Is this a way to boost the # of participants for the freestyle to music

[freestyle2music]

20 years ago we introduced over here a new system to boost the # of competitors for the freestyle to music.

We have divided the Netherlands in Local, Regional, Provincial and National, that's nothing new. But... for every area we introduced a championship.

When you became local champion you were allowed to go to the regional championship and so on. The area with a higher number of registered riders could send 2, or 3 competitors to the next round.

But all these championships were decided by a regulair test PLUS a freestyle to music. So basicly in every class and area you only could select by riding both a regulair test and a freestyle to music.

This resulted in a big boost of the number of competitors at a freestyle to music competition AND... also at unrecognised shows, because the riders already had made a freestyle for the selectiontrials.

Just some thoughts MIKE ?

[canyonoak]

well, we already have regional championships...the problem in the U.S. is geography.

We used to have Insilco, a national championship head to head..but even back in the 1980s, the finances of getting horses to one central point proved a killer of that program.

Now, they are trying to revive this idea with a championship at Kentucky Horse Park, site of WEG 2010.

We'll see. Kentucky H.P. is already holding the national championships for Young Horse and for Developing Horse classes.

Insilco used to rotate, now there is a movement to ALWAYS hold everything at Kentucky HP--which will be a loong hard expensive trip for West Coast horses.

We'll see.

[FleetwoodStarr]

I've noticed (at least in my area) that the popularity of riding a freestyle is growing quite quickly.

[Mike Matson]

Theo,

My thought is you move to the U.S. and take charge. I figure you will give up on us crazy Americans in about a year and go back to Europe for better beer. ;)

[freestyle2music]

Theo,

My thought is you move to the U.S. and take charge. I figure you will give up on us crazy Americans in about a year and go back to Europe for better beer. ;)

No Mike I think you are on top of this, and are doing a hell of a job to help developing the FTM in the USA. And probably also "free of charge".

But why don't you try to get a budget from the USDF/USEF/USET and visit Germany and Holland to see with your own eyes how we run the show. You can be our guest any time. And I think you learn much more than going to the FEI Forum of the Freestyle to Music next october in Portugal.


Here is another link of a recent show we did to attrack people :

http://www.viddler.com/explore/snaketheweb/videos/859/

[preferred]

Region 8 is coming up along the lines you suggested in your original post:

Northeast Regional Adult Amateur TEAM Dressage Championships
Date: October 18 & 19, 2008

How to Qualify: Rider needs two scores from two different shows and two different judges fromany USDF dressage test of the entered level from October 17, 2007 to September 30, 2008. Thescore can be received from any competition, schooling or rated, in any test of the level. Scores
needed for each level. Qualifying Scores: 61% Training Level, 60% 1st level, 59% 2nd level, 58%3rd level and above. The judge for a schooling show competition must be a USDF “L” Graduate or any recorded USEF/FEI judge.

Competition: A team of three/four riders compete in any level USEF test on the first day of the competition, at the highest test of the level. These rides are conducted during the regular show. You can pay a double entry fee to compete both in the NRADC (pinned separately) and in the regular competition. The riders then compete in a freestyle test of their level on Sunday. (3 people could ride 4 horses, meaning one rides two, okay to
have only 3 team members, with no dropped score)

basically FREESTYLE is required even at training level to partake of this event.

full details: http://www.mysticvalleyhuntclub.com/mvhc_shows/event_forms/NRADC.pdf

[FleetwoodStarr]

Theo- I thought I read a recent post of your's claiming that the Dutch denounced costume freestyles as "circus like".

[FriesianX]

If you are trying to encourage more lower level freestyles, maybe we need easier access to the music! The thing that holds many of us up is the cost of having something edited and mixed for a lower level freestyle that we might be able to ride with for two years. If there were "pre-canned" 5 minute pieces or modular pieces we could easily mix and match without spending a fortune, I think more people would participate. Just my own opinion here ;)

[SaddleFitterVA]

This is an honest question.

How much does it cost, a dollar range, to have the music put together for a lower level dressage freestyle?

I should say, what is the least amount it could be purchased for, and still look decent for a horse?

[FriesianX]

A couple of years ago, there was a freestyle designer who did a clinic here, and quoted $600 to $1200 for the services, depending on whether you just needed music edited and spliced together, or needed choregraphy help too. That is a lot of $ for the average AA rider.

