Danish team coach Rudolf Zeilinger has announced his team for the European dressage championships in Herning, Denmark.
Of course he selected national champions Anna Kasprzak and Donnperignon.

The Danish dressage team includes:

Anna Kasprzak – Donnperignon

Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein – Digby

Andreas Helgstrand – Akeem Foldager

Lone Bang Larsen – Fitou L

The reserve combinations are Lisbet Seierskilde with Jonstrupgaardens Raneur, Thomas Sigtenbjerggaard with Nintendo and Lars Petersen and his horse Mariett.

From: HorsUS.

From: HorsUs.    Two Dutch horses have become a wild card for the World championships for young horses in Verden (Germany). These wild card are for five year olds Don Juan de Hus (by Jazz) and Dunhill (by Oscar).

Don Juan de Hus is ridden by French Jessica Michel. In 2012 this chestnut came French champions as a four year old. Swedish Minna Telde is the rider of Dunhill which came national champion as well as a four year old, in Sweden.

The complete Dutch selection for Verden:

Five year olds:

Dancer (Vivaldi x Tango) – Kirsten Brouwer

Dark Pleasure (Ufo x Jazz) – Gerdine Maree

Desperado (Vivaldi x Havidoff) – Emmelie Scholtens

Don Tango B (Contango x Jazz) – Diederik van Silfhout

Dorado (Krack C x Rousseau) – Emmelie Scholtens

Dream Boy (Vivaldi x Ferro) – Gerdine Maree

Wild cards:

Don Juan de Hus (Jazz x Krack C) – Jessica Michel

Dunhill (Oscar x Cocktail ) – Minna Telde

Six year olds:

Decor Cachet L (Jazz x Ferro) – Mirelle van Kemenade-Witlox

Duvals Capri Sonne jr (Rhodium x San Remo) – Dinja van Liere

Charmeur (Florencio x Jazz) – Emmelie Scholtens

Hexagons Charon (Rubiquil x Havidoff) – Thamar Zweistra

Glock’s Casper (Westpoint x Goodtimes) – Hans Peter Minderhoud

Coco Chanel (Sandreo x San Remo) – Patrick van der Meer

Reserve:

Che de Jeu (Voice x Jazz) – Marieke van der Putten

The ‘FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses 2013′ will take place in Verden in August 7-11.

From British Dressage.

Britain’s pony riders claimed team bronze today at the FEI Pony European Championships, a first medal for Britain’s youth teams since 2005. The quartet of Rose Hugh-Smith, Rebecca Bell, Erin Williams and Phoebe Peters finished on a final score of 219.667% with gold medallists Germany on 225.795% and the Netherlands in silver with 221.513%.

Our first to go on Wednesday was Rebecca Bell with her mum Caroline’s Valido’s Sunshine who were called into the squad late when Bethany Horobin and Gigolo were ruled out due to injury. Third into the arena, they scored well with 66.128% to give Britain a solid start.

Second was Rose Hugh-Smith with her won Holsteins Derwisch and their score of 67.795% was enough to put Britain into fifth after day one. With a matter of a handful of marks covering bronze position to seventh, Britain was firmly in the medal hunt.

Bright and early this morning, Erin Williams and the palomino Dynasty, owned by her mum Claire, pulled out the stops when it mattered to post her best team score in international competition of 74.077% to really boost the team overall score.

It was down to Phoebe Peters and Tracy Peter’s SL Lucci who made their European team debut last year when she was just 12 and had only ridden Lucci for four months. A Medium national title and several wins with over 70% later, they now an established combination and it showed today when they wowed the showground with 77.795% for her personal best and the highest ever score by a British rider in the team test internationally.

Phoebe’s brilliant score rocketed us to silver medal position with the Germans untouchable in gold and it was then a waiting game to see if the Danish or Dutch final riders could go ahead. The calculators came out before the Danish rider and they required a 78%+ score to go ahead of us but their final rider posted 71% meaning a medal was secured; but what colour? The Dutch were strong as ever and a final 73.718% was enough to give them silver so it was bronze for us but what a fantastic effort by four talented and determined riders, their ponies, owners, support staff and of course, mums and dads!

