Announcements
January1, 2012 - Centered Riding is pleased to announce that Carol O’Donnell Wilson has been elected President for a two-year term which began on January 1, 2012. Carol is a Level III Instructor and a Certified TTEAM Practitioner 2. She has 35 years of experience riding, competing, teaching, and training in various disciplines, including Show, Hunters, Dressage, Western, Trail and Pleasure Riding. Carol conducts Centered Riding Clinics and TEAM workshops around the U.S. and teaches students and clinics at her northeast Kansas Farm. Carol has a background in education and communications, spending 20 years in the corporate world in advertising and corporate communications. Since the mid 90’s she has provided communications, consulting and promotional work for equine expos and other clients. She has years of experience in business, communications, and volunteer service on numerous boards of directors. She strongly values Centered Riding principles for riding and daily life.
Other newly elected Officers for Centered Riding are Kathy Culler from Cream Ridge New Jersey as Vice President, Heidi Potter of Guilford, Vermont as Treasurer, and Carol Parker of New Fairfield, Connecticut as Secretary, all of whom have been previously serving on the Board of Trustees.
Centered Riding wishes to thank Jami Wallace for her enthusiastic work and leadership these past two years as President. Jami will continue to serve on Centered Riding’s Board, as a Trustee.
We also wish to thank retiring Board members Claudia DiSanto, Pat Van Buskirk and Donna Snyder Smith, for their outstanding service on the Centered Riding Board of Trustees.
October 16, 2011 - Congratulations to Heidi Potter, a Certified Centered Riding Level III Instructor and member of the Board of Trustees who has qualified for the Equine Affaire's Versatility Horse and Rider Competition with For Knox. Knox is a Rocky Mountain horse owned by Mike Charles from Townshend, Vermont with whom Heidi has worked. This event is a fast-paced competition of thirty pre-selected horse and rider teams that race through an obstacle course designed to test communication between horse and rider and push the contensants out of their "comfort zone." The thirty riders are split into two qualifying rounds. Heidi's qualifying round will be held on Thursday, November 10th from 5:00 - 6:45 in the Coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition grounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts. The top ten highest-scoring riders will compete in the championship round on Sunday, November 13 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. You can view Heidi's qualifying video on You Tube, titled: "Fort Knox-Rocky Mtn Horse at the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTZtlw9SJGo&feature=mh_lolz&list=FLooHHPFVBTlfTyBmeSnzwQg
Heidi would love for you to come and cheer her on! If you are interested in attending, you can purchase tickets at the gate or in advance online for $15 at http://www.equineaffaire.com/massachusetts/
September 9, 2011 - Centered Riding Announces Reaching It's 100th Member - Isabell Bachler from Austria became Centered Riding's 1000th member. Isabelle completed Centered Riding's Instructor Course to become a Certified Instructor.
December 1, 2010 -Centered Riding welcomes Donna Snyder-Smith to the Board of Trustees. Donna is a Level III Centered Riding Instructor and Clinician. She has been involved with the organization for over 20 years. Donna has been a national sports coach/clinician for 45 years as well as an ASHA judge, Editor of Trail Blazer Magazine and a widely published industry journalist. She has received the American Riding Instructors Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring, in part, her success in producing award-winning horse and rider teams at regional, national, and international competitions, in multiple disciplines. A popular speaker and clinician at horse expos around the country; she still coaches a few adult amateur clients and offers occasional clinics in rider biomechanics and horse behavior. Donna feels that with Sally no longer present to be the standard bearer, the Centered Riding organization must "fill Sally’s shoes" in honor of her work and for the sake of the horses we all love.
Centered Riding thanks Margreet Bouwmeester, whose term will expire at the end of this year, for her contributions as a Board Member.
November 1, 2010 - Two Centered Riding Instructors were recently recognized with CHA Awards (Certified Horsemanship Association). CHA is the oldest and largest certification program for riding instructors in North America.
Mitzi Summers, a Level IV Clinician from Ft. Plain New York, received the CHA Instructor of the Year award. Mitzi was nominated by one of her students, who praised Mitzi for her high ethical standards, her commitment to education and training, her cheerful support of her students - no matter the level at which they ride, her commitment to safety, and her unwavering commitment to her students in helping them to understand how their riding impacts the horse's behavior and performance.
Heidi Potter, a Level III Clinician from Guilford, Vermont was received the CHA Clinic Instructor of the Year award. Heidi was chosen for her ability to conduct meaningful clinics and for positively influencing the careers of numerous instructors over the years. She is a CHA Master Level Instructor, Clinic Instructor, Centered Riding© Clinician and Natural Style Trainer. She is known and respected for her mindful and empathetic approach to horses and humans.
Congratulations to Mitzi Summers and Heidi Potter!
January 12, 2010 - Sally Swift is awarded the USEF Pegasus Award for 2009! This is a very presitgious posthumous award by the the U.S. Equestrian Federation recognizing an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to equestrian sport. Jami Wallace, President of Centered Riding, will be traveling to the USEF Pegasus Awards Dinner in Kentucky on the 16th of January to accept it on behalf of Sally. All of us at Centered Riding our proud of this wonderful recognition of Sally's work.
January 11, 2010 - Centered Riding is pleased to announce the appointment of its officers for the 2010 – 2012 term.
