Tag Archives: Caroline Roffman

Caroline Roffman Heads to the Bluegrass State for a Summer of Training and Competing

Photo courtesy of JRPR.

Louisville, KY (May 14, 2015) – Grand Prix dressage rider Caroline Roffman is relocating her successful showing, training, and sales business to Louisville, Kentucky for the summer. Officially based out of her own Lionshare Dressage facility in Wellington, Florida, Roffman is such a vital part of her clients’ successes that, when she chose to venture to Kentucky, her clients decided that they would come along. Roffman will bring more than 20 horses with her from Lionshare Dressage. The group will be based out of a private stable in Louisville owned by one of her clients.

“I am very fortunate that my client and her family are welcoming me and the circus that comes with me,” Roffman laughed. “I am bringing more than 20 horses with me, so I will have a limited amount of space for additional clients for lessons and training. Nearly all of my clients are sending their horses to continue their training.”

Roffman tentatively plans to remain in Kentucky until September. She and her clients will compete while there, and they intend to enjoy the change in scenery while beating the South Florida heat.

“I cannot wait to be able to take the horses through the woods and fields and let them just be horses,” Roffman enthused. “The upcoming young horses I am producing will certainly enjoy all that Kentucky has to offer.”

She will also continue her horse sales business throughout the summer. Currently, Roffman is offering a select group of sale horses from 3 years old to Grand Prix level.

Roffman has moved up the ranks in dressage after a successful stint in Young Riders, in which she won five medals. She was named a “Rising Star” by the FEI in 2010, and earned the title of USEF National Intermediaire 1 Champion in 2012. In 2013, Roffman and Sagacious HF, a KWPN gelding by Welt Hit II out of Judith, a Cocktail mare, were the Reserve Champions at the Aachen, Germany, CDI-O5* Under 25 Grand Prix.

In 2014, she and Her Highness O were on fire, earning the top score in the Grand Prix Special in the CDI3* in Lexington with a 70.479 percent. Roffman and the striking black Hanoverian mare by Hohenstein out of Wild Lady O, a Weltmeyer mare, traveled to Europe, where they continued their success in the international arena. During the summer of 2014, the duo earned top scores in Europe, including a fourth place finish with a 72.176 percent in the CDI4* at Fritzens-Schindlhof, Austria, in July. They were short listed for the U.S. dressage team for the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

This year, Roffman’s extraordinary dedication to her clients, students, and horses has produced impressive results for the entire Lionshare Dressage team. She is looking forward to further show ring victories and developing top horses while in Kentucky. To learn more about Roffman, Lionshare Dressage, and her top-notch horses for sale, visit www.lionsharedressage.com, email lionsharedressage@gmail.com, or call 617-633-1003.

For more information contact:
Caroline Roffman
Lionshare Dressage
1-617-633-1003
lionsharedressage@gmail.com

Caroline Roffman Coaches Student to a Successful Grand Prix Debut

Sierra Keasler, a working student at Caroline Roffman’s Lionshare Dressage, made an impressive debut into the Grand Prix (Photo courtesy of Al Guden) 

Wellington, FL (January 9, 2015) — During the Wellington Dressage Season Kickoff, held January 3-4, 2015, in Wellington, Florida, Caroline Roffman’s working student Sierra Keasler made her impressive debut into the Grand Prix. Keasler competed on Roffman’s own Lux Stensvang. Under the guidance of Roffman, Keasler’s performance earned a notable score of 72.791 percent. Keasler is thrilled with receiving such a high score for her first Grand Prix ride, and is thankful for the skills Roffman passed on to both her and Lux Stensvang.

It was no doubt a great day for Team Lionshare Dressage, a community of talented dressage riders led by international Grand Prix rider Roffman, the head trainer of Lionshare Dressage. “It was an amazing day,” smiles Keasler. “Sunday was the culmination of three years of being a working student with Caroline. One of my responsibilities as her student was to exercise Lux. Caroline recognized that he and I had a connection, and during our lessons she began to allow us to play with some of the Grand Prix movements.”

