About Us

2012 Officers
President:  Jackie Sharp  
                                    Jackie@heartfeltfarms.com
Vice President:  Mary Saint
Secretary:  Kerrie Matesich   
                                    kmwmatesich@yahoo.com  
Treasurer:  JoAnne Paynter  
                  paynterJ@aol.com

Board Members
Kaye Triplett         
                                   kaye@heartfeltfarms.com
Kathy Beecher    
                                   kbeecher@columbus.rr.com
Christina Canter
                                  christina.canter@gmail.com 
Linda Roberts
                                  lrobert2@columbus.rr.com

Committee Chairs
Awards Committee:  Kerrie Matesich   
                                      kmwmatesich@yahoo.com
Competitions Committee:  Vicki Milliron  
                                    vickimilliron@hotmail.com  Education Committee: Christina Canter
                                   christina.canter@gmail.com
Marketing Committee:  Penny Krug
                                    pkrug145@wowway.com
Membership Committee:  Joanne Paynter   
                                                 paynterJ@aol.com
Youth Committee:  Glenda Gehl
                                           glendagehl@yahoo.com
Volunteer Coordinator:  Kerrie Matesich
                                      kmwmatesich@yahoo.com

Benefits of Membership

Members of MODA (Individual, Family, Youth, and Business) receive:

• Published MODA Newsletter "On The Bit"
• Access to MODA website www.midohiodressage.com
• Eligibility for MODA Awards
• Eligibility for Adult Education Grant
• Reduced fees to MODA sponsored clinics, programs and events
• Group Membership to USDF
• Subscription to the "USDF Connection"
• Eligibility for UDSF Rider Awards
• Eligibility to USDF University Credits
• Eligibility to USDF Grants
• Member discount rates for USDF events, the Annual Convention, and National Symposium
• Representation through a GMO delegate at the National Convention

History of MODA

In April of 1976 the first organization meeting was held. On June 8, 1976, MODA was incorporated. That first year, MODA offered three educational programs with films and discussion: a one day clinic with Hans von Bredow, a two day clinic with Debbie Johnson of Potomac Maryland, and a dressage forum on test riding, judging, and scoring with Peter Nelson. At that time there were no “dressage” instructors, but there was a great need for regular instruction, and during the clinics there would be 30 to 35 interested observers. In September, dressage classes were held at Stillwater Farm during Stillwater’s Fall Show. This gave MODA the opportunity to “learn the ropes” of presenting a show and helped spread the word for dressage to a great number of Ohio riders. The following year, MODA held its first Recognized Show. Since then MODA has grown to include over 100 members and continues to host clinics, educational seminars, schooling shows, the Mid Ohio Classic, and approves multiple shows throughout the community.

Dressage 101 — What is dressage? Is it hard or scary?

Dressage is a methodical training of the horse. It is based on the three natural gaits-walk, trot and canter- which must be to carefully cultivated and improved through structured gymnastic work. With this training the horseman attempts, while working the horse under saddle, to condition the horse to being ridden without in any way diminishing its nature. Thus balanced beauty and harmonious movement become possible, because all forms of exercises, regardless of difficulty, including the High School airs above the ground, find their roots in the same movements which the horse can already do in raw form in nature. When correctly implemented a solid foundation in basic dressage is useful for horses of all equestrian disciplines, being a practical gymnastic preparation which prolongs the creature's usefulness and makes it a pleasure to ride.

Defined by: Erik Herbermann as written in Dressage Formula.

The Object of Dressage — Will it help my horse?

The object of dressage is the harmonious development of the physique and ability of the horse. As a result it makes the horse calm, supple, loose and flexible, as well as confident, attentive and keen, thus achieving a perfect understanding with its rider. These qualities are revealed by:

• The freedom and regularity of the paces
• The harmony, lightness and ease of the movements
• The lightness of the forehand and the engagement of the hind quarters, originating in a lively impulsion
• The acceptance of the bridle, with submissiveness throughout and without any tenseness or resistance

The horse thus gives the impression of doing on its own accord what is required of it. Confident and attentive, the horse submits generously to the control of its rider, remaining absolutely straight in any movement on a straight line and bending accordingly when moving on curved lines. The walk is regular, free and unconstrained. The trot is free, supple, regular, sustained and active. The canter is united, light and cadenced. The quarters are never inactive or sluggish. The horse responds to the slightest indication of the rider and thereby gives life and spirit to the rest of the body. By virtue of a lively impulsion and suppleness of the joints, free from the paralyzing effects of resistance, the horse obeys willingly and without hesitation and responds to the various aids calmly and with precision, displaying a natural and harmonious balance both physically and mentally.

On The Bit — Sounds hard!

