1

Division Chair

Jennie Petterson

Dressage

Karen Pautz

Hunter/Jumper

Michele Smith

Susie Ouderkirk

Saddle Seat

Sarah Track

Western

Liz Kuda

Classroom Instructors

Jean Kraus

Laura Ward

Gayle Lampe

Heather Northcutt

Bonnie Carr

Administrative Assistant

Melissa Purvis

Creative Producer

Rebekah Savage

. March/April, 2014

WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSITY

EQUESTRIAN DIVISION

NEWSLETTER

(Top) Sarah Thomas and KRA AFire Engine in the Native Arabian Costume Class.

Eight William Woods University

Western riders and one saddle

seat rider competed at the Class

“A” Missouri Arabian Horse

Association show in Lake St.

Louis, Mo.

Below are highlights from each

horse and rider team:

Nikki Bell and Pines Skippa Lad:

2nd in HA/AA Western Pl. Open,

3rd in HA/AA Western Pl. ATR,

3rd in HA/AA Western Pl. Open

Ch.

Emily Barrett and Tarbask

Desert Indian: 1st in HA/AA

Gelding In Hand-2 yrs old &

over, 1st in HA/AA Gelding In

Hand ATH and Champion in HA/

AA Gelding In Hand Ch.

Kristen Cuneo and Mi Maria:

4th in HA/AA Country English Pl.

ATR, 4th in HA/AA Country

English Pl. Limit Horse, Reserve

Champion in HA Country English

Pl. ATR Champ.

Grace Routh and WV Kyss of

Fame: 2nd in HA/AA Select Rider

ATR, 3rd in HA/AA Limit Horse

Western Pl., 4th in HA/AA Open

Western Pl. Ch

Georgia Hellum-Willits and

Mr. Sure Smooth: Reserve

Champion in HA/AA Western Pl.

Open Ch., Reserve Champion in HA/AA Western Pl. ATR

Champ.,1st in HA/AA Hunter Pl.

Novice Horse,1st in HA/AA

Western Pl. Select Rider, 2nd in

HA/AA Western Pl. ATR, 3rd in

HA/AA Western Pl. Open

With WV Kyss of Fame: 2nd in

HA/AA Gelding in Hand 2 yrs &

older, 2nd in HA/AA Gelding in

Hand ATH and Reserve Cham-

pion in HA/AA Gelding in Hand

Champ.

Ray Becker and Tosk Diamond:

3rd in HA/AA Hunter Pl. Open,

3rd in HA/AA Open Hunter Pl.

Ch. and 2nd in HA/AA Show

Hack Open.

With Prazier OBF: 2nd in HA/AA

Western Pl. JTR.

Jessica Scharenbroch and IWF

All That Glitters: Reserve Cham-

pion in HA/AA Breeding Mares

Ch., 1st in HA/AA Breeding

Mares ATR, 1st in HA/AA Hunter

Pl. Open, 2nd in HA/AA Breeding

Mares 2 yrs & up, 3rd in HA/AA Hunter Pl. ATR, 3rd in HA/AA

Hunter Pl. ATR Ch., 3rd in HA/

AA Western Pl. Limit Horse, 3rd

in HA/AA Hunter Pl. Novice

Horse

Rebekah Savage and Prazier

OBF: 1st in HA/AA Show Hack

Open, Reserve Champion in HA/

AA Hunter Pl. Open Ch., 4th in

HA/AA Hunter Pl. ATR.

Irene Wallace and PKH Da-

kota: 3rd in HA/AA Geldings in

Hand 2 years and older ATH, 5th

in HA/AA Western Pleasure

ATR Select Rider

WWU Riders Win Ribbons at MAHA

(Top) MAHA riders preparing for Championship Night on Saturday, March 15th.

Meet Susie: New

H/J Instructor

2

Matt Hollberg Clinic

Recap

2

Desensitizing

Western Horses

3

Horses of the Issue

Spotlight

3

Student Spotlight:

Rachel Arnold

4

Class Spotlight:

Equine Evaluation

4

Horses of the Issue

Spotlight

5

Jobs and

Internships

6

Inside this issue:

2

Susie Ouderkirk of Las Cruces,

N. M., has joined the equestrian

studies faculty at William

Woods University as a clinical

instructor, hunter/jumper.

Ouderkirk will instruct the

hunter/jumper applied riding

classes, as well as applied

theory classes. She will also supervise the care and

management of all the hunter/

jumper horses and coach WWU

student riders at local, regional

and national competitions.

