The three best international equestrian sport photos from last year were distinguished with the Silver Camera on Saturday evening at the CHIO Aachen. Helen Langehanenberg, Ingrid Klimke and Marcus Ehning indirectly contributed towards the success of the three winners – they were namely the photo motifs. For example the Belgian photographer, Dirk Caremans claimed first place with an emotional photo of the internationally successful dressage rider, Helen Langehanenberg. Second place went to the Dutch photographer, Arie de Vroet, followed by the German photographer Cindy Voß in third place. The prizes were awarded by Ralf Fleischer, CEO of the Rheinischer Sparkassen- und Giroverband Düsseldorf, and Hans Kauhsen, Supervisory Board member of Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e. V.

A jury, comprising of Ludwiga von Korff (last year’s winner), Andreas Müller (CEO, Zeitungsverlag Aachen), Erich Timmermanns (Director Advertising & PR, Sparkasse Aachen) and Frank Kemperman (Chairman of the ALRV) made a pre-selection of the 64 entries submitted by photographers from all over the globe at the beginning of June. The famous media prize is conducted jointly by the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e. V., the Sparkasse Aachen and the Rheinischer Sparkassen- und Giroverband. The winner receives prize-money to the value of 2,500 Euros, second place wins 1,000 Euros and third place 500 Euros

Wellington, FL (December 11, 2013) – Everglades Dressage, located in Wellington, FL and home to Grand Prix rider and trainer, Bethany Peslar, is proud to announce that Endel Ots Dressage has joined their prestigious and award winning business. Peslar is especially excited to welcome Ots as a great addition to her barn. Now, working in conjunction with a fellow USDF Gold Medalist, she believes that they will be able to bring many more young horses and new Grand Prix dressage prospects to top levels and develop them into National Champions. “I’m very pleased to have Endel at Everglades,” Peslar stated. “It’s great that we can now collaborate and combine our experience and focus on the horses – especially the young ones. It’s a big plus to have a trainer here, of equal caliber, so that we can be the eyes on the ground for each other,” she added.

Ots is equally excited to become a part of Everglades Dressage. “Bethany has a fantastic breeding program and a lot of top young horses coming along,” he said. “So, one of the goals we’ve been discussing is to get more horses into the national championship levels.” Ots is a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medalist, and has finished 2 horses to Grand Prix in his young career. He was named the alternate for the US Dressage Team at the 2011 Pan Am Games, and also has numerous regional and national awards to his name. He brings much experience to Everglades as well as many accomplishments including 2008 wins at the Dressage at Devon CDI, 2008 USDF Prix St. Georges Horse of the Year, 2009 Region 2 Great American Regional Champion of Prix St Georges and Intermediare I Freestyle, and he was 2012 Reserve Champion in the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Championship.

Peslar is a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medalist, and was the 2006 Reserve Champion in the National Young Adult Grand Prix Championship “Brentina Cup” at Gladstone, and she is a successful USEF High Performance Grand Prix competitor. Peslar’s impressive list of accomplishments includes earning her USDF Gold Medal in 2003 at age 21. She is also a strong supporter of equestrian programs in the United States.

Everglades Dressage is based in Grand Prix Village of Wellington, and offers dressage training for all levels of riders from Training level to Grand Prix. For more information, visit the Everglades Dressage website at www.evergladesdressage.com.

Photo Credit: Susan J. Stickle

Lexington, KY (December 10, 2013) – The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce the establishment of the USDF Honorary Instructor Program. This program has been carefully developed with great consideration over the last several years, by the Instruction Certification Strategic Planning Group (ICSPG) together with the Instructor/Trainer Committee. The final proposal was presented to the USDF Executive Board and, after thoughtful examination, has been endorsed. The purpose of this new program is to complement and enhance the present Instructor/Trainer Program. The goal is to promote our instruction programs and to advance them to the current national and global standards that we espouse as the national educational organization for dressage.

