Wellington, FL – January 28, 2013 − The Global Dressage Forum North America (GDFNA) launched the first day of the premier educational dressage experience in at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Palm Beach County, presented by Wellington Classic Dressage and DressageClinic.com.
Andreas Stano, Executive Director and Founder of the GDFNA and DressageClinic.com, welcomed top international professionals from the U.K., Germany, Holland, Denmark and Canada, as well as spectators from as far away as Canada, Europe and New Zealand.
The program began with George Williams, president of the United States Dressage Federation, outlining the issues facing dressage in the U.S. today. “We need to protect dressage for the future,” Williams said, “and we must make it sustainable.”
He emphasized the importance of supporting the highest level of the sport and the key aspect education plays in the future.
Ashley Holzer, speaking on behalf of Dressage Canada, discussed the importance of athletes’ continued involvement in all aspects of the sport, especially rule changes. Holzer said that Canada formed a council of athletes to consider the future of the sport of dressage. “We have a unique opportunity coming up,” she said. “Toronto is the host of the Pan Am Games in 2015 (and hoping to host WEG in 2018). There is a great influx of government support and, hopefully, corporate support. I hope you’ll see Canada on the podium.”
The first lecturer of the afternoon was Dr. Juan Samper, author of the breeding resource “Equine Breeding Management and Artificial Insemination” that Stano described as “a bible for equine reproduction.” Samper is involved in developing a new technology that will allow breeders to choose the sex of a foal and said the testing of the technology is yielding very good results. “It will be available to everyone in a year or so,” he said.
Samper summarized the challenges in breeding dressage mares, touching on recent developments in breeding. “We breed the best to the best and hope for the best, and that’s what breeding is really all about,” he said.
The feature presentation of the afternoon was a discussion and training demonstration with United States dressage legend Steffen Peters, whom Stano described as “one of the most in-demand celebrities in the world.”
Peters said he was excited with the results of Friday’s Grand Prix CDI5* at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach, particularly with the strong performances of U.S. horses Legolas 92, ridden by Peters, and Paragon, ridden by Heather Blitz. “When was the last time that we had two horses from the United States that scored 74% and 75%?” he said. “For me, this was huge.”
He also mentioned the USEF Dressage Developing Program and Debbie McDonald’s role as Developing Coach as essential steps toward developing a pipeline of high-level riders.
After the clinic, a distinguished panel of international judges and competitors gave feedback on Peters’ instruction. Panel members Christoph Hess, Stephen Clarke, Wim Ernes, Gary Rockwell, Lendon Gray, Sue Blinks, and George Williams praised Peters’ training techniques and highlighted key concepts.
Peters stressed developing horses’ minds as well as their strength. “I find it so important not just to engage the hindquarters but to engage the horse’s brain,” he said.
He also emphasized working with each horse as an individual. “We have to find the most productive frame for each horse to find the most consistent and light connection,” he explained. “It’s always about the connection. It’s never not about the connection.”
Then, Dr. Grant Moon, a six-time world champion farrier, spoke about the shoeing of competitive dressage horses. “The horse is our ultimate client,” he said, adding that the farrier’s job is to prevent injury and maximize the performance. He said that trimming is 90 percent of horseshoeing.
Dressage legend Arthur Kottas demonstrated work in hand for the dressage horse. After explaining proper turn-out, he showed rein-back, half-steps and piaffe. Kottas was calm and soothing while stressing trust for both the horse and rider. Afterward, panel members Anne Gribbons, Kathy Connelly, Betsy Steiner, Leslie Reid, Jan Ebeling, and Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel commented on the demonstration and asked Kottas questions about his techniques and theories.
Rudolf Zeilinger, coach of the Danish Olympic Team, spoke about the development of dressage horses. “There are a lot of things you can train in the young years, without pressure,” he said. He continued to say that if things are not going well in the training of a young horse, that often if you go back a step, things will improve and you can move forward in the training. He also stressed that when schooling movements, they should be practiced at different speeds and in different directions to keep the horse fresh.
The GDFNA continues Tuesday featuring demonstrations and lectures by Ingrid Klimke, Bo Jena, Stefan Stammer, Hilary Clayton, and Wolfram Wittig, as well as the presentation of the GDFNA Life Time Dressage Recognition Award to Klaus Balkenhol.
2013 Global Dressage Forum North America Fast Facts
What: A two-day educational program, January 28-29, 2013, featuring four lecturers, six clinicians and 12 panelists. Dressage training techniques for the development of horse and rider are analyzed and presented in both practical and theoretical sessions. Forum topics also include the latest developments in horse management, veterinary practices and sports sciences.
Where: The first annual GDFNA will be held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, Okeeheelee Park South, 7500 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL, www.pbcgov.com/parks/equestrian/jimbrandon/directions.htm.
Schedule of events:
Monday, Jan. 28, 2013
Afternoon program 1:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m.
Evening program 7:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013
Afternoon program 1:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Evening program 7:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
For a complete schedule of events, go to: http://www.globaldressageforumna.com/event-program.
Presented by:
www.DressageClinic.com and Wellington Classic Dressage
Andreas Stano, Executive Director, www.DressageClinic.com and Global Dressage Forum North America
Noreen O’Sullivan, President, www.WellingtonClassicDressage.com
Sponsors:
Schleese Saddlery
Thin Line Products LLC
Website: www.GlobalDressageForumNA.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Global-Dressage-Forum-North-America
Educators:
Clinicians: Ingrid Klimke, Steffen Peters, Wolfram Wittig and Rudolf Zeilinger, Arthur Kottas and Bo Jena will present and demonstrate theories, philosophies and methods on the training and development of dressage horses and riders.
Lecturers: Dr. Hilary Clayton – maintaining soundness in the dressage horse; Dr. Grant Moon – shoeing the competitive dressage horse; Dr. Ina Gosmeier – natural medicine and acupuncture for the sport horse; Dr. Juan Samper – the art and science of breeding a dressage horse.
Panelists: Christoph Hess, Stephen Clark, Wim Ernes, Gary Rockwell, Lendon Gray, Sue Blinks, Anne Gribbons, Kathy Connelly, Betsy Steiner, Leslie Reid, Jan Ebeling and Felicitas von Neumann Cosel.
Education partners:
Dressageclinic.com members, members of USDF and Dressage Canada and select associations (including New England Dressage Association, Wisconsin Dressage & Combined Training Association, Georgia Dressage & Combined Training Association, Illinois Dressage & Combined Training Association, Gold Coast Dressage Association) will provide their members with a 15 percent discount. See websites for details.
Media inquiries:
Phelps Media Group International
12012 South Shore Blvd., Suite 105
Wellington, FL 33414
Mason Phelps or Sue Weakley
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
skw@phelpsmediagroup.com
Tickets:
Call 1-561-227-1525 or go to www.GlobalDressageForumNA.com for ticket information or www.wcd.ticketleap.com/gdfna to purchase tickets.
General Admission tickets: $350 (for two days general admission)
VIP tables: Eight seats per table @ $300 per person
**The Global Dressage Forum North America is a unique educational forum organized for the betterment of the sport for North American riders and trainers, and is not related to, or affiliated with, the Global Dressage Forum of the Netherlands.
By Sue Weakley
Media Contact: Mason Phelps
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com