Aiken, SC (December 19, 2014) – Custom Saddlery added another star-studded name to its line-up of riders, this time welcoming Swedish Olympian Patrik Kittel to the list of equestrians that prefer Custom Saddles. As an American based company— and the Official Saddle of the United States Olympic Dressage Team— Custom has been gaining popularity in Europe and has expanded operations to include a base in Holland. The inclusion of Kittel as one of Custom’s MVRs (Most Valuable Riders) is a result of the company’s European expansion.

Kittel is a highly decorated rider. He rode for Sweden at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he and Floresco placed fourth in the team dressage. He also competed as an individual at the 2012 London Olympics with Watermill Scandic. In May, Kittel and Toy Story won the 2014 Swedish National Dressage Championships in Ericsberg, Sweden, and later competed in the CHIO Aachen for Sweden. Kittel also dominated at the CDI Falsterbo, winning the CDI 5* Grand Prix with Deja— a 2004 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Silvano x Don Schufro)—with a 75.34%, and the CDI 3* Grand Prix with Watermill Scandic HBC— a 1999 KWPN stallion (Solos Carex x Amiral)— with a score of 74.94%.

Custom Saddlery is a top choice of dressage riders like Kittel around the world. The company’s saddles are loved by Olympic competitors, professionals, and amateurs alike. With countless options for customizing fit and styles, the saddles work well on all breeds; in fact, Custom Saddlery is the Official Saddle of the Tempel Lipizzans. “We know how valuable each and every horse and rider really are,” explained Cary Wallace, President and Master Saddlefitter at Custom Saddler. The company’s fourteen saddle models and at least twenty model variations help every rider to perform at their best, while showing off their own unique styles.

Custom Saddlery offers a wide variety of innovative dressage saddle designs to meet the demands of a full spectrum of rider and horse body types. The company provides countless ways to customize a saddle specifically for an individual horse and rider’s needs and preferences. Custom also provides professional saddle fitting services, and manufactures beautiful accessories including stirrup leathers, girths, and saddle pads. For more information about Custom Saddlery, visit www.mysaddle.com, call 1-800-235-3865, or visit their European site at http://www.customzadels.nl.

Photo: Custom Saddlery welcomes Patrik Kittel as a new Custom Saddlery MVR- Most Valuable Rider. (Photo credit Sara Hellner Photography)

International sports personalities have paid homage to HRH Princess Haya, who on 14 December stepped down as the FEI President after eight years in the role. The newly elected FEI President Ingmar De Vos lead the tributes to Princess Haya, who was appointed FEI Honorary President with the unanimous approval of the FEI General Assembly last Sunday.

“Princess Haya is a visionary who has transformed the FEI into a modern, transparent, agile and highly respected sports organisation over the past eight years,” De Vos said. “Thanks to her energy and commitment, the FEI is a valued member of the Olympic movement.

“The FEI Solidarity programme, based on the hugely successful Olympic Solidarity model to help the development of equestrian sport globally and, in particular the National Federations with the greatest need, is now fully operational. In the last few years the FEI has signed very valuable long-term commercial partners, including the Swiss watchmaker Longines. The contribution made by Princess Haya to equestrian sport is immeasurable.”

Jacques Rogge, Honorary IOC President, summed up Princess Haya’s commitment to the Olympic Movement in a special video message played during the FEI Awards Gala 2014 presented by Longines last weekend: “Your Royal Highness, may I thank and congratulate you on your great leadership at the head of the FEI. As a President and as an Olympian, you put the safety and welfare of riders and horses first, and have extensively supported emerging countries.

“In close collaboration with the IOC, the equestrian events at the Games have contributed very much to the success of the overall Olympic programme. You creatively broke new ground with the Youth Olympic Games.

“I want to thank you very much for the invaluable support you gave to the IOC, both as an IF President and as an IOC member. You have the elegance and wisdom to leave at the peak of your career. I know that your great passion for sport will not fade away and that you will continue your splendid humanitarian work for the United Nations. I wish you a happy life and success in all your endeavours.”

