Wellington, FL – December 2, 2013 – Equestrian Sport Productions announces that prize lists for the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) are available online at www.globaldressagefestival.com. The 2014 AGDF features eight CDI competitions and five national shows during the 12-week circuit at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center from January 9 through March 30.

All CDI competitors should be aware that the FEI Entry system will launch in January 2014 for competitions in the United States. Starting with the CDIW/1*/Y/J/U25/P competition on January 8-12, 2014, all competitors must enter the show through their Federations by the Definite Entry date of December 18, 2013, in order to compete. Foreign riders must have their Federation enter them as well. Those riders who do not enter through their Federation by the Definite Entry date will not be allowed to compete.

Prize lists for AGDF 1 through AGDF 7 are available online. The full schedule includes:

January 9-12
AGDF 1 Dressage CDI W
Presented by MTICA Farm and Everglades Dressage
(AGDF Grand Prix Freestyle Friday, January 10)

January 16-19
AGDF 2 Dressage National and Gold Coast Dressage CDI

January 23-26
AGDF 3 Dressage CDI W
Presented by US P.R.E. Association and Chesapeake Dressage Institute
(AGDF Grand Prix Freestyle Friday, January 24)

February 1-2
AGDF 4 Dressage National

February 6-9
AGDF 5 Dressage CDI 4*
Presented by Dutta Corp. and Havensafe Farm
(AGDF Grand Prix Freestyle Friday, February 7)

February 15-16
AGDF 6 Dressage National

February 19-23
AGDF 7 Dressage CDIO
Presented by Stillpoint Farm and Peacock Ridge Farm
Florida Youth Dressage Championships Presented by Dressage4Kids
(AGDF Grand Prix Freestyle Friday, February 21)

February 27-March 2
AGDF 8 Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI W
(Grand Prix Freestyle Saturday, March 1)

March 8-9
AGDF 9 Dressage National 3

March 13-16
AGDF 10 Dressage CDI W and CPEDI 3*
Presented by Today’s Equestrian, GF Enterprise, LLC and Mike & Roz Collins
(AGDF Grand Prix Freestyle Friday, March 14)

March 19-20
AGDF 11 Dressage National

March 27-30
AGDF 12 Dressage CDI 5*
Presented by Diamante Farm and Wellington Equestrian Realty
(AGDF Grand Prix Freestyle Friday, March 28)

Please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com for prize lists and more information!

About the Adequan Global Dressage Festival:
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring 8 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $400,000 in prize money for the six international competitions, making it one of the richest circuits in the world. The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world-class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.

Ann Cutcliffe OBE will take up a new position at the British Paralympic Association as Honorary Vice-Presidents, reflecting her many years of dedication to the development of disability and Paralympic sport.

Disability Tennis’s Sue Wolsthenholme OBE will join Ann on the list of Honorary Vice Presidents. Both served for numerous years on the Board of the BPA but chose not to stand for re-election at the Board elections this year. The BPA and its membership wanted to offer them an opportunity to remain close to the organisation and to thank them for their contribution to the Paralympic movement in the UK.

Ann has been Vice-Chair and Board Member of the BPA since 2001 and has vast experience of the Paralympic Games, having attended all Summer Games since Atlanta. Ann was also involved with London 2012’s International Inspiration programmes.

They will join Adrian Whiteson, Dr Bob Price, Tony Sainsbury, Barry Schofield, Bernard Atha, Mike Brace, Graham Peacock, Chris Simon as Honorary Vice-Presidents.

by British Dressage

A total of four venues have put in bids to host the FEI World Cup™ Finals in 2017. London (GBR) and Omaha, Nebraska (USA) have applied to stage both the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping and the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals. The other two venues have put in bids to host just one Final, with Hong Kong (HKG) putting in a bid for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) bidding to host the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final.

London’s O2 Arena, which was renamed the North Greenwich Arena for the Olympic and Paralympic events staged there during London 2012, is the proposed venue for the British bid for the joint-Finals in 2017. The Century Link Center, which hosts sports events and concerts, has been put forward as the venue in Omaha, Nebraska for the American double bid.

AsiaWorld Expo, venue for the Longines Hong Kong Masters and which is situated next to Hong Kong International Airport, is the venue proposed for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final. Indoor Brabant, which hosted the double FEI World Cup™ Finals in 2012, has been put forward as the venue for the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final.

The FEI has also confirmed today that all three applicants – Wellington (USA), Lexington (USA), and Bromont/Montreal (CAN) – have been accepted as Official Candidates in the bid process to host the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 following assessment of the Bid Questionnaires by the FEI Evaluation Commission. Site visits by the Evaluation Commission will precede presentations by the bidders to the Commission and to the FEI Bureau.

In other bidding news, the FEI has received bids for the senior FEI European Championships in 2017. Gothenburg (SWE) has applied to host Jumping, Dressage, Para-Dressage and Driving (Four in Hand), Rotterdam (NED) has put in a bid to host the Jumping, and there are two bids to host the Eventing Championships, one from Strezgom (POL) and one from Fontainebleau (FRA).

