Tag Archives: Dressage Festival of Champions

Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Bids to Host the 2013 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions Are Still Being Accepted

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Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has extended the bid process for the 2013 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions and is now accepting bids from East and West Coast venues. Competition in 2013 will again be held in six divisions: Grand Prix, Intermediaire I, Young Adult “Brentina” Cup, Young Rider, Junior and Pony Rider.

To request a bid packet, please contact Jenny Van Wieren-Page at (859) 225-6949, or via email at jvanwieren@usef.org. Bids will be due in the office by the close of business Friday, November 2, 2012.

Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

USEF Accepting Bids to Host 2013 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

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Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is now accepting bids to host the 2013 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions on the West Coast. Competition will once again be held in six divisions: Grand Prix, Intermediaire I, Young Adult “Brentina” Cup, Young Rider, Junior and Pony Rider.

To request a bid packet please contact Jenny Van Wieren-Page at (859) 225-6949, or via email at jvanwieren@usef.org. Bids will be due in the office by the close of business Friday, October 5, 2012.

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

USEF Dressage Developing Program Participants Excel at USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

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Caroline Roffman and Pie at the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions (SusanJStickle.com)

Lexington, KY – The success of the USEF Dressage Developing Clinics was on full display in June at the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions held at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ, with participants scoring top honors in Intermediaire I and Young Adult “Brentina Cup” competition. Over the past seven months the rising stars in the sport of dressage have had the opportunity to hone their skills and prepare for future success at the highest level.

Due to a generous multi-year gift to the USET Foundation from Trustee Akiko Yamazaki, the program expanded in 2012, allowing more riders from throughout the country to participate. Select individuals were invited to take part in training sessions held throughout the year in Florida, New Jersey, and California under the guidance of USEF Developing Coach, Debbie McDonald.

At the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, McDonald worked closely with riders and their trainers to produce top placings.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Olympic Games, Para-Equestrian, USEF, USEF

USPEA Acknowledges the Combined Efforts of Individuals and Organizations at the 2012 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage Selection Trials

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Debbie McDonald at the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. Photo courtesy Tigger Montague for Dressage Daily

Gladstone, NJ – July 3, 2012 – It was a week to remember at the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. Dressage was thrown into national headlines and for the first time there were foam fingers waving “Dressage is #1” at the Olympic Dressage Selection Trials. For two weeks the United States Equestrian Team Foundation hosted the best in Dressage including the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) 2012 Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and Paralympic Selection Trials. The United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA) would like to thank everyone involved for a successful week of Para-Dressage competition at the beautiful Pine Meadow location at the USET Foundation headquarters.

Just over the hill from Hamilton Farm at the USET Foundation’s headquarters is another historic equestrian location called Pine Meadow. For years it has been used for competition and training purposes especially for the Driving discipline. For one week Pine Meadow was transformed into the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and Paralympic Selection Trials. The USPEA would like to thank the USET Foundation for hosting the Para-Equestrians and providing the facilities for this event.

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Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, USEF

It’s Fireworks and a National Championship Win for Caroline Roffman

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Caroline Roffman and Pie have been named the 2012 United States Intermediaire I National Champions. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

Gladstone, NJ (June 27, 2012) – It was a weekend of fireworks for Wellington-based dressage rider Caroline Roffman and her horse Pie, as the duo dominated the Intermediaire I Division at the 2012 Festival of Champions to ride away with the National Championship. While fireworks on a nearby golf course had Pie a little unsettled one night during the competition, Roffman and Pie set off their own fireworks in the ring to win the championship with a 74.535% total for their three classes.

Early in the week Roffman took a commanding lead of the Intermediaire I division, winning both the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I classes. Dancing their freestyle to a combination of music from Britney Spears and Katy Perry, Roffman and Pie, on the heels of the fireworks experience, came in third – but their strong lead still helped them take home the victory over David Blake, in second, and Heather Mason in third.

“I bought Pie as a four-year-old, and he was challenging,” said Roffman.  “Some didn’t think he’d ever settle down enough to be a successful dressage horse, but I’m so pleased with his progress this year.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Roffman and Hafner Score National Titles on Final Day of 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

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Caroline Roffman and Pie (Susan J. Stickle)

Gladstone, NJ – The 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions came to a close Sunday with National Champions being crowned in Intermediaire I and Young Adult “Brentina Cup” competition in the Dick and Jane Brown Arena at the USET Foundation Headquarters. Intermediaire I Freestyles and the FEI Young Rider Grand Prix were presented to the Ground Jury of Lois Yukins, Hilda Gurney, Jane Weatherwax, Axel Steiner, and Janet Foy. Caroline Roffman followed up her 2011 Young Adult “Brentina Cup” win with the 2012 National Intermediaire I title. Brian Hafner claimed his first National Championship in the National Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Dressage Championship.

