D-Camp and D-Rally

PHOTOS

Top Left: First Place Winners (left to right) Brynn Weissner, Meghan Vondriska, Ginny Vondriska, Tessa Rayne

Top Right: Tessa Rayne and her mount, Specky

Left: Waiting for Inspection Ginny Vondriska and her mount, Kindra

Lower Left: Participating at D-Camp Mary Willis and her mount, Whisper

During the month of July, 2008, an event was hosted by Bridget Fickling. She'd been having it for a while now and it is for D-level riders. It's a short camp that is usually ended in a small show. This year, thanks to Lisa Kuchinski, instead of a small show there would be a realisitic D-Rally. It would be a smaller of copy of the scary Mega Rally that happens every year in Otter Creek. At D-Camp students take Dressage, Jumping, and Horse Managment lessons for two days. Both horse and rider are schooled in disciplines like positioning and form.

This year, during the first ever D-Rally, a team called the Twilight Jumpers took the blue. On this team were Rising Sun members Brynn Weissner, Meghan and Ginny Vondriska, as well as Tessa Rayne. The events at D-Rally consisted of Dressage, Show Jumping, and Cross Country--all by variations of the rider's level. Not only would a team be tested on events, but also the care of their horses. Each group had a trailer serving as a "stall" in which tack and clothing was stored. Horse Managment was also a large part of the Rally. All the rules at the D-Rally, unlike in Mega Rally, were somewhat easily bent for the purpose of more experienced riders riding at a lower level because of greener horses.

Quiz Bowl

Top Left: (left to right) Anita Fraser, Margo Amundsen, Meghan Vondriska, Gina Langdon, Ginny Vondriska, Mary Willis, Carolyn Willis, Ellie

Top Right: Anita Fraser

Left: (left to right) 6TH PLACE; Gina Langdon, Ginny Vondriska, Ellie

Lower Left: (left to right) 2ND PLACE; Carolyn Willis, Margo Amundsen, Meghan Vondriska, Mary Willis

The January of '08 was filled with fun adventures. Many of which I cannot recount because I do not remember them. The teams were for Rising Sun were all called the Quiz Fillies, with Junior or Senior put before that depending on the competitors age. The J.Q.F (J.unior Q.uiz F.illies) got sixth place while the S.Q.F placed second. Anita Fraser, who was on a Scramble team, placed first. Both Willis girls (at the ends of the last photo) went to the Nationals. Everyone was very happy to have done so well in Quiz and all went home with a huge smile on their faces.

Taking Down Fences & Planning a Party

I know that many are going to think that I should start out with events that have already happened. And I will, next time. But today I want to show what the Pony Club did. Today the members of Rising Sun Pony Club took down Leslie Watchke's (sorry if I spelled that wrong) jumping fences. Thanks to another pony club, only the jump standards were left! Unfortunately, only a few people attended the taking-down of the jumps. They are pictured left to right; Emily Vondriska, Ginny Vondriska, Susan Willis, Mary Willis, Mr. Fraser, Anita Fraser, Laura Fraser, (and kneeling) Carolyn Willis. The Watchkey's will soon be leaving for North Carolina with their horses Charlie Brown and Martin. Today the Willis and Vondriska families planned the annual Halloween Party games, such as what the prizes would be. The photo on the left is of the Halloween party planners, Emily Vondriska and Susan Willis, eating lunch as they discuss prizes. The picture below that is of twins Carolyn and Mary Willis, tossing a Squishy Ball back and forth. Before the group stopped at a local Shopko for prizes, they went to the home of Kathy Ruelle to sort out tack swap items. Thankfully, most items had been previously marked--meaning that the time spent was only two hours compared to what could've been a four-hour experience.

~10.25.08

HAPPY RIDING