Tag Archives: Endel Ots

Championships, Dressage, JRPR, USEF

Everglades Dressage’s Donatus Wins 2014 Markel/USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix

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Endel Ots enjoys a victory pass on Bethany Peslar’s Donatus after winning the Developing Horse Grand Prix Championship at the 2014 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships (photo courtesy Heather Ots)

Wellington, FL (August 27, 2014) – “I believed in this horse from the day I sat on him and the more that I ride him the more I am convinced he has a bright future,” said Endel Ots, who showed Bethany Peslar and Everglades Dressage LLC’s Donatus to the horse’s first national title, Developing Horse Grand Prix Champion, at the 2014 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL.

“His performance was fantastic,” Ots said. “I had the best tests all season! He was full of energy and with me a hundred percent. The piaffe passage tour was some of the best quality he has ever done. He scored highest in his piaffe, passage, and pirouettes. And what is amazing is he has only been schooling the Grand Prix movements for nine months.”

Donatus’ owner, Bethany Peslar, also recognized the horse’s potential from the start. “I have always predicted he could be a team horse,” said Peslar, “And this first National Championship is great step in demonstrating his potential. ‘Donnie’ is especially talented in the collected movements; he is a quick learner who aims to please, plus he is calm and focused in the show environment.”

Ots, who was lucky enough to show train and show Donatus this season, knows it takes a village to make a champion. “I thank Markel for sponsoring the show. The Young Horse and Developing Horse Championships are very important to developing future talent for the United States. I thank owners Bethany and Rose Peslar for giving me the opportunity to ride and train such a super horse, and I thank Evi Strasser for her coaching and training during the season and at the show. It was all integral to this success. And of course, thanks to my father, Max Ots, and my family for being there and cheering us on.”

Never one to rest on a saddle on laurels, Ots is keeping a pragmatic eye on a bright future: “Donatus will be relaxing for a bit and enjoying his success. He was purchased as an investment horse and will now be offered for sale,” Ots explained.

“In a perfect world, I would love a US sponsor to see the talent and potential in this horse and purchase him and allow me to continue to campaign him. He is an international horse with international talent, but I am a professional and understand my responsibilities. Meanwhile, Bethany has a Diamond Hit gelding coming up next year that we will be focusing on her showing in the Developing Grand Prix Championships next year. He has also has super talent for piaffe passage along with a huge extended trot.”

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 Humbertus Schmidt in Germany. Now Ots’ full time training business is located in Wellington, Florida.

Everglades Dressage’s Bethany Peslar was just 21 years old when she earned her USDF Gold Medal in 2003, and in 2006 was named Brentina Cup National Reserve Champion. Her experience as a USEF High Performance Grand Prix rider has guided her in the selection, training and breeding of sport horses and with several up and coming prospects in the Everglades barn, she is already as excited as Ots about next year’s championships. To learn more, visit www.evergladesdressage.com.

Bethany Peslar
Everglades Dressage
561-784-4075
www.evergladesdressage.com
EverGlaDressage@aol.com

Championships, Dressage, JRPR, USEF

Endel Ots Prepares to Compete at USEF National Young Horse Championships

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Endel Ots Hopes to make a Lucky Strike on his 17.1 Hanoverian Gelding Lucky Strike in the 4 yr old division at the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championships (Photo Courtesy of Susan J Stickle)

Wellington, FL (Aug 5th 2014) – Preparation is key in the world of dressage, and for Endel Ots and the two young horses he is taking to the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championships, preparedness is not something they lack. With exceptional scores in their respective divisions and being among the top ranked young horses in the country, Ots and the two geldings Donatus and Lucky Strike will go into the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championships, held in Lamplight, Illinois August 20-24, at the top of their game.

Ots and Donatus, a 10-year-old German-bred gelding by Don Schufro and owned by Everglades Dressage, have set the standard in the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix. During the final week of the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, the pair scored a 73.00%, the highest mark in that division in the country. Donatus, or Donny, will also head into the Young Horse Championships with an average score of over 71%; this makes him the top ranked horse in the Developing Horse Grand Prix, a feat made even more exceptional by the fact that they only put in 2 qualifying tests, without the benefit of a dropped score.

“Donny is a fantastic horse with a huge talent for piaffe and passage,” said Ots. “He is always very soft and supple in the bridle, and very easy to maneuver. In the months since I started riding him he has won every class he has entered, and just keeps getting better. He tries very hard, always giving 100%. Owner Bethany Peslar and I are very excited for his future and for the Championships this summer.”

