Matt McLaughlin and Versatil Imagem in action during the Global Dressage Festival. (Photo courtesy of Matt McLaughlin)
Wellington, FL (May 6, 2013) – Two talented Lusitanos represented the breed and brought the flair of the Portuguese to the dressage arena during the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, where the top dressage horses in the nation compete during the winter season. Balder, ridden by owner Lesley Maxwell, and Versatil Imagem, ridden by Matt McLaughlin, were awarded the High Score Lusitano Award for performances at the GDF 5* CDI and WEF Dressage Classic CDI-3*.
Patience and training paid off for dressage trainer Matt McLaughlin, who rode his 11-year-old Lusitano gelding, Versatil Imagem, to a score a 63% in USEF Fourth Level test during the Adequan Global Dressage Festival 5* show. Versatil’s score topped all other Lusitanos at the show, and McLaughlin was very proud of his beautiful grey horse. He explained that Versatil was pushed very hard as a youngster, before McLaughlin owned him, so being recognized with this award was quite special. “I’ve been bringing him along,” he said, “and getting him over the pressure from bad experiences when he was younger has been a tough road.” McLaughlin describes Versatil as a kind and affectionate horse, and feels his courageous Lusitano heart has brought him to the level he deserves to be in the show ring. He goes on to say Versatil has fabulous FEI level dressage movement and competitive Grand Prix potential.
McLaughlin, who owns Equine Equities in St. Cloud, Florida, has successfully trained horses through Grand Prix dressage that have gone on to compete nationally and internationally. He has earned the USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold rider medals, and in addition to providing instruction at his Florida farm, he travels throughout North America and Europe as a clinician. He also has extensive history in the equine entertainment industry and is a charismatic and exciting performer. This was his first time showing at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival 5*, and winning the Interagro Lusitano High Score Award made the show an even greater victory.
Balder sporting his prize, a beautifully engraved halter from Interagro Lusitanos. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)
Lesley Maxwell and her gray Lusitano Balder were also in the win, topping the field of Lusitanos during the WEF Dressage Classic CDI-3*. The pair rode their way to a score of 63.710% in the First Level Test 3. Maxwell said she was so excited to win the Lusitano High Score and have Balder recognized at the Global Dressage Festival. She will now have a reminder of this sweet victory every time she takes him out of his stall with the beautifully engraved leather halter she won as a part of the award.
Maxwell rides and trains with Melanie Cerny, who trains with Shannon Dueck. They are based out of Loxahatchee, Florida. Everyone involved with Balder and his training are impressed by him and the Lusitano breed. Maxwell acknowledges that the Lusitano horse is, in general, built for collection, and this coupled with their rideability and trainability make them a near perfect dressage horse. The scores that she and Balder are getting this season, along with the many other Lusitanos competing in the Florida shows, give strong credence to the breed’s talent, trainability, and athleticism. Interagro Lusitanos is dedicated to preserving these traits in the Lusitano, and horses bred by Interagro have progressed in and been successful at many disciplines, including Grand Prix dressage.
The Interagro horse is a modern Lusitano, a horse that excels in the traditional equestrian disciplines, from dressage and driving to jumping and working equitation. Interagro horses can be seen driving, working, and training on the farm in Brazil every day. Interagro is committed to preserving the pure bloodlines of the Lusitano breed, and Interagro bloodlines include some of the most respected bloodlines in the breed such as Farao (JHC), Nirvana Interagro, Ofensor (MV), Xique-Xique (CI) and Yacht (SA).
Interagro also offers guests and clients a unique way to truly immerse themselves in the Lusitano breed and the equestrian culture of Interagro through Destination Lusitano. From riding an Interagro stallion across the rolling Brazilian countryside to enjoying Portuguese cuisine, Destination Lusitano caters to each guests needs and can be tailored to their interests. In addition, the 600 Lusitanos that call Interagro home make Destination Lusitano the ultimate equestrian getaway.
For more information on Destination Lusitano or to learn more about Interagro Lusitanos, visit their website at www.lusitano-interagro.com.
About Interagro Lusitanos
Founded in 1975 by Dr. Paulo Gavião Gonzaga to preserve the Lusitano breed, Interagro Lusitanos is now recognized as the world’s largest breeder and exporter of Lusitano horses. Dr. Gonzaga started with a small band of four mares and one stallion imported to Brazil from the breed’s native Portugal; to date over 600 horses populate the 1200-acre ranch outside São Paulo. Today, Cecilia Gonzaga manages the farm and operations. Interagro Lusitanos are handled, prepared, and evaluated from birth, with a handful of the best stock presented at auction each year.
For more information contact:
Johnny Robb – JRPR, Inc.
561-753-4608 jrpr@mac.com
Endel Ots and Verida during the Dressage National 5. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)
Wellington, FL (April 17, 2013) – “Endel has really brought her along in such a short time. It’s great to see her reach her potential at this level,” said an ebullient Donna Cameron of Cutler Farm Dressage in Medfield, Massachussetts about the Prix St Georges debut of her mare, Verida, under former USDF Prix St Georges Horse of the Year trainer, Endel Ots, during Dressage National 5 at the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival.
Verida’s inaugural FEI Prix St Georges test was Tuesday morning and she won the class with a 69.868%. Ots and Cameron were very pleased with her performance and the win “was the icing on the cake”. Little did they know the best was yet to come. On Wednesday the pair returned to the arena for what was now Verida’s second FEI Prix St Georges test, and again she won the class this time with an even more impressive score of 71.974%.
