NEDA A Tip of the Hat January 2021

N E D A’ S A W A R D W I N N I N G N E W S L E T T E R
ATip of the Hat
January 2021
©Sophia Sawyer

PRESIDENT’S PAGE
HOPE \hop\ vb hoped; hop l ing :
a feeling of expectation and desire for
a certain thing to happen.
(Google)
I
t is a new year and there is
hope in the air! Hope for an effective
vaccine that can and will
be distributed quickly. Hope for
reconciliation across racial, political and
social chasms. Hope for economic recovery
and safe ways to get back to meaningful,
sustainable work. Hope that the unimaginable
pain of having lost a loved one or the
uncertainty of lingering covid virus debilitations
will ease. Hope that we can get back
to normal. While we are not out of the woods
yet, the NEDA Board is hopeful for many
things. Here are some of them:
Stallion Auction
January 18 until Tuesday, February
16, 2021
Breed Show
And Northeast USDF Breed Show
Series Finals at the new Four Town
Fair Grounds in Somers, CT.
NEDA Know How Series
Continues through the end of June.
Every Thursday at 7:30pm.
Judges Program
L “C session scheduled for April, location
dependent on covid restrictions.
Part II sessions at Saugerties
as planned.
NEDA Spring Show Competitions
I & II – the 25th Anniversary
Competition!!
We have been running the NEDA
Spring Show since 1996, and for our
25th Anniversary, we will be at a new
location at Fieldstone Show Park in
Halifax, MA.
Show Dates: Saturday & Sunday
June 5 & 6, 2021,
Opening Date April 12, 2021, Closing
Date May 14, 2021
NEDA Summer Dressage
Competition
Show Date: Sunday July 18, 2021
Opening DateJune 7, 2021, Closing
Date June 28, 2021
NEDA Fall Festival USDF
Region 8 Finals
Show Date: Thursday to Sunday
September 23 to 26, 2021.
Opening Date August 2.
2021, Closing Date August 30, 2021.
NEDA Fall Symposium
Plans are underway, dependent on
covid restrictions.
In addition, the NEDA Board is busily
working on revitalizing a schooling show
program, revamping our website, and energizing
a new cohort of volunteers. There
is lots going on and we need you! If you
have any interest in helping for a day,
taking on a project, serving on a committee,
or joining the Board, PLEASE send me a
note – berdrowi@neda.org. NEDA is a
volunteer organization. Our Board is a
working group. The list above does not
happen on its own; it takes dedicated folks
to deliver these programs. Not to mention
the TIP, the OPL, the website, membership
management and communications, scholarship,
sponsorship, education outreach,
year-end awards, and so much more. Join
our happy army of volunteers. We really
are a great bunch of folks!
In closing let me just say how grateful I am
for the NEDA Board. 2020 was a tough year.
It’s behind us and I am hopeful that 2021 will
be the phoenix rising out of the ashes with
renewed color and plumage. I look forward
to seeing you on the showgrounds!
Cheers
Iris
January 2021 NEDA.ORG TIP OF THE HAT 3

