The Area III Adult rider clinic held recently at Rocking Horse Farm was enjoyed by all and well attended. Clinicians were Lucinda Green and Andrew Harbison who put all horse and riders through a variety of tests and questions according to their level.

For this report we thank Carol Odgen who runs her own clinics at UCF Stables in Canton GA. covers the jumping and cross country part of the clinic over the weekend.

"Oh, my aching muscles" What a weekend, though! Had a BLAST!!! Lucinda is so cool -- and gives such a good clinic. It was windy, (but sunny), and cold Sunday (unless you were riding and working!). She set up a bunch of hard exercises to make the horses figure things out for themselves, once presented to the question. It was very interesting, but my horse ("The Star"!!!) made easy work of it! Oh, I made a few mistakes, but Lucinda was pleased that I just sat there while he figured out how to get over the oxer!! (and on through the maze of offset jumps and bending lines!)

The March Horse Trials at Poplar Place was the next step for many riders to shed off those winter training days and see where they and their horses were heading for the 2006 season. The stars of Eventing in the US certainly came down to Georgia to show. With Chef d'Equipe Captain Mark Phillips looking over the advanced riders and many others, this was USA Eventing moving into the serious part of the competition year. With a near capacity show of around 400 rides, there was plenty to see and do.

The Ft Rucker Spring Horse Trials was a great event and for the dozen or so Georgia competitors that ventured down into Alabama. As always if not right on the ball it was a tough event that tests both horse and rider combinations right down to the last fence.

There is no doubt the cross country and stadium courses are the cause for a lot of changes in the standings but isnt thats what it's all about?. There is no room for complacency at any time and one is never too far away from the ribbons at Ft Rucker. The Georgia contingent came home with mixed results but with some great performances by several young riders on young and inexperienced horses.

Finally after years of freezing temperatures the Adult Rider Clinic in Florida was blessed with beautiful sunshine. The usual suspects and a few new faces joined together for a fun filled long weekend at the fantastic Rocking Horse Stables in Alatoona Florida. I think I speak for everyone involved when I say that this really was one of the best Adult Rider Clinics we have done in recent times.

In a shock announcement it appears the Red Hill Horse Trials each year in March will have some distinct changes in 2007. The current executive committee and board of directors recently voted to cancel future shows after the completion of this years event on March 10-12th. This decision was soon after requested to be rescinded when local resident Colin Phipps stepped in with a promise to try and keep it going.