Category Archives: Wellington Classic Dressage

Community/Charity, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, Wellington Classic Dressage

Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I and “Food Truck Frenzy” Partner for First Competition of 2012 Challenge Series

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Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge + “Food Truck Frenzy” = Fun Weekend!

Looking for something FREE and different to do this weekend?

The Palms West Community Foundation is pleased to partner with the Wellington Classic Dressage for their first competition of the 2012 Challenge Series.  This qualifying competition will be held at the Palm Beach County Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, located at 7500 Forest Hill Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL.  The competition will be held on Saturday, January 7th and Sunday, January 8th from 8:30 until 5:30 on both days, and the equestrian event is FREE to spectators!

Dressage is known as “dancing” for the horses, and many people have never been able to see it live.  “Although it is a FREE event, the public doesn’t usually even know that this is available to them to enjoy,” explains Maureen Gross of the Palms West Community Foundation.  The unique combination of athletic ability, physical grace and visual pleasure makes Dressage a wonderful sport for participants and spectators, alike. The rapport that develops between horse and rider exists at all levels of Dressage, and will be demonstrated at this event.

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Competitions, Dressage, Events, Olympic Games, Para-Equestrian, Phelps Media Group, USEF, Wellington Classic Dressage

Para-Equestrian Qualifiers to Kick Off Gold Coast Dressage CDIW and Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3*

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Wellington, FL – December 1, 2011 – At the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, FL, dressage is poised to take center stage this January. Among the many high-level competitions that will occur at the venue this winter will be a Para-Equestrian CPEDI3* qualifier for the 2012 Paralympics. This exciting three-test qualifying competition will serve as an inspiring opener for both the Gold Coast Dressage CDIW and the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3*, both of which now offer the chance to see talented para-equestrians compete alongside their peers.

The first para-equestrian dressage qualifier is going to be hosted at the Gold Coast Dressage Association CDIW, January 19-22, 2012. The second qualifier will be the following weekend, which is at the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge, CDI3*, January 26-29, 2012. The second event will run concurrent with the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5*, the only North American leg of the prestigious World Dressage Masters circuit.

“People forget that this is an Olympic qualifying year for para-equestrians as well,” said Noreen O’Sullivan, owner of Wellington Classic Dressage in Wellington, FL. “It’s just as important for them as it is for the traditional dressage riders.” She added, “We wanted to be able to help the para-equestrians this year as well. We have held classes and have had the para-equestrians competing at shows in the past, but we’ve never hosted a qualifier before, so we’re excited to bring such an inclusive event to our shows this January. It’s very inspiring, something we can all appreciate.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, Wellington Classic Dressage

Totilas to Make Exclusive Appearance at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach

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Germany's Matthias Alexander Rath and Totilas will be competing at the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach. Photo By: John Flannagan

Wellington, FL – November 10, 2011 – Totilas, the reigning Dressage World Champion and current world record holder in the Grand Prix Freestyle, is coming to the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach. His appearance at the prestigious WDM CDI5*’s only event in North America, at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on January 26 to 29, 2012. This will be the ONLY public appearance of this legendary stallion during his visit to North America. The WDM Palm Beach CDI5* will run concurrently with the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3*/CPEI3*. The World Dressage Masters CDI5* presented by Axel Johnson Group is the world’s premier dressage series, with over half a million dollars in prize money, and each show boasts over 100,000 Euros in prize money.

With his current rider, Germany’s Matthias Alexander Rath, Totilas won the CHIO Aachen 2011 in July; Totilas and Rath went on to help the German Team win a silver medal at the European Dressage Championships in August. The WDM Palm Beach will launch Rath’s and Totilas 2012 competition season, which is directed towards the London 2012 Olympics. Totilas is an 11 year old KWPN stallion co-owned by renowned German Olympic Show Jumper and breeder Paul Schockemöhle and German Olympic Dressage rider Ann-Katrin Linsenhof.

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Awards, Breeds, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Wellington Classic Dressage

Calamus Interagro Wins Interagro Lusitano High Score Award at Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge

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Marcel van der Burgh and the Lusitano stallion, Calamus Interagro, won the High Point Lusitano Award at the Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge Show. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (November 4, 2011) – International rider and trainer Marcel van der Burgh, a native of Holland who now operates out of Loxahatchee, Florida, rode the five-year-old Lusitano stallion Calamus Interagro to the High Score Lusitano Award during the Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge Show. Sponsored by Interagro Lusitanos, the largest breeder and exporter of Lusitano horses in the world, the High Score Lusitano Award recognizes the highest scoring Lusitano during a dressage competition and highlights the dynamic and competitive Lusitano breed.

Calamus was bred at Interagro Farms in Brazil and imported to the United States during Interagro’s 2011 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction. The handsome stallion was purchased by a Michigan rider and put into training with van der Burgh. “Calamus is very rideable and easy going, especially for a stallion. I really like the Lusitano breed as they are sensitive but still great for amateurs,” he said. “Our goal with Calamus is to train him up through the levels and have his owner ride and compete him.”