In addition to qualifying a client’s horse, Ots qualified Lucky Strike, a 17.1 black Hannoverian gelding by Lord Laurie, in the USEF 4-Year-Old division. The talented gelding is co-owned by Ots and his father Dr. Max Ots. Lucky Strike and Ots also had an impressive season, making it difficult for the judges to choose a favorite between his trot and canter. “The scoring was taking a long time, and when they finally finished they thanked me for presenting the horse and said they couldn’t decide if they like his trot best or his canter,” said Ots. “So they decided to give him a 9 on both. I found him in Europe on a buying trip with clients and knew he had a lot of potential. He is one of those horses where you have to check yourself, and remind yourself every day that he is only four. The feeling he gives is fantastic.”

On top of their impressive show season, Ots and his young horses have been taking advice from some of the best in the business, including Olympian Debbie McDonald. Ots and Donatus rode in her Developing Horse & Rider clinic this season, and Ots was very happy with the gelding’s progression. Ots also worked with Canadian Olympian Evi Strausser during the 2014 Florida season, both at his farm and as a coach during the shows. Strausser, who has represented Canada on the international stage at World Cups, Pan Am Games, and World Equestrian Games as well as major shows across North America and Europe, also is an accomplished rider and trainer of young horses, including competing at the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championships in Verden, Germany.

“Evi was always very positive with the horses, and her years of experience are invaluable,” said Ots. “I love bringing these young horses up the levels, and the Young Horse Program and Championships are such an important aspect to help develop the young talent we have in this country. It gives an excellent outline of where you want your horse as a 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old in order to set them up for a career at the FEI level.” Ots operates his Endel Ots Dressage, a training and sales business, out of Wellington, Florida. For more information, visit his website at www.endelots.com.

For more information contact:
Everglades Dressage
Endel Ots
1-920-562-5714
www.endelotsdressage.com
Endelots@gmail.com

Dressage, JRPR

Endel Ots Finishes Out Successful Season with Donatus

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Endel Ots and Donatus. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

Wellington, FL (April 9, 2014) – It has been a season of success for Endel Ots and Donatus, who scored a 73.00% in the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix to place first yet again during the final week of the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival.  The young team’s first season competing together has been marked by high scores, and Donatus is now the top ranked horse in the Developing Horse Grand Prix.

“The ride went very easy,” Ots said. “Our warm up was super.  I had an observation clinic with Debbie Mc Donald, and she invited us to participate in a USEF Developing Training Session March 18-19 which was incredibly helpful.  In addition, Evi Strasser coached me on Donatus a week before, and both were very happy with his progress. I started to feel like I could really ride the test and polish off the edges much better this time.”

Donatus is owned by Everglades Dressage, located in Wellington, FL and home to Grand Prix rider and trainer, Bethany Peslar.  Ots started working with Donatus just before the season began, and the pair been undefeated in the classes they have entered.  Ots now is aiming the chestnut gelding at the 2014 Young Horse Championships this summer, where they will compete in the Developing Horse Grand Prix.

“He still needs some time to get stronger and more confirmed in the show ring. This is his fourth ride down centerline with me, and each time he gets more and more brave. I have to send a big thank you to Bethany Peslar for letting me ride this horse, and of course Evi Strasser for all her time and help coaching,” said Ots.

A veteran in the show arena despite being only 28 years old, Endel Ots has competed in over 150 shows and is a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist.  He was the alternate for the United States Dressage Team at the Pan American Games, and in 2012, Ots was the Reserve Champion in the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix at the Young Horse Championships.

In addition to training numerous horses up through Grand Prix, Ots has years of experience teaching all levels, from beginners to adult amateurs. He coached his sister to a Bronze medal at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships, and to other top finishes at Gladstone. He strives to establish a solid foundation for success, and has found it during the 2014 season, where all of the horses he has shown have never placed below first.

“The plan this summer is to take Donatus to a few more shows and get him feeling super confident in the show ring,” Ots says. “Bethany has a super talented young horse that she’s planning on showing in the Developing Horse Prix St. George this year, and we might take a trip up north along with a few other young horses to finish getting them qualified for the Young Horse Championships.”

Everglades Dressage is based in Grand Prix Village of Wellington, and offers dressage training for all levels of riders from Training level to Grand Prix. For more information, visit the Everglades Dressage website at www.evergladesdressage.com.

For more information contact:
Everglades Dressage
Endel Ots
1-920-562-5714
www.endelotsdressage.com
Endelots@gmail.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Endel Ots Rides to Win

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Endel Ots and Donatus. (Photos courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

Wellington, FL (March 11, 2014) – At the Global Dressage Festival this February, Ots won every class he entered.  “I love that. It is so great to get a horse, and see it develop, and that is a real passion of mine,” Ots said about training the 7 year old gelding San Dante, and then riding him to win all his third level tests with scores up to 72.8% at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby on February 28 – March 2, 2014. The young dressage rider’s enthusiasm is matched only by his successfulness.