IOC President Thomas Bach echoed his predecessor’s sentiment in a personal letter to Princess Haya sent on the day she stepped down as FEI President. The IOC President, who presented Princess Haya with the Trophy of the International Olympic Committee during last week’s IOC Session in Monaco, offered Princess Haya his “most sincere gratitude, both personally and on behalf of the IOC for your outstanding contribution to the International Equestrian Federation and to the entire Olympic Movement”.

“You have had an exceptional journey within the international equestrian community both as an athlete and as a leader at the FEI. Your role as an IOC member and on the IOC Athletes’ Commission has enabled athletes to have an important voice within the Olympic Movement and we would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your invaluable contribution and numerous achievements during your term as President of the FEI.”

He went on to express his confidence “that the excellent partnership between our organisations will continue over the next editions of the Olympic Games”, before stating that he hoped “very much that our paths will cross again”.

The Olympian

Princess Haya, who represented her native Jordan in Jumping in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, was elected FEI President in 2006 in the first-ever contested election for the FEI Presidency. She became the 13th and third consecutive female FEI President, and the second female FEI President to have competed as an Olympic equestrian athlete.

The Olympic Movement and the place of equestrian sport in it have always been of central importance to Princess Haya. Active on the IOC Athletes as well as Culture and Olympic Education Commissions since 2005, she was elected as an IOC Member in July 2007. She has since been a member of five further IOC Commissions.

Solidarity in sport
In 2010, Princess Haya was re-elected in a landslide victory in the first contested election involving a serving FEI President.

Just months later, she launched FEI Solidarity, the global sport development programme based on the Olympic Solidarity model, which provides opportunities for the next generation of athletes and those working in equestrian communities, and helps National Federations to build their own national structures for developing equestrian sport. The FEI Solidarity programme has so far supported over 65 projects worldwide with funds as well as technical and consultancy services.

The partners

Commercial opportunities gathered pace during Princess Haya’s second term as FEI President.

In December 2012, Longines became the FEI’s first Top Partner following the agreement of a historic, long-term partnership, which also saw the Swiss watchmaker become the Official Timekeeping Partner of the FEI. This followed the relationship already established with fashion designer to Hollywood stars Reem Acra, title sponsor of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League and the overall series Final.

Reinvigorating equestrian sport to ensure it continues to appeal to global media and growing mainstream audiences has also been key, and the most palpable illustration of this has been the transformation of the world’s oldest outdoor team Jumping event, the FEI Nations Cup™, which was first held in 1909.

The series was given a new, more global format in 2013 thanks to a €16 million four-year sponsorship package from the Saudi Equestrian Fund, and renamed the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping. The series, which enters its third season in 2015, has been a resounding success, with 40 nations expected to take part next year.

Securing increased broadcast coverage of equestrian sport has always been high on Princess Haya’s agenda, and just two weeks ago the FEI agreed an eight-figure broadcast distribution renewal with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and IMG until 2022 that will generate markedly increased coverage of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events.

A further important multi-year broadcast deal was also recently signed with Sky Mexico. The new six-year agreement not only secures the long term on-screen presence of equestrian sport across Mexico and the emerging Central American and Caribbean regions, but also substantially increases coverage of the FEI’s Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines in these territories.

The FEI has developed a strong partnership with the leading broadcaster CNN in order to launch the series of programmes and news features called CNN Equestrian on World Sport.

Future-proofing

Future-proofing the FEI as equestrian sport grows rapidly around the world has also been a major focal point for Princess Haya.

The FEI Clean Sport programme, established in 2010 to safeguard the integrity of equestrian and guarantee a level playing field, got its best endorsement at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games where all human and equine samples tested negative. With rigorous testing alongside a comprehensive education programme, FEI Clean Sport will ensure that current and future generations of athletes and their support teams are fully aware of their commitments to protect their own health, the health of horses and fair play in the sport.

