• Save

High Prairie Dressage Markel/USEF Young Horse Qualifier Classes Help Identify Future Talent

Petra Warlimont and Lorenzo in the Markel USEF/Young Horse 5-Year-Old Qualifier.

Parker, CO – June 2, 2013 – High Prairie Dressage III at the Colorado Horse Park held a series of Markel/USEF Young Horse Qualifying classes Sunday, part of a program using special dressage tests for 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old horses to help scout out potential outstanding talent for future careers at the FEI level or participation in U.S. High Performance Teams.

A key component of the classes is personalized feedback from the judges. Immediately after the test, the judges discuss the test with the rider to help with training goals.

Ann Buchanan rode Sky Hit to win the Markel/USEF 4-Year-Old Qualifier. “He was really good,” she said. “There’s a lot going on in there and he really kept it together.” She said the judges liked his walk and thought he was very submissive, especially with all the activity at the show. She added that she specifically purchased the horse in order to participate in the Young Horse Qualifier and appreciated the feedback from the judges to help her continue her horse’s training. “I’m learning a lot,” she said.

Petra Warlimont rode Laurenzo for a first place finish and Diva MCF for the second-place spot in the Markel/USEF Young Horse 5-Year-Old Qualifier. She said Laurenzo was tired after two days of showing. “In the walk we wandered all over the place, but he’s super and this was his first horse show.”

Warlimont said the judges scored the horse favorably. “The general impression was an 8.2, so he’s in the Top 15,” she said. “With this stuff going on, I could feel him getting pretty tense in there, but he kept it together.”

Laurenzo’s breeder, Cindy Feirn, said she breeds Holsteiners on Colorado’s Western Slope and added she has another 4-year-old that will soon be trying to qualify in the Markel/USEF program.

Warlimont laughed, “I told her to make 10 more of those. He’s super!”

Warlimont also enjoyed her ride on Diva MCF and said the mare just keeps surprising her by getting better and better but is not quite ready for the big time. “She can’t really hold the collection in the trot but otherwise I’m really happy with where she is,” Warlimont explained.

She added that, although the judges really liked the mare’s canter, they thought her rhythm in the collected trot was inconsistent. “I’m happy with the score,” she said. “I didn’t even think she would be able to handle the test and she did really well.”

Allen Swafford and Fiderstep HW in the Markel/USEF Young Rider 5-Year-Old Qualifier
  • Save
Allen Swafford and Fiderstep HW in the Markel/USEF Young Rider 5-Year-Old Qualifier

Allen Swafford and Fiderstep HW also participated in the Young Horse 5-Year-Old Qualifier and came away with third place. He said he received good feedback from the judges on the horse. “He’s super,” he said. “It’s his first test and his first horse show and we weren’t as expressive as we can be. We were trying to be conservative and just do a nice test and then next time we can go for expression.”

Swafford agreed with the other competitors that the feedback from the judges helps him plan a roadmap for his horse’s future training. “I love all the encouraging words,” he said. “They tell you all the things you need to work on and go forward with that. It’s very good.”

Today concluded a weekend of exciting dressage in a comfortably friendly atmosphere at an unparalleled facility, the Colorado Horse Park. High Prairie Dressage I, II and IIl offered a full range of classes for every level of competitor in a picturesque setting overlooking the Rocky Mountains.

For more information, go to www.coloradohorsepark.com.

The Colorado Horse Park High Prairie Dressage I, II & III Fast Facts

What:
High Prairie Dressage USEF Level 3 Show

Event Dates:
May 31 – June 2, 2013

Contact Information:
(until May 28, 2013)                         818-841-3554
(May 29 – June 2, 2013)                   303-841-3892

Tentative Schedule:
Friday – Sunday: Unofficial Times will be mailed to all exhibitors prior to the show, and will be available on www.cornerstonedressage.com. Official times will be posted every morning one hour before the first scheduled ride.

Helmet Reminder: Effective April 1, 2013, for dressage: Anyone mounted on a horse must wear protective headgear.

Directions:

Address: 7375 E Bayou Gulch Rd, Parker, CO 80134

From North: I-25S exit Ridgegate Parkway – go east under the freeway.  Ridgegate Parkway to S. Chambers Road, approximately three miles (Traffic light) – turn right/south onto Chambers Road. At end of Chambers Road turn left/east onto Hess Road.  Hess Road to Parker Road/Hwy 83 – turn right/south onto Hwy 83 approximately four miles to Bayou Gulch Road. (Traffic light). Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

From South: I-25N, exit Founder’s Parkway.  Founder’s Parkway to Highway 86, approximately four miles (traffic light). Turn east/left onto Hwy. 86 to Franktown/Hwy 83. At Franktown go north on 83 approx. 7 mi. to Bayou Gulch Rd. (Traffic light), turn right/east onto Bayou Gulch Rd. Follow signs to Colorado Horse Park.

Sue Weakley for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Leave a Reply