(Equine Canada) – Dressage Canada is pleased to announce that Mary and Eric Brooks of Cedar Valley, ON, and Anne and John Welch of King City, ON, have been named as the 2012 Dressage Canada owners of the Year.

The Brooks and Welch families co-own Brookhaven Dressage Inc’s D Niro (D Day by Alitalia), a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding that represented Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games with Jacqueline Brooks of Cedar Valley, ON. Jacqueline found D Niro in March 2011 and has already recorded a very impressive string of top 10 finishes in international Grand Prix competition. In 2012 alone, Jacqueline and the talented D Niro, were second in the Grand Prix Special at the WCD Spring Challenge and at CDI 3* Lexington. The pair also placed second in both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special at CDI 3* Burlington in May. They cemented their spot on the Canadian Team with victories in Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special Tests at the last qualifying event, the CDI 3* at Blainville. Following the Olympics, Jacqueline and D Niro debuted their new Grand Prix Freestyle to rave reviews and the top score of the evening at the prestigious Dressage at Devon CDI-W.

“Years ago, in about 1999, when Gran Gesto was purchased for Jacquie, I was honoured when she asked me to remain a part owner and I was delighted,” said Anne Welch. “In the years following, Balmoral and D Niro joined the ranks, and the best thing for John and me was being part of a superb team which is based on a growing friendship with Mary, Eric and Jacquie and the support of so many people that soon became known as Team Brooks. It is a true privilege to be able to help an athlete achieve their dreams, let alone an Olympic one and while it has not always been easy, it has been a great joy.”

Welch added, “We are pleased to be named as Owners of the Year with the Brooks and thank Dressage Canada in their effort to highlight the importance of supporting our athletes. I encourage any and all dressage enthusiasts to find out how they can help our riders achieve their goals – it is not always as difficult as it might seem and the rewards, though not monetary, are well worth it. It continues to be fun.”

“Little did we know more than 20 years ago when Jacqueline convinced us to support her Olympic dream by purchasing her first horse Finnegan, that horses and dressage were about to become a lifetime commitment,” said Mary Brooks, Jacqueline’s mother. “At that time we knew nothing about horses and even less about dressage. But we knew our daughter was a talented athlete and we wanted to help her achieve her goals.”

“Our ownership of Jacqueline’s horses has, and continues to be, quite a ride. It has taken us to a Pan Am Games, a WEG, a World Cup and two Olympics. We are very content and feel privileged to continue to share in Jacquie’s ongoing international competitive achievements. With each new horse that comes into our lives, we, share the dream that the best is yet to be. We are pleased to be named Dressage Canada Owners of the Year and thank Dressage Canada for acknowledging our 20 year participation in this beautiful sport,” added Mary Brooks.

“Owners like these make everything else possible, said the chair of Dressage Canada, Sarah Bradley. “We cannot thank them enough.”

Mary and Eric Brooks and Anne and John Welch were recognized at the Dressage Canada 2012 Celebration of Dressage held November 8th at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.

Past winners of the Dressage Canada Owner of the Year Award include Karen Soupcoff (2003), Deryol Andrews (2004), Evi Strasser (2005), Doug Leatherdale (2006), Faith Berghuis (2007), Ian and Moreen Nicoll (2008), Robyn Eames (2009), Cindy Ishoy (2010), and Christine and Augustin Walch of W. Charlot Farms.

Photo Courtesy of Equine Canada by Cealy Tetley

(FEI by Louise Parkes) – Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW recorded an impressive victory in the third leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League series at Stuttgart, Germany today where the host nation dominated the line-up.

With a smooth Freestyle performance that oozed confidence and teamwork, the winning partnership finished more than four full marks ahead of German counterparts Kristina Sprehe and Desperados FRH in second place. And it was a big day for Italy’s Valentina Truppa. She registered runner-up spot at the previous leg in Lyon, France two weeks ago, but although she had to settle for third with Eremo del Castegno this time around, she has risen to the top of the Western European League table with a significant margin of advantage after today’s result.

The placings of the top three mirrored those of yesterday’s Grand Prix in which Langehanenberg’s score of 82.766 was a personal best. But fourth place today went to Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven thanks to a much-improved effort with Don Auriello who inched The Netherlands‘ Imke Schellekens-Bartels and the gigantic black gelding, Toots, down to fifth.

