Tag Archives: dressage

USET Foundation Trustees Tuny Page and Kim Boyer Host Donor Reception to Honor Riders and Thank Supporters

Wellington, FL – January 12, 2011 – On Saturday, January 8, 2011, Tuny and David Page and Kim and Fredrick Boyer hosted a wonderful cocktail reception for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation at the Page residence in Wellington, FL.  The evening’s events were held to honor those who support the sport of Dressage through the USET Foundation and give them the opportunity to meet and mingle with the athletes who benefit from their support.

“I had no idea how much it actually costs to train, transport, coach and really make the team work,” noted 2010 World Equestrian Games Dressage U.S. rider and Olympian Steffen Peters.  “I am so very thankful to the USET Foundation and everyone who supports the Foundation.  The team could not function without their incredible generosity – so thanks again for everything you do for us!”

All four members of the United States Dressage Team who competed at the World Equestrian Games last fall were in attendance on Saturday night, along with many other distinguished Dressage riders. The team was composed of Steffen Peters, Todd Flettrich, Tina Konyot and Katherine Bateson-Chandler.

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Tucker S. Johnson Will Be Honored with the 2011 Whitney Stone Cup from USET Foundation

Tucker S. Johnson earned the Individual Bronze Medal at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games during the Four-In-Hand Combined Driving competition. Photo By: Susan J. Stickle.

Gladstone, NJ – January 10, 2011 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that Combined Driver Tucker S. Johnson of Hobe Sound, Florida, is the recipient of the 2011 Whitney Stone Cup. The award is presented annually to an active competitor who displays consistent excellence in international competition and high standards of sportsmanlike conduct while serving as an ambassador for the United States and equestrian sport. Johnson is a tremendously accomplished driver who helped lead the United States to a Team Silver Medal as well as receiving an Individual Bronze Medal during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

This is the second year that Johnson has received the Whitney Stone Cup, after being awarded the prestigious honor in 2001. Johnson now plans to retire from the competitive sport as he spent 2010 achieving many milestones. Along with other achievements, Johnson guided his Four-In-Hand team to a second place finish at the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May.

After helping the United States win a Team Silver Medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, Johnson went on to a repeat performance at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky. He was a member of the Silver Medal Team and after earning a 150.06 over the three phases of competition he took home the Individual Bronze Medal, achieving his personal best at a World Championship event.

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Performer Line Up Finalized for Equestrian Idol on Friday, February 4, 2011 in Wellington

Jenna Wyatt (pictured) will perform with Taylor Blauweiss, Diana Bricker, Hillary Dobbs, Lou Galterio, Casey Hodges, Teaghan James, Jen White Kane, Brian Lookabill, Ki-Juan Minors, and Robert Orthwein at the 2011 Equestrian Idol Musical Cabaret on February 4 in Wellington. Photo courtesy of Jenna Wyatt.

WELLINGTON, FL – January 10, 2011 – Presented by Tiffany & Co. Palm Beach Gardens, the Equestrian Idol “All Stars” Musical Cabaret on Friday, February 4, 2011, promises the best in musical entertainment and cuisine for the equestrian and local residents in Wellington and Palm Beach County.

For this fifth year of the event, the past four Idol winners, Taylor Blauweiss, Ki-Juan Minors, Jen White Kane, and Brian Lookabill, will pair up with new performers in a musical cabaret, guaranteed to energize the audience even more than in the past years. Taylor Blauweiss, the first “Equestrian Idol,” will pair up with Hillary Dobbs; Ki-Juan Minors, winning in 2008, will pair up with Teaghan James and Robert Orthwein; 2009 winner Jen White Kane will pair up with Diana Bricker and Jenna Wyatt; and the reigning 2010 winner Brian Lookabill will pair up with Casey Hodges and Lou Galterio.

New this year, the performers represent the three disciplines competing at the highest levels of the equestrian sport in Wellington – dressage, polo and show jumping. The competition will be fierce for past performers, Dianna Bricker, Hillary Dobbs, and Casey Hodges, along with new performer, Teaghan James, representing the show jumping/hunter equestrian community. Jenna Wyatt is a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) bronze, silver and gold medalist, currently competing at the Grand Prix level. She is also a singer/songwriter, host of “Dressage under the Stars,” and regularly sings the national Anthem at major sporting events, including the Winter Equestrian Festival and the International Polo Club while wintering in Wellington.

