Category Archives: Dressage

The Discipline of Riding Dressage

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

UPDATED: Entries Confirmed for the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

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Steffen Peters and Ravel. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Lexington, KY – With six USEF National Dressage Championships and selection for U.S. Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games on the line, the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions is the place to be September 8-11, 2011.

The USET Foundation Headquarters plays host to the prestigious event in Gladstone, NJ which is headlined by the Grand Prix National Dressage Championships and the Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship (which also serves as the USEF Selection Trial for the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games).

Returning to vie for the title in the Grand Prix is Ravel. The most decorated American dressage horse in history makes his first trip to compete at Gladstone for owners Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farms. With Steffen Peters, the 13-year-old Dutch gelding was the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix Champion (contested in California), the 2009 Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year, he won the FEI World Cup Dressage Final in 2009 and swept the CHIO Aachen that same year, he was also double Individual Bronze medalist at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Peters (San Diego, CA) will be looking to add another National Championship title to the horse’s resume – and 2011 marks a first for Ravel as well as a return for Peters. Peters hasn’t competed at Gladstone since he won the 2007 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Grand Prix National Championships with Lombardi.

Continue reading UPDATED: Entries Confirmed for the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions →

Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, USEF

Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos Lead the U.S. Effort after Day One at the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

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Neville Bardos and Boyd Martin at Burghley. Photo: www. stockimageservices. com

Lexington, KY – American Boyd Martin rode confidently into the main arena at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials to put in a top 12 effort on the first day of dressage. Riding Neville Bardos, whose trip to England was made possible by a Land Rover Competition and Training Grant, Martin was accurate and produced an excellent effort at the CCI4*.

Neville Bardos’ appearance at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is something of a miracle after the 12-year-old Australian Thoroughbred gelding was trapped in a fire in Martin’s barn in May. Incredibly the little horse survived and recovered from the smoke inhalation, amazing all of his connections and veterinarians. His score of 47.9 at his first Burghley is a testament to the time and effort that Martin and his team have invested in him. Tenth at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games last year, Neville Bardos appears to be returning to form.

“I was pleased to get here and make it one-third of the way around so far,” said Martin. “That’s his weakest phase of the three and we got through it close to our best.”

The talk of the event has been the challenging cross country track, and Neville Bardos is renowned for his ability to run and jump. Only 10 points off the leader, Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk (39.7), the Neville Bardos Syndicate’s hope is well within reach of a top placing.

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Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI, Para-Equestrian

High Expectations as FEI European Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships Get Underway in Moorsele

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Lausanne (SUI), 2 September 2011 – The FEI European Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships, held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, got underway yesterday in Moorsele with 79 riders from 19 countries set to compete at the Club Quadrille in Belgium.

Great Britain have been the Para-Equestrian Dressage power-house of recent times and are current Paralympic, World and European title holders, but with recent announcements that both nine-time Paralympic gold medallist Lee Pearson and Beijing silver medallist Ricky Balshaw will not be competing due to injuries, Germany and Denmark will be looking to shift the traditional British domination of the sport.

“Due to the absence of Pearson and Balshaw, outsiders Germany, who finished second at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, and Denmark, who came in third, have a golden opportunity to finally take the European title,” said Quadrille’s founder and Belgian Dressage Champion from 1977 until 1982, Anne D’Ieteren who is also the current President of the Belgian Paralympic Committee and member of the FEI Para-Equestrian Committee since 2010.

Belgium also has a strong team. “Bert Vermeir, bronze medallist in Athens 2004, should be considered a serious candidate for the Grade III medals, despite having suffered a severe injury in Deauville four months ago. Tthe same applies for José Lorquet in his come-back in Grade Ib. And I hope Ciska Vermeulen, one of our rough Belgian diamonds, will wow in her first European Championships,” added d’Ieteren.

Continue reading High Expectations as FEI European Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships Get Underway in Moorsele →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI

HSBC FEI Classics: Fox-Pitt Swoops to Conquer at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

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William Fox-Pitt (GBR), the new world number one in the HSBC Rankings, heads the field after the first day of Dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 1 September 2011 – William Fox-Pitt (GBR), the new world number one, is on top again, this time at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR), the second-last leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, where he leads after the first day of Dressage on a mark of 39.7.

Fox-Pitt (GBR), who is wearing the special armband as leader of the HSBC Rankings, has posted the only sub-40 mark so far on his first ride, Catherine Witt’s 11-year-old Parklane Hawk, winner of the Blenheim CCI3* (GBR) last year.

The British pair led Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and the attractive grey Avebury by 2.3 penalties. Elizabeth Power (IRL) and the ex-racehorse Kilpatrick River, back in action after their fall at Badminton (GBR) in May and making their debut at Burghley, are third. Mary King (GBR), current leader in the HSBC FEI Classics, is fourth on Apache Sauce.

