(USPEA by Lindsay McCall) – By definition the freestyle or kür is a dressage test setting the horse’s technical movements to choreographed music. For riders it’s an opportunity to showcase their horse’s skills while emphasizing their grade level’s requirements. On Sunday, March 17th, the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival WEF Dressage Classic CPEDI3*, presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows, came to a close. March 15-17th the U.S. and Canada para-dressage teams competed in the team test, individual, and freestyle competitions in Grades Ia, Ib, II, III, and IV. On Sunday, the para-dressage freestyles in the Van Kampen arena were a chance for riders to relax and enjoy their horses after three days of tough competition. Riders competed in front of international judges Carlos Lopes (POR), Bo Ahman (SWE), and Hanneke Gerritsen (NED). After combining the team and individual percentages for the final overall team score, it was determined the Canadian Para-Dressage team earned the team championship. Although the U.S. team placing was behind Canada, the United States was rewarded with the High Point Rider Award presented to Mary Jordan and Sebastian, owned by Deecie Denison for her 70.583% in the freestyle test.

“Earning the high point award was a great feeling especially after coming so close to going with the team to the London Paralympics,” commented Jordan. “After I came home form London working in feed and bedding, I was determined to make progress within my riding over the winter. It has been a long winter of training and traveling from Maine to Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. It was sweet to receive that award today.”

Jordan has been working on long-term plans with both Sebastian and P. Sparrow Socks. She noted, “It was a tough weekend and the scoring was fair but sobering. I was thrilled because on each test we went out there and kicked it up a notch. I was glad to see the scores go up over three days coinciding with our hard work. With the judge’s critiques, I have a very clear sense of my homework and what I have to do to get to where I want to go. I am grateful for that opportunity. You win the high score and then see all the extra work you have to do. It’s really motivating to try harder and be better.”

The ability to receive international judge feedback is crucial at the FEI para-dressage level. “Having the opportunity to do the three stars is important,” smiled Jordan. “It takes you out of your comfort zone and you get the feedback you need to improve.”

She continued, “Having this particular three star in the U.S. could not have been done without the support of Lloyd Landkamer, Mr. Bellissimo, Adequan, Today’s Equestrian & Fellows, the volunteers, the officials, and so many other important people and organizations. I really want to thank Global for inviting the para-equestrians here to compete with able-bodied dressage. In my experience working during the Paralympics I saw the England community and experienced how para-dressage was so accepted and how educated the public was with the sport. To be invited to compete next to famous able-bodied riders in Florida embraces that international acceptance. There is no difference in the type of dressage we do. We are all in search of accuracy and harmony. To stand in the same CDI barns is a step in the right direction.”

She continued, “My freestyles made me extremely happy on Sunday. I would like to thank Marlene Whitaker who worked with Jessica Ransehousen on the freestyles. It was such a nice experience how we put the music together. I think the music suits both horses and I received really good scores on musical interpretation.”

Following for second behind Jordan was individual Canadian rider Madison Lawson and McGuire. Lawson mentioned, “He was good but he was also a little tired after three days of competition. My favorite movements on him are his canter pirouettes. The ironic part is that MCGuire didn’t even have a canter when we started working with him.”

In 2012, Lawson did not qualify for the Paralympic team but she did cross over as the first person in history to cross over into Young Riders from para-dressage to able-bodied dressage. Her continued hard work over the next year will help propel her to a hopeful qualification for the 2013 World Equestrian Games team.

Canadian Lynne Poole who also competed against Madison Lawson and Mary Jordan in Grade IV earned top results over the weekend. Poole competed with her own Vasco E and Frisbee. Both horses had positive weekends resulting in top accolades for Poole.

Ellie Brimer, Grade III rider, from Wayzata, Minnesota rode her own Carino H to a top freestyle score. She explained, “I was really pleased with my freestyle on Sunday. It was only the second time I have shown it. The Grade III tests have transitioned into the larger 20x60m arena this year so my music and choreography had to be reworked. I’d like to thank Terri Gallo from Klassic Kür for her help putting together the music and writing the pattern. The music is really fun to ride to, and the pattern plays to Carino’s strengths.

Grade II combination Lauren Barwick and Off To Paris continued to work on specific movements of their tests while playing up their strengths in the freestyle. Lately, the pair has been piecing out specific technical requirements and working on them vigorously. In the final count, the duo accrued a 68.667% in the freestyle. As a two-time Paralympian and one of the senior high performance equestrians on the Canadian team Lauren was grateful for the chance to compete in Florida alongside her teammates.

Barwick is also the owner of Ashley Gowanlock’s horse Ferdonia 2 who compete in Grade Ib. “Gowanlock expressed, “This has been a busy weekend but a good start to the year. Fergie was rehabbing over the last few months so I am really impressed how she handled everything. I also want to mention that the show organization was amazing this weekend.”

Placing behind Gowanlock’s impressive rides were Laurietta Oakleaf aboard Niekele fan Busenitz and Sydney Collier with Wentworth. For Sydney the weekend scores did not count towards the FEI ranking list due to her classification re-evaluation. Sydney was still honored for her determination and opportunity to compete in Wellington.

Collier commented, “The freestyle was very good and very free with Wentworth. It was the first time I had ever ridden it to the music. The next few months we are going to do a lot more training and get some big shows under our belt. I want to get the most training possible over this year.”

She added, “I want to thank Lloyd the show organizer, my trainer Wes, and Wentworth’s former rider Amy for the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival. I feel honored to ride this fantastic horse and I look forward to the future with him. I am thankful to Will’s previous owner and rider Amy Mcilwham and her mom for coming down from Canada to watch us this weekend. It was so special to have them here for my first show. I think Will enjoyed seeing them too.”

Amy Mcilwham responded, “I am grateful that the Collier family and Wes have allowed me to be a part of Sydney’s journey. Even just standing by the ring or braiding Will is enough for me.”