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Catherine Malone Wins Everglades Dressage Adult Amateur High Score Award at Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge

Catherine Malone won the Everglades Dressage Overall High Score Adult Amateur Award with Florianus II at the Wellington Classic Dressage Holiday Challenge Show. Malone trains with Todd Flettrich, left. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (January 10, 2011) – The Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge ended the year on a good note for dressage rider Catherine Malone, who rode away the Everglades Dressage Overall High Score Adult Amateur Award at the show. Sponsored by Everglades Dressage Farm and Bethany Peslar, Malone won the High Score Award with a 66.026% in the USEF National Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Test of Choice.

Malone, the daughter of Mary Alice Malone of Iron Spring Farm in Pennsylvania, rode Iron Spring Farm’s Westfalen stallion Florianus 2. “It was our first show and it ended up going quite nicely,” Malone said. “I think we will have more confidence in the future.”

Malone, who rides with dressage trainer Todd Flettrich, said she was thrilled when her mother gave her the chance to ride Florianus 2, the first stallion fully approved by the KWPN outside of Holland. “He’s my first Grand Prix horse so I am very excited,” Malone said. “He carried me through the test where I wasn’t sure about things. It’s definitely a great privilege to ride a Grand Prix horse.”

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Premier Equestrian Congratulates Walter Zettl on Induction into Hall of Fame

Premier Equestrian, LLC is pleased to congratulate classical dressage master Walter Zettl on his induction into the Toronto CADORA Dressage Association Hall of Fame. Zettl has been a long-time advisor to Premier Equestrian. (Photo courtesy of Walter Zettl, photo credit Christine Derksen)

Sandy, UT (January 7, 2011) – Premier Equestrian, LLC, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, and stable accessories, is pleased to congratulate classical dressage master Walter Zettl on his induction into the Toronto CADORA Dressage Association Hall of Fame. Zettl has been a long-time advisor to Premier Equestrian and is also the technical advisor for Dressage Today Magazine.

“Walter is one of the true classical dressage masters left on the planet and we are so happy that he was recognized for being a contributor to the evolution of the sport of dressage,” said Heidi Zorn, President of Premier Equestrian. “Walter has lived in Canada since 1981 and has had a big impact on the Canadian dressage community. He has also had a big impact on our company and has advised and directed Premier on our products over the years.”

Zettl, who is now in his 80s, has spent years on the forefront of the dressage world, from coaching Olympic riders to teaching, training, offering clinics, writing books and producing DVDs. “It wasn’t a surprise to his family, friends or students when he was inducted into the Toronto CADORA Dressage Association Hall of Fame,” Zorn said. “Zettl’s ‘Matter of Trust’ DVD series was produced by Dancing Deer Productions and distributed by Premier.  The DVD covers classical dressage techniques from Training level to Grand Prix, and we were very pleased to have been part of it. Getting to know Walter, and understand his true passion for dressage and horses, has been a real blessing.”

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Chester Weber Donates “Two Days of Training” at Upcoming “Salute to Driving” USET Fund Raising for the Driving Discipline

Chester Weber will donate “Two Days of Training” during the silent auction at the upcoming Salute to Driving USET fund Raising for the Driving Discipline. He is shown here at the 7th US National Championship at the Kentucky Cup. (Photo courtesy of My Elizabeth Weber)

Ocala, FL (January 7, 2010) – Combined Driver Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, will donate a package for “Two Days of Training” during the silent auction at the upcoming Salute to Driving USET Fund Raising for the Driving Discipline. Weber will give the winner of the silent auction two days of training with either his or her own horses or with Weber’s horses.

The Salute to Driving USET Fund Raising for the Driving Discipline is a weekend for all levels to learn and have fun. The event includes two days of Advanced/FEI level and ADS Lower level clinics, a benefit party, Combined Test, plus other various activities to help educate equine enthusiasts from other disciplines. Salute to Driving will be held on Chateau Log Farm and Courage to Lead Farm in Windsor, South Carolina and the Country Dinner Benefit will be held at Trout Walk Farm in Aiken, South Carolina. The event will take place February 19-21, 2011.