“It is gratifying that our key events are attracting such strong interest from bidders,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos said. “We have got a very impressive portfolio that includes the FEI World Equestrian Games™, our FEI series and the Championships. It’s testament to the value of these events that so many countries are vying to host them.”

Allocation for all these events will be made during the FEI in-person Bureau meeting in June 2014

FEI PRESS RELEASE
Lausanne (SUI), 3 December 2013

By Louise Parkes/
Photo: FEI/Roland Thunholm.

It was smiles all round in Stockholm, Sweden today where Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven clinched victory in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifier on home turf for the second year in a row. Riding the brilliant Don Auriello, the 46-year-old rider headed The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and the exciting Glock’s Voice, while the Dutch duo of Hans-Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Romanov slotted into third.

It was an important day for Vilhelmson-Silfven, underpinning the strength of her relationship with the 11-year-old gelding who continues his impressive upward curve of confidence and capability. It wasn’t all plain sailing, with a few stumbles interrupting an otherwise excellent performance, but such is the quality of this horse’s work, and of his belief in his rider, that they quickly recovered to come out on top.

Sweden fielded five of the 15 contenders in today’s class, but it was Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Millibar who finished fourth ahead of Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Unee B in fifth.

These two young riders are making a big impression this season, the former also finishing fourth on home ground at the opening leg of the 2013/2014 Western European League qualifying series at Odense in October, while von Bredow-Werndl has been making her presence felt in every leg so far.

Held the lead

It was Skodborg Merrald who held the lead at the halfway stage of the competition after posting 76.425 following a performance filled with life, and lightness of movement. The Danish-bred Millibar wasn’t the only horse to be a little spooky in the atmospheric Ericsson Globe arena, and might have scored even higher if he hadn’t broken his stride on the final line. But his talented 20-year-old rider clearly demonstrated the skill that has earned her six national titles and which saw her take a double of wins with this good horse in the Under-25 classes during this summer’s ECCO FEI European Championships in Herning, Denmark.

Von Bredow-Werndl put in a strong challenge with a powerful and polished ride on the handsome Unee BB who lined up fifth in yesterday’s Grand Prix. But their score of 76.325 left them trailing their Danish rivals with just four horse-and-rider combinations left to go.

The Netherlands’ Hans-Peter Minderhoud then set a new target with Glock’s Romanov who posted 78.750, only to be immediately overtaken by Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello who racked up a massive 81.950. That was always going to be a big score to overtake, but the result was still far from assured as, last in, Edward Gal set off with Glock’s Voice.

The Dutchman has been riding this horse for some time, but the stallion missed 12 months of competition due to injury before returning this season to win both the Grand Prix and Freestyle at Rosendaal and at Arnhem in The Netherlands in the spring. He was subsequently purchased to join Gal’s large string, and today the 11-year-old son of De Niro made his FEI World Cup™ Dressage debut an impressive one, scoring 79.275 to clinch runner-up position.

Clear-cut victory

For six-time Olympian Vilhelmson-Silfven however, it was a clear-cut victory and a most satisfactory result. “He felt so good before we went in, but then there was a stumble at the start and I wondered if maybe it might not be as good as I thought – and then it happened again! Today we had good preparation and he felt even more secure so it was hard to say why he stumbled. But I had a super feeling!” she said afterwards.

Gal said his ride on Glock’s Voice was “better than yesterday, still a bit tense but now you can choose your own line with him” he explained. After finishing second yesterday he said his horse was “not paying attention to me, he was everywhere and nowhere but I had some really nice things as well as things that could be better. It’s his first time since summer in competition, and with stallions that’s always difficult” he pointed out.

Minderhoud said this evening – “like yesterday (in the Grand Prix in which he finished second) I am super happy! He was really with me, and very good. Unfortunately today I made two small mistakes in the changes – and I really wanted that car!” he said with a laugh. Winning rider Vilhelmson-Silfven was presented with a brand new Volkswagen as part of her prize. “But” said the Dutchman, “I have done my best two tests with him here at this show so I am very happy”.

Asked his opinion of the winning horse, Minderhoud paid Don Auriello and his rider the highest of compliments. “He’s super, he goes in such a nice frame and he’s a very happy athlete as we all can see”. Vilhelmson-Silfven agreed. “He’s the perfect horse to compete on because he loves to be in the arena. He loves attention. He’s at his happiest when everyone is looking at him and telling him he’s lovely and that he’s done a good job!”

In that case then, Don Auriello should be one of the happiest horses in the world tonight.

For further information on the third leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2013/2014 Western European League series at Stockholm, Sweden on Sunday 1 December 2013 check out website www.stockholmhorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Lotta Amnestal, Email lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se, Tel +46 709 795 635.

The next leg of the series will take place at Olympia, London on Tuesday 17 December. For details of the British fixture go to www.olympiahorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Jo Peck, Email JoPeck@hpower.co.uk, Tel +44 1753 847 900.