She continued, “Sydney is going to be a big star. It takes time and she just started riding Will but Syd is so determined, smart and focused. She has this big bubbly personality when she’s not on the horse but when she’s riding she is in tune and in focus with what she’s doing. She lives and breaths it as her whole family does. She’s got the making to be a really big super star.”

In Grade Ia, Canadians Jody Schloss and Robyn Andrews competed on their own horses. Both equestrians matched tempo, symmetry, and cadence but Jody would pull through by mere percentage points dominating the Grade Ia division over the three days.

With the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CPEDI3* finalized, the para-equestrian dressage riders will begin preparing for future CPEDI3* events and the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrians Games.

U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Chef d’Equipe: Hope Hand

Team Coach: Missy Ransehousen

Country/Athlete, Grade, Horse, Team Test, Championship, Total Combined %, Team Total,

Canada 1st Place

#588 Lauren Barwick, II, Off To Paris, 68.922, 69.190, 138.112,

#575 Jody Schloss, 1a, Inspector Rebus, 63.913, 65.362, 129.275,

#587 Ashley Gowanlock, 1b, Ferdonia 2, 65.200, 67.011, 132.211,

#580 Lynne Poole, IV, Vasco E, 64.048, 64.524, 128.572,

399.598

USA 2nd Place

Mary Jordan, IV, Sabastian, 64.008, 66.071, 130.079,

Laurietta Oakleaf, 1b, Niekele fan Busenitz, 63.067, 64.080, 127.147,

Eleanor Brimmer, III, Carino H, 57.456, 58.740, 116.196,

373.422

MARCH 15, 2013 TEAM TEST

FEI Para Team Grade 1a

(E) Gerritsen, (C) Ahman, (M) Lopes,

1. 575 Jody Schloss Inspector Rebus FEI Para Team Grade 1A – 2013 Adult Amateur 441 63.913% 1

2. 577 Robyn Andrews Fancianna FEI Para Team Grade 1A – 2013 Adult Amateur 435.5 63.116% 2

FEI Para Team Grade 1b

(E) Gerritsen, (C) Ahman, (M) Lopes,

1. 587 Ashley Gowanlock Ferdonia 2 FEI Para Equestrian Team 1B – 2013 Adult Amateur 489 65.200% 1

2. 582 Laurietta Oakleaf Niekele fan Busenitz FEI Para Equestrian Team 1B – 2013 Adult Amateur 473 63.067% 2

FEI Para Team Grade II

(E) Gerritsen, (C) Ahman, (M) Lopes,

1. 588 Lauren Barwick Off To Paris FEI Para Team Grade II – 2013 Adult Amateur 703 68.922% 1

FEI Para Team Grade III

(E) Gerritsen, (C) Ahman, (M) Lopes,

1. 578 Eleanor Brimmer Carino H FEI Para Grade III Team – 2013 Adult Amateur 655 57.456% 1

FEI Para Team Grade IV

(E) Gerritsen, (C) Ahman, (M) Lopes,

1. 580 Lynne Poole Vasco E FEI Para Team Grade IV – 2013 807 64.048% 1

2. 583 Mary R. Jordan Sebastian FEI Para Team Grade IV – 2013 Adult Amateur 806.5 64.008% 2

3. 585 Madison Lawson Mcguire FEI Para Team Grade IV – 2013 JR/YR 794 63.016% 3

4. 584 Mary R. Jordan P Sparrow Socks FEI Para Team Grade IV – 2013 Adult Amateur 751 59.603% 4

5. 579 Lynne Poole Frisbee FEI Para Team Grade IV – 2013 749.5 59.484% 5

SATURDAY MARCH 16, 2013 INDIVIDUAL

FEI Para Individual Test Grade Ia

(E) Lopes, (C) Gerritsen, (M) Ahman,

1. 575 Jody Schloss Inspector Rebus FEI Para Individual Grade 1A – 2013 Adult Amateur 451 65.362% 1

2. 577 Robyn Andrews Fancianna FEI Para Individual Grade 1A – 2013 Adult Amateur 442.5 64.130% 2

FEI Para Individual Champion Test Grade 1b

(E) Lopes, (C) Gerritsen, (M) Ahman,

1. 587 Ashley Gowanlock Ferdonia 2 FEI Para Equestrian Individual 1B – 2013 Adult Amateur 583 67.011% 1

2. 582 Laurietta Oakleaf Niekele fan Busenitz FEI Para Equestrian Individual 1B – 2013 Adult Amateur 557.5 64.080% 2

FEI Para Individual Champion Test Grade II

(E) Lopes, (C) Gerritsen, (M) Ahman,

1. 588 Lauren Barwick Off To Paris FEI Para Grade II Individual – 2013 Adult Amateur 726.5 69.190% 1

FEI Para Individual Champion Test Grade III

(E) Lopes, (C) Gerritsen, (M) Ahman,

1. 578 Eleanor Brimmer Carino H FEI Para Grade III Individual – 2013 Adult Amateur 722.5 58.740% 1

FEI Para Individual Champion Test Grade IV

(E) Lopes, (C) Gerritsen, (M) Ahman,

1. 583 Mary R. Jordan Sebastian FEI Para Individual Grade IV – 2013 Adult Amateur 832.5 66.071%

2. 585 Madison Lawson Mcguire FEI Para Individual Grade IV – 2013 JR/YR 818.5 64.960%

3. 580 Lynne Poole Vasco E FEI Para Individual Grade IV – 2013 813 64.524%

4. 584 Mary R. Jordan P Sparrow Socks FEI Para Individual Grade IV – 2013 Adult Amateur 763.5 60.595%

5. 579 Lynne Poole Frisbee FEI Para Individual Grade IV – 2013 743.5 59.008%

SUNDAY MARCH 17, 2013 FREESTYLE

FEI Para Free Style Test Grade 1a

(E) Gerritsen, (C) Lopes, (M) Ahman,

1. 575 Jody Schloss Inspector Rebus FEI Para Freestyle Grade 1A – 2010 Adult Amateur 414 69.000%

