Dressage for Kids (D4K)… Pineland Equestrian Center

BAGT has a real fondness for horses and riders! Megan from Pineland Farms submitted the following blog explaining D4k how it works and just how much fun it is to be on a team.

Dressage 4 kids was started by Lendon Gray in 1998. She was in the 1988 summer Olympics. Instead of riding all day she now teaches most of the day. Lendon has a stable in Bedford, NY with 48 horses (that's a lot of work!).

Some of her students that are becoming successful young professionals are Courtney King, Jessica Rizzi and Brandi Hilbert. Her first highly successful student was Gwenyth McPherson (the current Manager of Pineland Farms).

My instructor is Kelly Coyne. Kelly's instructors are Gwyneth McPherson and Michael Poulin. Michael was in the 1992 Olympics. He helped the United States win the team bronze.

Some students ride four times a week and some only ride once a week. When we find out who made the team, we discuss when we want to ride together as a team. Throughout the year we may ride together for fun, but not was a team.

Dressage is fun!

Thanks to Be A Girl Today for their support!

Megan

Pineland Farms 

 Look for us Sunday, April 17^th at Pineland – Megan and the team will have a BAGT booth – where our shirts, bags and stickers will be sold. They will also have a bake sale, yum!! Food, horses, BAGT, a Schooling Show – NOW that is a good time!! It's only the beginning of spring, summer hasn't arrived yet….. so much more to come.

Good Morning from Maine....it's a busy month!

Today we are sending dressage shirts and children's ski t's (in a very cool lime green) to the Maine Maven.  Now, we do know that the Maven does not ride dressage (rumor has it she can be found on the golf course ...in the summer), but we're thinking that the UMO Dressage Team may want to stop by and pick up a dressage tee (available in black and in white).  They can be found at the Maine Maven, Mill Street in Orono.  I haven't been to the store (yet) but have heard you can find some amazing items.   

Our second shipment is going to Jeremy Cota of the U.S. Ski Team, oh yes, we are traveling in "ski circles", well actually, I haven't met Jeremy, but my new assistant Kerriann made the connection.  So here's hoping that those shirts are well-received.  I would so enjoy turning on my TV and seeing a BAGT-Ski tee at a U.S. Ski Team event.  I would probably go into a ski coma!!  Shirts are also going out to Philadelphia, Arkansas, Texas and Farmington, ME. 

Thank you so much!!
 

Ride Like A Girl

I know I posted this picture before, BUT I love it.  I smile every time I see it.  These girls all ride at Pineland Farms, right here in Maine.  We really needed to get a horse in the picture.... maybe next time.

Pineland Equestrian Center

 

Good Morning From Maine - We Love Dressage!

We love dressage and totally support Dressage for Kids, located at Pineland's Equestrian Center (right here in Maine).  Everyone on the team works hard -- and it shows in their riding.  Look for some great things from these girls and young women.  Remember the name D4K!!

Pineland Equestrian Center

 

 

Welcome Back - D4K (Dressage For Kids)

Dressage is a difficult discipline -- beautiful to watch.  Lots of long hard hours go into those moves.  Pineland Equestrian Center -- sent their own D4K to  NY.  These girls placed third and their division.  Thanks for the great pictures and I am looking forward to having them guest blog for us.   I have to say, I am terribly envious.

We are trying to get a BAGT photo shoot lined up.   Soon --

Youth Dressage Festival (YDF)

What a great thing!  Dressage for kids. This year's festival will be held July 9-11 --at Saugerties, New York. 

 One of my new favorite groups of girls to watch is D4K (Dressage For Kids) based out of Pineland Farms - right here in Maine.  BAGT is trying to keep up with their events and sales and hoping to sponsor them next year.  I can only say one thing......I am truly jealous. 

How much fun are they going to have competing, meeting new friends, learning new things, RIDING horses!  AND to top it all off, they have world-class trainers.  Please, can I ride, too!

 

To that I say go out there and Ride Like A Girl!!

BAGT and D4K -- team up for a fundraiser!

A few weeks back I received an e-mail from Megan from D4k (Dressage for Kids)...... asking for a donation for a fund raiser they were having at Pineland Equestrian Center (an amazing facility right here in Maine).  Megan and I shared a few e-mails and before you knew it.....I offered to send some shirts, stickers, etc. on consignment and I am hoping they made a little cash for the trip.  

Part of the bargain was that Megan would write a few lines for the blog and send some pictures when they head to NY....what could be more fun.  Going to NY to ride, I would go just to watch.  So, here's the first picture. 

 Wish them luck!!

 

New - to Be a Girl

They have finally arrived -- and I love them!  AND, luckily for us they are selling great.  Our brand-new dressage mugs are here.  Let us know what you think and of course, don't forget to order a few.  Don't like to order on-line, we will be standing in the booth at the Old Port Festival - and that will be lots of fun.  I will have a helper this year so stop by and say hello.

And please, don't forget to check out Karen Day's new book -- "No Cream Puffs".  It would make a great gift for a young girl and great reading for mothers and fathers as well.

 

Puckerbrush Farm - Three Phase

Sunday started out sunny and the forecast was for high temperatures and humidity, but there was a breeze off Peaked Mountain and just enough cloud cover to make the day pleasant at one of my favorite riding places - Puckerbrush Farm. 

This was the scene on Sunday for the MeCTA three-phase event, and if you were armed with an ice cold lemonade and some fresh peach cobble (with real whipped cream) from Equuisine you were good to go.

A three phase event is a horse show where riders and horses must compete in dressage, cross country and stadium jumping.  The cross country phase is a course through fields and woods with "natural" looking jumps throughout.  These jumps can be logs, banks, ditches, water, "tables" to jump onto and off of among other obstacles.

There are different levels of difficulty according to rider/horse experience.  It's a fun show for spectators with lots of action.  It is a true test of the horse and rider.

Jackets were excused for stadium, it was just too hot!  Horses and riders were decked out in great color combinations for cross country with lots of lime green, hot pink and the tried and true royal blue, red and kelly green.