Jamison Wallace from New Milford, Connecticut has been appointed as President . Jami is a Level III Centered Riding clinician who has been associated with Centered Riding since 1996. Jami is a “dressage rider who events” though both she and her horses are older and try not to take too many chances. She has also been a 4-H leader for 23 years, was once a NYC Urban Park Ranger, a professional photographer, a researcher, a corporate junior executive. She also teaches at Post University in Connecticut and is committed to furthering the future of Centered Riding. Jami’s joy for the past two years has been as Chair of the Centered Riding Symposium, bringing a weekend of education and information and Centered riding members together.
Heidi Potter from Guilford, Vermont will serve as Centered Riding’s Vice President. Heidi Potter is a professional horsewoman. As a Level III Centered Riding Clinician she helps students of all levels and disciplines find improved balance, comfort, communication and confidence in the saddle.
Heidi is also a CHA Master Level Instructor and Clinic Instructor. She teaches, trains and conducts a wide variety of clinics and workshops both at home and abroad. She currently serves as Vice President for Centered Riding and as a committee member of the NAHRA Equine Wellness Task Force. Heidi resides in Southern Vermont at her family's farm, Maple Ridge Stable.
Margreet Bouwmeester from the Netherlands has been appointed as Treasurer. Margreet, is a Level III Clinician and works very hard to promote Centered Riding in the Netherlands and other European countries. She started work with the Dutch Railways when she was 17 years old and went back to school to finish her studies as a financial controller at the University of Amsterdam. In 2006, after 32 years with the Railways, she decided to begin her own business, Alona for horse and human. Margreet is a Master Saddle fitter and an acupuncturist. She builds WOW saddles and teaches acupressure on horses. Her goal is to develop the horse and human in their knowledge about horse riding, management, health and saddles.
Newly appointment to the Board for a three-year term is Carol O’Donnell Wilson from Meriden, Kansas. Carol is a Level III Instructor and a Certified TTEAM Practitioner 2. She has 35 years of experience riding, competing, teaching, and training in various disciplines, including Show, Hunters, Dressage, Western, Trail and Pleasure Riding. Carol conducts Centered Riding Clinics and TEAM workshops around the U.S. and teaches students and clinics at her northeast Kansas Farm. Carol has a background in education and communications, spending 20 years in the corporate world in advertising and corporate communications. Since the mid 90’s she has provided communications, consulting and promotional work for equine expos and other clients. She has years of experience in business, communications, and volunteer service on numerous boards of directors. Carol strongly values Centered Riding principles for riding and daily life.
Also appointed to the Board for a one-year term is Pat Van Buskirk. Pat is an active Rider Member and has been involved as Chair of the Centered Riding Website Update Committee. She volunteers her database and web knowledge to help the CR organization. Currently, she serves as the treasurer for the New Mexico Reining Horse Association. She also writes magazine articles for equine and other publications. Pat's day job is Database Administrator and Operations Coordinator for the National Astronomy Observatory in Socorro, NM. As a member of the Board of Trustees, she is committee to doing everything possible to assure that Sally's work continues. She believes Sally and her CR program have done more to help horses than any other equine discipline.
Centered Riding wishes to thank Linda Galt Powley for her wonderful contributions as President of Centered RIding from 2007 through 2009. Linda insured that the Centered Riding trademark was kept as our property. Under her leadership, regionalization for Centered Riding expanded so that almost the entire U.S. and parts of Europe have Centered Riding Regional Coordinators. She inaugurated the Financial Planning Board to focus on the stable future of Centered Riding, the eBulletin was born, Centered Riding got a "new look" with its website, and Certification for Centered Riding Instructors became fact.
Centered Riding also expresses its appreciation to Stephanie von Trapp Derbyshire for her tenure as Treasurer and the many hours she devoted to looking after the finances of Centered Riding, as well as to Debra Crampton for her tenure as the first Rider Member on the Board and Sally Bauder for her committed service as s Trustee since 2005.
July 15, 2009 - Centered Riding announces that it will begin to award Certificates of Attendance for all who attend a Centered Riding Open Clinic.
June 1, 2009 -Registration forms for the 2009 International Educational Symposium are now available. Contact the Centered Riding office (office@centeredriding.org) or download a copy from the Centered Riding website.
May 31, 2009 - Centered Riding announces that its 2009 Yearbook will be dedicated to Sally Swift. It will be priced at $29.95 and will contain details and photos of Sally's life not previously distributed, as well as other articles about Centered Riding. The yearbook will be first distributed to those who attend the 2009 International Educational Symposium in Putney, Vermont.
May 39 - 31, 2009 - The first Centered Riding demonstration was held in Kobuchisawa, Yamanash, Japan, and was received with GREAT interest! Plans are underway to hold future clinics in Japan.
May 21, 2009 - The Board of Trustees of Centered Riding announces the formation of a new scholarship instituted in honor of Sally Swift and her dream that Centered Ridng would spread to many more people around the world. Four grants of $200 each will be made available each year to individuals who meet the criteria for becoming a Centered Riding Instructor and are in need of financial assistance in order to attend an Instructor's Course. Two scholarships will be reserved for persons living outside of North America.
April 2, 2009 - Centered Riding, sadly, announces the death of its Founder, Sally Swift. Sally died just days short of her 96th birthday due to complications of pneumonia. A printed "Tribute to Sally Swift" was distributed to all members. Non-members of Centered Riding can receive a copy with payment of $5.00 to cover printing and mailing costs.
March 22, 2009 - Centered Riding announces that it will begin instructor certification in 2010. A draft of a new Instructor Handbook with the new instructor certification standards has been made available to Centered Riding Instructors and field testing of the new standards is under way. The final version of Centered Riding's Instructor Certification Standards will be presented for voting at the Annual General Meeting in November.
