RAFTER J DRESSAGE. Jamee L. Amundson 2425 CR 127 Penrose, CO Working Student for Amy Gessner-Larson, Rossville, Kansas

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1 RAFTER J DRESSAGE Jamee L. Amundson 2425 CR 127 Penrose, CO Mobile Phone: piaffenpassage@aol.com Riding Instruction Over 15 years of equine experience in dressage and classical horsemanship. Competition experience in-hand and through Fourth Level. Horses ridden and trained through Grand Prix. Specializing in Young Dressage horses and representing breeders Private lessons with Amy Gessner-Larson (USDF Gold Medalist) Working Student for Amy Gessner-Larson, Rossville, Kansas Present Regular instruction with Jan Ebeling Pan American Games Gold Medalist 2007 Present Scott Hassler National Young Horse Coach Clinics Felicitas von Nuemann-Cosel, Conrad Schumacher, Dr. Gerd Heuschmann Education & Seminars Iowa State University Ames, IA College of Agriculture B.S. Animal Science University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE College of Agriculture M.S. Animal Science, Ruminant Nutrition 1998 USDF National Symposium with Kyra Kyrklund 2006 USDF Apprentice TD Clinic Present Young Dressage Horse Trainer s Symposium 2007 USDF Apprentice TD Clinic 2008 USDF Convention University Programs 2008 USDF National Symposium with Kyra Kyrklund 2010 DressageTrainingOnline.com Young Star Trip to Germany & Bundeschampionate 2010 If Horses Could Speak with Dr. Gerd Heuschmann 2011 Mastering Good Horsemanship with Gil Merrick 1

2 Awards & Show Results Publications Affiliations Certifications 1996 United States Dressage Federation Qualified Rider Award - Durangos Dancin Dude 1999 Dressage at the Woodlands High Percentage JR/YR Champion Third Level on Durangos Dancin Dude 2007 Shaggy Horse Show High Percentage Open Champion Training Level on Finale 2007 Final Frontier Dressage Show I High Percentage Open Champion Third Level on Durangos Dancin Dude 2008 United States Dressage Federation Bronze Medal Rider Award 2010 Rocky Mountain Dressage Sport Horse Finals Reserve Champion Trakehner - Handling Francheska *M* for Diane Hailey 2010 United States Dressage Federation Year End Awards Handled Francheska *M* for Diane Hailey to 1st Place American Trakehner Association DSHB Mares and 18th Place USDF DSHB Mares 5 & older Effects of temperature-humidity index on pregnancy rate in beef cattle. J. L. Amundson, T.L. Mader, and R.J. Rasby Abstr. # 266, Proceedings, Midwest Animal Science Meetings, Des Moines IA 2003 Evaluation of temperature and temperature-humidity index and their effects on reproduction in beef cattle. J.L Amundson, T.L. Mader, R.J. Rasby, and S.Q. Hu (Abstr.) Proceedings, National Animal Science Meetings, St. Louis, MO 2004 Environtmental effects on pregnancy rate in beef cattle. J.L. Amundson, T.L. Mader, R. J. Rasby and Q.S. Hu J. Anim. Sci : Coaching Not Just Another Riding Lesson March 2008 Purina Mane Program Newspaper American Hanoverian Society Trainer ID Program Fall 2008 AHS Magazine United States Dressage Federation United States Equestrian Federation Rocky Mountain Dressage Society American Trakehner Association Arkansas Valley Dressage Society American Hanoverian Society Approved & Inspected Dressage Trainer Young horses, USEF Levels, FEI United States Center for Biopreparedness Foreign Animal Disease Emergency Response Master Trainer 2

