Riders from over 20 colleges and universities throughout the United States will converge at the Canterbury Equestrian Show Place in Newberry, Florida to compete at the Intercollegiate Dressage Association’s 9th annual National Championship. Over 100 riders will compete April 30 and May 1 as either part of a 4 member team or as individuals in each of the IDA’s four divisions: Introductory, Lower Training, Upper Training and First Level.
The IDA is comprised of 680 student riders representing 60 colleges and universities in the US and Canada divided into 10 regions. The qualifying teams and individual riders have earned their way to the Championship by earning points in IDA sanctioned competitions held throughout the academic year within their respective regions.
University of Florida and their dressage team are hosts for the event. Along with their host duties, the team are among the early qualifiers for the competition which include Delaware Valley College, last year’s National Champion Team, Virginia Intermont College, and Mt. Holyoke College. With three national championship titles each, Virginia Intermont and Mt. Holyoke have dominated the IDA since it began as a national organization in 2001.
Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will be represented by three American dressage riders at the 2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final to be held in Leipzig, Germany, April 27 – May 1.
The United States will be represented by two combinations from the North American League and one from the Western European League. The following horse/rider combinations qualified during World Cup Qualifying Events held throughout the 2010-2011 season:
Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner
North American League* Jan Ebeling/52/ Moorpark, CA/Rafalca/14/Oldenburg/Mare/Ann Romney
Shawna Harding/41/Aiken, SC/Come On III/12/Danish Warmblood/Gelding/Shawna Harding
*Tina Konyot (Palm City, FL) topped the standings in the North American League for 2010-2011 season but declined the opportunity to compete in the 2011 Final.
Western European League Catherine Haddad/47/Vechta, Germany/Winyamaro/11/Hanoverian/Gelding/Catharine Haddad
Linda Parelli, Pat Parelli, Anabel Balkenhol, and Klaus Balkenhol at Equitana in Germany. (Photo courtesy of Parelli Natural Horsemanship)
Ocala, FL (April 6, 2011) – Pat and Linda Parelli, founders of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, are in the midst of a European tour that is drawing the attention of dressage stars, sell-out crowds and die-hard Parelli enthusiasts from around the world. The Parellis recently wrapped up several days at Equitana in Germany and will now head to the Parelli Celebration at the LG Arena in Birmingham, U.K., April 9-10.
“During Equitana I had the chance to meet with Olympic Gold Medalist Klaus Balkenhol and his daughter Anabel,” Linda Parelli said. “It was exciting to share our natural horsemanship training methods that utilize equine psychology, or what we coin Horsenality, with Klaus, who along with being an Olympic Gold Medalist in dressage was also the very successful former coach of the German and U.S. dressage teams. Not surprisingly the common sense communication techniques that help the horses and riders achieve success are universal at all levels.” Linda is scheduling the last few days of the April tour in Germany with the Balkenhols to share some behavior balancing natural horsemanship techniques with Anabel Balkenhol.
Linda added that the Balkenhols are not the only world-class dressage riders who have taken an interest in the Parelli Natural Horsemanship program and incorporated the system into their training. “After the Parelli Celebration in the U.K., I will head to France and then to Spain where I will again have the opportunity to train and exchange ideas with dressage great Luis Lucio,” she said. “I really appreciate the talent and dedication of competitive dressage riders and have seen so many dressage riders overcome behavior issues that impeded their success by being open minded and incorporating natural horse training into their training program. This trip I am looking forward to riding with Luis on his dressage horses and working on my dressage skills, too.”
My Northeast Florida Dressage Association (NFDA) club’s Dressage on the First Coast Spring 2011 show is coming up this weekend (April 9-10th) and boy has there been a flurry of work to do to get everything ready for it. Everything else has had to be put on hold, even getting my newsletter out before the end of March. My attempt to get it out the week before that was thwarted by a frustrating technical issue of my ESP not ‘talking’ to my ISP which took me 4 days to finally get resolved. Hence my March newsletter has become my Spring newsletter or a March/April newsletter.
My wonderful husband offered to do an advertisement for the show program as the EVP of HorsesintheSouth.com. We were trying to decide what he would say in the program ad as I already have an ad for HorsesintheSouth.com in it, so we decided that we would just thank all of our current clients, banner advertisers and affiliates. My graphic designer, Beth Webb, who also did the show program for us on a last minute notice just told me to write up some text and she would make an ad out of it. Well, 3-4 hours later, I came up with this huge text-heavy ad that feels like I am thanking everyone for an academy award or something, it is so long! I didn’t know where to stop, I am so lucky to have such wonderful clients and advertisers. And, these are just the current ones! So I figured this would also be a good editorial so that all of the HorsesintheSouth.com readers and AHorseBlog.com readers will see these accolades instead of it just being confined to a horse show program.
