As reported on May 21st, the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) has been closely monitoring and investigating the confirmed reports of EHV-1 in two standardbreds that had been at the Campbellville Training Centre. Due to the infectious and serious nature of this disease, the focus has been to ensure that Ontario’s equine athletes are protected.

ORC Manager of Veterinary Services Dr. Adam Chambers has been consulting with and meeting with veterinarians who are familiar with horses stabled at the Centre. In addition, an expert in EHV-1 from the University of Guelph has been consulted and brought into the investigation.

The goal is to make an informed decision on when it is fully safe for horses that are or were stabled at the affected training be allowed to race in Ontario.

For more information – or to speak with Dr. Duncan or Dr. Chambers – please call 1-855-261-6821

By Yellow Horse Marketing for Cornerstone Event Management

LA CAÑADA-FLINTRIDGE, CA – The serene setting of the historic Flintridge Riding Club in La Cañada-Flintridge, CA belied the buzz of excitement surrounding huge scores and promising talent on display during Dressage at Flintridge CDI*/Y/J, held May 23 – 26, 2013.  This competition once again hosted the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Western Selection Trial, one of only two Selection Trials in the country used to select horses and riders to proudly represent the U.S. at the FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships in Verden, Germany this August.

In the six-year-old division, judges and spectators were treated to the vision of a future U.S. superstar as Charlotte Jorst of Reno, NV entered the ring.  Riding Skagen Holding’s striking chestnut stallion “Vitalis” (Vivaldi x D-Day, bred in the Netherlands by A.J.W. Th. de Crom), Jorst’s selection trial victory was never in doubt as the pair posted eye-popping scores of 9.18 in the Preliminary Test (counted as 40%) and 9.20 in the Final Test (60%), for an overall two-test combined score of 9.19 from judges Jeanne McDonald (4* USA), Jane Weatherwax (4* USA), and Sandy Osborne (USEF S).  “Vitalis” was purchased by Jorst late last year after the Dutch Warmblood-bred and Westfalian-licensed stallion competed as a five-year-old at the World Breeding Championships for the Netherlands, and now appears poised to return to Verden to compete under the American flag and give Jorst her first experience riding for an international U.S. Team.     Earning the six-year-old division Reserve Championship was “Calvin Klein” (chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding, Dolany x Weyden), ridden by DG Bar Ranch’s Ashlynn DeGroot to scores of 7.74 (Preliminary Test) and 7.90 (Final Test) for an overall 7.84.

California’s DG Bar Ranch enjoyed additional success as products of their legendary breeding program swept both the Champion and Reserve Champion titles in the hotly-contested five-year-old division of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Western Selection Trial.  The lovely Dutch Warmblood mare “DG Dancing Queen” (Jazz x Junior) was ridden by 19-year-old Ashlynn DeGroot to narrowly win the first round of competition, earning a score of 8.12 in the Preliminary Test.  But a much-improved performance in the next day’s Final Test by DeGroot’s second mount, the chestnut Dutch Warmblood mare “Dalina DG” (Jazz x Contango) earned a score of 8.72 to move the pair into the overall lead and claim the Five-Year-Old Selection Trial Championship over “DG Dancing Queen” (8.16).  With their two-round combined score of 8.44, DeGroot and “Dalina DG” have also earned a spot on the USEF Short List for a possible invitation to the FEI World Breeding Championships in Germany this summer, as well as a bid to return to the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships presented by HorseShow.com, where last year “Dalina DG” finished in the top ten as a 4-year-old with rider Willy Arts.

Olympian Steffen Peters returned to California from a spring European tour just in time to present the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding and former jumper “Vaya Con Dios” (Odermus R x Glendale, owned by Paula Howard) in the CDI Prix St. Georges, winning the competitive class on an impressive score of 72.719%.  But former Young Rider Amanda Harlan turned the tables on Peters in the Intermediaire I Freestyle, earning a score of 71.625% which was good enough to claim the champion’s sash with Deborah Harlan’s elegant 12-year-old Hanoverian mare “Rosenzauber 8″ (Rotspon x Shogun).  In the Intermediaire I class, Allison Dechant traveled from Colorado to finish one-two with mounts “Rufus” (10-year-old Westfalen gelding by Roh Magic, owned by Deborah Carter) and “Regulus 24″ (1996 Hanoverian by Ramiro’s Son II, owned by Dechant), on scores of 71.930% and 70.132%, respectively.

In the Young Rider classes, Katharine Cassidy won both the Team and Individual tests aboard Lisa Wilcox-Cassidy’s Hanoverian gelding “Pellegrini” (Prince Thatch x Falkland) with a scores of 56.974% and 57.939%, respectively, while 16-year-old Rison Naness added two more CDI Junior victories to her resume with Kristina Harrison’s Hanoverian mare “Venezia” (White Star x Espri), earning 68.964% in the Team Test and 67.061% for the Individual Test.  Wrapping up the division was Canadian entry Mackenzie Thiessen-Ryall of Winnipeg, Manitoba, claiming the win in the Junior Freestyle (63.125%) with her own 15-year-old Warmblood gelding “Danao” (by Dornick B).