Fox-Pitt, who has been penalised for one error of course, halting at the wrong marker, described scoring in the 30s as a “psychological boost”. He says of the New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred by Grosvenor: “He has a superb brain and a lovely trot. He’s all the things you dream about in a horse.”

Fox-Pitt, Nicholson and King, who have decades of experience at Burghley between them, are viewing with interest the new-look Cross Country course, designed by Mark Phillips (GBR) to have a more traditional look in honour of the event’s 50th birthday.

Continue reading HSBC FEI Classics: Fox-Pitt Swoops to Conquer at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials →

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Pan American Games, USEF, USEF

Entries Confirmed for the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

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Lexington, KY – With six USEF National Dressage Championships and selection for U.S. Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games on the line, the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions is the place to be September 8-11, 2011.

The USET Foundation Headquarters plays host to the prestigious event in Gladstone, NJ which is headlined by the Grand Prix National Dressage Championships and the Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship (which also serves as the USEF Selection Trial for the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games).

Returning to vie for the title in the Grand Prix is Ravel. The most decorated American dressage horse in history makes his first trip to compete at Gladstone for owners Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farms. With Steffen Peters, the 13-year-old Dutch gelding was the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix Champion (contested in California), the 2009 Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year, he won the FEI World Cup Dressage Final in 2009 and swept the CHIO Aachen that same year, he was also double Individual Bronze medalist at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Peters (San Diego, CA) will be looking to add another National Championship title to the horse’s resume – and 2011 marks a first for Ravel as well as a return for Peters. Peters hasn’t competed at Gladstone since he won the 2007 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Grand Prix National Championships with Lombardi.

Continue reading Entries Confirmed for the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, USEF

Young American Dressage Superstar Endel Ots Heads to the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions on Toscano

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Endel Ots, who rides with Danish Olympian Lars Petersen, is headed to the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions with Kristin and Steve Cooper’s KWPN gelding Toscano. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

Wellington, FL (September 1, 2011) – American dressage rider Endel Ots has built up quite a successful resume for a 26-year-old, and the young dressage star has no plans of slowing down. Ots, who rides with Danish Olympian Lars Petersen, is headed to the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions with Kristin and Steve Cooper’s KWPN gelding Toscano.  Ots will be the youngest competitor in the Intermediaire I Pan American Games Selection Trials.

Ots, who is originally from Wisconsin, said he received a call from the Coopers, of Lamplight Equestrian Center, while he was in Germany. “I was training with Hubertus Schmidt when I got the call from Lamplight to ride and show their horses,” Ots said. “I had talked to Caroline Roffman about training with Lars, who was one of my childhood idols, and she spoke highly of him so I moved to Wellington with Toscano to begin training.”

Ots’ hard work with Toscano paid off and the gelding was undefeated at the Lamplight show. “He won all his classes with a 70.2% in the Intermediaire I and a 74% in the Prix St. George, in front of Olympic Judge Linda Zang. He is in top shape heading to Gladstone,” Ots said.

While Ots is thrilled to be riding Toscano, he has proven that he has a gift for taking young horses and training them from scratch to championship titles. “I love nothing more than working with young horses and bringing them along and into their own.  I also enjoy riding seasoned FEI horses and working with young riders and adult amateurs to help them accomplish their goals,” Ots said, adding that he has years of experience teaching everyone from beginners to adult amateurs. “I coached my sister to a Bronze medal at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships and to top place finishes at Gladstone.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Dressage Rider Caroline Roffman Takes Three for Three Tri-Colored Ribbons at the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships

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Caroline Roffman riding Bon Chance at the 2011 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships. (Photo compliments of PhelpsPhotos.com)

Wayne, IL (August 30, 2011) – On the same weekend that Hurricane Irene battered its way up the East Coast, dressage rider Caroline Roffman took the 2011 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships at the Lamplight Equestrian Center by storm. Roffman, of Wellington, Florida, rode away with three Reserve Championships aboard San City, Bon Chance, and Pie, once again solidifying her place in the dressage world as a successful trainer and competitor.

“San City was Reserve Champion in the Five-Year-Old division, Bon Chance tied for the Championship in the Six-Year-Olds, although because it is an American show the tie breaker goes to the American horse, and Pie finished as Reserve Champion in the Developing Horse Championships,” Roffman said. “What a weekend!”

Roffman was especially pleased with San City, a Hanoverian eventing stallion owned by Linda Crabtree, who made history in the Five-Year-Old Preliminary Test when he earned an 89% and a comment of “Wow” from judge Linda Zang.

“On the first day San City was amazing and he went above and beyond what he had ever done before,” Roffman said. “He really couldn’t have done any better. His 89% score was the highest ever given in the U.S. He was a little tired the second day, but I am still so proud of him.”