“I realize that riding Lux is an opportunity many young riders do not have, but what I learned from Caroline is that hard work, loyalty, and dedication pays off,” Keasler says. “It’s wonderful to have a mentor and friend like her who is willing to share her knowledge and her horse. Lux is the horse that Caroline also rode her very first Grand Prix on, and that made this ride even more special.”

Roffman is pleased to be a part of Keasler’s success. “I am so proud to be able to congratulate Lionshare Dressage working student Sierra Keasler on riding her first Grand Prix and scoring a 72.9 percent,” says Roffman. “Even though it was her first test above the Prix St. George level, she rode like an elegant and seasoned professional.”

Roffman has enjoyed fostering the partnership between her student Keasler and Lux — a horse she has owned for seven years. Watching the same horse that Roffman rode her first Grand Prix test on bring another rider through the levels is an exciting sight. Keasler’s success story is just one of many for Lionshare riders, who receive instruction from Roffman — a Nations Cup individual Bronze medalist and U.S. Team Gold medalist.

Roffman also coached students Rachael Hicks and Susan Posner to several championship titles at the 2014 Great American Insurance Group USDF Region 2 Dressage Championships, and Posner to several top-scoring rides at the 2014 U.S. Dressage Finals. Roffman looks forward to even more success for herself and her students in the show ring this year, following a successful year in 2014.

Roffman and her top-quality dressage training, lessons and sales business Lionshare Dressage is based out of Wellington, Florida. For more information about Roffman and Lionshare Dressage, visit www.lionsharedressage.com, email lionsharedressage@gmail.com, or call 617-633-1003.

For more information contact:
Caroline Roffman
Lionshare Dressage
1-617-633-1003
caroline@carolineroffman.com

Caroline Roffman Coaches to Win at the U.S. Dressage Finals

Rachael Hicks at the 2014 United States Dressage Finals in Lexington, Kentucky (Photo courtesy of Caroline Roffman)

Wellington, FL — It’s been an exciting autumn season for Lionshare Dressage, home of international dressage competitor and trainer Caroline Roffman. Roffman, a Nations Cup Individual Bronze Medalist and Nations Cup United States Team Gold Medalist, watched her students flourish in prestigious national competitions under her training. Student Rachael Hicks repeatedly scored at the top of her classes in the 2014 United States Dressage Finals in Lexington, Kentucky on November 6-9.

The 2014 U.S. Dressage Finals, presented by Adequan, took place at the Kentucky Horse Park. The park was filled with qualified top competitors such as Roffman’s students, representing states all across the country. The Finals were a Level Five Competition, which is the highest level of competition held in the United States under United States Equestrian Federation rules. The competition featured the country’s best riders in the adult amateur division and open division.

Hicks, who began training under Roffman this year, has been amazed with the drastic improvements in her riding since their partnership began. “I have been working with Caroline since April of 2014, but with the results I’m getting I wish now that I had begun working with her sooner,” Hicks of Prospect, Kentucky explains. At the 2014 U.S. Dressage Finals, Hicks rode her eight-year-old Westphalian gelding Fabio Bellini (by Furst Heinrich) to first place in the U.S. Dressage Finals Fourth Level Championship in the Adult Amateur division. The pair rode beautifully, and scored 71.750 percent. Hicks further proved her talents by also obtaining second place in the Fourth Level Championship on Don Cartier, a seven-year-old stallion by Don Schufro, with a score of 70.458 percent.

The following day, Hicks and Don Cartier won the U.S. Dressage Finals Third Level Championship in the Adult Amateur division with 70.342 percent. Hicks’s successes continued throughout the weekend, with a win on Fabio Bellini in the USEF Fourth Level Test Three Adult Amateur division (68.938 percent) and a second place on Don Cartier in the same class.

