(USEF) – The first Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session of 2013 wrapped up Sunday at Shannondale Farm in Alpharetta, Georgia. A diverse group of young dressage horses, representing a multitude of breeds and varied levels of experience, were selected for the training session with USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach Scott Hassler.

Hassler commented, “We had another very successful training session in this area. It is always encouraging to see the number of interested breeders, owners and young horse trainers who choose to audit these sessions. It provides the setting to have great discussions. With eight out of the 10 horses bred in the USA, I hope to see quite a few of these horses in the FEI ring in the future.”

The open training session was well attended by breeders, sponsors, horse owners and local young horse enthusiasts. Hassler led a discussion in the evening using video footage from the Bundeschampionate (National Young Horse Championships in Germany) and the FEI World Breeding Championships for Dressage Young Horses.

“As a longstanding enthusiast, supporter and breeder/owner of young horses who compete in the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program, I continue to be inspired by the program and the USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach, Scott Hassler,” said Annetta Coleman of High Valley Hanoverians. “Through the Young Horse Training Sessions, the trainers of these equine athletes have direct access to the astute, effective and encouraging coaching style of Scott Hassler. Similarly, Scott’s ability to share background and teaching moments enables auditors to take away keen insights that can be applied to their own young dressage horses.”

The next Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program event will be an observation session in Wellington, Florida followed by another open training session on March 2-3, 2013 at Oak Hill Ranch in Folsom, Louisiana.

Participants in this first training session included:

Rider/Horse/Age/Owner/Breeder
Jessica Barns/Ezabella HF/4/Julie Ballard Haralson/Julie Ballard Haralson (USA)
Michelle Folden/Monticello VT/ 4/Dr. Heather Will/Virginia Tech (USA)
Sandie Gaines-Beddard/ Flairance/6/Sandie Gaines-Beddard/Clemens Von Merveldt (GER)
Kim Gentry/ Leonardo/6/Kim Gentry/Oak Hill Ranch (USA)
Ashley Marascalco/ Rebellienne HVH/4/High Valley Hanoverians/High Valley Hanoverians (USA)
Stacie Myers/ Finneus/4/Gina Fisk/Gina Fisk (USA)
Rick Sauerman/ Ralahari/6/ Parvin Work/Oldenburg Farm, LLC (USA)
Janet Stone/DeLovely fcf/4/Lisa Brown/Janet Stone (USA)
Anneliese Vogt-Harber/ Hot Black Chocolate/6/ Anneliese Vogt-Harber/ Hugo Schmidgall (GER)
Laura Wharton-Mero/ Oh Fiddledeedee/5/ Patricia G. Borders/ Patricia G. Borders (USA)

The two day clinic’s mounted sessions, lectures and video review were extremely informative for everyone that attended.

“I think it is great that Scott, USEF, and Markel , have come together and take the time for the lecture-discussion as well as the video review. I believe being able to see the videos and quality of horses, riders, and training of the young horse world championships helps raise the standard for all of us young horse riders, trainers, breeders here in the U.S.,” said Folden. “It is great to have these visual aids as we can carry them home in our minds and strive for more from ourselves and our horses.”

For more information about the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program please contact Hallye Griffin by email at hgriffin@usef.org or by phone (859) 225-6918.

Photo Courtesy of USEF by Chris Hutchins – Scott Hassler instructs Sandie Gaines-Beddard and Flairance

Lexington, KY (February 5, 2013) – The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Sarah Martin, of …

(Jennifer Wood Media) – The Wellington Dressage CDI-W presented by The Dutta Corp. at the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) drew to a close today. The featured class was the FEI Intermediare Freestyle. First place in the $6,000 FEI Intermediare Freestyle went to Sonia Zugel (IRL) riding her mount Ungaro (Weltmeyer II x Wendekreis). The pair were successful in yesterday’s $5,000 FEI Intermediare I and Friday’s $3,000 FEI Prix St. George.

Today’s judges were Wojek Markowski (POL) at H, Jennie Loriston-Clarke (GBR) at C, and Anne Gribbons (USA) at B. Zugel received a score of 63.125% at H, a 68.750% at C, a 66.625% at B, for a total of 66.167% and her third victory of the week.

Zugel grew up in Ireland and moved with her family to California when she was 18. Based now in Holmdel, NJ, and Wellington, FL, she trains with Vera Barisone (wife of Michael Barisone). In talking about the 16-year-old bay BWP gelding, Zugel said, “We’ve been together for five years and he has brought me from the Third Level up to this so I’m real proud of him. His strengths are his changes and we are getting better at half passing. I’m learning to ride him better.”