Continue reading Dressage Rider Caroline Roffman Takes Three for Three Tri-Colored Ribbons at the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, Olympic Games, Para-Equestrian

One Year to Go to 2012 London Paralympic Games

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Marco Alves at the 2008 Paralympic Games where he won Brazil’s first Paralympic equestrian medal

Lausanne (SUI), 29 August 2011 – Today, 29 August 2011, marks the one-year countdown to next year’s Paralympic Games. A record number of 4,200 athletes from 150 countries are set to convene in London (GBR) between 29 August and 9 September 2012 and compete in 503 events in 21 sports.

For the XIV Paralympic Games and the fifth appearance of Para-Dressage on the programme – equestrian sport made its Paralympic debut at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 – there could not be a more fitting host nation. Great Britain has been a Para-Dressage power house when it comes to Paralympic, World and European events, taking team gold at every turn and pushing the level and quality of the sport to greater heights.

“We count ourselves as one of the luckiest International Federations in the family and feel our sport is coming home with the 2012 Paralympic Games, as Great Britain has such a strong tradition of equestrianism and para-equestrianism,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya commented. “The location of the equestrian events in Greenwich Park means we are at the heart of the Games and we are very proud to be given centre stage. We are really looking forward to the event and will be counting the days to what will be glorious Games.”

Sixty-eight competitors from 16 nations had made the trip to Atlanta, GA (USA) to compete on borrowed horses in the first Paralympic competition in 1996. In 2008 the number of competitors had increased to 78 and the number of nations had nearly doubled; the horses, no longer borrowed, flew in from all corners of the globe.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF

Exciting Conclusion for the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship, USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship, and USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals

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Marlena Kurz and Ode. All photos: Chuck Swan/Swan Photography LLC

Wayne, IL – Competition finished up Sunday at the Lamplight Equestrian Center as the top 6-year-olds and developing horses in the U.S. vied for top honors in the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship and USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship sponsored by The Dutta Corp. and Performance Sales International. Additionally, nine competitors would ride for medals in the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today in the 14-18 division.

The final day of these USEF National Dressage Championships got underway with the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today. The strong field demonstrated solid fundamentals and poise under pressure throughout the entire class including the challenging pattern. The final three riders to demonstrate the pattern, which called for proficiency in transitions between gaits and the ability to lengthen and collect, would claim the top three spots.

All three riders were competing in their first USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today on borrowed horses.

Marlena Kurz (San Antonio, TX) claimed top honors and the Gold medal riding Ode to an impressive 84%. Kurz was able to make the numerous transitions in the pattern look effortless by utilizing a soft and consistent contact and a correct seat.

Despite having only ridden Stephanie Fettig’s Dutch Warmblood since Tuesday, the 16-year-old was delighted with the gelding. “Even when he was tired he gave it his all, he was really with me the whole time. He’s a good boy I really enjoyed riding him.”

Continue reading Exciting Conclusion for the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship, USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship, and USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

Carola Diener (GER) Is the New World Pair Driving Champion

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World champion Carola Diener (GER) during the obstacle driving competition at the FEI World Pair Driving Championships 2011. Photo © Rinaldo de Craen/FEI

Dutch Team Keep Team Gold

Conty (FRA), 24-28 August 2011 – Twenty-three-year-old Carola Diener (GER) became the new world champion at the 15th FEI World Pair Driving Championships at Conty, France. She performed a superb dressage test, drove a wonderful marathon and was near-perfect in the obstacle driving competition. The silver medal went to home representative Stéphane Chouzenoux; Tom Engbers from The Netherlands won individual bronze.

The Dutch team, led by Harry de Ruyter, who was appointed chef d’équipe in February, took home the gold while Germany claimed the silver. The host nation was delighted to win the bronze.

Ladies first
Germany was represented with two lady drivers for the first time in history: German pair champion Carola Diener as a team member and 15-year-old Anna Sandmann as an individual competitor. Carola set the basis for her first world medal in the dressage test, which she won ahead of the experienced drivers Beat Schenk (SUI) and Georg Moser (AUT). Diener, who is the stable manager of German international four-in-hand driver Christoph Sandmann, came 12th in the marathon but kept her lead in the individual standings. The marathon was won by 24-year-old Tom Engbers, ahead of Tibor Nagy jr. (HUN), aged only 21. Diener was last to go in the very difficult obstacle driving competition, designed by Barry Hunter (GBR). Going into the last phase, Carola had one ball in hand as well as some time penalties but the professional horsewoman that she is kept her cool leaving all the balls on the cones and recording only 1,94 penalty points for exceeding the time allowed. “It is an incredible feeling to be the new world champion, but it hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” she said.

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