Kathy Connelly, who has chaired the ICSPG since its inception four years ago and has been instrumental in the development of this project, stated: “We are proud of our past and want to proceed forward towards our future, aligning with the pipeline created with the USEF programs”.
The primary criterion to become an Honorary Instructor is that the candidate must be a good ambassador for the sport and art of dressage, in character, in achievement, and in the desire to promote a positive future for all. The individuals invited must uphold the dignity and welfare of the horse, and must characterize the integrity, high standards, and good sportsmanship that is and will continue to be the legacy of the USDF for future generations.

To be invited, candidates need to understand and support the programs of USDF and USEF. USDF firmly believes that there is a strong need to put forth a major effort to certify all instructors. The USDF vision is that anyone entering the field to teach and train professionally will assume they must be certified. Honorary Instructors will be invited to join the program because they understand the importance of our USDF Instructor/Trainer Program and certification. Our goal is to certify instructors and trainers that will champion our efforts to represent the highest standards in the United States.

Additional criteria used to determine the invitations includes US citizenship and for the individual to have represented the United States as a High Performance Rider in Olympics, World Equestrian Games, Pan American Games, or World Cup competitions. In addition, individuals should be known as teachers who have trained horses through the levels and also trained riders who have successfully achieved good results, due to their training and teaching techniques.

The USDF is looking forward to incorporating the knowledge and skills of the Honorary Instructors in future programs and endeavors.

For more information on the USDF Instructor/Trainer Program and the Honorary Instructor Program, visit www.usdf.org or contact the USDF Education Programs department at instructorcertification@usdf.org.

FEI: A total of four venues have put in bids to host the FEI World Cup™ Finals in 2017. London (GBR) and Omaha, Nebraska (USA) have applied to stage both the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping and the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals. The other two venues have put in bids to host just one Final, with Hong Kong (HKG) putting in a bid for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) bidding to host the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final.

London’s O2 Arena, which was renamed the North Greenwich Arena for the Olympic and Paralympic events staged there during London 2012, is the proposed venue for the British bid for the joint-Finals in 2017. The Century Link Center, which hosts sports events and concerts, has been put forward as the venue in Omaha, Nebraska for the American double bid.

AsiaWorld Expo, venue for the Longines Hong Kong Masters and which is situated next to Hong Kong International Airport, is the venue proposed for the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final. Indoor Brabant, which hosted the double FEI World Cup™ Finals in 2012, has been put forward as the venue for the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final.

The FEI has also confirmed today that all three applicants – Wellington (USA), Lexington (USA), and Bromont/Montreal (CAN) – have been accepted as Official Candidates in the bid process to host the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 following assessment of the Bid Questionnaires by the FEI Evaluation Commission. Site visits by the Evaluation Commission will precede presentations by the bidders to the Commission and to the FEI Bureau.

In other bidding news, the FEI has received bids for the senior FEI European Championships in 2017. Gothenburg (SWE) has applied to host Jumping, Dressage, Para-Dressage and Driving (Four in Hand), Rotterdam (NED) has put in a bid to host the Jumping, and there are two bids to host the Eventing Championships, one from Strezgom (POL) and one from Fontainebleau (FRA).

“It is gratifying that our key events are attracting such strong interest from bidders,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos said. “We have got a very impressive portfolio that includes the FEI World Equestrian Games™, our FEI series and the Championships. It’s testament to the value of these events that so many countries are vying to host them.”

Allocation for all these events will be made during the FEI in-person Bureau meeting in June 2014.

Rachel Chowanec/
Photo Credit: Sharon Packer

Novermber 19, 2013 (Wellington, FL) –

The Third Annual Robert Dover Dressage Horsemastership Week (RDHW) presented by Dressage4Kids, Inc. will be held January 2 -6, 2014 in the van Kampen Indoor Arena at the Global Dressage Festival show facility in Wellington, Florida. This special week for youth dressage riders coincides with the George Morris Horsemastership Clinic for youth jumping riders. Riders for the RDHW are chosen from Dressage4Kids (D4K) Emerging Dressage Athlete Program clinics held around the country as well as from major competitions including the North American Junior/Young Rider Championships, The US Equestrian Federation Festival of Champions and the Dressage Seat Medal Finals.

