Lexington, KY- The United States Equestrian Federation mourns the loss of a great competitor and advocate for para-equestrian …

(Project Marketing) -Devon, PA –  Canada’s Jacqueline Brooks won the popular Saturday evening Grand Prix Freestyle competition at this year’s Dressage at Devon.  Brooks earned the win with D-Niro and a score of 74.300.

“This night is my favorite. I’m thrilled to have won,” Brooks said. She’s only been riding D-Niro since February of 2011 but has already shown him at almost every CDI in Florida where he learned on the job – all in preparation for the Olympics. “He came back from London a different horse,” she said. “I barely had to ride him. I just had to sit there and thank him.” What’s next?  She’s set her sights on the World Equestrian Games in Normandy in 2014.

“I love coming to Devon,” said Pierre St. Jacques, who placed second in the Grand Prix Freestyle. “It’s the biggest crowd we get in the US. Lucky Tiger is 17 years old and is a pro at what he does. He’s been at Grand Prix level for about eight years.  All he has to do, according to St. Jacques, is keep him fit and, for the most part, he does it by riding in a field – “because he’s happier there. He knows his job.”

As reported yesterday, David Marcus won the qualifier for the Freestyle FEI Grand Prix riding 12-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Chrevi’s Capital. Their 71.213 score is impressive, especially because both horse and rider are in their first year of Grand Prix competition. And tonight, he captured third in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

Chevri’s Capital was just starting to learn Grand Prix movements when Marcus found him in Denmark.  The plan was to develop and sell him. Then, when Marcus declared himself a candidate for the Canadian Olympic team in December 2011, his only problem was not having a Grand Prix horse.  Although Chevri’s Capital was an inexperienced, and, therefore, an unlikely candidate, Marcus took a chance and sent him to train with Robert Dover over the winter. Soon afterwards the pair was scoring well enough to be selected for the Canadian Olympic Team. And between last night and today they showed the audience that a talented, mature horse and dedicated rider can master Grand Prix movements together.

We can’t wait to see what’s next for these three top riders.

Grand Riding

The FEI Junior Individual Test JR JAJYRC was won by Silver Label (Rambo x Nicca), ridden and owned by Nicholas Torres, with a score of 67.895.  The FEI Young Rider Individual Test was won by V.I.P. (Rousseau x Nastrade), ridden by Alexandra Reid and owned by Deborah Miculinic.

The evening’s highlight, the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, was won D-Niro (D-Day x Alitalia), ridden by Jacqueline Brooks, and owned by Mary Brooks Brookhaven.  This brilliant ride before a sold-out audience was perfectly choreographed to all-Canadian music.

Second place was won by Lucky Tiger (Lucky Light x Teike) and owned and ridden by Pierre St. Jacques. Third place was won by Chrevi’s Capital (Chrevi’s Lavallo x Indira Gandhi), ridden by David Marcus and owned by Deborah Kinzinger.

Sunday

The competition continues with a focus on the stars of tomorrow.  The classes include the FEI Junior Freestyle, the FEI Young Rider Freestyle, FEI Individual Test Ponies, the USEF National Young Adult “Brentina Cup,” the FEI Olympic Grand Prix Special, the FEI Intermediare I Freestyle and USEF Fourth Level Tests II and III. Plus exhibitions by Guy McLean and the DVCTA Quadrille (Quad Squad).  And, of course, great shopping and great food!

About Dressage at Devon

Dressage at Devon, the largest CDI show in the US and the largest open breed show in the world, combines world-class international dressage competition and one of the world’s few complete sport horse breed shows with the family fun of an International Fall Festival, featuring food and shopping for all tastes.

Photo Courtesy of Dressage at Devon by Hoof Print Images

Canada’s David Marcus rode Chrevi’s Capital to victory in Friday evening’s Grand Prix competition at this year’s Dressage at Devon. Marcus and Chrevi’s Capital scored a 71.213 for the win. Second place went to Pierre St. Jacques and Lucky Tiger with a score of 70.745. Third place went to Diane Creech and Devon L with a score of 69.106 percent.