Phoebe finished top of the class with her score with Erin in sixth, Rose 25^th and Rebecca 30^th. All four go to the individual competition which starts tomorrow. The medals will be presented on Saturday afternoon.

The top 15 from the individual will then go through to Sunday’s finale, the freestyle when a further set of medals will be won.

From: British Dressage.

The 2013 summer regional championships got underway at the North West Regional Championships at Somerford Park Farm in Cheshire, 20 – 21 July.

Popular rider-trainers, Matt Frost and Becky Moody secured two wins apiece, once again guaranteeing their places at the Espayo National Dressage Championships in September.

Highest score of the two-day show, 73.60%, went to Matt Frost for his advanced medium ride on AMD Don Rosso II (pictured), Dedi Leech’s tall and talented eight-year-old gelding. Matt and the impressive German-bred, known as ‘Donald’ to his friends, also rode to victory in the prix st georges with 71.54%. The pair has been on great form all year and look on track to build on their top-ten placing at the 2012 Nationals.

Becky, who hails from Penistone in Yorkshire, rode Carinsio, her six-year-old son of Painted Black to win the elementary open on 73.02% and the medium open on 71.80%. The gelding, who last year came seventh in the World Young Horse Championships in Verden, certainly looks to be an exciting international prospect for Becky.

The massive number of entries at preliminary necessitated two sections to be run both of which featured some quality performances. 21-year-old Gemma Moss from Shropshire impressed with her 73.48% victory in section B. The young rider and her eight-year-old British gelding who made their competitive debut merely two months ago, have achieved consistently high marks and could be in the frame at Stoneleigh in September.

Class Winners & Qualification for the Nationals (subject to verification)

Visualise Sportswear Preliminary – section A

Julie Beck and Bonyto (owner: Claire Dutton), 70.45%

Louise Culling and View Houdini (owner: Louise Culling), 68.94%

Cara Sweeney and Rania (owner: Rider), 68.18%

Visualise Sportswear Preliminary – section B

Gemma Moss and Domandatelo (owner: Rider), 73.48%

Clare Brandrick and Gallowstown Tinker (owner: Rider), 71.21%

Emma Lambert and Roos (owner: Jo Sweeney), 70.91%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted – section A

Hilary Carr and Oldencraig Weslie (owner: Rider), 70.80%

Helen Lowery and Der Rubin (owner: Pamela Cathcart), 70.80%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted – section B

Sara Bell and Rocco X (owner: Linda Harris), 68.74%

Sally Currie and Amazing Daisy (owner: Rider), 67.70%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Open

Samantha Morrison and Balpare (owner: Christina Williams), 71.26%

Tori Peter and Co-Pilot (owner: Rider), 70.69%

Aggie Crapper and Enrico (owner: Rider), 70.11%

Patsy Bartram and Pro Diversico (owner: 69.89%

Stretch & Flex Elementary Restricted

Caroline Dawson and Jim Jam II (owner: Rider), 70.21%

Stephen Thompson and ZV Ikenbaum (owner: Ella Garfoot), 70.10%

Stretch & Flex Elementary Open

Becky Moody and Carinsio (owner: Rider), 73.02%

Emma Wolley and Warda Peternella (owner: Rider), 71.25%

Louise Davison and Sport Horse Centre Carilla (owner: Patricia Ruck), 69.90%

Dressage Deluxe Medium Restricted

Lindsay Poxon and Hawtins Hohenstern (owner: Rider), 66.67%

Maddy Whelan and Mighty Max II (owner: Rider), 66.13%

Dressage Deluxe Medium Open

Becky Moody and Carinsio (owner: Rider), 71.80%

Harry Payne and Divine Intervention (owner: Kathryne Jobling), 68.20%

Sarah Brookes and Diamond Asscher (owner: Elizabeth Steer), 67.93

Suregrow Fertiliser Advanced Medium Restricted

Elizabeth Ward Barnett and Sheepcote Delight (owner: Rider), 67.98%

Sarah Brookes and Diamond Asscher (owner: Elizabeth Steer), 65.96%

Suregrow Fertiliser Advanced Medium Open

Matt Frost and AMD Don Rosso II (owner: Dedi Leech), 73.60%

Victoria Appleyard and Sir Willy (owner: Anne Widenfelt Appleyard), 71.67%

Toby Blake and Mosel (owner: Julia McGowan), 67.11%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges

Matt Frost and AMD Don Rosso II (owner: Dedi Leech), 71.54%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I

Roger Gregory and Comanche Wodan (owner: Rider), 70.79%

Lexington, KY (July 24, 2013) – The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Region 6 Young Rider, Ayden Uhlir and Sjapoer, were awarded this year”s Fiona Baan “Pursuit of Excellence” Memorial Trophy.  This trophy, which is on permanent display in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame, is awarded to the young rider who earns the highest combined average score in the three dressage tests; FEI Young Rider Team, Individual, and Freestyle.

Ayden Uhlir (18, Kirkland, WA) riding her fourteen-year-old, Dutch Warmblood gelding, Sjapoer, was the highest scoring competitor in the individual test and the freestyle test at this year”s USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior &Young Rider Dressage Championships at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North. Uhlir secured the win of the Fiona Baan “Pursuit of Excellence” Memorial Trophy in the FEI Young Rider Division with an overall combined average of 70.980%.  Ayden earned a 69.184% in the Team Test, 71.605% in the Individual Test, and 72.175% in the Freestyle Test.

The “Pursuit of Excellence” is the legacy Fiona Baan left to all the FEI Young Riders, and indeed to everyone who ever knew or worked with her.  For nearly 30 years, Ms. Baan worked tirelessly with great dedication to the United States Equestrian Team (USET).  She was U.S. Dressage Team leader for the 1976 Olympics, in which the U.S. won the Bronze Medal, the 1987 Pan Am Games, and for the Bronze Medal dressage team at the 1992 Olympics, in Barcelona.

Lexington, KY (July 25, 2013) – The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that The Albers Award perp …

by Louise Parkes.

Athletes from the USA, Canada and Mexico lined out in the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships 2013 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, USA where there were a total of 20 sets of medals up for grabs.

Competitors between the ages of 14 and 21 years were in action once again, and with 222 entries across five disciplines it was another hectic and spectacular fixture.  These Championships date back to 1974 as an Eventing challenge between the USA and Canada, with Dressage added in 1981 and Jumping a year later.  The first complete Young Riders Championship was held in British Columbia, Canada in 1982 while Juniors joined the ranks in 2006 and the discipline of Reining was added to the schedule in 2008 with Endurance combing on board in 2011.

Dressage

The USA Region 7 team won the Young Rider Dressage Team title with a finishing score of 206.421, improving from silver medal position at the 2012 Championships. The highest score for the winning side was 71.105 registered by 20-year-old Jamie Pestana who was Junior Individual and Freestyle champion in 2010. Pestana clearly understands the concept of team sport, commenting afterwards “it’s great when you’re out there and your team is cheering for you and you know that you’re not just there for yourself, but for your team-mates and your region”.  All four members of this side were from California, and 18-year-old Ariel Thomas, who contributed a score of 67.184 with Montfleury pointed out “it’s really nice because we have so many shows and CDIs (in the region), so it really helps us get the feel of what it’s going to be like before we come here”.  The other two members of the victorious Region 7 side were 20-year-old Jaclyn Pepper who produced a mark of 68.132 with Taboo and 16-year-old Teresa Adams who posted 64.237 with Weejee.

Pestana had to settle for silver medal spot in both the Young Rider Individual and Freestyle however when Ayden Uhlir from Region 6 reigned supreme in both with Sjapoer.  It was a clear-cut result on both occasions, Sjapoer racking up 71.605 to top the Individual and an impressive 72.175 to clinch the Freestyle.  Uhlir calls her 14-year-old gelding her “other half” and insists they are very alike. “We’re very social and overall happy!” she said.  Pestana has enjoyed fluctuating fortunes with Winzalot in these Championships in previous years but was right on song this time with the nine-year-old this time around. “I got him as a baby, and we moved up the levels together” the rider pointed out.  Bronze in the Individual event went to Devon Wycoff from Region 5 while in the Freestyle it was Canada’s Tanya Strasser Shostak and Action Time who stood on the third step of the podium.

