Category Archives: Dressage

The Discipline of Riding Dressage

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

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.

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

Premier Equestrian and the United States Dressage Federation Now Offering “On the Levels” DVD for New Tests

FEI “O” judge Gary Rockwell gives the judge’s perspective, scoring each movement of each test and giving a final score, on the new “On the Levels” DVD series produced by Premier Equestrian and the USDF. (Photo courtesy of Premier Equestrian)

Sandy, UT (May 17, 2011) – Dressage riders seeking to learn and study the 2011 USDF dressage tests can now do so with a new and updated DVD edition of “On the Levels.” Produced by Premier Equestrian, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories, and the USDF, the new versions of the tests became effective December 1, 2010.

“The DVD includes the USDF Introductory through USEF Fourth Level Test 3. The three hours of test video features elements of both training and judging and allows the viewer to see and hear how each of the newly designed dressage tests should be ridden,” said Heidi Zorn, President of Premier. “And of course being able to watch and learn from the comfort of your own home is great. Or a group of riders can get together in a clinic setting and watch and learn as a group.”

The “On the Levels” DVD features FEI judges Lilo Fore and Gary Rockwell. Fore is a well-known dressage trainer and FEI “I” judge from California and throughout the DVD Fore comments on each ride and gives a trainer’s perspective on how to successfully ride each test. Rockwell, who lives in Florida and is one of only three U.S. FEI “O” judges, gives the judge’s perspective, scoring each movement of each test and giving a final score.

Continue reading Premier Equestrian and the United States Dressage Federation Now Offering “On the Levels” DVD for New Tests

Baldwin in the Driving Seat in FEI World Cup Eventing at Chatsworth

Emily Baldwin (GBR) celebrates victory at Chatsworth (GBR), the third leg of FEI World Cup Eventing 2011, with by Michel Asseray (FRA). Photo: FEI/Fiona Scott-Maxwell.

Lausanne (SUI), 16 May 2011 – British riders got their chance to make an impression on the FEI World Cup Eventing 2011 leaderboard when, at the third leg, Emily Baldwin (GBR) spearheaded a one-two-three for the home side at Chatsworth (GBR).

Baldwin and the Dutch-bred Drivetime have a reputation as CIC3* specialists and won the FEI World Cup event at Haras du Pin (FRA) last year, a competition that Baldwin has signalled she will be returning to in August in her quest for further points.

Victory at Chatsworth was compensation for an unfortunate Badminton, when the pair stopped at the lake. As a result, Baldwin was seen riding strongly into Chatsworth’s imposing water fences.

“I’m relieved,” she smiled afterwards. “Drivetime has redeemed himself. He jumped into the second water, which was bigger than Badminton, absolutely fine, and his dressage and jumping were really good, so I’m pleased with him.”

Continue reading Baldwin in the Driving Seat in FEI World Cup Eventing at Chatsworth

Dressage Radio Episode 103 – Training Topics with Heather Blitz

Heather Blitz discusses common training issues with Hannah Michaels and also offers a little known Tip of the Week. Take a listen right here.

Dressage Radio Episode 103 – Show Notes and Links:

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Elections and Allocation of FEI Championships and Finals

Lausanne (SUI), 10 May 2011 – Carmen Barrera (ESA) and Roberto Luiz Giugni (BRA) were elected chairs of regional groups V and VI respectively by the FEI Extraordinary General Assembly which was held on 6 May 2011 in Lausanne (SUI).

The following FEI Championships and Finals were allocated by the FEI Bureau during its meeting on 5 May:

2012

JUMPING

FEI European Jumping Championships for Young Riders, Juniors and Children, Ebreichsdorf-Magna Racino (AUT), August (exact dates TBC)

DRESSAGE

FEI European Dressage Championships for Young Riders and Juniors, Bern (SUI), 8-15 July

Continue reading Elections and Allocation of FEI Championships and Finals

Motivation from Moshi 61, by Jane Savoie

“Aha!” I love those moments. Don’t you? When you suddenly GET IT? It’s such a rush when everything comes together and really works for the first time.

How do you create more “Aha Moments”? When Jane is riding me, they come when both sides of my brain kick in, along with the muscle memory of the new movement. And that comes with both intellectual understanding and physical practice. It happens when the left side of my brain, where logic and linear thought resides; meshes with the right side, where emotion and artistry lives, and then shows up in my physical body as the execution of perfect movement. My whole being responds to everything coming together with an exciting and satisfying “Aha!”

Learning to ride well doesn’t take good luck or exceptional talent. As the cowboys say, it just takes wet saddle blankets. In our case, it’s wet dressage pads. I learn something from Jane every time she rides me. And she learns from me too. Sometimes our progress is imperceptible, and sometimes it comes in huge Aha’s. But we only have forward progress when we actually put what we’ve intellectually learned into physical practice. And that takes commitment and work.