It reads like this, but the layout that Beth did is gorgeous, as is the show program that she did for the Dressage on the First Coast.
ALGGraphics.com – Flexo and Screen printer of specialty labels.
DogwoodSportHorses.com – Breeders of excellent bloodline European cross warmblood sport horses for sale; featuring the branded Westfalen, and approved RPSI breeding stallion, Freedom Hall.
DressageontheFirstCoast.com – The website for the twice yearly recognized show; started for the 2005 Region 3 Championships held at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center.
Feedin’ Time – Animal feed & supply store. See the store link on HorsesintheSouth.com/feedintime
FloridaMaritimeLawyers.com – Florida-based law firm which concentrates in trial litigation in the field of admiralty, cruise line and maritime law.
James “Shea” Walsh – HorsesintheSouth.com/sheawalsh; 1988 Olympian represented Ireland. Instruction and clinics locally and abroad.
KDEquine.com – Kathy Daly — Classical Dressage trainer, clinician. USEF “r” Dressage judge; my first website started in 1997. I wanted to give back to Kathy for all of the wonderful training she had and has done for me and my horses. We still get many “phone” training lessons and I used to get “Kitchen Table” lessons when she would stay with me when I lived in Jacksonville and she would get to my place too late for a lesson. One day I am going to write a book for her on these lessons, she is that good at explaining what to do!
Sundance Farm – HorsesintheSouth.com/sundancefarm; Featuring Swedish Warmblood, AWS approved stallion, Synchronicity; Lupe Guarderas, owner, competitor, trainer and Dressage judge.
SuncoastBedding.com – Premium ultra-compressed pine shavings animal bedding.
TripleKBarC.com – Preserving the “Last Chance” naturally-gaited, old-time Albert Dement foundation line of Tennessee Walking Horses. Dement mares for sale to selected breeding homes.
Current Banner Advertisers and Others that we Support:
CanterburyShowPlace.com – Central Florida’s nicest equestrian showplace with an indoor covered and lighted arena, and 3 outdoor rings, 5 show barns, clubhouse and more!
ClassicCompany.com – Show management that we support; production of multiple shows throughout the South.
FlashpointMediaServices.com and FlashPointPhotography.com – Robbie and Greg Meisel who we love and support, specialize in performance and event portrait photography, and press releases for Classic Company, LLC show management.
JaneHeart.com – Gorgeous equestrian and dog lines of jewelry including Secretariat™ and Barbaro™ licensed jewelry.
KAMAnimalServices.com – KAM’s Equine Learning Circle offers FREE webinars every month and we list weekly tips each Monday and support them with a banner link.
MahanFarm.com – 113 acre boarding, show and clinic facility in Tallahassee, FL. Summer camp held in conjunction with Feather Oaks Farm. Brett Barteld, Owner
NagHorseRanch.com – Home of the Nose Shade, formerly called Nag Nose Shade to stop sunburned horses’ muzzles.
NFHJA.com/ North Florida Hunter Jumper Association – We support them, especially during the Jacksonville Winter Series.
RavenwoodFarm.net – Ravenwood Farm Foundation non-profit rescue corporation
SouthernFarrier.com – Brett Barteld; 2nd Generation Farrier; 1990 Oklahoma Horseshoeing School -Certificate Graduate Professional Horseshoeing; Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association Certified; American Farrier’s Association Member
SunHorseTack.com – Fancy and custom-made horse halters and stuff!
USET.org/United States Equestrian Team Foundation – We support them with a non-profit banner advertisement.
And, we have too many blog contributors to list here, so please see the Contributor category on AHorseBlog.com as these keep growing every day.
Jerry and Teri also wish to thank Sheila Van Dusen, honorary EVP, for all of the assistance she has provided since our beginnings in 2000, plus Jason Ellerbee, for his assistance as our Associate Editor and analyst, Chris Dunn and Linda Bourdow for their accounting assistance, Rob Bowman for his amazing photography, Charles Bryant for his amazing programming work on our website and blog, and Beth Webb for her amazing graphic design skills and assistance. Without their help, we would not have been able to keep this monster of a website and blog, plus our client sites and advertisers functioning.
Wellington, FL – April 5, 2011 – Six-time Olympian Robert Dover will host an evening to remember on his Dover’s World radio show, discussing anything his listeners are interested in. At 7p.m. Dover will open the listener phone lines to anyone with questions. Dover’s World airs tonight, Tuesday April 5, 2011, beginning at 6pm on WBZT (AM 1230) from Palm Beach to Miami, Florida. The program can also be found at DoversWorld.com, and will be streamed live for listeners around the world. Joining Dover in the evening’s line up is the voice of Welly World, Mason Phelps, Jr.