“She’s a lovely horse to ride,” Ots said. “All her changes were big, clean, and consistent. She has a great work ethic and really enjoys her job and the show ring.” For Cameron the win is a little bitter sweet as Verida, who is by the famous dressage sire Rosseau, was purchased as an investment prospect. “She is really showing her ability at the FEI level and I may find myself having to compete against her in the future. She is proving she will be hard to beat,” laughed Cameron, who is also in pursuit of earning her USDF Silver Medal. “ I know Verida is destined to become someone’s incredible dressage partner.” Verida will stay in training with Endel Ots at Lionshare Dressage in Wellington until she is sold.
Cameron and Cutler Farm have been keeping good dressage company, recently announcing that Olympian Heather Blitz, who hosted her first New England clinic at Cutler Farm earlier in the year, will base her training services from the Medfield Massachussetts farm beginning in May. Ots who also hosted clinics at Cutler Farm will be sceduling clinics there again before the end of the year as well.
Ots’s business partner Caroline Roffman is also scheduled to do clinics this year and is an old family friend of Cameron’s. Roffman used to keep her horses at Cutler Farm Dressage when she lived in Massachussetts. “Endel is such a successful FEI competitor, as is Caroline,” said Cameron. “He has trained with so many prominent names, like Lars Petersen, and Hubertus Schmidt.” Originally from De Pere, Wisconsin, Endel Ots began riding on the family’s Ots Sunrise Farm and worked for DYB Dressage before accepting an opportunity to train with Schmidt in Germany. He had the 2007 USDF Prix St. Georges Horse of the Year and has scored above 75% in USDF Intermediaire I and Intermediaire I Freestyles. Ots operates Lionshare Dressage with rider and trainer Caroline Roffman, and for more information about their training programs and dressage sales prospects, visit www.lionsharedressage.com.
Lexington, KY – The focus of U.S. dressage this week will be firmly on The Stadium in Wellington, Florida for the Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm. Held in conjunction with the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, America’s only CDIO will run April 11-14. The United States will look to secure a repeat victory after claiming top honors in 2012. The home nation will be represented by two teams; each composed of two Grand Prix (Big Tour) combinations and two Prix St. Georges (Small Tour) competitors.
A total of 10 teams composed of riders from the United States, Australia, Austria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Germany and Venezuela will vie for top honors in Friday’s Nation Cup. This competition holds added significance as it is being used to test the proposed format for the 2015 Pan American Games. Team placings will be determined by the scores earned Friday, with Big Tour riders performing the FEI Grand Prix Test and Small Tour combinations riding the FEI Prix St. Georges Test. Those in Big Tour competition will receive a bonus of three percentage points for receiving 58% or higher in the FEI Grand Prix Test to be added to their team total.
On Saturday, competitors return to The Stadium to begin their quests for individual honors. The top finisher will be crowned by combining his/her scores from the Freestyle, performed Saturday, and Sunday’s test of either the FEI Intermediaire I for Small Tour riders or the FEI Grand Prix Special for Big Tour riders.
USA I Team
Heather Blitz, Shelly Francis, Caroline Roffman and Kimberly Herslow look to help USA I Team stand atop the podium in Nations Cup competition. Blitz (Wellington, FL) and Francis (Loxahatchee, FL) represent the home nation as they go head-to-head with other Big Tour competitors. Blitz rides her own 2011 Pan American Games Team Gold and Individual Silver medalist Paragon. The pair, who is competing in its second year at the Grand Prix level, has earned many top results over the last 12 months. Francis makes a return trip to CDIO Wellington, after representing the United States in 2012. She has moved her partner from last year’s competition, Patricia Stempel’s Doktor, up to Grand Prix this year and the pair has been earning competitive scores and gaining valuable experience throughout the Florida circuit.
Roffman (Wellington, FL) and Herslow (Stockton, NJ) round out the USA I Team in Small Tour competition. Roffman is no stranger to CDIO Wellington competition, having represented the U.S. at the Nations Cup in 2012. She will ride her own Her Highness O this week, who is her winning partner from the 2012 USEF National Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage Championship presented by the Dutta Corp and Performance Sales International. Herslow will look to showcase the partnership she has built over the years with Kiroli Enterprises LLC’s Rosmarin. The pair stepped up to the Prix St. Georges level in May of 2012 and has been steadily improving.
USA II Team
The USA II Team also boasts a formidable line-up of Cesar Parra, Susan Dutta, Chris Hickey and Justin Hardin. Parra (Whitehouse Station, NJ) and Dutta (Wellington, FL) will represent the U.S. on the Big Tour. Parra, a member of the Gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 2011 Pan American Games, will ride Michael and Sarah Davis’ Van the Man. Dutta will ride Tim Dutta Inc.’s Currency DC.
Chris Hickey and Witness Hilltop (SusanJStickle.com)
Hickey (Colora, MD) and Hilltop Farm Inc.’s Witness Hilltop make their second Nations Cup appearance after helping the U.S. claim victory in 2012. The veteran pair will again compete in the Small Tour competition. Rounding out the USA II Team is Hardin (Long Valley, NJ) and Judith Cardella’s Wyatt Star. The pair who stepped up to the Prix St. Georges level in 2012 will look to showcase its improvement over the last 12 months.
Additional U.S. riders will participate in the Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm on composite teams with competitors from other nations.
Dr. Cesar Parra and Van the Man will represent the United States during the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival’s Nations Cup CDI 3*. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)
Wellington, FL (April 9, 2013) – When the United States fields two dressage teams for the Wellington Nations Cup CIO3*, April 11-14, at the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, among its Grand Prix combinations will be Piaffe-Performance Farm’s Dr. Cesar Parra, who will ride Michael and Sarah Davis’ 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Van The Man, and join Susan Dutta of Wellington, on Tim Dutta Inc.’s 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Currency DC, on USA II Team at the Grand Prix level. USA II Team’s Prix St. Georges riders will be Chris Hickey with Witness Hilltop and Justin Hardin with Wyatt Star. USA I Team will constitute Heather Blitz on Paragon and Shelly Francis on Doktor for the Grand Prix, and Caroline Roffman aboard Her Highness O and Kimberly Herslow aboard Rosmarin at the Prix St Georges.
