August 10, 2008
August 10 - Wollbach
All of us at the Wollbach horsemanship camp
On the last day of the last camp, the participants had the crowd in awe as they showed of their horses and everything they learned throughout the last four days. Alicia and Bri judged the novice classes and Kevin and Robin judged the advanced classes. First and second place winners received a complementary DQHA hat, and third place received a DQHA lapel pin.
After four days of intense horsemanship lessons, a few were tired but everyone was excited about all they learned. Galina started off the camp with only a handful of rides under her belt, but ended the camp right along with the rest of the group. Hans not only conquered the left lead lope this week, but is working on drills for a lead change. Melanie on her sorrel mare showed off her bronc riding skills the first day and placed second in the reining class the last day.
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August 7, 2008
August 7 - Wollbach
Day 1 focused on basic horsemanship.
Last stop, Wollbach, Germany. We caught up on some well-deserved sleep before we left the camp in Prague. Hannah, one of the translators, showed us around Prague before we hit the road again. The Texas Tech team rented a van to get from one place to the next, so picture a 9-passenger van on the autobahn. Dr. Kris Wilson has been over here quite a few times with camps, clinics and judging, so he is quite a bit more confident on the European road systems. Kevin Burns sat in the front with plenty of maps handy to guide us in the right direction.
Micky Kayser, at the Kayser Training Stables in Wollbach showed us around central Germany on Wednesday before the camp started. Not far from the camp, the fence that once divided east and west Germany stood. Now, sculptures and remnants of the fence are there for all to see. All history aside, we also visited a small amusement park and rode the toboggan track.
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August 4, 2008
August 4 - Prague
Monika Rolínková
I caught up with Texas Tech University in Prague to see the grand finale. Monday was the team’s last day and time to show off everyone’s skills. Dr. Kris Wilson from Texas Tech said he had seen much improvement over the last couple days. The camp took place at the El Paso Ranch just west of Prague. It was only a couple-hour train ride from Kreuth, but the culture and language is very different.
The restaurant at the El Paso Ranch resembles something from an Old West saloon, with the buffalo head hanging over the fireplace along with Indian and Spanish vaquero replica hanging on the wall. You can order grilled chicken and fries or steak and potatoes, but when it says “beef” you might want to ask what part of the cow it comes from.
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August 2, 2008
July 30, 2008 - Kreuth, Germany
Because there are so many camps in a short period of time, I have not been able to make it to all of them. I met up with the team from Sam Houston State University on the last day of their first camp in Kreuth. Dr. Matt McMillan is going to fill us in on what I missed:
Upon arriving in Munich from Vienna, we traveled by car to Kreuth for one and a half hours to begin our next camp in the Osterbayernhalle facility. After arriving at the largest privately owned equine facility in the world, we were amazed at the size and space available to us to conduct our clinic. That evening, we met with Rainer Maierhofer, president of the Bavarian Western Riding Association, and the 19 clinic participants.
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August 2, 2008
August 2 - Kreuth
The youth at the second Kreuth camp were ready to work.
The Paso Finos took over the big arena, but there are plenty of other arenas to ride in. We can to take over the Osterbayernhalle on Monday and Tuesday. We all met together for dinner on Friday to try to organize the groups so they could hit the ground running Saturday morning. The Kreuth camps divide the participants into riding times so they are able to get more individual attention.
The number of paint-colored horses by far outnumbered the rest. There are spotted Tinkers, Shires and a handful of Quarter Horses. The advanced youth groups came ready to work. Many of them had show experience and were excited to work with college students from the States.
Even with the Paso Fino World show going on, there were more than enough arenas to work in.
After a short visit at the second Kreuth camp, I am headed for Prague to meet up with Texas Tech. Hopefully we will hear from SHSU and they will let us now how the Kreuth camp went.
August 2, 2008
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August 2, 2008
Samanatha Eckert from Indiana.
We are finally competing. I was here early enough to go over to the trade show hall and visit all the booths. I have been sitting here in the stands and watching the barrels. I have already made my run, and unfortunately took out the third barrel and walked my horse home to save him for the poles.
Just sitting in the stands is interesting. I have met so many neat people. I am now sitting with Samantha Eckert from Indianapolis, Indiana. She is here for hunt seat equitation and trail. Samantha is a past American Quarter Horse Journal Junior Journalist. She is enjoying her last trip to the Ford Youth World and is cheering the Indiana team on. She is going to attend McMurray in Kentucky on an equine scholarship.
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August 2, 2008
August 2, 2008
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Megan McMullen from Norris, TN, Ginger Chant of Abilene, TX, and Jenny Bivins of Amarillo, TX.
My prelims pole run left a little to be desired in my book, but I am happy to say I am coming back for the finals, and that always gives me a shot to do better on my next run. To my surprise I made a clean stake run. I promise I am not exaggerating when I say I have run stakes less than five times. We finished the prelims in sixth place.
After returning to the stands I met a group of girls who show what AQHYA can do. There were three girls from all over who are good friends from competing. Megan McMullen from Norris, Tennessee, competes in performance halter and western riding, along with Texans Ginger Chant from Abilene and Jenny Bivins from Amarillo. They were taking in the excitement of the speed events.
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August 1, 2008
August 1, 2008
AQHYA contestants and moms from Illinois: Chayna DeNicolo, Anna Ricobene, Taylor Yuhas, Dawn Yuhas, Marcia Freeman, Debbie Ricobene and Carrie DeNicolo waiting to eat at On The Border.
I made it, barely. You always have to plan for the unexpected. I made great time all the way through Texas, and then we get to Oklahoma and for some reason they plan road construction: Miles and miles of bumper-to-bumper, 100-degree weather. The truck started running hot, and we had to turn the air off.
Then we had to try to make it to the Oklahoma State Fair Park. You would think that, having come here before, I would make it, no problem - wrong. I actually waved at the fairgrounds twice on my trip around. Get very detailed directions from wherever you are coming from. There were two adults and myself driving, and we still missed it.
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July 31, 2008
July 31, 2008
Today is the day - we’re on the road to Oklahoma City. We got a late start; we didn’t get in from the rodeo til after 2 a.m. When I left I was sitting in the barrels and breakaway. If I can hold on, I might have a chance for all-around cowgirl. It is a real long shot, though.
I left Henry and Willie at Lisa’s barn for the weekend. Elvis is already turned out in one of her pastures. It’s sure hard to leave Henry. I think he’s going to miss me as much as I’m going to miss him. Maybe next year he can make the trip; he deserves it. Lisa has won many awards on him through AQHA, and adding a youth title would be another jewel.
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July 30, 2008
July 30, 2008
Too pooped to enjoy a foot massage.
It is Wednesday, and the vacation is over. We have hit it hard, early. I had to get up and take care of the dogs before I left and finish packing for the Ford Youth World. I made sure I picked up my health certificate. I headed to my good friend Lisa Hall’s place to stay the night and go to a rodeo at Gatesville. I’m entered in the barrels and breakaway roping there tonight.
I made it to Lisa’s barn early enough to work on the horses and get them cleaned up. I brought all four horses. I’m running Henry in barrels and Willy in roping at the rodeo, and Elvis the pony came along for the ride. Rub will get the night off for the long ride tomorrow.
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