Welcome to
United States Eventing Association
Area VII
Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho and Alaska

I got an early heads up on the expected prizes for the championships and the horse trials classes at our Fall Championship Horse Trials, located at the Equestrian's Institute Horse Trials at the Northwest Equestrian Center on September 17th. Don't forget to enter the championship class if you are eligible (see note above).

Championships (***These are expected, but may be subject to some changes, depending on final shipments of products).

Good luck to everyone.

1. First Place:
1. Medium weight coat with "Area VII Grand Champion 2010 Equestrians Institute Horse Trials" embroidered on it
2. 5x7 picture from Tim O'Neil plus frame with brass plate, on top: Area VII Grand Champion on bottom: 2010 EI Horse Trials 
2. Second Place:
1. Halter with plate that says Area VII Reserve Champion
2. 5x7 picture from Tim O'Neil and frame with brass plate all the same except "Reserve Champion"
3. Third Place:
1. TBA
4. Fourth Place:
1. Davis Bell Boots
5. Fifth Place:
1. Polo Wraps (white)
6. Sixth Place:
1. iTunes Gift Card ($10)
7. Ribbons to 10th place

Horse Trials

1. First Place:
1. Coolers from the Gift Horse
2. 5x7 picture from Tim O'Neil
2. Second Place:
1. 1st Aid Kit
3. Third Place:
1. Olsen's Gift Cards
4. Fourth Place:
1. Smart Start Stud Kit
5. Fifth Place:
1. Roma Grooming Kit
6. Sixth Place:
1. Charles Owen Cooler
7. Ribbons to 8th place

August News Letter posted in Flying Changes

Dear Area VII Eventers,
                Hope the summer is going well for everyone.  We have two USEA recognized competitions this month, both in Washington.  The Area VII Young Riders Benefit Horse Trials is coming up August 6-8 in Chehalis, WA with competition for Beginner Novice through Preliminary levels.  This has been a huge undertaking to move the event to the Lincoln Creek Facility.  I would like to thank everyone that has been involved in the strong level of support, through donations of time, money, and equipment to make this possible.  The Young Riders Benefit Horse Trials is one of the reasons our Area VII Young Riders are ahead of most other USEA regions in their fundraising.  Later this month is the Caber Farm Horse Trials on August 20 – 22 in Onalaska, WA with competition for Beginner Novice through Intermediate levels.  This is always a well run event and I look forward to seeing everyone there.
                Coming up in September is the last three events of the season and thus the last chance to get points toward year end awards. Aspen Farms is having their first CIC */** event on Sept 3-5. Stanton Farm in Deary, Idaho is hosting their first USEA recognized competition on September 11-12. The Equestrians’ Institute benefit horse trials have moved to NWEC’s facility for their fall event on September 17-19th and will host the Area VII 2010 championships.
                It is always amazing how quickly we transition from winter to summer and it seems to happen frequently around our horse trials at the end of June.  This year was particularly amazing- the joke was that we were in the month of “Juneuary”. In Oregon I understand we set an 85 year record for the wettest June (and I doubt Washington, Idaho and Montana were much different).  This definitely affected Area VII riders.  Many of our spring events had to make significant changes to their event due to the wet spring, unfortunately almost all of us have received criticism from riders for making these changes.  Organizers need riders to be helpful, not critical, when we make necessary changes.  Obviously we do not move warmup areas or take out portions of cross country tracks because we want to; we do it because we have to for safety reasons. 
Aspen Farm was certainly affected by the rains, portions of the cross country course were taken off for safety, the roads to the stabling area required another 10 or more dump-truck loads of rock during the event and additional attention was needed to maintain the landing and takeoff areas of jumps.  Despite these set-backs the event was outstanding and had a record attendance level, the feedback was very supportive and positive.
                The Inavale Farm Horse Trials and Gallops Saddlery Training Three Day Event also set a record for attendance, with nearly 400 entries.  However the continuous spring rains didn’t help us either.  Portions of the roads and tracks were too soft to even mow, let alone ride a horse on, the steeplechase phase was moved on Friday evening to higher ground and over 20 vehicles were towed to their parking spots on Wednesday and Thursday.    I was disappointed to read the criticism and hear about the abuse of our volunteers over the change in the location of our cross country warm up to the sand arena.  When organizers make changes like this (and almost every event in Area VII this spring has), please recognize we are working with the officials to make the event as safe as possible.  Thank you to everyone that stepped  forward and helped make this event possible through your sponsorship and volunteering; a special thank you to those who helped move the steeple chase track in near darkness on Friday evening, and to those individuals that helped our warmup stewards brush off the unnecessary criticism by those few inconsiderate riders.  The event ran well and we were especially pleased to see the “new for 2010” things were well received.  Tremaine’s show jumping courses and the new show jumping wall and Liverpool rode extremely well, our cross country timers loved the new printing stopwatches, and the dressage judges loved the new shelters (wow- they even have coat hooks!).    
Hope everyone had a good time at Whidbey Island and Rebecca Farm in July; good luck and safe riding.
Luigi
 
Adult Rider Report.
Inavale Horse Trials proved to be a very successful event for many AR members and you didn't even have to be there (you should have been - it was an awesome event). The tent was set up and shared with the NW Horse Trials Assoc folks for some fun get togethers. Saturday evening at the potluck, we held a drawing. All members were entered for 4 awards of $250 towards an educational activity of their choice. The lucky winners drawn were, Penny Leggott, Shea Carpenter, Larry Boyer and John Henning. I am looking forward to reporting on how they utilized their prizes.
I felt this was a fair way to include all members. We have lots of prizes for actively competing folks but I wanted to offer a chance at nice prizes to all- just one more good reason to be a member of Adult Riders. Please remember we will be drawing for similar awards at the annual meeting. To be entered in that you will have had to volunteered at at an event, pony club, young riders or such. One entry for 3-10 hours then another entry for every 5 hours after. (revised from tracking forms sent out earlier). So keep track.
Speaking of prizes- the following were winners of the So Far So Good $50 gift certificates co sponsored by Gallops, for being high point in their division after the first two phases. Int- Kristi Walker, Prel- Karen O'Neal, Training- Patricia Morrissette, Nov- Alisa Sprouffske and Bn Todd Trewin.

The Adult Rider high point winner in the T3D went to Heidi West riding Lou Leslie's fabulous Jack O Lantern. Well done Heidi. She, along with the fab loot given by the event for 4th place, won a $250 certificate to Gallops. Thanks to Gallops for their sponsorship!
Canadian American Team Challenge.
It probably isn't to late to join the fun and represent your country. Please contact John Meriwether jmeriwet@comcast.net, if you can make to trip to Campbell Valley (just across the border). It really is a blast and you will get loot!
Maggie

Please fill out the Online Event Evaluation Form - your comments are emailed directly back to the Area Chair and then shared with the organizer (same process as the traditional paper forms). Save a stamp, skip the mail process, seems everyone already was! This works for all USEA Area Activities, camps and clinics as well. Your feedback is important to the organizers and area council, please participate and consider including your name.