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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Driving, USEF

Berndl Maintains Overall Lead in USEF National Single Horse Driving Championship, as Stafford Wins Marathon

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Leslie Berndl (PicsofYou.com)

Raeford, N.C. – The marathon phase of the USEF National Single Horse Driving Championship, which is being held in conjunction with the Southern Pines CDE, proved to be a back-and-forth battle between two of America’s most experienced drivers. Leslie Berndl and Suzy Stafford traded quick times through Richard Nicoll’s eight-obstacle marathon course on a picturesque day at the Carolina Horse Park. While Stafford was able to capture victory on the marathon, it is Berndl who will drive last in the cones as the leader of the National Championship at the conclusion of two phases of competition.

Berndl (Newcastle, Calif.) and her own 13-year-old KWPN gelding, Uminco, headed onto the marathon with the overnight lead after winning the dressage with a score of 34.24, and a 4.65 lead over Stafford. The 2013 USEF National Single Horse Driving Champions posted competitive scores throughout each hazard including driving the fastest time in obstacle two and placing second in obstacle four. Additionally, they continued their pursuit to back-to-back titles by driving the third quickest times in obstacles one, five, six, seven, and eight on their way to finishing the marathon on a score of 79.43 in second place.

Berndl heads into the final cones phase on a total score of 113.67, giving her more than a three-point cushion over the field.

Stafford (Wilmington, Del.) and her own PVF Peace of Mind currently stand in second place in the Championship with score of 117.35. The three-time USEF Single Pony Champion, utilized her vast experience with the seven-year-old Morgan as they won the first and third obstacles, and posted second-place scores in obstacles five, six, and seven. On their way to winning Saturday’s marathon on a score of 78.76, the Live Oak International winners also placed third in obstacle four.

Kate Shields (Middleburg, Va.) held her third place overall standing with her own 13-year-old Welsh Cob gelding, Hastening Winslow, on a two-day score of 138.78, after placing seventh on the marathon with a score of 95.64.

Championship competition comes to a close on Sunday with the cones phase.

By Helen Murray

To learn more about the Southern Pines CDE, visit: http://www.carolinahorsepark.com/events/driving/2014/4/southern-pines-combined-driving-event-national-single-horse-championship.

Follow the U.S. Driving Team here.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Jennifer Alfano Takes Five Tricolors at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show

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Jennifer Alfano and Candid. Photo By: Shawn McMillan Photography.

Katy, TX – April 8, 2014 – Jennifer Alfano and SBS Farms, Inc. are certainly staying busy in the show ring this spring. This past week, Alfano claimed four championships and one reserve title in five different hunter divisions at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show in Katy, Texas.

After claiming the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Leading Rider Award, Alfano made a clean sweep of the Green Conformation Hunter division aboard Candid at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show. Candid’s beautiful build and brilliant paces earned him first in the model, the hack, and every other class in which he competed. This makes two clean sweeps in the Green Conformation Hunter division in as many weeks for Candid and Alfano, who competed last week in the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. Candid was awarded the Leading Green Conformation Hunter Award for his flawless efforts in the division at Spring Gathering.

Jennifer Alfano took the reserve championship in the Conformation Hunter division with the Shane George owned gelding Timber Ridge, falling just behind her winning mount Candid. Alfano and Timber Ridge are nipping right at Candid’s heels; however, the pair took second in every class but the model to end up with the reserve championship title.

Never one to disappoint, the talented mare Maggie May also snagged her tricolor for the week in the High Performance Hunter division with Alfano in the irons. Owned by Billie Steffee, Maggie May cannot be beat under saddle, claiming another hack win and adding to the pile of countless other blue ribbons awarded for her beautiful movement. The mare has a picture perfect jump as well, earning two blues over fences as well as a second and third place finish.

Alfano rode Corasonne, the Bernadette Mulliken-owned gelding, to the tricolor in the Performance 3’6″ Hunter division. Corasonne and Alfano especially shined in the handy round of the division, claiming the blue ribbon for their tidy track and brilliant jumping efforts. Corasonne also earned a pair of red ribbons for her other over fences rounds, and finished third in the hack.

Alfano was up in the irons for owner Helen Lenahan in the Pre-Green 3’3″ Hunter division aboard Me Again. The pair earned two first place finishes over fences on their way to claiming the rosette for the division, establishing Me Again as a solid competitor and one to watch as he progresses through the hunter ranks.

Representing SBS Farms, Inc. in the $1,000 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive class was Social Hill, ridden by Alfano to a second place finish in the class. Social Hill was also earned third place for his efforts with Alfano in the $15,000 Texas Pre-Green Super Stake, proving Social Hill to be a very promising up and comer in the green hunter divisions.

Wrapping up Alfano’s rides for the week, she climbed aboard Inside Scoop and Krunch to take third and fifth, respectively, in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Both horses are owned by Alanna Flores, and both proved themselves to be top notch derby contenders with their ribbon finishes in a very competitive field of 22 horses.

Based out of Buffalo, NY, SBS Farms’ Susie Schoellkopf and Jennifer Alfano run one of the foremost show hunter training operations in the country, and travel nationwide to compete in the nation’s most prestigious horse shows. SBS Farms, Inc. continues the proud tradition of the Saddle and Bridle Club as one of the top show stables in the northeast. Schoellkopf is also the Executive Director of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, which houses both The Buffalo Equestrian Center as well as SBS Farms. Built in 1922, the 160-stall facility is a historical landmark, with its unique English Tudor and gothic style architecture. For more information on SBS Farms and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit www.thebtrc.org.

Media Contact: Kendall Bierer
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389  fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
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Dressage, Phelps Media Group

Diane Creech Wraps Up Successful Wellington Competition Season for Leatherdale Farms

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Diane Creech and Devon L. Photos by Susan J. Stickle.

Wellington, FL – April 11, 2014 – Diane Creech earned high scores and top placings throughout the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL. After three intensive months of training and competing her string of horses owned by Leatherdale Farms, the Canadian rider is heading back to her home base in Ontario.

