A massive contingent of twenty-one British horse and rider combinations have travelled to northern France for Compiegne CDI3*, CDIJ, CDIP, CDIY this weekend (31 May – 2 Jun).

The new partnership of Charlotte Dujardin and Uthopia (pictured) will make their second appearance following a successful competition debut at Saumur CDI earlier this month. Charlotte has once again opted to compete in the grand prix freestyle, so will be looking to build on the already massive 81.60% she posted in Saumur where she also topped the qualifying grand prix.

Carl Hester will ride Aram Gregory’s athletic powerhouse Dances with Wolves in the grand prix for special as he did in Saumur where they impressed for 72.25% in the qualifier followed by a 75.79% victory in the special.

Gareth Hughes has returned to Compiegne – where he was double big tour winner in 2011 riding Classic Sandman – this time with a brace of chestnut mares: Jane Brewin’s DV Stenkjers Nadonna for big tour and Judy Firmston-Williams’ Aramis T for small. Whilst Gareth and Nadonna, who were well-placed at Saumur a few short weeks ago, are becoming an increasingly established international grand prix partnership, for Aramis T, it will be her first time on foreign shores.

Nikki Crisp and her elegant bay, Pasoa, were twice second to Carl at Saumur, scoring +72% in the special and could be in with a shout here too.

Pony riders include hotshot Phoebe Peters and SL Lucci, the 11-year-old Danish gelding with whom she’s been dominating pony divisions in recent months. Phoebe and Lucci are at the top of their game will be sure to put up a challenge for the top spots over the weekend

Big Tour
Nikki Crisp with Pasoa – 16-year-old KWPM mare by Damocles
Charlotte Dujardin with Uthopia – 12-year-old KWPN stallion by Metall
Andrew Gould with Bellissimo – Clive Stanford’s 12-year-old Belgian gelding by Don Renoir
Judy Harvey with Fitzerraldo – Richard Heley’s 15-year-old German gelding by Feuerbrand
Carl Hester with Dances with Wolves – Aram Gregory’s 11-year-old German gelding by Donnerschwee
Gareth Hughes with DV Stenkjers Nadonna – Jane Brewin’s 15-year-old Danish chestnut mare by Donnerschlag
Daniel Watson with Fideramber – Susue Farnon’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Fidermark

Small Tour
Alex Hardwick with Calvin G – Sally Hardwick’s 10-year-old German gelding by Contendro
Matt Hicks with Talent III – His own & Annemarie Dolan’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Burggraaf
Gareth Hughes with Aramis T – Judy Firmston-Williams’ 11-year-old German mare by Abanos
Rebecca Hughes with Rubini Royale – Lorraine Sattin’s 11-year-old German gelding by Rubin Royal
Peter Storr with Fabioso – Susan Singer’s 11-year-old German gelding by Flammengold

Pony Riders
Amber Barton with Doctor Little – 14-year-old German gelding by Devito
Rebecca Bell with Valido’s Sunshine – Caroline Bell’s 10-year-old German mare by Valido
Bethany Horobin with Gigolo – 15-year-old German gelding by Going East
Rose Hugh-Smith with Holsteins Derwisch – 9-year-old German gelding by FS Gisagio
Phoebe Peters with SL Lucci – Tracy Peters’ 11-year-old Danish gelding by Lukas

Junior Riders
Maisie Scruton with Hot Chocolate 43 – 16-year-old German mare by Sandro Hit
Chloe Vell with Kaja Di Valentina – 9-year-old German mare by K2

Young Riders
Emma Corbett with Furst Diamantino – 10-year-old German gelding by Furst Heinrich
Phillipa Hutton with Duela – Philip Woof’s 11-year-old British-bred chestnut mare by Dimaggio
Ryan Todd with Charlex Eskebjerg – Julie Todd’s 12-year-old Danish gelding by Carano

