Part 2 of 3 parts. Part 1 covered the first 10 years of ODS history. This article takes us to 1992, the 20th anniversary of the Oregon Dressage Society.
Estelle Thompson is president in 1983. Membership rises to 291but only 30 attend the awards banquet in Eugene. Chapters have schooling shows in addition to recognized ones. With more shows, we need more judges. The glimmerings of a "Learner Judge's program" surfaces. Five people with Third Level or above competition skills indicate interest: Estelle Thompson, Mary Ann Judkins, Donna Longacre, Barbara Cathcart and Eva Fellmer. We later add Alice Loomis, Dodie Green, Susan Acheson and Margo Heppner-Hart.
PAC's Fourth of July show is held in 100 degree heat at Mt. Hood Stables. The Country Classic celebrates its tenth anniversary. A new member appears on the roster for the first timeJoyce Steinbock. Rogue Valley Chapter forms.
One hundred rider awards are given at the annual banquet. The Ward Wells Memorial Trophy is unveiledOregon's "Father of Dressage" passed away in 1982, at the age of 86.
Pat Drew assumes the presidency in 1984. We welcome Blue Mountain as our seventh chapter. Siskiyou and Lower Columbia chapters follow. USDF announces Horse of the Year competition in musical Freestyle, starting at Second Level. USDF Training Level awards are initiated.
Fans of Oregon's first Grand Prix horse, Galileo, worry along with owner Estelle Thompson, as Leo undergoes colic surgery. He comes through with flying colors. PAC presents a plaque, honoring the horse who paves the way for Oregon equines into the upper levels. More clinicians come to town. ODS pins go on sale. Iron Mountain Saddlery opens. Mary Ann Judkins and Monkey Dubious (alias Excalibur) demonstrate Grand Prix dressage at the Country Classic. ODS members attend the Olympics in L.A. Acupuncture for horses is the "thing to do". Oregon's Horseman's Association's show approval becomes available.
The 1985 Championship Show moves to Roseburg. Under the efficient management of Bradley, Hart, Richards, and Siskiyou Chapter, we have fun and net a $1,500 profit for the struggling ODS treasury. Awards are presented to 157 riders. Membership totals 305. Alice Loomis reports that "in order to become an ODS approved judge, one must: ride Third Level or above with scores of 55%; have six letters of recommendation, one being from an AHSA judge; have a list of judging experience.
In 1986, dues are as follows: Juniors $15; Seniors $25; Family $30. Membership totals 427. Joyce Steinbock is president. Joyce Heinke doubles as membership chairman and ODS establishes her job as a "pay job." We purchase our first computer and printer. (A photocopier isn't affordable until 1991). Joyce no longer operates off the dining room table.
USDF Region 6 Championships are held for the first time and Oregon has talent! The first issue of In Stride depicts a sampling of that talent: Dianne Gerstner on Armed And Alert; Donna Longacre on Ali Caln; Alice Loomis on Rufus; Holly Johns on Tristin; Ray Cornelius on Johnny B. Goode; Carey Evans on Joyful. As the caption states, "They've come a long way baby."
Oregon Horsemen hold their first Horse-A-Fair. Our demo horses find the hoopla of the enthusiastic crowd much different than the sedate dressage audience. Nevertheless, they are impressive. Riders Carey Evans, Alice Loomis, Mary Ann Judkins and Estelle Thompson survive!
The 1986 Championship Show comes north to Clark County Fairgrounds, Washington. PAC's July show nets a tidy $1,900, which is donated to Clark County to help pay off the loan to finance the beautiful arena.
Ginny Schider, In Stride editor, writes a feature article on dressage and eventing in Southern Oregon. This article also appears in the Chronicle of the Horse. This indeed is a message to the rest of the horse world that dressage is alive and well in the Northwest!
Rider awards total 154. Siskiyou Chapter sponsors a perpetual trophy for the Junior Rider division. Horse Digest reports that weary horses traveling in Oregon have their own equine rest stop, established in 1978. Other states plan to follow suit. Oregon Equestrian Trails Association (our Earl Flick, ODS President in '74) provides $3,000 to build the 80' x 120' arena at mile post 24114 miles south of Salem. Another site for a schooling show! ODS members go to watch at the World Dressage Championships in Toronto. Sally Swift comes to Oregon.
1987 sees the same slate of officers, except for Secretary, taken over by Melinda Raven. Two new chapters form: Pacific Crest Trail and Umpqua. Sadly, Blue Mountain decides to disaffiliate. ODS schedules a Judge's forumattendance is required in order to remain on the approval list. USDF begins instructor's seminars. Pan Am games are held in Indianapolis; nobody wants to go to Indianapolis! ODS junior riders are involved in the first US Pony Club regional dressage rally ever held in Oregon.