3 Volunteer Duties 2005 United States Pony Club Horse Management Clinic Denver, Colorado Created an all-day, interactive lecture for C and D level Pony Club members. Information included basic horsemanship skills according to the D manual and lesson plan creation United States Pony Club Rocky Mountain Region Mega Rally Parker, Colorado Served as a Horse Management official and back-up Dressage TD 2006 Nebraska Dressage Association Getting Ready to Show Dressage Workshop Ashland, Nebraska Created a seminar and discussion on the Role of the Dressage TD. Answered questions on the rules of dressage competition and show ring etiquette Nebraska Dressage Association Learning to Scribe Workshop Ashland, Nebraska Created a Powerpoint seminar on the duties/responsibilities of a dressage scribe. Organized demo riders so that workshop participants could actually practice scribing dressage tests & 2007 Fonner Park Platte Valley Dressage Schooling Show Grand Island, Nebraska Served as co-manager/secretary for this show. Created all competitor packets and organized office staff Nebraska State 4-H Horse Show Dressage Judge Grand Island, Nebraska Judged all dressage classes 2007 Nebraska Dressage Association Biomechanics of the Equine Back and Saddle Fitting Seminar Ithaca Nebraska Organized a lecture and individual saddle fittings with Master Saddle Fitter Jennifer Wright of Happy Horse Tack 2007 Nebraska Horse Council Exhibition Rider at the Nebraska Horse Expo Lincoln, Nebraska Gave three musical exhibition rides on reining vs. dressage with reining professional Sherman Tegtmeier Nebraska Dressage Association Introduction to the 2007 Dressage Tests Clinic Grand Island, Nebraska Organized a Ride-A-Test clinic with USEF r judge Amy Jablovnosky 3

4 Volunteer Duties Colby Creek Stables Show Management for Dressage Schooling Show Ithaca, Nebraska Ran the show office and organized the show Purina Mills Ambassador Program Dressage vs. Reining Riding Demonstration Lincoln, Nebraska Gave an educational riding demonstration on an introduction to dressage for a customer meeting for Purina Mills 2007 & 2008 Lancaster County 4-H Dressage Judge Lincoln, Nebraska Judged all dressage classes Present United States Dressage Federation USDF Adult Programs Committee Member Representing Adults in USDF 2008 Shaggy Horse Schooling Show Rules of the Road Dressage Clinic Gave a lecture on beginning dressage competition protocol 2008 Cornhusker Pony Club Dressage Clinician Gave a lecture on beginning dressage competition protocol Instructed students on basic dressage principles and Ride-A-Test format Northern Lights Dressage Shows On-Site Secretary Handled all secretary duties for 3-day recognized show 2010 American Trakehner Assoc. Mare Inspection Handler & Inspector Apprentice 2010 Paragon Dressage CDI Scribe Scribed in the CDI ring with Charolette Bredahl 2011 Arkansas Valley Dressage Association Committee Chair Awards Committee Chairperson Serving on the Show Committee Student/Owner Accomplishments 2006 Kimmie Peterson & Astro Silver Nebraska Dressage Assoc. 1 st Level Schooling Show Champion Nebr. Dressage Assoc. First Level Adult Amateur Horse of the Year Nebr. Dressage Assoc. First Level Adult Amateur Rider of the Year Nebr. Dressage Assoc. Red Rider Rosette 4

5 Student/Owner Accomplishments Nebr. Dressage Assoc. Schooling Show Medal Series Bronze Medal Rider 2007 Grace Dungan & Journey 62.0% at Training Level Test 1 (First time) Shaggy Horse Schooling Show 2007 Cathy McCloud & Detailin Nebraska Dressage Association Schooling Show Championships Training Level Adult Amateur Champion 2007 Andrea Garry & Duck Nebraska Dressage Association Schooling Show Championships Training Level Open Champion 2007 Linda Rosacker & Summer Asset Nebraska Dressage Association Schooling Show Championships Introductory Level Adult Amateur Reserve Champion 2007 Linda Rosacker & Handsome Asset Nebraska Dressage Association Schooling Show Championships Training Level Adult Amateur 4 th Place 2007 Margo Rehm & Dream of Black Nebraska Dressage Association Schooling Show Championships First Level Adult Amateur Champion Nebraska Dressage Association Schooling Show Championships Overall High Percentage Nebraska Dressage Association Schooling Show Series First Level Champion 2007 Lori Watson & Fuerst Gabriehla Introductory Level Adult Amateur High Percentage - Colby Creek Dressage Show 2008 Amber Hancock & Heiro Introductory Level Adult Amateur High Percentage - Colby Creek 2009 Sheri Gillham & Khasanova Limit Rider Amateur Owner Western Pleasure Champion Scottsdale Arabian Show 2010 Diane Hailey & Francheska *M* 5 th Place - USDF DSHB Rocky Mountain Series Finals 18 th Place USDF DSHB Mares 5 and over National Standings 1 st Place American Trakehner Assoc. In-Hand Mares Training Philosophy My training techniques are aimed at focusing and magnifying the positive, and dissolving the negative. They are based on traditional German training principles that focus on the proper development of the dressage horse. My primary training philosophy is based on four principles: 1. The happiness and relaxation of the horse, 2. The proper use of aids and correct seat of the rider, 3. Preserving the principles of the classical German Training method, Teaching in a step-by-step, methodical, and positive manner. The key to the success of a dressage horse is directly related to relaxation and suppleness 5

