Photos by Susan J. Stickle.

September 3, 2013 – Springville, NY – Darren Chiacchia and his black Trakehner stallion, Ballzauber, continued their unprecedented championship streak at the Western New York Dressage Association (WNYDA) Show in Houghton, NY and at the Maplewood Warmbloods Dressage Show in Middleton, NY over the past weeks.

“He’s just a winning machine,” stated Chiacchia of Ballzauber. “He’s all business when he is in the ring.” Along with his excellent show ring presence, Ballzauber is a “remarkable and very sweet horse.” Ballzauber has been victorious from Wellington, FL through KY Horse Park, and now in his home base of New York State. “We’ve shown under some top judges and I’m very pleased to score well under these tough officials,” Chiacchia said.

At the WNYDA Show, Ballzauber was overall Grand Champion of the Breeding Show and won the High Score Trakehner Award. Along the way, Ballzauber was 4-Year-Old and Older Breeding Stallion class winner as well as Champion in the Stallion and Mature Horse classes. Ballzauber is a 9-year-old Trakehner by Axis who is by the very influential EH Sixtus (half-brother to Windfall) out of Ballgefluster by EH Itaxerxes.

With Schwarze Zauber (‘Black Magic’ in the German language), a three-year-old stallion by Zauberruf, Alayna Pastuck, Chiacchia’s barn manager and student, took the Champion Young Horse. Schwarze Zauber was overall Reserve Champion of the Breeding Show, just behind Ballzauber.

In the ridden portion of the WNYDA Show, Ballzauber was victorious in all six of his second and third level tests. This left Ballzauber, in addition to his previous honors, as Champion High Score of the show and High Score Trakehner both weekend days.

Pastuck was second in the three third level tests, finishing just behind Ballzauber. She achieved high enough scores to secure her U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF) Bronze Medal, a significant honor.

At the WNYDA Show, Chiacchia introduced two new junior students, Mackenzie Martin and Madison Seliskar. Both girls are 14 years old and come from Bay City, Michigan. In their first dressage show they took home ribbons from each class they entered, a remarkable feat. In total, Martin won three classes on her Trakehner gelding Fantastic (by Connery).

At the Maplewood Warmbloods Dressage Show, Chiacchia and Ballzauber won all six of their second and third level tests. Chiacchia’s student Martin shined by again winning three classes and achieving a score of over 70%.

Chiacchia continues a steady recovery from his dramatic accident at the 2008 Red Hills International Horse Trials in Tallahassee, FL. With his resulting Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), he is steadily climbing back up the road to success. His amazing recovery has inspired many people. Chiacchia is a 2004 Olympic eventing bronze medalist, 2003 Pan American Games individual gold medal victor, and a winner of the prestigious Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI****.

Chiacchia is proud to be sponsored by Voltaire Design, Triple Crown Feeds, Der Dau Boots, Charles Owen Helmets, FarmVet.com, Spalding Fly Predators, Flair Equine Nasal Strips, Omega Alpha, EquiFit, Inc., Heritage Performance Riding Gloves, Cavalor, Back on Track, System Fencing, Renegade Trucks, and Kesmarc Equine Therapy.

To contact Darren Chiacchia, please call (352) 895-3694 or see www.teamchiacchia.com.

Media Contact: Hallie McEvoy, (802) 233-2415