Continue reading Motivation from Moshi 61, by Jane Savoie

Application of Intent Deadlines for the 2011 Pan American Games Selection Trials/USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championships

Lexington, KY – Dressage riders who want to compete in the 2011 Pan American Games Selection Trials/USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championships must submit an Application of Intent and all required attachments to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) on or before May 13, 2011, along with an application fee of $50 per horse. Applications received on or before June 1, 2011, must be accompanied by an application fee of $300 per horse. No applications will be accepted after June 1, 2011.

The Application of Intent, required attachments and complete Selection Procedures can be found here: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/2011PanAmGames.aspx.

David Hosts Goliath – the 2011 IDA National Championships

The image of the small shepherd boy taking on a giant warrior with a slingshot is somehow a very suitable one for the recent Intercollegiate Dressage Association’s National Championship held at the Canterbury Equestrian Showplace in Newberry, Florida April 30 and May 1.  This year’s event, the tenth since the IDA began the national championship, consisted of 96 riders representing 60 colleges throughout the US and Canada, all hosted by the University of Florida’s dressage team — a true David comprised of only 9 students and their coach, Bridgette Boland, who also was inducted into the IDA Hall of Fame.

While Florida’s team has won their region and qualified to compete at the IDA National Championship every year since the team began in the fall of 2005 plus they were the 2010 Reserve National Champions, they are small organization compared to the IDA powerhouses that have hosted pervious championships.  Virginia Intermont College, Centenary, St. Andrews, Cazenovia, University of Findlay, and Mount Holyoke all have a college owned riding facility and several equine faculty to help shoulder the burden. Their college administration also provides financial and human resources.  They also have the horses and tack that must be provided by the hosting college as IDA riders do not supply their own horses but select their mounts by random draw. And all except for Mount Holyoke have dozens of students majoring or minoring in an equine related course of study.

The University of Florida’s dressage team had no such support from anyone beyond the IDA itself.  Instead the members of the team, Arielle Smith, Emily Smith, Caroline Johansen, Micah Di Salvo, Sara Edmundson, Elisabeth D’Agosto, Emma Morse, Christina Notts, Stephanie Trappenberger and their coach Bridgette Boland shoulder the burden of putting on a national competition by themselves.  They found horse owners to loan mounts for the show, located a facility to rent, created and printed the programs and with zero training beyond hosting much smaller regional IDA shows handled the myriad details required with incredible aplomb.

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Johnstone Sets the Target with Double Down Under

Clarke Johnstone on Orient Express wins again in Sydney at the second leg of the FEI World Cup Eventing 2011. Photo: Rachel Smith/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 9 May 2011 – As anticipated, Antipodean riders seized the chance to steal a march on their northern hemisphere colleagues in the 2011 FEI World Cup Eventing series by targeting the second leg, at Sydney’s Weekend of Equestrian World Cups (AUS).

New Zealander Clarke Johnstone followed up his victory at Kihikihi (NZL) last month by travelling across the Tasman Sea to pick up another win aboard Orient Express, his team bronze medal-winning mount at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky (USA).

Only three riders have won two FEI World Cup events in a season: Michael Jung (GER) last year, Megan Jones (AUS) in 2009, and Nicolas Touzaint (FRA) in 2007. Johnstone’s two wins, plus a third at Kihikihi, gives him an impressive tally of 119 points.

With riders’ three best results counting towards the final rankings, which carry a first prize of €28,000 the New Zealander could prove hard to beat. He has further chances to improve his tally as he sets off for Britain this month to further his ambition of selection for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

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Dressage Master Walter Zettl Teams Up with Linda and Pat Parelli to Appear on Dressage Training Online

Linda Parelli rides one of her own horses in a lesson with dressage master Walter Zettl. (Photo courtesy of Barbara Schnell)

Ocala, FL (May 5, 2011) – Classical Dressage Master Walter Zettl has built his successful dressage career on understanding the relationship between the horse and rider.  Zettl coaches Linda and Pat Parelli, founders of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Inc., and regularly conducts private dressage clinics at the Parellis’ Ocala facility. Zettl recently spent time in Ocala with the Parellis, teaching and being taped for dressage videos which will appear on the Dressage Training Online website.

“The Dressage Training Online website is a wonderful venue for us to be included in,” said Linda Parelli. “Walter is a great bridge for us because he believes in what we are doing in natural horsemanship and he sees how closely our approach relates to the principles of truly classical dressage.”

Zettl taught lessons and was taped for the Dressage Training Online segments with Linda and her horse West Point as well as with Canadian Para-Equestrian Team member Lauren Barwick, a para-equestrian who won Gold and Silver Medals in the Beijing Paralympics in 2008. Barwick is a Four Star Parelli Instructor and a Senior Protégé in the Mastery program of the Parellis’ Natural Horsemanship Program.

Continue reading Dressage Master Walter Zettl Teams Up with Linda and Pat Parelli to Appear on Dressage Training Online