Huge efforts by the FEI veterinary team working with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities on the improvement of international movement of sport horses resulted in a major breakthrough this May with the acceptance of the High Health High Performance horse concept.

The creation of the International Horse Sports Confederation, the first formal vehicle for co-operation between the world’s leading governing bodies for equestrian sport, is also designed to ensure that all organisations working within horse sport share best practice.

Equestrian family

Princess Haya has focused on building the FEI Family by bringing together the FEI’s 133 National Federations, underlining the importance of strong governance, transparency and integrity.

She introduced the FEI Athlete Representative position for the FEI’s Technical Committees, and this year for the first time in the FEI’s 93-year history the athletes themselves had the opportunity to vote for their Athlete Representatives.

German Jumping legend Ludger Beerbaum, who has won four Olympic, four world and 11 European medals, and has led the FEI World Individual Jumping Riders Rankings, now known as the Longines Rankings, said in a moving video message addressed to Princess Haya: “On behalf of the riders I would really like to thank you very, very much for what you have done in the past years for our sport and in just two terms. We would have loved to have a third one, and we thank you so much for all you’ve done and all the best for the future.”

In 2012, the first FEI Sports Forum took place, encouraging National Federations and FEI stakeholders from around the world to take part in wide-ranging debates on the progression of equestrian sport. This is now an annual event, with the next edition taking place 27-28 April 2015.

Betty Wates, President of the Equestrian Federation of Jamaica, sent a heartfelt message to Princess Haya. “My wonderful friend,” she wrote “You have done a great job. The Caribbean and developing countries have been able to grow through the FEI Solidarity program, which is your brain child. You have made yourself accessible to all of us and have made the FEI a real family.”

FEI Headquarters

Princess Haya has also donated state-of-the-art headquarters to the FEI in the Olympic Capital Lausanne (SUI), home to the International Olympic Committee as well as many international sports organisations. The building, named after her late father HM King Hussein I, has allowed the FEI to expand its team of professionals and improve services to the global equestrian community.

“Following in Princess Haya’s footsteps is an honour but also a great challenge,” newly elected FEI President Ingmar De Vos concluded. “She has shown us the road to success and I am committed to advancing our sport and our organisation with faith in the future, with honesty, integrity, and most importantly in unity. The FEI Family owes Princess Haya an enormous debt of gratitude and I see it as my duty to preserve her legacy.”

Photo Caption: HRH Princess Haya pictured with the newly elected FEI President Ingmar De Vos (BEL) on 14 December 2014, the day she stepped down as the FEI President after eight years in the role. Princess Haya handed the FEI Presidential pin over to the new President during a brief ceremony which followed the General Assembly. (FEI/Liz Gregg)

Held at VanKampen Arena, The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, Wellington, FL

Wellington, FL – December 19, 2014 – Silent auditors are welcome to attend the rapidly approaching fourth annual 2015 Robert Dover HorseMastership week sponsored in part by Dressage for Kids (D4K.) The clinic will be taking place in the VanKampen Arena at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, home of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival, on January 3-7, 2015. Auditors are asked to make a daily donation of $25 to D4K in exchange for the excellent educational opportunity that this clinic will provide! Auditors can register at the door each day and receive a wristband for auditing.

This year’s clinic will feature 16 invited riders and 8 invited participating auditors from across the country. The riders are: Kerrigan Gluch, Rachel Chowanec, Bronwyn Cordiak, Allie Cyprus, Mallory Kent, Hannah MacCabe, Claire McNulty, Molly Paris, Cassie Schmidt, Rosie Simoes, Regan Walsh, Bebe Davis, Kallie Beckers, Mattie Zepernick, Ashleigh Conroy-Zugel, and Ayden Uhlir. The participating auditors are: Julia Barton, Hanna Benne, Jennifer Foulon, Eliza Gardner, Madison Lacy, Alexa Perkins and Emma Szegvari.