2. 577 Robyn Andrews Fancianna FEI Para Freestyle Grade 1A – 2010 Adult Amateur 393 65.500%

FEI Para Free Style Test Grade 1b

(E) Gerritsen, (C) Lopes, (M) Ahman,

1. 587 Ashley Gowanlock Ferdonia 2 FEI Para Freestyle Grade 1B – 2010 Adult Amateur 410.5 68.417%

2. 582 Laurietta Oakleaf Niekele fan Busenitz FEI Para Freestyle Grade 1B – 2010 Adult Amateur 389.5 64.917%

FEI Para Free Style Test Grade II

(E) Gerritsen, (C) Lopes, (M) Ahman,

1. 588 Lauren Barwick Off To Paris FEI Para Freestyle Grade II – 2010 Adult Amateur 412 68.667%

FEI Para Free Style Test Grade III

(E) Gerritsen, (C) Lopes, (M) Ahman,

1. 578 Eleanor Brimmer Carino H FEI Para Freestyle III – 2013 Adult Amateur 386 64.333%

FEI Para Free Style Test Grade IV

(E) Gerritsen, (C) Lopes, (M) Ahman,

1.583 Mary R. Jordan Sebastian FEI Para Freestyle Grade IV – 2012 Adult Amateur 423.5 70.583%

2.585 Madison Lawson Mcguire FEI Para Freestyle Grade IV – 2012 JR/YR 412 68.667%

3.580 Lynne Poole Vasco E FEI Para Freestyle Grade IV – 2012 403 67.167%

4.579 Lynne Poole Frisbee FEI Para Freestyle Grade IV – 2012 391.5 65.250%

5.584 Mary R. Jordan P Sparrow Socks FEI Para Freestyle Grade IV – 2012 Adult Amateur 387.5 64.583%

For questions about the 2013-2014 Para-Equestrian Dressage season please contact the USEF High Performance Director of the Para-Equestrian Discipline Laureen K. Johnson at (908) 326 – 1155 or e-mail lkjohnson@usef.org

For more questions about Para-Equestrian Dressage please contact Hope Hand at Hope@uspea.org or (610) 356-6481.

Please check out the new FEI Tests Here (LINK)

http://www.fei.org/disciplines/officials-organisers/organisers/para-equestrian-dressage/dressage-tests

ALLTECH FEI WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES 2014 Qualification Criteria

Qualification Period:

Start: January 1, 2013

End: XXXX 2014 (TBD)

Qualifying Events:

Any CPEDI3* or CPEDI4* event during the qualification period in addition to the Paralympics Games 2012 London

Qualification Score:

All athlete/horse combinations must have attained (as a combination) a minimum 60% score attributed by the Ground Jury in a Team test or Individual Championship test one time.

Judges:

Minimum of 3 FEI PE5* or 4* judges of different nationalities

About the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (Excerpt From http://www.globaldressagefestival.com)

The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (Adequan GDF) was created as one of the finest show grounds in the world with a calendar of events and prize money in its first year that places it in the top tier of competitions.

Five CDIs staged by a single organization are more than at any other show grounds in the world. Prize money of more than $275,000 that is the richest single circuit except for the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany, what is to horse sports what Wimbledon is to tennis.

The show grounds consists of four arenas that are equal in quality to those at the 2012 and 2008 Olympic Games, several hundred stadium seats around the main ring and the first 200 of what will be 300 permanent horse stalls and a raised courtyard at the center of the show grounds providing a panoramic view of the entire facility. One of the world’s largest covered arenas at 360 by 210 feet (110 x 64 meters), and a VIP club overlooking the main competition arena.

Dressage has replaced the billiard-table smooth grass polo fields that were the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club stadium where Prince Charles played to kick start Wellington as THE winter lifestyle destination for the world.

The dressage grounds adjoin a beautiful grass jumping derby field all part of the sprawling Palm Beach International Equestrian Center that attracts thousands of horses from about three dozen countries for jumper and hunter competitions in an calendar that has expanded from a few weeks in winter to shows from Fall through Spring, centered around the Winter Equestrian Festival and its $6 million in prize money.

To learn more about the Global Dressage Festival please visit: http://www.globaldressagefestival.com

Photo Courtesy of USPEA by Lindsay McCall

(USDF) – Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center in South Hadley, Massachusetts and their dressage team will host over 100 riders from more than 20 colleges and universities throughout the United States at the Intercollegiate Dressage Association’s 12th annual National Championship on April 27th and 28th.

Four-member teams and individuals in each of the IDA’s four divisions–Introductory Level, Lower Training Level, Upper Training Level and First Level–are chosen from the approximately 600 student riders representing 55 colleges and universities across 9 regions of the US and Canada. Qualifying points are earned in IDA sanctioned competitions held throughout the academic year within each region.

Unlike traditional dressage competition where riders bring their own horses, IDA shows require the host school to provide the horses and tack, and riders randomly draw the horse they will compete on. This adds an additional element of challenge to the competition as riders are paired with unfamiliar horses, and allowed only ten minutes of warm-up time to establish a relationship before entering the show ring.

This shared “element of surprise” brings a sense of team spirit to the sport of dressage not found anywhere else. “There is such camaraderie among the riders and the coaches,” says Lisa Moosmueller-Terry, vice president of the IDA and Virginia Intermont College’s dressage coach. “The competition is intense, but there is still such a sense of support from the other teams. We all applaud one another and are happy when the ribbons are well-distributed among riders from all of the regions.”

The IDA began in 1995 as an informal competition among a small group of colleges and secondary schools in the northeast. Michelle Hoffman, a Mount Holyoke student, conceived of the IDA concept and drew up the guidelines for calculation of team points, which, for the most part, are still used today.