“I am thrilled to be welcoming

Susie Ouderkirk to the

equestrian faculty,” Jennifer

Petterson, associate professor

and equestrian studies division

chair, said. “Her experience,

enthusiasm and dedication to

the hunter/jumper industry will

be a valuable asset to the

program and to the students.”

A graduate of New Mexico State

University in Las Cruces, N.M.,

Ouderkirk received her

bachelor’s degree in English in

1988 and her New Mexico state

teaching license for master level

coursework in 1992.

Ouderkirk has been a

professional hunt seat and

equitation and hunter/jumper

trainer, rider and coach for 30

years. She has competed in and

trained riders for horse shows

around the United States.

Her 25 years of judging

experience include NCAA and

intercollegiate shows. She has

planned and executed horse

shows, seminars and workshops

for equestrians, and has been a

visiting master teacher and

clinician for several equestrian

centers.

Most recently she was the sole

owner and operator of Red Sky

Farm, a full-service

equestrian training and

instruction facility in Las Cruces,

N.M.

From 1995 to 2006, Ouderkirk

was the publisher and editor for

Red Sky Publishing, which

included Southern New

Mexico Magazine, Southwest

Senior Newspaper and various

guides for the Las Cruces

Chamber of Commerce and the

Las Cruces Visitor’s Bureau.

Notes From the Division Chair:

Spring at the

Woods is

always a busy

and exciting

time of

year. In addition to on campus clinics

and horse shows, many seats

will be traveling or have

recently traveled to off campus

competitions. If you have not

had the opportunity to show

off campus, I encourage you to

take advantage of the chance to

watch the clinics and horse

shows that will be hosted on

campus in April.

It’s not too late to arrange to

take a WWU horse home for

the summer. If you are

interested, contact the string

instructor. Do you need more

teaching experience to add to

your resume? Consider joining

the WWU Summer Riding

Program staff. Positions are now available for both session I

(June 29-July 4th) and session II

(July 6-July 11th) and

applications are available on the

WWU Human Resources

webpage.

As we head toward the end of

the academic year, I want to

encourage all of you to attend

both the EQA, EQS, EQGS

Senior Achievement day

presentations (worth a LEAD

point), and the Equestrian

Senior Send Off. Senior

achievement projects will be

presented Thursday May

1st from 12:30-1:30 in the Ivy

Room. The Senior Send off for

equestrian students is open to

all equestrian students and will

feature a slide show,

presentation of seat

appreciation awards the

department awards. The May

5th “fiesta” celebration for our

seniors will be at 7:30 pm in

the UPHA arena.

Sincerely,

Jennie Petterson

Meet Susie: The New Hunter/Jumper Instructor

Matt Hollberg Clinic Recap

On March 7th -9th, the

Hunter/Jumper Show Team

hosted Matt Hollberg for a

three day clinic.

Hollberg, originally from

Germany, is now operating a

barn in Virginia. He is a

young, successful profes-

sional competing on the East

Coast circuit, and he has

extensive Grand Prix

experience and winnings

both in the United States

and internationally.

William Woods students rode in

the clinic and several off-campus

riders also participated with their

personal horses. The clinic consisted of gymnastics on the

first day to get the horses

balancing themselves, then

sections of courses.

The courses included roll backs

and bending lines, and higher

jumps on the second day. On the

second day, riders finished with

the horses going through several

full courses at the height

designated for their specific group. The heights ranged from

2'6" to 3' and above.

Hollberg focused on getting the

riders to work on picking

themselves up and riding tall, on

riding a rhythm to the jumps and

not worrying about trying to find

distances.

"It's always fun to be taught

by someone new and to get a

different perspective,” said MJ

Lhotan, a junior equine sci-

ence major who rode Flint in

the clinic. The pair schooled

in the over 3' advanced group.

Other riders were also

pleased with the outcome.

“For this being my first hunter

jumper clinic and primarily being a

western rider, I feel that my clinic

experience was a huge success,”

said Amanda Swieton, equine

science major, equine administra-

tion and art minor. “Matt was an exceptional teacher and I loved

the fact that by the end of day

one he had each rider and horse

pair figured out, which led him to

develop individual training tech-

niques to help school the horses

over each fence!”

(Top) Ouderkirk with Devil’s Chocolate.

By Valerie Schierer

By Rachel Arnold

(Top) Amanda Swieton rides Sweet Pea.