Roffman was thrilled with her students’ performances. “Congratulations on a winning weekend at the U.S. Dressage Finals, Rachael! Two Championships and one Reserve Championship in one weekend,” Roffman smiles. “I’m very proud!” Hicks was also proud to have earned such prestigious national wins, and is grateful to Roffman for helping her equine partners and her attain this level of skill. “We couldn’t have done it without Caroline,” she says.

Caroline Roffman settles for nothing less than the best when training riders and horses, competing herself, and running her top-quality dressage training, lessons, and sales business Lionshare Dressage. Lionshare Dressage, based in Wellington, Florida, has the knowledgeable, caring staff and advanced equipment necessary to give horses and riders the best learning environment possible. For more information about Roffman and Lionshare Dressage, visit www.lionsharedressage.com, email lionsharedressage@gmail.com, or call 617-633-1003.

For more information contact:
Caroline Roffman
Lionshare Dressage
1-617-633-1003
caroline@carolineroffman.com

Caroline Roffman Inducted to Stoneleigh-Burnham School Equestrian Wall of Fame 2014

Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O. (Photo courtesy of Al Guden)

Honored for Bringing “Distinction and Excellence to the Equestrian Stage”

Wellington, FL (October 8, 2014) – Commended by Sally Mixsell, Head of Stoneleigh-Burnham School, as among the alumnae to “bring distinction and excellence to the equestrian stage” as a student and later in life, in a professional career, Grand Prix dressage rider Caroline Roffman, of Lionshare Dressage in Wellington, FL, will join fellow former students and equestrians selected for a September 27 induction ceremony in Greenfield, MA, to the Stoneleigh-Burnham School Equestrian Wall of Fame 2014.

The Wall of Fame was created in 2010 to spotlight and celebrate the achievements of Stoneleigh-Burnham School riding alumnae.

“We look forward to installing a plaque in your honor on the distinguished Wall of Fame located in Fuller Lounge of our Stoneleigh-Burnham School Equestrian Center,” Mixsell told the 25-year-old equestrienne, dubbed by US Dressage chef d’equipe, Robert Dover, as American dressage’s “rising star.”

“I am deeply touched,” said Roffman, whose string of exceptional accomplishments over the last year has included riding her 11-year-old black Hanoverian (Hohenstein x Weltmeyer) mare, Her Highness O, to 2014 USDF Intermediaire I Horse of the Year honors and first Grand Prix win (71.360%) at the Kentucky CDI3*. Their raw talent – at the time Roffman and ‘Hannah’ had only eight Grand Prix shows under their belt – led to being scouted for a potential slot on the U.S. squad for the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

While a position on the U.S. Dressage team did not culminate, induction to her alma mater’s Equestrian Wall of Fame proves that Stoneleigh-Burnham School thinks the world of her.

“I look forward to seeing Cara and celebrating her accomplishments,” Mixsell said. The induction ceremony will take place Saturday evening, September 27, at Stoneleigh-Burnham School in western Massachusetts. At 4:30 pm, Roffman will join other honorees in a discussion panel with current riders and parents. The celebration continues with a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner and induction ceremony at 7:00 p.m.

“I have nothing but wonderful memories of time spent learning and riding at Stoneleigh-Burnham. The School was a big part of my life and I’m honored that it has recognized me as a part of its Equestrian Center history,” Roffman said. “Now as I train for Rio de Janeiro and the 2016 Olympics, I’ll feel like my Stoneleigh-Burnham family is riding with me!”

Roffman’s sensitivity and patience have made her a noteworthy rider and trainer, having developed both USEF National Developing Horse (Prix St Georges) and FEI 5- and 6-Year-Old Market/USEF Champions and Reserves. She earned her first privilege of riding for her country on the Team Gold medal-winning 2013 Wellington Nations Cup squad, where she also earned an Individual Bronze medal.