At the 2014 Global Dressage Festival on February 18-23, Ots and Donatus (owned by Everglades Dressage) came in first place in the USEF Developing Grand Prix. “It was a clean test, and I was very happy with him. He had no mistakes in the test to score a 69.5%,” Ots said, proud of Donatus for doing so well in his first-ever Developing Grand Prix Test. Ots was quick to give credit for the win to everyone who helped make it possible. “A foremost thanks to Bethany Peslar for allowing me the ride Donatus. Evi Strasser was coaching me at the show, and has been very helpful. Donatus is very willing, and has super talent for piaffe.” Donatus is currently ranked number one in the United States for the Developing Grand Prix.

Endel Ots and Lucky Strike
Endel Ots and Lucky Strike

Also at the Global Dressage Festival, Ots competed on Lucky Strike, a seventeen-hand four-year-old owned both by Endel and his father Max Ots. The pair won the USEF Four Year Old Horse Test, with 76.2% in Markel/USEF and 79.2% in practice. “That was his first show, and he couldn’t have been better,” Ots beamed.

Endel Ots will be showing again in this year’s Challenge of the Americas on March 7, while serving as coach, choreographer, and music mixer for his team. Ots won’t be slowing down after that. He plans to continue riding Donatus, saying, “We have our eyes set on the Developing Grand Prix Championships in the fall. Two years ago I competed Taunia Reed’s stallion ‘Aga’ to a Reserve Championship, and I think Donatus has what it takes to do very well there again.”

Endel and Donatus were invited by Debbie McDonald to participate in a USEF Developing Training Session March 18-19. The goal of the USEF Developing Program is to identify up-and-coming combinations with potential to represent the U.S. in international competitions.

Endel Ots has competed in over 150 shows in his lifetime, and is a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist. He was the alternate for the United States Dressage Team at the Pan American Games. In 2012, Ots was the Reserve Champion in the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Championship. He has had countless other riding victories over the years. Ots is also a trainer, and has trained numerous horses up through Grand Prix level. In December 2013, Ots moved to a new location at Everglades Dressage in Wellington, Florida.

For more information contact:
Endel Ots
1-920-562-5714
endelots@gmail.com

Dressage, JRPR

Perfectly Winning Ways Continue as Ots and Cutler Farm’s Verida Win First Intermediaire-1

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Endel Ots and Cutler Farm’s Verida. (Photo courtesy of Stacey Jenkins)

Wellington, FL (June 28, 2013) – What else can you possibly say but, “Wow.”  Endel Ots and Cutler Farm Dressage’s Rosseau-bred Verida have aced their every debut test this season.  So far their record at the FEI level is perfect: 3 for 3.

The winning streak began in Florida in April, with a 69.868% in the mare’s first-ever FEI Prix St. Georges, at Dressage National 5 during the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.  That was followed by an even higher score in their next Prix St. Georges together, and has continued smoothly down centerline to a 69.20% victory in her first Intermediaire I, at the Poplar Place Farm Dressage Show, June 15-16, in Hamilton, GA.

“The mare is very solid, and is a super tryer,” said Ots, following that first big win at I-1 level. “Verida loves her job and comes out of the stall with a can-do attitude. That always makes the training process go faster. She is very forgiving and would make a super horse for an Adult Amateur or Junior Young Rider.”

Not that much has to be forgiven with Ots.  “Endel is such a successful FEI competitor,” says Verida’s proud owner and owner of Cutler Farm Dressage, Donna Cameron.  “He has trained with so many prominent names, like Lars Petersen and Hubertus Schmidt.”

Originally from De Pere, Wisconsin, Endel Ots learned to ride on the Ots family’s Sunrise Farm and worked for DYB Dressage before accepting an invitation to to train with Schmidt in Germany.  Now operating Lionshare Dressage in Wellington, FL, with rider and trainer, Caroline Roffman, Ots trained the 2007 USDF Prix St. Georges Horse of the Year, was the Developing Horse Grand Prix Reserve Champion at the Young Horse Championships, and is no stranger to scoring above 75% in USDF Intermediaire I and Intermediaire I Freestyles.  Ots also has worked with Heather Blitz and is a sought after clinician who has been hosted by Cutler Farm and elsewhere.

“Verida has proven herself in the show ring,” Cameron said, and for her the win is a little bitter sweet as Verida 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.

