Upcoming and coming riders have been laying the gauntlet at the 2013 Espayo National Dressage Championships that kicked off on Thursday 19 September. The Stoneleigh Park based event witnessed first and second spots of two classes being snatched by the same riders; Daisy Coakley and Spencer Wilton.
Spencer Wilton secured both first and second place in the Fairfax Prix St Georges Championship with Goodmans Supernova and Doogie respectively. The class saw thirteen of the thirty-five riders finish on scores over 70% exemplifying the high level of skill and talent on display at this year’s Championship.
“When we first entered the arena Supernova felt nervous but he knows the minute he passes the white boards he has to behave and listen. I am so delighted with the score which is a personal best for both of us. I focus a lot on the horses balance in training, the improvement has paid dividends and is why he has had such a big jump up in his results” commented Spencer.
Goodmans Supernova, who won the hot class with a score of 77.11% in a lead of 2.72%, has been in training with Spencer since 2010. A recent move of yards has meant a change in training tactics that the forty year old rider contributes to his success “I moved to Headley Stud a month ago; I thought the change of environment might unsettle him as he likes his routine but he has been brilliant. The most amazing thing about the move is the access to hacking that has meant we are able to do lots of hill work, hacking and fittening which is great conditioning and has without a doubt helped us to get the fantastic result today”.
Spencer expressed his gratitude to both his owners and his groom “Jen Goodman has been like fairy godmother to me and undoubtedly wouldn’t be where I am today without her. As with all horses competing to a high level there have been some minor injuries and scrapes over the last year to which Emma (Bayliss) my groom has put in a huge amount of work in rehabilitation and has considered ever minor detail to ensure the team are fighting fit”.

Herfordshire rider Daisy Coakley stormed to victory last year on her first visit to Stoneleigh and this year, she went one better by making it a one-two with Cleopatra II and Bing in the Stretch & Flex Elementary Restricted Championships. Also a successful event rider, Daisy (20) has made a few headlines this year with Judy Firmston-Williams’ Cleopatra II; they’ve won every class out since the Winter Championships with over 69% including a stunning 76% win to qualify for Stoneleigh at the Keysoe Regional Championship. Today was no different. A fabulous 73.23% was the only score to break the magic 70% + barrier for a convincing victory over stablemate Bing, also owned by Judy but jointly with his former rider, Amiee Witkin.

“I dreamt the dream but never imagined it would happen!” said an ecstatic Daisy. “I’m thrilled with both of them even though today wasn’t their best tests. They were both so brilliant at their Regionals it was always going to be a lot to ask to better that at the Nationals.”
Many would imagine that Daisy would arrive at the Nationals with a degree of nerves but she showed none of it. “I wasn’t nervous one bit. I thought I might be but once I’m on the horse, I’m ‘in the zone’ and as long as I’ve put the work in at home, I know they both have the potential to go well.”
Both horses will now be campaigned to qualify for the Winter Regionals at Medium level so Daisy is busily training them up the levels alongside campaigning her event horse, Ubanus II who she’s hoping to take to the Weston Park Youth Championships in October. Cleopatra II also competes here tomorrow in the Dodson & Horrell Novice Open Championships so the bookies wouldn’t be offering great odds on this talented rider doing the double.
 
On the eve of her 24th birthday, Beth Barnett claimed the first title of the 2013 Espayo National Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh Park in winning the Suregrow Advanced Medium Restricted championship. Beth, who works as a part-time administrator to fund her horses, was drawn in the middle of the class with her own Sheepcote Delight and a score of 68.84% proved unbeatable. The pairing have been together since the mare was just 18 months old and Beth broke her in and has brought her through the ranks with the help from David and Serena Pincus, who also bred the horse.
The combination hasn’t had the best build up ahead of their Stoneleigh trip with Beth, from Hereford, having a bout of ‘flu and Sheepcote Delight suffering a few lameness issues but the duo were back on form today! A happy Beth commented; “I’m so pleased with her today! She was focused and really listening which I don’t always get – she can be quite nervous. Some of my trot work felt really nice and I got my changes which was a bonus! I came here aiming for a clean test and that’s what I got!”
Beth is part of the Sport England funded BEF Excel Talent programme which gives her access to top training and advice and she was quick to praise the scheme. “It’s definitely improved my riding and skill; if any young rider has the chance to apply and get on the programme, bite their hand off! You won’t regret it!” said Beth.
It was a really Barnett family effort today with dad acting as lorry driver, mum as psychologist and boyfriend as groom and it looked like some early birthday celebrations were in order once Sheepcote Delight was safely tucked up!

