• Save

Custom Saddlery Awards Intercollegiate Dressage Association National Winners with “Advantage” Saddles

Left to right: Johnson & Wales University team members, Francesca Edwards, Lauren Friedland, Jessica Mitchell, Madison Keys, Julia McNellis (winner of first level class and Custom Saddlery Advantage saddle), Coach Crystal Taylor, Grace Pratico, Tara Proulx. (Photo courtesy of IDA)

South Hadley, MA (May 7, 2013)  – Custom Saddlery, the official saddle of the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA), awarded eight Custom “Advantage” saddles to the IDA Nationals team and individual winners. One of this year’s winners, Julia McNellis, comments, “When I found out that I won my second National Championship title, I was ecstatic, but when I learned that the saddle I won was a Custom Saddlery Advantage dressage saddle I was completely over the moon!”

The 12th Annual IDA National Championships took place on April 27-28 at Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center in South Hadley, Massachusetts.  On Team Championship Day, The Mount Holyoke College dressage team came away with the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) National Team Championship title at the MHC Equestrian Center with Johnson & Wales University finishing second and Delaware Valley College coming in third. Each rider of the winning team will receive a Custom “Advantage” saddle courtesy of Custom Saddlery.

In addition, on Individual Championship Day, four riders took home the National Individual Championship title along with winning their own Custom Saddlery “Advantage” dressage saddle. Winner of the IDA Nationals First Level division, McNellis of Johnson and Wales University, comments, “I have always dreamed of riding in a Custom Saddlery saddle, and now I am a proud owner! Thank you Custom Saddlery and their representative, Andrea, for making my first Custom fitting easy and super enjoyable!”

“The Intercollegiate Dressage Association is proud to be sponsored by Custom Saddlery as the official saddle of the IDA. Custom Saddlery brings an incredible quality product that is appreciated by riders and coaches,” said Beth Beukema, IDA president and director of Equine Studies for Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island.  “Custom Saddlery saddles are known throughout the industry as being beautifully crafted and balanced, and will be a lifelong memory for our winning riders.”

Mount Holyoke’s team members to win a Custom Saddlery “Advantage” saddle include the following: sophomore Taylor Dickinson who won first level and ranked as reserve high point rider of the day with scores above 72%; senior captain, Rachel Berlage, who placed fourth in the Upper Training division; junior Carey Lang, placing sixth in the Lower Training division; and junior Emily Murch, who rode into third place in the Introductory division. This year marks the fifth IDA championship win for Mount Holyoke since 2002, more than any other school in the league.

The 2013 IDA National Championships hosted more than 100 riders from more than 20 colleges and universities throughout North America. Custom Saddlery is proud to have sponsored the event and promote the dressage sport among the Nations up-and-coming dessage athletes.

Custom Saddlery’s deep history of support to its dressage community has resulted in various sponsorship such as recognizing “Most Valuable Riders” throughout the prestigious Florida winter circuit including the Adequan Global Dressage Festival and Gold Coast Dressage series.

For more information on Custom Saddlery, visit their website at www.mysaddle.com.

For more information contact:
Custom Saddlery, Cary Wallace
www.mysaddle.com
1-800-235-3865

Leave a Reply