Virginia’s long relationship with horses and people in the Tidewater is alive and well. Often, the picture many have of equestrian activities in the Commonwealth depicts a formal dress, fox chase complete with hounds and the great, enjoyable commotion of fast paced action. Runs through the countryside as a hapless fox eludes the hounds and those on horseback is a powerful Virginia tradition which remains part of the cultural landscape. Through the interests and efforts of our daughter, we are now aware of another form of equestrian competition, which brings out the individual grace and teamwork of rider and horse. The Dressage style of riding includes intense training in which rider and horse perform as one through a series of specific turns and maneuvers in response to spontaneous commands. From a layperson’s point of view, speed and steeplechase type performance are not what Dressage is about. Horse and rider respond to specific and precise movement orders under the watchful eyes of judges, trainers and coaches. Rider and horse spend many hours and sometimes days preparing for such an event with dedicated coaches and instructors, providing meticulous guidance. Many a proud parent, family member or friend watches anxiously in the background during Dressage competition. As a family we remain grateful and amazed at the focused training effort which Debbie Scripture of Scripture Farms in Mila, Virginia provides our daughter and others who train there for Dressage competition. 

     The Northeast Virginia Dressage Association (NEVADA) held their annual awards luncheon at Christchurch School on Sunday, January 8. Those honored included riders as young as 9 years old to those who are adults with busy careers and families. Included among those being honored were NEVADA President, Dr. Angela Stanaway who quickly moved to ”spotlight” to recognize key supporters of the organization including Volunteer of the Year, Victoria DeCamp. The following winners and their horse partners were honored and provided ribbons indicating their place in the past year’s NEVADA competition.

    Introductory Level Junior Rider Schooling- 1st place- Veronica Brennan and Artemis, 2nd place- Lindsey DeCamp and Mint Condition, 3rd place- Monica Rivara and This Buds 4 me, 4th place- Carter Sutton Aines and Golden Affection, 5th place- Leah Clark and Willie B Good, 6th place- Elizabeth Hudnall and Pilot in Command, 7th place- Brittany Scala and Flash Dancer, 8th place- Rachel Clark and Dottie West, 9th place- Kristina Brown and Dr. Suess.

Training Junior Rider Recognition- 1st place- Veronica Brennan and Funny Girl 
Training Level Junior Rider- 1st place- Sarah Groat and Stockholm Syndrome, 2nd place- Monica Rivara and This Buds 4 me, 3rd place- Victoria DeCamp and Cracker Jax, 4th place- Jeanne Bowen and Golden Affection, 5th place- Veronica Brennan and Wallymon, 6th place- Trica Brennan and Yosemite Sam, 7th place- Ruth Hedburg and To the Max, 8th place- Caitlin Bradley and Flash Dancer. 

First Level Senior Schooling-1st place- Renate Daigneault and Kaiser 
Introductory Level Senior Rider- 1st place- Anne Draine and This Buds 4 Me, 2nd place- Deb Evans and Funny Girl, 3rd place- Anne Draine and Oak Knoll Lady Lieutenant, 4th place- Janet Rivara and Gambit. 

Training Level Senior Rider Schooling-1st place- Angela Stanaway and Diamond Lucky Penny, 2nd place- Barbara Hope and Rocky Mountain High, 3rd place- Tracey Spinelli and BF Aris Pride, 4th place- Elizabeth Clark and Tiskitts Legionnaire.

© 2006 Steve & Chelly Scala All Rights Reserved