“It is always an honor to represent the United States,” said the 2011 U.S. Pan American Games Dressage Team Gold medalist, whose international resume as a rider and trainer includes more than 300 FEI wins, as well as having competed in the 2004 Olympics, 2005 Las Vegas Dressage World Cup, and 2006 Aachen World Equestrian Games.
Parra, known to sport a dash of red, white and blue color on the occasional browband, is ready to ride: “Van The Man is an exceptional horse, and I always try to live up to the trust that Michael and Sarah show putting their beautiful horse in my hands. We will be proud to ride for America together.”
The 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival is offering more than $275,000 in prize money for five international competitions, making it among the richest circuits in the world. The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (Adequan GDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring five CDIs, including a 5*, the first non-championship CDIO Nations’ Cup in the Western Hemisphere, and nine U.S. national events.
Cesar Parra, DDS, MScD, operates Piaffe Performance in Jupiter, FL and Whitehouse Station, NJ and was born in Colombia, where he began riding cattle horses in the Andes Mountains of his grandparents’ farm. Dr. Parra has worked with the best in dressage, including Herbert Rehbein, Siegfried “Bimbo” Peilicke, Hans Rueben, Herbert Kuckluck and Hubertus Schmidt. Learn more about training and sales prospects at www.piaffe-performance.com.
Lexington, KY – The United States will field two dressage teams for Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm held April 11-14 in conjunction with the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival. The U.S. teams will be composed of two Grand Prix combinations and two Prix St. Georges competitors.
USA I Team
USA I Team will be composed of the following four combinations.
Grand Prix
Heather Blitz (Wellington, FL) will ride her own Paragon.
Paragon is a 10-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding.
Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, FL) will ride Patricia Stempel’s Doktor.
Doktor is a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding.
Prix St. Georges
Caroline Roffman (Wellington, FL) will ride her own Her Highness O.
Her Highness O is a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare.
Kimberly Herslow (Stockton, NJ) will ride Kiroli Enterprises LLC’s Rosmarin.
Rosmarin is an eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding.
USA II Team
USA II Team will be composed of the following four combinations.
Grand Prix
Cesar Parra (Whitehouse Station, NJ) will ride Michael and Sarah Davis’ Van the Man.
Van the Man is an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.
Susan Dutta (Wellington, FL) will ride Tim Dutta Inc’s Currency DC.
Currency DC is a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding.
Prix St. Georges
Chris Hickey (Colora, MD) will ride Hilltop Farm Inc.’s Witness Hilltop.
Witness Hilltop is a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.
Justin Hardin (Long Valley, NJ) will ride Judith Cardella’s Wyatt Star.
Wyatt Star is a 10-year-old KWPN gelding.
Additional U.S. riders may participate in the Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm on composite teams with competitors from other nations.
For more information, contact Jenny Van Wieren-Page at (859) 225-6949 or by email JVanWieren@usef.org or Leah Oliveto at (859) 225-2053 or by email LOliveto@usef.org.
Davis, McKean, and Derr Win Inaugural Florida Youth Championships; Jordan Is High Point Rider at Para-Equestrian
Wellington, FL – March 17, 2013 – The WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3* presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows wrapped up competition today at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. The highlight class was the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle, with Caroline Roffman (USA) and Her Highness O taking the top prize. The Florida Youth Championships presented by Dressage4kids and sponsored by PanaCavallo wrapped up with awards in four divisions, and the Para-Equestrian competition had their presentations to honor the top teams and individuals. The Adequan Global Dressage Festival continues next with the Wellington CDI 5* presented by Diamante Farms on April 4-7, 2013.
For the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle, there were seven entries. Winning the class with a score of 75.125% was Roffman and Her Highness O, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare by Hohenstein x Weltmeyer. Second place went to Christilot Boylen (CAN) and Dio Mio with a score of 74.650%, while Kimberly Herslow (USA) and Rosmarin were third with 73.125%.
Roffman, who owns and runs Lionshare Dressage in Wellington, FL, with Endel Ots, has owned Her Highness O for three years. She found the mare after her career as a broodmare. Despite little knowledge under saddle, she thought the mare was “pretty special,” and developed her with then co-owner Jennifer Lind. She purchased her outright this past August. “I have to thank Jennifer Lind for letting me do that. She made it possible,” Roffman said. The pair won the Developing Horse championship last year. This is only their third CDI international small tour and it was their first freestyle together.
Roffman remarked, “I have to say thank you to Terri Gallo because that freestyle is five years old and it works with every horse. All my stars fell and aligned today because it was not exactly the most well-prepared test! It’s a really great mare and I’m very lucky to have her.”
Despite her small stature at 16 hands and Roffman’s height at six feet, they work well together when Her Highness O enters the show ring. “She’s very small, (but) she will never let you know that. She is true to her name. She thinks she’s queen and everyone should bow to her. When you tack her up, it’s like she has an alter ego. She has a lot of pride. I think she’s happy not be a brood mare anymore. I think she really likes being a show horse and wants to be treated a certain way. Her character is awesome,” Roffman described.
While the canter is noted as a slight weakness for Her Highness O by Roffman, today’s freestyle helped. “It’s not a bad canter, but she gets a little tense. Teaching her changes was difficult because she was so hot. Surprisingly today, the changes on a bent line actually helped. I think she was wondering where we were going. It was really a freestyle today!” Roffman smiled.
Roffman believes that Her Highness O has the capability to do the Large Tour test. “Her best qualities are piaffe and passage. I believe in her a lot. What she may not have in talent, she’ll make up for in heart,” she explained. “She wants it as much as I do. She doesn’t like being second in the awards ceremony.”