“I am really looking forward to the Salute to Driving weekend and especially offering a package for ‘Two Days of Training’ at the silent auction. I believe the USET is a very worthy cause and the money raised during this weekend will go toward sending the US driving athletes to international competitions,” Weber said. “During the weekend there will be developing drivers clinics given by Larry Poulin and a two-day advanced long listed drivers clinic with Michael Freund, so it should be a fantastic experience for everyone involved.”

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Dressage Radio Episode 85 by Back on Track – Do Young Riders Specialize Too Early?

Debbie McDonald and Lendon Gray discuss young riders’ careers in dressage, their opportunities for riding different horses, spending time with horses out of the barn, and the importance of horsemanship in the sport. A fascinating conversation with two great horsewomen, so take a listen…

Dressage Radio Episode 85 – Show Notes and Links:

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Listen, Download or Subscribe:

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52 Weeks in the Pursuit of Excellence

With every eye on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, 2010 was the Year of the Horse in the United States as the world arrived on our doorstep in Lexington, KY, for 16 days of competition, demonstration and fun. It took years of planning and didn’t kick off until the end of the ninth month of the year.

Here is how 2010 unfolded before, during and after the Equestrian Event that stopped the American Equestrian community in its tracks. Anyone who makes a life with horses knows it’s not only about the few days a year when the world is watching – it is about every day of every year.

January: 2010 began with honoring the champions from the previous year at the 2010 USEF Annual Meeting. Dressage superstar Steffen Peters repeated as Equestrian of the Year. It was a monumental task to get him from a horse show in California to Louisville, but it was all worth it when he was there, in person, to accept his Dressage award. The night before, his beloved horse, Ravel, was honored as the Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year after storming through 2009 winning on both sides of this country (including the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final) and sweeping the CHIO Aachen in Germany – a first for an American combination. Owner Akiko Yamazaki was on hand to collect the award honoring America’s champion of 2009. Find the details here: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5264&star=true and http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5265&star=true. There would be even bigger plans for this pair in 2010.

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SAVE THE DATE! 2011 Challenge of the Americas Fast Facts

Team International. Photo Credit: Susan Stickle

Wellington, FL – January 7, 2011 – Mark your calendars now for the 2011 Challenge of the Americas.

EVENT: The Tenth Annual Challenge of the Americas Competition and Gala

WHAT: An International Musical Grand Prix Dressage Quadrille Team Challenge and Polo Extravaganza. The Challenge Gala, an elegant evening of dinner and dancing, will get underway immediately following the “The Challenge of the Americas” competition. An awards presentation will be featured and guests will have the chance to meet and socialize with riders and judges.

WHERE: The International Polo Club Palm Beach
3667 120th Avenue South
Wellington, FL 33414

WHEN: Saturday, March 12, 2011

PRESENTING SPONSOR: The International Polo Club Palm Beach

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Cesar Parra Prepares for Florida Dressage Circuit with Grandioso, Lindner and Students

Cesar Parra, shown here with Lindner and Grandioso, recently returned from Europe where he spent time training with Hubertus Schmidt. Parra looks forward to competing on the winter dressage circuit in Florida with his students and horses. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (January 6, 2011) – International Dressage Rider Cesar Parra has returned from a rewarding training period in Europe with a new horse in tow and his sights set on a successful winter show season with the horses and students of Piaffe-Performance Farm. Parra is looking forward to 2011 and hopes to build on a fantastic 2010 show year, which included breaking in his status as a new American citizen by winning his first National Championship at the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions.

“We just returned from training with Hubertus Schmidt in Europe, and it was amazing,” Parra said. “It is great to be there at Hubertus’, to watch him ride and get his help. It is really a wonderful riding environment and exactly what I needed — to be challenged every day and do the work I needed.”

Parra said the time spent in Europe was not only beneficial for him, but also for Grandioso, a nine-year-old Westfalen gelding owned by Michael and Sarah Davis. “Grandioso is doing awesome and is constantly improving, especially after our time spent in Europe with Hubertus. He is a huge horse, so strength is very important in order to carry himself and maintain his expressive gaits. We worked a lot on Grandioso’s piaffe with Hubertus and it is improving daily,” Parra said, adding that his goal with Grandioso is to continue his training with their sights set on the 2012 Olympics in London.

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