Tag Archives: dressage

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Susan Dutta and Currency DC Show Off Their Winning Skills at the Capital Dressage Classic CDI in Raleigh

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Susan Dutta rode Currency DC into the winner’s circle at the 2011 CDI3*Y/J Capital Dressage Classic. The duo won the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle. (Photo courtesy of Sue Stickle)

Raleigh, NC (June 11, 2011) – International dressage rider Susan Dutta, a member of the Gold Medal 2007 Pan American Games team, rode into the winner’s circle at the 2011 CDI3*Y/J Capital Dressage Classic in Raleigh. Dutta and her long-time equine partner, Currency DC, competed in the Grand Prix ring, winning the Grand Prix with a score of 66.319% and the Grand Prix Freestyle with a 71.025%.

“I was excited to win at Raleigh. It is a show I have gone to for years and I have always enjoyed it,” Dutta said. “This was the third show back for Currency DC and he is feeling fitter and more expressive than ever.”

Dutta, who splits her time between Tuny Page’s Stillpoint Farm in Wellington, Florida and training in Germany, won the USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage National 5-Year-Old Championships in 2005 and the 6-Year-Old Championships in 2006 on Currency DC, an Oldenburg gelding. The pair made their debut in the Grand Prix ring in 2010.

“Currency DC had some beautiful trot work, passage and pirouettes during his tests in Raleigh. I will now be working on having a mistake free test and standing in halts,” Dutta said, adding that Currency DC is a sweet horse to be around. “He loves to be kissed and cuddled. I feel blessed to have this talented horse in my life and I enjoy every ride and every show with him.”

Continue reading Susan Dutta and Currency DC Show Off Their Winning Skills at the Capital Dressage Classic CDI in Raleigh →

Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, JRPR

Champion Driver Suzy Stafford Is All Smiles after Competing at the Elk Creek CDE

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Suzy Stafford competed Miss Josephine and Peace of Mind at the Elk Creek CDE in Maryland. Stafford is shown here with Peace of Mind during their winning dressage test. (Photo courtesy of Vicki Long)

Chester County, PA (June 10, 2011) – Believing in the motto “practice makes perfect,” Gold Medalist Combined Driver Suzy Stafford competed at the Elk Creek CDE, held at Fair Hill in Maryland, with the hopes of perfecting the training and skills of two of her talented ponies. Stafford drove away all smiles following the event, saying she was pleased with the progress of each of her equine partners including her registered half-Arabian mare, Miss Josephine, who is long-listed for the 2011 FEI World Pony Driving Championships in Europe.

“I wanted to use Elk Creek as a schooling event to prepare Josephine for her European debut at the World Pony Championships, which will be held in Slovenia in September,” Stafford said. “I was just schooling Josie so I didn’t finish the marathon, but she won the best dressage and cones in the advanced division. Josie is in a good place right now in her training program and we are improving our dressage score every time out.”

Stafford said her goal is to not have Josie peak too early, as she wants the pony’s ultimate performance to be in September. While Josephine will make her debut at the World Pony Driving Championships, Stafford is a veteran of the championships and in 2005 won an Individual Gold Medal with Cefnoakpark Bouncer, a Team Bronze with Bouncer in 2007 and an Individual Bronze with Courage To Lead in 2009. “My goal for the 2011 World Pony Driving Championships is to win medals and represent the United States to the best of our ability,” Stafford said.

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Dressage, Media/Radio/TV Sources

Dressage Radio Episode 107 – Susan Dutta, Euro Report & WOW

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Susan Dutta makes her guest debut on the show after a winning weekend and German journalist Kim Kreling reports on the Munich and Hamburg CDIs. Plus another WOW moment! You can listen in right here.

Dressage Radio Episode 107 – Show Notes and Links:

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*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Events, FEI, USEF

2011 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials Conclude with Three Horses Meeting the Qualification Requirement for FEI World Breeding Championships

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Eastern Selection Trial 5-year-old champion Lauren Chumley and Somer Hit. Photo by Pics of You.

Lexington, KY – The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials 2011 qualifying season concluded last week at the Eastern Selection Trials in Leesburg, Va.

The top five 5-year-olds and top five 6-year-olds that earned a minimum score of 7.8 from the three competitions will make up the short list of horses moving forward to the 2011 Markel/USEF Dressage National Championship at Lamplight in Wayne, IL, August 26-28.