Inaugural Florida Youth Championships Help Young Riders
The Florida Youth Championships presented by Dressage4kids and sponsored by PanaCavallo were a great success with winners in four divisions. The program is to help young dressage riders gain experience and education for the high performance levels.
The winner of the Brentina Cup class was Julie McKean of Camden, ME. She and Stelina had a total of 64.617. McKean has been riding Stelina for a year and a half, and they have had success in the Brentina Cup at the national championships, placing sixth. “I’m really excited because our partnership has come a long way. We’re riding with a new level of consistency,” she said.
McKean looked forward to competing in the classes at the AGDF. “I was really motivated to be in this particular CDI because I hadn’t ridden in front of a full panel of judges since Devon. I need to get my feet back in international waters! It was a confidence builder for me because we went in and put in a really steady test, pretty clean. We have to work on maintaining uphill balance and I feel that we did that.”
Fifteen-year-old Bebe Davis of Bedminster, NJ, captured two top prizes. She and Poldy 10 won the FEI Pony Division with a total of 67.763, while Rotano was tops in the FEI Junior Division on a total of 66.009. Davis and Poldy 10, who is 17 years old, are in their second season together in Florida. They won the national championship title in 2012 and were champions at Devon. “He’s my favorite pony; I love him so much. I brought him last minute and I’m really glad I did. I was nailing everything and it’s all coming along so well. My hard work is paying off. He’s just the best.”
This is Davis’ first season in the junior division and showing with Rotano. “I’m just starting to get to know him and how to warm him up,” she said.
Davis was excited to participate in the Championships. “In dressage, the young riders is not as big of a program. To see people care about what we do and appreciate it for all the hard work we put in, it’s really great. This weekend was about learning for me,” she related. “I’m learning to keep riding every single show like it’s no big deal. If you show your horse to the best of their ability and ride to the best of your ability, it’s really going to pay off. You end up being happy with yourself because you’ve done the best that you can do, regardless of the score.”
Alexa Derr, who is 18 and from Reinholds, PA, won the FEI Young Riders division with Just Livingston with a total of 63.991. They have only been together since November. Derr noted, “My goal was to have a clean test and to really work on some of the areas that I have been having difficulty with, like canter pirouettes and lateral work. It’s his strong point, but not always mine. I was really wanting to have a nice, polished, expressive test.”
Derr is a participant in the Winter Intensive Training Program with Lendon Gray, who heads the Dressage4kids program. What Derr enjoyed most about the program and today’s championship was the support from all of her fellow competitors. “For me, that was really such a cool feeling to have all the support and be able to support everybody else. I felt like everyone was there for each other,” she said. “It didn’t feel like a championship; it felt like everybody was out there to do their personal best and have fun with it as well.”
Para-Equestrian CPEDI Helps Riders Qualify for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
The CPEDI competition finished up today and had awards ceremonies for the grade winners as well as the team competition and overall high point. Canada won the team competition with a total of 399.598 from riders Lauren Barwick on Off to Paris, Jody Schloss with Inspector Rebus, Ashley Gowanlock and Ferdonia 2, and Lynne Poole with Vasco E.
In today’s Freestyle classes, the winners were:
Grade Ia – Jody Schloss and Inspector Rebus, 69.000%
Grade Ib – Ashley Gowanlock and Ferdonia 2, 68.417%
Grade II – Lauren Barwick and Off to Paris, 68.667%
Grade III – Eleanor Brimmer and Carino H, 64.333%
Grade IV – Mary Jordan and Sebastian, 70.583%
Mary Jordan, of Wells, ME, was named the High Point Rider with Sebastian, a horse owned by Deecie Denison that she has been riding for two years. “I needed a horse with world-class gaits. We had an instant chemistry,” she recalled. “She’s been very supportive of letting me ride him and train him. We campaigned heavily leading up to the London Paralympics.”
While the pair just missed competing as they were the alternates for the Paralympics, Jordan has learned and grown with Sebastian and her trainers, Jessica and Missy Ransehousen. In addition to working full-time as a feed representative for Cavalor in New England and raising a 16-year-old, she has competed in Para-Equestrian since 2009.
“I had been competing in dressage and three-day eventing my whole life. Eleven years ago I was the third person in my family diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. My father was a quadriplegic that I never saw stand or walk. I had some challenging times when I was first diagnosed, but I got really proactive about my health,” Jordan explained. “Then I found out about Para-Equestrian. It was always my goal to ride for my country, like every other little girl that ever lived! But it was a new door that opened to me. It’s been so much fun. I’ve been blown away by the Para experience.”
Jordan rode her own homebred horse at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), and her goal is to compete at the 2014 WEG. Showing at the AGDF has helped her get a qualifying score. “It’s such an amazing facility and the footing was wonderful,” she expressed. “We can’t thank everyone enough for opening the doors to US Para. It’s our first qualifier for the WEG. We have so few three-stars in the country, so we’re extremely grateful as riders to have a facility to come to and have a feeling of European competition here with some of the best riders in the world.”
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (GDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring five CDIs, including a 5*, the first non-championship CDIO Nations’ Cup in the Western Hemisphere, and nine U.S. national events. The Adequan GDF is offering more than $275,000 in prize money for the five international competitions making it one of the richest circuits in the world. In addition to the CDIs with national competitions, the Adequan GDF will feature six separate national shows to be held at the Stadium section of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) show grounds. The Adequan GDF encompasses almost 60 acres of the former Palm Beach Polo Grounds. The facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
First Founding Sponsors: Matt Varney, Chris and Rob Desino, Wellington Equestrian Realty; Janet and William Richardson Pearson, Chesapeake Dressage Institute of Annapolis, MD; Devon and Terri Kane, Diamante Farm; Joe and Gaye Scarpa, Magnolia Farm; Tuny Page and Family, Stillpoint Farm; and Kimberly and Frederic Boyer, United States P.R.E. Association
Founding Sponsors: Ashley Holzer and Diane Fellows, Today’s Equestrian; Bethany Peslar, Everglades Dressage; Betsy Juliano, Havensafe Farm; Carol and Rebecca Cohen, Two Swans Farm LLC; Janne Rumbough, MTICA Farm; Mike & Roz Collins; Suhail and PJ Rizvi, Peacock Ridge; and Tim and Susie Dutta, The Dutta Corp.
