The Singing Frog Chronicles

October 2006

Dear Friends,

As we approach our semi-annual meeting, this year in Barbados, I am so impressed with the development of the sport throughout the Group over the past years that I have been privileged to serve as your Chairman.  As the reports below show, Equestrian sport is very healthy in our area of the world. Congratulations to everyone. I am certainly looking forward to the in-person reports from all the NFs at our meeting in December. 

Group Meeting in December

We have had a very good response to Barbados’ kind invitation. We will have 9 NFS represented and at least 17 people attending. Only the Cayman Islands has sent regrets as you will read in Mary’s message below. Jacqueline Braissant, FEI Development Director, will attend and bring us up to date on the planning in her department. In addition, Simon Brooks Ward who chairs the Strategic Planning Committee of the FEI will join us and brief everyone on the developments in the modernization process which has occupied so much of our time and energies this past year. This will be a good time to ask questions and air your views. Sherry Frank has once again stepped forward to volunteer her time at her own expense to act as Recording Secretary for our meeting. Thank you, Sherry.  I will be sending out the Agenda closer to the meeting. Please let me know if you have items to be included.  I will also, again, be asking for reports from each federation during the meeting.

A message from Pres. James:
"The Barbados Equestrian Association is looking forward to the visit of all
the delegates of the Group IV meeting and showing everyone some "Bajan"
hospitality."
Please will everyone send us their travel itineraries so that we can "meet
and greet" at the airport.

FEI Secretary General

I know we are all delighted that Michael Stone was selected for the permanent post of Secretary General. He has been so supportive to the developing countries in our Group as well as a constant friend and advisor to all NFs. I was always so impressed, when I was SG of the US Federation, at how available and tireless he was as he donned and ably wore so many different hats during his time at the FEI.  Congratulations, Michael!

Joint Group Meeting

I have had confirmation from both Diana Ramos of Group V and Pablo Mayorga, Group VI that they are planning to join us with representatives from their Groups for our March meeting. This meeting, hosted again by the USEF, will take place Monday, March 12 in West Palm Beach, Florida.  The previous weekend will again be the date of the CSIO hosted by Stadium Jumping at Wellington so plan accordingly. (stadiumjumping.com) We will discuss the meeting and its proposed agenda in December when we are together.  Thanks to the USEF for inviting us.

Around the Group…

From Antigua,  Norma Prudhon sent:

Emily Ward of Willikies recently represented Antigua and Barbuda at the prestigious World Equestrian Games recently held in Aachen, Germany, in the sport of Dressage.

In spite of the fact that this was a first effort in a “Games” at world level, Emily, and her horse Vallon, put on a very credible show in what is the infinite art of horsemanship and riding. Having dedicated years to even qualify for such a global event, they finished in a very respectable 70^th position in the world – naturally competing against the world’s very best horses and riders.

This in itself was somewhat more of an achievement than initially thought as Emily had to endure a very unfortunate situation in the collecting ring prior to entering the main arena. She was required to perform just after the German champion rider, Isobelle Werth, whom the home crowd of 32,000 acclaimed with cheers and noise equivalent to those usually offered to the German football team.

Such commotion totally upset her stallion, Vallon, who proceed to gallop in circles around the collecting ring in fright whilst awaiting his turn in the main arena  in front of these same 32,000 spectators!  Bearing in mind that unlike show-jumping, dressage in particular requires the horse to be completely calm and collected in order to perform the intricate, delicate moves required of a world level dressage test. However, Emily, kept her cool and coaxed Vallon into a reasonably good performance, considering the extreme circumstances. 

She later told us that her horse was rigid throughout the test and consequently could not perform to the best of his ability - though from the Grandstands the two looked wonderful to us, the Antiguan contingent! 

Now we can look forward to an improved performance in the future when Vallon has had more experience of these huge crowds watching the noble sport of Dressage.  It is a favourite spectator sport of the knowledgeable European and American public.

The Games had a splendid Opening Ceremony, which was televised worldwide, for the 61 Nations which were participating in the Games. The Antiguan and Barbudan contingent of six were second into the Arena.   Emily proudly carried the Antiguan flag, which was displayed in the Stadium, in the streets of Aachen, and the flag was also painted into the center of a “world” which formed part of one of the Show Jumps. 