Learn more this latest inductee to the Stoneleigh-Burnham School Equestrian Wall of Fame and all the talented horses and professional services to be found at her Florida facility, Lionshare Dressage, at www.lionsharedressage.com.

For more information, contact:
Caroline Roffman
Lionshare Dressage
www.lionsharedressage.com
1-617-633-1003
lionsharedressage@gmail.com

Roffman Replaces Peters on U.S. CDIO5* Team from CHIO Aachen

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has updated the entry for the CDIO5* Aachen. Due to being hospitalized with pneumonia, Steffen Peters has withdrawn Four Winds Farm’s Legolas 92 from the U.S. team for Nations Cup competition at CDIO5* Aachen and Four Winds Farm’s Rosamunde from Aachen’s CDI4* Small Tour. Peters and Legolas 92 have been replaced on the CDIO5* team by Caroline Roffman and her own Her Highness O, who originally were slated to compete in CDI4* competition.

Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Legolas 92, a 12-year-old Westphalian gelding, completed their one compulsory Mandatory Outing for the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team at CDI4* Fritzens two weeks ago.

CDIO5*

The following riders will compose the U.S. team for Nations Cup competition at CDIO5* Aachen (listed in alphabetical order):

Laura Graves (Geneva, Fla.) and her own Verdades
Verdades is a 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Tina Konyot (Palm City, Fla.) and her own Calecto V
Calecto V is a 1998 Danish Warmblood stallion.

Adrienne Lyle (Ketchum, Idaho) and Peggy Thomas’ Wizard
Wizard is a 1999 Oldenburg gelding.

Caroline Roffman (Wellington, Fla.) and her own Her Highness O
Her Highness O is a 2003 Hanoverian mare.

CDI4*

The following riders will compete in Big Tour competition at CDI4* Aachen (listed in alphabetical order):

Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Patricia Stempel’s Doktor
Doktor is a 2003 Oldenburg gelding.

Lisa Wilcox (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Betty Wells’ Denzello
Denzello is a 2003 Hanoverian gelding.

As the ninth place finisher at the 2014 The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship and Selection Trial for the U.S. Dressage Team Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Kathleen Raine has been invited to compete in Aachen’s CDI4* competition.

Kathleen Raine (Murrieta, CA) and Jennifer Mason, Kathleen Raine, and David Wightman’s Breanna
Breanna is a 2000 Hanoverian mare

Learn more about CHIO Aachen here.

Follow the U.S. Dressage Team here.

Vita Flex Victory Team Dressage Riders Put in Top Performances at Festival of Champions, Set to Compete in Europe

Adrienne Lyle and Wizard. (Photos courtesy of JRPR)

Gladstone, NJ (June 25, 2014) – It was another 3 for 3 success for all of the dressage riders on the Vita Flex Victory Team at the US Festival of Champions. Riders Adrienne Lyle, Lisa Wilcox, and Caroline Roffman brought it full circle by all finishing in the top 8 and securing a spot to compete in Europe as final selections are made for the US Dressage Team for the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

Held at the United States Equestrian Team Headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey, the Festival of Champions served as the selection trials for the World Equestrian Games, where the top 2 horse and rider combinations would earn a spot on the team, and the top 8 would be sent to Europe to compete. The Grand Prix division featured 3 classes set over four days, with each constituting a different percentage of the overall score. The Grand Prix was Thursday, and accounted for 45% of the total. The Grand Prix Special was Friday for 40%, and the final day was the Freestyle, which made up the following 15%.

Vita Flex’s top finishing pair was 2012 Olympian Adrienne Lyle and Wizard, who finished fourth overall with a 73.543%. She and Peggy Thomas’s 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Weltmeyer put in accurate and expressive rides in both the Grand Prix and Special, followed by an impressive Freestyle set to blues rock. Wizard also displayed an exceptional piaffe and passage tour, along with bold extensions.

Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O
Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O

Finishing sixth was Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O with a 72.760%. Hannah, as the mare is called, also displayed brilliance in her passage and extensions, along with neat, correct pirouettes and a freestyle set to upbeat pop music including Katy Perry’s Roar. Roffman could not have been more thrilled with the mare’s performance, saying, “The Festival was only Hannah’s fifth Grand Prix event, and I am so excited to be bringing her to Europe. Last summer we did the small tour with her in France and now we will be shooting for a spot on the team for the World Equestrian Games!”

Veteran Olympian Lisa Wilcox and Denzello rounded out Vita Flex’s top 8 finish with an overall score of 71.633%. The pair’s solid performance secured them a chance to compete in Europe and to contend for the additional two spots left on the US Dressage Team for Normandy.

“We were so thrilled that all three of our Victory Team dressage riders made it to the prestigious Festival of Champions, and now that excitement is doubled as all three will go to compete in Europe,” said Vita Flex Brand Manager Tanner Clark. “They’ve all worked very hard to get where they are, and Vita Flex is thrilled to be able to continue to support the horses as they travel overseas and hopefully make an appearance at the World Equestrian Games.”

Lisa Wilcox and Denzello
Lisa Wilcox and Denzello

The Vita Flex Victory Team is comprised of many world-class riders from all disciplines. Members rely on Vita Flex® products and are proud to represent the company. Vita Flex Nutrition offers animal health supplements, antioxidants, electrolytes, joint supplements, performance products, topicals and vitamins and minerals. Vita Flex® products are researched and tested by equine nutritionists and veterinarians and have been relied upon for more than two decades by owners, trainers and top riders.

Vita Flex is a registered trademark of Farnam Companies, Inc.

Contact Tanner Clark
Tclark@central.com
www.vitaflex.com
(800)848-2359

Europe Bound: Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O Finish in the Top 6 at the Festival of Champions

Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O. (Photo courtesy of Al Guden)

Gladstone, NJ (June 19, 2014) – A summer in Europe is now reality for Caroline Roffman and her Grand Prix mare Her Highness O, as they completed the US Festival of Champions with an overall score of 72.760% to finish sixth. Their electric performances in the Grand Prix, Special, and Freestyle landed them in the top 8, securing a spot for the pair to compete in Europe this summer and contend with 6 other US riders for the remaining spots on the US Dressage Team for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France.

Her Highness O, known around the barn as Hannah, showed the poise and power of a seasoned Grand Prix competitor during the four days of competition at the Festival of Champions in Gladstone, New Jersey. Held at the United States Equestrian Team Headquarters, the US Festival of Champions served as the selection trials for the US Dressage Team for the World Equestrian Games with the top 2 Grand Prix riders earning a spot on the team, and the next 6 traveling to Europe to compete.

In the mare’s fifth time ever showing the at the Grand Prix level, the pair rode accurate and expressive tests both Thursday and Saturday, followed by an upbeat Freestyle to pop music, including Katy Perry’s Roar. The freestyle, which they performed during the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, went viral on Youtube before the Championships, with over 20,000 views. During her Freestyle at the Festival of Champions, Roffman and the jet black Hanoverian mare by Hohenstein delivered an electric performance with an impressive piaffe and passage tour, neat pirouettes, and expressive changes.

“I could not be happier with Hannah,” said Roffman, who at 25 was the youngest competitor invited to compete at the Festival of Champions. “Despite being very hot, she stayed with me and was able to translate that energy into expression in the tests. I’m very much looking forward to showing her in Europe, and really can’t thank my team, sponsors, and advocates for all of their support, including Custom Saddlery, Equiline, Vita Flex, Creative Marketing, Derby Boots, MDC Stirrups, Choice of Champions, Triple Crown Custom, Charles Owen, Premier Equestrian, SSG Riding Gloves, Divine Fitness, and The Horse of Course.”

No strangers to the European stage, Roffman and Hannah competed last year in the small tour with reserve finishes in France, and was in the top 7 finishers in the Prix St. Georges at the CDIO Aachen. Now they will return to Europe at the Grand Prix level with their sights set on representing the United States at the World Equestrian Games.

