| Ellen answers the question, "Where are the New 2017 Tests???"
 It is almost Christmas! I can tell because my office and my kitchen look like a bomb went off! Wrapping presents, baking and decorating cookies and making candy make a mess. Hopefully, I will get presents under the tree and treats boxed up and delivered by the time I have to put the turkey in the oven! I suspect that most of you are in the same situation.
I have been telling myself that we are “almost done” with the new tests for a month now! We wanted Santa to deliver them for Christmas. As of this minute, Santa is stuck in the chimney. He and I both need to go on a diet!
The board is reviewing the “final edits” for about the sixth time. Fortunately, the rest of the board knows their right from their left as I do not! I am urging the board to move as quickly as they can while ensuring that everything is just right. It is a delicate balance!
I have not given up hope that the new tests will be in your Christmas stockings! Thank you for your patience as we work to get everything as correct as possible. We will use these tests for four competition seasons so it is critical that we do our best at editing and reviewing.
This is the time of year that I count my blessings. The growth of WDAA and this wonderful discipline is so gratifying. The amazing World Championship Show at the Lazy E is a fantastic memory. The generosity of the board and the dedication of our great staff amazes me. You support of WDAA and Western Dressage is so gratifying. I am headed out to the barn to hug a horse and to share molasses cookies and homemade nut brittle with them.
The board and staff of WDAA send you our sincere wishes for a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukah, and a wonderful New Year!
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It has been a wonderfully warm fall here even if it is very dry. The past week or so has seen some very cold temps and snow. The horses have known all along that winter was coming sometime and are very, very furry. We bundled up to watch high school football; it was 20 degrees with wind! Our grandson played his last high school football game. Thanksgiving was wonderful with too much great food to eat and not enough willpower to resist. I predict a serious diet after the holidays!
Our first year…what a year it’s been for the WDAA Horse Lifetime Points and Awards Program! We’ve had 89 horses entered into the program, and already 14 of these horses have earned a Register of Merit award, two of which also earned Register of Achievement. The database software with its built-in intelligence was launched to record horses enrolled into the program, post their scores show-by-show, keep a tally of their points to display when they have reached a new award level, and have all of this information available for everyone to view on the WDAA website with just a couple of keystrokes. We also have made adjustments to the program following the launch to ease the requirements for enrolling horses in the program and to make it easier to access the program rules and other information, including the listing of horses and their points on the website. We will continue to monitor the forms, the site, and the program rules themselves to determine if and when additional modifications would be beneficial or are needed. We are dedicated to making this program enjoyable and rewarding for owners, riders, trainers, and of course…the horses.
The presentation of the new WD 2017 tests will be a little different than you are used to. There will be two versions of the test from which to choose. The tests will remain free of charge.