The basic schedule for this clinic is as follows:

Saturday, January 3, 2015:

Instructors: Robert Dover, George Williams, Charlotte Bredahl-Baker
Presenters: Robert Dover (Introductory Lecture) Dr. Shanna Chase, DVM
Additional: Mikerlange Barthelemy, Morning fitness; Barn tour

Sunday, January 4, 2015:

Instructors: Laura Graves, Robert Dover
Presenters: Don Later (farrier); Charlie Tota of the Dressage Connection (saddle fitting)
Additional: Jennifer Kotylo, Morning Pilates workout

Monday, January 5, 2015:

Instructors: Debbie McDonald, Adrienne Lyle
Presenters: Beth Heist of Horse of Course (bits); Lisa Slade of The Chronicle of the Horse (media); Dr. Laura King (sports psychology)
Additional: Mikerlange Barthelemy, Morning fitness

Tuesday, January 6, 2015:

Instructors: Robert Dover, George Williams, Adrienne Lyle
Presenters: Janet Foy, USEF/FEI “S” Judge (From the Judge’s Perspective)
Additional: Jennifer Kotylo, Morning Pilates workout

On Wednesday, January 7, 2015, each rider will choose a test to ride in our schooling show. Janet Foy will judge the tests and give the riders a short feedback session immediately following the test to help the riders determine where they could have ridden the test a bit better to increase their score. Meanwhile, Charlotte Bredahl, also a USEF/FEI “S” judge, will have the remainder of the group on the sidelines giving commentary about the test while it is happening to help educate the group about what judges are looking for in competition.

This clinic is generously sponsored by a long list of contributions. We are extremely grateful to Dressage 4 Kids (D4K) for sponsoring the essence of this clinic; Kim Boyer and Hampton Green Farm for sponsoring the arena space for the clinic and the Tuesday evening party for participants; Mark and Katherine Bellissimo for donations of the facility and facility maintenance teams.

Gift Bag sponsors include: Charlie Tota and The Dressage Connection (coolers and saddle pads;) Beth Heist and The Horse of Course (jackets and vests;) White Fences Equestrian Center/Adam Pollak (shirts;) Palm Beach Riding Academy/WEF (gift bags;) Michelle and Show Chic (shirts and hats;) and Tracy Trevorrow of Equine Design Photograpghy (gift certificates.)

Horse Sponsors: Cheryl Holekamp, Liz Austin, and Devon Kane

Lunch Sponsors: Anne Sushko, Ayden Uhlir, Sonia Zugel

General Sponsors: Gold Coast Feed (bedding;) SPF Video Services (videos;) Kristin Cordiak (embroidery.)

Housing for participants: Janet Foy, Paula Runnells, and Ayden Uhlir

We would also like to thank all of the instructors and presenters who are donating all of their time and efforts to make this clinic happen. Without your generosity, this would not be possible. Thank you also to all of the volunteers who work behind the scenes to make this clinic a resounding success!

There are still sponsorship spots available! We are looking for individuals who would like to assist in sponsoring the clinic by helping to subsidize the videoing of the lessons for this clinic. It is invaluable for these riders to have access to being able to review these lessons after the actual rides, and we have a team available to video the rides, and we need your help to make this a realistic possibility for all the participants. Any amount will help, and all donations are tax deductible contributions to D4K (Dressage for Kids.)

For more detailed information about the sponsoring the videos, or the clinic schedule, watch Robert Dover’s Facebook page or email Annie Cizadlo, organizer directly at kodester1@yahoo.com. We look forward to seeing you at the clinic!

Please visit ESP or call 561-793-5867 for more information on the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce plans for the 2015 USEF Dressage Youth Program. Under the direction of recently named USEF Dressage Youth Coaches George Williams and Charlotte Bredahl-Baker, the revamped Youth Program will incorporate expanded support for the Platinum Performance/USDF Jr/YR Clinics, rider meetings, coaching support at major events, Outreach Clinics, and a Young Rider European Tour. The USEF Youth Dressage Program is part of the overall pipeline of the USEF Dressage Program which is supported by the USET Foundation.