Surprisingly, Zugel had only choreographed the routine last week. She admitted, “My timing was a little off. I went through it only once. But I really like the music and the pattern. I think it really works for him. I just have to fine tune it a little bit. I was really happy with it. It was a lot of fun.”

Zugel began foxhunting with her family then continued onto eventing, steeplechasing and show jumping. When she decided she was no longer interested in jumping, she decided to try dressage. “I loved dressage from having to perform it in eventing, so I decided to give it a try. I love it. It’s now become a family affair as my daughter has begun lessons,” she remarked.

With winning all the classes she has entered this week, she was overjoyed. “I am amazed! I’m really happy. I have a big team behind me. I’ve worked hard, but I have extremely knowledgeable vets, massage therapists, everyone.”

This is Zugel’s second year competing at the AGDF. “This facility is awesome,” she noted. “To me, there isn’t a better facility in the world. I showed here last year and got a few CDI ribbons. It’s tough because he’s a littler horse compared to the fancier horses. But he tries his little heart out, so I can’t ask for anything more.”

Looking towards the future, Zugel wants to continue with the Small Tour. “Hopefully, I’ll find a Grand Prix horse and move up sometime. Because I’m an Amateur rider, it’s difficult to find that nice, fancy, and safe horse. I have some other horses that are coming along so we’ll see what happens,” Zugel reflected.

Today also saw the presentation of the Young Horse award, which went to Anna Marek riding Dilona (by Lord Leatherdale). The horse and rider combination were also the Overall High National scorers with a 82.000%.

The AGDF has concluded its first successful CDI competition and looks forward to hosting the Dressage National 2 Show on February 5-6, 2013, and then the Florida Dressage Classic, CDI-W, presented by The US P.R.E. Association on February 14-17, 2013. For full results and more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Wood Media by Sue Stickle

(Jennifer Wood Media) – The 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) carried on today with the third day of competition of the Wellington Dressage CDI-W presented by The Dutta Corp. This morning’s classes featured the FEI Grand Prix Special and the FEI Intermediare 1.

Judges for the FEI Grand Prix Special were Janet Foy (USA) at E, Lorraine MacDonald (CAN) at H, Sandy Phillips (GBR) at C, Wojek Markowski (POL) at M, and Jennie Loriston Clark (GBR) at B. Judges for the FEI Intermediare 1 were Anne Gribbons (USA) at E, Wojek Markowski (POL) at H, Lorraine MacDonald (CAN) at C, Jennie Loriston Clark (GBR) at M, and Sandy Phillips (GBR) at B.

Winning the $10,000 FEI Grand Prix Special was Lisa Wilcox (USA) riding Horses Unlimited’s Pikko del Cerro HU (Pik L x Rohdiamant). The 10-year-old dark bay Hanoverian stallion and his rider received a score of 71.583%. Being the youngest amongst his competitors this morning, Wilcox was quite proud of Pikko. She conveyed, “He is a very fast learner. I’ve enjoyed developing him through the Prix St. Georges, then the Grand Prix and now the Internationals in what I like to call the ‘Adult Grand Prix’. He just amazes me, how quick he’s stepping up and catching on.”

Wilcox continued, “The year he spent developing in the Grand Prix was really good for him. It allowed him to learn what I call the ‘Freshman courses’ and now he can go onto his sophomore year with self-assurance. He knows the work. Although there is a little different choreography and a little longer test, he’s confident.”

In evaluating the test, Wilcox felt, “It was much more fluid than last week. This is the second time he’s done it. I was very happy to have improved on the transitions. He’s also catching on, I can tell, and understanding the test.”

Wilcox and Pikko were third in Thursday’s FEI Grand Prix. Ecstatically she declared, “I was thrilled to have placed third. I was competing against the five-star riders from last week and I’m just doing the three-star stuff, so I’m very pleased with that placing. I am very honored to be in their midst and finish that close!”

This morning also saw another win for Sonia Zugel (IRL) riding her mount, Ungaro
(Weltmeyer II x Wendekreis) in the $5,000 FEI Intermediare I. The pair also won yesterday’s FEI Prix St. Georges. Zugel and her 16-year-old BWP bay gelding scored 64.395% for the win.

In the FEI Junior Individual class, Naima Moreira-Laliberte posted the highest score of 67.053% for victory with Diamond (Donnerhall x Werther).