Corporate Sponsors: Brown Distributing, Champion Equine Insurance, Charles Owen, Chronicle of the Horse, Custom Saddlery, Der Dau, Dever Golf Carts, Equestrian Services International (ESI), Elite Equestrian Magazine, European Dressage Connection, Gold Coast Feed & Supply, Horse Of Course, Horseware Ireland, Interagro Lusitanos, Moet Hennessy USA, Nespresso USA, Paddock Cakes, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Pennfield, Piaffe Performance, Premier Equestrian, Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, Rolex, Sanctuary at PBIEC, Show Chic, Sidelines Magazine, World Equestrian Brands
Herslow and Rosmarin Take Second Win in Small Tour
Wellington, FL – March 16, 2013 – The WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3* presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued today with classes for the Large Tour and Small Tour. Susan Dutta and Currency DC won the FEI Grand Prix Special, while Kim Herslow and Rosmarin won their second class in a row in the FEI Intermediaire-1. The CDI 3* and National competition wrap up with tomorrow’s classes. The next show for the AGDF is the Wellington CDI 5* presented by Diamante Farms on April 4-7, 2013.
The judges for today’s FEI Grand Prix Special were: Carlos Lopes at E, Janet Foy at H, Sandy Phillips at C, Ulrike Nivelle at M, and Bo Ahman at B.
Dutta and Currency DC won the class with a score of 69.396%. Coming in second place was Susan Jaccoma (USA) on Wadamur with a score of 66.063%. Jill Irving (CAN) and Degas 12 were third after they received a score of 65.083%.
Dutta has ridden Currency DC, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Clintino x Classiker, since she bought him as a two and a half year old. The long journey has also been one of learning.
Dutta explained, “It’s getting much better. It’s not without effort; I’m always trying to ride better. I have fabulous trainers and we know we have a good horse. It’s just a matter of trying to ride it well. First we had to get him going well – this takes time – and then get us together in the ring, and me confident. I have to really believe. This horse has only been ridden by me. Now I’m starting to believe in myself. I think he really likes me now and likes the way I’m riding him. There’s more in there. This is a super horse. I just have not ridden him to his potential, but I’m getting there. That feels really good. To me, this is a huge step in the right direction.”
Dutta trains with Juergen and Christoph Koschel when she travels to Europe in the summer and when they can come to the U.S. She noted, “I knew I needed a grounds person in America. I’m working with Nicholas Fyffe. I owe him a big thank you.”
The pair started at the grand prix level three years ago, but there were a few bumps in the road with injuries since then. “This is the first season that he’s starting to look like a real grand prix horse,” Dutta said. “He doesn’t look green anymore. It takes time.”
Of her test today, Dutta described, “The beginning is so amazing with the passage, extended, passage, extended. I knew I got some points there. I knew I was going to need them. That’s my history is to get way ahead there. It’s a numbers game, so that if my walk wasn’t good or if I made a little canter mistake, I still was higher in the score. I knew in the beginning when he was so easy and on my aids that it was good. I knew he felt good. He was good out here (in the warm-up). I wasn’t nervous. I’m feeling more confident. I think that’s transferring to him.”
Speaking of her victory, she said, “For me, winning is great. More than anything though, just riding him well and getting the points was important to me. Confidence builds on confidence and I’m hoping I can layer myself with more confidence and ride really well.”
At only eight years old, Rosmarin is proving that his talent is here to stay. The Hanoverian gelding by Rosentanz x Weltmeyer, ridden by Kim Herslow of Stockton, NJ, won the FEI Intermediaire-1 class with a score of 71.026%. Second place went to Christilot Boylen (CAN) and Dio Mio with a score of 70.974%, while Caroline Roffman (USA) and Her Highness O placed third on a score of 69.421%.
Herslow explained that from yesterday to today, her horse felt even better. “I felt like he was even more there for me today. Not that he wasn’t yesterday, but the through-ness was more solid today with him. He’s letting me really ride him in the ring and staying completely with me, which is a really nice feeling. I can push and he never worries about what I’m asking for. Even if it’s not the right thing. He still does it and then comes back and fixes it for me. This is his third I-1 ever, so I’m just thrilled that he’s coming out and that we can still make his canter so much better. We’re just starting and it’s really awesome,” she remarked.
Of her test, she said, “His trot tour is always pretty incredible. He’s so rideable in his trot and his fluidity is so nice to ride. His half passes are always a strong point. His walk felt really good to me today. We still have to get our canter stronger. He’s a really long horse so we have some strength to work on, and getting more jump in the canter, which will help the pirouettes and the changes. It’ll help the whole canter tour. There’s still a lot of room to improve, so it’s exciting to know that. He’s still just at the very beginning of his career here.”
Despite just starting to earn accolades, Herslow felt that Rosmarin had talent to start with. “He definitely had talent. It’s just been a very slow build-up from a young horse, in a sense that I didn’t do a lot of fancy work with him. I did a lot of basic gymnastic, body-building work with him. I take a lot of time to develop a relationship with him and get his trust. I think that’s what makes us so harmonious,” she explained. “It’s an investment in my time, but it’s so worth it because you see the difference in the ring. He comes out the same every day and he’s a super amazing horse. I’m lucky to own him and feel extremely grateful.”
