Axel Steiner. Photo credit: Terri Miller.
Coatesville, PA — Watch the Capistrano Dressage International CDI-W live this Saturday, March 22, beginning at 8:30 a.m. PDT. Steffen Peters, Christine Traurig, Kathleen Raine, Leslie Reid and Jan Ebeling are just some of the top riders you will see in the Grand Prix, Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I classes. FEI ‘O’ (ret.) judge Axel Steiner will provide commentary on each of the rides, which is sponsored by Iron Spring Farm.
“To gain fans for our beautiful but complex sport we have to make it more understandable,” Axel explains. “For people who don’t have the chance to attend shows, this is a great opportunity to view and understand what those horses and riders are doing. Even for those who are horse show regulars, having instant commentary from someone who has been in the judges’ box for 45 years demystifies the judging process.”
Axel has judged the Olympics, FEI World Cup Finals, Pan American Games and international CDIs too numerous to list. He continues, “My first experience with broadcast media was behind the scenes at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. We started with headphone commentary about 10 years ago at shows when I wasn’t judging, including at the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Las Vegas, where a large percentage of the audience was listening in. Live streaming video really only started about two years ago with the U.S. selection trials for the London Olympics. We’ve continued with the NAJYRC and the Festival of Champions in Lexington last fall. Most recently was the first of the California Dreaming Productions CDIs at the LA Equestrian Center last month.”
Feedback from February’s broadcast of the Mid-Winter Dressage CDI-W, also managed by California Dreaming Productions, was very positive, including this note from one viewer: “Thank you for your wonderful commentary of the LA show this weekend. It’s Monday night here in a very soggy Seattle and I’m watching Saturday’s rides. I passed the website info on to many friends and clients and everyone said your commentary really made the event, not only because of your obvious knowledge, but of equal importance your positivity and kindness to the horse and rider.”
There is no charge to watch the broadcast at http://www.californiadreamingproductions.com/live-stream-test/. The live broadcast will include the CDI-ring classes on Saturday and Sunday.
Supporting educational opportunities has long been part of the mission of Iron Spring Farm. Learn more at www.ironspringfarm.com.
About Iron Spring Farm
For more than 35 years, Iron Spring Farm has been importing and breeding high quality sport horses. Iron Spring stands nearly a dozen warmblood and Friesian stallions and offers programs to help breeders produce, raise and market exceptional athletes of their own. Visit www.ironspringfarm.com for complete information.
Media Contact:
Christine DeHerrera
Equestrian Sports Promotions
303-263-7531
equestriansports@earthlink.net
www.horseathletes.com