Lyman, Maine-May 30, 2013- The 2013 Para-Equestrian Dressage Symposium kicked off on May 29^th with a “Train the Trainer” program and “SmartPak Coaches Forum”. Trainers, riders, and auditors were enlightened on Para-Dressage topics including the use of compensating aids, the classification process, and collaborative coaching techniques. FEI “O” Judge and Olympic Technical Delegate Hanneke Gerritsen, National Classifier Tina Wentz, USPEA President Hope Hand, and Former USEF High Performance Dressage Director Gil Merrick discussed each of these topics in a formal atmosphere at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine. Riders then headed to the Carlisle Academy Integrative Equine Therapy & Sports in Lyman, Maine for their first lessons with Clive Milkins. Clive Milkins coached the 2012 gold medal winning Great Britain Para-Dressage Team. On the following day, May 30^th, equestrians put on their tall boots, stepped into their stirrups and participated in a demonstration ride with Hanneke Gerritsen and lessons with Clive Milkins and Catherine Haddad Staller. The 2013 Para-Equestrian Dressage Symposium is the first in a series of educational events across the United States. Carlisle has partnered with the United States Equestrian Federation, United States Para-Equestrian Association, and SmartPak to make the symposium an educational package.

Mary Jordan and Sebastian Photo by LindsayMcCall

Throughout the day riders were treated to exceptional trainers present in the world of Dressage. United States Para-Dressage equestrians included current high-performances riders and horses in addition to a few green Para-Equestrians. Many riders did not bring their own horses due to logistics creating exciting opportunities for the rider. Clive Milkins enjoyed each aspect of the symposium weekend. He noted, “It’s fantastic to see a group of like-minded people all pulling together, in the vastness of this country, to help disabled riders become proper athletes and sportsman.

When Clive Milkins received the phone call that he was requested in the U.S. a day before the European National Selection Trials, he was game.

“I was really excited,” expressed Milkins. “My main belief in life is to help anybody that thinks they want my help or my input. The experience I have gained over the last 20 years of doing well in Great Britain is invaluable. I will help anyone who wants help. Anybody that wants me and feels I can make a difference to their riding or their horses, I am there.”

After a full weekend of viewing the United States Para-Dressage riders, Clive Milkins was impressed. He stated, “Give yourself some more experience, work on the small items, especially what everyone is developing over the last few days. It will not be much longer until the U.S. sees another medal.”

Para-Equestrian Sydney Collier of Ann Arbor, MI, is looking towards the next medal opportunity, which is the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France. This symposium is inserted within the high-performance schedule to help benefit each rider. With the logistics involved, not every rider could transport their horses to Maine for the symposium.

Para-Equestrian Sydney Collier of Ann Arbor, MI, brought her own horse Wentworth to the symposium. She commented, “It’s so valuable to get the trainers feedback with you and your own horses. When you borrow a horse, you are getting feedback on you and on a horse you may not have ever ridden before. It may not translate back to your own horses. I was excited to bring Wentworth this year. I like seeing what the other trainers feel about him and what they think we can do to improve our partnership. It is invaluable to be able to have both of us here at the same time.”

She continued, “It’s also crucial to have my very gracious coach Wes Dunham on the grounds to gain feedback from the symposium. I want to thank Wes, my parents, and Carlisle Academy for hosting this amazing event.”

Ben Harper is relatively new to the sport of Para-Dressage and found himself enjoying the opportunity to ride in front of the internationally acclaimed panel. For new riders like Harper, the experience of having trainers in one location beside educators, professionals, and fellow teammates is essential.

For veteran Para-Dressage, riders the ability to work on specific tasks and sharpen techniques could change the outcome at the next international competition.

The 2013 Para-Equestrian Dressage Symposium continues May 31-June 1, 2013 with the accomplished trainer Catherine Haddad Staller, clinician Gil Merrick, and expert judge Hanneke Gerritsen.

Rider/Horse Combinations:

Laura Goldman-Paxton Abbey, owned by Mary Jordan

Sydney Collier- Wentworth, owned by Sydney Collier

Holly Jacobson-George, owned by Holly Jacobson

Ellie Brimmer-Captiva, owned by Cyndy West

Mary Jordan-Sebastian, owned by Mary Jordan

Margaret McIntosh, Zoe

Elle Wooley-Clever-owned by Mary Jordan

Roxanne Trunnell-Kodiak

Lara Oles-Tito

Benjamin Harper-Maggie

Derrick Perkins-Mabel

Wellington, FL – May 29, 2013 – Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of Florida, visited Wellington on Tuesday, May 21, to meet with the Palm Beach Horse Park development team to discuss plans for the proposed equestrian facility.

