April 2011
News From the President
Hello from your new President:
Hard to believe but spring is finally here! We are fast approaching our 2011 show season. Get ready to fit into
your white breeches and black show coat. We have added a division for young horses at the Intro, Training and First
level. To be eligible for this division, a copy of your coggins dated for this year or breed registration papers needs to be
sent to Lauren Comish-Sumwalt, our Schooling Show Chairperson prior to your first show. We have changed our year
end awards to match our divisions. Please check our website to see the changes.
MDA is going green. We are no longer printing and mailing the annual omnibus. I am asking that our members
utilize the website for information that would normally be found in the omnibus. We are in the process of updating show
information, divisions, year end awards, etc. Check back often as updates are frequently added.
There are still spaces available in the MDA hosted “Fix-A-Test” clinic at Thornridge Manor on April 16, 2011.
Phoebe Devoe-Moore has kindly offered her beautiful facility and services for this clinic. This is a chance to ride the
new tests in front of a judge before show season. Riders will get feedback on their ride (test of their choice), a coaching
session with Phoebe to improve on their show technique, and a chance to ride their test again for additional feedback.
The cost is $40.00 per ride. Second rides will be put on a waitlist. Please visit website for further info and registration
info. Opening date was March 6, 2011. Closing date is extended to April 10, 2011.
Our first schooling show is right around the corner. It will be held at Petticoats Advance on May 1, 2011. The
judge will be Peggy Pariso. Just a reminder that you need to be a member 30 days prior to
the closing date of the show in order to get the member’s discount for the classes (a savings of $7.00 per class) and for
the scores to count towards year end awards. Opening date is March 19, 2011.
Reminder! The new USDF tests are now available! There are only 3 tests per level from Training through Fourth.
Intro now has a test C which includes canter. I hope we can all work together to make this a happy and productive show
season. Look forward to seeing you out at the shows.
From your New Prez,
Jackie Caldwell
Volunteers needed:
WE need volunteers for the following positions at our licensed show: (Please note the date change to
May 28 and 29th, 2011.
Volunteers who sign up prior to May 1st and email their shirt size will have a shirt to wear on the day
they volunteer. Volunteers also receive double the work credits for this show.
We need volunteers to help with the ring set-up and take down on Friday night and Sunday after the
show ends; scribes(one for each ring, should have some familiarity with the FEI tests), scorers, runners,
ring steward, gate keepers, bit checkers, and people to give out water to the riders. If you are available,
please contact either Jill Blackburn at philjill@juno.com or Jean Bosley at Jean.Bosley@phh.com.
Committees:
I am looking for members that would be interested in serving on our various committees. Bring your
new and fresh ideas! I am particularly interested in hearing from any members with fundraising or
marketing knowledge. Please send me your contact information and ideas to
Keelysdressagequeen@live.com. Look forward to hearing from you.
Young Riders:
Yes, that time of year is right around the corner! The Young Rider team competition is scheduled
for July 23/24, 2011 at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA. The official prize list package will be available
April 10, 2011. The show website is www.Region1YT.info. Any Young Rider interested in being on a
team, please contact either Brianne Reynolds at Bellabre81@aol.com or Sarah Brooks
at adonaifarms@verizon.net.
Adult Team Competition:
This year, the Adult Team Competition is being hosted by ESDCTA. It is scheduled to be held
on 9/24 and 9/25, 2011 at the Horse Park of New Jersey. More information will be posted as it becomes
available. A meeting will be scheduled as soon as this information is put out by ESDCTA to discuss
ideas on how to make this competition better for the adults. All those who participated last year please
send me your ideas. Anyone wishing to participate this year, you may contact me at
keelysdressagequeen@live.com.
Protective Headgear Ruling:
USEF has issued their ruling concerning the use of protective headgear. In accordance with this
ruling, MDA has amended our rule, to begin with the 2011 show year. The USEF rule, as well as
MDA’s rule are posted on the website: www.marylanddressage.org.
