USAWE Membership Bulletin!

 

Region 1: Important Updates

Just a short post with news you should know:

First, for those of you that plan your life better than I do, the Zone Championship planning for 2022 is well underway. The Western Zone Championships  for Regions 1 and 2 and will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona, Dec. 8th-11th 2022. The website is UP and information regarding this event is located here:

https://westzonewechampionship.com/

Information regarding how to qualify for the championships is here:

https://usawe.org/competitions/championships/

There's even a cool logo:

I have to tell you I was extremely impressed with the quality of the proposals presented for the zone championships as well as the committee that organized the selection. You have a BOD full of intelligent, thoughtful, dedicated people. It takes a lot of hard work to make this organization go 'round and you can be proud of the work this group is doing. 

Secondly, the annual meeting for USAWE Members is coming right up. You MUST be a member to attend. Please email me for information on how to join the ZOOM call at r1director@usawe.org. I must verify your membership status before I send you the link. You may also email me any concerns and questions to be presented at the meeting in case you cannot attend. Time and date for the annual meeting are as follows: are as follows:

 Annual Member Meeting: Saturday, February 5 at 9:00 am PST / 10:00 am MST / 11:00 am CST / Noon EST

Thirdly, the next Region 1 Competition is now accepting entries for a February show in Eugene, OR


See the events calendar and find the entry forms here:

https://usawe.org/events/month/2022-02/

I'll be attending that show with Ms. Besita, hoping I remember to salute the judge. If you're there, please come and introduce yourself.

Let me know if there are events coming up in your area of Region 1: I can help spread the word.

Heather

Let's Talk Obstacles: Episode 4

Julie Alonzo and CDC Pacifica 1/15/22

Hello Region 1! How's it going this cold January! I just came from the Region 1 WE show in Eugene, OR. Besides lots of familiar faces, I saw several brand new ones! I served as the gatekeeper, which I very much enjoyed. Normally at a show I am busy with my own stuff and rarely get to chat with all the other competitors, much less meet their horses and watch their runs.

This show demonstrated the versatility of the horses able to compete in our wonderful sport. There were two Icelandic horses, a Fjord, a Morgan, a Hanoverian, Andalusians, Quarter horses, Arabians and an Appendix QH. Have you ever seen an Icelandic pony do a speed round? Holy fast pony man, they are amazing!!!

Since it was chilly, I had my instant toe warmers, hand warmers and (full advertising plug) my Ororo heated vest. Good thing I don't live where it's REALLY cold. Anyway, it was a really fun time. I love it when new people try this sport for the first time and come out grinning from ear to ear! Can you say CONVERT??

Back to the obstacles though: This obstacle is the DRAG ITEM obstacle. I don't have any pictures because I've never actually seen it in competition. Have any of you? 

This one I'd FOR SURE practice on the ground for awhile before I even thought about doing it in the saddle..because..horses and stuff. We all know that things can go south in a hurry when a horse spooks, so it's valuable to know that some day a judge might throw this drag obstacle into the mix..be prepared!! Also note that this obstacle is NOT DONE at intro. 

 Drag Item

Description. 

The  obstacle  consists  of: (1)  An item to  drag,  which  should  resemble  objects  found  in  the  field  such  as  a  log,  a weighted  skid,  or  a  weighted  sack. (2)  One or two tables,  drums,  or  upright  structures  at  least  1.2-m  (4-ft)  high. (3)  A  standard  lariat  (lasso, reata, rope), a  minimum  of 6-m  (20-ft) long. The  coiled free  end  is  positioned  on  the  first  table.    The  loop  end  is  securely  attached  to  the drag  item. The  drag  may  be  in  a  straight  line  from  table  1  to  table  2,  a  “U”  from  table  1  around  a specified  object  and  back  to  table  1,  a  circle  around  table  1,  a  serpentine  through  cones,  or other pattern  as  designated.

Execution

 Rider  will  halt  at  the  first table,  pick  up  the  rope,  and  drag  the  item  in  the designated  pattern.      Rider  will  then  coil  the  rope  and  place  it on  the  designated  table. Riders  using  saddles  with  horns  may  dally  the  rope.    If the rider drops  the  rope,  Novice (L2/L3)  riders  must dismount,  retrieve the rope, and  remount with  the  rope.    Failure  to  retrieve  the  rope,  and  remount with  the rope will result  in  a  0  for the obstacle. Intermediate  (L4/L5)  riders must  dismount,  retrieve  the  rope,  and  remount  with  the rope.    Failure  to  do  so  will result in  a  disqualification.

 

Assessment 

Criteria  (EOH).  The  Judge  will  evaluate  the  manner in  which  the  horse approaches  the  obstacle,  its  reaction  to  the  movement of the  dragged  item,  and  its response  to  the  aids  to  enable  the  route  to  be  performed  with  maximum  smoothness.   Dropping  the  rope  will  result  in  a  negative  score.   This  obstacle  may  not  be  used  at  the  Introductory  (L1)  level. 

Cross National Camp and Cup Missoula, Montana, USA, July 9-17th

 Interrupting our obstacle series for this notice!

If you'd like a multi-national week of W.E. fun..in MONTANA then click here:

CNC CAMP & CUP

This link will allow you to find out all about this fun-filled event..there's only been one other CNC camp and it was held in Eugene, OR in 2018. It was super fun, with lifelong friendships gained as the week went on. Plans were in the works for an Australian CNC, I think in 2020 but then Covid came to visit..so it was not to be. 

At any rate, this time around the camp and cup are filling rapidly and folks are getting excited! There is a FB page just for this event here:

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10224240444332133&set=gm.604869663917760

I am all signed up!

Caitlin Day Huntress for the U.S.A. in 2018

KF Marit. Riding for Canada in 2018

Mark Mason riding for Australia 2018

Come join the fun!!!