Mount Holyoke College, Johnson and Wales University, Ethel Walker School, Williston Northampton School, Stoneleigh Burnham School and Savannah College of Art and Design were among the first school-sponsored programs seeking to develop dressage as a “team” sport. As the rapid international growth of dressage inspired greater development within college and secondary school riding programs there was increased interest in a more formal, national organization dedicated to increasing interest and participation in competitive dressage at the college and secondary school level.

In the spring of 2001, representatives from numerous colleges and secondary schools met at the first eastern region finals at Virginia Intermont College. They approved by-laws, elected officers and created the structure for the organization that exists today. In 2003, the IDA became a college-only organization. Mount Holyoke College hosted the IDA National Finals in 2008, and is excited for their return again in 2013. Among the numerous sponsors for the event are Custom Saddlery, Nutrena Feeds, Perri’s Leather, RevitaVet, Vespucci, Moxie, Dressage Today, the US Equestrian Federation, Westfield Whips, and Dover Saddlery.

(Jennifer Wood Media) – The WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3* presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows wrapped up competition Sunday at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. The highlight class was the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle, with Caroline Roffman (USA) and Her Highness O taking the top prize. The Florida Youth Championships presented by Dressage4kids and sponsored by PanaCavallo wrapped up with awards in four divisions, and the Para-Equestrian competition had their presentations to honor the top teams and individuals. The Adequan Global Dressage Festival continues next with the Wellington CDI 5* presented by Diamante Farms on April 4-7, 2013.

For the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle, there were seven entries. Winning the class with a score of 75.125% was Roffman and Her Highness O, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare by Hohenstein x Weltmeyer. Second place went to Christilot Boylen (CAN) and Dio Mio with a score of 74.650%, while Kimberly Herslow (USA) and Rosmarin were third with 73.125%.

Roffman, who owns and runs Lionshare Dressage in Wellington, FL, with Endel Ots, has owned Her Highness O for three years. She found the mare after her career as a broodmare. Despite little knowledge under saddle, she thought the mare was “pretty special,” and developed her with then co-owner Jennifer Lind. She purchased her outright this past August. “I have to thank Jennifer Lind for letting me do that. She made it possible,” Roffman said. The pair won the Developing Horse championship last year. This is only their third CDI international small tour and it was their first freestyle together.

Roffman remarked, “I have to say thank you to Terri Gallo because that freestyle is five years old and it works with every horse. All my stars fell and aligned today because it was not exactly the most well-prepared test! It’s a really great mare and I’m very lucky to have her.”

Despite her small stature at 16 hands and Roffman’s height at six feet, they work well together when Her Highness O enters the show ring. “She’s very small, (but) she will never let you know that. She is true to her name. She thinks she’s queen and everyone should bow to her. When you tack her up, it’s like she has an alter ego. She has a lot of pride. I think she’s happy not be a brood mare anymore. I think she really likes being a show horse and wants to be treated a certain way. Her character is awesome,” Roffman described.

While the canter is noted as a slight weakness for Her Highness O by Roffman, Sundy’s freestyle helped. “It’s not a bad canter, but she gets a little tense. Teaching her changes was difficult because she was so hot. Surprisingly today, the changes on a bent line actually helped. I think she was wondering where we were going. It was really a freestyle today!” Roffman smiled.

Roffman believes that Her Highness O has the capability to do the Large Tour test. “Her best qualities are piaffe and passage. I believe in her a lot. What she may not have in talent, she’ll make up for in heart,” she explained. “She wants it as much as I do. She doesn’t like being second in the awards ceremony.”

Inaugural Florida Youth Championships Help Young Riders

The Florida Youth Championships presented by Dressage4kids and sponsored by PanaCavallo were a great success with winners in four divisions. The program is to help young dressage riders gain experience and education for the high performance levels.

The winner of the Brentina Cup class was Julie McKean of Camden, ME. She and Stelina had a total of 64.617. McKean has been riding Stelina for a year and a half, and they have had success in the Brentina Cup at the national championships, placing sixth. “I’m really excited because our partnership has come a long way. We’re riding with a new level of consistency,” she said.

McKean looked forward to competing in the classes at the AGDF. “I was really motivated to be in this particular CDI because I hadn’t ridden in front of a full panel of judges since Devon. I need to get my feet back in international waters! It was a confidence builder for me because we went in and put in a really steady test, pretty clean. We have to work on maintaining uphill balance and I feel that we did that.”

Fifteen-year-old Bebe Davis of Bedminster, NJ, captured two top prizes. She and Poldy 10 won the FEI Pony Division with a total of 67.763, while Rotano was tops in the FEI Junior Division on a total of 66.009. Davis and Poldy 10, who is 17 years old, are in their second season together in Florida. They won the national championship title in 2012 and were champions at Devon. “He’s my favorite pony; I love him so much. I brought him last minute and I’m really glad I did. I was nailing everything and it’s all coming along so well. My hard work is paying off. He’s just the best.”

This is Davis’ first season in the junior division and showing with Rotano. “I’m just starting to get to know him and how to warm him up,” she said.

Davis was excited to participate in the Championships. “In dressage, the young riders is not as big of a program. To see people care about what we do and appreciate it for all the hard work we put in, it’s really great. This weekend was about learning for me,” she related. “I’m learning to keep riding every single show like it’s no big deal. If you show your horse to the best of their ability and ride to the best of your ability, it’s really going to pay off. You end up being happy with yourself because you’ve done the best that you can do, regardless of the score.”

Alexa Derr, who is 18 and from Reinholds, PA, won the FEI Young Riders division with Just Livingston with a total of 63.991. They have only been together since November. Derr noted, “My goal was to have a clean test and to really work on some of the areas that I have been having difficulty with, like canter pirouettes and lateral work. It’s his strong point, but not always mine. I was really wanting to have a nice, polished, expressive test.”