Season highlights for Creech include several top finishes in the Grand Prix Freestyle with Devon L, who racked up many of the highest Freestyle scores among the Canadians competing in Florida. Creech and the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding (De Niro-Wibranda, Wolkenstein II) scored an impressive 73.175 percent in the Freestyle at the AGDF 3 CDI-W Jan. 24. Their performance earned them second place behind only Creech’s trainer, Lars Petersen, and ahead of a competitive field including riders from six countries.

Devon L also finished fourth with 72.300 percent in the Freestyle at the AGDF 1 CDI-W and took fifth with 71.950 percent at the AGDF 5 CDI4*.

“This year is the first year that he was really getting into the freestyles and enjoying them, so that was a big step for him,” Creech said. “I think he’s starting to mature a little bit more. It doesn’t take him so much by surprise, and he likes performing for the crowd.”

Along with competing Devon L against the top horses gathered in Wellington for the winter, Creech focused on making steady progress with her other mounts, moving several of them up the levels during her stay. Two Leatherdale Farms-owned horses, Hallmark and Chrevis Christo, worked on the transition from small tour to Intermediaire II. The goal for both horses is to eventually join Devon L at the Grand Prix level.

Chrevis Christo, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Lavallo-Chrevi’s La Vi, Matador), won several times and placed in the top two every time he competed at Intermediaire II. He earned consistently high scores, including a 72.105 percent and a 70.592 percent.

Hallmark is a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding by the Leatherdales’ deceased stallion His Highness and out of SPS Lapislazuly by Lancier. He collected scores in the high 60s at Intermediaire II and placed in the top four in large classes each time he came out.

“I’m really excited and happy with them,” Creech said. “It’s a big step up from the small tour to Intermediaire II. I think they did really well. They pulled through, tried hard and demonstrated the great abilities that they have.”

Diane Creech and Diana C
Diane Creech and Diana C

Also moving up in the ranks was the promising Diana C, a 7-year-old Hanoverian mare by the Leatherdales’ stallion Damsey and out of Belinda by Brentano II. She stepped up into Fourth Level in her first time competing in Florida and accumulated several scores in the 70s, indicating she will be one to watch in the future.

“I’m so proud of Diana C,” Creech said. “The Florida season is not an easy task, and she showed that she really fits in. I’m very excited about her.”

While the intense show schedule kept Creech busy, she also devoted plenty of time to educating herself and her horses, working with Lars Petersen to fine-tune her efforts.

“When I come down here, it’s really my training time – we take the horses to the next step with Lars’ training help,” she explained. “Now, they can all look forward to a break when we get home, and then I’ll continue their training. We’ve brought the horses up another level, so my big goal is to confirm what they’ve learned and make it easier in the ring for them.”

“The learning curve here is incredible,” she added. “It’s very important to be here in Florida – that’s what makes you a better rider and trainer. It’s a very competitive environment. You have to come out of your comfort zone and work and improve.”

Creech’s family steps up to take care of her barn while she’s away, making it possible for her to spend the winter developing her horses in Wellington.

“I’m very thankful for the people at home,” she said. “My mother and my sister run my barn while I’m gone, and my mother takes care of my daughter. I also appreciate everyone here who works so hard to run these shows – they need a big thank you in making this happen for us.”

She added that she could not thank her horses’ owners enough for giving her the opportunity to train and compete in Florida each winter.

“I’m so grateful to my owners, Doug and Louise Leatherdale, for all their support and understanding,” she said. “It’s absolutely incredible every year.”

About Leatherdale Farms

Situated 20 minutes from Minneapolis, MN, Leatherdale Farms is a privately owned farm owned and managed by Louise and Doug Leatherdale and dedicated to Hanoverian, Trakehner and Oldenburg breeding. The Leatherdale family owns several licensed stallions based in Germany at Hengstation Jens Meyer: Hanoverians Dorum, the premium elite, Damsey (Dressage Royal), First Dance (Florestan II), Rob Roy (Rubin Royale), Hampton (His Highness), Beltano (Belissimo M); the premium elite Trakehner, Herzensdieb (Tambour); and the Oldenburg Fairbanks (Flemmingh). Frozen semen is available in North America and Europe. Leatherdale Farms was also the owner of the Licensing Hanoverian stallion His Highness, who died in 2007 and whose progeny is much appreciated all over the world.

To learn about Leatherdale Farms stallions in Europe, go to www.jens-meyer.com.

For more information, go to www.leatherdalefarms.com.

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Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
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561-753-3389 (phone)
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PhelpsMediaGroup.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, Driving, USEF

Berndl Takes First Step in Defending USEF National Single Horse Driving Championship Title at Southern Pines CDE

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Leslie Berndl and Uminco (PicsofYou.com)

Raeford, N.C. – Competition at the Southern Pines CDE officially got underway on Friday at the Carolina Horse Park with the USEF National Single Horse Driving Championship closing out the day. Following the completion of the dressage phase, Leslie Berndl holds the early lead after an impressive test that earned high marks from the Ground Jury of Peter Bonhof and Martha Hanks Nicoll.

Reigning National Champion, Berndl (Newcastle, Calif.), entered the ring on a mission, looking to head out on Saturday’s marathon in pole position. Driving her own 13-year-old KWPN gelding Uminco, she produced a flowing performance which was highlighted by powerful trot-work and solid transitions to score 34.24.

Berndl and Uminco will head onto the marathon with more than a four-point lead over the rest of the field.

Driving into second place on Friday were Suzy Stafford and PVF Peace of Mind on a score of 38.59. The 2011 FEI World Driving Championships for Combined Ponies Individual Silver medalist and her own seven-year-old Morgan mare lay within striking distance of clinching their first USEF National Single Horse Driving Championship title with two phases left to drive after an expressive test on Friday.

Kate Shields (Middleburg, Va.) drove her own 13-year-old Welsh Cob gelding, Hastening Winslow, into third place on Friday with a score of 43.14.

Competition continues Saturday as drivers head out onto Richard Nicoll’s marathon course.

By Helen Murray

To learn more about the Southern Pines CDE, visit: http://www.carolinahorsepark.com/events/driving/2014/4/southern-pines-combined-driving-event-national-single-horse-championship.

Follow the U.S. Driving Team here.

