Tag Archives: Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program

Fortissimo B and Leonardo Come Out on Top at Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Eastern Selection Trial

Silva Martin and Fortissimo B (Picsofyou.com)

Lexington, KY – The best young dressage horses on the East Coast delivered top performances at the 2013 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Eastern Selection Trial in Leesburg, Virginia. Held in conjunction with the VADA/NOVA Summer June Dressage Show, these five- and six-year-old horses aimed for a spot to represent the U.S. at the FEI World Breeding Championships for Dressage Young Horses in Verden, Germany in August, as well as a spot on the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Short List.

Combinations needed to score 8.2 or higher to be eligible to represent the U.S. in Verden, while a score of 7.8 or higher would earn a place on the Markel/USEF Short List. Selection Trial competition had both five- and six-year-olds perform their respective FEI Preliminary Tests which accounted for 40% of the overall score. The remaining 60% of scores was earned in their respective FEI Final Tests.

Silva Martin (Unionville, PA) had an impressive weekend, claiming the top three places with her mounts in the five-year-old division. Fortissimo B (ES Fabuleux x EM Romai/Rubinstein I) took home the win after earning a 7.700 in the FEI Preliminary Test and an 8.120 in the FEI Final Test for a total score of 7.952 with Martin. With that score, Camilla Van Liew’s Hanoverian Stallion earned a place on the Markel/USEF Short List.

“Fortissimo B was great on both days,” said Martin. “He really tried for me and I think he is going to have an amazing future!”

Melinda Walton’s Hanoverian gelding Benefactor RRS (Bonheur x Heidekleid/Rubinstein I) earned a total score of 7.80 with Martin after receiving a 7.56 in the FEI Preliminary Test and a 7.96 in the FEI Final Test, also qualifying him for the Markel/USEF Short List. Martin also rode Anne Laver and Windurra USA, LLC’s Dutch Warmblood gelding Di Solitaire (unknown breeding) to receive a 7.52 and a 7.72 for a total score of 7.64.

Kim Gentry and Leonardo (Picsofyou.com)
Kim Gentry and Leonardo (Picsofyou.com)

In the six-year-old division, Kim Gentry (Germantown, TN) and Leonardo (Solos Landtinus x Rambala/Rambo) came out on top with a 7.32 in the FEI Preliminary Test and a 7.92 in the FEI Final Test for a total score of 7.68. The Danish Warmblood gelding performed well for rider/owner Gentry and showed much potential for the future.

“I am really excited about the outcome. The feedback from judges on Saturday’s test was that I needed more collection and more engagement, so I really worked on that and showing clearer transitions within the gaits on Sunday,” said Gentry. “I thought about where I could show him off, which is in his changes, so I asked him for a more uphill balance with his changes and he really delivered. Being so young, I can feel that there is more to come out of him which is really exciting.”

Alice Tarjan (Oldwick, NJ) rode her own Oldenburg mare Elfenfeuer (Florencio x Unknown/Sion) to a second place finish, earning a total score of 7.24 after receiving a 7.30 in the FEI Preliminary Test and a 7.20 in the FEI Final Test.

To learn more about VADA/NOVA Summer June Dressage Show, visit http://www.vadanova.org/.

To learn more about the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program, visit: http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/NatlYHProgram.aspx.

Top Young Horses on Display at Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Eastern Selection Trial

Lexington, KY – The top young dressage horses on the east coast will demonstrate their talents this weekend at the VADA/NOVA Summer June Dressage Show which hosts the 2013 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Eastern Selection Trial. These five- and six-year-old horses will be vying for a spot to represent the U.S. at the FEI World Breeding Championships for Dressage Young Horses in Verden, Germany in August, as well as a spot on the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Short List. Combinations will need to score 8.2 or higher this weekend in Leesburg, Virginia to be eligible to represent the U.S. in Verden, while a score of 7.8 or higher earns a place on the Short List.

The Selection Trial begins Saturday, June 8, as both five- and six-year-olds will perform their respective FEI Preliminary Tests which account for 40% of the overall score. The remaining 60% of scores will be earned Sunday, June 9, in their respective FEI Final Tests.

In the five-year-old division, seven entries will be competing for top honors. Heather Blitz (Wellington, FL) will ride Oak Hill Ranch’s Danish Warmblood Ripline (Blue Hors Hotline x Riviera/Blue Hors Cavan), the top ranked horse on the five-year-old 2013 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Ranking List presented by HorseShow.com. The pair has been posting impressive scores and is eying a win in a competitive division. Silva Martin (Unionville, PA) will ride the second horse on the ranking list, Melinda Walton’s Hanoverian gelding Benefactor RRS (Bonheur x Heidekleid/Rubinstein I), as well as two other mounts: Camilla Van Liew’s Hanoverian Stallion Fortissimo B (ES Fabuleux x EM Romai/Rubinstein I) and Anne Laver and Windurra USA, LLC’s Dutch Warmblood gelding Di Solitaire (unknown breeding).

Two entries will go head-to-head in the six-year-old division. Alice Tarjan (Oldwick, NJ) will ride the top ranked horse on the six-year-old 2013 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Ranking List presented by HorseShow.com, her own Oldenburg mare Elfenfeuer (Florencio x Unknown/Sion). The Danish Warmblood gelding Leonardo (Solos Landtinus x Rambala/Rambo) will be ridden by owner Kim Gentry (Germantown, TN). The pair has had respectable performances and hopes to shine in Leesburg.

To learn more about VADA/NOVA Summer June Dressage Show, visit http://www.vadanova.org/.