Derr is a participant in the Winter Intensive Training Program with Lendon Gray, who heads the Dressage4kids program. What Derr enjoyed most about the program and Sundays championship was the support from all of her fellow competitors. “For me, that was really such a cool feeling to have all the support and be able to support everybody else. I felt like everyone was there for each other,” she said. “It didn’t feel like a championship; it felt like everybody was out there to do their personal best and have fun with it as well.”

Final Results: FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle
1 Caroline Roffman (USA), Her Highness O: 71.125, 77.000, 75.500, 76.125, 75.875, 75.125
2 Christilot Boylen (CAN), Dio Mio: 75.125, 75.500, 75.000, 71.750, 75.875, 74.650
3 Kimberly Herslow (USA), Rosmarin: 71.375, 73.875, 72.250, 74.875, 73.250, 73.125
4 Carlos Munoz (ESP), Klouseau: 66.000, 69.375, 69.000, 67.625, 67.250, 67.850
5 Evi Strasser (CAN), Rigaudon Tyme: 66.750, 69.125, 68.750, 66.500, 65.625, 67.350
6 Katharina Stumpf (AUT), Nymphenburg’s Love: 65.625, 67.750, 67.500, 69.000, 66.750, 67.325
7 Kathy W. Priest (USA), Wild Dancer: 63.375, 67.250, 64.125, 69.625, 68.500, 66.575

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Wood Media by Sue Stickle

(NEDA) – If you missed out on the NEDA Stallion Auction, there is a chance for you.
The Second Chance NEDA Stallion Auction closes March 16th at 9pm. We have some fantastic stallions that you can “Buy Now”. Get to nedastallionauction.org first for a chance for a top quality stallion breeding for dressage for the minimum bid! In addition, you will be supporting our American Breeders!

(Global Dressage Festival) – The WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3* presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued today with classes for the Large Tour and Small Tour. Susan Dutta and Currency DC won the FEI Grand Prix Special, while Kim Herslow and Rosmarin won their second class in a row in the FEI Intermediaire-1. The CDI 3* and National competition wrap up with tomorrow’s classes. The next show for the AGDF is the Wellington CDI 5* presented by Diamante Farms on April 4-7, 2013.

The judges for today’s FEI Grand Prix Special were: Carlos Lopes at E, Janet Foy at H, Sandy Phillips at C, Ulrike Nivelle at M, and Bo Ahman at B.

Dutta and Currency DC won the class with a score of 69.396%. Coming in second place was Susan Jaccoma (USA) on Wadamur with a score of 66.063%. Jill Irving (CAN) and Degas 12 were third after they received a score of 65.083%.

Dutta has ridden Currency DC, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Clintino x Classiker, since she bought him as a two and a half year old. The long journey has also been one of learning.

Dutta explained, “It’s getting much better. It’s not without effort; I’m always trying to ride better. I have fabulous trainers and we know we have a good horse. It’s just a matter of trying to ride it well. First we had to get him going well, this takes time, and then get us together in the ring, and me confident. I have to really believe. This horse has only been ridden by me. Now I’m starting to believe in myself. I think he really likes me now and likes the way I’m riding him. There’s more in there. This is a super horse. I just have not ridden him to his potential, but I’m getting there. That feels really good. To me, this is a huge step in the right direction.”

Dutta trains with Juergen and Christoph Koschel when she travels to Europe in the summer and when they can come to the U.S. She noted, “I knew I needed a grounds person in America. I’m working with Nicholas Fyffe. I owe him a big thank you.”

The pair started at the grand prix level three years ago, but there were a few bumps in the road with injuries since then. “This is the first season that he’s starting to look like a real grand prix horse,” Dutta said. “He doesn’t look green anymore. It takes time.”

Of her test today, Dutta described, “The beginning is so amazing with the passage, extended, passage, extended. I knew I got some points there. I knew I was going to need them. That’s my history is to get way ahead there. It’s a numbers game, so that if my walk wasn’t good or if I made a little canter mistake, I still was higher in the score. I knew in the beginning when he was so easy and on my aids that it was good. I knew he felt good. He was good out here (in the warm-up). I wasn’t nervous. I’m feeling more confident. I think that’s transferring to him.”

Speaking of her victory, she said, “For me, winning is great. More than anything though, just riding him well and getting the points was important to me. Confidence builds on confidence and I’m hoping I can layer myself with more confidence and ride really well.”

Two In a Row for Herslow and Rosmarin

At only eight years old, Rosmarin is proving that his talent is here to stay. The Hanoverian gelding by Rosentanz x Weltmeyer, ridden by Kim Herslow of Stockton, NJ, won the FEI Intermediaire-1 class with a score of 71.026%. Second place went to Christilot Boylen (CAN) and Dio Mio with a score of 70.974%, while Caroline Roffman (USA) and Her Highness O placed third on a score of 69.421%.

Herslow explained that from yesterday to today, her horse felt even better. “I felt like he was even more there for me today. Not that he wasn’t yesterday, but the through-ness was more solid today with him. He’s letting me really ride him in the ring and staying completely with me, which is a really nice feeling. I can push and he never worries about what I’m asking for. Even if it’s not the right thing. He still does it and then comes back and fixes it for me. This is his third I-1 ever, so I’m just thrilled that he’s coming out and that we can still make his canter so much better. We’re just starting and it’s really awesome,” she remarked.

Of her test, she said, “His trot tour is always pretty incredible. He’s so rideable in his trot and his fluidity is so nice to ride. His half passes are always a strong point. His walk felt really good to me today. We still have to get our canter stronger. He’s a really long horse so we have some strength to work on, and getting more jump in the canter, which will help the pirouettes and the changes. It’ll help the whole canter tour. There’s still a lot of room to improve, so it’s exciting to know that. He’s still just at the very beginning of his career here.”

