Liberty Oaks Pony Club places first in dressage
Butte Valley Pony Club hosted the Sierra Pacific Region Dressage Rally on May 5 and 6 at Camelot Equestrian Park in Oroville. There were six participating teams for the two-day event.
This rally was also a qualifying event for 2017 Festival in Kentucky. Liberty Oaks Pony Club had one member, Jessie Garfinkel of Plymouth, riding to qualify.
Liberty Oak placed first in dressage and third in horse management.
Two Liberty Oaks Pony Club members, Emilynn Angie-Buss and Abigail Ruport, partnered with a scratch team from Butte Valley Pony Club and placed second overall and second in horse management. Along with the team placings, there were also several individual awards.
Jessie Garfinkel earned champion in training division freestyle, with a phenomenal score of 78. She and her horse Rabbit also qualified to compete in dressage at the U.S. Pony Club Kentucky Festival in July.
Mattison Owning came home with champion in intro division and reserve champion in training division. Mikenize Owning received champion in training division. Congratulations, Liberty Oaks Pony Club! For those interested, there is a wonderful and welcoming local Pony Club at Gateway Farm, 18025 E. Collier Road in Acampo. The club meets on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, weather permitting. Horses may be available to lease. Members are taught three primary riding disciplines: dressage, show jumping and cross-country. It is a very structured program, teaching beyond just riding horses.
Good horsemanship extends far beyond skills in the saddle. In Pony Club, you will learn an impressive depth of knowledge in equine behavior and training, health and fitness, nutrition and veterinary care. You’ll learn about tack and equipment and understand their correct uses and maintenance.
Pony Club members also learn strong business skills through stable management-scheduling, record keeping, oral presentations, instructing, conducting meetings, communicating and interacting with others.
For more information, contact Allison Gamma (by text or phone) at 209-277-9651.
Lodi-area natives graduate, make dean’s lists
Several students from the Lodi area have graduated college or made the dean’s list at their universities this semester.
• Tyler Foust of Lodi has graduated from the University of Sioux Falls with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. The commencement ceremony was May 21.
• Luke Sackschewsky of Lodi graduated from Gonzaga University on May 7. He