Championships, Competitions, Driving, USEF

Strong Field Lines Up for USEF National Single Horse Driving Championship at Southern Pines CDE

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Leslie Berndl (Picsofyou.com)

Raeford, N.C. – A talented field of 11 drivers descends upon Raeford, N.C., this weekend as they look to lay claim on the 2014 USEF National Single Horse Driving Championship. The annual championship will be held in conjunction with the Southern Pines CDE, April 11-13, at the Carolina Horse Park. Competition gets underway Friday with the dressage, with drivers heading out on the marathon course the following day. Sunday hosts the final phase of competition as the 2014 champion will be crowned at the conclusion of the cones.

Reigning USEF National Single Horse Driving Champion Leslie Berndl (Newcastle, Calif.) and her own 13-year-old KWPN gelding Uminco head to the Carolina Horse Park with their sights firmly set on retaining their title. They come into the weekend in strong form after earning a victory at the Kingdom of the Sun CDE and second-place finishes at Sunshine State and Live Oak this winter.

Additionally, a pair of former USEF National Combined Driving Single Pony Champions looks to earn their first Single Horse National title. Suzy Stafford (Wilmington, Del.) has three Single Pony Championship titles (2004, 2008, and 2009) to her name and heads into the weekend with her own seven-year-old Morgan mare PVF Peace of Mind after having won at Live Oak three weeks ago. Sara Schmitt (Flemington, N.J.) earned the Single Pony title in 2005 and 2007 and looks to add a Single Horse Championship to her resume. She and her own eight-year-old Friesian Heritage mare Savannah enter Southern Pines after having earned seventh- and sixth-place finishes at Kingdom of the Sun and Live Oak, respectively.

Also lining up this weekend is 2011 USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year, Jacob Arnold, who has been training with Four-in-Hand National Champion Chester Weber as part of the Live Oak Combined Driving Developing Driver Program. Arnold (Snow Camp, N.C.) and IJsbrand Chardon’s 11-year-old KWPN gelding Whopper have been enjoying a 2014 season earning a fifth-place finish at Kingdom of the Sun and driving to third place at Live Oak.

This weekend will be doubly important for Single Horse drivers as it also serves as a Selection Trial for the 2014 FEI Single World Driving Championship.

By Helen Murray

To learn more about the Southern Pines CDE, visit: http://www.carolinahorsepark.com/events/driving/2014/4/southern-pines-combined-driving-event-national-single-horse-championship.

Follow the U.S. Driving Team here.

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, FEI

Head to Head of Two Mighty Talents at 2014 Reem Acra Final

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Defending Reem Acra champions, Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW, will face the toughest of opposition from Olympic and European champions Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro from Great Britain at next week’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013/2014 Final. Photo: FEI/Karl Heinz Freiler, Kit Houghton.

Lausanne (SUI), 10 April 2014 – There is nothing more fascinating than witnessing two mighty talents going head to head, so the anticipation and excitement in the lead-up to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final 2014 at Lyon (FRA) next week is at an all-time high.

Take the precision, elegance, energy and control of the defending champions, Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW, and pit that against the extravagance, flair, power and presence of the Olympic and European champions and multiple record-breakers Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro from Great Britain, and you have the recipe for an electrifying weekend of competition.  The lightness in their way of going has delighted the judges and spectators alike as these two dancing horses have raised the bar for all others in recent times.

The 29th FEI World Cup Dressage Final brings together 18 riders from 11 nations who have qualified from four different Leagues around the globe. And while the Western European League in particular throws up some of the strongest contenders, there is little doubt that the biggest threat to a back-to-back double for Langehanenberg comes from the sole British representative.

Powerhouses of the sport

The last time these two powerhouses of the sport met was at the Blue Hors FEI European Dressage Championships at Herning in Denmark last summer when Langehanenberg helped her country clinch the team title for the 22nd time with her brilliant last-to-go ride. She did so with cool conviction, but the following day, when all the main contenders were plagued by big blunders, she had to settle for Grand Prix Special silver behind Dujardin who also made a significant mistake in her test.

Dujardin then went on to add the European Freestyle title to her ever-growing medal haul and, over the winter months, continued her amazing run of form when raising the Freestyle world record target score to a colossal 93.975 when victorious at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier at Olympia, London in December. This record was previously set at 92.300 by The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and the black stallion Totilas at the same venue in 2009. Dujardin now holds all three world records at the same time: for Freestyle, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix.

Those watching Langehanenberg closely, however, have noticed her personal-best Freestyle scores, first at Stuttgart (GER) last November where she posted 89.775 and then at Neumunster (GER) in February where Damon Hill NRW earned a mark of 90.375, are moving ever closer to those of her British counterpart. When it comes to next week’s showdown in Lyon, both ladies are likely to be very aware that mistakes of any kind could prove very costly indeed in the battle for the coveted Reem Acra trophy.

Most success

The record books show that The Netherlands is the nation with most success at this Final, with 12 wins in total. Nine of those underlined the extraordinary dominance of a single rider, Anky van Grunsven, who really put Freestyle Dressage on the map with her gift for showmanship and choreography. Over a 13-year period between her first victory with the brilliant Bonfire at Los Angeles (USA) in 1995 and her last, with Salinero on home ground at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in 2008, van Grunsven enjoyed a spectacular nine-time winning spree that has left her in a league all her own.

Her greatest rival down the years was Germany’s Isabell Werth, the double FEI World Cup Dressage champion, also an exceptional athlete who won her first title with Fabienne at Gothenburg (SWE) in 1992, her second 15 years later with Warum Nicht FRH in Las Vegas (USA) and she has been runner-up on no less than four occasions. And 44-year-old Werth continues to amaze, currently lying sixth on the FEI World Dressage rankings which are led by Dujardin in No. 1 spot, Langehanenberg in second and Dutchman Edward Gal in third ahead of Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven.

Missing out

Denmark’s Anna Kasprzak lies fifth but is missing out on the Reem Acra Final after having to forfeit her qualifying spot due to a fall last week. She has been replaced by Mikala Gundersen who, like Lars Petersen, is US-based, and making up the Danish trio of representatives at Lyon is Nanna Skodborg Merrald, who made the cut through consistent placings on the Reem Acra Western European League circuit over the winter months.

