume Parade, Great Meadow, The Plains, Saturday, October 31, 2015

 Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry Picks VRPC's Bayshore Sofie 
as Register of Excellence Award Winner

The NFHR announces that Bayshore Sofie has earned the Register of Excellence Award. Sofie is a brown dun mare owned by Karen Ampeh of Oakton, VA.  Most of Sofie's points were earned with Alina A, age 12, a C-1 and a member of Dominion Valley Pony Club.   This award is presented by the Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry to Fjord horses that have earned 100 points in halter and performance classes.

 "I am proud to have earned my USPC C1 certificate with Sofie last November and I continue to show her at various competitions", according to Alina. 

 "Most recently Sofie has been practicing with the USA International USPC Mounted Games Team and she was used by all the teams in their practice.  I love her willing unflappable attitude and also her tremendous athleticism. Sofie wins fans everywhere we take her and she is now quite expert at Mounted Games. Sofie can show lots of people the wonderfulness of Fjords."

HM Corner - Safety First
by Brian Smith

I hope that all of you that went to Champs had a great time!

And while it is fresh in your mind (or if you have attended Champs in the past), I was wondering if there were HM things that you learned? Or if you had questions/comments/ problemm? 

Send those questions/concerns to me I will answer here.  Also if there is something you learned and you give permission I will post in next month's newsletter. Also I am curious about your thoughts on the night check.

Watch yourselves and your horse in the heat.