Katie Teehan. John Borys Photography.
Wellington, FL (March 26, 2019) – Excel Dressage’s working student Katie Teehan has taken the term ‘excel’ to new heights: this February she and her horse, Zinca, under the guidance of Excel’s Amy Speck-Kern, tackled her first Junior CDI during the Seventh Annual Youth Dressage Festival. She was the highest placed North American Junior rider all three days, finishing third in each class and third overall in her division. She then went on to win the Junior Team Qualifier and was second in the Junior Individual test this past weekend at AGDF 11, with scores over 68%. Only with Excel Dressage and its partner training center Stal Hoog since January 10th, Teehan’s impressive performance is also underscored by hard work, one of the main tenets of Excel Dressage.
New to the Junior level, Teehan first began training with Speck-Kern only a little over a month before her first time trotting down the Junior CDI centerline. She and Zinca, a 15-year-old Dutch mare (Kennedy x Freestyle), first took their skills to White Fences. Scoring a 70.7%, the pair was named the Junior High Point Rider of the show. At the CDI, they logged scores through 67%.
“Coming to work in Wellington for both Amy Speck-Kern and Katie Hoog has been a life changing experience,” said Teehan. “Not only has this job affected my riding, but it has also changed me as an individual. They have been such a positive influence on me as both an athlete and a person: always patient and positive in my training – I have learned so much. They have given me guidance that will help me reach my goal to succeed as a professional. Amy and Katie have also let me ride wonderful horses, and both of them helped me succeed in my first CDI. This was such an amazing experience to place 3rd overall in the junior division, and was one of the most exciting and fun shows I’ve ever competed in. I was thrilled to compete with riders from all over the globe, future professionals with amazing skills.”
The 16-year-old Wisconsin native’s mount, Zinca, has been part of her family since the summer of 2018. The 14-year-old KWPN mare done Intermediaire 1, and as a pair they have competed through the Prix St. George. Her experience at Excel Dressage and Stal Hoog has helped build their partnership. “It is very inspiring to help such a talented, hardworking, and motivated young athlete,” said Speck-Kern. “She exemplifies the qualities we need in the next generation of equestrians: she’s polite, honest, demonstrates good sportsmanship, and always puts her horse first.”
For more information on Amy Speck-Kern, Excel Dressage, or its services, visit www.ExcelDressage.com or call 414 550 1176.
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