To view Roffman’s freestyle, visit the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS37D60i-vo. Follow Caroline Roffman and learn more about the horses and services of Lionshare Dressage at www.lionsharedressage.com.

For more information contact:
Caroline Roffman
Lionshare Dressage
www.lionsharedressage.com
1-617-633-1003
lionsharedressage@gmail.com

Vita Flex Congratulates Caroline Roffman for Taking Reserve Champion at US Dressage Festival of Champions

Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O. (Photo courtesy of Al Guden)

Wellington, FL (October 30, 2013) – Vita Flex, a leading supplier of advanced performance products for horses, is proud of their Victory Team member Caroline Roffman for a strong performance and placing as Reserve Champion riding her own mare, Her Highness O, at the 2013 US Dressage Festival of Champions presented by the Dutta Corp.  Although this year’s festival was cut short due to potentially dangerous weather conditions, Roffman and Her Highness were able to ride before the storms set in to finish first in the Intermediaire I Freestyle test, earning 76.625% which placed them with an overall total of 73.504% for the Reserve Champion win. “Today, Her Highness O finished her career as a small tour horse – winning the I1 Freestyle with a 76% and becoming Reserve National Champion!” Roffman told her FB friends after the win, “The journey she has taken me on has been absolutely unforgettable – from broodmare to here, where we are today as friends and partners.  Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way!” she added.

Their journey has definitely been exciting. Her Highness O, a 10 year old Hanoverian mare (Hohenstein De x Spa Wild Lady O x Weltmeyer), was a former broodmare before Roffman acquired her and took her to become the 2012 USEF National Developing Horse Prix St Georges Dressage Championship presented by the Dutta Corp and Performance Sales International winner.  Roffman continued to compete this beautiful black mare and totally ruled many of the shows during the 2013 Winter Equestrian Festival, including winning a Team Gold and Individual Bronze at the CDIO Nations Cup in Wellington.  Roffman and Her Highness then traveled to Europe and finished in the 70 percentile at Aachen, which prompted the United States team Chief D’Equipe, Robert Dover to declare, “A star is born.”

The fine line for Roffman and her equestrian partners is teamwork that, as she describes, is when a horse shows brilliance and spirit but is still focused on the rider.  She believes that supplements used during training offers the opportunity for her horses to gain the confidence they need in the ring to remain composed and focused.  Roffman likens her horses’ performance to that of human athletes, where it takes teamwork and the best of everything to stay healthy and put in a top performance.

In fact, Roffman says, “I think it’s a really large part of why I am competitive in the show ring – it’s the management and care of my horses and Vita Flex is a huge part of that, every horse in our barn is on a Vita Flex product.”  One of those products is Accel Lifetime, a general vitamin and mineral supplement that provides the essential nutrients that horses need to reach this peak level of performance.  Roffman avoids making quick judgments with her show partners and her journey with Her Highness O is a perfect example of this.  When she began working with Her Highness, the mare had only 45 days under saddle in the preceding two and a half years, but Roffman quickly found that she was an up and comer.  Roffman says that Her Highness’s unique character, huge heart and willingness to give 100% all of the time has enabled her to become one of the highest-ranked Intermediaire I-1 dressage horses in the US.  Although the judgment might not be made quickly, Roffman has a knack for finding the “sparkle” that helps a top equine athlete shine.  “I think you can see it.  It’s a presence, just like people, you know, you see one and they stand tall or they have a bright expression in their eye.  I think besides being talented at what they do, that’s a huge part too.”

The Vita Flex Victory Team is comprised of many world-class riders from all disciplines, including dressage riders, Adrienne Lyle and Lisa Wilcox, jumper riders, Lauren Hough, Todd Minikus and Patty Stovel, eventer Jan Byyny, and reiners Bob Avila and Al Dunning. Members of the Vita Flex Victory Team rely on Vita Flex products and are proud to represent the company. Vita Flex Nutrition offers animal health supplements, antioxidants, electrolytes, joint supplements, performance products, topicals and vitamins and minerals. Vita Flex products are researched and tested by equine nutritionists and veterinarians and have been relied upon for more than two decades by owners, trainers and top riders.

