From The Chronicle of the Horse; November 20, 1964

Winds Reach Combined Training Center

1964

by Betsy Coester

Three is the charm especially with Colonel Lewicki at the helm. The Winds Reach Third Annual Combined Training Center was a total success in spite of record breaking heat. (July 9-Aug 16.) So stimulating was Colonel Lewicki that ten of the fourteen participants remained for the extra week when only three had planned to do so.

The fourteen members, some of which rode two horses, were worked in two groups, each group participating in two mounted sessions and a joint discussion session and lunging session daily.

Although faced with riders of widely varied previous experience and ability lev-els, Colonel Lewicki succeeded in produc-ing a uniform appearance and tremendous overall improvement in his pupils.

All groups were schooled in dressage, arena jumping and cross country. Four members were worked on the lunge each day. Through the lunge work, much signi-ficant improvement in use of seat and leg was made.

In addition to the generally improved riding skills, most participants departed with a working knowledge of the horse, his movements, needs (both mental and physical) his care, as well as an under-standing of how to achieve maximum har-mony with the horse. All realize that the achievement of this goal of harmony and precision lies in the future and comes as the result of slow progressive training.

Early morning found center members mounted and under instruction. Group I rode from seven to eight-thirty a.m. and group 11 from 8:45 to 10:15a.m. At eleven, members met for the lunging session. Two mares with foals at foot were used and four riders were lunged daily for 15 minutes each by Colonel Lewicki and Mrs. Coester. The discussion sessions followed the lunging and frequently lasted well into the lunch hour. Some of the topics cov-ered were conditioning, selection, stable management and feeding, riding dressage tests, riding jump courses and schooling.

Fortunately, a government recreation area boasting a sand beach and uncrowded swimming area is located four miles from Winds Reach. Across the lake there is uninterrupted woodland with quiet brok-en only by fun and occasional waterskiers. So everybody, including the Colonel, left boots at home and headed for the beach in the afternoon.

Early dinner was followed by evening riding sessions, which were followed by stable check, snacks and lights out, a self imposed curfew.

Films on Dressage, International show jumping, Three day events and the Rome Olympics, followed evening riding sessions on three nights. One evening was spent analyzing films taken during the first and second week of the course by our dis-mounted members. These were of real interest and value. Each film was shown twice in slow motion so that everyone could see themselves, analyze and be ana-lyzed. These films underlined the im-provement made and pointed up the prob-lems to be worked out.

During the third week of the Center we attended an auction, looking, of course, for the ideal horse, but finding mostly local color in the Amish settlement of Ka-lona. We also attended a University con-cert featuring John Ferrell, a Center member, as solo violinist. The final after-noon of the third week, the most energetic and youthful members participated in a local horse show where the elders solicited contributions for USET to add to donations of Center members.

The first Center party was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fluegel. Mr. Fluegel is the active spearhead of a polo group in the area. The farewell party was held at Winds Reach. Individual critique cards were given out and discussed with each member. The certificates were awarded with a final talk from Colonel Lewicki. An award was given to the member who had made the greatest improvement during the Center. The award went this year to Miss Evamarie Kayser of Germany and France who arrived here on July first from London to stay at Winds Reach for two years as a working pupil. Eva, who speaks six languages and holds a Chemistry degree from the Sorbonne, plans to make her career with horses.

E.G.C.

Center participants were: Mr. & Mrs. James Counts, Cincinnati, Ohio; Michele Counts, Cincinnati, Ohio; Bill Counts, Cincinnati, Ohio; Miss Sally Vierling, Chicago, Ill.; Miss Susan McElhinney, Bluemont, Va.; Mr. Stephen Groat, Cam-den, S.C.; Mr. John Ferrell, Iowa City, Iowa; Miss Lucille Wathier, Sioux City, Iowa; Miss Evamarie Kayser, Iowa City, Iowa; Mrs. Charles Drollinger, lowa City, Iowa; Miss Nan Norton. Waco, Texas; Scott Waldner, Leavenworth, Kan.; Todd Waldner, Leavenworth, Kan.; Mrs. Fritz Coest-er, Iowa City, Iowa; Janet Coester, Iowa City, Iowa.