Despite just starting to earn accolades, Herslow felt that Rosmarin had talent to start with. “He definitely had talent. It’s just been a very slow build-up from a young horse, in a sense that I didn’t do a lot of fancy work with him. I did a lot of basic gymnastic, body-building work with him. I take a lot of time to develop a relationship with him and get his trust. I think that’s what makes us so harmonious,” she explained. “It’s an investment in my time, but it’s so worth it because you see the difference in the ring. He comes out the same every day and he’s a super amazing horse. I’m lucky to own him and feel extremely grateful.”

Herslow is excited that they still have another class in which to compete tomorrow. It will be the pair’s second time ever in the I-1 Freestyle. “I need to get a little sharper in my preparations for certain things, so we still had a few little mistakes, but he was listening. He did exactly what I asked him for. I’m hoping to clean that up for the freestyle tomorrow, which is a really fun freestyle. I’m excited to ride that tomorrow,” she said.

The top United States Para-Equestrian today was Mary Jordan, who rode Sebastian to a score of 66.071% in the FEI Para-Equestrian Individual Champion Test Grade IV. The awards presentations for all of the grades’ team and individual winners will be held tomorrow.

Winning both yesterday’s and today’s FEI Junior classes was Paula Matute (ESP) on Escritor de Ymas II. They received a score of 64.595% in yesterday’s team class and a 64.026% in today’s Individual class.

The WEF Dressage Classic CDI 3* presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows concludes tomorrow with the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle along in the CDI competition. The Para-Equestrians will also perform their freestyles, while the Florida Youth Championships presented by Dressage4kids and sponsored by PanaCavallo have their final rounds in the main International Arena.

For full results and more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Final Results: FEI Grand Prix Special
Rider, Country, Horse: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total%
1 Susan Dutta (USA) Currency DC: 69.167, 71.250, 69.167, 69.792, 67.604, 69.396
2 Susan Jaccoma (USA), Wadamur: 66.250, 67.708, 66.667, 65.000, 64.688, 66.063
3 Jill Irving (CAN), Degas 12: 66.146, 64.479, 64.167, 67.396, 63.229, 65.083
4 Cesar Parra (USA), Van the Man: 67.188, 66.146, 63.021, 64.063, 64.896, 65.063
5 Evi Strasser (CAN), Action Tyme: 65.208, 65.104, 63.021, 65.521, 65.000, 64.771
6 Diana Mukpo (USA), Pascal: 63.958, 62.188, 65.104, 64.792, 65.000, 64.208

Final Results: FEI Intermediaire-1
Rider, Country, Horse: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total%
1Kimberly Herslow (USA), Rosmarin: 68.421, 72.237, 70.132, 72.632, 71.711, 71.026
2 Christilot Boylen (CAN), Dio Mio: 73.684, 67.763, 72.105, 71.711, 69.605, 70.974
3 Caroline Roffman (USA), Her Highness O: 70.658, 70.789, 68.553, 68.158, 68.947, 69.421
4 Silva Martin (USA), Rosa Cha W: 70.789, 66.974, 65.526, 65.526, 67.237, 67.211
5 Susan Dutta (USA), Lumberjack 12: 65.658, 70.658, 65.395, 66.579, 67.368, 67.132
6 Maya Markowski (CAN), Lumiere: 64.868, 66.053, 66.316, 69.079, 67.632, 66.789

Photo Courtesy of GDF by Sue Stickle

(FEI by Louise Parkes) – Defending double-champions, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, won the last leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League 2012/2013 on home ground at the Brabanthallen in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands this afternoon. But Dutch colleague, Edward Gal, put them under intense pressure with a brilliant performance from Glock’s Undercover that brought the crowd to their feet.

Yesterday Gal and the 12-year-old gelding were 1.362 percentage points off Cornelissen’s winning score in the Grand Prix. But Ground Jury members Katrina Wuest (GER), Hans Christian Matthiesen (DEN), Francis Verbeek van Rooij (NED), Jacques van Daele (BEL) and Adriaan Hamoen (NED) saw an even closer margin today , with just 0.8 separating the two. Things could now hardly be more exciting ahead of next month’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in Gothenburg, Sweden, as Gal is quickly closing in on his team-mate with increasingly impressive performances, while Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill have already proven that they are a force to be reckoned with in the battle for the prestigious title.

With another nice test from Don Johnson FRH, Germany’s Isabell Werth slotted into third ahead of Denmark’s Anna Kasprzak and the expressive Donnperignon while Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic claimed fifth place. There was a big buzz in the aftermath of the competition, and while it was Cornelissen who stood top of the prize-giving line, the electricity was all emanating from Gal whose enormous grin said it all.

Today marked a turning point for his lovely black horse who bears more than a passing resemblance to the great stallion, Totilas, which carried him through one of the most exciting periods in the history of this sport as they set new standards until parting company after winning three gold medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky, USA in 2010. Together they changed the face of international Dressage, and Gal admitted this evening, in almost a whisper, “it’s not just because he’s a black horse, it’s about the feeling ….riding a horse that doesn’t want to stop and wants to give everything and more….today was a little bit like the same Wow feeling I got with Totilas back then!” he said.

Full of Quality

From the outset this last qualifier was full of quality, with Switzerland’s Marcela Krinke Susmelj showing exactly why she was lying sixth on the Western European League rankings coming into this leg of the series as she produced a lovely opening test from Smeyers Molberg that oozed softness and harmony. And their score of 73.850 held the lead until surpassed, first by Sidsel Johansen and Schianto who notched up 74.950 and then by fellow-Dane Anna Kasprzak who really raised the game just before the half-way break with a mark of 78.650 for Donnperignon.

Not even the near-perfection of the passage and piaffe produced by Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic could oust this Danish pair who remained in front until Cornelissen took her turn with four left to go. And despite the fact that the title-defenders are still feeling their way into a whole new floor-plan and musical score, they forged way ahead when putting 85.900 on the board.