21 year old Ashley Jenkins made his first visit to the Espayo Nationals a memorable one when he won the Visualise Sportswear Preliminary Championship with Lukien von Tespe with an amazing score of 74.39%. Owned by Dan Greenwood and Jamie Reynolds, ‘Luke’ was bought as a foal from the world famous Verden Sales in Germany when Dan could see his potential. Now five, Luke has matured into the perfect dressage ‘type’ and Ashley took the ride over on him a year ago when he joined the yard to take on producing the young horses.
It was a striking performance and Ashley, originally from Bristol, was clearly delighted; “I can’t fault him at all. He’s so reliable which gives you so much confidence in the ring. His canter is really good and today it was a highlight as normal. He held a great rhythm in the trot work too. He’s just nice to ride, simple.”
Even at a young age, Ashley already has an excellent way with young horses. He started with Jennie Loriston-Clarke at Catherston Stud where any aspiring young jockey will get a great grounding and went to Dan’s base at Northfield Farm near Evenlode in Gloucestershire a year ago where he rides six horses daily, all under the age of six. “Dan and Jamie have been so supportive of me and being able to bring Luke here has been amazing. It’s great to have such a positive team around you although they have all been giving me a hard time in the build up. After winning my regional at Addington, they all said that we were favourites to win which piled on the pressure. But I didn’t let it get to me and I’m glad I can go back with the title!”
Ashley and Luke will be back in action on Saturday in Shearwater Potential International Dressage Horse five year old championship. In the meantime, he’ll turn his hand back to the grooming to support his boss, Dan Greenwood with his five rides.

Former grand prix national champion Maria Eilberg added to her impressive tally of championship successes to take the Horse Health Intermediate II on her long-term partner and international grand prix hope, Woodlander Rockstar. Maria piloted ‘Rocco’, Lynne Crowden’s 11-year-old son of Rotspon, to head the class with 70.18%. Maria and the attractive breeding stallion rode a high-class test affirming their development into an exciting partnership for the future.
“He was good today and showed some quality stuff,” said a delighted Maria. “He stumbled before the ones [one-time changes] but we made the best of the recovery and he did some good work, particularly his extensions and lateral work which were strong. He hasn’t competed since Hartpury CDI in July but he’s so good at competitions that I don’t have to over-compete him.”
“For me, it’s still as exciting to win a title here,” said Maria. “If anything, you relish these moments more as you get older. When you’re younger, you can take it a bit for granted but it’s even more special to me now.”
Maria is no stranger to dressage at the highest level, having been crowned national champion in 2008, the same year she was travelling reserve for the Beijing Olympics, and a year later a European Championship team silver-medallist. The 29-year-old is putting this wealth of experience to good use in moulding the talented Rocco. Talking about her future plans for him, Maria said “We did the grand prix at Hartpury but he’s not yet ready to compete abroad at that level. We’re bringing him on to hopefully compete international grand prix next year.”

Photos: Kevin Sparrow

Yellow Horse Marketing for the US Dressage Finals.

From New York to California, excitement is sweeping the nation as the first round of Great American/USDF Regional Championship dressage competitions gets underway this weekend in five regions across the country.  But this year it’s not just blue ribbons on the line:  for the very first time, horses and riders competing in the Regional Championships will have an opportunity to qualify for the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, a national head-to-head competition showcasing adult amateur and open riders from Training Level to Grand Prix.

The inaugural US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® will be held November 7 – 10, 2013 at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, home of the 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games.  For the first time in history, riders from across the country at all levels of performance will be invited to compete over the same hallowed ground where international champions have been crowned.   “The Kentucky Horse Park is one of the finest equestrian facilities in the world,” notes George Williams, President of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF).  “And I couldn’t be more thrilled that our mission to provide a national spotlight for riders at all levels, especially adult amateurs, will now be realized there.  This will be their moment to shine.”
 
So far, more than 1,200 declarations have been received from riders seeking to qualify for what may be the chance of a lifetime to compete on the national stage and win fantastic prizes, bragging rights, and more than $50,000 in prize money.  This group of hopeful competitors includes Whitney Harrington of Agoura Hills, CA, who has enjoyed winning regional championship titles in the adult amateur ranks with her mount, Laredo 183.  In addition, she has watched and supported her daughter Kalynn as she works to qualify for FEI junior and young rider championship programs.  But now it’s Harrington’s turn to pursue national-level goals.  “I decided to declare because I thought it would be exciting to be able to ride in a national finals at a huge venue against the best riders in my division, not just from my region,” said Harrington.  “As an adult amateur, it is a wonderful way to be exposed to top competitors in our division from all across the country.”
 