Herslow is excited that they still have another class in which to compete tomorrow. It will be the pair’s second time ever in the I-1 Freestyle. “I need to get a little sharper in my preparations for certain things, so we still had a few little mistakes, but he was listening. He did exactly what I asked him for. I’m hoping to clean that up for the freestyle tomorrow, which is a really fun freestyle. I’m excited to ride that tomorrow,” she said.
The top United States Para-Equestrian today was Mary Jordan, who rode Sebastian to a score of 66.071% in the FEI Para-Equestrian Individual Champion Test Grade IV. The awards presentations for all of the grades’ team and individual winners will be held tomorrow.
Winning both yesterday’s and today’s FEI Junior classes was Paula Matute (ESP) on Escritor de Ymas II. They received a score of 64.595% in yesterday’s team class and a 64.026% in today’s Individual class.
The WEF Dressage Classic CDI 3* presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows concludes tomorrow with the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle along in the CDI competition. The Para-Equestrians will also perform their freestyles, while the Florida Youth Championships presented by Dressage4kids and sponsored by PanaCavallo have their final rounds in the main International Arena.
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (GDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring five CDIs, including a 5*, the first non-championship CDIO Nations’ Cup in the Western Hemisphere, and nine U.S. national events. The Adequan GDF is offering more than $275,000 in prize money for the five international competitions making it one of the richest circuits in the world. In addition to the CDIs with national competitions, the Adequan GDF will feature six separate national shows to be held at the Stadium section of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) show grounds. The Adequan GDF encompasses almost 60 acres of the former Palm Beach Polo Grounds. The facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
First Founding Sponsors: Matt Varney, Chris and Rob Desino, Wellington Equestrian Realty; Janet and William Richardson Pearson, Chesapeake Dressage Institute of Annapolis, MD; Devon and Terri Kane, Diamante Farm; Joe and Gaye Scarpa, Magnolia Farm; Tuny Page and Family, Stillpoint Farm; and Kimberly and Frederic Boyer, United States P.R.E. Association
Founding Sponsors: Ashley Holzer and Diane Fellows, Today’s Equestrian; Bethany Peslar, Everglades Dressage; Betsy Juliano, Havensafe Farm; Carol and Rebecca Cohen, Two Swans Farm LLC; Janne Rumbough, MTICA Farm; Mike & Roz Collins; Suhail and PJ Rizvi, Peacock Ridge; and Tim and Susie Dutta, The Dutta Corp.
Corporate Sponsors: Brown Distributing, Champion Equine Insurance, Charles Owen, Chronicle of the Horse, Custom Saddlery, Der Dau, Dever Golf Carts, Equestrian Services International (ESI), Elite Equestrian Magazine, European Dressage Connection, Gold Coast Feed & Supply, Horse Of Course, Horseware Ireland, Interagro Lusitanos, Moet Hennessy USA, Nespresso USA, Paddock Cakes, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Pennfield, Piaffe Performance, Premier Equestrian, Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, Rolex, Sanctuary at PBIEC, Show Chic, Sidelines Magazine, World Equestrian Brands
Wellington, FL – March 14, 2013 – The third international competition for the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) began today with the opening CDI competition, the FEI Grand Prix. This week’s show, the WEF Dressage Classic CDI 3*, presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows, runs March 14-17, 2013. Today’s winner was Tina Konyot from Palm City, FL, riding Calecto V.
There were 55 entries that jogged for the CDI competition this morning, with Carlos Munoz taking home the prize for Best Turnout Award from Show Chic with Klouseau.
The judges for today’s FEI Grand Prix were: Anne Gribbons at E, Janet Foy at H, Isabelle Judet at C, Ulrike Nivelle at M, and Bo Ahman at B.
Konyot and Calecto V, winners of the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle at the last CDI-W competition at the AGDF, won today’s FEI Grand Prix with a score of 70.553%. Cesar Parra (USA) and Van the Man placed second with a score of 68.213%. Susan Dutta (USA) placed third with Currency DC on a score of 67.383%.
Konyot traveled from Palm City to Wellington this morning in order to compete, and felt that the early morning wake-up call may have had an effect on Calecto V, her and John Byrialsen’s 15-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion (Come Back II x Rastell).
“I had a few little bobbles. It felt maybe just a slight bit tired, and it shouldn’t be, because the weather is lovely. I did wake him up at 4 am,” she acknowledged with a smile. “He’s been laying down sleeping; he had three naps today. He’s a very laid-back guy! I was happy with it. I had some very nice things, but we could have just a little bit more energy in the package. Tomorrow is another day.”
Konyot joked about Calecto’s penchant for napping. “He doesn’t just lay down. He’s lays out flat, goes to sleep, snores. At the Olympics, they took videos of him. He starts running and whinnying in his sleep. You’ve never seen anything like it. That’s just him.”
The pair will compete in tomorrow night’s FEI Grand Prix Freestyle and Konyot said she’s sure Calecto will “be on his toes.” She added, “He feels good and he’s happy. He felt very good physically and in his body.”
Konyot is looking forward to the evening, which will combine show jumping and dressage. “It should be a beautiful evening. Tomorrow night should be a lot of energy and electricity. That’s very exciting and this is such a gorgeous showgrounds. It’s very special to have it right here.”
In addition to their class win, Konyot and Calecto were presented with the Champion Equine Insurance Dressage Style of Riding Award presented by Laura Whitlow of Champion Equine Insurance.
In the national divisions, Megan Glynn had a one-two finish in the FEI Prix St. Georges – AA class with Tyto (62.303%) and Everybody’s Darling (61.908%). The high score of the day was Alix Szepesi on Primative Dancer, who did the First Level Test 2 in the USEF Test of Choice and received a 74.189%.
