Category Archives: Dressage

The Discipline of Riding Dressage

Disciplines, Dressage, Jane Savoie, Training/Clinics

Motivation from Moshi 63, by Jane Savoie

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There are all kinds of dreams. Big dreams, small dreams, fantasy dreams, and the important dreams you really want to realize before you leave this life.

Funny thing about dreams. Sometimes they take on a life of their own. The key is holding the vision of what you want to accomplish, and then follow the trail that providence sets before you. A good friend of mine calls it “following the spiritual popcorn.”

Do you have a clear vision of what you want to do? Do you think about it much? Are your thoughts positive or negative? Do you see yourself accomplishing the dream, or do you fret about the obstacles in the way? Remember, you get more of whatever you give your attention to. Knowing this, how might you direct your thoughts in a way that serves you best?

I have a dream of rolling in fresh, dew covered grass with the bright sun warming my shiny black coat. Then I dream of sleeping the afternoon away in total peace and relaxation. Maybe today is the day.

Continue reading Motivation from Moshi 63, by Jane Savoie →

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Dressage, Driving, Endurance Riding, EQUUS Foundation, Eventing/H.T., Para-Equestrian, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping, Vaulting, Western/Reining

America’s Favorite Equestrian Round 2 Closing on May 31!

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WESTPORT, CT – May 23, 2011 – One more equestrian with the lowest number of votes in each discipline will drop off the list at the end of Round 2 on May 31, 2011. Don’t let it be your favorite! All it takes is a $5 gift to The EQUUS Foundation to keep your favorite in the competition.

America’s Favorite Equestrians Round 2:

Dressage: Todd Flettrich, Courtney King-Dye, Debbie McDonald, Leslie Morse, Steffen Peters, Guenter Seidel
Driving: Tucker Johnson, Fred Merriam, Lisa Singer, Suzy Stafford, Rochelle Temple, Chester Weber
Endurance: Garrett Ford, Becky Hart, Dave Rabe, Robert Ribley, Julie Suhr, Bill Wilson
Eventing: Tiana Coudray, Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, Karen O’Connor, Kimberly Severson, James C. Wofford
Jumping: Margie Engle, Joe Fargis, Laura Kraut, Anne Kursinski, Beezie Madden, McLain Ward
Para-Dressage: Jennifer Baker, Robin Brueckmann, Laura Goldman, Mary Jordan, Susan Treabess, Jonathan Wentz
Reining: Casey Deary, Andrea Fappani, Shawn Flarida, Tom McCutcheon, Tim McQuay, Randy Paul
Vaulting: Megan Benjamin, Ali Divita, Kenny Geisler, Devon Maitozo, Mary McCormick, Katherine Wick

How to Vote:
Visit the link at http://www.equusfoundation.org/vote.

Continue reading America’s Favorite Equestrian Round 2 Closing on May 31! →

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF

USEF Announces Dates and Location for 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

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Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced the dates and location for the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions which will also serve as the USEF Selection Trials for the US Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games.

The competition will be held over four days, September 8-11, 2011, at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ.

The best horse/rider combinations in the following divisions will vie for national dressage championships: Grand Prix, Intermediaire I, Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup,’ Young Rider and Junior. For the first time in 2011, a National Pony Dressage Championship will also be run.

The Intermediaire I National Championship will also serve as the USEF Selection Trial for the US Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games.

The Pan American Games will run in Guadalajara, Mexico in October, the U.S. Dressage Team will be looking to repeat their Gold medal effort from 2007.

For more information about High Performance Dressage, please visit:
http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/hpDressage.aspx.

Or contact Jenny Van Wieren, USEF Director of Dressage, High Performance at jvanwieren@usef.org.

© Copyright 2011 United States Equestrian Federation

Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, USEF

Through a Gift from Betsy Juliano, USET Foundation Provides Funding for Dressage Elite High Performance Clinics

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Clinics to be administered by United States Equestrian Federation

Gladstone, NJ – May 23, 2011 – The USET Foundation is pleased to announce that four Elite Dressage Rider Clinics are to be held this fall. Two clinics will be held on the west coast and two on the east cost, both with U.S. Olympic athlete and World Equestrian Games medalist Steffen Peters and USEF Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons. The clinics will be by invitation only for horse and rider combinations on the USEF Grand Prix Long List and are designed to provide guidance and instruction for the top U.S. Dressage horses and riders in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games. The USEF Dressage High Performance Committee will develop specific invitation criteria for the clinics based on recommendations from Anne Gribbons.