A Different View (understanding basic radiography for the horseman/women)
By Carol Bossone, DVM
For those that have ever had a lame horse, and have had the veterinarian out to diagnose the lameness with X-rays,
you may wonder what and why your veterinarian takes the pictures they do and what they are looking for.
First, some “X-ray” (or radiology) 101 (Ok a little physics and anatomy too). X-ray waves are shorter than that of
visible light thereby making them more energetic (see safety issues below). This form of radiation enables them to
penetrate through normally nontransparent matter. If this radiographic image is then allowed to record onto a
photographic emulsion film, it will react with this material (usually silver) and produce an image, or in many techniques
can also be recorded/stored digitally onto a computer. Radiographs as we know are black and white images with varying
shades of gray depending on the absorption of the tissue. The greater the absorption of the material the denser the
structure imaged (e.g. bone) and the whiter (radiopaque) the object on the film. In contrast, an air filled cavity (lung)
will appear black (no absorption). Fluids, or nonmineralized structures (tendons, fat), appear in various shades of gray.
When your veterinarian takes a radiograph he/she will need to take at least 2 views. This is primarily done because
radiographs are a 2 dimensional image of a 3 dimensional object. If only one view is taken an abnormality may easily be
missed. Radiographs are taken across different planes with reference to the radiograph and images are always referred to
according to the direction of the central ray penetrating at the point of entrance. To get an idea of the terminology and
views your veterinarian is taking imagine yourself taking a picture of your horse from the 1. Side (called “lateral” view),
2 middle of your horse facing out (medial), 3. Looking up at the underside of your horse (ventral-but don’t try this at
home!), or 4. Looking down on your horse from above or in front of your horse (dorsal). Some other terminology to
know is palmar (of the “digit” – below the “knee” or plantar below the hock), proximal (closer usually referring to the
head of the animal), and distal (farther from). Radiographs can also be taken at any angle but are usually 90, 30 or 60
degrees with reference to the central ray. This terminology combined with the anatomical part of the body now tells you
what view you are looking at. For example you now know what a dorsomedial-palmarlateral oblique view of the carpus
looks like – right?
When the veterinarian takes the image of your horse’s leg he/she must ensure proper positioning, preparation and
radiographic techniques. A typical view will require the horse to be weight bearing. Most radiographs of the foot
require the shoe off (metal shoes/nails are highly radiopaque and will block important structures and abnormalities).
Special views are use to image areas that could not normally be seen using traditional side views or are used to focus
better on certain areas like joints. These might be called “skyline” views (also called tangential or flexor) images of the
navicular bone or flexed lateral views. In evaluating lameness using radiographs your vet may take several different
views of an area of interest after he/she has done a thorough exam (nerve blocks, flexion tests etc) that would indicate an
area of concern.
In most cases, radiographs are very useful diagnostic tools. However, when needed your vet may use other imaging
techniques. These include X-rays with contrast media (e.g. arthrography), xeroradiography, thermography, ultrasound,
scintigraphy (nuclear medicine), and magnetic resonance. Interpreting radiographs once the study is done is both a skill
and an art your veterinarian has spent years perfecting. So now with this little bit of knowledge you have on the views
and terminology you can now be more familiar with what your vet is taking and why. Go ahead and dazzle them next
time with your knowledge. Happy trails.
Safety Note:
Although radiographs are excellent diagnostic tools radiation safety is imperative for the user (technicians, vets,
holders). Ionizing radiation is measured in several terms (e.g. “rads, rem’s or “radiation equivalent man”). As an
example normal populations (humans/animals) are exposed to approximately 100 mrem (millirem) from natural
background from the earth/yr. A typical diagnostic X-ray delivers approximately 25 mrem to the patient (and the higher
the energy the greater exposure dose). Radiation exposure follows 3 safety rules; time, distance and shielding. Medical
workers should use the shortest exposure time possible, keeping the greatest distance possible from the source and shield
themselves (e.g. lead aprons)
Maryland Dressage Association is looking for riders interested in participating in the 2011 PVDA Ride for Life
GMO Challenge
Come out and help MDA win a clinic with either Cesar Parra or Betsy Steiner through participation in the GMO
challenge held in conjunction with the PVDA Ride For Life licensed show on June 25-26, 2011 at the Prince George’s
Equestrian Center and Show Palace Arena.
