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Gayle Lampe’s Almost Christmas Riding Clinic



William Woods University will host the Almost Christmas Riding Clinic with Gayle Lampe December 10-14, 2021 at William Woods. Participants should arrive Friday afternoon December 10th in time to ride at 5:00pm. We will all go to Beks to eat after we ride.

Your clinic fee will entitle you to 10 rides.  Any rides over that will cost $50 apiece.  You will ride one time Friday night.  Then you will ride two times on two of the  next three days and three times on one of those days.  You will ride two times on Tuesday morning and then the clinic will be over. Of course, we will go to lunch after riding!

We will visit a training barn, get lessons at another barn, or have a lecture in the classroom Saturday, Sunday, and Monday afternoons.

Possible field trips include visiting Bob Brison, Kent Swalla, Mike Aponte, Virgil Helm, Jimmy Simmons, High Spirits Farm, and Callaway Hills.  We can also go to the Saddle Horse Museum in Mexico.  All of the above are within a 25-minute drive of Fulton. In addition, if the weather permits we might take some walks so bring tennis shoes!

Please read Gayle Lampe’s Riding for Success both in and out of the Show Ring (revised edition) before coming to Missouri.  There will be other reading and viewing assignments during your stay.

We have an indoor arena 120’x 300’ with lights, a P.A. system, and heat so you will ride rain or shine! Students will tack up and cool out horses for you, but you might have to occasionally hold or walk a horse for a few minutes. My riders traditionally tip the grooms $10.00 for each horse that they tack up and cool out. The grooms only receive minimum wage and they really appreciate a little extra spending money before Christmas. 

The clinic fee is $680 for the whole time.  This does not include your meals or housing.  However, you can eat “good but cheap” in Fulton. 

We have nice motel accommodations. I recommend the Baymont Inn and Suites. Their rooms are $105 including tax for a standard room if you request the William Woods University rate or college rate. The cost is higher if you want an executive Jacuzzi suite. The phone number for the Baymont Inn and Suites is (573) 642-2600. Everyone who has stayed there says it is very nice. I think it is best to stay in Fulton in case the weather is bad! Another possibility is the Country Hearth in Fulton. The phone # is (573) 642-0077.  If you say, you are here for William Woods University business the rate for a single is $61.00 including tax. It is $5.00 more for an additional person. Both of these motels are very close to the barn, the Baymont is less than a mile away and the Country Hearth a little over a mile away. (The alumnae house on campus might be available – let me know if you are interested.  It cost $50 per room per night.  It has a full kitchen and a TV).  There also is the Loganberry Inn, a bed and breakfast that is a little over a mile away. If you tell them, you are with William Woods and you stay three or more night the rate is $89.00.  You can reach them (573) 642-9229 or toll free at 1-888-866-6661.  You can also visit them at www.loganberryinn.com or e-mail at [email protected]. Please note that the rates I have mentioned are subject to increases. I may not have the most updated information. A Holiday Inn Express opened in May 2018 in Kingdom City, 7 miles from the barn.  Their # is 573-310-6020.  William Woods has a rate of $125.10 plus tax, but you will need to ask for it.

A non-refundable $340 deposit to cover two days of the clinic is due by November 9th.  This will give me time to know how many student workers to hire; however, I will accept a deposit after that if a space is available. If you are unable to attend the clinic after sending your deposit, I will ONLY return it to you if there is someone on the waiting list who would like to take your place at the last minute. A maximum of 8 riders will be accepted at one time.  Your reservation for the clinic will be guaranteed in the same order as your deposit is received.  You should plan to stay the whole time to gain the maximum benefit from this clinic. 

You should make your plane reservations to St. Louis, MO.  There you can rent a car and Fulton is an easy one and a half hour drive from the airport.  You take Interstate 70 west to the Fulton exit where you will go south.  You could also take the MO express Limo (phone: 1-877-669-4826) from the airport to McDonalds Restaurant in Kingdom City, which is 7 miles from Fulton.  I can meet you there.  Another possibility is to fly to Columbia, MO, (phone: 573-847-7508) which is a 45 minute drive from Fulton.

The weather in Missouri can be very unpredictable in December, so please keep this in mind when packing.  It could be below zero or 60 degrees.  It will probably be in the mid 30’s.  The heated arena will not be below 40 degrees where you will be riding.

You should plan to wear jods, boots, and a tucked in shirt/blouse. Please no tank tops! A polo type shirt or turtleneck would be perfect. Of course, sweaters, sweatshirts, or jackets are fine during the cold weather, but ones that are not too loose fitting are preferred. Please wear gloves no matter what the weather is like. You do not need to bring your own saddle or whip, but you are welcome to do so if you wish.

I am expecting a full enrollment for this Winter Clinic, and I am sending out information to a lot more people than I have room for, so if you are sure you want to come please send your deposit now. Your clinic fee entitles you to 10 rides, but if there are extra horses, you might be able to buy additional rides for $50.00 each. I am requesting that if you are unable to stay for the full five days of riding you come for either the first half or the second half, so someone else can take your place when you are not here.  However, I will try to work with you if you must come during the middle of the clinic. Please understand I will give preference to those who want to attend for all five days, or to those who can find someone who wants to come the days they are not here, so I have eight people for all five days. Thank you for your cooperation with this matter. HOPE TO SEE YOU IN MISSOURI IN DECEMBER!

For more information, contact Gayle Lampe at 573-592-4395(office), 573-590-1221(cell), or email [email protected].

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