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Katherine Bateson-Chandler Pays It Forward

Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Carl Hester demonstrating how to produce a young Grand Prix Horse (Photo Credit – Kevin Sparrow).

Wellington, FL (December 22,2014) – Katherine Bateson-Chandler knows she is lucky to ride exceptional horses and to have experience training with Olympic athletes Carl Hester, Debbie McDonald, and Robert Dover. In order show her gratefulness for being able to live out her dressage dreams, Bateson-Chandler is giving back to the equestrian community by helping others pursue their own successful dressage careers.

The Grand Prix rider recently spent her sixth summer training with Hester, whom she works with for part of the year while working with USA’s McDonald during the rest of the year. She was also Robert Dover’s assistant trainer and groom before taking over Dover’s position of riding and training Jane Forbes Clark’s impressive horses. Now, the internationally acclaimed Bateson-Chandler is using her talents to help teach others.

She recently acted as a demo rider for Hester at educational events throughout the United Kingdom. The events included The Dressage Convention at Bury Farm in England on October 18-19, and Your Horse Live at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, England on November 8-9. For Bateson-Chandler, providing educational opportunities in England was a sort of homecoming — the equestrian was born and raised in the U.K., and is now a U.S. citizen based out of Wellington, Florida.

“We showed everyone how we produce a young Grand Prix horse using Carl’s system,” Bateson-Chandler said about her experience as a demo rider with Hester. “We touched on most aspects of the Grand Prix, and showed how good basics can make life much simpler as you move up the levels.”

She rode Alcazar, a nine-year old KWPN gelding owned by Jane Forbes Clark. Alcazar (Contango x Polina, Ferro) recently won the prestigious 2015 Adequan/USDF Dressage Horse of the Year Award in the Intermediate II level after putting in some impressive scores. Bateson-Chandler has been competing on the dark bay gelding for the past two years when she took over the ride from Dover after he retired from competition.

While Bateson-Chandler enjoyed helping her British mentor, Hester, by riding in the educational demonstrations, she also thought it was good experience for Alcazar.

“Both master classes were amazing experiences for my horse as they gave me the unique opportunity to ride him in an electric environment where the audience claps on a regular basis through the ride,” she said. “He, of course, was a little tense in the beginning but got better and better the more we rode.”

Bateson-Chandler is eager to see where the coming year of equestrian competition season will lead her, and is looking forward to more opportunities to pass on her talents to others. For more information about Katherine Bateson-Chandler and her star equine partners, visit www.kbcdressage.com or follow the international competitor on her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katherine-Bateson-Chandler-Dressage/651928248221736?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark.

Contact: Katherine Bateson-Chandler
Kbcdressage@me.com
908-391-9096
www.kbcdressage.com

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