There are 2 ways to participate: Either as a team member of a team showing at the licensed show, requiring entrants to
follow USEF rules, or as Phantom riders, those who are horseless or unable to attend. The teams competing for the
separate awards will be made up of 4-5 members.
There are 2 categories to win the clinics: GMO High Pledge, which is for the GMO raising the most in donations and
GMO per Capita High Pledge, which is for the GMO raising the most money on a per capita basis according to the
membership roster turned in by June 19th.
GMO Phantom team High Pledge is for the horseless teams that raise the most in donations for Ride for Life. Teams
must submit a team form and entry form with the required fees to be eligible for the Rider Raffle and Overall Pledge
Awards. Special awards are given for top 3 Phantom teams and ribbons through 10th place.
GMO Team High Score and GMO Dancing Horse Challenge will go to GMO Team with highest average score at the
show not including musicale freestyles and to the GMO Team with the highest average score in the musical freestyle.
Teams must submit team form and have 3 members riding entered in the show with the remaining slots filled by
phantom riders. Team members may enter at any level, Intro through FEI, (Intro B, TR-4th level, Test 2 and FEI TOC.
All Team Challenge rides will occur on Saturday, June 25. The average score of the team will be used to determine the
winning team for each division with all scores counting towards average. Additional percentage points will be added to
the average score based on the donations raised by teams.
GMO Team and GMO Dancing Horse Challenge High Score Awards will be given on Sunday during lunch break.
Special Awards are offered for top 3 GMO Team High Score with ribbons through 10th place and special wards are given
to top 3 Teams in GMO Dancing Horse Challenge with ribbons through 6th place.
For anyone interested in participating on a team either as a rider or a phantom rider, please contact Jackie Caldwell at
keelysdressagequeen@live.com.
Further info for this show may be obtained by going to www.PVDARideForLife.org.
All proceeds go to benefit the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center,
Maryland Dressage Association 2011 Event Roster
April 16
Fix-a-Test Clinic with Phoebe Devoe-Moore at Thornridge Manor in Glen Arm, MD
April 30
Schooling Show at Petticoat’s Advance in Upperco, MD
May 22
Schooling Show at Thornridge Manor in Glen Arm, MD
May 28-29
Dressage at Heavenly Waters Licensed Show in Bel Air, MD
June 12
Schooling Show at Olney Farm in Joppa, MD
June 25
Schooling Show at Ships Quarters Farm in Westminster, MD
July 9
Schooling Show at New Covert Farm in Madonna, MD
July 23-24
Region 1 Young Rider Team Competition at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA*
July 31
Schooling Show at Liberty View Farm in Finksburg, MD
August 20
Caitlin Ben-Dror Memorial Dressage Show at Whispering Spring Farm in Stewartstown, PA*
Sept. 10
Schooling Show at Ships Quarters in Westminster, MD
Sept. 17
Schooling Show at Tranquility Manor Farm in Monkton, MD
Sept. 24-25 Adult Team Competition at Horse Park of New Jersey*
October 9
MDA Finals Schooling Show at Heavenly Waters in Bel Air, MD (Regular classes offered in addition
to Championship classes)
October 30
Fall Fun Show at Thornridge Manor in Glen Arm, MD
*These events are not sponsored by the MDA, but scores may be used for MDA Year End Awards.
Please visit http://www.marylandressage.org/index.php?page=shows-events for complete details and entry form.
Maryland Dressage Association is a USDF GMO and all members are automatically USDF GMs. For USDF PM,
members must apply directly to USDF.