Double-champion Uhlir showed her class when failing to be unnerved when the music stopped during her Freestyle, continuing on as if nothing had happened and then picking it up again when the music was restored.  “I just stayed on my exact pace” she said afterwards, “I knew that when the music would come back on I’d be where I was supposed to be…I just rode it, and it all worked out in the end!”

The Canada/Quebec team took Junior Dressage team gold for the second successive year, pinning USA Region 7 into silver and Region 3 into bronze. The winning side of 16-year-old Naima Moreira Laliberte (Windbreaker), Laurence Blais Tetreault (Lowelas), 17-year-old Felixe Cote Villeneuve (Pissaro) and 15-year-old Betrice Boucher (Dante) racked up a score of 201.864.  Tetrault said the team win was the result of hard work. “I think we just trained really hard.  Naima and I are from the same state, so we train and work together.  Working together I think really helped us” she said.

It was a close contest for the Junior Individual Dressage medals but Lindsey Holleger from Region 3 won through with a great performance from Friedenfurst to pip Naima Moreira Laliberte and Windbreaker from the gold medal winning Canada Quebec team, while team silver medallist Rison Naness (Venezia) claimed the bronze.  Holleger’s winning score was 70.974.

Junior Freestyle champion was 16-year-old Laurence Blais Tetreault who had already helped Canada Quebec to the team gold.  Riding the 13-year-old Lowelas, Tetreault posted a fantastic mark of 71.525, and said afterwards “I would definitely recommend NAJYRC (these Championships) to other riders.  It prepares you if you want to go further (in the sport).  In my future, I think I’m going to look back and be so happy that I got the chance to do this” she added wisely.

Results:
Young Rider Team Dressage Championship: GOLD – USA Region 7, 206.421: Montfleury (Ariel Thomas) 67,184, Taboo (Jaclyn Pepper) 68.132, Winzalot (Jamie Pestana) 71.105, WeeJee (Teresa Adams) 64.237; SILVER – USA Region 6, 198.841: Sjapoer (Ayden Uhlir) 69.184, Donnerspiel (Molly Eastridge) 66.368, Up to Date P (Sadie Lahey) 63.289; BRONZE – USA Region 5, 198.158: Veto (Amelia Child) 65.553, Power Play (Devon Wycoff) 68.805, Westfalica (Talia Hershaft) 64.00.

Young Rider Individual Dressage Championship: GOLD – Sjapoer (Ayden Uhlir) 71.605; SILVER – Winzalot (Jamie Pestana) 69.605; BRONZE – Power Play (Devon Wycoff) 68.579.

Young Rider Freestyle Dressage Championship: GOLD – Sjapoer (Ayden Uhlir) 72.175; SILVER – Winzalot (Jamie Pestana) 70.975; BRONZE - Action Time (Tanya Strasser Shostak) 70.500.

Junior Team Dressage Championship: GOLD – Canada Quebec 201.864: Windbreaker (Naima Moreira Laliberte) 67.054, Lowelas (Laurence Blais Tetreault) 63.378, Pissarro (Felixe Cote Villeneuve) 62.865, Dante (Betrice Boucher) 66.432; SILVER – USA Region 7, 201.46; Stentano (Olivia Zeilinger) 68.811, Zodessa (Gabriela Glumac) 63.838, Venezia (Rison Naness) 66.73, Valliant (Lindsey Brewin) 65.919: BRONZE - USA Region 3, 196.865: Friedensfurst (Lindsey Holleger) 67.757, Okidokie (Mallory Kent) 66.027, Ucarius (Rachel Robinson) 63.081, Wild Tiger (Jamie Doolittle) 57.703.

Junior Individual Dressage Championship: GOLD – Friedensfurst (Lindsey Holleger) 70.974: SILVER – Windbreaker (Naima Moreira Laliberte) 70.105; BRONZE - Venezia (Rison Naness) 68.921.

Junior Freestyle Dressage Championship: GOLD – Lowelas (Blais Tetreault) 71.52; SILVER - Windbreaker (Naima Moreira Laliberte): BRONZE - Rotano (Barbara Davis) 69.875.