Whether you missed the 12/29 meeting or just want to review what was discussed, check out the meeting notes courtesy of Ms. Katrina below!

• 2024 Area 2 Awards Ceremony: Christine and Karen discussed the 2024 Area 2 Awards Ceremony, which will be held at the  Liriodendron mansion in Bel Air on January 25th. They highlighted the significance of the event, including the awards for high point riders and horses, educational seminars, and a silent auction.
  • Awards: The awards include a leaderboard for high point riders and horses, similar to the national leaderboard. This year, friends of the attendees are receiving awards, including a beginner novice horse of the year for Maryland breeders and a year-end award for Gina.
  • Additional Activities: In addition to the awards, the event features educational seminars, a silent auction, and social opportunities. There are also unique awards, such as the Thoroughbred Incentive Program awards and humorous awards like the worst combined dressage score award, which includes a bottle of wine as a prize.
  • Register and learn more here- https://usea2.org/news-upcoming/2024-annual-gala
  • Area 2 website- https://usea2.org/
• 2025 Competition Calendar: Christine discussed the 2025 competition calendar, which includes Horse Trials, farm family shows, and eventing camp. Christine emphasized the importance of registering for events on time and keeping track of the live document for updates.
  • Calendar Overview: The 2025 competition calendar includes Horse Trials, farm family shows, and eventing camp. Events at Full Moon Farm are highlighted in blue, while offsite events are not. The calendar is a live document, subject to updates and changes. See calendar here- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1awS95B6ExVm5He7Br9MEIuXbhQWQjTHhIkvN7QsQGqg/edit?gid=0#gid=0
  • Registration: Christine emphasized the importance of registering for events on time. The calendar includes not only event dates but also the opening dates for registration. Participants are encouraged to pin the Google Sheets document to stay updated on any changes.
  • Event Types: The calendar features various types of events, including Horse Trials, farm family shows, and eventing camp. Each event type serves different purposes, from competitive trials to educational opportunities and family-oriented shows.
  • Office Hours: Office hours are available for participants to discuss their eventing plans and receive guidance. Karen and Christine are open to scheduling additional office hours to accommodate participants’ needs and help them plan their competition schedules effectively.
• Event Registration Process: Karen and Christine explained the importance of signing up for events both on the Full Moon Farm list and the actual event registration to ensure participation and avoid additional costs. They also highlighted the need to register on opening dates to secure spots.
  • Dual Registration: Participants must sign up for events both on the Full Moon Farm list and the actual event registration to ensure participation. This dual registration helps manage trailer space and ensures that participants are officially entered in the competition.
  • Opening Dates: Registering on the opening dates is crucial to secure spots in events. Some Horse Trials fill up quickly, so early registration is necessary to guarantee participation. Waiting until the last minute may result in not being entered in the competition.
  • Consequences: Failing to register properly can lead to additional costs and logistical issues. If a participant signs up on the Full Moon Farm list but does not complete the actual event registration, they may still be responsible for coaching and shipping fees, and it can affect the cost distribution for other participants.
  • Event Entries: Most Horse Trials require online registration through evententries.com. Participants should familiarize themselves with the platform and ensure they have all necessary information, such as USEA numbers and Coggins numbers, ready in advance to avoid last-minute issues.
  • Link here- https://evententries.com/#Welcome
• Educational Opportunities: Christine detailed the Cross Country 101 and 2.0 clinic series and the eventing camp, which offer comprehensive training for new and experienced eventers. The clinics cover various aspects of eventing, while the camp provides an intensive week-long training experience.
  • Clinic Series: The Cross Country 101 and 2.0 clinic series are designed for new and experienced eventers. The 101 series focuses on basic skills such as riding from point to point, understanding pace, and navigating fields. The 2.0 series is for those actively eventing and covers advanced skills like maintaining pace over longer distances and handling challenging terrain.
  • Eventing Camp: The eventing camp is an intensive week-long training experience that includes general lectures, information sessions, and small group lessons for dressage, show jumping, and cross country. Participants also get to audit lessons with more advanced riders and professionals, and the camp concludes with an unrecognized Horse Trials.