The first selection trial was held at Dressage at Lamplight, May 20-22. The 6-year-old class was dominated by Emily Wagner and WakeUp (Wagnis – Maiden Montreal by Macho), an American Warmblood owned by Wagner and bred in the United States by Beverly McLean. WakeUp’s final score was an 8.244. Wagner and WakeUp were the only U.S. pair to compete at the 2010 FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships. Reserve Champion in the 6-year-old class went to Angela Hecker-Jackson and Allure S (by Rousseau – Sizarma by Farrington). The Dutch Warmblood is owned by Kerrin Dunn and was bred in the U.S. by Sonnenberg Farm with a score of 7.156. There were no 5-year-olds that qualified for the Central Selection Trials.

Continue reading 2011 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials Conclude with Three Horses Meeting the Qualification Requirement for FEI World Breeding Championships →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

This Week in International Disciplines – June 8, 2011

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Rich Fellers and Flexible Before the Rain. Photo by Beatrice Scudo

Jumping

The U.S. Nations Cup team jumped to fourth place at CSIO St. Gallen in Switzerland on Friday. The Nations Cup was a good effort by the U.S. squad over a very difficult track. Margie Engle and Indigo, Charlie Jayne and Athena, Rich Fellers and Flexible and Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One fought hard until the end with McCrea jumping clear in both rounds. This result moved the U.S. into fifth in the FEI Nations Cup Series standings after the first three legs.

The efforts kicked off on Thursday where Ashlee Bond and Cadett 7 were fifth in the Radisson Blu Hotel, St. Gallen, which was a speed class. On Saturday, Fellers and McGuinness were runners-up in the Wegelin & Co. Privatbankiers Table C class, and on Sunday Fellers returned to the irons on Flexible and put in a heroic effort in the Longines Grand Prix of Switzerland in a deluge of rain and wind to place second behind Great Britain’s Nick Skelton. McCrea was third in the Grand Prix on Romantovich Take One.

Please visit www.csio.ch for complete information or visit: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2011FEINationsCup/ for highlights, photos and coverage of the American effort in the FEI Nations Cup Series.

Continue reading This Week in International Disciplines – June 8, 2011 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Caroline Roffman Overcomes the Blues to Bring Home the Blues at the Capital Dressage Classic

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Caroline Roffman rode Pie into the winner’s circle at the prestigious 2011 CDI3*Y/J Capital Dressage Classic in Raleigh. Roffman won two USEF Developing Horse classes on Pie and also took home the blue in the USEF Brentina Cup aboard Beemer. (Photo courtesy of WNC Photography)

Raleigh, NC (June 8, 2011) – Dressage rider Caroline Roffman encountered a few setbacks as she headed north to compete at Allentown and Raleigh, including three flat tires, a broken axel and having to scratch one of her horses from competition at Allentown. While Roffman could have been singing the blues during the ill-fated trip to New Jersey, she turned things around and brought home the blues in North Carolina at the prestigious 2011 CDI3*Y/J Capital Dressage Classic in Raleigh. Roffman, who was named the 2010 FEI Rising Star by the International Equestrian Federation, won two USEF Developing Horse classes on Pie with scores of 73.235 and 69.706, and also took home the blue in the USEF Brentina Cup aboard Beemer with a 68.974.

“After what was a disastrous start to our two-week show tour, Raleigh ended up being a great success. I finished qualifying Beemer for the Brentina Cup and Pie for the Developing Horse Championships. After a minor setback for Pie when we were broken down on the side of the road, it was necessary to scratch him from Allentown,” Roffman said. “With several days off and many fingers crossed, Pie went back under saddle at Raleigh where he really rose to the occasion and won both of his classes in a highly competitive field of horses.”

Roffman added, “One of the judges wrote on Pie’s test that he was an ‘incredible horse,’ which really made my weekend,” Roffman said. “This is his first year back in the show ring and to be in the winner’s circle with him is just phenomenal. I have had Pie since he was four years old and he is eight now. I trained him myself and he qualified for the Six-Year-Old Championships but wasn’t able to attend due to a lameness issue. But he is back now, stronger and better than ever.”

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Dressage

Contango Son Don Tango High Score Dressage at KWPN Stallion Performance Test

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Don Tango by Contango was the High Score Dressage Stallion at the 2011 KWPN Spring Stallion Performance Testing. Photo by Jacob Melissen

Coatesville, PA – Contango’s son Don Tango was awarded the High Score Dressage stallion at the 2011 KWPN Spring Stallion Performance Test. The handsome young stallion received 9s on rideability, temperament, self-carriage and balance during the testing. Don Tango became the fourth Approved Stallion by Iron Spring Farm’s Preferent stallion Contango, joining Citango, Maestro and Ravel. Contango, who won both the jumping and dressage portions of his own stallion testing, has become recognized as one of the most influential KWPN stallions of his generation.

