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Wellington Classic DressageA Night in Provence at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach No stranger to dressage, IPC has hosted the highly popular Challenge of the Americas for a number of years. Photo by: Susan J. Stickle, Phelps Media Group. Wellington, FL – February 28, 2011 – As they watch top class competition at the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5*, spectators will be treated to a complete Provençal experience. A five course meal inspired by the food and wine of Southern France will be served at tables around the edge of the competition arena where 18 of the globe’s most highly trained horses perform the Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle to Music on the evening of March 11th, the grand finale of the 2011 World Dressage Masters presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach. Among the riders to appear at the WDM Palm Beach are a number of Olympic and World Equestrian Games veterans, including the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Freestyle bronze medalist, Steffen Peters of the USA. Preparations are under way to transform the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach into a scene straight out of Provence, while the chefs at International Polo Club Catering finalize the dishes and wine pairings for this extravagant gala evening. “This is more than a dressage competition,” says WDM Palm Beach producer Wellington Classic Dressage’s Noreen O’Sullivan. “It is an experience. The venue is going to look outrageous. For those who know the Jim Brandon Center, they won’t recognize it.” When the WDM Palm Beach was in danger of being cancelled for 2011, the Goodman Family, International Polo Club Palm Beach and its members stepped in to save the American leg of the world’s most prestigious dressage competition. In the kind of style that has become expected of any IPC event, no expense has been spared in making the WDM Palm Beach a unique and memorable experience for both participants and spectators. World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Attracts Top International Riders Shannon Dueck on Ayscha. Photo Credit: Susan J. Stickle, Phelps Media Group. Wellington, FL – February 25, 2011 – With less than two weeks until the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach gets under way on March 9-11 2011, a number of the world’s top riders and their horses are preparing to travel to South Florida. The World Dressage Masters presented by Axel Johnson Group will award more than 400,000 Euros over four competitions in 2011, making it the world’s richest dressage series. The first of those competitions is the WDM Palm Beach, where 18 competitors, including several Olympic and World Championship medalists, will vie for 100,000 Euros in prize money. The WDM Palm Beach, which will be held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, is produced by Wellington Classic Dressage. Noreen O’Sullivan, a Managing Partner with Wellington Classic Dressage, is excited to welcome such an impressive international line up to South Florida. “We’re thrilled to host this competition and to have riders and horses of this caliber coming to the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach. We want people to feel treated to a truly international experience.” On February 21st, Canadian Dressage Team Technical Advisor Robert Dover named Shannon Dueck of Loxahatchee, FL as the Canadian Wild Card recipient for the WDM Palm Beach. Originally from British Columbia, Dueck made South Florida her permanent home in 2003. “I love being able to ride all year round without having to relocate my entire barn in the winter months,” she says. “The weather here in the winter is second to none, and I have the opportunity to compete with the best from all over North America.” 2011 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Thanks International Polo Club Palm Beach for Continued Support Margaret Duprey's Otto, ridden at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games by Todd Flettrich. Photo Credit: Susan J. Stickle Wellington, FL – February 21, 2011 – The World Dressage Masters Palm Beach, which forms part of the world’s most prestigious dressage series, will take place on March 9-11, 2011 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, FL. The preservation of WDM Palm Beach is due to the generous and enthusiastic support of its presenting sponsor, International Polo Club Palm Beach. When it was announced that the 2011 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach was to be cancelled, it appeared that the world’s richest dressage competition would disappear from North America. However, the Goodman family, International Polo Club Palm Beach and its members stepped in quickly to ensure that the show would go on. “In my talks with Mr. Goodman, he showed a profound interest in not only saving the Masters for 2011, but to extend IPC’s commitment for the long-term,” says WDM Managing Director John van de Laar. “WDM, IPC and Wellington Classic Dressage created a three year agreement, so from now on it can only get better.” A