A Tip of the Hat
Contents:
3 President’s Page
5 Michelle Velasco Receives Her
Century Club Award
6 Don’t Let Your Self-limiting Beliefs Run
the Show!
8 2021 Stallion Service Auction
9 WIN FREE Tickets to the
NEDA Fall Symposium!
12 In Praise of the Barn Cat
15 Member Photo Montage
15 Wanted: Year End Awards Coordinator
Position
16 Youth Corner
17 Youth Corner: Chatting with
Mackenzie Pearl
18 Educational Scholarships
18 Wanted: Nominations Manager Position
19 Stallion Paddock
A Tip of the Hat is a publication of The New England
Dressage Association, Inc., a non-profit, tax exempt
corporation.
MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS
AND CHANGES OF ADDRESS
Please contact: Tammy Paparella
6 Pratt’s Junction Rd.
Sterling, MA 01564
978-422-2324
memberentry@neda.org
A TIP OF THE HAT ADVERTISING
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Editor via email in plain text (.txt) or word (.doc).
Display ads and photos may be submitted via email
to the Advertising Editor. Ads must be high resolution,
press ready PDFs with all images and fonts embedded
or high resolution TIF, JPG or EPS. MS Word doc templates
are available for your use at neda.org and can be
converted to PDFs.
All ads must be submitted to the Advertising Editor
with a check made out to NEDA.
Contact: Angela Prenosil,
413-627-2699 ▲tipads@neda.org
Follow us!
@NEDAdressage
#NEDAdressage
NEDA 2020 OFFICERS
President:
Iris Berdrow
781-589-6422
president@neda.org
Vice President-Activities:
Kate O’Connor
508-612-6985
vpactivities@neda.org
Vice President-Services:
Jennifer Dillon
508-641-3121
vpservices@neda.org
Board Secretary:
Heather Stone
617-480-8077
secretary@neda.org
Treasurer:
Helen van der Voort
917-834-2635
treasurer@neda.org
COORDINATORS
and MANAGERS
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Education Coordinator:
Sally Davenport
781-378-1881; 781-854-2547
education@neda.org
Judge Education:
Sally Davenport
781-378-1881; 781-854-2547
judgeed@neda.org
Symposium Organizer:
Beth Beukema
508-320-6549
fallsym@neda.org
COMPETITION COMMITTEE
Competitions Coordinator:
Beth Jenkins
508-655-6490; 508-733-3672
shows@neda.org
Spring Show:
Paul Cormier
508-995-5988; 508-847-2931
springshow@neda.org
Schooling Shows Manager:
Peter Chavonelle, Jr.
schoolingshows@neda.org
Sport Horse/Breed Shows:
Kathy Hickerson
603-673-4344; 603-557-4054
sporthorse@neda.org
Year-End Awards:
yea@neda.org
COORDINATORS and MANAGERS
SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE
Sponsorship Coordinator:
Kari Cincotta
781-654-7694
sponsorship@neda.org
Sponsor Facilitator:
Open
sponsorfacilitator@neda.org
Sponsor Development:
Open
sponsordev@neda.org
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Membership Services Coordinator:
Dawn Mackenzie
518-657-1773
membership@neda.org
Nominations:
Open
volunteer@neda.org
Ombudsman:
Lainey Johnson
978-568-0523
ombudsman@neda.org
Member-at-Large:
Leslie de Grandmaison
603-759-4642
memberatlarge@neda.org
Kerstin Witaszek
413-695-0693
witaszekk@neda.org
PUBLIC RELATIONS
COMMITTEE
Public Relations Coordinator:
Krista Nordgren
207-749-6643
pr@neda.org
Communications/Social Media:
Krista Nordgren
207-749-6643
communications@neda.org
Photography:
Carole MacDonald
508-366-7886
photo@neda.org
Technology Coordinator:
technology@neda.org
NEWSLETTER STAFF
TIP Editor:
Angela Prenosil
413-627-2699
TipEditor@neda.org
Graphic Design:
June Evers
845-294-0656
jevers@warwick.net
TIP Advertising:
Angela Prenosil
413-627-2699
tipads@neda.org
Gianna Avery and
La Habanara aka Karma.
Photo: Sophie Sawyer
USDF REGION 8
Region 8 Director:
Debra Reinhardt
region8dir@usdf.org
Youth Coordinator:
Bobbi Carleton
bobbicarleton@aol.com
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS
& OFF-BOARD ROLES
Membership Services:
Tammy Paparella
978-257-1374
region8dir@usdf.org
Fall Show Manager:
Sue McKeown
fallshow@neda.org
Fall Festival Volunteer
Recruitment:
Helen van der Voort
917-834-2635
fallvolunteer@neda.org
Summer Show Manager:
Paul Cormier
508-995-5988; 508-847-2931
springshow@neda.org
Northeast Region OPL:
Doreen Quintilliani
Jennifer Dillon
opl@neda.org
Advertising - Outbound:
advertising@neda.org
Scholarships:
Amy Bresky
978-270-3880
scholarships@neda.org
Partners in Education Tier 1:
Angela Prenosil
413-627-2699
edpartners1@neda.org
Partners in Education Tier 2 & 3:
Ann Smith
edpartners2@neda.org
Bookkeeper:
Carol Gordon
774-225-8878
bookkeeper@neda.org
Equine Affaire:
Karin Swanfeldt
ea@neda.org
Youth Liaison:
Sophia Chavonelle
youth@neda.org
NEDA Stallion Auction, Recruitment:
Mary Barrett
978-270-3338
stallionrecruit@neda.org
NEDA Stallion Auction:
Kathy Hickerson
603-673-4344; 603-557-4054
stallionauction@neda.org
The Salute, Editor:
Gail Wagner
salute@neda.org
The Salute, layout & design:
Cheri Bryant
bryantdesign@me.com
Webmaster:
Cheri Bryant
webmaster@neda.org
4 TIP OF THE HAT NEDA.ORG January 2021