For more information about Vita Flex Nutrition products, visit their website at www.vitaflex.com or call (800) 848-2359.

Accel and Vita Flex are registered trademarks of Farnam Companies, Inc.

Vita Flex
Contact: Tanner Clark, Brand Manager
ph: 602-281-3872
email: tclark@central.com

Roffman and Sagacious Find Success at First European Grand Prix CDI

Caroline Roffman and Sagacious HF at the Peterhof Dressur Gala in Perl Borg, Germany. (Photo courtesy of Lionshare Dressage)

Wellington, FL – “I managed a ‘Congrats’ from Isabell Werth.  I can die happy,” said Caroline Roffman, after her first CDI Grand Prix Freestyle, Saturday night, July 20, at the Peterhof Dressur Gala in Perl-Borg, Germany.

Living up to U.S. dressage chef d’equipe Robert Dover’s recent remarks that Europe is watching the birth of a ‘star,’ Roffman and Sagacious HF, owned by Al Guden and Hyperion Farm Inc., danced among a bevy of international riders in their debut CDI Grand Prix Freestyle.

And amply held their own.  Roffman’s 74.725% score was just 0.15 points shy of one of Germany’s most celebrated riders of her generation, Isabell Werth, who placed fourth on Der Stern OLD.  The freestyle’s winning score, from German Olympic duo Kristin Sprehe and Desperados FRH, was 82.50%.

“It was thrilling to ride with such top riders,” said Roffman.  “Many thanks to Al Guden for supporting my dreams, and Juan Matute for missing his family vacation to help me.”  Matute, a Spanish Olympic team veteran, has been based in France for the summer with his family, between stints coaching Roffman at Aachen and Perl-Borg.

Roffman especially impressed two German judges on the five-judge panel – Dr. Dieter Plewa and Katrina Wüst — who scored the American pair third, compared to the fifth-place decision by the remaining three.

The 24-year-old rider, who owns and operates Lionshare Farm in Wellington, Florida, with Endel Ots, is on her very first European tour and has already delivered one of the finest CDI scores by an American dressage rider competing in Europe this year, surpassed only by U.S. Olympians Tina Konyot riding Calecto V, Steffen Peters on Legolas, and Guenter Seidel with Coral Reef Wylea.

That’s keeping ‘good company.’

“It was really intimidating,” said Roffman, “but I feel blessed to be here and to be a part of this. The atmosphere was quite grand and I think both Kitty and I handled it the best we can.”  Including cooly riding through her right rein briefly slipping from her hand near the conclusion of their test.  Throughout, she described her equine partner as “content and willing.”

Their tour has been much the same. They rode to the same music at Peterhof, created by Marlene Whitaker, as they used at Aachen three weeks earlier, where they became the World Equestrian Festival’s first American reserve champions in the Under-25 division.

As Roffman wraps up her European tour, she could not be happier with her results and how she has represented the United States on foreign soil.  “It has been a dream come true,” she said.

Follow Caroline Roffman and Sagacious HF and learn more about Lionshare Dressage at www.lionsharedressage.com.

For more information contact:
Caroline Roffman
Lionshare Dressage
1-617-633-1003
caroline@carolineroffman.com

Saturday at CHIO Aachen Ends with Top Placings for Weber, Roffman, as Eventing Wraps Up

Chester Weber finished third overall in individual four-in-hand driving competition at CHIO Aachen (Shannon Brinkman)

Aachen, Germany – A full day of competition at CHIO Aachen Saturday included eventing cross country, the four-in-hand driving marathon, and a full schedule of dressage and jumping competition. Strong performances in every discipline were highlighted by a second place finish for Caroline Roffman in the CDI-U25 Freestyle and a third place overall for Chester Weber in the CAIO-4 individual competition.

