by Jessica Schroeder, USTA Outreach & Membership Enrichment Coordinator

Columbus, OH — A clinic will be held Oct. 22-23 in New Gloucester, Maine, for those interested in starting young horses as Dressage prospects.

The USDF Sport Horse Prospect Development Forum will cover topics such as good lounging techniques and putting the confidence in the horse for the first year under saddle. This is not only important for young horses just starting out, as this clinic is geared, but also for off-the-track horses who are newly being transitioned to saddle.

Attendees can apply to be a participant or register to audit on the USDF website, where additional details are also available.

Instructors for the clinic, held at Pineland Farms (for GPS, it is recommended to use 3 Weather Lane, Gray, ME), will be Scott Hassler and Willy Arts. For more information, contact Katherine Robertson at krobertson@usdf.org.

Since 1996, the Standardbred Equine Program has worked with owners of off-the-track Standardbreds to educate the general public about the many disciplines Standardbreds excel at once they are retired from racing. For more information about the SEP at the USTA, visit LifeAfterRacing.ustrotting.com, or send e-mail inquiries to sep@ustrotting.com.