Chosen participants for this year are:

Kalie Beckers (LA,)
Rachel Chowanec (CT,)
Allie Cyprus (TX,) Lindsay
Holleger (GA,)
Leah Marks (GA,)
Emma Patterson (TX,)
Cassie Schmidt (TX,)
Elle Turner (GA,)
Ayden Uhlir(WA,)
Bebe Davis (NJ,)
Jamie Pestana (CA,)
and Genay Vaughn (CA.)

Selected auditors include: Kate Conover (TX,) Jessica Fan (TX,) Allison Hopkins (TX,) Rebekah Mingari (KY,) Alexander Dawson (WI,) Devon Wycoff (CO,) and Mikayla Fredericks (IA.)

The clinic week has been designed as an extensive educational experience for all the participants and auditors. Attendees become immersed in a week of intense dressage information. The educational experience centers around training sessions with top international competitors, but extends far beyond just the reach of a typical clinic lesson.

All participants begin each day of the week with a rider work-out designed by personal trainer Bob Gutowitz. He stresses the importance of a rider being just as physically fit as the horse if you intend to participate in top international competition.

Next on the daily agenda includes participants each having lessons with top international trainers. Trainers for this year’s event include: Robert Dover, Lendon Gray, Courtney King-Dye, Kathleen Raine, Shelly Francis, Jan Ebeling and Tuny Page.

In between riding sessions, participants also attend daily lectures from other top professionals that form the “team” required to make a successful and competitive international competitor. USET Team Veterinarian Dr. Rick Mitchell and sports psychologist Dr. Jenny Susser join other farriers, therapists and professionals to expose the youth riders to all the necessary aspects that constitute a solid base from which a horse and rider combination can succeed. The group will also take a few field trips to some local international level training facilities and veterinary clinics in Wellington, FL.
On the last day, participants will ride a test appropriate to the level of their ability and their horse’s ability. International dressage judges Janet Foy and Linda Zang will provide feedback to participants from the judge’s perspective about their performances.

This intense educational experience was started in 2011 and modeled after the US Hunter Jumper Association’s Emerging Athlete Program. The Hunter Jumper program was proving to be successful in providing the necessary insight for youth riders into the complexities of top international training and competition. Lendon Gray and Robert Dover have emulated this model from the Hunter Jumper program to introduce the advanced youth dressage riders to the training and “team” building required of top international dressage athletes.

Dover added, “We need to continue to expose and encourage the talented youth riders in this sport in order to continue to strengthen the pipeline which will eventually lead to creating competitive
international dressage squads to represent the United States at ALL international competitions. This RDHW provides the emersion into dressage that these youth riders need at this age in order to
understand what is required to be a top competitor.”

Dressage4Kids sponsors much of the RDHW activities to keep costs for participants to a minimum. This year, the clinic also has the generous sponsorship from several local vendors. Kim Boyer and Hampton Green Farm has continued extensive sponsorship of this entire event. Equestrian Sport Productions is generously donating the use of their facility, The Global Dressage Festival show grounds for all of the clinic lessons and stabling for the horses. The Dressage Connection, Horse of Course, ShowChic and Kastel Denmark are donating embroidered items. Other sponsors for the week include the Tackeria and Dover Saddlery.

Additional sponsors are always needed in many capacities. Dressage4Kids, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides educational and competitive opportunities for youth riders in order to encourage those same riders to become true horsemen, develop good sportsmanship skills and to have fun. D4K also supports programs for adults who support and educate youth. For more information, or to donate to the organization, visit www.Dressage4Kids.com.

For more information or to offer sponsorship for the RDHW clinic specifically, contact Annie Cizadlo at kodester1@yahoo.com.