The development team presented the current plans and ideas for the Horse Park, designed to be an addition to Wellington’s thriving equestrian scene. The Horse Park would provide a year-round home for Quarter Horses and Western riding, adding a Western flair to the top-notch equestrian offerings in Wellington.

“We wanted to find out how the Palm Beach Horse Park could work with the state to ensure the success of the project now and into the future,” said Jack Van Dell, one of the leaders of the development team for the Horse Park.

The proposed location for the Palm Beach Horse Park is the K-Park site in Wellington, located on the corner of Stribling Way and State Road 7/441 at the entrance to Wellington’s established “horse country.” The plans for the site include an enclosed, climate-controlled stadium to be used for major equestrian events as well as concerts, trade shows, and more; a number of indoor and outdoor show rings to allow multiple events to run concurrently; a supporting commercial district with shops and restaurants; a hotel to host the Horse Park’s competitors and visitors; and an international, multi-disciplinary riding school.

The development team plans to design the stadium and barns as hurricane shelters in order to serve local residents and their horses and pets in the event of an emergency. They also plan to include a veterinary instructional facility and a school for farriers, adding to the Horse Park’s role as an educational facility.

Van Dell commented that Commissioner Putnam seemed positive about the Horse Park’s potential to be an asset to the community and state.

“He thought the Palm Beach Horse Park was an exciting and unique concept,” Van Dell said. “We discussed how we could work together to have a better facility for everybody.”

By: Phelps Media Group

Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) and Wellington Classic Dressage are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement on the structure of the Dressage calendar for 2014 and beyond and will submit this to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Working together with the USEF and the other CDI Dressage show organizers, including IHS Palm Beach and Gold Coast Dressage, a very balanced Winter Dressage circuit has been developed that reduces the overall number of CDIs in Palm Beach County, but creates a series that will be very attractive to international riders from all over the world.

The proposal is subject to approval by the USEF, but both organizations are confident that it is in line with recent discussions between all the parties.

The proposal will utilize the Adequan Global Dressage Festival venue (The Stadium) as the main base for the international events except for the iconic Palm Beach Derby CDI-W, while other shows would continue at the Loxahatchee venue or Jim Brandon Equestrian Center.

Noreen O’Sullivan, the Manager of Wellington Classic Dressage, stated, “I am very pleased that an agreement has been reached to work together and I know that the sport of Dressage can really grow and reach the level it deserves by utilizing the fantastic facilities at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.”

Mark Bellissimo, CEO of ESP, agreed, “I am delighted with the outcome; this is a great step forward and is proof that groups working together despite prior differences are much more powerful than continued opposition. We can now give Wellington a world-class circuit at a world-class venue and that is only to the benefit of both the Dressage and non-equestrian communities in our great Village.”

Michael Stone, President of ESP, stressed that the agreement was subject to USEF approval, but following recent meetings with the USEF and the various CDI organizers, he stated, “I am confident that our proposal will be well received and is in the best interest of the sport. However, out of respect to the decision-making process of the USEF, the full details of the proposal cannot be released until we have received the formal approval.”

Bogota, Columbia (May 28, 2013) – Columbian National Champion dressage rider Cesar Torrente is to become the first FEI 2* Judge promoted to FEI 3* through the new, and very rigorous FEI system.  Torrente has been working toward this honor for over 2 years by participating in the Education System for FEI Judges, which was established by the FEI in July 2010. This elaborate system, which has a prerequisite of showing at the FEI level, required Torrente to comply with Judges Seminars, Shadow-Judging, FEI Qualification Courses for his promotion, and Refresher Seminars to maintain his status; all while being supervised by the Dressage Committee and the FEI.  “It has been a very time consuming journey that has taken me to so many countries, seminars and courses,” Torrente says, “It has been a wonderful experience to sit and learn from the best judges in the world on different continents.  As a result, now I can judge up to Grand Prix level in FEI CDI’s and in National Competitions as well,” he adds.