DRESSAGE FOUNDATION NEWS
Michelle Velasco
RECEIVES HER
CENTURY CLUB AWARD
NEDA Offers Congratulations to New Member
of The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club
l Team #473-Michelle Velasco
and Copper Chancellor
l Ages 68 & 32
l Combined Age: 100
C
opper Chancellor and I feel honored to have
made it into the Century Club. I first heard about
the Century Ride through Betty Stitch (rider #15)
in the mid 80’s. Betty was the treasurer of the local
dressage club in Jacksonville, Florida where I landed after
graduation from Auburn University Veterinary College. We
shared the same classical Dressage trainer, Kathy Daly.
Kathy introduced me to dressage and matched me up
with my first horse, a little grey Arab named Mr. Nabask.
When he passed away, I traded my Anglo Arab yearling
that I had gotten to bring along for his half-brother Copper
Chancellor.
Michelle Velasco and Copper Chancellor.
They completed USDF Training Level Test 1 on November 20, 2020 to become
The Dressage Foundation Century Club Member #473.
The Dressage Foundation Century Club
The Century Club, formed in 1996 at the suggestion of Dr. Max
Gahwyler, recognizes dressage riders and horses whose combined
ages total 100 years or more. In addition to having ages totaling
100 or more, horse and rider perform a dressage test of any level
and are scored by a dressage judge. The intent was to encourage
older dressage riders to remain active in the sport. Since that time,
the Century Club has grown into a meaningful and popular endeavor
and has over 470 members to-date.
The Dressage Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt,
donor-driven organization that is dedicated to supporting and advancing
the sport of dressage. The organization solicits contributions, appropriately
allocates the donations, and awards grants and scholarships to
dressage riders of all ages and levels. For more information, please
visit www.dressagefoundation.org.
Chance was a full Arabian who was 2½ and already
started with his groundwork. He was great on the ground
but more of a challenge than my first mount. Chance was
a forward, talented mover with a tendency to buck and a
very quick spook. I was younger then, and we worked
most of our issues out with the help of Kathy, but he was
always quick to point out my mistakes (especially in the
Dressage arena). We showed with some success and
spent lots of time trail riding. He had a huge ground covering
walk that required most other horses to trot frequently
just to keep up with him. We spent many years
trying to put together second level and while he was great
at home, my show nerves usually got us in the ring. One
of my happiest days was when we got our first 60% at
second level towards my bronze medal. Chance always
wanted me to be perfect.
Ten years ago, Chance had a tumor in his groin area
removed which turned out to be malignant. He underwent
3 chemotherapy treatments at the University of Florida including
full general anesthesia each time. I figured that
he would not be with me much longer after that, but he
not only survived, but came back as good as new. He has
been a great teacher, and much kinder in his 3rd decade.
I promised him retirement from Dressage showing after
this weekend but not sure he is ready to quit riding.
January 2021 NEDA.ORG TIP OF THE HAT 5

EDUCATION
BY VINCENT FLORES
Don’t Let Your
Self-limiting Beliefs
Run the Show!
USDF Gold, Gold Bar, Silver & Bronze
medalist, Grand Prix rider, trainer, coach,
and clinician. Based in the Coventry,
Connecticut.
https://vfdressage.webs.com/
As a trainer and clinician, I continuously
meet riders who are
constraining themselves and their
capacity to thrive or succeed in
the sport (whatever their goal is) because of
very engrained limited beliefs. It always
starts the same way; the student will tell me
stories such as:
“I like dressage but I am not
talented for it.”
“I’ll never be able to sit a big
warmblood trot.”
“I will never make it to this level.”
“It’s impossible to make it in
this sport unless you have an
expensive horse.”
“I am a terrible rider but I know
a lot about horse care.”
Etc.
Of course, it is important to be able, and
somehow realistic about what we can
achieve with the horse we have, the time we
have, and the help we can get at a certain
point in our lives. However, most of the time,
these self-limiting beliefs that we have are
the results of incorrect conclusions other
people have made about us (trainers,
parents, peers), and also what we have
adopted for ourselves. But they aren’t real
and are inhibiting our ability to move successfully
forward (unconsciously). Typically,
these beliefs are reinforced by successive
failures which will then fuel the vicious
cycle. More often than not, some of these
limiting beliefs come from our childhood; if
your parents kept telling you that you are
not good at sports for example, or never
good enough in that sport, as an adult this
belief will remain at the back of your mind.
It can push you to do better but It can also
deflate you each time you fail. And therefore
reinforce the belief that you are not good at
this sport. In turn, you will tend to stay in a
situation where you no longer put yourself
at risk; you may tell yourself it is better to
just ride at home and not go to a show –
6 TIP OF THE HAT NEDA.ORG January 2021