Dong Seon Kim from Korea, who is also based in America, has taken the single qualifying spot available to riders not represented in any of the four designated leagues, while Tina Konyot and Cesar Parra were last week named as the North American League contenders. Inessa Merkulova will fly the Russian flag, but the prize for the most long-distance traveller already goes to Australia’s Mary Hanna, winner of the Pacific League.

Youngest contenders

Two of the youngest competitors are 28-year-old Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl from Germany and Holland’s Danielle Heijkoop, who turns 27 next Wednesday. Heijkoop joins Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud to complete the impressive Dutch line-up, Marcela Krinke Susmelj competes for Switzerland, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven represents Sweden and Marc Boblet will fly the French flag with pride.

It is of course expected that younger athletes will continue to improve and develop with the passage of time, but that only serves to make it all the more remarkable that, at just 28 years of age, Dujardin has already achieved more than all the rest put together during her short career that only really began in earnest when she was given the ride on Valegro three years ago.

It normally takes a lifetime to develop the required skills, but the girl who worked for Carl Hester as a groom before the British Dressage rider and trainer noticed her exceptional talent has rocketed to the very top like a shooting star.

Langehanenberg, still only 31, has taken a different route. As she said before last year’s triumph at the Final in Gothenburg, she owes much of her success to the experience she has gained from competing in the Reem Acra series over several years.

No easy task

Langehanenberg knows that pinning Dujardin back will be no easy task, but the defending champion has an unerring belief in her stallion Damon Hill NRW. Taking on the British rider and her gelding Valegro, holds no fears.

She travels to this year’s Reem Acra Final in the knowledge that, if everything falls into place and if she and her horse continue their increasingly upward scoring pattern, she can successfully challenge the British duo and, perhaps, retain the coveted Reem Acra crown.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final will take place in Lyon (FRA) from 17-21 April 2014. For all information on the French fixture, contact Press Officer Pascal Renauldon, Email p.renauldon@rbpresse.com, Tel +333 44 620 621.

Facts and Figures:

Lyon (FRA) presents the 29th FEI World Cup Dressage Final from 17 to 21 April.

Defending Reem Acra champions are Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and the stallion Damon Hill NRW.

A total of 18 riders from 11 nations will challenge for the 2014 title.

The Netherlands holds the record for most wins at the Final, with 12 in total.

German riders are next on the list of winning-most countries with nine victories.

The Netherlands’ Anky van Grunsven boosted the Dutch statistics with a spectacular nine-time winning spree that was spread over a 13-year period.

Van Grunsven recorded her first victory with the brilliant Bonfire at Los Angeles (USA) in 1995 and secured her last, with Salinero, on home ground at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in 2008.

There was a last-minute change to the Danish line-up for the 2014 Final when Anna Kasprzak was injured in a fall and was replaced by Mikala Gundersen, who earned her qualifying points in the North American League

Denmark, The Netherlands and Germany will all be strongly represented with three riders each.

Reem Acra FEI Hub http://fei.org/fei/sponsors/reem-acra-and-fei gives access to extensive information about the series.

FEI World Cup Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, is now in its 29th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Lyon:

Pascal Renauldon
Press Officer
P.renauldon@rbpresse.com
+333 44 620 621

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Dressage, JRPR

Piaffe Performance Delivers Success from the World Cup Level to Young Horses and Juniors

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Fiderhit OLD competing at the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

Wellington, FL (April 9, 2014) – The riders and trainers of Piaffe Performance have just rounded out a successful season that has left them leading the nation across the divisions.  From the international Grand Prix level to the Young Horse and Junior classes, every member of the Piaffe Performance team is at the top of their game and preparing for a successful spring and summer.

Two rising stars who have received international attention for their incredible performances are Fashion Designer OLD, an Oldenburg gelding ridden by Nadine Buberl and Fiderhit OLD, an Oldenburg mare owned by Michael and Sarah Davis and ridden by Dr. Cesar Parra.  The two competed in the FEI 6-Year-Old divisions during the Global Dressage Festival, and their collective scores have them currently ranked as the top two 6-year-olds in the United States.  The team at Piaffe Performance is thrilled that the two are now qualified to compete at the 2014 Young Horse Championships this summer, where they will vie for top honors in the 6-year-old division.

And Fiderhit and Fashion Designer aren’t the only ones dominating the youth divisions. Sixteen-year-old dressage rider Bebe Davis won both first and second place at the CDI Florida Youth Championships Junior competition this year on Fievel Mousekewitz and Rotano, horses owned by her parents Michael and Sarah Davis. Bebe Davis and Fievel Mousekewitz also received an impressive score of 73.333% in FEI Junior Freestyle at the 2014 AGDF Week 10 CDI on March 16. Davis and Fievel Mousekewitz were also invited to perform their Freestyle at the Celebration of the Horse, which will be held in Central Park this fall. The young rider’s next step will be heading to the USEF Festival of Champions and North American Junior Young Rider Championships this summer, where she will defend her title as 2013 Junior National Champion.

In keeping with the winning ways of Piaffe Performance and his daughter Bebe, Mike Davis also stepped into the winner’s circle with his mount, Weekend Pleasure.  The pair had dual first place finishes in the Fourth Level Test 1 class on both Saturday and Sunday during the final week of competition of the Global Dressage Festival.  The adult amateur rider and his wife, Sarah, also own the World Cup bound Van the Man and top ranked 6-year-old Fashion Designer OLD, proving they not only win the blue ribbons but also support and contribute to the sport on multiple levels.

Yet another winning contributor on the Piaffe Performance team is Martin Sosnoff, an extremely successful businessman who took up dressage later in life.  His 80+ years don’t stop him from competing at the FEI level; in fact he showed his Danish bred Scirocco in both the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I during the final week of Global, and also competed his Dutch bred Amigo at Third Level.

While Piaffe Performance’s students continue to score and rank in the top in the nation, Piaffe Performance’s assistant trainer, Katie Riley, has mastered the double role of coach rider; in addition to helping Piaffe Performance’s students prosper in the arena, she has been successfully campaigning her own horse, the Dutch Warmblood gelding Zanzibar on the Florida circuit.  The pair had first and second place finishes in the Developing Horse Grand Prix division at the CDIO 3* Nations Cup, and Riley is currently a leading competitor in Developing Horse Grand Prix in the United States.  She is currently working with Parra to prepare Zanzibar for the 2014 Young Horse Championships.