Grand Prix Results:

Judges: (E) Ayers, (H) Umbach, (C) Clarke, (M) Foy, (B) Hess

Placings:

523 David Marcus Chrevi’s Capital FEI Grand Prix 2009 Open 1673.5 71.213% 1
581 Pierre St Jacques Lucky Tiger FEI Grand Prix 2009 Open 1662.5 70.745% 2
551 Diane Creech Devon L FEI Grand Prix 2009 Open 1624 69.106% 3
512 Jacqueline Brooks D-Niro FEI Grand Prix 2009 Open 1594 67.830% 4
568 James Koford Rhett FEI Grand Prix 2009 Open 1580 67.234% 5
522 Nicholas Fyffe Sentimiento I FEI Grand Prix 2009 Open 1576.5 67.085% 6
504 Jaimey Irwin Lindor’s Finest FEI Grand Prix 2009 Open 1571 66.851% 7
555 Susanne Hassler Harmony’s Baroncelli FEI Grand Prix 2009 Open 1465.5 62.362% 8
538 Barbara Strawson Amicelli FEI Grand Prix 2009 Open 1418 60.340% 9

562 Melissa Taylor Schumacker Solyst FEI Grand Prix 2009 Open 1380.5 58.745% 10
508 Annie Desranleau Maguin FEI Grand Prix 2009 Adult Amateur 1377 58.596% 11

(Project Marketing) – September 28, 2012 (Devon, PA) Friday was the first full day of performance classes plus wonderful exhibitions by Aussie horseman Guy McLean and the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association Quadrille.

“Remember Hope; this is your dream to do dressage at Devon,” said Guy McLean to his horse, Hope, explaining to the audience that following his performance last year they had a conversation that ended with a commitment by both horse and rider to perform dressage in the Dixon.

Later on the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association (DVCTA) Quadrille team – the Quad Squad – performed “Think Pink,” sponsored by the Unionville Equine Associates of Oxford, PA.  Their performance was comprised of a 13-horse team, which performed an inspirational, moving and upbeat medly of musical favorites.

Fashion at the Forefront

Spectators at Dressage at Devon expect to see stunning horses groomed to impress.  Sometimes, however, people also deck themselves out to capture attention.  The first event centered on human fashions took place on Thursday night when SmartPak showed off the Kingsland dressage line.  Models donned jackets, shadbellies and breeches with cuts designed to flatter the fit physiques of equestrian athletes. These stylish fashions are likely to turn heads with details like Swarovski crystal buttons, gold rivets and embroidery.

Friday afternoon brought the annual Ladies’ Hat Contest.  After entrants displayed their haberdashery in the Dixon Oval, John DeBella, from WMGK 102.9, announced the winners.  ‘Prettiest Hat’ went to Tiffany Arey, wearing a black hat named ‘Anastasia’ that was adorned with a deep-red rose.  ‘The Best Representative of Devon’ award was captured by Laura Silverberg whose hat was decorated with a menagerie including all the dressage letters.

Adrienne Brason, an interior designer and event planner, won ‘Most Creative’ after using her artistic talents to create an intricate ‘Mardi Gras’ hat. It was artfully decorated with feathers, beads and sequins and hard not to notice as it towered two feet above her.  Finally, a team of three ‘Dressage Queens’ won ‘Funniest Hats.’  Lorraine Wacaster paraded in ‘Purple Passion’, Laine Barney glowed in ‘Golden Sunshine’ and Mary McKee sought the limelight as ‘Lime Salsa.’

In the Dressage Today tent was a display of the winning designs for their 2012 Centerline Contest—fashions for the horse and rider inspired by the 2012 London Olympics.  Winners included a cooler that looks like a variation on the U.S. flag—red up front, a midriff of red and white stripes, and a blue posterior covered with stars.

Grand Performances

Of course, it’s really all about the tremendous dressage performances.  Witness Hilltop (Hamlet x Francis), ridden by Christopher Hickey and owned by Hilltop Farm, won first place in the FEI Prix St. Georges Open with a score of 69.825.  Don Kontes (Don Schufro x Kontessa), ridden by David Marcus and owned by owned by Deborah Kinzinger won first in the FEI Grand Prix O. The FEI Young Rider Team Test was won by Alexandra Reid on V.I.P. (Rousseau x Nastrade), owned by Deborah Miculinic, with a score of 70.482

The highlight of the evening was the FEI Grand Prix Open (OGS) CDIW USEF HP GAIG/USDF Qualify, won by David Marcus atop Chrevi’s Capital (Chrevi’s Lavallo x Indira Ghandi), owned by Deborah Kinzinger, with a score of 71.213.