Tomorrow concludes the Wellington CDI-W presented by The Dutta Corp. The featured class tomorrow is the $6,000 FEI Intermediare Freestyle. For full results, please CLICK HERE and for more information on the AGDF, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Final Results: FEI Grand Prix Special sponsored by The Dutta Corp.
1. Pikko del Cerro HU, Lisa Wilcox (USA): E: 70.833%, H: 70.104%, C: 70.417%, M: 71.875%, B: 74.688%, Total: 71.583%
2. Paganini, Cheryl Meisner (CAN): E: 68.958%, H: 67.396%, C: 66.979%, M: 66.458%, B: 69.583%, Total: 67.875%
3. Currency DC, Susan Dutta (USA): E: 65.313%, H: 66.979%, C: 66.354%, M: 69.375%, B: 65.938%, Total: 66.792%
4. Jewel’s Adelante, Elaine Cordia-Van Reese (USA): E: 65.625%, H: 68.646%, C: 66.458%, M: 66.563%, B: 66.146%, Total: 66.688%
5. Unico G, Anna Marek (USA): E: 64.271%, H: 62.708%, C: 65.000%, M: 61.771%, B: 63.125%, Total: 63.375%
6. Eminence, Lindsay Kellock (CAN): E: 58.542%, H: 63.229%, C: 67.083%, M: 61.042%, B: 63.125%, Total: 62.604%

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Wood Media by Sue Stickle

(USEF) – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has taken the initial steps in hiring the next Technical Advisor/Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. Dressage Team. A six member Search Committee, approved by USEF CEO John Long, has been formed to assist in the hiring process.

The Search Committee is composed of:

Eric Straus, Chairman
Janet Foy
Catherine Haddad-Staller
Susan Dutta
Anne Kursinski
David O’Connor

The first order of business for the Selection Committee will be approving a job description, prior to accepting applications.

For more information regarding the process of hiring the next Technical Advisor/Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. Dressage Team contact Jenny Van Wieren-Page at (859) 225-6949 or by email JVanWieren@usef.org.

(Jennifer Wood Media) – The 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued today at The Stadium for the Wellington Dressage CDI-W presented by The Dutta Corp. Under the lights, the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle dazzled with international riders going for the win. For the second day in a row, the top two spots were held by the same rider/horse combinations. The blue ribbon went to David Marcus (CAN) riding Chrevi’s Capital (Chrevi’s Lavallo x Weinberg) with a score of 74.450%. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) and Divertimento (Di Versace x Ferragamo) were second with a score of 72.350%.

Judging tonight’s class was Jennie Loriston-Clarke (GBR) at E, Lorraine MacDonald (CAN) at H, Anne Gribbons (USA) at C, Wojek Markowski (POL) at M, and Sandy Phillips (GBR) at B. The musical selection of both were different; Marcus chose a more dramatic tone, while Vilhelmson-Silfven choreographed to a compilation of tunes from the production, Grease.

In discussing the mood of the 13-year-old dark bay Danish Warmblood gelding, owned by Debroah Miculinic, Marcus remarked, “He was very good in there tonight. Obviously after the (World Dressage) Masters, this is not as much atmosphere, but it’s still at night and under the lights. He felt almost too calm. He was really comfortable here.”

Conversely, Vilhelmson-Silfven noted of her horse, “I think he’s technically quite mature, but tension is exactly what he needs to get the routine and get used to this kind of atmosphere. It’s really difficult for him. With that said, I am still happy with him today. He worked with me. I had some mistakes; I had a mistake in the one (tempis), and he didn’t walk too good, and he didn’t halt too good in the end! That was too much for him. But technically otherwise he was nice to ride.”

Tonight’s freestyle routines were still new for both Marcus and Vilhelmson-Silfven. This was Marcus and Chrevi’s second time performing to their dramatic music. “I felt a little more confident (this time). I knew the music a little bit better this time as opposed to the first time at the Masters. I felt like I could ride to the music better. I think it worked out really well,” explained Marcus.

Vilhelmson-Silfven and the 11-year-old Westfalen bay gelding, owned by Antonia Ax:son Johnson, have only performed their musical freestyle three times.

Marcus went on to say, “He was great at both the grand prix and the freestyle. This is what the plan was, and I think it worked. He feels like his old self again. He was always a very calm and reliable horse before the Olympics, and now I feel like I have his trust again. I think at some point you have to look forward and not back, and I think we’re there now.”

Marcus and Vilhelmson-Silfven were very pleased with the prize money offered in this week’s CDI-W. According to Marcus, “It’s great to have sponsorship for these shows that offer prize money, first of all, because this is sort of a new thing in this sport, that we’re getting real prize money. We really, really appreciate it because this sport is a very expensive thing that we do. It’s nice to be able to have that help and nice that we have the opportunities there.”