3

During Week 10 of the

semester, Western riders

worked on desensitizing

Western horses in riding class.

Riders experienced a variety of

potentially “scary” objects. From

a fake fire to dangling streamers

and a bridge, riders schooled

their horses.

Clearly, some of the horses

found the “scary” objects to be

edible!

Desensitizing Western Horses

Advice from the GAs

Each issue of the newsletter

will feature advice and

recommendations from the

Graduate Assistants working

in the EQS Division.

Shae’s Advice:

1. Always know you and your

horse’s capabilities before you

go show. Going into the warm

up ring and seeing other

horses that may be performing

better than you and then

deciding to suddenly ask your

horse to perform differently

than they ever have will

destroy your horse’s

confidence in his job and you.

2. Have a routine for the

morning of the show. Having

some sort of normality in your

day can help lower stress and

jitters.

3. Remember you are doing

something you love! We are

living the dream by making

careers out of something we

are passionate about. Even if

showing is not your favorite

thing, at least you are around

horses.

Bailey’s Advice:

1. “School like you’re showing;

show like you’re schooling.”

Don’t expect your horse to

do something perfectly in the

ring if you haven’t tried it at

home.

2. Checklists can be life savers.

Especially if you show all-

around, make a list for

everything you need for every

class, then make sure it’s all in

the trailer before you haul out.

3. Be gracious at all times.

Even if you’re not nervous, there are a lot of emotions

running wild at a show. Be

kind to those who work the

show. You never know who

could be watching you, it

could be a potential employer.

4

Rachel Arnold is a senior

Equine Science major from

Kansas City, Mo. Arnold’s

main seat is hunter/jumper,

but she has also ridden

dressage and is currently

taking long lining and driving

while at William Woods.

Follow along as Arnold

discusses her plans after graduation, and learn about

her unique interest.

Q: Why did you choose

WWU?

A: Around the age of 13, I

attended the summer camp.

Linda McClaren inspired me. I

didn’t apply anywhere else.

Q: What is one of your most

unique experiences at

WWU?

A: The colt starting class. I

bought the filly I worked with.

Piper was four months old. It

was a crazy experience that I

couldn’t get anywhere else.

Q: Who is your favorite

horse at WWU?

A: Lenny. I have ridden him for

two years and competed in two

“A” shows with him. He’s a bay

Oldenburg gelding. He’s a

jumper.

Q: What are your summer

plans?

A: After graduation, I have a

summer job as a trail guide at

Rocky Mountain National Park.

Q: Who is your biggest

inspiration?

A: Linda McClaren. She was the

reason I came to William

Woods. She improved my riding

in just two years.

Q: What is one random fact

about you?

A: I am a really big Pokémon

nerd. I brought a Gameboy with

me to school. I love Pikachu.

Student Spotlight: Rachel Arnold

Class Spotlight: Equine Evaluation

Equine Evaluation: two little

words, one giant subject.

Through exercises and hands-on

application, students learn about form to function movement and

performance issues.

In the class, students learn and

discuss about how breed and

type affect how a horse works

and is suited for a given

discipline.

Students begin the semester by

assembling a paper construction

of a horse skeleton. Throughout

the semester the skeleton is

utilized in class as a reference

point.

Each class is catered to discussions and lectures based

upon Real World situations.

Classmates are put into the

position of being a trainer

purchasing a horse for a client.

“The class is set up so it all

relates to being a trainer and having a client look at things in

the real world,” said Emily

Barrett, a senior from Bull

Valley, Ill. who is double majoring in equine science and

equine administration. “We look

at things in a real world situation,

such as shopping for a client and

evaluating a horse for a particu-

lar real world job.”

In between discussions, students

practice using William Woods

horses. One such discussion had

students completing a scavenger

hunt for blemishes.

Throughout the barn, students

were required to find all of the

blemishes listed on their work-

sheet. From capped hocks to

bone spavins, students applied

their classroom lecture through

hands on application.

“Everything we talk about (in

class), we have an example of,”

said Barrett. “In 30 second walk,

we get to experience the actual

information we are learning.”

Though the class demands a

large workload from students,

Barrett enjoys the challenge.

“It involves a lot of work and a

lot of all time, but all of the class

is relevant, so it’s worth it.”

Barrett also enjoys the active

learning.

“I’m a hands on person,” said

Barrett. “I like to see it and

touch it.”

For more information about

taking Equine Evaluation, please

contact Jennie Petterson, or a

current student taking the class.