Saturday

Saturday includes the FEI Intermediaire I, FEI Young Rider, FEI Fourth Level Tests, FEI Pony Team Test and the FEI Junior Individual Test.  And, of course, Saturday night’s highlight, the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, won last year by Adrienne Lyle on Wizard.

About Dressage at Devon

Dressage at Devon, the largest CDI show in the US and the largest open breed show in the world, combines world-class international dressage competition and one of the world’s few complete sport horse breed shows with the family fun of an International Fall Festival, featuring food and shopping for all tastes.

Photos Courtesy of Dressage at Devon by Hoof Prints – Alexandra Reid, winner of FEI Young Rider Test

(Project Marketing) – September 27, 2012 (Devon, PA) Dressage at Devon attendees were treated to an amazing
array of individual breed classes in the world’s largest open Breed Show.

From Andulusians to Gypsy Vanners, and Hanovarians to Knabstruppers, each breed had the opportunity to show off its unique qualities.

In the Hanovarian – Age 2 and under, Francheska AH (Fielding/SPS Malena), bred and owned by Kate Palmquist,  took home the blue.   In the 3 year old and older KWPN-NA class, Toraya (Goodtimes x Lora), bred by J.  Boorsma and owned by Iron Spring Farm, Inc., won first place.  (Complete results are available at www.dressageatdevon.org).

As
the evening drew near, the performance division kicked into gear. It started
with the USEF Fourth Level Test of Choice in which two former Dressage at Devon
volunteers competed.

From Behind the Scenes to In Front of the Crowd

Quite
simply, there would be no Dressage at Devon without its hundreds of dedicated
volunteers, and Sarah Campbell and Sophie Ghedin, took their commitment to the
next level – actually to the fourth level. Outside the CDI barn they were bursting
with enthusiasm for their new opportunity to compete in the USEF Fourth Level
Test of Choice.  Understandably, they
were having a hard time believing they were really here as competitors.

Sarah first visited Dressage
at Devon as a young spectator when the show started in 1975.  She began volunteering in 1999, serving in
roles such as bit check, and ring and area steward. Sophie learned about the
volunteer opportunity Dressage at Devon when she moved to Pennsylvania and was
thrilled to be able to participate in such a prestigious show. Her first
assignment was to handle the trophies, a challenge because there was no
procedure in place.  ‘Sophie Trophy’, as
she was nicknamed, tackled the job with gusto, taking photographs of every
trophy and developing a system that is used to this day.

They were inspired by the
riders, judges and trainers they came in contact with at Dressage at Devon.
“You stand next to people you only see in magazines,” says Sophie.  As they became more immersed in the dressage
community through their volunteerism, they were encouraged to further develop
their own dressage skills.  To that end
they have both trained with JJ Tate, Scott and Susanne Hassler.  Sarah also trains with Sally Lofting.

While Sarah and Sophie think
having a professional trainer who believes in you is essential to becoming a
better dressage rider, hard work is also vital.
They both ride six days a week and engage in cross training, supplementing
dressage in the ring with cross country rides that include a few shoulder-ins
and a Piaffe in the middle of a field.
Sarah strengthens her core with Pilates and yoga while Sophie opts for
Pilates and weight training.  After all
this, they both agreed that all they hoped to achieve in their test at Devon
was their personal best.

FEI
and USEF tests rounded out the evening.
The FEI Young Horse Test for 6 Year Olds was won by Simply Nymphenburg,
ridden by Dr. Cesar Parra and owned by Michael and Sarah Davis, with a score of
80.600, The 5 year old class was won by Leonardo (Landtinus/Rambala), ridden by
Kim Gentry, with a score of 76.200.
(Complete results are available at www.dressageatdevon.org).

Friday

Friday’s classes will feature
FEI Prix St. Georges; the FEI Young Riders Team Test, the Grand Prix Qualifier
for Grand Prix Special and the Grand Prix Qualifier for Grand Prix Freestyle
and much more.   Plus the ever-popular
Ladies Hat Contest judged by top DJ, John DeBella, the Aussie horseman Guy McLean
and the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association’s Quadrille team.

About Dressage at Devon

Dressage
at Devon, the largest CDI show in the US and the largest open breed show in the
world, combines world-class international dressage competition and one of the
world’s few complete sport horse breed shows with the family fun of an
International Fall Festival, featuring food and shopping for all tastes.
Photo Courtesy of Project Marketing – Francheska AH, winning Hanoverian age 2 and under

_(Project Marketing) - Devon, PA – Today’s show featured a number of in-hand classes
in which winning can be as much a function of the handler as the horse.