The Para-Equestrian competition begins tomorrow in the Van Kampen Covered Arena, along with a full schedule of competition in the National divisions in the Wellington Equestrian Realty Rings 1 and 2. The Para-Equestrian riders will compete tomorrow in five grades for their team scores. Their individual tests will run on Saturday, and the team and individual scores combined will determine the team placings. On Sunday, they will have their freestyle classes.
Come see top United States para-equestrians such as Mary Jordan on her homebred mare Clever, along with Sebastian, with whom she placed fifth in qualifications for the London Paralympic Team. The Canadians have brought a strong contingent as well, including three out of four of their team from last summer’s Paralympic Games.
Don’t miss tomorrow night’s exciting line-up of events at the AGDF, including the $10,000 Head-to-Head Competition over the high jump “Puissance” wall at 6 pm, the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Horseware Ireland under the lights at 7:30 pm, and The Yale Spizzwinks (?) A Capella singing performances. General admission and parking are free, and there will be fantastic raffle prizes handed out to general admission seat holders. It will be a night of power and grace for equestrian sport that you won’t want to miss!
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (GDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring five CDIs, including a 5*, the first non-championship CDIO Nations’ Cup in the Western Hemisphere, and nine U.S. national events. The Adequan GDF is offering more than $275,000 in prize money for the five international competitions making it one of the richest circuits in the world. In addition to the CDIs with national competitions, the Adequan GDF will feature six separate national shows to be held at the Stadium section of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) show grounds. The Adequan GDF encompasses almost 60 acres of the former Palm Beach Polo Grounds. The facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
First Founding Sponsors: Matt Varney, Chris and Rob Desino, Wellington Equestrian Realty; Janet and William Richardson Pearson, Chesapeake Dressage Institute of Annapolis, MD; Devon and Terri Kane, Diamante Farm; Joe and Gaye Scarpa, Magnolia Farm; Tuny Page and Family, Stillpoint Farm; and Kimberly and Frederic Boyer, United States P.R.E. Association
Founding Sponsors: Ashley Holzer and Diane Fellows, Today’s Equestrian; Bethany Peslar, Everglades Dressage; Betsy Juliano, Havensafe Farm; Carol and Rebecca Cohen, Two Swans Farm LLC; Janne Rumbough, MTICA Farm; Mike & Roz Collins; Suhail and PJ Rizvi, Peacock Ridge; and Tim and Susie Dutta, The Dutta Corp.
Corporate Sponsors: Brown Distributing, Champion Equine Insurance, Charles Owen, Chronicle of the Horse, Custom Saddlery, Der Dau, Dever Golf Carts, Equestrian Services International (ESI), Elite Equestrian Magazine, European Dressage Connection, Gold Coast Feed & Supply, Horse Of Course, Horseware Ireland, Interagro Lusitanos, Moet Hennessy USA, Nespresso USA, Paddock Cakes, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Pennfield, Piaffe Performance, Premier Equestrian, Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, Rolex, Sanctuary at PBIEC, Show Chic, Sidelines Magazine, World Equestrian Brands
Come Watch the Yale Spizzwinks(?) A Capella Singing Group on Friday Night!
Wellington, FL – March 8, 2013 – The Adequan Global Dressage Festival will hold its third CDI of the season on March 14-17, 2013, with the WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3*, presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows. Not only will it host top international level dressage, it will also include the inaugural Florida Youth Championships presented by Dressage4kids, the first-ever event in Florida for young dressage riders to gain experience and education at the top level.
This show will be the first opportunity for Para-Equestrian Dressage to begin the qualifying process for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, at the CPEDI3* competition. If that weren’t enough, Friday night’s exciting schedule includes the $35,000 G&C Farm Puissance to kick off a great night of equestrian sport before the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle. Prizes for the general public will be raffled off once again, so show up for your chance to win amazing prizes!
Entries are strong for the FEI level CDI 3*, with almost 20 horse and rider combinations starting out in the FEI Grand Prix class on Thursday, March 14. The top pairs from there will advance to the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle on Friday at 7:30 pm. The FEI Grand Prix Special will be held on Saturday.
The $35,000 G&C Farm Puissance will be the opening competition on Friday evening at 6 pm and will feature powerful horses competing over the puissance wall to see who can jump the highest for the top prize. Always a popular event, the puissance will be even more thrilling in the intimate arena at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.
To add to Friday night’s features, the a capella group, the Yale Spizzwinks(?), will be performing. First formed in 1906, the Yale Spizzwinks(?) are America’s oldest underclassmen a capella singing group. The Spizzwinks(?) – yes the question mark is part of their name! – sing over one hundred concerts every year, entertaining audiences across the country and around the world with the vast diversity of their repertoire of literally hundreds of Spizzwink(?) arrangements. Each and every song is arranged by a member of the group, and they sing everything from Top 40 hits and classic rock to jazz standards and spirituals.
The Spizzwinks(?) have proudly carried on a tradition of musical excellence and camaraderie as one of America’s oldest male choirs. With one eye towards their ninety-nine year history and the other towards the future, they seamlessly fuse tradition and innovation to bring audiences a unique and unforgettable concert experience. In addition to Wellington, the Spizzwinks(?) will travel to South America, China, and Singapore on their singing tour in 2013.
The Florida Youth Championships are another exciting addition to the calendar at the AGDF. The first-time event will provide an opportunity for dressage riders in pony, junior, young rider, and Brentina Cup Under 25 divisions and was created in partnership with Dressage4kids to help them reach the High Performance levels. The classes are also graciously supported by PanaCavallo and the Davis Family.
