Lightness Foundation May 2014 Newsletter

SUPPORT THE LIGHTNESS FOUNDATION!

Show your continued support for the Lightness Foundation by becoming a member or renewing your membership. Information regarding the memberships can be found by clicking here.

You can also show your support by purchasing a polo shirt. We are asking for a $50 donation. Look great and help us by advertising at the same time! Email us at for more information and sizes.

The Day 3 Years Came Together in 20 Minutes

By Wendy Dinnerstein

I have dreamed of someday owning a horse like Nativo: athletic, brave, sensitive kind expressive and of course FANCY. Fancy is how I describe his dramatic movement. Nativo and I are in the very beginning phases of our relationship together; we have only 8 rides together. I’m sure there are many lessons he will teach me and much that we have to learn about each other. Now that that dream has come true, I also know that my timing and skill is not that of my teacher’s and I have decided that because Nativo is so talented and sensitive this training is best done by Manuel. Lucky for both of us, he is willing to do that for us. I am very grateful that I was able to see this session for myself.

Click here to read the full article by Wendy Dinnerstein

COLORADO LIGHTNESS TOURNAMENT 2014!!

We are hosting the Lightness Tournament once again in Colorado. The tournament will be held on August 30 - 31 2014 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden, CO. Please go to the website for all of the details. The show premium and entry form will be available soon!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

We want to get feedback from you about our newsletter so we can continue to make it better and give you the information you want.
-What do you like?
-What don't you like?
-What other subjects or sections would you like to see added?

Any other comments, questions or thoughts would be great!! We look forward to hearing from you. Click here for our email

UPDATES TO THE LIGHTNESS AND GAMES TESTS AND RULES

The Lightness Foundation has had two lightness tournaments and participated in a show in the last year. Since we are constantly striving for excellence, we have made a few updates to the tests, score sheets and rules of the Lightness and games classes.

We have added a presentation score to the lightness and games classes. We feel that following the traditions of the tack and attire for the discipline you have chosen to represent is very important. We also feel that presenting your horse clean, clipped and mane/tail groomed according to the discipline is just as important.

We are going to now allow the riders to see their scores from technical composition and artistic presentation in the lightness tests. We feel that allowing the riders to see these scores will help them know what they performed well and the areas that can be improved.

Here are the links to the new tests, score sheets and rules. All of the changes are in red:
Lightness Tests
Lightness Rules
Game score sheets
Game rules

LIGHTNESS TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

We have created a video of some of the classes from the 2013 Colorado Lightness Tournament. The video shows quick examples from each of the classes or disciplines. We have links for a full class example on our website. Enjoy!

Click here to view the video

ARTICLE OF THE MONTH

Riding in Lightness with Manuel Trigo: Liberating Resistance

Three Resistances, Three Horses, Three Riders

Once Trigo’s “Lightness” ridden clinic begins in Phoenix, Arizona, he reminds us that “Lightness” is a perspective that embraces both a means and a goal. Lightness is a means, in the sense that we must handle the horse lightly if we expect him to respond lightly. Lightness is also a goal toward which we work as we make the horse light to the aids.

Click here to read the article

UPCOMING EVENTS

The following are clinics being given in the next month:

Lightness, Proof of Balance III of IV - May 10-11
4 Winds Equestrian Center, LLC
9031 Hwy 337
Estancia, NM 87016

Long Reins Clinic May 24 -25
OKJEN FARM
2263 E Hemmi RD
Bellingham,WA 98226

Seminar -- Lightness, Proof of Balance May 31 - June 1
Hampton Inn & Suites
Los Angeles Burbank Airport
7501 North Glenoaks Boulevard
Burbank, CA 91504

For more information on these clinics, click here.

Another clinic being hosted in Colorado:

Dominique Barbier Clinic - May 30 - June 1
Hilltop Stables, Indian Hills, Colorado
Click here to download flyer

Q&A of the Month

Q: When are the next Lightness Tournaments?

A: The next Lightness Tournament will be held in Colorado August 30 - 31 2014 at Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Then we will host a Lightness Tournament in Arizona on January 24 - 25 2015 at Loma Vista Farm.

You can find the detailed information as well as the premium, entry form and closer to the event the schedule by going to our website.

Q: Is there a video on Youtube or somewhere else where I can see the Lightness Level I test?

A: Of course, yes! We have video links available on our website under Lightness Tournaments. Click here for the link

Q: I missed a couple of the newsletters. Where can I find the articles or previous newsletters?

A: The articles and newsletters are now on our website. Go to Promotional and you will have the option of choosing links, articles or newsletters.

Q: I'm an active member of the Lightness Foundation. As a member, do I have any discounts on Manuel Trigo's clinic or seminars?

A: As a member of the LF, there are not discounts on the clinics or seminars. However, you do received discounts on the books that Manuel has written for the seminars. You also received discounts on the Lightness Tournament entries.

If there are any questions you would like answered, please send them to info@lightnessfoundation.com

MEMBER OF THE MONTH

The member of the month for May is Beth Beymer!

When asked about her first memory of riding a horse, this was her response:
I have been horse crazy ever since I can remember. When I was ten years old my mom had a horse for about one year (we lived in the San Fernando Valley in California.) Named Rex, he was a big, chestnut gelding with a white blaze. She would let us ride him from time to time. I begged for a horse every Christmas.

Want to know more about ? Click here

HERO OF THE MONTH

Our May hero of the month is Marianne Click. She has been instrumental in organizing clinics in Texas. She is also the inspiration for bringing a Lightness Tournament to Texas in 2015!

Click here to read about this month's hero

Visit our website to learn more about upcoming events, clinics and tournaments.

www.LightnessFoundation.com