OEC lesson horse Trouble being ponied by OEC lesson horse Oliver.

One of the most amazing demonstrations over the CHA Conference weekend was provided by Scott Carter. Horsemanship at it finest was exemplified by Mr. Carter, as he provided instructional seminars such as "Knot Tying", "Dutch Oven Cooking", and "Teaching Your Horse to Pony". As the general manager, I pride myself in knowing the "ins and outs" of the barn and the horses within it. When Mr. Carter came to me with the idea of using our own OEC lesson horses in his demonstrations, I have to say, I was a bit nervous (you may notice me scratching my head in the background while all of the staff members look on in shock!). Not only did Mr. Carter want to use a horse to pony off of (not one of the "usual" exercises we use our lesson horses for), he wanted to teach one of them how to pack. Knowing that the CHA organization is composed of the "best of the best" in their fields, I trusted in the system and signed up OEC lesson horses Trouble and Oliver (owned by The Dilling Family) for the task. My fear was not that Mr. Carter didn't know how to handle the horses or what he was doing, but rather that our lesson horses would fall short of their requirements. Well, I was wrong! With in 15 minutes, Trouble was packed with a bale of hay, bag of grain, and all cooking supplies necessary for a weekend trip. Did I mention Mr. Carter also taught Trouble how to ground tie right outside of our feed room while he was weighing all of the supplies?!?

Once Trouble was packed for his "trip", the next step was to suit up his partner for the trail! Oliver was quickly desensitized to the lead rope trailing behind him before heading out, and off they went. No hesitations, no kicking out, the team just marched right out and headed to the trails! Oliver and Trouble traveled over a man-made bridge, hopped over logs, and walked next to fire, just as Mr. Carter asked. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

I will forever be amazed at the versatility of horses and what abilities they truly have. I learned so much from watching Mr. Carter work with our horses. His clear and concise aides and calm demeanor reaffirmed that working with horses is not rocket science, but rather confidence and practiced knowledge. Too often, we worry about the umbrella being opened ringside, the bag blowing the wrong way, or the jumps changing places in our home field, when in reality, a horse's response to a stimulus relies solely on how we approach it. Had I had my own way, I would have spent weeks prepping Trouble and Oliver for their tasks: tying ropes, caring weight, ponying one another. When in reality, confidence and clarity were all the preparation the horses needed. I am confident to say that we all learned a lesson in horsemanship from Mr. Carter that weekend, one I hope to take with me in all aspects of my instruction and training.

Colleen Davis
OEC General Manager/Riding Director

Riding a horse is 90% mental and 10% physical. The problem with that is that most instructors focus on the physical... so it's a good thing we have Daniel Stewart! During the Certified Horsemanship Association International Conference, Daniel gave clinics on how to overcome mental obstacles while riding. He set up eight jumps in different patterns and called out the course to the rider while they were cantering toward the first jump! During the course, Daniel would attempt to distract the rider by asking questions and making comments.

I personally had the opportunity to experience how difficult it is to successfully connect eight jumps while being distracted. It was one of the most eye-opening and self-realizing two hours I have ever spent on a horse. Coach Stewart shows the rider how to think fast, think safe, and how to stay focused on the course.

The techniques that Daniel teaches his students can benefit all aspects of their lives; they are all about self-discipline and how to not let the situation ruin your potential!

Daniel explaining the "simple" exercise. Just eight fences.	"OH! So close!"
Daniel congratulating the rider "on course"	Excited CHA instructor who finally got the exercise right!

Daniel Stewart has been a successful international trainer and instructor for over 20 years. In addition to the U.S., he’s trained riders in Spain, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, and the West Indies. From 2000 to 2006, he coached riders on several U.S. Equestrian Teams to success at World Championships, World Equestrian Games, and the Olympics. As the internationally-acclaimed author of “Ride Right”, he’s widely considered one of the world’s leading experts on equestrian sport psychology, biomechanics, and athletics. For more information about Daniel and his Ride Right Clinics, please visit his website at: www.stewartclinics.com, OR come ride with Daniel at The Oaks on March 18 and 19, 2011!

Beth Rehburg
OEC Team Member/Instructor

Lindsay with Cowgirl (owned by The Miller Family)

As a CHA-certified instructor, I was excited to be able to participate in the CHA International Conference. It was great to meet and get to know instructors and clinicians from all of the organization's various regions. I enjoyed working on my teaching technique and skills, while sharing ideas with, and learning from, the clinicians and other participants. It was gratifying to see our own OEC school horses being enjoyed by the lesson participants and the facility being enjoyed by all. It was also encouraging to spend time with people that have such a passion for the sport and the desire to invest into the next generation of riders. I am definitely looking forward to the next time I will get to be a part of the CHA conference again!