Club Info

Western Club:

Updates:

Western Club hosted a successful fun show. Thank

you to all who participated

and helped!

Upcoming Events:

Our last Western Club

meeting is Monday, April

28th at 6:30 p.m.

Dressage Club:

Updates:

Thank you to everyone

that helped at the

schooling dressage show!

Upcoming Events:

The recognized dressage

show will be held on campus from April 19th-

20th.

Saddle Seat Club:

Updates:

Horses and riders are com-

peting at Bridlespur MHSA

Kick Off horse show in

Lake St, Louis, Mo from

April 10th-12th.

Upcoming Events:

Saddle seat club members,

be on the lookout for an email regarding upcoming

meetings and events for the

end of this semester.

(Top) Arnold with Leo.

5

Horses of the Issue Spotlight

Club Info, cont’d

Hunter/Jumper Show

Team:

Updates:

Horses and riders were in

the ribbons at the Irish Fox

Schooling Show.

Upcoming Events:

Horses and riders are preparing for the “A” show

in Tulsa, Okla.

Paddock Club:

Updates:

Currently seeking a group of

students eager to resurrect

the Paddock Club. Contact

Jennie Petterson for more

information.

Upcoming Events:

First meeting TBA

Judging Team:

Updates:

Judging team members placed 3rd and 4th

overall at U.S. Nationals.

Upcoming Events:

We are enjoying a break

after U.S. Nationals.

Western

Full Name: I Bee A Lopin Zippo

Barn Name: Sister

Year of Birth: 2002

Breed: American Paint Horse/Pinto Horse

Personality: Typical mare, super sensitive, great

work ethic, loves to please her rider

Life Before WWU:

Sister was donated from Tennessee. She has

competed at Color Breed Congress in Tulsa, Okla.

and other pinto horse shows. She is very

competitive in all English events and is very

versatile.

Life at WWU:

“Sister always gives you 100%,” said Shannon

Yeaton, a junior EQS major and an advanced

Western rider. “She is a workhorse and as much

as she wants to be hot and mareish, she really

does enjoy what she does. We’re lucky to have

her.”

Hunter/Jumper

Full Name: Glory Road

Barn Name: JJ

Year of Birth: 2000

Breed: Thoroughbred

Personality: “puppy dog” personality, loves

attention, will work for treats Life Before WWU:

JJ was donated from St. Louis, Mo. He has been at

WWU since 2010.

Life at WWU:

“Since JJ has been at WWU, he has gone to several

A shows, as well as local shows,” said Eilie Cole, a

biology major and equine science minor. “I took him

to an A show in Germantown, Tenn., and competed

in the 3’ Adult Amateurs. It was a learning

experience for both of us and we were always in

the ribbons!”

Full Name: Paddie’s Granite Charm

Barn Name: Aoife (E-fa)

Year of Birth: 2009

Breed: Irish Draught

Personality: laidback and sweet

Life Before WWU:

Bonnie Carr, academic advisor, has generously

allowed WWU to borrow Aoife in the dressage

barn. Aoife was used for trail rides, lessons and

even pulls a Meadowbrook cart.

Life at WWU:

“Aoife has a great personality and always gives her

best when I ride her,” said Shannon English, a

double major in business administration and equine

general studies major with an equine science minor.

Full Name: Mark of Courage

Barn Name: Mark

Year of Birth: 2001

Breed: American Saddlebred

Personality: Quirky and goofy, but super safe

Life Before WWU: Mark was donated from

Kerrey, Mo.

Life at WWU:

“He is a lot of fun to ride,” said Katie Lash, an

equine science major and equine administration

minor. “He is an intro level but the advanced

students like to ride him from time to time just

because we like him. He will never do anything

"bad" but he challenges (or tries to) his riders.”

Saddle Seat

Dressage

6

Jobs and Internships Available

Camp Christopher’s Sta-

bles—Stables Assistant, Sum-

mer 2014, Bath, Ohio. For

more information, please

contact www.campchris.org

and click on “Careers” to

apply.

Hunter/Jumper Instructor—

Kansas City, MO. Teach

novice/intermediate and

some advanced while head

instructor is away at shows.

Self-starter, works hard,

disciplined, willing to kids

how to take care of horses.

Host four local shows, four

dressage shows and Olden-

burg Inspections on the farm. Contact Brittany Har-

pool at brit-

tany.harpool@yahoo.com.