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Awards, Community/Charity, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Training/Clinics, Wellington Classic Dressage

International Dressage Rider Oded Shimoni Wins BEST Rider Award from Personal Trainer Nick Tortora at Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge

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Oded Shimoni won the BEST Rider Award aboard Don Dueto at the Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge Show. Nick Tortora, founder and personal trainer at BEST, will present the award throughout the season. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (October 24, 2011) – International dressage rider Oded Shimoni, a trainer and coach to many of the top names in the dressage world, found himself in the winner’s circle during the Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. Shimoni won the USEF Fourth Level Test 1 aboard Don Dueto and also rode away with the BEST Rider Award. The BEST Award, which stands for Balanced Equestrian Strength Training, will give Shimoni the chance to work with personal trainer Nick Tortora, a Wellington based trainer who focuses on equestrian strength training.

Shimoni was pleased with his win on Don Dueto and said it was the seven-year-old stallion’s first time at a show. “He was great and did everything right,” Shimoni said. “He belongs to an owner in New Hampshire.  I have had him about 11 months and am really excited about him. I am also excited about winning the BEST award and look forward to working with Nick Tortora.”

Tortora, whose clients include McLain Ward and Caroline Roffman, helps riders become stronger, gives them an edge up on the competition and helps each rider move to the next level. “I help riders focus on movement and strengthening any movements they have which may be weak,” Tortora said. “When Oded comes for his free one-hour training session, which also includes a half-hour consultation as well, I will assess how his body moves and then we will work on strengthening his core which will in turn stabilize him on the horse and in day to day life.”

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Awards, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Wellington Classic Dressage

Pan Am Competitor Marco Bernal Wins Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at Wellington Classic Dressage Fall Challenge I Show

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Marco Bernal competed his Westphalian stallion Farewell IV at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge Fall I Show and rode away as winner of the Premier Sportsmanship Award. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (September 21, 2011) – Colombian dressage rider Marco Bernal, who is headed to the Pan American Games in Mexico in October to compete for his native country on his Westphalian stallion Farewell IV, earned the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at the Wellington Classic Dressage Fall Challenge I Show. Thanks to his positive attitude and never-ending smile, just a few examples of Bernal’s good sportsmanship, the highly decorated dressage rider rode away with a new pair of German-designed Roeckl gloves from Premier Equestrian.

“Having Marco win our first Sportsmanship award of the 2011/2012 Dressage season was the perfect way to kick things off because I can’t think of anyone who exemplifies being a good sport more than Marco,” said Heidi Zorn, President of Premier Equestrian, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories. “I have watched Marco ride for many years and he is a super competitor with a super attitude. I am really pleased that he began the season for us and I also want to wish him the best of luck at the upcoming Pan Am Games.”

Bernal, who owns Marco Bernal International Dressage in Wellington, said he is looking forward to competing in Mexico. This will be the fifth time for Bernal to represent his country in the Pan Am Games. In 1999, the accomplished rider won a Silver medal at the Pan Am Games. He has also represented Colombia at the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup in Las Vegas, competed in 2010 in the World Equestrian Games for Colombia and in 2010 competed in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico aboard Farewell, winning both the team Gold and the Individual Gold Medal.

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Dressage, Wellington Classic Dressage

Wellington Classic Dressage Event

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Wellington Classic Dressage is gearing up for the 2012 show season at the beautiful Palm Beach County Jim Brandon Equestrian Center and major improvements to the Center will mean that no matter the weather, the show can go on.

The Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, one of Palm Beach County’s Parks and Recreation facilities, has been host to Dressage and other equestrian events for the past six years. The facility has undergone major improvements this summer including landscaping and beautification, but also what matters most to dressage riders – footing. The FEI rings and warm-ups have new footing and an additional $100,000 was spent on a state-of-the-art drainage system in the show arenas and barns.

The new footing is courtesy of Wellington Classic Dressage, said Joan Hutchinson, facility manager for the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. “And we’re grateful for that,” she said. “Those footing improvements were paid for by Wellington Classic and yet it benefits everyone, not just dressage riders.”

The new drainage system was covered by Palm Beach County and Hutchinson said that while it’s one of those vitally important improvements it’s also not one that is easily noticed. “When it floods, people notice that, but the idea here is that neither the rings nor the barn will flood and people don’t usually notice an improvement that’s good.” Noreen O’Sullivan, Managing Partner for Wellington Classic and President of Gold Coast Dressage Association (a 501 (c)(3), not-for-profit), agrees, adding, “Florida is in a tropical climate and is subject to heavy rainstorms at times, so although we can’t control the weather, it’s great that we have such a great system in place.” Wellington Classic and Gold Coast Dressage hosts shows year-round at Jim Brandon.

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