“We are so pleased to be able to offer these clinics thanks to the generosity of Betsy Juliano,” stated USET Foundation President, Jane Forbes Clark. “Betsy has made a gift commitment through 2014, which will ensure that these important clinics take place, helping to prepare our horses and riders for international championship competition.  Betsy truly understands the value and importance of making sure our riders receive the high level of training and guidance that will continue to make the United States competitive among the top Dressage nations,” Clark remarked. Juliano, the owner of Havensafe Farm, is a member of the USET Foundation National Advisory Committee, a competitor in the adult amateur division and the owner of international prospects.

Continue reading Through a Gift from Betsy Juliano, USET Foundation Provides Funding for Dressage Elite High Performance Clinics →

Dressage, Equestrian Assistance, USEF

The Dressage Foundation Chooses Four Young Riders for Olympic Dream European Tour

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Jhesika Wills, one of the four 2011 Olympic Dream Program participants. Photo by Carolynn Bunch.

Lincoln, NE – Four advanced young riders have been selected for the 2011 Olympic Dream Program that annually sends young riders to Europe for an intensive 10-day dressage experience. The program is administered and funded annually by The Dressage Foundation (TDF). On May 2, an independent Selection Committee, after reviewing dozens of applications, chose Mary Bahniuk Lauritsen (MA), Jhesika Wells (WA), Kathryn Butt (SC), and Laura DeCesari (AZ) to make the 10th annual TDF trip to Europe. The committee chose Melissa Reese (NJ) and Ari Lopez (CA) as the first and second alternates, respectively; however, the original winners have all committed to go. The Selection Committee based their decision on candidates’ essays, competition scores, recommendations, DVDs of their riding and signs of commitment to the sport of dressage.

Jenny Johnson, administrative director of TDF, said, “The Board of Directors and staff of The Dressage Foundation congratulates the four candidates chosen for this year’s Olympic Dream Program! We received a record number of high quality applications, so the Selection Committee had quite a task.”

The program, conceived by Olympic medalist and TDF Board Member Michael Poulin (FL), will be led this year by Simone Ahern (CO) and Elizabeth Caron (CT). Beth Baumert (CT) is serving as administrator as she has since the program’s inception. Poulin believes TDF’s Olympic Dream program helps American young riders reach their potential. He aims to fuel “the power of the dream” for young people, and help them “develop a sense of proportion, a sense of themselves and of being proud of who they are and what they’re doing.”

Continue reading The Dressage Foundation Chooses Four Young Riders for Olympic Dream European Tour →

Awards, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Training/Clinics

Improve Your Seat & Learn from the Best via Trilogy Saddles’ ‘Developing Your Dream Seat’ Drawing

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Trilogy Saddles encourages dressage riders to develop their very own dream seat, so they’re helping FIVE (5) lucky winners receive coaching from some of the very best riders in the world.

The Developing Your Dream Seat program reflects the philosophy at the core of the company. “We want to inspire and educate riders to take responsibility for their own riding position, and to get the training they need to improve their own seat,” says Debbie Witty, Trilogy Saddles founder and president. “Plus, all riders should have dreams and goals, and we’d like to help some of our customers make theirs come true.”

In the Developing Your Dream Seat drawing, Trilogy Saddles customers of all levels and abilities will have an equal opportunity to learn from the best: Winners will receive two lessons from the participating Trilogy Saddles Ambassador of their choice; a ‘lunch & learn’ session with Witty to help understand the mechanics of saddle fit and rider position and how they affect his or her horse’s individual response, performance, and well-being; and a custom fitting of their new Trilogy saddle.

Continue reading Improve Your Seat & Learn from the Best via Trilogy Saddles’ ‘Developing Your Dream Seat’ Drawing →

Breeds, Community/Charity, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Fundraisers, Phelps Media Group

Lusitano Festival at Sons of the Wind Farm to Showcase Long Lining

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Sons of the Wind School of Equestrian Arts will be hosting their annual "Pride of Portugal; the Lusitano joins the Ride for Life" Festival on Saturday, June 4, 2011. Photo Courtesy of the Client.