She gained tremendous exposure and awareness for our twin-island state, and due to being the very first to represent Antigua & Barbuda in such a specialized equestrian field and at this elevated world level, Emily was much photographed and shown in many magazines and newspapers which were covering the Games worldwide

Barbados.

Sadly, your chairman has failed in the high tech world once again! Barbados forwarded to me their lovely newsletter which I find I am unable to incorporate into this one. I’m sure its my ignorance and I am sorry. James will have to give us a full report in December. I do know that Barbados sent riders to the CAC and that there are many harrowing tales to tell about that journey.  I know we are all looking forward to meeting in Barbados this December.

Bermuda, from Michael Cherry

After a fairly quiet summer locally we are now back into a very busy season with a dressage competition in September and our version of the CEA Adult Challenge in October combined with a Hunter/Jumper Fall Show.

We have managed to acquire the services of well know international course designer/coach/judge Mr. Olaf Petersen Sr. who has agreed to assist us with our Show Jumping in order to raise the standard at all levels.  Unfortunately he was too late to help us too much with our CEA Adult Challenge where we had only 3 competitors in Category A and 7 in Category B. This is a great competition and should be encouraged in all CEA Countries, and we will do better next year.

For the first time we were invited to the Junior Jumping Competition in Columbia using borrowed horses and former CEA Junior Competitor Meghan Diel did very well.

We sent four riders to compete in Puerto Rico in the Show Jumping Competition in August also on borrowed horses.  Stephanie Wilkinson won her 15-18 division and then went on to represent Bermuda at the CEA competition in Trinidad where she finished second.  Catherine Jones another CEA Junior rider also competed in Puerto Rico as did two of our coached Nick DeCosta and Catrina (Adcock) Sims.

We are looking forward to the CEA AGM where we will be well represented, and where the CEA competitions will be under scrutiny.

We will also be represented at the Group IV meeting in Barbados in December.

At a higher level of competition two of our riders have reached the qualifying standard set for the Pan American Games 2007 in Show Jumping and we are hoping for a third in order to have a team.

We also hope to have one or two dressage riders qualify.  Very exciting times.

Michael Cherry

Canada

I have not hassled President Al Patterson about providing us with a report for this issue. I am very happy that he will be joining us in Barbados. He can bring us up to date on the news from Canada at that time.

Cayman Islands, from Mary McTaggart

RE:  Meeting in Barbados.

As much as I would love to come it really seems a bit senseless for us.  We are struggling to get ourselves in a position where we can compete in the FEI competitions.  We need to have certain basic things in place before that happens. 

The most important being the correct size arena.  We cant go anywhere without one so we are working on that goal.  We also need to have more competitors in the different categories to make it worth while to bring in a judge etc for the shows.  Until we can get there it is just too expensive to travel to all theses different meeting and we dont have much to contribute as we are not involved. We are struggling in the Adult section of the CEA with these problems as well.  I think that as this is a relative new sport in the islands we just have to be patient

We have a plan to try and train local people so that we can achieve theses goals.

Two people attended the FEI stewarding course in Bermuda, and we plan to try and get more persons involved.

So i think we will not be attending the meeting in Barbados.  I shall miss you all but will look forward to reading the minutes.

Regards

Mary

Haiti from Paula Coles

Hello Kate and all of our friends from the Group IV,

Things are settling in Haiti. At least for the moment. Despite the unfortunate loss of riders and trainers who mostly left Haiti, the horse world is moving forward.

In April a new Executive Committee was elected. We have adapted the new Committee to the FEI proposed FN organization.

-          President: General Acedius Saint Louis

-          Vice President : Henry Robert Marc Charles

-          General Secretary : Paula Coles

-          Vice General Secretary : Frantz Angus

-          Treasurer : Anne Rose Schoen Durocher

-          Vice Treasurer : Christine Coles

-          Member – Jumping advisor : Richard Coles

-          Member – Dressage advisor : Valerie Pompee

-          Member – Riders representative : Yannick Powell

This new Committee is committed to our sport and is being very creative not only to keep it alive, but also to grow it every possible way.

Eventing in Haiti

This summer, while some riders where competing abroad, we repeated our summer Derby. A great moment which lead to a new discipline that we will promote very strongly:  Eventing. This year one of our club members committed to dedicate space and equipment to get us started on cross country. If anyone of you knows about a cross country trainer/course builder who would be willing to come to Haiti for support, please make sure you pass the federation email on: fehaiti@hotmail.com

Besides this great decision to promote cross country,  jumping and dressage are moving forward.