Lindsay Brown - CHA Level III Instructor (English and Western)
OEC Barn Manager

The hardest part about hosting any event is finding the right volunteers and support staff to make the event a success. At first glace, we thought the CHA Conference was going to be a simple task, using our own staff members and our own OEC lesson horses. As the numbers of participants began to grow and the clinician spots began to fill, we quickly realized we needed to reach out to the community for volunteers! In addition to The Oaks of Lake City residents, a multitude of people came out to lend a hand and even a horse or three! Within a few days of sending an email request and making a few phone calls, we had a full barn of horses for the mounted sessions and a slew of hands on deck for unmounted help! We are forever grateful to every one of you who gave your time, energy, and those who shared your equine partners with riders you did not know!

In addition to all of the volunteers and their horses, we offer a special thank you to all of our sponsors who provided funding and support to make this event cost-effective in a tough economy. The Holiday Inn of Lake City graciously supported the event by being the host hotel. Not only did they offer discount rates for the weekend, they also provided the venue for Thursday's welcome reception and Saturday's awards banquet. Thank you as well to McAlister Deli of Lake City for providing lunch both Friday and Saturday. We were also blessed to work with Harvey Campbell and his support staff at the Lake City/Columbia County Tourist Development Council. Without their efforts to reach out and use their resources, several special touches that made the event so memorable would not have taken place.

The event on a whole was a great success, and it would not have been possible without the support of the volunteers, the horses, and Lake City as a community.

Thank you!

The Oaks of Lake City & The Oaks Equestrian Center Staff

"Chip"	Chip with Jon before their lesson	Barn Manager Lindsay, getting some Chip lovin'

Have you ever heard of the sayings "small, but mighty" and "big things come in small packages"? Well, both sum up OEC Lesson Horse Mr. Chip. “Chip” is every young rider's dream and every anxious parent's guardian angel. He teaches the young, guides the new, and comforts worrisome parents. His big, brown eyes capture the hearts of many, and he makes it his goal to inspire his little riders. As his exercise rider, I think I appreciate him most of all, for what this one little pony has taught me about my own riding. Chip has brought to my attention many of my jumping shortcomings, and he has helped teach me how to be a safe and secure rider. My heart belongs to this little guy, and I’m not the only one who has fallen head-over-heels for this amazing animal. One of his younger riders states that, “trotting on Chip is like riding a rainbow!” In 2010, Chip was nominated for CHA School Horse of the Year and placed in the top five. For us, he will always be first!

Thank you to his owners, The LaDuke Family, for sharing this wonderful equine partner with us!

Chip's noble friend,
Rachel Tinsman
Instructors Assistant/Jr. Team Member

Another year come and gone, another Christmas Party full of fun! December 18th brought The Oaks of Lake City's Third Annual Christmas Party. A crowd of OEC members and event participants joined in fellowship and food, as we shared stories of the past year's activities and hopes of future events to come. An OEC tradition of a "white elephant exchange" took place shortly after the pot-luck dinner, in which participants of all ages swapped, traded, and stole gifts from other participants. A few of the night's hot items were board games, a stuffed horse, and a set of cards held in a luxurious wooden box. And who can forget the Santa cookie plate and illuminated candy canes?

This year, Santa even brought a little surprise for all of the horses. Each stall was decked with stockings and provided a great way for all of our boarders to share little notes with each other. Our "stall fairy" decorated each stocking with the horses' names, and throughout the few weeks leading up to Christmas, staff and OEC members were able to leave personal notes to the horses and their owners. What a great way to spread some holiday cheer!

The Oaks of Lake City continues to provide the best value in equestrian and lifestyle communities. With value-priced homesites, Signature Days makes a good deal GREAT! And with historically low interest rates, value pricing, and additional incentives, you can turn your dream into a reality in beautiful North Florida!

Current Signature Days Incentives through March 1, 2011:

• Receive $20,000 off any Equestrian Homesite
• Receive $10,000 off any Residential Homesite
  
  OR
  
  
• Instant Owner Financing
• 4% A.P.R. with 25% Down
• 5% A.P.R. with 20% Down
• 6% A.P.R. with 15% Down

*** Although there is no time limit to build, during Signature Days, The Oaks of Lake City will also invest an additional $20,000 into your new home on an equestrian homesite. Please contact us for full details; limitations apply. ***

More new website updates at www.theoakslakecity.com, with interactive maps and virtual tours!

As we start the New Year, we start looking at new ideas about how to shape and mold our Riding Center to best fit the community and its members. One of the recent changes to our Riding Center policies is that each member is no longer required to sign up for 10-week lesson packages. This change was made with the hope that any rider who might have been inhibited by the financial constraints of a package plan may now participate without any fear. Weekly lessons and alternative discounted package plans are now available as well. Please contact the main office for more details and to sign up!

For our Dual Members, we have widened your benefits for 2011! All Pony Club members will continue to receive a 10% discount on services provided by the OEC staff (lessons, training, OEC camps), just like last year. This year, our Dual Members will also have the added bonus of:

• Free stabling during ratings hosted by The Oaks.

• Discounted stabling during ratings hosted by other P.C. clubs (National Ratings do not apply)

• Invitation to clinics and events two weeks ahead of the general public (you get first dibs!)

• Ability to participate in our OEC Club lesson(s) at a prorated fee!

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone: # 386-755-1488.