6 Training Philosophy through the topline. As a rider and a trainer, it is my job to maintain the respect and dignity of the horses I am training. Training horses involves patience, perseverance and consistency. Along with this guiding principle, I believe that dressage is for every horse. Every horse can improve his/her movement, mind set, skill set or suppleness with the basic dressage training, regardless of their ultimate job in life. I enjoy working with all kinds of horses and am not opposed to teaching non-warmbloods. Some of my best partners in dressage are non-traditional athletes. I believe strongly in teaching the proper use of aids and the correct seat of the rider. I spend a lot of time in lessons assisting with the improvement of rider position. I encourage all of my students to take periodic lunge line lessons where we focus only on their position. Additionally, I teach the correct position with the use of a wide variety of analogies and metaphors. I provide my students with a vast tool box of exercises to practice at home to help maintain a proper position. I try very hard to practice what I preach in terms of position by putting myself through my own balance and position checklist each time I put a foot in the stirrup. Although there is a time and place for draw-reins, over checks and martingales, I discourage all of my students from using such tools in their riding. More often than not, those tools become gimmicks used to make up for the improper use of aids by the rider. Teaching the riders to properly use their leg and seat aids in a quiet harmony with the hands is a very important part of teaching the proper rider position and aids in maintaining the happiness and relaxation of the horse. All of my dressage knowledge is based off the classical German system and I believe strongly in this system. I focus on adhering to the principles of the training scale in both teaching and my own riding. I believe that the horse must be relaxed and have the back swinging before any other work can be achieved. Achieving a swinging back is not done by pulling the horses head into his chest and blocking with the hands, but done by riding the horse nicely forward into a steady contact. I believe that the horses should be supple and work from the inside leg to the outside rein and that half-halts for all purposes should be ridden on the outside rein with a supporting inside leg. Additionally, I believe strongly in varying the work that the horses do. I am quite fond of adding cavaletti or ground poles to the work-out session. All of my horses are ridden on an exercise track, free-jumped and hacked regularly. I instruct all of my students over small jumps and cavaletti for suppling exercises. I also find schooling the flying changes or canter pirouettes can be easier on a long stretch of soft road or in a big open field without the walls of the arena to create barriers. The German system is not only about systematically and correctly training the horse to upper levels, it is about listening to the horse and letting them dictate when they are ready to learn something new. I have a very systematic approach to teaching riders. I believe strongly in telling students the importance of the principle/movement we are working on, how it relates to the grand scheme of things, and then providing step by step instructions on how to do what I am asking. I feel that if the student doesn t know why they are being asked to do something, they will have a hard time figuring out how to correct the problem when I am not there. I strive to develop self-thinking and self-diagnosing riders. Another tool I use to achieve that is providing students with specific exercises that they can practice at home. For example, if the horse/rider combination is having trouble with sharp canter departs, I will have them leg yield from K towards a pair of cones positioned on the quarter line at R and ride the canter transition as they ride through the cones. The leg-yield provides more driving action from the hind leg for a bigger canter strike-off and the cones provide a visual preparation for the rider for the exact spot to canter. I have many, many take-home exercises that indirectly teach the riders how to solve problems. Additionally, I feel it is very important to take problems that arise and break them down into small areas to work on. If a student is having trouble with the shoulder-in, I break the shoulder-in down into rhythm of the gait, angle, bend, and suppleness. Independently, we tackle each one of those components to diagnose and improve the shoulder-in. 6

7 Training Philosophy I have numerous successes in and out of the show ring, which helps create my great depth of experience. Perhaps more importantly, I do not measure my success by trophies, medals and prize money, but instead, enjoy the happiness that comes from a correctly developed, rideable horse and sharing my experience with students and horses alike. I am patient, kind, encouraging and innovative. 7

Dressage Symposium in the Rockies May 20-24, 2017

Dressage Symposium in the Rockies May 20-24, 2017 Lars Petersen Axel Steiner Michael Klimke Steffen Peters Scott Hassler Lars Petersen Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21 Lars Petersen is a Danish dressage