As a Grand Prix dressage rider and a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist, Heather Mason of Tewksbury, NJ is no stranger to elite championship competition.  In addition to finding success at the High Performance level, in 2011 she was named as an alternate for the Pan American Games.  But Mason is so excited to try for the inaugural US Dressage Finals and a chance to trot down centerline in the impressive, climate-controlled Alltech Arena, she’s seeking to qualify six horses in various levels from Training to Grand Prix.  “I rode in the then-American Horse Shows Association (AHSA) ‘national championships’ in 1984 in Kansas City,” Mason said.  “There I won the First Level junior/young rider division, and I’ve been waiting for them to come back ever since!  I really think a head-to-head competition not only for professional riders but also for adult amateurs is a great idea, and I really hope to make it.”
 
Riders in USDF Regions 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8 will compete this weekend to earn top marks and be eligible for a possible invitation to the Finals, followed by Regions 3 and 4 over the weekend of October 11 – 13 and concluding with Regions 1 and 9 on October 17 – 20.  For riders who have submitted a declaration to compete at the Finals, their next step on the road to Lexington will be the nomination phase, as competitors who earn required scores and/or placings at their respective regional championships will have 48 hours to file electronic nominations with USDF.  From these nominations, final invitations for the US Dressage Finals will be issued, with entries closing October 24.
 
To learn more about the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, download competition information, review lists of declared riders and horses from each region, and sign up to receive news and updates, visit the official event website at www.usdressagefinals.com.

FEI.

Las Vegas has been officially confirmed as the host city for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping and Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals in 2015.
Las Vegas has already hosted the FEI World Cup™ Finals five times – in 2000 and 2003 when it staged the Jumping Finals, and in 2005, 2007 and 2009, when the Jumping and Dressage Finals were combined.
“We are delighted that the FEI World Cup Finals in both Jumping and Dressage will be returning to Las Vegas in 2015, giving our sport and our title sponsors Longines and Reem Acra further global exposure on this fabulous American stage”, said FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos. “It will be good to be back in Las Vegas after a six-year gap and we are looking forward to really top class sport in this fabulous venue.”
Pat Christenson, President of Las Vegas Events, expressed his delight at the FEI Bureau decision to allocate the 2015 Finals to Las Vegas. “We are honoured to be the host of the 2015 FEI World Cup Finals,” he said. “Las Vegas last hosted the show jumping and dressage Finals in 2009, so we are extremely excited to once again showcase our destination to equestrian fans from the U.S. and around the world. We look forward to working with the FEI to create a memorable event and a venue for the top riders in the world.”
The FEI World Cup™ Jumping Finals were first held in Gothenburg (SWE) in 1979. Seven years later, the first FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals were held in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in 1986.
Las Vegas was the first venue to host combined FEI World Cup™ Finals when Jumping and Dressage were staged together at the Thomas & Mack Arena University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2005.

HorsUS.

German dressage riders Nadine Capellmann and Isabell Werth were the Grand Prix tour winners at the international show in Donaueschingen (Germany). Aboard Girasol Capellmann scored over 73% in the Grand Prix and won this test. However three of five judges liked Jenny Lang (second) or Hubertus Schmidt (third) as the winner.

Isabell Werth had a very difficult passage-piaffe tour in the Grand Prix and scored ones and twos. In the Special it all was under control again and Werth and Don Johnson scored 76,417% which was good for the victory.

Dressage Riders from Around the World are now utilizing the new Interactive Webinar website, DressageMeetingOnline to further their Dressage education. This is a rare opportunity to ask questions about your own training difficulties, directly to the worlds top trainers and they will personally advise and discuss the correct way to solve your issues and improve your riding. The Educator will present a training theme and participants are encouraged to ask questions throughout the educational Interactive webinar.

Terry Ciotti Gallo in a LIVE Meeting will be presenting part 2 of a 3 part series, Understanding Music Selection for Freestyles.. Rock the House Series, on Wednesday, September 18, 2013, at 7:30 PM-8:30 PM EST. Part 2 explores how to pick the most suitable music for your horse including Beat, Expression of Gait, Confirmation of the horse and level of the ride.

Terry Gallo will be discussing and analyzing the Freestyle in it’s complexities as well as accepting questions from participants and providing detailed explanation. This webinar is fun, educational and musical. Sign up now for this classroom, as there are limited amount of seats available.

If you are an active member of DressageClinic.com, you are entitled to a 25% discount with a coupon code that will be given to you by telephoning the DressageClinic.com Customer Care Team at 561 729-0318. or 1-604-746-9222 after hours or email them at info@DressageClinic.com and ask for your discount code.