A horse working on the bit (on the aids) accepts with no resistance a light contact of the rein, and is yielding in the jaw and poll to the rider’s hand; moreover, the horse accepts the rider’s aids to ride forward into them. A horse working on the bit moves with a supple back, shows no resistance in transitions, and remains submissive to the rider. The horse’s “frame” while working on the bit depends on the conformation of the horse, as well as the horse’s stage of training. The light contact of a horse working on the bit, or lack of it, can be detected only from the saddle. However, the results of a horse’s actions while on the bit, or off the bit, can be evaluated on sight. Care should be taken to consider the action of the entire horse, not just its head, when evaluating whether or not the horse is working on the bit.

Tests For Dressage Competition — Here comes the hard part!

The U.S. Equestrian Federation approves and issues tests for use at recognized dressage competitions in the United States. The FEI is responsible for issuing tests for international competitions. These are revised and reissued every three or four years.

• USDF Intro Tests: These tests are designed for the horse and/or rider that is not yet comfortable cantering.
• Training Level: Introduces the rider and horse to the basic principles of dressage competition. Training Level requires “obedience” to the aids of the rider without fight or evasion when ridden on light contact. One is searching for free, rhythmic forward movement, relaxed and obedient, stretching into the bit in a calm, receptive manner.
• First Level: Determines that the correct foundation is being laid for successful training of the riding horse, that the horse moves freely forward in a relaxed manner and with rhythm, its spine always parallel to the track of the prescribed movement, and that it accepts the bit and obeys simple aids of the rider. First Level tests require not only the same qualities of Training Level, but also require that the horse shows “soft response” to the aids. Examples of this are: softening of the lower jaw, some flexion at the poll, lateral bending, and quiet transitions.
• Second Level: Determines that the horse has acquired a degree of suppleness, balance and impulsion in addition to the qualities that the First Level horse has developed. The rider must now add “accuracy” through the tests of Second Level and be able to put the horse to the aids, that is, put the horse on the bit and keep it there without fight or evasion and without shortening the strides. The neck must be relaxed with the nose slightly in font of the vertical.
• Third Level: The Third Level tests are of medium difficulty and are designed to determine that the horse has acquired an increased amount of suppleness, impulsion and balance so as to be light in hand and without resistance, enabling the rider to collect and extend its gaits. In addition to the above, Third Level tests require that the proper foundation for “collection” has been attained. The horse shows a distinction between the paces (working, collected, medium or extended walk, trot or canter).
• Fourth Level: The Fourth Level tests are of medium difficulty, designed to determine that the horse has acquired a high degree of suppleness, impulsion, balance and lightness while remaining reliably on the bit; that its movements are straight, energetic and cadenced and the transitions precise and smooth. The Fourth Level horse must show complete “obedience, relaxation, collection and extension.” He must go fully on the bit without evasion of any kind. He is prepared to proceed to the International tests of Prix St. Georges, Intermediare I, Intermediare II, Grand Prix and finally the Grand Prix Special Test.
• Freestyle Test: This is a competition of artistic equitation to music. It includes all the required movements and gaits of the standard tests of the same level. The competitor is however, absolutely free in the form and manner of the presentation he chooses within a fixed time. The test should clearly show the unity between rider and horse as well as harmony in all the movements and transitions. In the Freestyle, creativity and artistic presentation as well as technical execution will be considered.
• Pas de Deux: Two riders are to create, and to execute from memory, an original ride showing two horses simultaneously. To be scored equally on four points: 1) similarity as a pair, 2) ability to perform together, 3) composition of ride, and 4) execution of ride.
• USDF Quadrille: A team of four horses and riders execute a test maintaining even spacing and perform movements in a uniform manner.

Scoring & Penalties - Judges understand your mistakes

All movements and certain transitions from one to another, which have to be marked by the judge, are numbered on the judge’s test sheet. They are marked from 0 to 10, with 0 corresponding to lowest possible mark and 10 corresponding to the highest mark. Riders receive a test sheet with written comments after the ride is performed for a reference.

During the ride, the judge signals a rider error with a bell or whistle. The rider then approaches the judge’s station and is advised where the error was made and where to resume the test. The first error is penalized by a two point deduction from the total score; the second a four point deduction. The third error results in elimination, though the rider may continue his performance to the end, the marks being awarded in the ordinary way. Other errors that result in elimination include all four feet of the horse leave the arena with or without rider, late entry into the arena, resistance of longer than 20 seconds, failure to wear competitor number, use of illegal equipment, and marked lameness.

Using the voice in any way whatsoever, or clicking the tongue once or repeatedly as a cue to the horse, will receive a two point deduction from those marks that would have been awarded for the movement in which this occurred.

Attire For Competitors - You mean no Levi’s allowed?

Neatness should be the first requisite. For Training through Fourth Levels the dress code is a short riding coat of conservative color, with tie, choker or stock tie, breeches or jodhpurs, boots or jodhpurs boots, and protective headgear. Hairnets may be worn by riders with long hair.

 For all tests above Fourth Level, the dress code is: a dark tailcoat with top hat, or a dark jacket with a bowler hat or hunt cap, and white or light colored breeches, stock or tie, gloves, and black riding boots. Spurs are mandatory. Any exhibitor may wear protective headgear at any level of competition without penalty.