  • Camp Details: The eventing camp runs from Monday to Friday, with each day dedicated to a specific phase of eventing. The cost is $375 for early entry, which includes the camp, entry fee for the Horse Trials, and coaching. Single-day participation may be accommodated based on interest.
  • Preparation: Participants are encouraged to attend the clinic series before the eventing camp to build foundational skills and confidence. The clinics and camp together provide a comprehensive preparation for the eventing season, helping riders and horses to be well-prepared for competitions.
  • Link- https://fullmoonfarm.com/services/eventing-camp-competition/
• Groom in Training Opportunity: Christine introduced the Groom in Training program, which offers individuals the chance to learn about grooming and the eventing process without the stress of competing. This program aims to prepare participants for future competitions and potential career opportunities.
  • Program Overview: The Groom in Training program offers individuals the opportunity to learn about grooming and the eventing process without the stress of competing. It is open to both kids and adults, regardless of whether they are riders.
  • Learning Experience: Participants will learn about the entire process of preparing for a Horse Trials, including early wake-up calls, loading and unloading horses, braiding, and managing the three phases of the competition. This hands-on experience helps them understand the responsibilities and skills required for grooming.
  • Career Opportunities: The program highlights the potential career opportunities in grooming, emphasizing the importance of the role in the eventing community. It prepares participants for future competitions and provides a foundation for those interested in pursuing grooming as a career.
  • Control and Preparation: The program aligns with the philosophy of controlling what can be controlled, such as the cleanliness and presentation of the horse. Proper grooming and preparation set a positive tone for the competition day and contribute to overall success.
• Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL): Christine Hryzak discussed the IEL, which allows middle and high school students to compete as teams in eventing. Full Moon Farm has been an active participant, and the IEL Championships will be held at Stable View in South Carolina in May.
  • IEL Overview: The Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) allows middle and high school students to compete as teams in eventing. Full Moon Farm has been an active participant since the league’s inception and has won the IEL in its inaugural year.
  • Team Competitions: IEL promotes team competitions, where students represent their barns and compete together against other programs. This fosters a sense of community and support among young eventers, making the sport less isolating.
  • Championships: The IEL Championships will be held at Stable View in South Carolina on May 3rd-4th, 2025. The championships are open to all teams, and no qualification is required. Teams can consist of riders at different levels, and the event includes a regular Horse Trials for all participants.
  • Participation: Full Moon Farm plans to take multiple teams to the IEL Championships. The farm encourages all eligible riders to participate, emphasizing the importance of representing the farm and competing in a supportive team environment.
  • IEL Link- https://useventing.com/events-competitions/competitions/interscholastic-eventing-league
• Intercollegiate Eventing League: Christine Hryzak mentioned the Intercollegiate Eventing League, which allows college students to compete in eventing while representing their schools. Full Moon Farm offers to host college teams, providing training and competition opportunities. Link- https://useventing.com/events-competitions/competitions/intercollegiate-eventing-program
• Memberships and Associations: Karen and Christine Hryzak emphasized the importance of joining organizations like USEA, MCTA, and Area 2 Adult Riders for eventers. These memberships offer various benefits, including awards, discounts, and educational opportunities. USEA- https://useventing.com/membership Area 2 Adult Riders- https://usea2.org/adult-riders MCTA- https://mdcta.com/
• Office Hours and Self-Advocacy: Karen and Christine Hryzak encouraged participants to schedule office hours to discuss their eventing plans and seek guidance. They stressed the importance of self-advocacy and staying engaged with the farm’s activities and opportunities.
• Farm Family Shows: Karen highlighted the significance of participating in farm family shows as a low-cost, low-stress way to practice and prepare for larger competitions. These shows help riders build confidence and experience in a familiar environment.
• Follow-up tasks:
• Event Entries Setup: Create an account on evententries.com and ensure all necessary information, including Coggins number, is updated. (the team)
• Groom in Training Program: two “groom in training” positions will be added to the new sign-up sheets for each Horse Trials.
• Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL): Email the secretary with the names of the people entered and the team name for each Horse Trials.
• Intercollegiate Eventing League: Reach out to local colleges to promote Full Moon Farm as a host barn for the intercollegiate eventing league.