To learn more about the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program, visit: http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/NatlYHProgram.aspx.

Observation Sessions Wrap Up for the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program

Sigrid Wolff and Kodaly, owned by Alex Holland (Cavallis)

Lexington, KY – Two observation sessions for the 2013 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program have taken place in Wellington, FL February 13-14 and Burbank, CA February 22-23. Between the two sessions, USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler has been able to observe close to 40 young horses. The majority of riders attended the sessions with their personal trainers, allowing them to develop plans for their horses with the help of Hassler. He has seen great improvements in horse quality and an exciting number of promising combinations.

“We had terrific participation,” said Hassler. “2013 looks like a very exciting year with high quality young horses. Several of the combinations have potential to be future international competitors and I am really excited to watch them develop through our pipeline of trainers and programs.”

The goal of these observation sessions is to seek out up-and-coming talented young horses and provide guidance for riders, trainers, and owners. The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program also includes open training sessions which are conducted in a clinic format and not only focus on the education of young horses but also on the education of those attending the training sessions as auditors. There will be three upcoming training sessions: March 2-3 at Oak Hill Ranch in Folsom, LA, April 13-14 at Rosebrook Farm in Georgetown, MA, and April 27-28 at Oak Hill Farm in Lockport, IL.

For more information on the 2013 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program or if you are interested in auditing the training sessions, click here or contact Hallye Griffin by email at hgriffin@usef.org or by phone (859) 225-6918.

U.S. Showcases Emerging Talent in the 2012 FEI World Dressage Championships for Young Horses

Verden, Germany – Competition came to a close at the FEI World Dressage Championships for Young Horses in Verden, Germany with the final championship tests. The lone entry to compete for the United States on Sunday was Jennifer Hoffman and Florentinus V, competing in the six-year-old championship. In Sunday’s International Final, the Prize of Privatbrauerei Wittingen, the pair finished a valiant 13th after a long week of competition.

In Friday’s Prize of Mrs. Madeleine Winter-Schulze, a qualifier for Sunday’s final, Florentinus V (Florestan-Lady in Red by Londonderry) barely missed automatically qualifying. The Westphalian stallion and Hoffman (San Diego, CA) placed 13th in the class but only the top 12 would move on. Saturday’s Small Field Final, the Prize of the company ZEDAN, provided Florentinus V and Hoffman one last opportunity to earn a spot in the final.

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U.S. Six-Year-Olds Perform Commendably at First Day of Competition in Verden

Verden, Germany – Two promising U.S. young dressage horses went toe-to-toe with their European counter-parts today in the Prize of Mrs. Madeleine Winter-Schulze at the FEI World Dressage Championships for Young Horses in Verden, Germany. Competing in the six-year-old championships, Florentinus V and Sanceo produced admirable work on Friday but were unable to crack the top 12 in order to automatically move onto Sunday’s final. However, both horses will get a second chance to earn a spot in the final when they compete in Saturday’s Small Field Final; the Prize of the company ZEDAN.

Florentinus V (Florestan-Lady in Red by Londonderry) barely missed making the final, finishing the day in 13th place with a score of 8.18. The impressive Westphalian stallion was once again ridden by his owner Jennifer Hoffman (San Diego, CA). The pair has recently been training in Germany and know very well the high standard they are up against, they return to the ring Saturday eyeing a place in the final.

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Sanceo and Florentinus V Ready for Competition at the 2012 FEI World Dressage Championships for Young Horses

Lexington, KY – The U.S. will be represented by two horses this week at the FEI World Dressage Championships for Young Horses held August 1-5, 2012 in Verden, Germany. Sanceo, ridden by Sabine Schut-Kery, and Florentinus V, ridden by Jennifer Hoffman, will both compete in the six-year-old championship. Both horses were deemed sound and fit to compete at today’s Horse Inspection and begin competition Friday in the Prize of Mrs. Madeleine Winter-Schulze. Friday’s test will qualify pairs to either compete in Saturday’s Small Field Final, the Prize of the company ZEDAN, or Sunday’s International Final, the Prize of Privatbrauerei Wittingen.

Sanceo (San Remo-St. Pr. Hauptstutbuch by Ramiro’s Son II) qualified to compete in Verden after an impressive showing at the Western Markel/USEF Young Horse Selection Trial in May. Alice Womble’s Hanoverian stallion scored an 8.652 at the Selection Trials held in conjunction with the Dressage at Flintridge CDI*Y/J. In 2011, Schut-Kery guided Sanceo to a fourth place finish in the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship five-year-old division.

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Young Horses and Riders Benefit from Successful Markel/USEF Young Horse Observation Sessions

Scott Hassler evaluates a young athlete/horse combination in San Juan Capistrano (Sigrid Wolff/Cavallis)

Lexington, KY – The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program wrapped up March with the second of two Observation Sessions held in 2012.  Taking place March 3-4 in Loxahatchee, FL, the first session ran prior to the Palm Beach Dressage Derby. The second session was held March 28-29 in San Juan Capistrano, CA, prior to the Festival of the Horse. These two-day Observation Sessions allow USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach Scott Hassler the opportunity to evaluate athlete/horse combinations as they work. He then discusses the horse’s status, training and goals for participation within the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program with the rider and/or owner.

At the first session, Hassler saw a group of 10 talented young horses including three four-year-olds, four five-year-olds and three six-year-olds. In the second Session, Hassler evaluated eight riders who presented 10 horses including four five-year-olds and six six-year-olds. The majority of these horses are currently qualifying to earn a spot in the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championships, August 24-26, 2012 in Wayne, IL.

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