Taking place once again in each of the nine USDF Regions, the Platinum Performance/USDF Jr/YR Clinics will provide educational opportunities for youth riders age 14-21, and riders 12 and 13 years old riding FEI ponies. These clinics will be alternately led by Williams, Bredahl-Baker, and other highly respected instructors. Also continuing in 2015 will be rider meetings held at competitions where the coaches are in attendance and coaching support at the NAJYRC, U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp., and the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals.

“I am very excited to be a part of this growing program and look forward to sharing my years of experience as rider, trainer, and international judge with the American youth,” said Bredahl-Baker.

New additions to the Program will include Outreach Clinics and a Young Rider European Tour. Outreach Clinics will be held in areas of the country which are either ‘hot spots’ for youth dressage, or areas identified as needing dressage promotion. With the goal of promoting and exposing elite-level U.S. Young Riders to international competition, the Young Rider European Tour will send two Young Riders to attend National and FEI competitions in Europe.

George Williams (Photo Credit:Sharon Packer)

“Our goal is to build a more comprehensive program that not only ties together existing programs, but fills in the gaps and adds new dimensions, taking us to a world-class level,” said Williams. “The Outreach Clinics will bring dressage to more of our youth around the country, while the European Tour will inspire our top young dressage riders by providing an opportunity to compete head-to-head against their peers abroad.”

Complete 2015 USEF Dressage Youth Program Information and Coaches Schedule can be found here.

From the USEF Communications Department

Rebecca Hart and Schroeters Romani prepare for their FEI Para Team Test

Wellington, FL – December 17, 2014 – Rebecca Hart and Schroeters Romani shined Saturday afternoon during the Polar Express show held at the White Fences Equestrian Center in Loxahatchee, Florida. The talented duo rode to the score of 78.382 percent for the FEI Para Team Grade II test during the national show, kick starting their season as they prepare for the Global Dressage Festival CPEDI3* in January 2015.

Hart traveled to Florida in early December to work with Wellington-based international dressage trainer Todd Flettrich out of Cherry Knoll Farm, which is also a partial owner of Romani. Hart and Flettrich have worked consistently on warm-up and preparation with Romani after taking a break from showing when the mare returned from the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy, France. White Fences offered the ideal venue for Hart to prep for the upcoming CPEDI3*.

“She felt really good,” Hart smiled. “We wanted to come out and use this show as a schooling session to get her ready for the CPEDI3* that we have in about three weeks. I just wanted to get her out and about because she had a little bit of a break after WEG. This was her first time out at a recognized show since then.”

Hart continued, “I am really happy with the direction we are going. She was looking at the atmosphere and looking at everything, but she was able to keep her focus, which was really nice. We are definitely growing as a pair. I am more confident in my ability and my cues with her. It’s nice to be able to give her that confidence.”

The pair rode a fluid test with great relaxation and expression, and they earned the highest score of the weekend at White Fences. Hart, a two-time Paralympic dressage rider, has her eyes set on the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There are still many more strides to make before their journey to the podium, but Hart feels confident in their growing partnership.

Rebecca Hart and Schroeters Romani rode to the high score of 78.382% during the Polar Express Show at White Fences.

“Leading up to the next event, I have been working on getting the rhythm, the cadence and the relaxation in order to sustain it through the test. I am working on really getting her to focus on me during the ride. I want to get us into our own little bubble out there so that we can block out everything. We are really going in the right direction, and I want to keep building on what we did here. I think this is a good baseline, but we can be even better,” Hart concluded.

The success for Cherry Knoll Farm didn’t stop with Hart, however. In Charlottesville, Virginia, Katie Cooper and Sandlot captured their second First Year Green Working Hunter Championship in two weeks. They showed at The Barracks Horse Show, putting in four consistent rounds over fences to take home two first place ribbons, two second place ribbons and a fourth in the under saddle.