Jumping:

Many new kids have started riding insuring the future of the sport to Haiti. Within tree months only we have welcomed 7 kids really in love with our world. In addition we are in the process of launching an important campaign to attract even more kids. The campaign, using basic advertising supports, will mostly focus on schools. Special “horse days” will be organized bringing kids to stables and initiating them to all the different aspects of the horse world.

Besides kids, during the same period of time, additional 5 adult riders have joined.

About competitions, I have to say that we have been very frustrated with the CAC games, where our three riders, for different reasons, did not participate. We also got very poor result for the FEI Childrens jumping challenge. But as we all know things move and change and we are very certain that our children will do much better next time. Our National Championship is moving forward with the finals in December. Paquito Gonzales is in the lead for the 130cm, Paula Coles and Miles Gilme ex aequo for the 110cm, Monica Moscoso leads the 100cm and Diego Camberos the 80cm.

We have intensified competitions and our riders are enjoying different courses every other weekend. Our next great rendez vous’ before the end of the year are the following:

-          2 more phases for the National Championship

-          FEI world jumping challenge

-          American Championship for Children in Argentina with two riders, Ayiti Coles and Josephine Armand.

You must also know that we are very seriously talking with the FN of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico to start with inter island competitions, a Hispaniola League... Everything is in place for Haitian Riders and Horses to go to the Dominican Republic and compete. Puerto Rico remains complicated but not impossible. We hope to have our first Haitian/Dominican/Puerto Rican competition at the end of 2007. 

Dressage

We are pushing as much as we can. We have launched the Dressage National Championship with 2 riders in advanced, 7 riders in novice, and 3 riders in the children category. The principle is simple. We invite an experience rider/coach/judge and we perform the 3 corresponding FEI challenge tests upon arrival of guest. After judging us, we then plan for a 5 days clinic. The goal obviously being to improve the performances on the FEI challenge tests before getting into complexity.

We must thank you very much, Kate, for having referred Mrs. Greta Wrigley, who held a clinic in Haiti from October 16 to October 21. Greta judged our Dressage National Championship, phase 2, and followed with an amazingly fruitful clinic where improvement where obvious for all riders. “I have been very pleased and surprised. You guys (Haiti) have great horses and great riders. We need to fine tune things a little and you will very fast be amongst the good ones within the Caribbean” said Greta. Greta was our first guest. The second guest will be in Haiti for our final in November.

As off now, Richard Coles leads Valerie Pompee on the advanced, Paula Coles leads Diego Camberos on the novice, and Ayiti Coles leads Josephine Armand on the children.

Coaching

Two additional Haitian Coaches have attended the FEI coaching system held by Suzanne Macken in the Dominican Republic in October. Richard Coles and Paquito Gonzales.

Richard Coles also attended the ODEPA coaching seminar in Argentina.

This is it Kate. I will see you and all the group 4 friends in Barbados in December.

Jamaica: Anthony Passmore writes

Dear Kate,

 Since the last tune:

July - FEI Children's Category C Jumping, Stephen McConnell winner

August  -  FEI Adult's Category B Jumping Challenge, Susan Wates (mother) winner.

               Finals of our local Hi Pro Grand Prix event, Kelley Wates (daughter) winner.

               FEI Children's Jumping Category A - 1 rider Justin Vaz and

                                                 Category B - 1 rider Adam Black-Charlebois

Samantha Albert represented us at the WEG in Eventing.  Unfortunately her horse, Before I Do It, lost a shoe early in the XCountry.  She placed 49th overall. 

Three riders went to Puerto Rico for an International Jumping event at the end of August .  Julian Hyde, Bianca Fedele, and Justin Vaz with coach Betty Wates.  All three rode well and the experience was a good building tool.

Our ongoing jumping Leagues A & B are well supported and the final will be next month.

Betty and Trina attended the Stewards Course in Bermuda.  Their eyes were opened to many "tricks".

We are unfortunately not having a CEA Dressage show this year, but the Junior Jumping finals will be at the Half Moon Equestrian Centre the first weekend in November immediately following the CEA AGM there also.

We were happy to learn that Michael Stone was appointed the FEI Secretary General.

And from Trina deLisser;

Hi Kate,

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Barbados.

