If only those great days of minus four would lead directly into spring. Alas, we will have to contend with a little more winter, but I am very happy to report a minimal number of frozen water bowl events this winter making the season seem a little more tolerable. We have a lot of activities coming up this spring, so please check the Events Calendar on the Copper T Webpage in case you wish to participate, and I will updated it frequently.

This fall we were busy with the Spruce Meadows Harvest Classic Horse Show, which added to the usual bedlam of winter preparation and end of season riding activities, so did not put out our usual quarterly news. At Spruce, we found an competitive home for Ra-Rumba in Okotoks, Alberta, and we recently learned his journey has continued in Thermal, CA on the HITS Circuit. Video link: <iframe width="640" height="390" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z4oRz-qMEh8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Thank

you Shawna for presenting Rumba so well at Spruce Meadows. He looked great and we are very lucky to have you on the team! Also big thank you to Penny, Talia and Alex who accompanied us to Spruce supplying much appreciated behind the scenes support and Brigitte who looked after the farm, making it possible for us to be away.

As some of you may know, Mom was badly injured in a fall where she was stepped on, fracturing several ribs, rupturing her spleen and scaring us half to death! However, that didn’t dampen her spirit to cheer Rumba at Spruce. Now, she is back to her young self, and promises to stay out of the paddocks, particularly when carrying grain buckets! Thank you to all the well wishers, and everyone who helped us while she was in hospital. In January, Penny and Val went to the annual Alberta Breeders and Owners Conference in

Red Deer AB. Sadly, Rebecca was unable to join the crew as hoped; she had a bad fall off Laney and was unable to recover in time to attend. Not to worry, she will be back in the saddle again, as soon as she is fully healed. In the meantime, Lisa Longtin has taken Salt for training, & Val and Katryna are working with Laney.

Spruce Meadows Trip – Fall 2014

Shawna and Ra-Rumba

The Red Deer conference had its usual informative topics including Evidence Based Learning Principles co-presented by Dr. Stephen Peters, and multi Trainer Challenge winner Martin Black. They explained the importance of training horses in the “right mind set” for the best retention of learned material. For example, they suggest allowing the horse to take numerous breaks to rehearse the lesson thus consolidating the information in their minds. This commonly used technique was supported with Functional MRI testing. Studies monitoring serotonin and dopamine levels demonstrated that horses who were “allowed” to learn during mildly stressed levels, developed more dense dendrite systems than those taught when the horse was at a higher state of stress

or forced to complete a task. These sorts of empirical results confirm what many good horsemen/women have known all along. Now there is a scientific basis for these training methods. His training pyramid he presented at the conference was interesting.

"Nervous cowboys make nervous horses"

Ever heard that saying? Well it turns out there is now empirical evidence to support this long known notion. A group of riders, half beginners and half trainers were asked to walk down a barn alleyway where they were warned that the Experimenter would open and close an umbrella quickly. However, when the Participants walked down the alley, the umbrella was not used. Measurements were taken of the cortisol levels (stress hormone) in the horses. Not surprising, the horses with the less experienced riders had increased levels of cortisol, even with the absence of the stress stimulus. The Experimenters concluded that the horses were picking up on stress experienced by the less experienced riders.

I am asking all riders at Copper T to please add a new routine to their riding experience at the stables. Ideally when riding, please have another person present with you, or alternatively, keep a cell phone in your pocket with emergency contact information and directions programmed into your cell phone. If any sort of emergency should occur, you will have the information available immediately on your person, or a person available to make a call for you. This information will be posted at the arena, as it is already available at the barn. You can even take a picture of the phone numbers and directions as they will be posted at the entrance to the arena. If you go on a trail ride, or ride off the property, please let someone on the grounds know, potential routing, and an approximate time of return.

Phone numbers and important information to program into your cell phone:

Val's cell phone: 306-230-5823

House phone: 306-242-5099 (located in barn tack room)

Charlotte's cell phone: 306-260-7538

Emergency in our rural route area: 911

Emergency Directions:

Drive SOUTH from Saskatoon on Highway 11 (this is the road to Regina) Pass Grasswood/Floral Road (two miles from Taylor Road in Saskatoon)

Turn left (EAST) on next road, Baker Road (two miles south of Grasswood/Floral) Drive approximately 4 miles to Range Road #3043

Turn left (north) Turn in second driveway on the left, marked with Box 40 Sanford on mailbox. House is on the right, barn a

little further up the driveway on the left. Landmark: You will see the indoor riding arena on your left as you travel towards Range Road # 3043, it’s a

large building with white walls and a green roof. Legal land description: Southeast quarter 35 - 4 - West of the 3rd Meridian.

Frasier schooling over fences with Shawna – January 2015

Here is our upcoming event schedule! Check our website regularly for updates regarding upcoming events. Italics indicate off site event we plan to attend.

March 7, 2015 March 7th, 2015 Trailering 101 - learn safe loading methods and preparation for hauling your horse. Veterinarian/Horse Hauler to present. $25

March 14 – 15, 2015 Willow Ridge Signs of Spring Show - Come cheer those riders on from Copper T, currently Shawna and Frasier participating

March 28 – 29, 2015 Zuzanna Schrammova Biomechanics clinic . Privates $70, Semi- $50 plus GST.

April 3 – 5, 2015 Adult Riding Camp - Some experience required, with Val. $275 plus GST, (5 lessons plus theory, runs Friday night to Sunday late afternoon with Saturday night pot luck, individual goal setting for riders)

April 11, 2015 Doreen Horsy Dressage Judging Clinic - Willow Ridge Stables

April 11, 2015 Instructor Of Beginners - Evaluation Day - Willow Ridge Stables

April 17 – 19, 2015 Lee Tubman Dressage Clinic at Willow Ridge Stables - contact Krystl Raven Coordinator

April 24 – 26, 2015 Moose Jaw Hunter Jumper Show

May 29 – 31, 2015 Trophy Show - Ebon Stables (Frasier, Talia any others?)

June 7, 2015 Summer Sun I - Sandcastle Stables

June 12 - 14, 2015 Adult Riding Camp with Val (same format at April, except it runs Thursday evening/Sat/Sunday)

June 20, 2015 Dressage Practice Day at Copper T (mock tests and judging)

June 21, 2015 Priddy Hunter Pace

June 26 – 28, 2015 Signs of Summer - Willow Ridge

July 4 – 5, 2015 Give it a Go Dressage Show - Willow Ridge (Val is Sponsorship Co-ordinator if you are interested in donating product or being a higher level sponsor please contact her directly)

July 5, 2015 Summer Sun II - Sandcastle Stables

July 6 – 10, 2015 Junior Intermediate Riding Camp - with Katryna

July 19, 2015 Priddy Hunter Pace

July 20 – 24, 2015 Youth II Camp with Julie - beginners welcome!

August 6 - 9, 2015 Mid Summer Masters Show at Ebon

August 10 – 14, 2015 Advanced Beginners Camp with Katryna

August 16, 2015 Summer Sun III Sandcastle Stables

Additional summer riding camp may be offered. Currently seeking 2 quiet hunter types 10K and under. Boomer and Benjamin are now going under saddle, Frasier over fences. One boarding spot coming available spring 2015. Also, seeking part time farm hand with equipment, machinery, fencing and water bowl maintenance experience. Contact Val valsanford@hotmail.com or 306-230-5823