Category Archives: Wellington Classic Dressage

Dressage, Phelps Media Group, Wellington Classic Dressage

Withney van ‘t Genthof and Inter Floor Next One Arrive for World Dressage Masters

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Hans Peter Minderhoud and Withney van 't Genthof

Wellington, FL – January 21, 2013 – As World Dressage Masters (WDM) CDI5* Palm Beach approaches, the top names in international dressage are gathering. On Saturday evening, Jim Brandon Equestrian Center welcomed two horses that will certainly catch the eye of spectators at the Jan. 24-26 competition.

Withney van ‘t Genthof, who will be ridden by Hans Peter Minderhoud, and Inter Floor Next One, Edward Gal’s mount, stepped off the trailer around 6 p.m. A veterinarian representing the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was present to supervise the horses’ unloading from the sealed trailer.

Minderhoud arrived not long after the horses, while Gal, who was feeling under the weather, was resting after the trip and did not come out to Jim Brandon. Minderhoud hoped that Wellington’s warm climate would help Gal recover, saying, “We’ll put him in the sun tomorrow!”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, Wellington Classic Dressage

Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic Earn Second Win of the Weekend at Gold Coast Opener CDI-W

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Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic

Wellington, FL – January 19, 2013 – Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic added a brilliant victory in today’s Gold Coast Opener Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W to their win in Friday’s Grand Prix CDI-W, both at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. The pair of strong showings establishes them as top contenders in the World Dressage Masters (WDM) CDI5* Palm Beach at Jim Brandon, which will take place January 24-26.

WDM will be far from a walkover, however. Kittel and Watermill Scandic will go up against many of the top-placed pairs from today’s competition, as well as an array of new challengers that includes Steffen Peters, Edward Gal, and Hans Peter Minderhoud. But Kittel and Scandic impressed both the judges and the crowd with their stirring freestyle routine.

They performed to an assortment of upbeat rock tunes, displaying impeccable passage transitions to “Hot in the City.” “I think it’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in the piaffe/passage,” Kittel exclaimed. Although “Dancing with Myself” was also among the musical selections, Kittel and Scandic danced together in complete harmony through rhythmic one-tempis and a striking canter half-pass. The judges awarded them a score of 80.125%.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, Wellington Classic Dressage

Gold Coast Opener Grand Prix CDI-W Provides Preview of World Dressage Masters Competitors

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Cesar Parra praises Van The Man

Wellington, FL – January 18, 2013 – Today’s Gold Coast Opener Grand Prix CDI-W showcased horses and riders preparing for next weekend’s World Dressage Masters (WDM) CDI5* Palm Beach, and the WDM competitors certainly displayed their dominance. WDM entrants swept all six ribbons in the Grand Prix, with all but one riding the horses they will compete next weekend.

And if the results from today are a predictor, it seems that Sweden will be a force to be reckoned with. Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic posted 72.723% to steal the win at the last moment from fellow Swedish Olympic teammate Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven aboard Divertimento, whose 71.170% was the leading score until the final ride. At WDM, Kittel will try to duplicate today’s success on Watermill Scandic, while Vilhelmson-Silfven will switch to her Olympic mount, Don Auriello.

The chilly weather at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, site of both the Gold Coast Opener and WDM, had a few horses on edge in the warm-up, including Watermill Scandic. But most held it together once they entered the ring. Kittel was full of praise for the venue. “The whole place is lovely!” he exclaimed, adding that he would happily show there every weekend if it were “just a bit closer” to his home in Sweden.

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Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Wellington Classic Dressage

Caroline Roffman and Her Highness Rule at Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge 1

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Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O. (Photo courtesy of Al Guden)

Wellington, FL (January 17, 2012) – Dressage rider and trainer Caroline Roffman of Lionshare Dressage, and her beautiful black mare, Her Highness O, dominated during the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I, taking firsts in both the FEI Prix St Georges Open under judge Gary Rockwell and FEI Intermediaire 1, judged by Natalie Lamping.  Roffman and Her Highness scored a 72.368% to win the Prix St Georges and then the following day enjoyed a decisive win in the Intermediaire 1 with a score of 74.211%.  Roffman shared that this was the mare’s first time show at this level.

“She came to me to be sold as a 7-year-old brood mare who had only been lightly ridden as a 3-year-old,” Roffman explains about the now 9-year-old Hanoverian. “I soon realized what a special horse she is, and I became part owner.”  Roffman describes the 16.2 mare by Hohenstein and out of Weltmeyer, as a great talent, and notes it is her exceptional character that sets her regally above other horses. “Her heart is what actually makes her special,” she says, “She works to please you always.”  Now a full owner, Roffman plans to take Her Highness to even higher levels.  “I’d like to thank Jennifer Lind of Wolkentanzer Farm in California, Her Highness’s former owner and breeder, for the opportunity to work with such a talented horse.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Benefits, Community/Charity, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, Wellington Classic Dressage

Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge Dressage Show Supports Toys for Tots

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Michelle Gibson and Don Angelo claimed victory in the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I at the Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge. Photo by Jennifer Wood

Wellington, FL – October 24, 2012 – The November 1 opening date for entries for the Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge will soon be upon us, and you won’t want to miss out on this Great American/USDF qualifying competition while helping those less fortunate in the community.

The Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge, produced by Wellington Classic Dressage and scheduled for December 8-9 at the Palm Beach County Equestrian Center, features classes for everyone.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Level 2 Competition offers United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Introductory Level to Musical Freestyles, USEF First through Fourth Levels, and Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Prix St. Georges (PSG) through Grand Prix as well as FEI Musical Freestyles and FEI Five- and Six-Year-Old Tests.