[preferred]

good points here:

How does one go about getting the "right" to use the music in a freestyle competition?

My friend has a CD of music put together she received from a freestyle clinic held locally by a well know freestyle trainer/designer but the CD has written on it "for the personal use of ___________________only, not to be used for demonstration or competition"

The GMO's play CD's handed in from riders, how does one distinguish between a legit copy and a personal copy?

Is this a real issue?

[SaddleFitterVA]

http://www.usdf.org/docs/competitions/handbook/Chapter8.A-Freestyle.pdf

The rules are here and do mention the rights to the music....and refer to another rule....

But, 600-1200 is a lot...I'd have to be stuck at first level a LONG, LONG time and still would probably never spend that kind of money to do a freestyle.

[preferred]

good general reference weblink but I was hoping for a more detailed answer from a freestyle rider who has actually gone through the process or knows how to go about it

[Mike Matson]

Freestyle designers, just like instructors, are providing a service which must cover their costs and make a profit. A quality freestyle may cost from $400 - $1,500 depending on the level and many hours/days are usually spent finding the music, editing it, creating the choreography, and working with the client to refine it. The cost is not that much different from paying a dressage instructor $60/hour, so freestyle designers should not be begrudged what they charge.

There are ways to reduce the cost. Music editing software is relatively inexpensive (some of it is free) and not that difficult to learn how to use. If you find the music that works for your horse, that reduces an expense if you decide to use a freestyle designer. The resources are available to do this on your own (check the "Resources" section on my web site www.equimusic.com). Jump in, give it a try, and save $. Nothing better than "dancing" with your horse with that perfect music. :)

P.S. Just wanted to add I'm not a freestyle designer. However, if I stay at a Holiday Inn, that could change. ;)

[preferred]

Mike,

interesting site. How does one get the rights to download and edit and use that music in competition? One person told me it is the same as paying the $1/song and downloading to your MP3. I doubt that covers us or does it?

[Mike Matson]

Theo,

Thank you for your invite. I'll go to Portugal first, then visit you so you can tell me what was wrong with what I heard at the FEI forum. :)

[Mike Matson]

preferred,

In the U.S. people have tried to go to the companies that grant permission to use music, but they never hear back since we are no more than a "blip" in the big picture for these companies in terms of revenue. At the national and international competitions this may be more of an issue due to the high visibility venues and television coverage. So at this point most people pay the MP3 download cost (or CD cost) and create a freestyle. So far the courts are not clogged with dressage riders "facing the music". :)

[Spiritpaws]

For riders wanting to do freestyles, but don't want to hire freestyle designers, or learn how to edit the music themselves, most studio time is between $75-$100 per hour. A basic first level freestyle with 5-10 edits should not take more than 1-2 hours in a studio.

[freestyle2music]

Theo,

Thank you for your invite. I'll go to Portugal first, then visit you so you can tell me what was wrong with what I heard at the FEI forum. :)

Probably we are going to introduce our new book about "riding and assessment of the freestyle to music" in Portugal.

Back on topic:

Maybee something to cut the costs : And it works over here, and yes I know it's most harder to let it work in the USA.

The last twenty year I made about 400 freestyles for the students of Coby van Baalen and Johan Hinneman. Ponyriders of 20 years ago are Olympic Riders now, Basic-level riders of many years ago are FEI-riders now etc....

All these 20 years of freestyles are put in what we call "van Baalens box of Pandora"

Students of de van Baalens who don't have a budget or don't want to invest money for a one time appearance in the ring can watch all these freestyle's an take their pick for their own competition. The original owner, meaning the one who paid the bills mostly accept a bottle of wine or a nice diner.

Theo

[preferred]

another good idea for music to to have a musically inclined friend or 2 create music for you. I'm lucky enough to work with a few members of a band who will come watch my ride and then create the music I want and the rythm should be a better match as they can match the tempo etc......

They offered when I had them watch the Blu Horz Matinee routine on youtube at work on a slow day...

[Mike Matson]

preferred,

Yes, that is a good idea. I also recommend people go to the music department of their local high school or college and see if their teachers or professors might know of anyone interested in a "special project" to create music for a "dancing horse". Those students are pretty computer savy too.

[Mike Matson]

Theo,

Did you read the story about Pandora's box? It doesn't have a happy ending, so you might want to use a different name. :) However, I do like your idea.