Germany’s Isabell Werth powered into the arena as the penultimate competitor and posted 79.475 to slot into runner-up spot with Don Johnson FRH, but that wouldn’t last long. Because Gal and Glock’s Undercover kept the crowd spellbound with a last-to-go test that clearly has room for improvement but which had that distinct whiff of a little bit of magic. The spectators couldn’t contain themselves when he left the ring, spontaneously rising to their feet to roar their approval, and when the judges marks were displayed there was an intake of breath, because Gal’s score was so very close to overtaking their other great favourite. The Dutch are spoiled for choice once again.

Master the Movements

For Cornelissen today was a big one, as she still has to master the new series of movements that will, no doubt, come together to even greater effect over the coming months as both she and her lovely chestnut gelding perform her “Tribute to my Red Knight”. She uses Parzival’s extraordinary expertise in canter pirouette to full effect in this new Freestyle which, although perhaps less majestic and dramatic, flows easily and will surely make an excellent replacement for the former Tchaikkovsky-themed test that brought them so much success.

“I need to change some small things, and we are still getting used to the new test but I’m very happy because with Parzival it is all getting much lighter and more harmonious” she said.

While Cornelissen was being philosophical, Gal could hardly contain his excitement at having pushed her so closely. “I was the most happiest rider today!” he said with a big smile at the post-competition press conference. It is partly the speed at which his partnership with Undercover is coming together that is surprising him. He brought the 12-year-old horse with him to ‘s-Hertogenbosch this time last year just to let him experience the atmosphere of a big show and all that goes with it, but only started riding the horse in January 2012. “I had Totilas for four or five years before competing him like this, and I didn’t expect it would come together so soon. Our last indoor competition was at Olympia (in London) in December and he (Undercover) was so hot there. You need to have a hot horse to do a great test, but you have to be able to handle it and today I had a good feeling so I could let him go and do it, he was much more relaxed” he pointed out.

Isabell Werth was well-pleased with her horse’s performance. “Johnny is always quite powerful, but he is still developing and I’m very happy with him. What Edward says is true, you have to deal with the power and the temperament, but my horse is still just 10 years old and when he plays in the right way he’s perfect!” she insisted.

In Context

Ground Jury President, Francis Verbeek van Rooij, put it all in context when she said “for us judges it was an exciting afternoon. For me personally I couldn’t say after Edward’s test who was in the lead and in the end Adelinde finished just ahead of him. These riders are riding the Freestyle test on the music really well, and I congratulate them all” she added.

Frank Kemperman, Sports Director for Indoor Brabant and Chairman of the FEI Dressage Committee confirmed that the nine leading riders on the Western European League 2012/2013 leaderboard have now qualified for the Final next month. They are, in the following order, Kristina Sprehe (GER), Valentina Truppa (ITA), Edward Gal (NED), Helen Langehanenberg (GER), Isabell Werth (GER), Patrik Kittel (SWE), Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven (SWE), Anna Kasprzak (DEN) and Marcela Krinke Susmelj (SUI). Defending champions, Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, are automatically qualified.

“We have to wait another week or so before some of the other leagues are over so we can finalise the start-list, but I believe we can look forward to a wonderful Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in Gothenburg in a few weeks’ time!” Mr Kemperman pointed out.

Retirement

And emotions ran high in the Brabanthallen once again later in the day when the official retirement ceremony for Anky van Grunsven’s 19 year old Hannoverian, Salinero, took place. The Dutch rider enjoyed enormous success with this horse whose career might well have been overshadowed by the memory of his revered predecessor, Bonfire who, together with van Grunsven, first brought Freestyle Dressage to centre stage. Salinero however followed faithfully in those very famous hoofprints to become a star in his own right, taking Olympic individual gold in Athens in 2004 and again at the equestrian events of the Beijing Olympic Games in Hong Kong four years later. And he helped van Grunsven to become the most prolific winner of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage title – she won it nine times over a 13-year period between 1995 and 2008.

Salinero first came to prominence in 2003 with victory in the Dutch National Championship and was part of the Dutch bronze medal winning team at the London 2012 Olympic Games at Greenwich Park last summer which brought his spectacular career to a fitting conclusion.

For further information on the eighth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2012/2013 series at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands on Saturday 16 March 2013 go to website http://www.indoorbrabant.com/en/ or contact Press Officer Denise van der Net, Email denisene@xs4all.net, Tel +31 6270 31674.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final 2012/2013 will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden from 24-28 April. For details of the Swedish fixture check out website www.gothenburghorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Mayvor Thorin at Email mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se, Tel +46 31 368 43 49.

Result: 1, Jerich Parzival (Adelinde Cornelissen) NED 85.900; 2, Glock’s Undercover (Edward Gal) NED 85.100; 3, Don Johnson FRH (Isabell Werth) GER 79.475; 4, Donnperignon (Anna Kasprzak) DEN 78.650; 5, Watermill Scandic (Patrik Kittel) SWE 77.775; 6, Hexagon’s Wellnetta (Laurens van Lieren) NED 75.575; 7, Miciano (Marlies van Baalen) NED 75.100; 8, Schianto (Sidsel Johansen) DEN 74.950; 9, Smeyers Molberg (Marcela Krinke Susmelj) SUI 73.850; 10, Unlimited (Stephanie Peters) NED 72.775; 11, Biggles (Kristian von Krusenstierna) SWE 72.725; 12, Axis TSF (Terhi Stegars) FIN 72.175; 13, Orion (PIa Fortmuller) can 70.025; 14, Vradin (Simon Missiaen) BEL 69.650; 15, World Performance Washington (Luis Principe) POR 67.375.