Result: 1, Don Auriello (Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven) SWE 81.950; 2, Glock’s Voice (Edward Gal) NED 79.275; 3, Glock’s Romanov (Hans Peter Minderhoud) NED 78.850; 4, Millibar (Nanna Skodberg Merrald) DEN 76.425; 5, Unee BB (Jessica von Bredow-Werndl) GER 76.325; 6, Fit L (Lone Bang Larsen) DEN 74.175; 7, Blue Hors Laredo (Maria Anita Andersen) DEN 73.875; 8, Fleetwood (Malin Hamilton) SWE 73.675; 9, Liza Minelli (Jeanna Hogberg) SWE 73.475; 10, Lennox (Cecilia Andren Dorselius) SWE 72.400; 11, Sandro Boy 9 (Lyndal Oatley) AUS 71.700; 12, Pro-Set (Lilann Jebsen) NOR 70.750; 13, Romeo-Star (Elena Sidneva) RUS 70.175; 14, Skovlunds Mas Guapo (Mikaela Lindh) FIN 68.425; 15, Biggles (Kristian von Krusenstierna) SWE 67.050.
Detailed result here

Facts and Figures:

Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello won the third leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League series at Stockholm, Sweden today.

Tinne is heading to Wellington, Fl.

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE): (when asked if she will compete with Don Auriello in Florida, USA this winter, as she is now moving there for the winter months and is taking him with her) – “I might as well while I am there!”

Dressage Canada and Equine Canada are pleased to announce the following list of recently certified and promoted dressage officials for the 2014 competition season:

Judges

Name Home Town Status

Joyce Cameron Collingwood, ON Recorded
Justin Ridgewell Collingwood, ON Recorded
Claude Diotte Ste Marthe, QC Basic
Marianne Fizet Burritts Rapids, ON Basic
Sarah Hill Bolton, ON Basic
Kristen Skinner-Boyd Windsor, ON Basic
Marie Helen Lessard Amaranth, ON Basic
Margaret Boyce Emmerson, NJ Medium
John MacPherson Stouffville, ON Senior
Brigit Valkenborg Sainte Marthe, QC Senior
Joanne Bouwhuis Oshawa, ON Senior
Stewards

Name Home Town Status

Mary-Joe Figueira Milton, ON Basic
Kathleen Tindale Sutton, ON Basic
Susan Foell Sharon, ON Medium
Anne Welch King City, ON Senior

Anyone interested in obtaining Dressage Canada officials’ status can view the rules, eligibility requirements, applications and clinic dates on the Dressage Canada website at .

WELCOME DRESSAGE ENTHUSIASTS:

The 2013 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention, presented by SmartPak, will be in Lexington, KY December 4 through December 8, 2013. The host hotel is the Hyatt Regency Lexington and Lexington Convention Center, located at 401 West High Street, Lexington, KY.

Welcome to USDF Region 2 & Lexington, KY!!!

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Welcomes You!

What more fitting of a venue for the 2013 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention, presented by SmartPak, than Lexington, KY. Known as the “Horse Capital of the World,” Lexington is home to numerous equine related activities and venues, including the famous Kentucky Horse Park. Home of the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, and the Alltech National Horse Show, the KHP is also the location for the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan, which will take place a few weeks before our convention. Don’t forget to plan some time to visit the Kentucky Horse Park. And while you’re there, visit the Museum of the Horse, the Man o’ War Memorial, and the USDF headquarters, which is conveniently located on the park grounds. Lexington is truly a special and unique city that blends the best of history, urban charm, and countryside beauty, all with the friendly hospitality that Kentucky is known for. On behalf of all the members and Group Member Organizations in Region 2, we look forward to seeing you at this year’s convention.
Kenneth Levy, Ph.D., MBA
USDF Region 2 Director

Education, Fun & Friends

Whether you’re an amateur or professional, active in USDF governance, interested in furthering your dressage education, or simply want to share experiences and achievements with fellow dressage enthusiasts, the Adequan/USDF Annual Convention is for you! Legends of the sport, such as USDF’s own Hall of Fame Inductee Charles de Kunffy, and an impressive line-up of horse health and industry experts will be presenting on a wide range of topics. Engage in roundtable discussions, open forums, and business meetings while gaining insight into USDF. The highlight of the convention will be the Salute Gala and Annual Awards Banquet. Join your friends for a festive evening as USDF honors Hall of Fame inductees Charles de Kunffy and Anne Gribbons, and Lifetime Achievement honoree Marilyn Heath.

Equine Canada and Dressage Canada are pleased to announce that highly respected FEI 5* judge Elizabeth (Lib) McMullen, has been selected to be a member of the judges panel for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to be held August 23 to September 7, 2014 in Normandy, France. McMullen holds the honour of being the sole Canadian dressage judge chosen to officiate at the Games.

“Lib was Canada’s first 5* dressage judge and has officiated at four World Cup Finals and the World Games in Jerez, Spain. She is eminently qualified for this role and it is a great and well deserved honour for her and Canada!” commented Cara Whitham, Canadian FEI 5* Dressage Judge.

“I am honoured and delighted to be included with the other members of the panel for Normandy,” stated McMullen.

For more information regarding the World Equestrian Games please visit: http://www.alltechfeiweg2014-normandy.com/