Phelps, another former Olympian, will update listeners on the final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival, along with other tidbits from what’s been happening in Wellington.
USEF CEO John Long with Craig Ferrell, M.D. Photo by Riders4Helmets.
Lexington, KY – U.S. Equestrian Team Physician and Chair of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Medical Council, Craig Ferrell M.D, will be attending the International Olympic Committee International Federations’ Medical Commission Chairpersons Meeting in Monaco April 6, 2011. The meeting is for international sport federation national chairmen, and is sponsored by the IOC.
Dr. Ferrell intends to provide updates during the meeting on the recent United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) helmet rule changes and progress of the riders4helmets campaign in educating equestrians on the benefits of wearing helmets. Dr Ferrell was the co-host of the Riders4Helmets Helmet Safety Symposium held January 8th, 2011 in Wellington, FL. “I think that one of the responsibilities of International Federation medical committees is to advocate for changes that make sports safer. I appreciate the website campaign of riders4helmets in the efforts to promote safety awareness. Wearing a helmet just makes good horse sense,” said Ferrell.
The IOC International Federations’ Medical Commission Chairpersons Meeting is being held in conjunction with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) World Conference On Prevention Of Injury & Illness In Sport (April 7-9th) which will bring together scientists and practitioners to investigate and develop new concepts to enhance safety in sport through a beneficial cooperation.
Steffen Peters and Weltino's Magic. Photo by Jennifer M. Keeler.
Burbank, CA – California’s Jan Ebeling and Rafalca displayed not only their difficult grand prix freestyle routine during the final day of the Festival of the Horse CDI-W/Y/J in but also their readiness for the Reem Acra/FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Leipzig later this month. Earning a solid 73.025% and a ticket to the World Cup as one of two North American League representatives, Ebeling and the 14-year-old Oldenburg mare (Argentinius x Ratine by Rubinstein I, owned by Amy Ebeling) seemed very confident. “She’s gotten so much stronger and better this year, and she’s taken it to a whole new level,” said Ebeling. “She felt awesome! She’s finally come into her own now.”
Debuting their Intermediaire I freestyle, Steffen Peters completed his sweep of the small tour with Jen Hlavacek’s Weltino’s Magic (Weltino x Diva by Diamond Boy) by scoring a huge score of 79.417%. “The first word that comes to mind is ‘fun’,” said Peters. “I rode the freestyle a bit conservatively today since it was the first time, but he was right on.”
Meanwhile, Jamie Pestana rode her own Hanoverian gelding Winzalot (Wokenstein II x Frazisco) to a freestyle victory with a score of 67.250% to close out the Young Rider division.
Ferdi Eilberg has been part of the British dressage scene for almost four decades with an established record and reputation that is being carried by his daughter, British team member Maria, and son, Michael. Tune in to hear the story behind this successful family as they share their secrets with Chris…
International dressage rider and trainer Cesar Parra swept the CDI with Grandioso at the International Horse Sport Champions Cup Show. It was Grandioso’s first CDI and the horse won in grand style. (Photo courtesy of Piaffe-Performance)
Loxahatchee, FL (April 1, 2011) – International Dressage Rider and trainer Cesar Parra rode Grandioso into the winner’s circle in grand style during a three day CDI Small Tour victory at the International Horse Sport Champions Cup Show at the Equestrian Estates in Loxahatchee, Florida. Parra and Grandioso started their grand winning streak by capturing first in the CDI Prix St. Georges with a score of 71.579% on Friday, followed by winning the CDI Intermediaire I with a score of 73.114% on Saturday, then making a clean sweep of the show on Sunday by winning the CDI Intermediaire Freestyle with a 73.950%.
“I could not have been more proud of Grandioso. He truly stepped up to the plate and delivered beautiful tests each day. It was his first CDI ever and the first time I had ridden him in the Small Tour. I rode him conservatively to get the feeling for him in those tests since he is such a big guy and big mover and he stayed right with me and was very rideable,” Parra said. “Grandioso’s success is absolutely a team effort. I have a supportive owner in the Davis family, who trust and believe in us, and a whole support crew who makes sure that Grandioso is happy and gets everything he needs. He works hard, but he is really a loved horse!”
Grandioso is no stranger to the winner’s circle, as he won the Six-Year-Old Young Horse National Championship in 2007 with rider and trainer Jason Canton. The Davis family, Michael, Sarah, and Bebe, purchased Grandioso in 2009 and Parra began training him. With his sights set on the Pan Am Games and the 2012 Olympics, Parra is hoping that Grandioso will help him achieve his dream of riding on the U.S. Dressage team. “Since becoming a U.S. citizen it has been my goal to ride on a U.S. team and I believe Grandioso has what it takes,” said Parra, who owns Piaffe-Performance with locations in Florida and New Jersey.