Dressage at Flintridge was the second-to-last official qualifying competition for the Markel/Cornerstone Young Talent Search Finals, a new program designed to identify and reward talented young horses on the West Coast which also will pay out over $10,000 in prize money and awards and conclude with a spectacular Finals in June.  Amy Miller presented her Dutch Warmblood gelding “Encore” (Jazz x Sir Sinclair) for a decisive win in the four-year-old class (78.125%), while in the five-year-old division, Karen Ball and “Calimero” (gray Holsteiner gelding, Conteur x Lorentini I) rode to their second straight Talent Search victory with a winning score of 70.676% for owners Alan and Theresa Reese.  Charlotte Jorst capped off a brilliant young horse weekend with her Dutch Warmblood stallion “Vitalis” (Vivaldi x D-Day) as they dominated the six-year-old class with 80.197%.

Complete results for Dressage at Flintridge CDI*/Y/J are available on the Cornerstone Event Management website at this link: http://www.cornerstonedressage.com/show_results.asp.  The next Cornerstone competition in California will be Star Spangled Dressage in San Juan Capistrano, CA on June 28 – 30, which will feature the exciting conclusion to the Markel/Cornerstone Young Talent Search, as well as the California Dressage Society’s popular Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) for the southern California region.

Loxahatchee, FL (May 28, 2013) – “I love when horses want to overachieve,” says USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist, Heidi Degele, of Mesa Farms in Loxahatchee, about qualifying Young Horse division candidates, Lakota and Don Fredo HD.  Both are now also both qualified for the USDF Region 3 championships in Georgia after strong finishes at Gold Coast Dressage May show.

“Lakota got 67% in Prix St. Georges to finish second and won his first Intermediaire I with a 67%. He had a few minor mistakes but I am so proud. He officially qualified at Prix St Georges for Regionals,” said Degele.  “Don Fredo got 73% in his Six Year-Old class and qualified for Regionals at Third Level.”

Degele has kept her trainer’s eye on the prize this so-far epic 2013 US dressage season, seeking to qualify for the Markel/USEF National and Developing Championships, August 21-25, in Wayne, IL.  Since the season began, and especially after dynamic showings on the Welcome Back White Fences series, Degele and her horses have kept hitting their stride.

Don Fredo HD (Don Frederico x Pik Bube I) owned by Greystone Equestrian LLC and Heidi Degele, and one of the top-ranked horses on the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Rankings, had the highest score at White Fences IV, earning 82% in front of judges for the Six Year-Old Horse test: “The ride was almost flawless. I went down center line thinking I was not going to let the judges have anything to comment on and it worked!  They complimented me for bringing Don Fredo HD, concluding that they see him as a future CDI horse.”

She credited recent CDI 5* winner, Lars Peterson, as motivation. “I kept telling myself, ‘Ride like Lars.’  Give it your all. It was my highest score ever.”

Another Mesa Farms LLC star is the eight-year-old American Warmblood, Lakota. “I believe in this horse. I have had him since he was a green three year-old. My goal was to qualify for the Chicago Young Horse Championships and we’ve done that.  He has more heart than any horse I’ve ever ridden.”

“I am proud of both horses and so excited for their futures,” said Degele, who finetunes her skills through regular training with Peterson, and clinics with international masters such as Hubertus Schmidt, Steffen Peters and Conrad Schumacher. Degele trained under Schmidt for three (2004-2007) years in Germany with her stallion, Ramiros, and under his tutelage, brought Everybody’s Darling, a Third Level mare purchased while she was in Germany, through Grand Prix to get her USDF Gold medal.

(NEDA by Angela Prenosil) – The 2013 Spring Symposium, “The Inside Scoop – New Rider Tests & Freestyle”, was held on May 4th-5th at the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton, MA.

On Saturday, ‘R’ judge Alison Head (who also was on sub-committee that created these tests), took us through the training through second level rider tests. These new tests are designed to evaluate the proficiency of the rider relative to the requirements of the given level, without extra credit for the horse’s gaits. We had a nice assortment of horses to really show how interesting, difficult, and different these tests are compared to the standard tests we know.

On Sunday, Ms. Whitaker really educated and entertained us with freestyles! With her impressive Powerpoint presentation, music selections, and fabulous handout, we couldn’t help but get excited about the possibility of riding our own freestyle! Everyone had a ball, even the horses!