“It was very good competition this week,” Cooper said. “There were so many people that the schedule was delayed and we had to show much later than expected, but I think it was a good test for his maturity. He handled it really well. Truthfully, he jumped probably the best he has ever jumped. He was very careful, thoughtful, he measured and really made it easy. He was a delight and really is just the best jumper.”

For more information on Cherry Knoll Farm, please click here

Media Contact: Kendall Bierer
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com

REEM ACRA FEI WORLD CUP™ DRESSAGE 2014/2015 – Round 5

Olympia, London (GBR), 17 December 2014

Photo Caption: Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro produced a performance close to perfection when winning tonight’s fifth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League at Olympia in London (GBR) with yet another world-record-breaking score. (FEI/Kit Houghton)

by Louise Parkes

Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro produced a performance close to perfection when winning tonight’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League qualifier at Olympia in London (GBR) with yet another world-record-breaking score. They set the previous record at the same venue 12 months ago when posting a mark of 93.975, but this evening earned 94.300 for an even more spell-binding display of harmony between horse and rider. And this latest triumph came just 24 hours after the dynamic duo beat their own world record in the Grand Prix in which The Netherlands‘ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover also had to settle for runner-up spot.

Dujardin admitted tonight that Valegro’s performance this evening almost brought her to tears. “When we were doing the last piaffe/passage I was welling up and I had to say to myself don’t cry, don’t cry!” she said. “He tries so hard to get it right, it’s an incredible feeling when you go in there in front of all those thousands of people and he just wants to perform and to give you his best”, she added.

A little history

There was a starting field of 14, and The Netherlands‘ Katja Gevers and Thriller took the early lead with a score of 72.276 before Irish national champion, Judy Reynolds, made a little history as the first rider from her country to qualify for the Freestyle at the prestigious British fixture, posting a creditable 70.000. Talented young German, Soenke Rothenberger, was out in front at the halfway stage with Favourit on a mark of 77.825, but that would only prove good enough for sixth place at the end of a magical night.

Gal gave it his best shot with Glock’s Undercover, but after a solid start the horse’s tension increased to leave them on a final score of 83.550, and Dujardin and the 12-year-old gelding she calls Blueberry just blew that away when following with a stunning test during which they picked up 25 maximum scores of 10. From the moment they set off, horse and rider were as one, gliding seamlessly from movement to movement and perfectly synchronised to their musical score from “How to train your dragon”. The first time they performed to it was last April when they added the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2013/2014 title to the staggering list of successes they have racked up during their relatively short career together. But tonight their musical interpretation was in a different league altogether.

Hit everything on time

“I felt that I got into the music and he got into the music, and it felt like everything seemed to flow and to fit, and I hit everything on time” Dujardin said afterwards. The crowd thought so too, rising to give the phenomenal partnership a standing ovation.

Ground Jury President, Great Britain’s Stephen Clarke, said “I didn’t honestly think we’d get that feeling again. In 2009 Edward (Gal) broke the world record here and it was the most magical evening I can ever remember, then Charlotte does it tonight and it’s just out of this world! I don’t know what it is about this show, but the horses are incredible here!” he pointed out.

He teased Dujardin about her spectacular performance. “The walk tonight wasn’t quite as relaxed…and there was 9.5 for paces, 10 for harmony, 10 for choreography, 9.5 for difficulty and 10 for the music. Charlotte you’d better sharpen up a bit!” he said.

Runner-up, Gal who was 2010 series champion with the great Totilas, joked that he needs to “practice a little bit more – I’m just 10% behind!”, while Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, whose third-place finish tonight with Unee BB leaves her sharing the lead on the Western European League table with fellow-countrywoman Fabienne Lutkemeier, said “I haven’t had a world record breaking feeling yet, but I’m working on it!”

The Netherlands’ Danielle Heijkoop steered Siro NOP into fourth ahead of Dujardin’s great friend and mentor Carl Hester whose 10-year-old gelding, Nip Tuck, was the youngest horse in the competition.