AHSA finds Oregon on the map6 ODS members are in the top 5 in Zone 9 awards. Placings are Training through Fourth. Nicole Gerstner is the first Region 6 rider to qualify for the USDF Young Riders championships.
The first dressage class in conjunction with a 4-H county fair is held in Washington County. Pacific Crest Trail Chapter sponsors the class, provides the manpower, judge, and pre-fair education, hosting a series of clinics for 4-H. As a result, a dressage manual is written for 4-H. Dressage is now included in the 4-H state horse fair. Other state 4-H programs look to Oregon for promotion of dressage within their 4-H committees.
1988 sees a continuity of leadership under Joyce Steinbock. Chairman Linda Coates-Markle overhauls the awards system. Now, exhibitors are responsible for their own show records. Award forms must be turned into the Chairman in a timely fashion in order to receive year-end recognition. The rules are simple and to the point: No report form . . . No awards . . . No excuses . . . No exceptions.
USDF holds its annual convention in Seattle. Donna Longacre organizes the Awards Banquetshe is also one of two Northwest riders to earn the Silver. An underground movement attempts to reword the rule book wording, "on the bit" with "on the aids." It doesn't fly! Membership swells to 567. The ODS Judge's List now totals tenDonna Longacre, Dagmar Fancher, Kari and Mike Osinske and Trenna Atkins are newly-qualified AHSA judges. The OSU Horse Center holds its first open house, with educational lectures and activities to educate the non-horse public. 172 year-end rider awards are given. Joyce Heinke receives the first Teresa Dunlap Award, established by Oregon State University and Crescent Valley Equestrian Center to honor the person who has done the most to further dressage in Oregon during the past year.
In 1989, membership totals 660 and there is $4,898.60 in the bank. Cathedral Hills and Chehalem Mountain Chapters form. Alice, Donna, and Mary Ann receive big applause at OHA Horse-a-Fair. Directory ads from local judges, instructors, trainers, and breeders are included in the Roster (the forerunner of the 1992 Omnibus). Ninety-three rider awards are given at year-end ceremonies. Joyce Steinbock, five-year term president receives the Teresa Dunlap Award. 10 ODS members receive AHSA ZONE awards. Portland Area Chapter establishes the Excalibur Freestyle Perpetual Trophy.
Joyce Steinbock begins her sixth and final year as President in 1990. Two new chapters join us Wildwood and Fort Vancouver. Rogue Valley succumbs to lack of members. An AHSA Learner's Judge's Clinic is held at OSU.
Controversy continues at AHSA regarding approved head gear for junior riders. This mandate affects riders doing pony club or combined events. ODS recommends that approved schooling and practice shows require helmets for junior riders.
Clinics to help instructors prepare for USDF certification continue with great success under Gerhard Politz. In Stride magazine celebrates its tenth year of publication. Dressage "great" Jaap Pot comes to Portland. Membership totals 717. Ninety-seven rider awards are given at year end. Barbara Tuohino Funk receives the Dunlap award.
In 1991, Donna Longacre becomes president. Membership totals 901, with 350 new members. The chapter total is 18, with the addition of Lower Puget Sound and Northeast Oregon. Although not a "chapter member", Joyce Heinke is the longest serving board member in history; she has served in some capacity since 1971.
The USDF/Dr. Benson Junior/Young Riders Championships for Region 6 are held in McMinnville. The response is small, but enthusiastic, and plans are in the making to hold it in Washington. Joyce Stride is appointed USDF/4-H liaison. USDF is excited about the wealth of young riders available via the 4-H program.
The 1992 Omnibus, produced by Joyce Heinke, is a great success30 shows are approved for the coming year, and 27 prize lists are placed in the publication. The Championship shows are now going to be run by AHSA open show rules. Championship classes are the only exceptiontests are to be ridden from memory. Rider awards total 123. Joyce Stride receives the Teresa Dunlap award.
Oregon's liability bill, aimed at reducing the liability of horse show sponsors, trainers, instructors, stable owners, and others in regard to injuries, reaches the legislative floor in Salem.
Our certified judges include: Barbara Cathcart, Raymond Cornelius, Barbara Crabbe, Carey Evans (R), Dagmar Fancher (r), Dian Gerstner, Cauleen Glass (r), Janet Harvey, Mary Anne Judkins, Angela Littlefield (I), Donna Longacre (R), Alice Loomis, Debra Spence (R), Estelle Thompson, Karin Ullian, Ann Whitmore.
With the close of a second decade of Dressage in Oregon, I offer this quote by Hans Handler from The Spanish Riding School , ". . . if training has not made a horse more beautiful, nobler in his carriage, more attentive in his behavior, revealing pleasure in his own accomplishment with a twitching of his ears and a lively expression in his eyes, he may have been "dressed" but he has not been truly schooled in the classical sense of dressage."