Driving

After a trying final phase of individual CAIO-4 competition Saturday, Chester Weber (Ocala, FL) once again proved to be one of the world’s foremost four-in-hand drivers. Behind a team he co-owns with Jane Clark, Weber steadily and successfully navigated the Wohnwelt Pallen Marathon course in Aachen on his way to a third place overall finish.

A stunning first place dressage test on Thursday, a fifth place finish in Friday’s cones phase, and a 14th place finish Saturday earned Weber a spot on the podium with an overall score of 125.78. Leading the pack was reigning FEI World Champion Boyd Exell of Australia on a score of 118.46, and in second was The Netherland’s Koos de Ronde with an overall score of 124.81.

Driving a team of horses leased from de Ronde was American Jimmy Fairclough. Fairclough (Newtown, NJ) was 20th in the marathon and ended up in 23rd place overall.

Though Saturday concluded the individual CAIO-4 competition, the final phase of team competition awaits Weber and Fairclough on Sunday. With the team dressage and marathon phases complete, final placings will be determined by the Prize of H&T Automotive Components obstacle (cones) competition. Currently, the U.S. team of Weber and Fairclough sits in fifth place.

Dressage

U.S. dressage riders had top performances against stiff competition at the 2013 CHIO Aachen. Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 were the top U.S. pair in the CDIO5* Grand Prix Special with an eighth place finish. Caroline Roffman and Sagacious HF had an impressive showing in the CDI-U25 Grand Prix Freestyle claiming second place honors. In the CDI4* Small Tour Shelly Francis and Danilo were tenth in the Intermediaire I Test.

Caroline Roffman (Wellington, FL) and Sagacious HF performed a wonderful Grand Prix U25 Freestyle for the Preis der Liselott und Klaus Rheinberger Stiftung class. The pair did a daring compilation of movements timed well to their music, especially the piaffe and passage. With Hyperion Farm, Inc.’s 14-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding, Roffman executed two tempi flying changes around the corners and along the short side of the arena, as well as one-handed two tempi flying changes on the centerline. The pair was rewarded with a 76.275% to finish in second place.

Eventing

Cross country day proved to be influential at the Aachen CICO3* at the 2013 CHIO Aachen. Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister tackled the final phase with determination and finished in tenth place in a field of world-class horses and riders. The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team finished in seventh place after unfortunate results plagued them throughout the day. Though a disappointing end, the horses and riders come away with valuable experience that will serve them well when they next contest an international competition on such a grand stage.

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister on their way to a tenth place finish (Shannon Brinkman)
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister on their way to a tenth place finish (Shannon Brinkman)

Coudray (Ojai, CA) and Ringwood Magister had a stellar round over Rüdiger Schwarz’s cross country course with 35 jumping efforts. The pair made light work of the extensive, challenging course. Adding 14.8 time penalties to their dressage score, she and Jatial Inc.’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding finished in tenth place with a score of 57.8.

Jumping

Saturday morning was the final leg of the Sparkasse Youngsters Cup. Laura Kraut and Stars And Stripes’ Bonito R gave it their all, but finished with 12 faults. They finished with a total of 14 points which was good for 21st place overall in the Sparkasse Youngsters Cup.

In the Prize of AachenMünchener, Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, FL) piloted A. Le Bon & F.X. Le Bon’s Jubilee d’Ouilly to a four fault round and a 13th place finish.

Kraut’s fellow U.S. rider Beezie Madden (Casenovia, NY) will look to find success Sunday in the CSIO5* Aachen highlight class, the Rolex Grand Prix. She and Abigail Wexner’s Cortes ‘C’ will be first on course tomorrow. You can hear what she has to say about the Grand Prix and CHIO Aachen on USEF Network.

Follow the 2013 U.S. Teams here.