Full details here http://results.scgvisual.com/2013/denbosch/r14.html

Facts and Figures:

Today’s Freestyle competition at ‘s-Hertogenbosch was the eighth and final qualifying round of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League series.
This was the first time for defending champion, The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen, to perform her new Freestyle floor-plan which she calls “Tribute to my Red Knight”.
Following today’s final qualifier, the top 9 riders on the Western European League leaderboard have earned a place at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2013 Final which will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden from 24-28 April.
Defending champion and today’s winner, The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen, is automatically qualified with Jerich Parzival.
This weekend’s Dutch event also marked the retirement of Anky van Grunsven’s Salinero who, during his sparkling career, twice won Olympic gold .
Between 1995 and 2008 the Dutch rider dominated the FEI World Cup™ Dressage series with 9 victories over that 13-year period.
This is the 28th season of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage series, and the third season of sponsorship by New York fashion designer Reem Acra who recently committed to a further three years of support.
In yesterday’s preliminary Grand Prix competition, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival produced a winning margin of 1.362 percentage points over Dutch colleague Edward Gal with Glock’s Undercover while Germany’s Isabell Werth and Don Johnson FRH finished third.
The panel of judges for today’s Ground Jury was : At E, Katrina Wuest (GER), At H, Hans Christian Matthiesen (DEN), At C, Francis Verbeek van Rooij (NED), At M, Jacques van Daele (BEL) and at B, Adriaan Hamoen (NED).

Quotes:

Isabell Werth – “With Johnny (Don Johnson FRH) we are still on way and learning. He can be a bit tense and do too much, but today he did a good test, not perfect but to be third here was my goal and it was great preparation for the Final”.

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2012/2013 – Standings after Round 8 at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED):
1. Kristina Sprehe GER – 68
2. Valentina Truppa ITA – 67
3. Edward Gal NED – 66
3. Helen Langehanenberg GER – 66
3. Isabell Werth GER – 66
6. Patrik Kittel SWE – 63
6. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven – 63
8. Anna Kasprzak DEN – 58
9. Marcela Krinke Susmelj SUI – 50
10. Minna Telde SWE – 49
11. Sidsel Johansen DEN – 46
12. Marlies van Baalen NED – 40
13. Kristian von Krusentierna SWE – 34
14. Pia Fortmuller CAN – 33
15. Imke Schellekens-Bartels NED – 32
16. Patrick van der Meer NED – 30
17. Anabel Balkenhol GER – 29
18. Lyndal Oatley AUS – 23
18. Silvia Rizzo ITA – 23
20. Karin Kosak AUT – 22

Photo Courtesy of FEI

(Jennifer Wood Media) – The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) hosted an entertaining night of equestrian sport at the WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3* presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows on Friday. The night’s schedule included an opening $10,000 Puissance won by Great Britain’s Tim Gredley and Unex Valente, which led into the highlight class of the week, the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle sponsored by Horseware Ireland. The winning score of 74.625% was put up by Tina Konyot (USA) and Calecto V for their second freestyle win in a row at the AGDF. The CDI 3* continues through Sunday, March 17.

The judges for tonight’s freestyle included: Carlos Lopes at E, Bo Ahman at H, Anne Gribbons at C, Isabelle Judet at M, and Janet Foy at B.

Konyot and Calecto V performed their fun and familiar freestyle in front of a crowd of enthusiastic spectators at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The judges scored them with 74.625%. Going last in the order, Jacquline Brooks of Canada and her 2013 Olympic partner D Niro had a spectacular freestyle to a cheering crowd for second place and a score of 71.425%. Mikala Munter Gundersen (DEN) and My Lady were third with a score of 69.800%.

Konyot described Calecto V, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion by Come Back II x Rastell owned by Konyot and John Byrialsen, as “not the nervous type,” and she was very happy with her performance tonight. “He’s very laid-back and you have to create a lot, but he’s right there for you. He felt very nice this evening. I had a couple of little bobbles in my changes, (but) I had some very good things. At the end, I had a mistake, and I created a piaffe out of it, so it was okay! Improvising blended in. My horse is such a confident, comfortable horse. He enjoys the attention; he loves it.”

Konyot needs one more score in order to qualify the FEI World Cup Finals and said she is preparing for the Finals and feels confident. “I’m comfortable with my planning right now. We all have to peak at the right moment, and I’m headed in that direction at this time,” she said.

She added, “Jacqui was fabulous!”

Brooks and D Niro have come a long way since their first grand prix in late 2011. Since then, Brooks has seen her “nervous” and “tense” horse become comfortable in large, loud venues. She explained, “I was very careful with the venues I picked then to show him in. I didn’t put him in any nighttime venues. I chose smaller, daytime shows with less crowds. That plan worked great going to the Olympics. After that is when I started chasing these shows. My plan now is to be in every big stadium that I can. Now I’m very confident in him that he can go into big stadiums and he enjoys it, probably more than the smaller venues now.”

Brooks even feels that D Niro is “a big venue horse” now. “He really finds himself in there. Today he was very, very happy in there,” she noted. “He wanted to do all that work. I have to say, of all those big venues, those have been my best tests. The Olympics was the best grand prix I’ve ever done on him.”

Gundersen and My Lady are working towards getting more experience for their top scores. Despite a setback to a disturbance with another horse in the warm-up yesterday, Gundersen said that My Lady returned today as “happy and quiet again.”

Of her test tonight, she explained, “My horse was excellent tonight. I made some major mistakes. I was behind the music and I got a little nervous and hectic about that. I tried to just ride my way around! I don’t know how it happened; I know this music so well. This music wasn’t made for her. I must have been riding very slow or something! (But) I was enjoying the moment. My pirouettes were wonderful. Lady was great.”

After the winter season, Gundersen will travel and compete in Europe.

Gundersen believes that each experience helps her horse. “I think My Lady is still a little bit green here. She’s still gets a little bit distracted by the surroundings. For sure she still needs to go and see a lot. That’s why we’re going to Europe. You have to go out and play with the big guys,” she said.

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Wood Media by Sue Stickle