To find out more about Piaffe Performances and the services it provides, visit www.piaffe-performance.com, or call the New Jersey facility at (908) 534-4700 or the Florida facility at (561) 748-1472.

Contact: Dr. Cesar Parra
Piaffe-Performance Farm
(410) 977-8352
www.piaffe-performance.com

*Featured/Spotlights, FEI, Show Jumping

Longines Title Decider at Lyon Promises to Be a Classic

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The USA’s Beezie Madden, winner in 2013 with Simon, heads to Lyon (FRA) next week with victory in the Longines FEI World Cup Final as her goal. (Arnd Bronkhorst/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 9 April 2014 – The 36th FEI World Cup Jumping Final looks set to be a classic, and there is a body of opinion that suggests that the 2014 Longines champion could be from the host nation of France. After all, this is the country that boasts the reigning FEI European Champion – the inimitable Roger Yves Bost – and the team that won the hotly-contested inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final last September, while its representatives have also been in great form on the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League throughout the winter months.

Add to that the incentive of hosting the forthcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy in four months’ time and the subsequent pressure to be at their best when that moment arrives, and it seems French riders have every reason to be driven to success when the lights go on in the Eurexpo stadium in Lyon next week.

History suggests otherwise, however, and Bost’s late withdrawal yesterday has left the host nation’s chances considerably less buoyant. France has only once taken the FEI World Cup Jumping title when the brilliant Bruno Broucqsault and Dileme de Cephe sprang a big surprise in Milan (ITA) back in 2004.

The record books show that the two most successful nations are the USA and Germany with nine wins apiece. The Americans were truly dominant during the early years of the series which quickly captured the imagination and interest of public and press alike from its start in 1978.

First nine seasons

US riders won seven times over the first nine seasons, but they would have to wait a long, lonely quarter of a century before Rich Fellers and the comeback king of equestrian sport, the Irish-bred stallion Flexible, brought the glory back across the Atlantic again after victory at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in 2012. And suddenly the German stranglehold on the champion’s leaderboard was broken when Beezie Madden returned last year and the US flag was hoisted once again, this time over the Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg (SWE), drawing the USA and Germany level in terms of winning performances. The Swedish city has a long and close link with this series, hosting the Final on no less than 13 occasions and already confirmed as the venue for the 2016 decider.

It took Germany quite a long time to get into the frame, Ludger Beerbaum taking their first FEI World Cup Jumping title with the great mare, Ratina Z, at Gothenburg in 1994. It would be another nine years before Otto Becker, now Chef d’Equipe for the German Jumping team, managed to repeat the feat, but from then on the Germans have been the ones to beat. Marcus Ehning recorded the first of his three wins at Las Vegas (USA) in 2003 riding Anka, and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum followed suit at the same venue in 2005 partnering the magical Shutterfly.

Ehning returned to the winner’s podium at Kuala Lumpur (MAS) in 2006 riding Sandro Boy and Michaels-Beerbaum proved unbeatable with Shutterfly in both 2008, at Gothenburg, and 2009 back in Las Vegas, before Ehning claimed the honours again at Geneva (SUI) in 2010 thanks to his two horses Noltes Kűchengirl and Plot Blue. Christian Ahlmann brought the German tally to nine on home turf at Leipzig (GER) in 2011, and he joins Ehning, Daniel Deusser, Lars Nieberg and Ludger Beerbaum in the five-strong German contingent at Lyon this year where Ehning is the only three-time champion bidding for a record fourth win.

Making it all the more remarkable is the fact that the rider, who celebrates his 40th birthday during this year’s Final on Sunday 19 April, brings the now 17-year-old veteran, Plot Blue, to do battle alongside the impressive 11-year-old grey stallion Cornado NRW this time around. For sure Ehning will be one to watch out for as his knowledge and experience will be put to good use as he strives to step into the record books as the first four-time champion.

Appeal

Much of the appeal of the FEI World Cup Jumping series lies in the fact that it comes at the end of a long qualifying season, particularly for the contenders from Europe and the USA. Places are hard-earned, and although new names will emerge from more remote regions to impress and extend promise for the future, it tends to be the seasoned campaigners who shine when it comes to the deciding day.

The format for the Final is as tough as it comes, beginning with a speed competition that is designed to give a skillful rider with an unlucky knockdown the chance to still stay in touch with the leaders. In the second competition there is a first round and then a jump-off against the clock, after which the points awarded for the first two competitions are transformed into penalties that are carried through to the last day.

Following a rest day, the last competition is a Grand Prix over two rounds which is open to the 30 best-placed athletes, at the end of which the new champion will be crowned. The image of a rider holding the prestigious FEI World Cup Jumping trophy aloft is one of the most coveted in the sport. It is widely recognised as a prize that is more than difficult to win and a watershed moment in the career of every athlete and their horse.

Magical partnerships

So many of the magical partnerships throughout the last 36 years have their names carved into this piece of Jumping history, including the early American champions like Conrad Homfeld with Balbuco (1980) and Abdullah (1985), Michael Matz and Jet Run (1981), Melanie Smith and Calypso (1982), Norman dello Joio and I Love You (1983), Leslie Burr Lenehan (now Burr-Howard) and McLain (1986) and Katherine Burdsall with The Natural (1987).

Legends abound on the Roll of Honour – Canada’s Ian Millar and the great Big Ben who proved untouchable in 1988 and 1989 despite the close attention of other greats like the brilliant little Jappeloup ridden by Frenchman Pierre Durand and Britain’s John Whitaker with Milton. Whitaker too would have his time in the spotlight with a double in 1990 and 1991 from his much-loved grey who had a huge following world-wide.

But not even these greats could match the result achieved by Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa and the super-stallion Baloubet du Rouet. The fourth of the three-time winners, alongside Germany’s Ehning and Michaels-Beerbaum, and Austria’s Hugo Simon who did a back-to-back double with ET FRH 17 years after his inaugural season victory, Pessoa recorded an as yet unmatched three-in-a-row victory roll between 1998 and 2000. Pessoa will not, however, line out this time around when his country will be represented by the less-well-known Yuri Mansur Guerios.