While the handlers sometimes go unnoticed, Phil Silva caught the eye this year as the
Dressage at Devon’s first helmeted-handler. Silva’s unusual head gear was the
result of his discovery through the school of hard knocks that horse-handling
can be hazardous to the health.  In August he was kicked in the head by a horse he was showing. The impact left
Silva not only with black and blue bruises, but also with a dose of fear he’d
never experienced before.  He knew he needed to find a way to conquer the fear.

Then one day at a show he saw helmets for sale and bought one on an impulse. “I
never thought I’d have a helmet, but it’s given me a second chance, and allowed
me to continue to pursue my passion.”  As he sported the helmet for the first time, other handlers asked him about
it.  If interest remains at this level, it’s possible Silva’s safety gear is going to be a trendsetter.  His feeling about safety may also influence children since he teaches handling to young riders including Dressage4Kids.
Christine Smith, another handler and long time Dressage at Devon veteran, took home both the Draper
Therapies and the John Perry handler awards. Smith’s path to becoming a handler started when she was given a mare
that was not sound. She bred her and in 1995 started showing her foals at Dressage at Devon.  When she showed them
in hand, she noticed there were people bringing one horse after another into
the ring to show them.  She guessed they could not own every horse they handled, asked a few questions, and discovered
that handling was a paid job.

Ever since, she’s been
offering her services as a handler. “I love handling because I feel the horses’
power.  I’m so close to their big
movement. It’s like riding from the ground.”
Over time she says the horses have taught her how to be a good
handler.  She’s learned where to touch
them to show them at their best — something that varies with every horse.  After all these years she’s still
passionate.  “People hand me these
beautiful horses, let me go into the ring and do what I love, and when I
deliver the horse back, they hand me money,” she smiles.

Championships

The
competition in the championship classes was stiff.  The Mature Horse Championship was won by
Beatrice VDL (Prestige VDL/L’Actrice), a KWPN bay mare from Lancaster PA.  Beatrice VDL was also the proud winner of the
Dressage at Devon Grand Champion.  The
Materiale Championship was won by Don Frederic HVH (Don Frederico/EM Wruffian
Q), bred
by High Valley Hanovarians. Sir Wanabi (Santorini/Lily Germaine) took home
first place honors in the USDF/Great American Insurance Group Stallion
Championship. 

Results
for all classes will be posted on Thursday at
www.dressageatdevon.org.

Thursday

Day 3
will feature a combination of breed and performance classes.  The day will start with judging of 20 unique
breeds including Oldenburgs, Andulusians, Knabstruppers, Gypsy Vanners,
Halfingers and many more.  FEI and USEF
Fourth level tests will round out the day and offer a great introduction to the
performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Day sheets can be found at www.dressageatdevon.org.

Photo Courtesy of Dressage at Devon by Hoof Print – Materiale Champion Don Frederic HVH

(The Dressage Foundation) – The Dressage Foundation is pleased to announce two major funding opportunities available this fall for High Performance Dressage athletes.

The Anne L. Barlow Ramsay $25,000 Grant was established to showcase talented American-bred horses ridden by U.S. Citizens, by providing funds to train and compete in Europe.  The horse and rider applicants will be competing successfully at Prix St. Georges or higher, and show potential to move forward into High Performance competition.  The successful applicant will demonstrate an ability to be an ambassador for the American-bred horse in Europe.  Applications for the Ramsay Grant are due October 25, 2012.  Previous recipients are James Koford, Jennifer Williams, and Elisabeth Austin.

The purpose of the Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize is to award two annual $25,000 grants that provide financial assistance for coaching and training to a talented, committed, qualified rider whose plan is to reach and excel at the elite, international standards of High Performance Dressage.  The rider must be a U.S. Citizen over 21 years of age, show merit and need, be a model of horsemanship and sportsmanship, and plan to use the funds for further education of the horse and rider team.  The application deadline is December 13, 2012.  Previous recipients are Heather Mason, Shawna Harding, Courtney Dye, and Jan Brons.

For further information and applications for these and other grants from The Dressage Foundation, visit www.dressagefoundation.org or call (402) 434-8585.