dressage competition sponsored by a polo club isn’t as odd as it sounds. Events featuring dressage, such as the breast cancer fundraiser Challenge of the Americas, have been held at the International Polo Club for the past number of years. Approximately 20 percent of IPC members are involved with dressage in South Florida, including International Dressage Rider Arlene ‘Tuny’ Page. Cesar Parra and Piaffe-Performance Students Make a Splash at the Wellington Classic Dressage Spring Challenge CDI International dressage rider and trainer Cesar Parra, who owns Piaffe-Performance with locations in Florida and New Jersey, rode into the winner’s circle at the Wellington Classic Dressage Spring Challenge CDI on Grandioso. (Photo courtesy of Horse Sport Photo.com) Wellington, FL (February 21, 2011) – International Dressage Rider Cesar Parra and his students at Piaffe-Performance made a big splash at the Wellington Classic Dressage Spring Challenge CDI, when Parra and all eight of his students rode into the winner’s circle. Despite rain that kept the sky cloudy and the rings muddy, the riders at Piaffe-Performance shone as they captured the blue in 11 classes at the show. “I am so excited about this show and how all of my riders did. I am so proud of everyone,” Parra said. “We had eight riders and won 11 classes, which is truly wonderful. In addition to my students doing great, I feel like I rode two very special horses, Grandioso and Lindner, and was very pleased that both horses did their best and were successful.” Parra said that although the rings were a mess and it was raining, he made the decision to ride. “It was raining like crazy and a lot of competitors were scratching but I made the decision to go ahead and compete and I am really glad I did,” Parra said. “I was able to ride and warm up like I always do and within five minutes the sun came out. I competed Grandioso in the Intermediaire 2 class, which is a more risky and more forward test, but Grandioso stepped up to the challenge and I am so proud of him.” Jim Brandon Equestrian Center Prepares to Host World Dressage Masters Palm Beach US WEG team rider and WDM Palm Beach participant Tina Konyot on Calecto V, competing on GGT Footing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo Credit: Susan J. Stickle Wellington, FL – February 18, 2011 – Preparations are under way at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida as the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach, the American leg of the world’s premier dressage series, draws nearer. The Jim Brandon Center will welcome a group of the most successful international dressage riders and horses from North America and Europe on March 9-11, as they compete for 100,000 Euros in prize money at the WDM Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach. Wellington Classic Dressage is the producer of the WDM Palm Beach. Managing partner John Flanagan has announced a footing sponsorship which has been signed with Premier Equestrian and GGT footing. “We’ve been working on this sponsorship for the past five months,” says Flanagan, who adds that the multi-year contract is for all of Wellington Classic Dressage’s competitions and venues. “We have reached an agreement to put GGT Footing in the covered arena, warm up ring #1 and the ten minute warm up at the Jim Brandon Center.” The new footing will be in place shortly, well in advance of the WDM Palm Beach. Caroline Roffman Kicks Off New Year by Competing In and Winning Young Rider Grand Prix Caroline Roffman competed in and won her first Grand Prix on her Danish horse Lux Stensvang at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I Show. (Photo courtesy of HorseSportsPhoto .com) Wellington, FL (January 18, 2011) – Dressage rider Caroline Roffman kicked off the New Year by competing in and winning the Young Rider Grand Prix on Lux Stensvang at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I Show. Roffman, who was named the 2010 FEI Rising Star by the International Equestrian Federation, won the FEI or Equivalent Test of Choice Open on Lux with a score of 68.605% and also rode Pie to the win in the FEI or Equivalent Test of Choice Open with a 72.105%. “It was only mine and Lux’s second time riding the Young Rider Grand Prix,” Roffman said. “I purchased Lux, who is nine years old, from Blue Horse Stud in Denmark through my trainer Lars Petersen. He is a Danish gelding by Lobster, and I’ve owned him for about a year and a half. We rode the Young Rider Grand Prix for the first time at the Wellington Classic Dressage Holiday Challenge in December, and it went really well. But I was also really nervous. So nervous, in fact, I forgot to salute at the end! But at this past show, our second time showing the Young Rider Grand Prix, things went much smoother and our scores are steadily improving.” Black Tie Interagro Wins High Score Lusitano at GCDA Year End Awards Banquet Headshot of Black Tie Interagro (Photo courtesy of Interagro Farm) West Palm Beach, FL (November 16, 2010) – Black Tie Interagro, a five-year-old Lusitano owned by Tracy Aubin of Connecticut, was the recipient of the High Point Lusitano Year End Award