Hugely successful

All eyes will be on world number one in the Longines Rankings, Great Britain’s Scott Brash, who has enjoyed a hugely successful season on the winter circuit at Wellington, Florida (USA) and who is likely to come out with all guns blazing. He will be joined by compatriot and fellow FEI European team gold medallist Michael Whitaker, who has rarely missed a Final in the last 36 seasons. Billy Twomey will fly the Irish flag, while 20-year-old Nicola Philippaerts, winner of the last leg of the Western European League at Gothenburg last month, will be in action for Belgium alongside Francois Mathy Jr.

Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander is never one to be discounted, while Portugal’s Luciana Diniz has a strong record at this Final, and with the reigning Olympic champion, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, in the mix along with fellow-countryman Pius Schwizer it’s going to be a mighty battle from start to finish.

The Americans also travel with much more than just hope as their star-studded field of runners includes a mass of young talent along with a depth of experience in the shape of Kent Farrington, McLain Ward and defending champion Madden, who is under no illusions about the difficulty of repeating her historic 2013 victory.

Only time will tell how it will play itself out, but we know one thing for sure. We are guaranteed drama, disappointment, delight, excitement and super sport, all in equal measure, before the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping trophy is grasped by the rider who has emerged supreme in this greatest annual contest of champions.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat! Watch it all LIVE on FEI TV at www.feitv.org.

Facts and Figures:

A total of 41 competitors will line out for the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final 2014 which takes place in Lyon, France from 17-21 April.

Riders from 20 nations – Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Egypt, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Russia, Switzerland, Sweden and USA – will compete for the honours.

Defending champion is America’s Beezie Madden, winner at the 2013 Final in Gothenburg (SWE) riding Simon.

Lyon presents the 36th FEI World Cup Jumping Final. The first was staged in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1979 where Austria’s Hugo Simon and Gladstone were the inaugural winners.

Finalists have emerged from 16 qualifying Leagues around the globe.

USA will be chasing a back-to-back hat-trick of wins following Rich Fellers success with Flexible in 2012 that bridged a 25-year gap since his country’s previous success and Beezie Madden’s victory last April.

USA has the largest rider representation at the 2014 Final with a total of 11.

Next highest in terms of competitor numbers is Germany with 5.

France has only won the FEI World Cup Jumping title once before, at Milan (ITA) in 2004 when Bruno Broucqsault and Dileme de Cephe came out on top.

France has only hosted the FEI World Cup Jumping Final once before, at Paris-Bercy back in 1987 when the USA’s Katharine Burdsall and The Natural reigned supreme.

Only one of the three-time winners of the title is in with a chance of making it a record four victories at this year’s Final. Germany’s Marcus Ehning was crowned champion at Las Vegas (USA) in 2003 with Anka, at Kuala Lumpur (MAS) in 2006 partnering Sandro Boy and in Geneva (SUI) in 2010 when riding both Noltes Kűchengirl and Plot Blue.

Ehning, who will celebrate his 40th birthday on Sunday 19 April, brings both the 17-year-old Plot Blue and the 11-year-old Cornado NRW to this year’s Longines Final.

USA and Germany have both claimed the FEI World Cup Jumping title on 9 occasions.

Longines Live Timing Jumping application: available free for download from The App Store (iPhone) & Android Markets. Combining precision and performance, this is a detailed and exclusive application designed especially for Jumping fans – follow live results, see latest Longines Rankings, view competition schedules, obtain exclusive information and alerts on your favorite riders and get all the latest FEI news.

Longines FEI World Cup Jumping press kit: download all the details from www.feipresskits.org (contains series calendar, competition schedule, online media tools and history).

Rider biographies: view online and download from http://fei.org/fei/your-role/media/biographies.

Longines has been based at Saint-Imier (SUI) since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. It has generations of experience as the official timekeeper at world championships and as a partner of international sports federations.

Longines’ passion for equestrian sports began in 1878, when it produced a chronograph engraved with a jockey and its mount. Over the years, the brand has built strong and long-lasting links with equestrian sports. In 1912, Longines was proud to partner with its first Jumping event, the Grande Concurso Hippico Internacional, in Portugal.

Today, Longines’ involvement in equestrianism includes Jumping, Endurance and flat racing.

Longines is a member of The Swatch Group S.A., the world’s leading manufacturer of horological products. With an excellent reputation for creating refined timepieces, the brand, whose emblem is the winged hourglass, has outlets in over 130 countries.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Lyon:

Pascal Renauldon
Press Officer
P.renauldon@rbpresse.com
+333 44 620 621

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

At Longines:

Longines International Public Relations
publicrelations@longines.com

Competitions, Dressage, Para-Equestrian, World Equestrian Games

Final US Para-Dressage World Equestrian Games Qualifier Completed at Golden State Dressage Classic CPEDI3*

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Susan Treabess and Kamiakin at the 2013 Golden State Dressage Festival CPEDI3*. Photo by Lindsay McCall.

Rancho Murieta, California – April 7, 2014 – The pressure was on at the Golden State Dressage Classic CPEDI3* for many U.S. para-dressage athletes looking to qualify for the World Equestrian Games. From April 4-6, 2014, riders from Grade Ia, II, III, and IV competed for top scores in the international arena at the Murieta Equestrian Center. The FEI ground jury included Alison King (HK) FEI 4*, David Schmutz (USA) FEI 4*, Kathy Amos-Jacob (FRA) FEI 4*. After a top showing just weeks prior at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CPEDI3* in Wellington, Florida, riders were ready to give it their all in their final qualifier held in the United States for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Selection Trial and U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship. With all U.S. events completed there are 14 U.S. riders qualified for the selection trials including a U.S. Air Force Veteran. Many of these riders will also compete at the Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships, which coincide with the trials.

Para-Dressage Chef d’Equipe Kai Handt is looking forward to the June 2014 trials because he has spent the year watching, encouraging, and applauding the many talented U.S. horse and rider combinations. The Golden State Dressage Classic CPEDI3* was his last opportunity to see how each rider has progressed. Handt commented, “The U.S. para-dressage team had a great showing at this CPEDI3*. Our new riders performed well in their first CPEDI and everyone earned their qualifying scores for the trials. The seasoned riders had quality rides creating a great outlook for the future. There were small technical errors in a few tests but those should be easily ironed out. All of the riders look forward to their next performance at selection trials for the 2014 WEG. Overall, the show was a great success and we are thankful to the entire show for the great support of our para-dressage riders. We are also grateful to our sponsors for the team dinner that was provided.”