My news! Had a good FEI Stewards course in Bermuda, given by David Distler. Can the FEI handle stewards from Jam and Cayman?  Then Betty and I got caught in the island during hurricane Florence, what an excitement!! James is spreading terrible rumors that hurricanes follow Betty and myself. Watch out Barbados!

Stay safe, Trina  

Trinidad news from Rossi

At the end of June this year, Garyk Jaggan traveled with Patrice Stollmeyer to the Columbian Equestrian Association’s International Children’s Competition. Garyk was personally invited to this show jumping competition, where he competed against children from over thirty different countries. At the end of the competition Garyk received a Good Sportsmanship award from the Columbian Equestrian Association. We are all very proud of him.

We held our leg of the Caribbean Equestrian Association’s Junior Show Jumping Competition on 30^th September and 1^st October. In our 16 and under event, we were represented by Garyk Jaggan and Sarah Jane Waddell, and in our 12 and under event we were represented by Kyna Thompson. Both Barbados and Bermuda sent two under 16 riders and one under 12 rider, as well as a coach, to compete in this event. The show was very successful with our Sarah Waddell placing second in her category and Garyk Jaggan placing sixth. In the 12 and under category, our Kyna Thompson placed third in her first time ever representing Trinidad. In the end Barbados won both categories in the competition.

Our coach, Patrice Stollmeyer, has had a very successful past couple of months. Patrice’s breeding farm gained a new foal, Monte Carlo, by Contucci out of her mare Steffi. Monte is full brother to Patrice’s gelding Cloudio. Patrice’s gelding Bling Bling, raced in this year’s Royal Oak Derby, in Trinidad and placed second in his event.

The  TTEA has elected a new President for the 2006-2007 year. Mr. Carl Chatoor was elected to office on October 7^th. Mr. Chatoor’s daughter Nicola has been an active equestrian for fourteen years and his wife Joan was previously very involved in the TTEA. We are very excited to be under his leadership.

Canadian coach Eddo Hoekstra will be arriving in Trinidad on October 12^th to give a week long dressage clinic. Mr. Hoekstra has given two previous clinics in Trinidad, which were both very well received.

Two of our coaches, Margaret Auerbach and Anna Lisa de Lima, will be attending equestrian courses in the next month. Mrs. Auerbach will be attending a Coaching Level II course in Quito, Ecuador and Ms. De Lima will be attending a show jumping course design and coaching course in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Editor’s note: Carl Catoor will be joining us in Barbados for our meeting. We look forward to meeting him. We also wish Rossi well in his last year of Vet school and are very glad he is not leaving the scene completely. Rossi advises that he will stay with the committee developing their equestrian center at the racetrack in Trinidad.

From the USEF, Don Whittle writes:

USA Wins Nine Medals at 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games,  and is 2^nd in Samsung Super League

The United States proudly came home from Aachen, Germany with nine medals, finishing second in the overall medal count.  Team USA won two gold, four silvers and two bronze medals. The medalists are as follows:

Reining  Team Gold, and Tim McQuay - individual silver medal, Aaron Ralston -individual Bronze medal

Eventing                Amy Tryon - individual bronze medal

Vaulting Team Silver, Megan Benjamin - Women’s Individual Gold medal

Show Jumping Team Silver, Beezie Madden - Individual Silver medal

Dressage               Team Bronze

Additionally, the United States’ Show Jumping Team finished second overall in the 2006 Samsung Super League held this summer in Europe, after winning the 2005 crown.  Overall, it has been an excellent year for Team USA and preparations for the 2007 Pan American Games are already in process.

Finally

It has been quite a busy summer for your chairman. It was really wonderful to go to Aachen for the WEG. To see so many examples of excellent horsemanship in all disciplines is really inspiring. We had, as you know, an extraordinary Bureau meeting during Aachen where Michael Stone was confirmed as Secretary General. In addition, the Executive Board met in Lausanne in September to further discuss and refine the planning for the modernization of the FEI and to review and assess the first half year of our new President’s administration. You will have seen reports from these meetings, which in itself is an indication of the sense of openness which is so significant to this new era. The Bureau will meet again in Dubai, November 17 and 18. I have to say that I find the initiatives underway at the FEI are both exciting and challenging. I see only good things ahead for our sport. In addition to all that my youngest son, Evan was married last weekend to a lovely young lady so I am very happy. 

The frogs aren’t singing up here in the mountains anymore – too cold. I’m already looking forward to spring. Meantime Take care. We’ll gather together in December.

Cheers,

Kate