Participants and spectators are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy or check donation for Toys for Tots to help spread holiday cheer this season.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Wellington Classic Dressage

Adrienne Lyle and Accolade Ride Away with World Development Group Award at Wellington Classic Spring Challenge

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Adrienne Lyle and Accolade won the Fourth Level Test of Choice at the Wellington Classic Spring Challenge and also rode away with the World Development Group Award. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (March 21, 2012) – Dressage rider Adrienne Lyle has had great success with Peggy Thomas’s Oldenburg gelding Wizard, and during the Wellington Classic Spring Challenge Lyle rode into the winner’s circle on her up-and-coming young horse Accolade. A Dutch mare also owned by Thomas, Accolade is poised to make a statement on the national scene as she is not only a talented mare but is the half-sister of the legendary Brentina, owned by Thomas and ridden by Lyle’s trainer Debbie McDonald.

Lyle and Accolade won the USEF Fourth Level Test of Choice with a score of 70.714%, and also took home the World Development Group Award, sponsored by the World Development Group, a premier developer of the Equestrian Lifestyle. “Accolade and Brentina have the same dad, Brentano II. Accolade is a little more of a modern type with a ton of scope and a lot of athletic ability. She and Brentina are very similar in personality and temperament, which is very fun. Accolade is a very special mare,” Lyle said.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Wellington Classic Dressage

Heather Blitz and Paragon Electrify the $15,000 Wellington Dressage Classic CDI*** at GDF

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Heather Blitz and Paragon

Wellington, FL – March 18, 2012 – The last rider to enter the ring, Heather Blitz, rode Paragon to a score of 75.350% to win the Grand Prix Freestyle at the $15,000 Wellington Dressage Classic CDI***, presented by the Chesapeake Dressage Institute, held March 15-18 at the Global Dressage Festival (GDF)Stadium show grounds in Wellington, FL.

Blitz had a rough day leading up to her win. With her four year old, she memorized the 4 year old FEI test, not the USEF 4 year old test. Then she managed to give the wrong freestyle music to the announcer. The jury allowed her to correct the snafu and return last to complete her test, but even that was not without trauma. Blitz could not find the correct music. Fortunately she had it on her phone, so the announcer was able to access it that way. “Yeah, I guess I learned my lesson,” she said afterward.

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Competitions, Dressage, Events, Wellington Classic Dressage

International Riders Return to Global Dressage Festival for $15,000 Wellington Dressage Classic CDI***

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Ashley Holzer of Canada and Pop Art. Photo: www.susanjstickle.com

Wellington, FL – March 13, 2012 – International riders will once again be featured at the $15,000 Wellington Dressage Classic CDI***, presented by the Chesapeake Dressage Institute, to be held March 15-18 at the Global Dressage Festival (GDF) Stadium in Wellington, Fl.  Riders from the United States and several nations including: Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, and Germany will be competing.

The FEI Grand Prix Freestyle class will once again be featured under the lights on Saturday evening, March 17.  Spectators will have the opportunity to watch the horses “dance” to the music as they perform dressage movements under the lights in the spectacular Global Dressage Festival International Arena.  Other highlights of the Wellington Dressage Classic include the FEI Grand Prix and FEI Olympic Grand Prix Special, the FEI Prix St. Georges, the FEI Intermediaire I and FEI Intermediaire Freestyle.

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Awards, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Wellington Classic Dressage

Yvonne Losos de Muñiz and Liebling II Win Rock Star Freestyle Award from Cunningham & Cunningham at Wellington Classic Spring Challenge

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Yvonne Losos de Muñiz and her equine partner Liebling II won the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Wellington Classic Spring Challenge. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (February 17, 2012) – With seven championship medals to her name, including the Individual Bronze Medals from the 2003 and 2007 Pan American Games, Yvonne Losos de Muñiz and her equine partner Liebling II danced their way to victory in the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Wellington Classic Spring Challenge at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. Thanks to a beautiful musical performance, Losos de Muñiz and Liebling not only won the class but also won the Rock Star Award from Cunningham & Cunningham Livestock, Inc.

Losos de Muñiz, who rides for the Dominican Republic, was thrilled to ride away with the blue ribbon and the Rock Star Freestyle Award. “Our freestyle was a lot smoother and more forward than usual. We have a few glitches to iron out, but it’s coming along nicely and I was pleased with how it all went,” she said.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Para-Equestrian, Wellington Classic Dressage

Florida Dressage Season Kicks Off with an International Flair at CDI Competitions

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Steffen Peters and Ravel during the awards ceremony following the 2012 World Dressage Masters Exquis Grand Prix Freestyle, which they won with a score of 83.70%. (Photo courtesy of Susan J Stickle)

Wellington, FL (February 7, 2012) – Thanks to the efforts of the show management team from the Gold Coast Dressage Association and the Wellington Dressage Classic Association, the 2012 Dressage season kicked off with three amazing CDI events in January and 2 Paralympic Qualifiers. With world-class dressage riders providing an air of European competition, the Gold Coast Dressage Association’s Opener CDI W/CDEDI3* January 19-22, 2012, the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3*/CPEDI3* January 25-29, 2012 and the 2012 Palm Beach leg of the prestigious World Dressage Masters presented by the Axel Johnson Group set the tone for a fantastic Wellington dressage season.

Wellington Classic Dressage once again hosted the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach with International Polo Club as Presenting Sponsor.  The Masters proved to be a record setting event for the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, with dressage star Steffen Peters setting the dressage ring on fire with record breaking scores, while the number of spectators also proved to be at an all-time high. “This year’s Masters was one for the record books,” said John Flanagan of Wellington Classic Dressage, Gold Coast Dressage, International Horse Sport, and one of the organizers of the WDM Palm Beach. “The competition was amazing and a record number of people were able to watch this event live, which is a great testament to the strength of our sport in South Florida and the United States.”

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