Appealing

First to break the 70 per cent barrier today were Finland’s Terhi Stegars and her appealing black stallion Axis TSF who put 72.925 on the board. But they were immediately replaced at the top of the order by the French partnership of Jessica Michel and Riwera de Hus who scored 73.475. This horse oozes power and potential, and the French rider is clearly growing in ring-craft and courage with every outing during her debut season at this level of the sport.

Two horses later, the first of the three-strong German contingent moved out in front as Uta Graf’s black stallion, Le Noir, posted a mark of 73.525, but then Vilhelmson-Silfven showed that yesterday’s ninth placing in the Grand Prix was only a blip as she steered Don Auriello, who is still only ten years old, to a score of 77.300 which really raised the bar for the rest of them.

The winning partnership however were more than ready to take that on. From the moment Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW entered the arena they worked seamlessly together. The stallion showed poise and elegance in passage, and tremendous rhythm and drive in extended trot as he played out his floor plan to their new musical theme. His canter was big and bold, and although he broke into trot instead of canter due to a brief misunderstanding in transition after a pirouette, it was clear this would be a high-scoring test. As they left the arena the enthusiastic crowd went wild with delight, even before the new leading mark of 86.775 was announced.

No Threat

Italy’s Truppa and her 11 year old gelding, Eremo del Castegno, posted 80.600 to pose no threat to the leading pair, but the last of the German contingent bettered that when Kristina Sprehe and Desperados FRH were awarded 82.275 at the end of a performance that included some lovely moments along with some slightly over-enthusiastic ones to overtake the Italian for runner-up spot.

And that was how it would stay, despite a thoroughly entertaining test from the penultimate Danish duo of Sidsel Johansen and Schianto whose crowd-pleasing qualities were such that their mark of 77.100 was greeted by noisy disagreement from the spectators. This 13 year old gelding showed lots of suspension and floated through extended trot. But it was his final ride up the centre line that completely captivated the audience – he looked like he was skipping with enjoyment, and when he drew to a halt the smile on Johansen’s face was equally as delightful. Their mark left them temporarily in fifth place, but when the final partnership of Imke Schellekens-Bartels and the massive 12 year old gelding, Toots, who is, according to his rider, over 1.80cms tall, squeezed in ahead of them, the Danish pair had to settle for sixth in the final analysis.

High Standard

Talking about the performances the Ground Jury saw today, judge at C, Dr Dieter Schule, said “the standard was really high and the top riders produced really good tests. We looked at the quality of the performances, the difficulty of each Freestyle and how well the horses and riders worked with their music along with the technical aspects – and Helen and Damon Hill were exceptional today” he explained.

Langehanenberg talked about what Damon Hill has been up to since the pair helped take team silver for Germany before finishing just outside the individual medal placings when fourth in the Freestyle at the London 2012 Olympic Games. “He had a break, going out into the paddock and hacking and jogging a bit, and then three or four weeks ago he started back to work again and I’ve been amazed. It feels now like he is doing things, the difficult movements, by himself instead of waiting to be asked, and he’s so happy to back competing again. To be honest it all just feels really easy with him right now, he is so active and so fresh” she explained. “I thought I might have to motivate him, but after giving me all he had yesterday he was happy to do it again today!” she added.

Super-Intelligent

Describing the stallion’s character, she said the thing she likes most about Damon Hill is “that he always fights for me” and that he is, apparently, super-intelligent. “I’m pretty sure he can read and he can write, he knows exactly what’s going on all the time, and of course he just loves attention, so he gets lots of it! In fact he’s sometimes more like a big dog than a horse, he is so affectionate and friendly. If he could sit on the sofa beside you and cuddle up, then he would!” she insisted.

Back at his stable tonight however he can look forward to another break before returning to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2012/2013 series action in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in January, and Neumunster, Germany in February. “After that I will see how it is looking for qualification for the Reem Acra final in Gothenburg next April” said the rider who has now moved into equal-sixth place on the leaderboard ahead of the next leg of the series which takes place in Stockholm, Sweden on 2 December.

For further information on the third leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2012/2013 series in Stuttgart, Germany go to website stuttgart-german-masters.de or contact Press Officer Jorg Klopfer, Email joerg.klopfer@in.stuttgart.de Tel +49 711 955 43128. The next leg takes place in Stockholm, Sweden on Sunday 2 December 2012. For all information on the Swedish fixture go to website www.stockholmhorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Lotta Amnestal, Email Lotta.Amnestal@ridsport.se, Tel +46 709 7956 35.