Written by Eileen Schnettler
Photo Credit: Shannon Brinkman

The Basics

Dressage is considered the most artistic of the equestrian sports and can be traced as far back as ancient Greece. It was originally developed as a method for training military horses, used to increase the maneuverability and obedience of cavalry mounts with some of the very advanced movements being taught specifically as battle techniques. The specific purpose for dressage is to develop a horse’s natural athletic ability while fostering harmony between horse and rider.

Competitive dressage is recognized as one of the three equestrian Olympic disciplines. Currently, there are nine progressive levels of competition, open to any breed of horse and available for all levels of riders, in which the horse and rider perform at a walk, trot, and canter, and all tests are ridden from memory in compulsory exercises. Special classes such as musical freestyle offer creativity and individual expression for the exhibitors and have become spectator favorites.

Dressage Terms to Know

Scoring

Each test is segmented into a number of sequential blocks which may contain one or more movements. Each block is generally scored between one and 10 on a scale such as the following:

0 – Not Executed
1 – Very Bad
2 – Bad
3 – Fairly Bad
4 – Insufficient
5 – Sufficient
6 – Satisfactory
7 – Fairly Good
8 – Good
9 – Very Good
10 – Excellent

Along with each mark a “comment” is given, which can describe things a rider and horse possess or lack during the movement. Marks are also awarded for more general attributes such as the horse’s gaits, submission (acceptance of the rider’s aides), impulsion (movement forward with controlled power), and the rider’s performance. Some segments are given increased weight by the use of a multiplier, or coefficient. Coefficients are typically given a value of two, which then doubles the marks given for that segment. Movements that are given a coefficient are generally considered to be particularly important to the horse’s progression in training, and should be competently executed prior to moving up to the next level of competition. The scores for the general attributes of gait, submission, impulsion, and rider performance mentioned above are scored using a coefficient.

The Past

The U.S. achieved new heights at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in individual dressage when Steffen Peters and Ravel earned two hard-fought Bronze medals with their usual style and grace. Peters (46), of San Diego, Calif., and Ravel, Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farm’s twelve-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding who retired in 2012, earned a 78.542% in the Grand Prix Special and an 84.900% in the Grand Prix Freestyle. Edward Gal of The Netherlands and Totilas took home the Gold medal in both classes, while Great Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer (now Tomlinson) and Mistral Hojris also won Silver in both. Gal (40) and Moorlands Stables BV’s ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion garnered scores of 85.708% in the Special and 91.800% in the Freestyle. Bechtolsheimer (25) earned an 81.708% in the Special and an 85.350% in the Freestyle with her own fifteen-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.

The U.S. Dressage Team of Peters, Tina Konyot, Katherine Bateson-Chandler, and Todd Fletrich narrowly missed the medal stand, finishing in fourth place with a score of 218.128. The Netherlands team won Gold with a score of 229.745, with Great Britain’s team earning Silver with 224.767. The Bronze medal went to the German team that scored 220.595.

The Present

In 2011, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro burst onto the Grand Prix scene to bring the sport of dressage to a whole new level. Currently, Dujardin (28) sits atop the FEI World Individual Dressage Rankings, finishing first in 22 out of her last 25 performances. Eighteen of those wins were earned aboard Valegro, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Carl Hester and Roly Luard. In the past three years, the superstar duo has helped Britain win Team Gold medals at the 2011 FEI European Dressage Championships and the 2012 London Olympic Games, in addition to Team Bronze at the 2013 Ecco FEI European Championships.

Individually, they claimed the Gold medal in London as well as two more Golds in Herning, Denmark, at the 2013 European Championships. Just behind Dujardin is Helen Langehanenberg (31) of Germany. She and Damon Hill NRW, Christian Becks’ 13-year-old Westphalian Warmblood stallion, were winners of the 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Finals, as well anchors of the German Team that won Gold in Herning and secured Individual Silver. Adelinde Cornelissen (34), of The Netherlands, sits in third after a second-place finish at the 2013 World Cup Final and earning Team Silver and two Individual Bronzes at the European Championships with Jerich Parzival, a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by W.P.J. Cornelissen/M.A. Cornelissen.