SELF LIMITING- cont’d
even though showing is your dream, you
might also think you are not good enough
to train with this or that trainer, and perhaps
miss opportunities to have fun, thrive and
reach bigger objectives. But I can assure
you that each and every rider in the top 10
FEI ranking cracked a bunch of scores in
the 50%’s at dressage shows at some point
in their journey. Maybe even 40’s!
About 4 years ago, I remember a fellow
rider from the barn where I used to board at
kept saying “well let’s be realistic, none of us
will ever get our Gold Medal”, and I thought
to myself, well that’s not right. If your objective
is to go to Grand Prix, then turn the
limiting belief “oh well I am not talented
enough to go to this level”, and turn it upside
down; ask yourself the question: what is it
that I need to get closer to this objective:
maybe a different horse, or trainer, work out,
etc. Lay out a plan and don’t limit it by any
subjective thoughts. If I may share about my
own experience, my biggest limiting belief
was that I would never have enough money
to pursue my dream – at the time going to
Grand Prix. This is when I decided to
become a trainer in addition to my day job
as an engineer, in order to finance lessons
from good coaches, the best care for my
horse, be able to go to shows, CDI’s etc. I
also laid out a plan to train and resell a
couple of horses in order to import some
better quality young ones I could train up the
levels. Less than 3 years later I earned my
Gold Medal. This has cost me a lot compromises,
involved very long days, no free time,
for many years – no vacation time, and in
fact it has even cost me relationships.
Dressage is not an easy sport because it
requires to simultaneously manage the
horse as an athlete, yourself as an athlete,
find the right trainer or help, find or provide
the adequate care for the horse, and find
the right amenities to train at, and of course
– find a horse suitable for you to start with.
If on top of all these challenges you are constraining
yourself with beliefs that you aren’t
capable to manage one or several aspects
of the equation – without even trying – then,
sure enough, it is not going to happen. One
piece of advice I can give is to write down
on a piece of paper all the limiting beliefs
that you have, what you think limit you to
reach a dream in the sport and look at how
you could empower yourself to move
forward beyond each of these beliefs.
Best wishes for an inspired 2021!
Andris J. Kaneps
DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACVSMR
978-273-5479 cell
978-927-6404 office and fax
68 Grover Street
Beverly, MA 01915
www.kanepsequine.com
ajkaneps@kanepsequine.com
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January 2021 NEDA.ORG TIP OF THE HAT 7

8 TIP OF THE HAT NEDA.ORG January 2021

You could WIN TWO FREE TICKETS
to the NEDA Fall Symposium 2021 or 2022!
Carl Hester. Photo: Jon Stroud
NEDA is reaching out to current and recent members, as well
as our colleagues in the industry to ensure that we continue to
provide the experiences that best supports our members, and
that they enjoy the most.
To prove our appreciation of your time, at the end of this
survey you will find an opportunity to enter a raffle for two free
tickets to the NEDA Fall Symposium in the fall of 2021 or 2022
(winner's choice).
The winner must be a current NEDA member the year they
choose to attend the Fall Symposium, and this information will be
stored separately from your response, ensuring participant
anonymity.
With this survey, you can help inform decision making within
the organization over the coming year, so we hope you will feel
free to answer honestly and in full. We do not expect it would take
longer than 10 minutes to complete.
Should you encounter any problems with this survey, or wish
to discuss these topics in further depth, please reach out to Dawn
Mackenzie, Membership Coordinator, at membership@neda.org.
https://survey.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9yR67xOsGNkP8fb
Just scan
the code
below and
give us
some info!
*only one entry per
person/survey
January 2021 NEDA.ORG TIP OF THE HAT 9

For more information on
Tier I - Advertising Level & Tier II - Financial Aid:
www.NEDA.org/page/PARTNERS
i
10 TIP OF THE HAT NEDA.ORG January 2021