Result: Damon Hill NRW (Helen Langehanenberg) GER 86.775; 2, Desperados FRH (Kristina Sprehe) GER 82.275; 3, Eremo del Castegno (Valentina Truppa) ITA 80.600; 4, Don Auriello (Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven) SWE 77.300; 5, Toots (Imke Schellekens-Bartels) NED 77.150; 6, Schianto (Sidsel Johansen) DEN 77.100; 7, Le Noir (Uta Graf) GER 73.525; 8, Riwera de Hus (Jessica Michel) FRA 73.475; 9, Akeem Foldager (Joachim Thomsen) DEN 73.325; 10, Axis TSF (Terhi Stegars) FIN 72.925; 11, Uzzo (Patrick van der Meer) NED 71.975; 12, Ekwador (Katarzyna Milczarek) POL 69.550; 13, Smeyers Molberg (Marcela Krinke Susmelj) SUI 65.375;14, Orion (Pia Fortmuller) CAN 64.375; 15, Sini Spirit (Emma Kanerva) FIN 62.725.

Full results at www.stuttgart-german-masters.de

Facts and Figures:

Stuttgart presented the third leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2012/2013 Western European League.
The Ground Jury for today’s competition was: At H, R Saleh FRA; At C, Dr. D Schule GER; At M, P Holler GER; At E, Dr W Markowski POL; At B, A Gardner GBR.
The winning rider, Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg, was presented with the Reem Acra Cup, a special trophy awarded to each winning rider throughout the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifying series.
Italy’s Valentina Truppa has moved to the top of the Western European Leaderboard after finishing third in today’s competition.
A total of 15 horse-and-rider combinations competed.
A total of 10 nations were represented.
Germany had the largest number of competitiors, with the maximum of three.
The youngest horses in today’s class were both 10-year-olds, Don Auriello ridden by Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Akeem Foldager competed by Denmark’s Joachim Thomsen.
The oldest horse in the class was 16 year old chestnute gelding Orion, competed by Canada’s Pia Fortmuller.
The biggest horse in today’s competition was the 12 year old black gelding Toots who finished fifth for The Netherlands’ Imke Schellekens-Bartels – he stands over 1.80cms tall.
Quotes:

Helen Langehanenberg – “When you get a good score it’s always great but you wonder – what can we do better? Every time you know it can be even better next time….”
Helen Langehanenberg – “people have been asking me if I feel different these days, but I don’t, I feel like I always do! But I am aware that if people are interested in you and your career then there is a responsibility with that, so I hope I can help give others the power and motivation to always keep trying to do better no matter what level they are competing at”.

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2012/2013 – Standings after Round 3 at Stuttgart (GER):
1. Valentina Truppa ITA - 52
2. Marcela Krinke Susmelj SUI - 45
3. Kristina Sprehe GER - 34
4. Edward Gal NED - 33
5. Pia Fortmuller CAN - 29
6. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven SWE - 26
6. Helen Langehanenberg GER - 26
8. Sidsel Johansen DEN - 23
9. Karin Kosak AUT - 22
9. Anabel Balkenhol GER - 22
11. Marlies van Baalen NED - 20
11. Stefan Peter AUT - 20
11. Lyndel Oatley AUS - 20
14. Joachim Thomson DEN - 18
14. Jessica Michel FRA - 18

Photo Courtesy of FEI by Karl-Heinz Freiler

(The Dressage Foundation) – The Dressage Foundation is pleased to announce that Lisa Wilcox of Loxahatchee, FL, and Horses Unlimited’s Pikko del Cerro HU have been selected to receive this year’s Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Annual $25,000 Grant. The purpose of the Grant is to showcase talented American-bred horses ridden by United States citizens, by providing money to train and compete in Europe.

Lisa and Pikko del Cerro HU won the 2011 USEF Developing Horse National Championship and the 2012 USEF Developing Grand Prix Horse National Championship. To further their development and reach their goal of becoming a successful international Grand Prix team, Lisa and Pikko del Cerro HU will train with Ernst Hoyos in Germany in 2013. Lisa also plans to compete at CHIO Aachen, CDI Rotterdam, and CDI Lingen.

“I am so excited about receiving this grant,” said Lisa. “By training in Europe for two months, we will have a stellar opportunity to refine our skills and abilities, as well as introduce ourselves to the European judges and competitive scene. Having the opportunity to train with Ernst Hoyos on a daily basis will provide Cerro and I the benefit of Ernst’s consistent training. This consistency results in a polishing of skills that can only be obtained under these circumstances.”