2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) U.S. rider Susan Treabess, Grade IV, understands the position each of the athletes are in right now. Almost one year ago, Winters, California equestrian and trainer Susan Treabess debuted the now 9-year-old Pura Raza Espanol Kamiakin, owned by Scott and Katie Hill. Treabess was happy about the duo’s first international show but was looking forward to preparing for 2014. As a 2010 WEG U.S. rider Treabess knows what it takes to get to that arena in Normandy, France. At the Golden State Dressage Classic CPEDI3*, Treabess and Kamiakin brought their best and earned solid team and individual scores. On the final day of competition Treabess earned an exciting 72.417% freestyle score. Although riders must qualify with the team or individual score, the freestyle scores will be taken into account for the selection trials.

Treabess explained, “In 2010, my freestyle score was what put me over the top for WEG. For some reason the freestyle really clicks with my horses and me. Of course I am working hard on the other tests but the freestyle has always been my strongest. It was the first time we rode this freestyle and we received some great feedback to work on before Gladstone.”

She continued, “This show was a bit of an experiment for Kam and [me]. After our one CPEDI in June 2013 we worked this last year on gate development. We have been working hard, training, showing, and we decided to try a few things at this show. It was great to get that perspective from the judges before selection trials. We took some risks that paid off and some that didn’t.”

This show was the first time Treabess was able to work with the new Para-Dressage Chef d’Equipe Kai Handt. She commented, “You never know with a new coach and new system but I have to say that Kai wants the same thing we do which is to become more competitive as a team. He knows his job is to make this team in a solid team and that will take some time. On a coaching level I appreciated his support this weekend. He recognized what Dennis and I have been working on, he knows we are doing everything we can, he reinforced our training this weekend and had that open communication we desire from a Chef d’Equipe. I am excited for what the future holds.”

For fellow Grade IV rider Holly Bergay, this show was a chance to step back into the international arena. In 2010 Bergay was named to the World Equestrian Games U.S. team. Unfortunately lameness in her mount would cause her to withdraw from the competition. Since that time period Bergay has been actively competing and topping the ranks in the small tour for para-dressage. The Golden State Dressage Classic CPEDI3* was Bergay’s opportunity to qualify once again for the 2014 World Equestrian Games. The judges were impressed with the duo of Bergay and Rubino Bellissimo who earned the top score of the competition of a 73.083% in their freestyle. Everyone was excited to see the accomplished para-dressage athlete back in the spotlight and earning top ranking international scores.

Rounding out the Grade IV tests was brand new para-dressage rider Elizabeth Traband and Ucari, owned by Helene Bergstrom. Just weeks prior, Traband and her mount were in Wellington, Florida at their first CPEDI3*. Traband, a talented hunter/jumper athlete, transitioned into the para-dressage world and was immediately a force to be reckoned with. After a near miss of a WEG qualification score in Florida, Traband packed her bags and traveled to Rancho Murieta in hopes of obtaining a qualifying score for the WEG and some important feedback from the ground jury. Traband and Ucari will now head back to the east coast where they will rendezvous with the 13 other U.S. para-dressage riders qualified for the WEG selection trials and national championships.

Following Traband’s trek across the country, Kate Shoemaker left Wellington, Florida, and headed to the Golden State Dressage Classic CPEDI3*. Shoemaker brought her own Pacifec M to the competition and their hard work paid off when they earned their qualification score. The para-dressage world takes commitment, hard work, and sacrifices. For both Traband and Shoemaker the trip to California may have seemed long but in the end, it was worth the miles. From the value of the feedback from the FEI 4* judge’s to the international show exposure, the experience was immeasurable.

Ashleigh Flores-Simmons, Grade II rider, can understand how these riders felt as they approached X on the first day. Only 9 months ago, she was trotting down centerline with a registered Arabian at her first CPEDI3*. Not even a full year later and Flores-Simmons has become the complete para-dressage package.

“She worked her tail off this year,” commented Flores-Simmons’ mentor and national coach Susan Treabess. “We pushed her and pushed her and she really stepped up to the plate this weekend. It was emotionally challenging but the judges gave her fantastic feedback. Verite and Ashleigh make a beautiful pair and we were all ecstatic about where she is right now. I know this partnership has a really strong future.”

Winterhaven Dressage and Horsemanship, owned by Susan Treabess, has given Flores-Simmons a borrowed horse sponsorship. This relationship has allowed Flores-Simmons and Treabess to work together on developing Flores-Simmons as an international athlete. It has also provided Flores-Simmons the opportunity to work with international renowned dressage trainer Dennis Callin.

Flores-Simmons was excited about her performance. She expressed, “This was an amazing weekend and I am so thankful for this opportunity. Verite and I had a great first CPEDI together and she was absolutely fantastic. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in the ring and I am so proud of what we were able to accomplish this weekend. I would like to thank Dennis Callin and Susan Treabess for their great coaching and support; without them this would definitely not be possible. I would also like to thank Dana Williams for providing me with the opportunity to ride such an awesome horse and for all of her help and support. Also, without the support of the whole Winterhaven Dressage and Horsemanship team this would not be possible. To all of the friends and family that support Verite, I am greatly appreciative for all that they do and for the endless encouragement they provide. In addition, I want to thank USPEA and everyone who played a part in making this event possible and ensured it ran smoothly. I really valued the opportunity to receive feedback from the judges and I appreciated the time they took to offer their insights so that we can improve. I can’t wait for what the future holds.”

Competing against Flores-Simmons in Grade II was Dr. Deborah Stanitski and her own Tiramisu. Stanitski, like Traband and Shoemaker, shipped out of Florida and headed to California in search of a qualification score and a chance to ride at another CPEDI3*. The trip paid off when Stanitski earned the scores she needed and the welcome feedback she desired.