Fernwood Cove—

Horseback Riding Instruc-

tors needed for Summer

2014, Harrison, Maine. For

more information, contact

Marran Linsky, Assistant

Director, Fernwood Cove at

mar-

ran@fernwoodcover.com or

1-207-583-2381 ext. 205 or

visit

www.fernwoodcove.com.

The Vershire Riding

School—Riding Instructors

for full time summer teach-

ing positions, Vershire, VT. Beginner through novice

level of instructions, four

mounted lessons daily, pri-

vate room and board for

instructor and horse, plus

salary. For more information

visit

www.vershireridingschool.co

m.

Merriehill Farm—Instructor

and Assistant Trainer

needed, Summer 2014 or full

time, Marengo, IL. Need

someone to strengthen the

lesson/academy program and

work show horses. Individual

will have opportunity to

work with all aspects of the

business (breeding, foaling,

colts, etc.). Morgans, ASB

and ten Dutch Harness

horses. Hunt and saddle

seat.

The Saratoga Special—

Editorial Internship, July 18th

to September 1st. Represent

publication in the mornings

for workouts, interview

owners, trainers, jockeys and

others during mornings and afternoons at the races and

contribute in the production

process of 5x per week daily

newspaper. Send resume,

writing sample, cover letter,

outline your interest in rac-

ing. Emailed applications

preferred. Contact: Tom

Law, 197 Circular St, Sara-

toga Springs, NY 12866.

Phone: (859) 396-9407 or E-

mail:

tom@thisishorseracing.com

Girl Scouts of NE Kansas

and NW Missouri—Barn

Manager and riding instruc-

tor needed. Direct and su-

pervise the riding program

(barn manager). Teach group

riding lessons and equine-

related workshops (riding

instructor). For more infor-

mation, visit https://

www.girlscoutsksmo.org/

about-us/careers/Pages/

Seasonal-Camp-Staff-

Positions.aspx or contact

campjobs@girlscoutsksmo.o

rg.

USEF 'S’ Judge, Grand Prix

dressage rider and trainer

and FEI combined driver,

Sara Schmitt, is looking for a

hardworking and responsible

working student to join her

team. Responsibilities include

grooming, tacking, riding,

barn work and occasionally

traveling to dressage and/or

combined driving competi-

tions. Based in Hunterdon

County, New Jersey. Small

salary and housing available

for the right candidate. For

more information, please

contact Sara Schmitt at

saraeschmitt@gmail.com.

Cedar Spring Farm—

Expanding lesson program,

Charlotte, VT. Part time

until lesson program is built,

then full time. Free housing

and heated barn in a horsey

area. Serious inquiries only.

Call (802) 425-721.

Equestrian Instructor—

Meramec Adventure Learn-

ing Ranch, Steelville, MO.

Provide instruction and guid-

ance to residents pertaining

to the proper way to inter-act with horses, groom, care

for and ride horses during

summer school in the Wil-

derness Program. Apply

online at-http://

www.greatcircle.org/

locations.html#sv careers-

current openings. Call (573)

775-5513 or email admis-

sions@greatcircle.org.

Equestrian Internship in the

Pacific Northwest—

Northwest Natural Horse-

manship Center, near Seat-

tle. Learn from nationally

renowned clinicians, learn

how to market a horse busi-

ness, attend clinics and semi-

nars and more. Contact

James Hutchins, Director of

Education at

nwnhc@nwnhc.com.

Equestrian Facility for Lease

to Trainer—Maywood, MO.

Offering 48x64 barn with 6

permanent stalls and a 64x96

machine shed for equipment

and hay storage. There is a

round pen and dressage

arena. Lot space for turnout

times. Water and electricity

in barn. Three tractors, two

trailers and a diesel truck.

Call Loretta Johnson at (573)

406-2301 or email loret-

taj51@gmail.com.

Dates to Remember

April 19th-20th—

Spring Dressage Show

(USEF/USDF certified)

April 29th-April 1st—

Senior Achievement

Days from 12:30-1:30

in the Ivy Room

May 5th—Senior Send

Off “Fiesta” at 7:30

p.m. in UPHA

May 5th-9th—Final

Exams

May 10th—May

Commencement

The EQS Division

Newsletter needs a

new creative producer!

Do you enjoy writing?

Do you enjoy

interacting with

equestrians?

If yes, this is the job for

YOU!

Please contact Rebekah

Savage at

RESavage@owls.willia

mwoods.edu for more

information.