CPEDI competition will feature riders from the Para-Equestrian discipline, a High Performance Sport. Para-Equestrian sport includes all equestrian disciplines practiced by people with physical disabilities. “Para” means parallel to able-bodied equestrian sports. Many disabled athletes are able to hold their ground in competitions designed for the able-bodied, but Para-Equestrian opens the world of competition to riders and drivers with severe disabilities as well, allowing them to compete in a serious, focused environment. Many athletes who participate in Para-Equestrian are quite talented, and some are considered to be among the elite equestrians of the world, regardless of their physical condition. Come visit the AGDF to see these amazing athletes!
Everyone is welcome to attend the WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3*, presented by Today’s Equestrian & Fellows, at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. There is free general admission every day, including Friday night, so come by to see top sport at its finest!
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (GDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring five CDIs, including a 5*, the first non-championship CDIO Nations’ Cup in the Western Hemisphere, and nine U.S. national events. The Adequan GDF is offering more than $275,000 in prize money for the five international competitions making it one of the richest circuits in the world. In addition to the CDIs with national competitions, the Adequan GDF will feature six separate national shows to be held at the Stadium section of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) show grounds. The Adequan GDF encompasses almost 60 acres of the former Palm Beach Polo Grounds. The facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
First Founding Sponsors: Matt Varney, Chris and Rob Desino, Wellington Equestrian Realty; Janet and William Richardson Pearson, Chesapeake Dressage Institute of Annapolis, MD; Devon and Terri Kane, Diamante Farm; Joe and Gaye Scarpa, Magnolia Farm; Tuny Page and Family, Stillpoint Farm; and Kimberly and Frederic Boyer, United States P.R.E. Association
Founding Sponsors: Ashley Holzer and Diane Fellows, Today’s Equestrian; Bethany Peslar, Everglades Dressage; Betsy Juliano, Havensafe Farm; Carol and Rebecca Cohen, Two Swans Farm LLC; Janne Rumbough, MTICA Farm; Mike & Roz Collins; Suhail and PJ Rizvi, Peacock Ridge; and Tim and Susie Dutta, The Dutta Corp.
Corporate Sponsors: Brown Distributing, Champion Equine Insurance, Charles Owen, Chronicle of the Horse, Custom Saddlery, Der Dau, Dever Golf Carts, Equestrian Services International (ESI), Elite Equestrian Magazine, European Dressage Connection, Gold Coast Feed & Supply, Horse Of Course, Horseware Ireland, Interagro Lusitanos, Moet Hennessy USA, Nespresso USA, Paddock Cakes, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Pennfield, Piaffe Performance, Premier Equestrian, Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, Rolex, Sanctuary at PBIEC, Show Chic, Sidelines Magazine, World Equestrian Brands
Caroline Roffman and Uruguai at the Florida Dressage Classic CDI. (Photo courtesy of Al Guden)
Wellington, FL (March 4, 2013) – Caroline Roffman and the Lusitano stallion Uruguai were in the ribbons this weekend, as they scored an impressive 66.477% in the FEI Prix St. Georges to take the Interagro Lusitanos High Score Lusitano Award during the Florida Dressage Classic CDI, which is the second CDI of the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival. The pair was presented with a beautiful black halter with silver accents and an engraved plate for their prize. The stunning black Lusitano stallion, known around the barn as Alejandro, is owned by Robinson Lusitanos of Louisiana.
The 11-year-old black stallion demonstrated the elegant assets of power and precision that have made the breed so popular for dressage. “He is kind and willing, and always ready to take you down the centerline,” Roffman said of the stallion. “He is easy to ride, and a great match for any rider, of any level.”
Robinson Lusitanos, one of the largest Lusitano breeders in the United States, began its breeding operation that features mostly Interagro Lusitanos from Brazil, purchased and imported under the guidance of Interagro’s US Sales Director, Peter Van Borst. Uruguai’s studmates include the notable Maverick Interagro and Pitagoras Interagro.
Interagro Lusitanos of Brazil sponsors the High Score Lusitano Award during the Florida dressage circuit, and is recognized as the largest breeder and exporter or Lusitano horses in the world. “We are always looking to recognize exceptional Lusitanos competing on the dressage circuits,” said Cecilia Gonzaga, Managing Director of Interagro Lusitanos. “Our horses and clients have had much success, and the Lusitano is becoming a favored mount for many sport horse disciplines.”
The Interagro horse is a modern Lusitano, a horse that excels in many disciplines, from dressage and driving to jumping and working equitation. Interagro horses can be seen driving, working, and training on the farm in Brazil every day. Interagro is committed to preserving the pure bloodlines of the Lusitano breed, and Interagro bloodlines include some of the most respected bloodlines in the breed such as Farao (JHC), Nirvana Interagro, Ofensor (MV), Xique-Xique (CI) and Yacht (SA).
Interagro also offers guests and clients a unique way to truly immerse themselves in the Luistano breed and the equestrian culture of Interagro through Destination Lusitano. From riding an Interagro stallion across the rolling Brazilian countryside to enjoying Portuguese cuisine, Destination Lusitano caters to each guest’s needs and can be tailored to their interests. In addition, the 600 Lusitanos that call Interagro home make Destination Lusitano the ultimate equestrian getaway.
Founded in 1975 by Dr. Paulo Gavião Gonzaga to preserve the Lusitano breed, Interagro Lusitanos is now recognized as the world’s largest breeder and exporter of Lusitano horses. Dr. Gonzaga started with a small band of four mares and one stallion imported to Brazil from the breed’s native Portugal. To date, over 600 horses populate the 1,200-acre ranch outside São Paulo. Today, Cecilia Gonzaga manages the farm and operations. Interagro Lusitanos are handled, prepared, and evaluated from birth, with a handful of the best stock presented at auction each year.
For more information on Destination Lusitano or to learn more about Interagro Lusitanos, visit their website at www.lusitano-interagro.com.
For more information contact:
Johnny Robb – JRPR, Inc.
561-753-4608 jrpr@mac.com