National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship

Roffman (Wellington, FL) and Pie narrowly missed sweeping the three tests of Intermediaire I Championship; placing third in Sunday’s Freestyle but scored a decisive victory in the National Championship. Their score of 73.925% counted for the remaining 15% of her championship average of 74.535%.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Olympic Games, USEF, USEF

Steffen Peters Wins Sixth USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship

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Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (Susan J. Stickle)

Gladstone, NJ – Four years ago, Steffen Peters and Ravel, then an inexperienced 10-year-old, won the 2008 Grand Prix National Dressage Championship at the Festival of Champions in California. That performance earned the pair a trip to the Olympic Games where they were fourth. Four years later, an FEI World Cup title, a CHIO Aachen victory and two Bronze medals at the FEI World Equestrian Games later – Ravel was granted permission by the USEF selectors to not attend the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions which was also serving as the USEF Selection Trial for the 2012 Olympic Games.

So Peters (San Diego, CA) brought Four Winds Farm’s Legolas 92 to the USET Foundation Headquarters instead. The result was the same. The 10-year-old Westphalian gelding, who was imported in December, has won his first National Championship. It is Peters’ sixth, tying the record previously set by Robert Dover.

Their score of 77.956% was enough to give them a four day average of 77.653% and left them less than one point clear of the runners-up Tina Konyot and Calecto V. They had the ride of their lives in Friday’s FEI Grand Prix but settled up second today and overall. Peters knew what he had to do to take the National title and he succeeded.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Roffman Extends Lead in Intermediaire I Championship

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Hafner Gets Early Jump on Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Competition

Caroline Roffman and Pie (Susan J. Stickle)

Gladstone, NJ – While the Dick and Jane Brown Arena at the USET Foundation Headquarters belonged to the Grand Prix riders Saturday morning, the afternoon session was all about the up-and-coming stars of the sport at the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. In the National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship, Caroline Roffman and Pie maintained their stranglehold on the lead, while Young Adult “Brentina Cup” competitors got their first taste of competition in Gladstone with Brian Hafner jumping out to an early lead.

National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship

Day one leader Roffman rode like a woman on a mission Saturday afternoon and extended her lead in the National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship. Fourteen competitors contested the FEI Intermediaire I Test in the Dick and Jane Brown Arena but none would be able to catch Roffman and Pie.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Konyot Delivers in Third Selection Trial at the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

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Tina Konyot and Calecto V (Susan J. Stickle)

Gladstone, NJ – Tina Konyot and Calecto V picked a good day to have their test of a lifetime. They stormed to the win in Friday’s FEI Grand Prix test with a very determined performance to top the Grand Prix National Championship’s third test of four.

The 14-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion and Konyot scored above 80% for the first time in their career together. Live scores are available here.

Konyot (Palm City, FL) and Calecto V won the 2010 USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship and represented the U.S. at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Today’s performance at the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions marked their personal best and Konyot thinks there is even more to come despite scoring 80.149% today.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Roffman and Pie Set the Standard in USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship

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Caroline Roffman and Pie (Susan J. Stickle)

Gladstone, NJ – The second week of the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions began Thursday with competitors in the National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship performing the FEI Prix St. Georges Test. Caroline Roffman cantered down centerline as the second competitor of the morning, then was forced to wait as the remainder of the 14 horse division tried to top her score of 73.974%. A total of five combinations were able to break the 70% barrier however none would be able to catch Roffman.

Roffman (Wellington, FL) rode her own 10-year-old Hanoverian, Pie, in an accurate forward effort. The flashy chestnut gelding’s test was highlighted by an extremely fluid trot-tour. The 23-year-old rider was extremely pleased with Pie’s effort today and that all their training is paying off.

“I’m so happy because Pie had the best ride we’ve ever had,” said Roffman. “Luckily it was in the ring here today. This season has been building, trying to get here and now that I am I thought I would be a little braver and put the pedal to the metal a bit. We had a few bobbles here and there but I think this is the new point I need to ride him at.”

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