It's hard to believe that April is nearing its end.  

GVDS had a very busy month with our amazing Freestyle Symposium, followed by the Schooling Show I and our Welcome To Spring Show presented by Stirrup Cup Farm.  Another special thanks to Stirrup Cup Farm for their generous support and providing the great "beverage mugs" for all exhibitors and volunteers.  If you did not get one, be sure to get one at the next show as they are really cool.

We also had one of the best GVDS Business Meetings of our tenure.  To have a meeting where everyone felt comfortable enough to share their feelings, offer suggestions and be open and honest with their comments is challenging in this environment.  That is what makes GVDS so unique - everyone is welcome, everyone's opinion is valued and everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

After a bit of organizational confusion, this meeting is being rescheduled to Tuesday, April 29 at 7pm via Zoom.  We need many hands, many big hearts and many great ideas to make it a success.  This amazing camp, presented by MoonRider Farm, is again being orchestrated by Barbara Progess.  Please consider giving of your time and talents to make it a success.  Direct any questions to Barb or just get on the Zoom call and join us.

• The Summertime Warmup and Summertime I & II shows,  presented by Alpine Bank, are opening on May 5.  A few things to note:

• The Summertime Warmup show is NOT a schooling show.  It is an RMDS/WDAA/WDACO and AQHA-Western recognized show.  So please remember appropriate attire, braiding, etc.  This is a separate stand alone show, so if you are trying to earn RMDS scores or qualify for RMDS championships, this is a separate show.

• The Summertime I and II are each separate shows  The Summertime I has a panel of judges (the scores are averaged so it is a combined score) so that counts as a separate single score.  The Summertime II show has a single judge so that too is a separate score for qualifying purposes.  If you have questions, please direct them to Darby Savoca.

• Also remember to enter your stabling on EACH of your entry forms.  To make it the most affordable, we charge by the night, rather than for the full weekend.  Most shows charge a multi-day rate, but we only want you to pay for what you need, so be sure to request a stall for each night you need it.

This very cool program is the brainchild of three members, Shelby Wolf, Julie Burt and Megan Bretey.  If you are new to dressage or are an experienced dressage rider who needs to fine-tune a movement or two (there must have been something on your most recent test that could have been better!) OR are on a budget, this is for you!  Although the title says drop-in, to get the maximum benefit, be sure to sign up.  Once a month the instructors will offer individual or group instruction, depending on what are the needs of attendees.  At the core of this is also the camaraderie of dressage riders.  Having a sense of support and community is key to keeping people interested in this sport.  The first meet-up is May 6 at the Mesa County Fairgrounds from 4-6pm.  Check out the flyer, sign up to participate or at least come to hang out.  You won't be disappointed.

CAUSE & PREVENTION OF EQUINE COLIC Clinic

May 17, 2025 @ 5:00 PM

CSU Westen Research Center – 3170 B ½ Rd, Grand Junction, CO

Introduction 

Dr Braden Shafer: “Basic Equine Gastrointestinal Anatomy and Types of Colic”

PRESENTATION: Dr Diana Hassel – Colorado State University Professor of Equine Surgery and Critical Care

⦁ “ Colic in Horses: Understanding, Preventing and Treating the Silent Threat “

⦁ “Emergency Management”

⦁ “Future Research Insights”

Tickets may ONLY be purchased in advance. No tickets sold at the door. $55 donation will go towards the CSU Galloway Equine Research Fund for Equine Colic Research.

RMDS currently has several executive board and committee positions available. RMDS is looking to identify members who might be interested in stepping into these important roles.
The positions they are seeking to fill are:
•    Vice President
•    Communications Chair
•    Championship Show Chair
•    Volunteers Co-Chair
With the show season fast approaching, they are especially focused on filling the Communications Chair and Championship Show Chair positions as soon as possible. To support the added responsibilities of the Championship Show Chair role, the board has approved a $1,000 stipend as well as a per diem.

Job descriptions for each open position are available for the asking. The RMDS executive board is made up of incredible individuals who are always ready to guide and support new members in their roles.

If you are passionate about shaping the future of dressage in our region, please consider contributing your time and talents to RMDS.

Feel free to contact Ginka for more information or if you have questions or want more details about these positions.

Thank you so much for your help in ensuring RMDS continues to thrive!
Best regards,
Ginka Kubelka
RMDS Nominating Committee Chair
On The Bit Dressage – President
gbuchner@uwyo.edu

We are ever so close to having all our volunteer positions filled!  