We would like to thank our dedicated demo riders and lovely horses:
Laura Jones Kobrin & Lionheart’s Macbeth
Patrice Estess & Mick
Daniela Valentgas & Preferred Seating
Anne Diettriech & Lancelott
Lisa Cross & Dragon
Elizabeth Preston & Encore! Encore!
Debi Barka & Bantry Bay’s Lily
Meghan Hamilton-Yallen & Farrah
Lisa Hellmer & Galvani
Katya Planson & Annika
Mary Stadelmann and Garmt B

We would also like to thank all of the volunteers who helped make this symposium possible.

Photos Courtesy of NEDA by Carole MacDonald – Arne Waltz on Nandalino (top photo) and Katya Planson on Annika (bay horse)

(NEDA by Elizabeth Psaledas) – Contrary to popular belief, NEDA’s Flextime program is winding up, rather than winding down. We have decided to shake things up a bit in order to benefit those who are eager to expand their knowledge. Also, we want to take full advantage of the lessons donated to Flextime by generous instructors, enabling us to continue aiding both The Region 8 JR/YR team and future educational programs.

Beginning on June 1, 2013, NEDA members who have already purchased lessons through Flextime will be afforded the opportunity to apply for more lessons. The rule of only one lesson per instructor still applies, but there are many more instructors you may choose from. If you are excited and planning to apply for more lessons, move quickly. On July 1, 2013, NEDA is opening Flextime to the Pony Club members in Region 8. Because some of these Pony Clubbers will be our future Region 8 JR/YR’s, NEDA felt this was a great way to not only fund today’s educational programs, but also to help broaden the learning spectrum for tomorrow’s dressage greats.

The new change I found most exciting is the improved practice of handling students’ biographies. To help protect the privacy of students and to prevent misplaced biographies, you will no longer mail your biography along with your application. When I contact you to inform you which instructor(s) you have a Flextime lesson with, you will email your biography directly to the instructor when you schedule your lesson. That way your biographies will always be current.

We are truly excited about the new changes to Flextime. As always, we invite any of you to contact us with questions or concerns. Please note that while you can contact Beth at the email address flextime@neda.org, any return email will come from her “real” email address, phrumpsa@aol.com, so please do not think it is spam! Feel free to contact her at either email address or via telephone.

Lexington, KY (May 22, 2013) – The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) has selected the dates and locations for the 2014 …

This year’s CHIO partner country is turning the Opening Ceremony of the World Equestrian Festival into a royal affair! Because Denmark, one of the oldest monarchies in Europe, will be travelling to Aachen with everything that the Royal Family has to offer: The famous golden carriage of the Danish Royal Family will be taking part in the official Opening Ceremony together with the Music Corps of the Royal Household Calvary as well as typical Danish horse breeds.  Around 140 horses and 120 Danish guests will present a unique programme at this year’s Opening Ceremony in the Main Stadium on June 25^th. ?The Danes are really looking forward to the CHIO Aachen,? ascertained Carl Meulenbergh, President of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV).

The Show Director, Frank Kemperman, announced a spectacular Opening Ceremony with ?Danish Dynamite?. The performances of the Royal Hussar Regiment and the Royal Household Calvary with their affiliated music corps, which form the royal guards of the Danish Royal Family, promise to be very impressive. The household mounted regiment was founded over 350 years ago and is characterised by its magnificent dark-blue uniform. The striking bearskin hats and guard?s swords also belong to their official dress.  The CHIO Opening Ceremony would be unthinkable without horses, but thankfully they are plentiful in Denmark.  The Northern European country looks back on a long horse breeding tradition: In addition to the famous Frederiksborgers, the oldest stud-book registered baroque horse breed in the world, the Danish warmbloods and Knabstruppers will also be riding into the Main Stadium for the Opening Ceremony.

The FEI European Championships Aachen 2015, which are also being staged in Aachen from August 11^th-23^rd, 2015 are also going to be one of the themes of the Opening Ceremony.  The spectators can look forward to a spectacular surprising show.

The German Olympic Equestrian Committee (DOKR) was founded 100 years ago ? which is reason enough for the organisation to present itself big-scale during the Opening Ceremony. The history of the DOKR and its eight disciplines: jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, vaulting, reining, endurance riding and para-dressage will be presented in a vibrant show. Around 60 riders ? from children on ponies through to championship team members such as Marcus Ehning and Ingrid Klimke will demonstrate how their sports have changed and developed over the years.  Photos and films depicting the highlights of the equestrian sport will be shown on the big screens in the stadium.

Tickets for the Opening Ceremony on June 25^th, which starts at 4.45 pm, are still available from the hotline on +49(0)241-917-1111 or online at www.chioaachen.de.Of course, tickets for the Opening Ceremony can also be booked directly from the 3D stadium panoramas. Visitors can take a direct look at the stadium at www.chioaachen.de. For those who are not able to make it to the Opening Ceremony in person: It will be broadcast live on WDR live from 5 pm ? 6 pm.