at the 2010 Gold Coast Dressage Association banquet. Ridden by Heather Bender, Black Tie Interagro won the year-end award by scoring a 72% in a Training Level 4 class. The Lusitano Collection, which hosts The Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction, sponsored the Year End Lusitano Award. “I think it is amazing that he won because it was his first horse show,” Aubin said. “But he is a very fast learner so I am not surprised. I am showing him in dressage, but my goal is to do eventing with him.” Aubin said that Black Tie Interagro, who was part of the 2010 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction, is taking to his life as an event horse with ease. “He is muscling up and very happy. He really seems to like it,” Aubin said. “We might do some beginner eventing next year but we are taking it slow with the jumping to ensure that he has a solid foundation.” Everglades Dressage Sponsors Adult Amateur High Score Award during Florida Winter Dressage Season Dressage rider and trainer Bethany Peslar, who operates a training and competition facility at her Everglades Dressage Farm in Wellington, will help sponsor the Florida winter dressage circuit in Wellington. (Photo courtesy of JRPR) Wellington, FL (November 8, 2010) – Accomplished dressage rider and trainer Bethany Peslar, who operates a training and competition facility at her Everglades Dressage Farm in Wellington, will help sponsor the Florida winter dressage circuit. Peslar is dedicated to teaching and training up-and-coming horses and riders, as well as supporting the equestrian community, and will sponsor classes at the Gold Coast Dressage Association and the Wellington Classic Dressage shows. Peslar will sponsor the Overall High Score Adult Amateur Award at select shows during the winter dressage season. The winner of the award will receive a beautiful embroidered saddle pad, a leather sugar pouch, and a gift certificate for a free lesson with Peslar at her premier equestrian facility, Everglades Dressage, in the exclusive Grand Prix Village of Wellington. “I am thrilled to be sponsoring the Overall High Score Adult Amateur Award,” Peslar said. “I believe that when awards are sponsored in these divisions it really gives the riders more to strive for and a nice chance for recognition.” The Sanctuary Sponsors Equine Athlete Award during Florida Winter Dressage Shows The Sanctuary will sponsor The Sanctuary Equine Athlete Award during dressage shows during the Florida winter circuit. Noreen Sullivan (right), Show Manager, stands with Cathy Morelli (left) in last year’s award ceremony at a show. (Photo courtesy of the Equine Chronicle) West Palm Beach, FL (November 2, 2010) – The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center will be sponsoring The Sanctuary Equine Athlete Award during the Florida dressage shows this upcoming winter season. Horses with successful performances due to their conditioning and fitness level will be eligible to win the award. The Sanctuary is a multi-million dollar facility dedicated to the healing, conditioning and well being of all equine athletes. “This is a fantastic award for us to sponsor because it is in line with what we do at The Sanctuary. Our goal is to help horses perform at their peak through safe and effective conditioning,” said Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary. “We are also dedicated to helping horses recover from injuries they might experience when competing in intense and physically demanding sports.” The Sanctuary will present The Sanctuary Equine Athlete Award at a variety of Gold Coast Dressage Association (GCDA) shows and Wellington Classic Dressage (WCD) shows, including: the GCDA Fall Fling, November 13-14, 2010; the WCD Holiday Challenge, December 11-12, 2010; the GCDA Opener CDI, January 21-23, 2011; the WCD Spring Challenge CDI, February 10-13, 2011; the WCD Challenge II, March 10-13, 2011; and the GCDA Finale I, April 15-16, 2011. Classic Equine Equipment to Sponsor Classic Stall and Tack Room Award at Winter Dressage Shows in Florida Classic Equine Equipment will sponsor the Classic Stall and Tack Room Award during dressage shows during the Florida winter circuit. (Photo ©2010 Steve Whittaker) West Palm Beach, FL (October 25, 2010) – Competitors at the prestigious winter dressage shows in South Florida will have the chance to tap into their inner equestrian interior decorator for a chance to win the Classic Stall and Tack Room Award, thanks to a sponsorship from Classic Equine Equipment. A nationally recognized leader in quality horse stall systems and barn accessories, Classic Equine Equipment will present the Classic Stall and Tack Room Award during designated shows to one farm stabled on the grounds. Tack and stabling areas will be judged on aesthetics and suitability for horses and riders, and a panel of spotters will select the winners. “As providers of stall systems and barn accessories we know about meeting the needs of discriminating horse owners. Now we get the chance to be discriminating as we look for tack and stabling areas that have really taken it to the next level,” said Adam Busse, owner of Classic Equine. |