Feedback from the Live Webinars has started to come in and here is what people are saying about DressageMeetingOnline.

Jennifer Howard from New Zealand who attended the Christoph Hess Webinar said, ? ?The Webinar was terrific ? very stimulating and just delightful to be able to talk to the great man! Please let me know about his next??. Christoph gave a fantastic presentation, even staying an extra half hour with the group to ensure that everyone had a chance to get their questions answered.

Liset Welsh, from Middleburg Virginia, who has just discovered DressageMeetingOnline said: “I never thought that it would ever be possible for me be face to face with Steffen Peters and be able to ask him what I was doing wrong and why I was struggling with the piaffe. I am looking forward to his next webinar and I will have my questions ready.

Joan Reid from Canada wrote:

Thank you very much for the invitation to join this session with Arthur Kottas. I appreciated the opportunity to ask questions….and Arthur was – as always – extremely accommodating, helpful and gracious.

I found it extremely interesting to discover that riders ranging from France to Virginia are struggling with the same issues and questions that I am!

I learned a lot during this session and I know it will help me in my future riding.

Sue Leffler, International Dressage Trainer from Canada wrote:
The seminar with Mette Rosencrantz was great! So wonderful to see/hear a highly respected Dressage trainer speak so clearly on the importance of cross training for dressage horses (especially young ones), the importance of clarity and consistency in our training of them, and the necessity of them wanting to go forward which cannot be accomplished when we restrict them with our hands.

Kudos to Mette and Suzanne and Andreas for making it so easy for everyone to learn and ask questions regardless of where they live or their level of riding/training.

Gail Herrell in Wellington Florida wrote: “Lendon Gray’s webinar was inspiring and made me wish I was a kid again, so I could train with Lendon Gray in her Dressage4Kids Program”

DressageMeetingOnline is creating a buzz in the Dressage World with the most sought after respected international Dressage Trainers in the world.

Have you ever wished you could ask your favorite Famous Dressage Trainer a question and have him or her guide you through the process of solving your training issue? Did you think you couldn’t afford to train with the Worlds Top Dressage Trainers?
DressageMeetingOnline brings the Best Dressage Trainers in the World to you, and you don’t even have to leave your house. On top of that it’s affordable..!!

DressageMeetingOnline Webinars are similar to LIVE classrooms, allowing participants to listen and learn from top Dressage educators in real-time, AND with the convenience and cost saving s of being able to participate from your choice of location, anywhere in the world with a broadband Internet connection.

DressageMeetingOnline.com offers webinars that blend audio, videos, pictures, slides, chat and question and answer sessions with top Dressage Educators over the Internet.

You can even schedule a Private One on One Live Webinar, just you and the Trainer of your choice who will carefully listen to you about your training issues and together you can work through a personalized instruction plan.

Show your instructor images, videos of your tests or anything else you would like to display on your computer so that your instructor can see and discuss with you in real time and get direct comments and instruction.

This is the best way to have a private up close and personal meeting with your favorite instructor where you can discuss in privacy,

Take a look at the Webinar Schedule Calendar on DressageMeetingOnline and see which Trainers and webinars interest you and would benefit you the most.

Shirley, NY (Sept 16, 2013) – Luitpold Animal Health

Luitpold Animal Health has announced that the world famous Adequan is now back in distribution available to veterinarians to supply horse owners who have been waiting in anticipation for the product. The following announcement was released by Allyn Mann, Director of Adequan:

“We are pleased to announce a shipment of Adequan® (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) IM was released to the market last week and was received by veterinarians beginning Friday, September 13th. Adequan® product supply remains limited and the initial shipments will not fully satisfy market demand. Luitpold made significant investments in upgrading its manufacturing facilities earlier this year. The time spent making these upgrades impacted our ability to keep up with demand. We are working diligently to release additional product to the market and will provide updates as they become available. Quality and integrity remain our highest priorities.

We encourage Adequan® users to continue to work with their veterinarians to obtain the drug and discuss the most appropriate treatment regimen for your animals.

Luitpold has established a dedicated webpage on www.adequan.com where concerned parties can register to receive future communications and updates on this matter. You may also contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-458-0163.

Adequan® IM and IA are the only polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG) approved by the FDA for the treatment of non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic joint dysfunction and associated lameness in horses. Adequan® Canine is the only polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG) approved by the FDA for the control of signs associated with non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic arthritis of canine synovial joints.”
Allyn Mann, Director

From New York to California,
excitement is sweeping the nation as the first round of Great American/USDF
Regional Championsh …