Merrimac, MA – May 19, 2011 – The Sons of the Wind School of Equestrian Arts is currently gearing up for their third annual Lusitano Festival, scheduled for Saturday, June 4, 2011. This year, the Pride of Portugal; The Lusitano, joins the “Ride for Life”. This exciting event showcases the beautiful Lusitano horses and highlights the amazing Portuguese culture, and will now also be helping to try and raise $50,000 for the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation for Breast Center. Each year during the “Ride for Life,” Sons of the Wind demonstrates the quadrilles and athletic aires above the ground to the thousands in attendance for this worthwhile cause.

One of the highlights at this year’s event will be a long lining demonstration conducted by Sons of the Wind founder, Vitor Silva. Using just a snaffle bit and long lines, Silva and Niquel, a Lusitano Grand Prix mount, will demonstrate numerous dressage movements, including the piaffe, passage, and pirouette.

“It is going to showcase the bond between the trainer and horse,” explained Silva. “Here we have a stallion in front of a crowd with just a snaffle. He will be doing all of the lateral movements, all of the collected movements, receiving just a simple command from the trainer from behind him.”

Continue reading Lusitano Festival at Sons of the Wind Farm to Showcase Long Lining →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day, Show Jumping

All the Lights in Sinead Halpin’s Chandelier Shown Brightly at the Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event

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Photos by Mary Quarles

Having known Sinead Halpin since she was a preteen, riding and training here in South Carolina, I can object to a few of the comments made by Jimmy Wofford in his pre Rolex commentary, in reference to Sinead’s chances of placing in the top ten (which he felt she would accomplish).

I remember her first “Event Horse” quite well. He was a flea bitten gray Arabian named “Jazz”, better known as the “Energizer Bunny” for his unique jumping style. Sinead and about a half dozen young riders, such as Michael Pollard for one and my own daughter, were very determined to become Olympic 3-Day Eventers.

As young riders, they were extremely focused on gaining the skills necessary to ride and compete at the top levels of competition. They all have been successful, both in competition as well as in their personal lives as maturing young adults.

Parents of young riders who have the interest and determination to become successful equestrians should understand that beyond the apparent costs of participating in equestrian sports, the return on their monetary investment, is that these young people’s determination and drive for the sport gives them the tools to become successful adults in their future careers, if not as Olympic level equestrians, then in the business world, no matter what career path, they eventually choose.

Continue reading All the Lights in Sinead Halpin’s Chandelier Shown Brightly at the Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event →

Dressage, Media/Radio/TV Sources

Dressage Radio Episode 104 – FEI Judge Stephen Clarke

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London Olympic Ground jury President and FEI ‘O’ Judge Stephen Clarke is the guest this week as we find out more about this popular judge. Take a listen right here…

Dressage Radio Episode 104 – Show Notes and Links:

_______________________________________________

Listen, Download or Subscribe:

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Awards, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, Kentucky Three-Day, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

USET Foundation Presents Pinnacle Cup to Sinead Halpin

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Sinead Halpin was awarded the USET Foundation's Pinnacle Cup Trophy as the highest placed American rider at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI****. Photo © 2011 Amy Dragoo.

Lexington, KY – May 19, 2011 – The USET Foundation is pleased to announce that this year’s recipient of the Pinnacle Cup Trophy at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI**** is Sinead Halpin of Gladstone, NJ. Halpin rode Manoir de Carneville to a third place finish at the top event and was the highest placed American rider, which earned her the trophy.

Manoir de Carneville is owned by Carrig, LLC. This was his first CCI****, and the 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding showcased his skills in all three phases. They finished the difficult competition with a score of 53.1 after incurring just 4.4 time faults in the cross-country phase.

This was also Halpin’s first time competing at a CCI**** and she was thrilled with her mount’s performance. “He’s very good in all three phases, which is rare,” she explained. “I don’t think there is one that he excels at more than the others, he’s great across the page. He has an unusual jumping style, but he’s got the heart and the brains, and he’s very physically athletic. At Rolex he felt great; it didn’t feel like it was a push for him.”

Continue reading USET Foundation Presents Pinnacle Cup to Sinead Halpin →