“We were very excited about Don Tango’s success at the Stallion Testing. His sire was an exceptional horse to ride,” said his Contango’s owner and rider Mary Alice Malone. Contango and Mary Alice won 33 Grand Prix titles, including the prestigious Grand Prix at Dressage at Devon-CDI-W. Unfortunately Contango passed away in 2007, but he is still available to breeders via excellent quality frozen semen.

Don Tango received excellent scores at his stallion testing. His walk and canter each earned an 8, and his trot received an 8.5. In addition to his exceptional movement, the judges described Don Tango as a balanced stallion with a good temperament. Don Tango is out of Oronia Keur, who is by Jazz Preferent out of the Star mare Joyce, by Ulft Keur.

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Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF

California’s Young Horse Talent on Display during Dressage at Flintridge CDI*/Y/J

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John and Lisa Seger of Markel Insurance present the Markel/USEF 5-Year-Old Western Selection Trial championship ribbon to Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo (Photo courtesy of Genia Ply Photography).

Burbank, CA – Young dressage horses were the stars of the weekend in the historic and pastoral setting of the Flintridge Riding Club for Dressage at Flintridge CDI*/Y/J, May 26-29, 2011 in La Cañada-Flintridge, CA. As host of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Western Selection Trial for the FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships in Verden (GER) and the final Pan American Games qualifying competition for Southern California, competitors made the most of the opportunity to try to earn scores worthy of securing an invitation to represent their country on an international stage.

In the Five-Year-Old division of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Western Selection Trial, the standout performer was Sanceo, a brown Hanoverian stallion (San Remo x Rivera by Ramiro’s Son II, bred in Germany by Gerhard Dustmann) ridden by Sabine Schut-Kery of Thousand Oaks, CA, for owner Alice Womble-Heitman of Hempstead, TX. Winner of last fall’s California Dressage Society (CDS) Young Horse Futurity as a four year old, Sanceo impressed the judges to earn 8.12 in the Preliminary Test (40%) and 8.30 in the Final Test (60%) for an overall score of 8.23, the championship ribbon, and a possible ticket to Verden.

“This stallion is such an elegant and light type of horse,” noted judge Natalie Lamping (4* USA). “He’s just what we’re looking for in this division.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI

Weber Wins in Vecsés

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Chester Weber (USA) won the dressage and stayed in the lead throughout the competition in Vecsés to claim the first CAIO victory of his career. (c) Marie de Ronde-Oudemans.

Vecsés (HUN), 5 June 2011 – Chester Weber, the USA’s top four-in-hand driver, has won the international combined driving competition in Vecsés, Hungary this weekend. Weber took the lead in the dressage and held onto the top spot throughout the weekend. Dutch driver Koos de Ronde was runner-up, ahead of Vecsés-organizer József Dobrovitz, but it was the home side Hungary that won the nations competition, ahead of The Netherlands and Germany.

Birthday present
Chester Weber celebrated his 36th birthday on 3 June with the victory in the dressage competition at Vecsés. The five O-judges, chaired by Dr Franz-Josef Vetter from Germany, were impressed and unanimously awarded Weber’s test first place. Chester used Jane F. Clark’ s two KWPN-geldings Uniek and Splash, which previously formed the pair of US pair driver Keady Cadwell. Before the dressage, Chester had some discussions with his trainer Michael Freund about whether or not to use the new horses at Vecsés, but Chester decided he had to try them somewhere. Chester got his way; the team went beautifully and put down a fantastic performance. József Dobrovitz came second in the dressage, ahead of Zoltán Lázár.

Marathon heat
The marathon was won by Werner Ulrich of Switzerland. Ulrich drove his team of three Lusitanian horses and a Swiss-bred gelding very fast through the eight difficult obstacles, designed by Gabor Fintha from Hungary. The thermometer at the start of the marathon indicated no less than 39 degrees Celsius, but the Portuguese Lusitanian horses proved that they are used to the heat and took Ulrich into first place. Koos de Ronde had to take an extra loop in the last obstacle which cost him precious seconds and the victory in this exciting phase. Zoltán Lázár finished third in the marathon. Weber was further down the order in sixth, but still held onto the overall lead going into the cones.

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Dressage, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Publications/Media

Dressage Radio Episode 106 – Equine Biomechanics & KDA

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Author Karin Blignault unravels the basic philosophies behind Equine Biomechanics for Riders and we have a report from the Kentucky Dressage Association’s spring show. Plus two new features begin on this week’s episode so take a listen right here.

Dressage Radio Episode 106 – Show Notes and Links:

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