Dressed as a chicken

Dujardin first appeared under the spotlights at Olympia back in 1996 when taking part in the traditional Christmas finale – dressed as a chicken. She cut a rather more elegant figure tonight sitting on the fabulous 12-year-old gelding who has more than realised all her dreams.

“When I first started Grand Prix I had three goals” the 29-year-old rider explained, “to ride at Olympia, be on a team with Carl (Hester) and to get to London (2012 Olympic Games). The first year I got here I won and I couldn’t believe it. Last year I broke my final world record here, and this year to break two in one show is absolutely outstanding!” she added.

Asked if she thought she could achieve an even higher score that the one she laid down tonight, the Olympic, World and European champion replied “I don’t know, I just keep doing these tests and things just get better and better….my confidence and his confidence are just growing and growing and it makes you be able to ride more and more and go for more, I get braver as a rider and he gets more confident as a horse”. And asked if she thought it possible to earn a maximum 100% some time in the future she laughed and said, “it’s not far off now, I’m getting there!!”

For further information on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 leg at Olympia, London (GBR) go to www.olympiahoreshow.com or contact Press Officer Jo Peck, JoPeck@hpower.co.uk, +44 1753 847 900.

The next leg of the series will take place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on Saturday 31 January 2015. For all enquiries about the Dutch fixture go to website www.jumpingamsterdam.nl or contact Press Officer Charlotte Gunnink, Email media@jumpingamsterdam.nl, Tel +31 20544 5720 or (mobile) +31 6383 25326.

Result: 1, Valegro (Charlotte Dujardin) GBr 94.300; 2, Glock’s Undercover (Edward Gal) NED 83.550; 3, Unee BB (Jessica von Bredow-Werndl) GER 80.725; 4, Siro NOP (Danielle Heijkoop) NED 80.325; 5, Nip Tuck (Carl Hester) GBR 79.925; 6, Vavourit (Soenke Rothenberger) GER 77.825; 7, Jojo AZ (Agnete Kirk Thinggaard) DEN 77.275; 8, Santana (Minna Telde) SWE 75.650; 9, Painted Black (Morgan Barbancon Mestre) ESP 74.725; 10, Thriller (Katja Gevers) NED 72.275; 11, Axis TSF (Terhi Stegars) FIN 71.650; 12, Silvano (Dorothee Schneider) GER 71.125; 13, Vancouver K (Judy Reynolds) iRL 70.000; 14, Michigan (Ulrik Moelgaard) DEN 65.300.

Facts and Figures:

The London International Horse Show at Olympia presented round five of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League series tonight.
Olympic, World and European champions Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro (GBR) made it a back-to-back double of new world records when following Tuesday’s Grand Prix record-breaking result of 87.460 with tonight’s new Freestyle record of 94.300.

Charlotte Dujardin GBR, talking about tonight’s standing ovation: “it’s emotional just to walk out and have that feeling with all those people standing up, to ride in front of them, we don’t really get to see the home crowd and let them experience it. Now they’ve witnessed it, it’s very special for them”.

Charlotte Dujardin GBR, comparing the pressure of standing up at a Sports Award ceremony to competing at Olympia tonight: “Coming here is the easiest thing in the whole world after standing up in front of 12,000 people, coming here is a breeze! Standing in front of 12,000 people I’m not used to that. I was like a nappy horse, I wanted to run out! My heart was pounding beyond belief, literally thought it was going to come out through my dress! When I got up on stage I was ok. Coming here I was like, I can definitely do this, maybe I should do it more often!”

14 horse-and-rider combinations lined out in tonight’s competition.

Runners-up, The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover, finished more than 10 percentage points behind the winning pair.

Edward Gal NED, talking about his performance with Glock’s Undercover: “the first part I was really happy until he started cantering and he got a bit too excited. We had mistakes in the two tempis and one pirouette was not so good, but we got better again”.