GENERAL INTEREST
Praise of the In Barn Cat
BY BETH ANN CRONAN
D
omesticated felines are
categorized into three sections:
house, farm, and
feral. Those farm cats that
live in equine facilities are typically endeared
with the delineation "barn cat".
These domesticated felines are very, very
sophisticated creatures, much more so than
their housebound cousins. Barn cats are
amazingly self-assured, bordering on arrogant.
If James Bond were a domesticated
feline, he would be a barn cat. Just like 007,
a barn cat takes his grain room mouse
"shaken, not stirred". Being shaken with
great enthusiasm and menacing vigor is the
penalty for interloping a barn cat's territory.
Lily ensconced in her favorite Back on Track saddle
pads. She retired from full time barn cat duies in 2020
and is enjoying life with the Kourys in Norwell, MA.
Photo: Patty Montana
Barn cats are the Navy Seals of the barn;
they are resilient and hardy. A barn dog will
cross the aisle rather than face an oncoming
barn cat. Poor canines. They never
know if a barn cat is going to rub lightly
against them or pummel them with a nasty
swat on the nose. It makes for a humorous
relationship. Humorous to onlookers; no
one is really sure what the dog thinks.
Sometimes, while in contemptuous control,
a barn cat will appear "frightened" by the
mere presence of a barn dog. It is a
Leonardo DeCaprio performance, worthy of
an Academy Award. The barn cat will sit all
12 TIP OF THE HAT NEDA.ORG January 2021
squished into themselves. Then they spontaneously
spring-launch a mad sprint across
the barn aisle. Invariably, the barn dog falls
for the con and follows close behind.
Poor thing, he really believes that he has
the barn cat running scared, this time. He is
going to be the victor; the chase is going to
end differently from the usual nasty swat on
the nose. He has the barn cat running
scared, you know, this time.
After a cheetah-like dash, the barn cat
slides to a stop, does a reining horse
rollback and is face to face with Rover. With
a martial art flick of her tail, the barn cat imparts
a slap across Rover's stunned face
like Bette Davis swatting a would-be suitor
in a romance movie. It is a solid, resounding
slap delivered with the corresponding facial
expression of "You impotent fool. Keep it up
- I am just getting started".
Usually this is when the barn dog makes the
wimpiest yelp imaginable, part disbelief and
part ouch. Incredulous with questions,
Rover turns and runs. Remember: He has
fallen for the con and thinks he has the barn
cat running scared, this time. The barn cat
uses this retreat to impart one more swat to
his retreating butt. This produces an impossibly
more undignified whimper. Without
putting the swatting paw down, the barn cat
will sit and start licking it to clean off any
pesky residual Rover hair.
Barn cat charm component:
Unpredictableness.
Barn cats establish an extensive domain at
a stable: the hayloft, the aisles, the grain
room, etc. Some kitties claim the benches
in front of the barn or the seating near the
indoor and outdoor arenas. Others procure
warm comfort on the most demanding
stallion's butt. Nothing is off limits to the domesticated
farm feline. Their name may not
be on the property's deed, but they definitely
OWN the barn and everyone and
everything in it. Think "sweat equity".
Tack rooms are high-traffic, high-attention
receiving areas. Some barn cats have a
heated tack room amenity; it keeps their
water supply acceptably tepid. Saddle pads
are customary barn cat property. The
newest paisley pattern merino sheepskin
Swarovski crystal adorned brandy-new
saddle pad being saved to debut in the "The
BIG clinic" with the Olympic medal winning
clinician is the perfect reserved dining area
for a barn cat date night. It is there that a
buffet of the juiciest mouse grain room interloper
will be shared or munched upon
solo, depending on barn patrol obligations.
A barn cat RULES the barn with the suave
competency of a treasured monarch. Barn
managers and boarders alike bow to the
barn cat's presence, literally. They know to
scratch that sweet spot for fear of retribution
for not bending the knee on feline
command. High court manners and all.
Barn cat charm components:
Confidence and Dominance.
Maglynn Acres had a senior barn cat named
Vicki. She ruled the Rehoboth dressage facility's
inanimate and animate objects with
uncompromising mastery and unwavering
sovereignty.
Possessed by a brutal patience, Vicki would
take her victims by surprise. You would be
sitting on a bench watching a lesson in the
outdoor arena, oblivious that you were violating
some obscure royal rule of attention.
Leaving the barn with the passion of a Navy
Seal team member advancing on a target,
Vicki would stealthily approach from the
fringe. She would arrive out of your line of