If you haven't signed up, please do so.  If you want to sign up and there are no available jobs at times that work for you, contact Barbara Progess and she can help you find a time.  Thank you to everyone who has signed up.  Its because of all our great volunteers that we have some of the best shows in the Rocky Mountain area.

Don't forget the Give N' Take table which will be outside of the horse show office.  Bring your used items to place on the table and feel free to take something else.  Any unclaimed items must be removed at the end of the show on Saturday by the donor or they will be donated or thrown away.  This was super popular last year so we are repeating it at all our schooling shows with the "best stuff" available at the year-end awards dinner.

And we need volunteers!  Friday's schooling show is completely sold out, with many new non-member riders.  They may not know or understand that shows are successful by having great judging, excellent management but equally as important, amazing volunteers.  The Saturday Welcome To Spring recognized show, presented by Stirrup Cup Farm, is about half filled, so it should be finished by early to mid afternoon.  If you are showing on only one day, please consider coming back and volunteering for the opposite day.  Riders, your ride times will be sent late day this Sunday so you will know when you can help.  Click on the links to use Sign Up to sign up.  A few key needs are:

• Friday afternoon announcer

• Friday early morning and later afternoon Warm-up & Gate Stewards

• Friday bit checkers

• Friday runners/test collectors (perfect role for younger riders)

• Saturday experience scribes!!  We have none!

• Saturday early morning Warm-up & Gate Steward

• Saturday office help all day

• Saturday bit checkers

• Saturday runners/test collectors (again perfect for younger riders)

• Volunteers under 16 must have an adult to warm-up & gate steward or bit check.

Volunteer Coordinator, Barbara Progess, is available for training and guidance, but you can always ask any 'seasoned' member volunteer. They are more than happy to help.  Don't NOT volunteer because you aren't sure how to perform a job.  We're all here to help one another learn and grow.  Also remember that volunteer hours are not retroactive for non-members.  So join now and make your hours count.

1. Upload all your required documents before the show. If you're not sure what you need, check the Entry Confirmation email from darbysavoca.  Uploading at the show with the iffy-Internet may mean that you can't get your bridle number.  Be sure to sign your entry form, your releases and waivers, including emergency contact information.

2. Pay all outstanding fees before you get to the show.  Any outstanding balances may preclude you from getting your bridle number.

3. For recognized show riders:You must have a bridle number BEFORE you school your horse.  Riding without a bridle number may result in a warning card.  For this show, there should be no reason why someone can't get their number on Friday.  It will be a long day and Darby will be around at least 30 minutes past the end of the show.
   The TD will be doing bit and bridle checks in the barn for stabled horses, for horses tied to trailers and at the exit gate.  The TD is an excellent resource for anything tack related and they love to educate.
   Double check that your horse's Coggins and vaccination records have the horse's show name or your entry will be rejected.  The veterinarian records must match the entry.
   If you need a horse or pony measured for USEF or National Dressage Pony Cup (NDPC), please contact Darby ASAP so we can make arrangements with the on call vet and have the proper measuring stick available.
   

4. The show starts at 9am both days as spring mornings are chilly.

5. NDPC measurement for schooling shows only must be arranged through Darby but do not require a veterinarian or the TD.

6. If you have ANY entry related questions, please contact Darby ASAP.

7. Be sure your membership is current.  If you name is not on the RMDS or GVDS Associate membership list, then you will be assessed a non-member fee.  Remember that snail-mail is exceedingly slow, so it might be best at this late date to email your membership form to Susan Gregg (sgregg77@msn.com) for GVDS Associates and make your payment via Venmo (@gvds1) or PayPal (add $5 to your payment) so you have a proof for payment.  Bring that to the show.  You can also bring your RMDS membership card from the RMDS dashboard as proof of membership. Scores earned for year-end awards are not retroactive.

8. Submit your Dressage Team Challenge teams to Scorekeeper Rhiannon Rowe.  We have two teams registered so far, so don't delay!

Many, many thanks to our outstanding sponsors.  Our sponsors help up put on great shows with top notch judges for both English and western dressage.  They help us produce high quality educational events like the Freestyle Symposium.  They enable us to have good show prizes and year-end awards when many dressage shows are eliminating those prizes.  Please thank them and frequent their businesses.  Special thanks to Sponsorship Chair Michelle Ruyle for her hard work.