Anne Sparks, owner of Horses Unlimited in Albuquerque, NM, said, “As a breeder who is actively involved in the breeding industry, as well as every aspect of my own program, I recognize how hard it is to produce top quality horses that have the opportunity to reach the international dressage ring. Pikko del Cerro HU was born at my farm in New Mexico and I thought from the beginning that he was special. Now that Cerro is competitive at the Grand Prix level, it is important that he be seen not only at CDI’s in this country but in Europe as well. It is such honor that The Dressage Foundation has given Lisa and Cerro the Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Grant to allow us the opportunity show the Europeans the caliber of horses that the American breeders are producing.”

“Dr. Ramsay’s gift to The Dressage Foundation has enabled us to provide important financial support to American-bred horses and their riders. Congratulations to Lisa and Horses Unlimited on their selection to receive this year’s grant. We are excited to see the ongoing progress that they will make in the coming months and years,” said Jenny Johnson, Administrative Director of The Dressage Foundation.

Dr. Anne Barlow Ramsay (FL) established a Charitable Remainder Unitrust with The Dressage Foundation in 1999. The remainder funds were designated to come to The Dressage Foundation ten years later and those funds were used to start the Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Grant. In 2009, Dr. Ramsay established a second Charitable Remainder Unitrust, with the remainder funds coming to The Dressage Foundation in 2019, to continue her schedule of $25,000 annual grants into the future years.

For more information about the Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Grant or The Dressage Foundation, please contact Jenny Johnson at (402) 434-8585, by email at jenny@dressagefoundation.org, or visit the Ramsay Grant page.

Photo Courtesy of The Dressage Foundation by Phelps Photos

(FEI) – The fifth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping and the third qualifier of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2012/2013 held in Stuttgart (FRA) over the weekend will be live on FEI TV, the FEI’s official video platform. The broadcasts will begin according to the following schedule:

Saturday, 17 November:
15.15 CET – Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage, Freestyle to Music

Sunday, 18 November:
14.55 CET – Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping

A preview of the competitions is available on the FEI’s YouTube channel.

Highlights from the FEI World Cup™ Driving, the second leg of which will also be held in Stuttgart, will be available on FEI TV after the competition. A special playlist for this series has been created on the FEI YouTube channel.

(USDF) – The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Trenna Atkins has been named the 2012 USDF Volunteer of the Year. This award recognizes a USDF member who, through consistent and cumulative volunteer activities, has demonstrated exceptional commitment towards carrying out USDF’s mission. As the winner, Trenna will be presented with a perpetual trophy, established by Lisa Gorretta, which is permanently on display in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame, will be featured in the yearbook issue of USDF Connection, and will receive a “keeper” trophy.
Trenna, of Coupeville, WA, is an “S” Judge and a 3* Para Equestrian Judge and has made major contributions as a volunteer to dressage on the national, regional, and local level. Throughout the years, Trenna has served on the Competition Management Committee (1987-1993), the USDF Competitors Council (1994), and is currently serving as Vice Chair for the “L” Program Committee and on the USDF Judges Committee, which she has served on since 1997. In 2002, she started her “L” Faculty apprenticeship and began serving as “L” Faculty in 2003.
In addition to her work on these committees and councils, Trenna has served on the revisions working group, which handles the yearly revisions to the “L” Education Program participant handouts, homework, and faculty presentations. She designed and maintains a website where “L” Faculty can preview revised presentation material prior to approval of the yearly revisions. She currently produces the faculty presentation DVDs, and reviews countless test videos to select tests to be used in presentations and DVDs
“Trenna is tireless and offers so much to the USDF. With her dedication, and the tremendous improvements she has made to the “L” Education Program, we have brought this program into the 21st century, and made it one of the best programs that USDF has to offer,” stated Lois Yukins, “L” Program Committee Chair.
For more information on the USDF Volunteer of the Year Award, visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org or contact the USDF office at voyaward@usdf.org.