BARN CATS - cont’d
sight and sit most regally yet inconspicuously
at your feet. But your attention was on the
subtleties of the counter canter being
schooled in the arena. Your brain is repeating
the dressage mantra "inside leg to outside
rein" when you realize that you have inadvertently
yet violently leaped up and shouted,
"outside rein". The two riders, the two schoolmasters,
and the instructor are staring at you
for your insolent blurting into the sacred trust
of a lesson. Your eruption inspired both
schoolmasters to do unintentional, yet perfectly
executed, flying lead changes.
Meanwhile, Vicki is firmly attached to your
thighs. Her claws are embedded and
remain so as she patiently hangs and waits
for you to return to sitting so she has somewhere
warm to watch her horses indoctrinate
both the counter canter and the flying
change of lead to their timid yet eager
riders. Trying to regain any semblance of
lesson-watching etiquette, you silently lower
back onto the bench, Vicki curling up and
purring contentedly on your now static lap.
Superior mouser, Lily, resting in the tack room between
hunting mice and rabbits. Her guardian of 16
years, Patty Montana reports that Lily delighted in the
occasional luna moth appetizer. Photo: Patty Montana
You cannot blame Vicki for your daggerclaw
injuries: You know that is how she ensures
that herself a safe lap-landing: Cat
claw daggers to the ready and securely anchoring
in. To her, lap-landings must be like
sitting on a couch that decides to remove
itself from being sat upon. Imagine if
couches would leap across the living room
just as your backside is hitting the cushions.
Double pawed Cheetos surveying his kingdom. His vocalizations rival those of crooner Harry Connick Jr. Owner:
Bill Cronan, Cape Coral, Florida. Photo: Beth Ann Cronan
You, too, would develop a strategy for
couch-landings. Vicki has had years of experience
in lap-landings and has purrfected
the maneuver: She has her claws to the
ready and fully activated until the lap stops
screaming/moving. Highly decorated in her
last Feline Olympics, Vicki received a
perfect score of 10 for her lap-landing technique
and high praise from the judges' jury.
Once the bloody tourniquets are removed
from your legs, having Vicki sit on your lap is
actually an enjoyable way to observe a
lesson in the outdoor arena. She purrs
metronome soothingly as you contemplate
the complexities of mastering a balanced
counter canter. As a premium, you have
become a multi-tasker due to Vicki's training
and are now utterly aware of anyone entering
your personal space no matter how intriguing
the lesson before you. Nothing
enters your five-foot personal space unnoticed.
If you see she is stalking you, you nonchalantly
place her in your lap pre-attack.
Having her in your lap is really not a bad
thing: She is warm and soft and purrs. If you
do not follow lesson observing protocol, Vicki
is just as pleased to do it her way...
Barn cat charm component:
An accomplished trainer.
Third generation draft horse teamster Mike
Schobel of Schobel's Farm, Rehoboth, MA
was the guardian of the legendary barn cat,
Max. While Max was not named after the
apocalyptic movie character Mad Max, his
attitude of self-preservation would have
eclipsed the movie character. But barn cat
Max was much more beguiling and strategizing
in his approach to equestrian lifestyle.
Physically, Max was not even a massive
headed, double-clawed tom cat. He was
athletically sleek, more of an on-the-track
thoroughbred's body but he had a perpetual
wheeze. It was theorized he had allergies,
perhaps to shavings and hay like the rest of
us. His aversion to veterinary care beyond
the vaccines and the basics kept us from
finding a definitive answer. Max was
"cuddly" the way a momma grizzly bear with
cubs is cuddly when she would awaken
from hibernation and need to find food for
her clan. A "thorough" vet exam would have
cost several human lives including those of
Mike, the barn staff, and the vet staff. It was
overwhelmingly agreed that Max's desire to
not be hindered by regular allergy medication
be honored.
Max was a giver, a "gifter". He liked to
bestow everyone with presents. Because he
did not have an Amazon account, he gave
the "things" he, err, captured. Admittedly,
Max was like a rich Texas oilman on safari in
Africa: He killed everything he encountered.
It was hoped that he did not kill more than he
gifted because he gifted DAILY.
He lived by the old adage that you paid for
your supper. Max would present some
token, an enormous bullfrog or fledgling wild
turkey, in exchange for a half of a can of wet
cat food. (Max had dry food available at all
times...) When you stepped off of the step
stool that was used to stand on to brush the
18.2 hand Belgian's back, you frequently
would land on a "gift". Ever decreet, the
silent Max would sit and wait while you assessed
his freshly delivered present. And he
Continued →
January 2021 NEDA.ORG TIP OF THE HAT 13

BARN CATS - cont’d
Brother and sister twinsies love to mirror each other while relaxing after a busy night perusing for rodents.
Photo: Angela Prenosil
would stare intently at you. Sometimes, a
single deep throated "meow" would float but
not always. He was a well-known trainer of
barn staff, they invariably would give him his
supper, immediately.
Barn cat charm component:
Generosity.
While some barn cats are attention seeking
Kardashians, Max was most aloof. With the
Schobel Farm carriage service business,
there were many barn visitors. To Max's
barn. People had to be warned DO NOT
PET THE CAT. Max would purr, meow, and
leg rub his greetings; human touch was not
welcome and never tolerated. Max masterfully
and with great velocity taught DO NOT
PET THE CAT etiquette to the unindoctrinated.
Many were fooled by his throaty rumblings
and persistent leg rubs but beware
the dismissive paw swat of the athletic giftgiving
Max.
Barn cat charm component:
Enviable Independence.
There are many more barn cats worthy of
written praise. In addition to being pervasive
guardians of the grain room from marauding
mice, barn cats make a visit to the barn that
much more special. They endearingly greet
you with vocal machinations of "hmmmm ''
or a stout "meow" or murmured "yaw-oh"
whether your status at the barn is Gran Prix
competitor or intro-level working student.
Some barn cats send salutations from the
barn roof, like Daisy would, her meows insisting
that you rescue her. Of course, she
would be on terra firma when you came with
the ladder. Every single time. Unless you did
not try to save her from the height. Then
Daisy would remain perched until one of the
evening lesson riders would mention: "There
is a cat stuck on the roof". The svelte Daisy
would graciously await her saving and then
she would demurely present herself as she
traversed the barn aisle.
Then there was the tack room self-cloistered
Sage Queen, a white and grey pinto
long hair that had the skills of a Cirque du
Soleil trapeze artist. She effortlessly would
leap from saddle locker top to top in the tack
room with her full-tail plumage gracefully
steadying her acrobatics. Sage could frequently
be found curled atop the refrigerator,
toward the back part of it, where she
could steal the warm updraft from the appliance's
condensers.
And Blackie. He, with his massive doubledouble
paws, and his head resembling that
of a polar bear. He simply terrorized
everyone except the elderly owner of the
barn. Blackie swooned into being a Buddhist
when carried in the man's gentle arms. The
Big Tom would purr constantly whilst touring
the many horses' stalls, gently touching the
newest foal's nose with his own while the
man talked with his prize broodmare.
Barn cat charm component:
Memory creator.
Barn cats add durability to an equine facility
providing an omnipresent comfort and a
serene robustness. For thousands of years
and in every country, barn cats are an integral
component of an equestrians' life.
The writer has experienced the enforcement
of barn cat etiquette and the formalities
of royal greetings. She especially
appreciates the warm comfort of a barn cat
while observing lessons. She can be
reached at cronanba@gmail.com.
14 TIP OF THE HAT NEDA.ORG January 2021