Torrente has been described as the quintessential “rider’s judge.”  His compassion for the competitor comes from the fact that he is an active Adult Amateur rider in Colombia and also has vast experience competing at the international level, representing Team Columbia in the Pan Am Games and Central American Games on more than 4 occasions.  An attorney by profession, Torrente is committed to ethical judging and leaving the competitor with constructive remarks that will enable them to make improvements and encourage them to continue the never ending journey of dressage training.  “I believe that the new system is tough for getting the official promotion and also for maintaining your status,” Torrente says about his accomplishment, “but if you look at it closely, you may rest assured that everything is being done to ensure that the people sitting in the boxes and judging have the best credentials to do their jobs.  The sport needs it and the riders deserve it.”  He goes on to describe that in the new FEI system, International judges are divided into four categories: 2* Judges (new), 3* Judges (formerly International Candidate Judges), 4* Judges (formerly International Judges)  and 5* Judges (formerly Official International Judges).  Because he is from a country without a national judges program, Torrente had to start with the 2* program and make his way up before being promoted to 3*. “All this education strategy allows you to go to the course, and once you have passed the examinations during a qualification course, then you can act as Judge on that particular level after the official promotion dates,” he explains.  Torrente’s official promotion date is July 1, 2013.

“Since I was 18 years old, when I took my first dressage judges seminar with four-time Olympic Judge, Mr. Jaap Pot, I wanted to become a judge, but riding was always in the middle,” says Torrente about his life, “When I started this very serious program, I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to be around the best dressage horse-rider combinations in the world, which is my life passion.  If at the same time, I can contribute with a fair and honest judging, which is ” all we dressage lovers want, I could not ask for more!”

The Global Dressage Forum North America (GDFNA) realeased via its Education Partner DressageClinic.com,  Part 1 of a 3 Part Video Series of events held on the first day of the world’s largest and most significant educational gathering with close to 1,000 people in attendance from all corners of the U.S., Canada including Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden, Denmark  and Holland.

The GDFNA 2013 was held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach Florida, and presented by DressageClinic.com, Sponsored by Pineland Farms, Schleese Saddlery and ThinLine Products.

Watch German International legend in his own time, Klaus Balkenhol, receiving the GDFNA 2013  Life Time Dressage Achievement Award on stage joined by 22 of the world top dressage educators for a historic moment.

Executive Director of the GDFNA Mr. Andreas Stano started the opening ceremonies with a welcome speech followed by George Williams, president of the United States Dressage Federation, outlining the issues facing dressage in the U.S. today. “We need to protect dressage for the future, Williams said, “and we must make it sustainable. He emphasized the importance of supporting the highest level of the sport and the key aspect education plays in the future.

Ashley Holzer, speaking on behalf of Dressage Canada, discussed the importance of athletes’ continued involvement in all aspects of the sport, especially rule changes. Holzer said that Canada formed a council of athletes to consider the future of the sport of dressage.

The first lecturer of the afternoon wasDr. Juan Samper, author of the breeding book titled “Equine Breeding Management and Artificial Insemination often referred to as “a bible for equine reproduction. Dr. Samper is involved in developing a new technology that will allow breeders to choose the sex of a foal and said the testing of the technology is yielding very good results. “It will be available to everyone in a year or so, he said.

Dr. Samper summarized the challenges in breeding dressage mares, touching on recent developments in breeding. “We breed the best to the best and hope for the best, and that’s what breeding is really all about, he said.

The feature presentation of the afternoon was a discussion and training demonstration with United States dressage legend Steffen Peters.  In the Face to Face discussion with Steffen Peters and Andreas Stano, the disucssion was focused on Steffen’s early influences of his life and his theories and phylosophies on the training of dressage horses.

After the clinic, a distinguished panel of international judges and competitors gave feedback on Peters’ instruction. Panel members Christoph Hess, Stephen Clarke, Wim Ernes, Gary Rockwell, Lendon Gray, Sue Blinks, and George Williams. The panel praised Steffen’s training techniques and highlighted in a question and answer period the key concepts.

Steffen stressed developing horses’ minds as well as their strength. “I find it so important not just to engage the hindquarters but to engage the horse’s brain, he said.

He also emphasized working with each horse as an individual. “We have to find the most productive frame for each horse to find the most consistent and light connection, he explained. “It’s always about the connection. It’s never not about the connection.

The above videos are Part 1 of a 3 Part series.  Part 1 is a series of 9 videos presently available for members of DressageClinic.com and Part 2 with Ingrid Klimke, will be released June 15 and Part 3 will be released July 15.

If you were not able to attend the Global Dressage Forum North America held in Florida this past January 28, 29 2013, then this is your moment to join in and benefit from the in depth eduction provided at this international gathering for dressage education.