In looking towards the future, Marcus, who is back on top in the North American League standings for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Finals, will be evaluating his plan. “If Chrevi’s keeps coming out and doing rides like this, where I feel like he’s confident and it’s in his best interest, then we’ll go. If I don’t feel like it’s in his best interest, then we’ll make a different plan,” analyzed Marcus.

This morning featured the FEI Prix St. Georges and FEI Junior Team. The winner of the FEI Prix St. George was Sonia Zugel (IRL) riding her own mount, Ungaro (Weltmeyer II x Wendekreis). The rider and her 16-year-old BWP bay gelding scored 62.974% for the win. The FEI Junior Team win went to Naima Moreira-Laliberte (CAN) riding Diamond (Donnerhall x Werther). The 12-year-old bay Hanoverian gelding, owned by Moreira-Laliberte, scored 66.324%.

Competition proceeds tomorrow with many classes, highlighted by the FEI Grand Prix Special and the FEI Intermediare 1. For full results, please CLICK HERE and for more information on the AGDF, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Final Results: FEI Grand Prix Freestyle
1. Chrevi’s Capital, David Marcus (CAN): E: 75.250%, H: 72.750%, C: 75.500%, M: 75.250%, B: 73.500%, Total: 74.450%
2. Divertimento, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE): E: 70.750%, H: 72.750%, C: 70.375%, M: 72.000%, B: 75.875%, Total: 72.350%
3. D Niro, Jacquline M. Brooks (CAN): E: 70.375%, H: 69.625%, C: 70.125%, M: 73.375%, B: 67.750%, Total: 70.250%
4. Devon L., Diane Creech (CAN): E: 70.250%, H: 71.625%, C: 69.750%, M: 69.750%, B: 69.500%, Total: 70.175%
5. Lindor’s Finest, Jaimey Irwin (CAN): E: 70.500%, H: 70.625%, C: 67.500%, M: 66.000%, B: 66.250%, Total: 68.175%
6. Tango, Cheryl Meisner (CAN): E: 68.000%, H: 63.750%, C: 65.750%, M: 65.250%, B: 67.250%, Total: 66.000%
7. Donnerbube 2, Sylvia Rizzo (ITA): E: 65.375%, H: 63.250%, C: 64.250%, M: 63.375%, B: 65.875%, Total: 64.425%

(Equestrian Australia) – Boneo Park set the standard this year by accommodating some of Australia’s finest at the 2013 Credit Suisse Boneo Park CDI*** over the weekend.

Boneo Park certainly set the standard this year by accommodating some of Australia’s finest at the 2013 Credit Suisse Boneo Park CDI*** over the weekend.
Judges and sponsors from around the world, riders from around the country and organisers from around the state all merged together for the first official dressage qualifying event for the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy.
Thursday afternoon’s 40 degree heat didn’t stop the enthusiasm at the first official duty of the event, the trot up, where all Small and Big Tour horses were accepted. Next stop was the welcome cocktail party and draw, where everyone was gearing up for a weekend full of competition and fun.
Day 1 commenced at 8.30am with the Novice Championship in the outdoor, CDN classes in the indoor and the Small and Big Tour classes in the indoor too, showcasing some of Australia’s best talent in horses and riders.
Brett Parbery and his stunning mare, Furstin Friendship won the Rowville Novice Championship, with a total score of 58 points. Second was local rider, Jane Crantock on her imported mare Di Maggica with 57 points and third went to Stephanie Spencer on Redskin R with a total of 56 points- a very close competition!
Pryde’s EasiFeed Prix St Georges winning score of 68.342% was from Brett Parbery and DP Weltmieser, with Sara Mcdonald and her beautiful mare, Adlanta Rose coming in at second on a score of 68% and third went to Revelwood Warmblood Stud owner, Amanda Shoobridge and Ferrero Rocher on 67.026%.
The CSG Prix St Georges CDN saw Brett Parbery winning again on Aber Hallo 29 on a score of 69.780%, Maree Tomkinson and Debstar LP on 68.158% and NSW rider Heath Ryan on Figo Deluxe on 64.824%.
Rozzie Ryan and GV Bullwinkle finished the Peter Horobine Grand Prix CDI on a total score of 69.289% followed by Queensland rider Sheridyn Ashwood on her imported stallion, Prestige VDL on 68.915% and third was David Shoobridge on
OO Seven who finished on 68.064%

Photo Courtesy of Equestrian Australia by Derek O’Leary