Peters currently sits at 13 in the FEI World Individual Dressage Rankings with his current mount, Four Winds Farm’s 11-year-old Westphalian gelding Legolas 92. The pair recently won The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. Peters’ 2010 Games teammate Tina Konyot (52) of Palm City, Fla., currently sits at 28th with her own 15-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion, Calecto V. Three more Americans are ranked in the top 50: Heather Blitz (44) of Wellington, Fla., is ranked 35th with her and Robert McKean’s 10-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Paragon, Guenter Seidel (53) of Cardiff, Calif., is at 38 with Coral Reef Ranch’s 13-year-old Westphalian mare Coral Reef Wylea, and Shelly Francis (54) of Loxahatchee, Fla., sits at 45th with Patricia Stempel’s 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding Doktor.

The Future

After securing podium finishes in Aachen and Hickstead over the summer of 2013, the U.S. will look for another top finish next year in Normandy. The dressage portion of the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will be held Monday, August 25 through Friday, August 29, at the D’Ornano Stadium in Caen. Team Championship performances will begin August 25 and conclude with the medal ceremony the next day. The Individual Grand Prix Special competition will be held August 27 with a rest day before the Musical Freestyle on August 29.

Ottawa, ON – Margaret “Maggie” Murdoch, respected Equine Canada Judge and FEI level 3 Steward, passed away on December 3, 2013 in her hometown of Orangeville, ON in her 90th year. Ms. Murdoch first became a member of Equine Canada in 1952. By 1989, had become a certified Equine Canada jumping judge working events in Ontario, and by 1992 was a qualified steward in jumping and dressage; serving as the FEI General Stewart for dressage for many years. Over the past 24 years she has represented Canada at both EC sanctioned and FEI events, her most recent being the 2013 Cornerstone Spring into Dressage this past June.

“Maggie was a mentor in our equestrian family, and a leader in our FEI education through the early years. However, I shall recall Maggie for her wicked sense of humour. She could tell a story and just leave you giggling. She had the gift of putting you at ease, a great asset when dealing with nervous competitors! She will be sorely missed,” stated Jan Stephens, FEI Canadian Steward General, for Jumping and Eventing.

Ms. Murdoch was also an FEI Level 2 Para-Equestrian Dressage Steward. She was Chief Steward at the 2006 Pacific Rim International Para-Equestrian Dressage Competition held in Langley, British Columbia as well as the 2010 WindReach International Para-Equestrian Dressage competition held in Ashburn, Ontario. In 2007, Ms. Murdoch joined the Canadian Para-Equestrian Committee (CPEC), and remained a valued member until 2011. She was also a member of the Para-Equestrian Officials Committee from 2006-2010.

“”Maggie was an incredible staunch supporter of equestrian sport in Canada, and will be very missed by many in the community. Maggie was always a steadying figure whose integrity, depth of knowledge and experience always proved to be invaluable, particularly to those fortunate enough to have worked and mentored with her throughout the years. The equestrian community owes Maggie a great debt of gratitude,” commented Kerri McGregor, member of the Board of Directors, Equine Canada.

Ms. Murdoch will be remembered for her passion, commitment and contributions to furthering excellence in Canada’s equestrian sport.

On behalf of Equine Canada we extend our sincerest condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.

Funeral Service will be held at Dods & McNair Funeral Home & Chapel, 2-1 First St., Orangeville (519) 941-1392) on Friday, December 13, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Family will receive friends on Thursday, December 12, 2013 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Headwaters Health Care Foundation or a charity of choice.

A tree will be planted in Ms. Murdoch’s memory in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at the Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville. A dedication service will be held on Sunday, September 14, 2014 at 2:30 p.m.