Day 1: Afternoon Program
Monday January 28, 2013

1:30 pm Updates Andreas Stano – Founder & Producer – Welcome GDFNA
Noreen O’Sullivan — Organizer – Wellington Classic Dressage
George Williams – USDF President — USDF Update on U.S. Dressage
Gina Smith – Dressage Canada — Update on Dressage in Canada

2:00 pm Lecture Presentation by Dr. Juan Samper
Lecture Presentation by Dr. Juan Samper
Developments in Breeding the Dressage Horse

2:45 pm Getting to Know Steffen Peters
A Face to Face Discussion with Steffen Peters
about his theories, philosophies and methods on the
training & development of dressage Horses & Riders

3:15 pm Dressage Training Presentation by Steffen Peters
Speech by Steffen Peters – Training the Advanced Dressage Horse
Arena Demonstration by Steffen Peters Riding & Lecturing
Interactive Debate by Steffen Peters and Panel Members
Panel Members:
Christoph Hess, Stephen Clark, Wim Ernes,
Gary Rockwell, Lendon Gray, Sue Blinks

5:15 pm Welcome Dinner Reception, Shopping, Fun
Closing of the Afternoon Program

Day 1: Evening Program
Monday January 28, 2013

7:00 pm A Lecture by Grant Moon: 6 Time World Champion Farrier
A Lecture Presentation by Mr. Grant Moon
Shoeing of the Competitive Dressage Horse

7:45 pm Work in Hand Demonstration by Arthur Kottas
Speech by Arthur Kottas Work in Hand Training
Arena Demonstration with Arthur Kottas Work in Hand
Interactive Debate by Arthur Kottas and Panel Members
Panel Members:
Anne Gribbons, Kathy Connelly, Betsy Steiner, Leslie Reid,
Jan Ebeling, Felicitas von Neumann

9: 00pm Getting to Know Rudolf Zeilinger
A Face to Face discussion with Rudolf Zeilinger
about his theories, philosophies and methods on the
training & development of dressage Horses & Riders

9:15 pm Dressage Training Presentation by Rudolf Zeilinger
Speech by Rudolf Zeilinger – Development of the Dressage Horse
Arena Demonstration with Rudolf Zeilinger Riding & Lecturing
Interactive Debate by Rudolf Zeilinger and Panel Members
Panel Members:
Anne Gribbons, Kathy Connelly, Betsy Steiner, Leslie Reid,
Jan Ebeling, Felicitas von Neumann

10:30 pm Closing of the Evening Program

Day 2: Afternoon Program
Tuesday January 29, 2013

1:00 pm Lecture Presentation by Ina Gosmeier
Accupuncture for the Sport Horse

2:00 pm Long Line Demonstration by Bo Jena
Speech by Bo Jenna on the Art of Lunging on Long Lines
Arena Demonstration with Bo Jena Double Long Lines
Interactive Debate by Bo Jena and Panel Members
Panel Members:
Anne Gribbons, Kathy Connelly, Betsy Steiner, Leslie Reid,
Jan Ebeling, Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel

3:30pm Getting to know Ingrid Klimke
A Face to Face discussion with Ingrid Klimke
about her theories, philosophies and methods on the
training & development of dressage Horses & Riders

4:00 pm Dressage Training Demonstration by Ingrid Klimke
Speech by Ingrid Klimke Training the Young Horse
Arena Demonstration with Ingrid Klimke Riding & Lecturing
Interactive Debate by Ingrid Klimke and Panel Members
Panel Members:
Anne Gribbons, Kathy Connelly, Betsy Steiner, Leslie Reid,
Jan Ebeling, Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel

5:30 Dinner Reception: Meet the Riders and Panel Members
Shopping, Closing of the Afternoon Program

Day 2: Evening Program`

7:00 pm Lecture Presentation by Hilary Clayton
Maintaining Soundness for the Dressage Horse

7:45 pm Presentation of the GDFNA Life Time Dressage Recognition Award
to Mr. Klaus Balkenhol

8:00 pm Getting to Know Wolfram Wittig
A Face to Face discussion with Wolfram Wittig
about his theories, philosophies and methods on the
training & development of dressage Horses & Riders

8:15 pm Dressage Training Presentation by Wolfram Wittig
Speech by Wolfram Wittig – Development of the Dressage Horse
Arena Demonstration with Wolfram Wittig
Interactive Debate by Wolfram Wittig and Panel Members
Panel Members:
Christoph Hess, Stephen Clark, Wim Ernes,
Gary Rockwell, Lendon Gray, Sue Blinks

Closing Speeches: Noreen O’Sullivan (Wellington Classic Dressage
Andreas Stano (DressageClinic.com)

Closing of the Evening Program

USDF President George Williams on Rocher[/caption]USDF President George Williams will be giving an update speech at the Global Dressage Forum North America to be held in West Palm Beach Florida on January 28, 29 2013 immediately following the World Dressage Masters CDI5*. Update speeches will also be presented by Gina Smith representing Dressage Canada, the official governing body for Dressage in Canada.

The Global Dressage Forum North America has established the foundation of an annual dressage gathering for the further education and development of dressage riders and horses.