The Ground Jury consisted of: At E, A Fransen Iacobaeus SWE; At H, B Maurel FRA; At C, S Clarke GBR; At M, P Holler GER; At B, I Wessels GBR.
Dujardin recently won The Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year 2014 award.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who finished third tonight with Unee BB, shares the lead on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League table with fellow-German Fabienne Lutkemeier.

The next leg of the series will take place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on Saturday 31 January 2015.

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League 2014/2015 – standings after Round 5 at Olympia, London (GBR):

1. Fabienne Lutkemeier GER – 54
1. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl GER – 54
3. Agnete Kirk Thinggaard DEN – 48
4. Soenke Rothenberger GER – 46
5. Danielle Heijkoop NED – 40
5. Edward Gal NED – 40
7. Adelinde Cornelissen NED – 37
7. Hans Peter Minderhoud NED – 37
9. Valentina Truppa ITA – 34
10. Marcela Krinke Susmelj SUI – 32
10. Morgan Barbancon Mestre ESP – 32
12. Isabell Werth GER – 30
13. Inna Logutenkova UKR – 29
14. Dorothee Schneider GER – 28
14. Ulla Salzgeber GER – 28
16. Minna Telde SWE – 25
17. Malin Hamilton SWE – 24
18. Patrick Kittel SWE – 23
19. Benjamin Werndl GER – 22

Bill Warren left and Bill McMullin right

Wellington, FL (December 17, 2014)— Fashionable dressage boutique ShowChic was once again filled as dressage enthusiasts flocked to the latest Shop Talk, eager to hear from Bill Warren and Bill McMullin on the perspective from inside the judge’s box. The Shop Talk, held December 9, 2014, was the second of ShowChic’s educational Shop Talk series this season.

Shop Talk events, in which the Wellington, Florida boutique invites the dressage community to spend evenings learning from equestrian icons, are a popular activity for the local dressage community. It was clear that December’s Shop Talk was a favorite— the event was so full that there was standing room only as riders listened intently to the duo, known fondly as “the Bills.” There was also time for a question-and-answer session and browsing through ShowChic’s stylish collection of dressage apparel.

Warren is an FEI 3* judge, a USEF ‘S’ judge, and USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist. His partner, McMullin, is a USEF ‘r’ judge, USDF certified instructor, and is a USDF Bronze and Silver medalist. The two judges also train under the name Warren-McMullin Dressage based in Stoughton, Massachusetts and Loxahatchee, Florida. The pair unveiled to attendees the secrets from a judge’s perspective— everything from collective marks to scoring each movement. They also informed listeners about the journey from learner judge to FEI judge, and then opened the floor for questions.

Riders left with tips that they could bring back to the barn and show ring— so that next time they enter at ‘A’ they might have a few judge-approved tricks up their sleeves.

Usually, it would be a great loss to those unable to attend ShowChic’s hit event, but this time anyone who could not make it is in luck. For the first time, ShowChic hosted videographers Joey Ambrose and Mat Marino from Afflux Studios of Wellington, Florida (nearby to ShowChic) to film the event — making it possible for everyone to learn from the Bills’ presentation, and maybe even add a few extra points to those dressage scores. The Shop Talk video featuring “The Bills” will be available on ShowChic’s YouTube channel soon.

The Bill’s Shop Talk followed dressage rider and advocate Karin Reid Offield’s November Shop Talk, and will be followed by numerous other upcoming speakers throughout the season. Next up will be January’s Shop Talk with New York Times best selling-author Tami Hoag. Hoag will give attendees a sneak-peak into her new book Cold, Cold Heart.

Owned by dressage enthusiasts Michele and Doug Hundt, ShowChic is devoted to helping dressage riders look like winners as they enter the show ring. With help from Shop Talk speakers, they also hope to help riders match that style with top performances.

ShowChic carries everything a rider needs to dress for success including sought-after brands such as Pikeur, Cavallo, Arista, Kentucky, Equiline and Eurostar. For more information about ShowChic, Shop Talks, and ShowChic’s top-of-the-line products, visit www.showchicdressage.com or call 561-319-2121.