Earning a clean sweep in the Grade Ia competition was wounded U.S. Air Force veteran Derrick Perkins and Kai Handt’s NTEC Hans. The pair had an exciting showing at the Adequan Global Dressage CPEDI3* in Florida and they are continuing to develop their partnership together. Perkins noted, “This was a real learning experience. Each test I made improvements and my final ride was my best.”

Perkins has been working with Chef d’Equipe Kai Handt over the last year and he has already become a top ranking U.S. Grade Ia athlete.

Perkins and each of the qualified athletes will head to Gladstone, New Jersey in June where they will compete at the 2014 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship and 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Selection Trials for the U.S. Team.

Treabess remarked, “I am looking forward to New Jersey. It is going to be competitive. On one hand it’s nerve racking because it is a lot of time and money and you really want to make the team, and if you don’t it’s disappointing. But it’s so exciting for U.S. para-dressage. We are going to have a really tight competition, which is great for us as a country. The competition is going to be day to day and no one will know who is on that team till that final freestyle and ranking calculation.”

2014 Para-Equestrian National Championship/Selection Trial

What: The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship will be held June 2-5, 2014 at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, N.J. This championship will also serve as the Selection Trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team. At the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship and Selection Trial all horse-and-rider combinations will complete the FEI Individual Championship Test, the FEI Team Test, and FEI Musical Freestyle in their respective grade.

Date: June 2-5, 2014

Location: USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey

Criteria to Determine Eligibility to Compete in the 2014 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship may be found at: https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/allparaequestrian/hpparaEquestrian.aspx.

Qualification Criteria for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France:

1.    Qualification Period: Start January 1, 2013 End: xxxx 2014 (TBD) in addition to the 2012 London Paralympics
2.    Qualifying Events: Any CPEDI3* or 4* event during the qualification period in addition to the Paralympic Games in London 2012
3.    Qualification Score: All Athlete/horse combinations must have attained (as a combination) a minimum 60% score attributed by the Ground Jury in a Team test or Individual Championship test one time.
4.    Judges: Minimum of 3 FEI PE5* or 4* judges of different nationalities

For more information about World Equestrian Games criteria, please visit:
https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/allparaequestrian/hpparaEquestrian.aspx.

For more information about the Golden State Dressage Classic CPEDI3*, please visit http://www.goldenstatedressage.com or contact Connie Davenport at davenport@saber.net.

For questions about the2014 Para-Equestrian Dressage season, please contact the USEF High Performance Director of the Para-Equestrian Discipline, Laureen K. Johnson, at (908) 326-1155 or e-mail lkjohnson@usef.org.

For more questions about Para-Equestrian Dressage, please contact Hope Hand at Hope@uspea.org or (610) 356-6481.

RESULTS:

April 4, 2014 – Team Test Competition

Grade Ia
1. Derrick Perkins and NTEC Hans (owned by Kai Handt)   58.623%

Grade II
1.    Ashleigh Flores-Simmons and Verite SF (owned by Dana Williams) 65.539%
2.    2. Deborah Stanitski and Triamisu (owned by Deborah Stanitski) 63.725%

Grade III
1.    Kate Shoemaker and Pacifec M (0wned by Kate Shoemaker) 66.184%

Grade IV
1. Susan Treabess and Kamiakin (owned by Kathryn Hill) 68.373%
2. Holly Bergay and Rubino Bellissimo (owned by Violet Jen) 67.897%
3. Elizabeth Traband and Ucari (owned by Helene Bergstrom) 61.627%

April 5, 2014 – Individual Test Competition

Grade Ia
1. Derrick Perkins and NTEC Hans (owned by Kai Handt)  57.246%

Grade II
1. Ashleigh Flores-Simmons and Verite SF (owned by Dana Williams) 68.238%
2. Deborah Stanitski and Triamisu (owned by Deborah Stanitski) 60.524%

Grade III
1. Kate Shoemaker and Pacifec M (owned by Kate Shoemaker) 60.813%

Grade IV
1. Holly Bergay and Rubino Bellissimo (owned by Violet Jen) 67.619%
2. Susan Treabess and Kamiakin (owned by Kathryn Hill) 65.873%
3. Elizabeth Traband and Ucari (owned by Helene Bergstrom) 63.929%

April 6, 2014 – Freestyle Test Competition

Grade II
1.    Ashleigh Flores-Simmons and Verite SF (owned by Dana Williams) 71.5%
2. Deborah Stanitski and Triamisu (owned by Deborah Stanitski) 68.083%

Grade III
1. Kate Shoemaker and Pacifec M (owned by Kate Shoemaker) 68.063%

Grade IV
1. Holly Bergay and Rubino Bellissimo (owned by Violet Jen) 73.083%
2. Susan Treabess and Kamiakin (owned by Kathryn Hill) 72.417%
3. Elizabeth Traband and Ucari (owned by Helene Bergstrom) 67.733%

Written by: Lindsay Y McCall

To view an online version of this press release with more photos, please visit: http://uspea.org/category/recent-uspea-press-news/.

About United States Para-Equestrian Association:

The USPEA is a network of riders, judges, national federation board members, and equestrian enthusiasts.  The association gives athletes the ability to get involved and expand their knowledge and experience in the Para-Equestrian sport. The USPEA encourages para-athletes to participate in all disciplines under the para-equestrian umbrella.

The USPEA is a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) which serves as the National Governing Body for the equestrian sport.  This relationship between the USPEA and USEF is to encourage para-equestrian competitors, leisure riders, coaches, fans and enthusiasts to network and get involved with the entire equestrian sport.

Ultimately the goal of the USPEA is to foster growth in the para-equestrian discipline.  From growth in the number of participants to growth as a team, and growth in the experience and knowledge of all involved.  From local horse shows to international Olympic Games, the USPEA will provide para-equestrians the knowledge of what they need to succeed.  The USPEA connects with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), and USEF which provides Para-Equestrians the top equestrian resources.

In June 2010, the USPEA earned its 501 (c)(3) status which has encouraged supporters to help supply funding to the Para-Equestrian Team as a recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).

For more information about the USPEA, please visit www.USPEA.org or contact USPEA President Hope Hand by e-mail: Wheeler966@aol.com or by phone: (610)356-6481.