Cutler Farm is dedicated to providing the very highest quality facility with top notch training and instruction, with an eye to including everyone in this educational space.  Cutler Farm emphasizes the mind-body connection through yoga, pilates, Feldenkreis Movement and Alexander Technique, and has now expanded to include biomechanics for horse and rider under Heather Blitz’s instruction.

For information on Cutler Farm Dressage, visit their website at www.cutlerfarmdressage.com.

For more information contact:
Donna Cameron
Cutler Farm Dressage
508 359 2192
info@cutlerfarmdressage.com

Competitions, Dressage

Endel Ots Debuts Cutler Farm’s Verida in Prix St Georges at the Dressage National 5

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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.

For more information contact:
Endel Ots, 1-920-562-5714
www.LionshareDressage.com
lionsharedressage@gmail.com

Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Pan American Games

Dressage Rider Endel Ots and Toscano Named as Alternates to the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games

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Endel Ots on Toscano. (Photo courtesy of Sue Stickle)

Gladstone, NJ (September 16, 2011) – Dressage rider Endel Ots rode away from the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions with a successful Small Tour under his belt, as well as being named the alternate for the U.S. Dressage Team at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Ots competed Kristin and Steve Cooper’s KWPN gelding Toscano at Gladstone, where the 25-year-old rider held his own against veterans Steffen Peters, Heather Blitz and Cesar Parra.

“The whole weekend was really wonderful. I am very honored and excited to be an alternate. Anne Gribbons told me that both she and Steffen were alternates at one time, and then they made the team in later competitions,” Ots said. “It has been my dream to be part of a team and represent my country in international competition. I am so lucky to have the horse that I’m riding and to have such a great team that stands behind me including my trainer Lars Petersen, Toscano’s owners Kristin and Steve Cooper, Melissa Taylor, Caroline Roffman, my dad and so many others. I owe them the credit.”

Ots and Toscano, or Teddy as he is called, placed fifth at Gladstone in the FEI Intermediaire I Test with a score of 71.053%. The highly respectable placing came in a class dominated by Peters, Blitz and Parra, who will all compete for the U.S. in the Pan Am Games along with Marissa Festerling. “Teddy was super for every ride at Gladstone. I had some mistakes in the Prix. St. George but they were all mine. I got a little too excited in my aids and Teddy made some mistakes. In the Intermediaire I was much more calm. I wanted to show what Teddy could do and it was nice because every judge said ‘the horse and rider in great harmony’,” Ots said, adding that he had a few highlights at the show. “One was when we came out of the ring after our Intermediaire ride Lars said ‘good job’ and that really meant a lot to me.”

Continue reading Dressage Rider Endel Ots and Toscano Named as Alternates to the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, USEF

Young American Dressage Superstar Endel Ots Heads to the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions on Toscano

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Endel Ots, who rides with Danish Olympian Lars Petersen, is headed to the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions with Kristin and Steve Cooper’s KWPN gelding Toscano. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

Wellington, FL (September 1, 2011) – American dressage rider Endel Ots has built up quite a successful resume for a 26-year-old, and the young dressage star has no plans of slowing down. Ots, who rides with Danish Olympian Lars Petersen, is headed to the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions with Kristin and Steve Cooper’s KWPN gelding Toscano.  Ots will be the youngest competitor in the Intermediaire I Pan American Games Selection Trials.

Ots, who is originally from Wisconsin, said he received a call from the Coopers, of Lamplight Equestrian Center, while he was in Germany. “I was training with Hubertus Schmidt when I got the call from Lamplight to ride and show their horses,” Ots said. “I had talked to Caroline Roffman about training with Lars, who was one of my childhood idols, and she spoke highly of him so I moved to Wellington with Toscano to begin training.”

Ots’ hard work with Toscano paid off and the gelding was undefeated at the Lamplight show. “He won all his classes with a 70.2% in the Intermediaire I and a 74% in the Prix St. George, in front of Olympic Judge Linda Zang. He is in top shape heading to Gladstone,” Ots said.

While Ots is thrilled to be riding Toscano, he has proven that he has a gift for taking young horses and training them from scratch to championship titles. “I love nothing more than working with young horses and bringing them along and into their own.  I also enjoy riding seasoned FEI horses and working with young riders and adult amateurs to help them accomplish their goals,” Ots said, adding that he has years of experience teaching everyone from beginners to adult amateurs. “I coached my sister to a Bronze medal at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships and to top place finishes at Gladstone.”

Continue reading Young American Dressage Superstar Endel Ots Heads to the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions on Toscano →