Every morning one of the first things I do when I sit down at my computer is check the website www.dressagedaily.com. Mary Phelps does a remarkable job giving everyone up to date news on this free site. I just read with special interest about the recent Graduate Young Rider Program. Liza Sydnor passed on a lot of excellent info that she received at the program. I wanted to share a poem that speaker Carol Lavel had written and shared with everyone:

Give credit where credit is due,
Don't take credit when it's not about you.
Remember the dressage world is very small,
Fame comes to those who stand very tall.
Honor those who give you their time,
Boosting you so your star can shine.
When and if you climb to glory,
It's now time to write a new story
About sharing , giving, helping, support,
It's now your time to give back to your sport.

At the Youth Dressage Festival every year the judges speak to the riders at the evening dinner. Carol gave one of the best talks we have ever had. In a nut shell she told us all to stop complaining about riding in the extreme heat -- if you go to the Olympics you and your horse will have to deal with it. She was much more entertaining than I have been!