THE NEDA BOARD NEEDS YOU!
Year End Awards Coordinator
Our Year End Awards program is one of the most important
things we manage. We're looking for a Year End Awards
Coordinator to lead the existing team that runs the program
and banquet, including defining the criteria for awards,
budgeting, and coordinating the volunteers in charge of
things like tallying results and planning the banquet.
This role is a board position, so you'll have
a large part in shaping what NEDA offers to members!
Contact: nominations@neda.org
NEDA is looking for amateur photos
from our members for the TIP
Submit to: TipEditor@neda.org
l Cat, lower left: Dunkin by Audrey Humphrey l Bay w/ Blaze,
middle left: 24 yr old Carlucci by Angela Prenosil l Pink Blanket:
Romeo KCF & Jill Levin-Goodwillie by Mary Piro l Grazing
Horses, top right: Kisses and Pixie by Sara Smith l Gray
center: Cheryl Roy-Stuteville on “Falcon,” taken at Vienna
Farm, Gorham ME by Krista Nordgren l Gray in snow, right:
Sara Smith on Galileo l Lower right: Hadley & Sara Smith
with Pixie l Chestnut middle bottom: Waldina’s First Snow
by Angela Prenosil
January 2021 NEDA.ORG TIP OF THE HAT 15

YOUTH CORNER
Welcome
TO THE
New Year!
I
think we are all happy to see 2020
behind us as we look to set new goals
for 2021. While we are still in the thick
of winter, I hope you are using this down-time
between seasons to reflect on both you and
your horse.
I encourage you to take a look at your habits, your
schedule, and your horse's routine to acknowledge
what works and find room for improvement.
Take the time to write down your goals–whether
personal, professional, competitive, or scholastic–
and think about what it will take for you to reach
those goals!
New Year's
Resolutions
Send them to
youth@neda.org
to be featured in
next month's issue!
Photo: Gianna Avery.
CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS!
Do you have great pictures, like this one, from around
the barn? Would you like to see them in print? We
would love to use them! Send your pictures to
youth@neda.org
New Year, New Friendships!
Introduce yourself to the other youth riders in our
region by becoming next month's featured rider!
Email youth@neda.org for more details.
Are you a dedicated, determined
young dressage rider of any levels,
age 25 or younger?
Consider applying to join
Dressage4Kid’s TEAM program!
Founded by Olympian Lendon
Gray, D4K’s mission statement is
"to encourage riders under 21 to become
true horsemen; to offer scholarships; to develop
good sportsmanship; to support programs for
adults who in turn educate youth; to have fun,"
and they do just that! From the TEAM program
and clinics to the annual Youth Dressage Festival
in New York, D4K offers seemingly endless opportunities
for riders all around the country. Visit
dressage4kids.org for more information.
16 TIP OF THE HAT NEDA.ORG January 2021

YOUTH CORNER
?
C H A T T I N G
MACKENZIE
Pearl
Who are you, and where in Region 8 are you from?
My name is MacKenzie Pearl, and I am from Dover-Foxcroft,
Maine. .
How long have you been riding and how did you get started
in dressage? I have been riding since I was very little but picked
up dressage more seriously when I was 15 in my sophomore
year of high school. I am now 18 and a freshman at the University
of Maine majoring in athletic training.
Why or how did you choose dressage as your riding
discipline? I started training dressage mainly because that's
what they did at the barn I started at in middle school. The
summer before my sophomore year, we decided to bring both
of my horses home and find a different trainer.
If you were to compete in any other discipline, what would
it be? If I were to compete in another discipline, it would most
likely be reining or ranch riding.
What has dressage taught you? Dressage has taught me
to be patient and strong. It has forced me to become much
more independent and responsible, adding to my work ethic.
Both of my horses still live at home and they are my priority
and responsibility every day. One of my horses is a Welsh cob
who tends to be quite lazy and quiet, so he is great to learn on,
but my Morgan is very hot and panicky, so he is where I really
have to apply my knowledge.
What is your favorite event in the NEDA Calendar?
My favorite event would either be Dressage4Kids Youth Festival
or the NEDA Region 8 Fall Festival/Championships.
Have you taken advantage of any of the scholarships NEDA
offers? If so, which?
I have not taken advantage of the scholarships that NEDA offers,
but hope to in the future.
My horse in three words is:
Waterford Baccalaureate (Zane) would be Strong, stubborn, and
kind. MEM Adrenaline Rush (Rusty) would be fast, goofy, and
lovable.
Continued →
MacKenzie Pearl. Photo: MacKenzie Pearl
Are you a youth involved
in NEDA?
Are you a parent or coach
of a young dressage rider?
Contact us!
Youth Coordinator: Bobbi Carleton
bobbicarleton@aol.com
or Youth Liaison: Sophia Chavonelle
Are you following us?
Instagram @region8dressage
Facebook “USDF Region 8 Youth”
January 2021 NEDA.ORG TIP OF THE HAT 17

YOUTH CORNER - cont’d
NEDA is important to me
because I get opportunities to
ride at amazing facilities with
amazing riders without traveling
all the way to Wellington.
Dressage to me is partnership
and love.
If I’m not at the barn,
I’m most likely working so that
I can afford to go to the barn.
I couldn’t live without
pony time.
Something most people
don't know about me is
that I own a small business -
Patriotic Pony Custom Crochet
(@patriotic.pony) - a brand I
created for inclusivity of all
sizes of horses. My Morgan is
very tiny, and I always
struggled to find things to fit
him, so I started making them
myself. Just like people, all
horses are different shapes
and sizes and should be able
to find things to fit them just
right without paying a fortune.
We have been open for almost
a year and I still get so excited
every time I get to help make a
small piece of someone's
dream come true!
Thank you, MacKenzie, for
answering our questions!
Are you interested in being
interviewed for the Youth
Corner? Send us an email!
youth@neda.org
W A N T E D !
THE NEDA BOARD NEEDS YOU!
Nominations Manager
The Nominations Manager will be responsible
for identifying and recruiting candidates to be
presented to the NEDA Board for any Board
vacancies, prepare annual ballot, maintain
accurate job descriptions and other information
required to fill vacancies, etc. Email for full job
descriptions and details
This role is a board position, so
you'll have a large part in shaping
what NEDA offers to members!
Contact: nominations@neda.org
18 TIP OF THE HAT NEDA.ORG January 2021
Are you a youth rider
interested in dressage and
LOVE our new Youth Corner?
Want to know
what NEDA has put
in place for you?
Want to become
one of our
highlighted riders?
Have ideas, comments
or questions about
Youth Corner?
Email us: youth@neda.org
NEDA EDUCATIONAL
SCHOLARSHIPS
NEDA members please take note -
Scholarships are currently available
for qualified applicants...
that could be you!
The next deadline for scholarship
applications is April 1st!
To receive an application or an
informational brochure about the
Scholarship Program. Go to:
http://www.neda.org/?page=SCHMAIN
Amy Bresky
Scholarship Chairman
3403 Youngs Rd., Southern Pines, NC 28387
Phone: (978) 270-3880
E-mail: scholarships@neda.org
Don’t Miss the Deadline!
Fiona Perreault. Photo: Jesse Klein

STALLION PADDOCK
January 2021 NEDA.ORG TIP OF THE HAT 19

STALLION PADDOCK
20 TIP OF THE HAT NEDA.ORG January 2021

STALLION PADDOCK
January 2021 NEDA.ORG TIP OF THE HAT 21

STALLION PADDOCK
22 TIP OF THE HAT NEDA.ORG January 2021

STALLION PADDOCK
Become
a NEDA
Volunteer
Join us
and become
the engine for
New England
Dressage.
JOIN US EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT
FOR OUR NEDA KNOW-HOW
WEBINAR SERIES!
Check out www.NEDA.org
and click on Support NEDA
January 2021 NEDA.ORG TIP OF THE HAT 23

Tip of the Hat
New England Dressage
Association
87 Henry Rd
North Yarmouth, ME 04097
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
NEDA is a Group Member Organization of USDF.
Our members are automatically USDF Group members.
NEDA Hosts
Region 8:
NEDA is a USDF member and all
GMO members are automatically
USDF Group Members
Become a NEDA
Volunteer
Join us and become the engine for
New England dressage.
Check out www.NEDA.org
and click on Support NEDA
FOR THE 19TH YEAR, MOUNTAIN HORSE IS THE OFFICIAL
SPONSOR OF THE NEDA 2020 YEAR-END AWARDS.