La Cañada Flintridge, CA – The future of dressage in the U.S. was on display this weekend as horses and riders contested the 2012 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Western Selection Trials in La Cañada Flintridge, California. Held in conjunction with the Dressage at Flintridge CDI*Y/J, these combinations were vying for a spot on the USEF Young Horse Dressage Short List and attempting to qualify for the FEI World Breeding Championships that will be held in Verden, Germany later this year. Regalo, the winner of the five-year-old division and Sanceo, the six-year-old-division winner, both qualified for the short list after producing scores above the required 7.8. Caliente DG, who finished second place in the five-year-old division, also earned a spot on the USEF Young Horse Short List.

“We just finished the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Western Selection Trial at Flintridge Riding Club. The number of entries was down this year, however the quality was excellent.” Reflected USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach Scott Hassler, “All the combinations showed very well and finished with high scores which were deserved through good performances.”

In the five-year-old division Lientje Schueller rode Pinky Roberts’ Regalo to a decisive victory and earned a spot on the USEF Young Horse Dressage Short List. The Oldenburg gelding produced an overall score of 8.1 after earning an 8.1 in the Preliminary Test which counted for 40% of the total and an 8.2 in Saturday’s Final Test which counted for the remain 60%. Regalo (Rosario-Dandiell by Nandino) now stands on the top of the 2012 Markel/USEF Five-Year-Old Ranking.

Finishing in second place in the five-year-old division was Caliente DG (OO Seven-Satina by Contango) ridden by Craig Stanley. Brenda Linman’s Dutch Warmblood mare finished on an overall score of 7.9 after earning an 8.4 in the Preliminary Test and a 7.7 in the Final. Caliente DG has also earned a spot on the short list.

Alice Womble’s Sanceo (San Remo- St. Pr. Hauptstutbuch by Ramiro’s Son II) was the lone entry in the six-year-old division but made the trip to the Flintridge worth it by earning a place on the USEF Young Horse Dressage Short List. While doing so, Sanceo scored high enough to earn a spot representing the U.S. at the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Dressage. Those championships will be held August 5-11 in Verden, Germany. Sanceo, ridden by Sabine Schut-Kery, scored an 8.7 in the Preliminary Test and an 8.6 in the Final Test earning an overall score of 8.6.

Hassler was very impressed with the stallion and the way he has come along over the years.

“Sabine presented Sanceo beautifully both days. He has matured a great deal since last year and would hold his own over in Europe. It has been fun to see this combination develop over the last few years.”

For further information on the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program, please visit: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/NatlYHProgram.aspx.

To learn more about the 2012 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials and the USEF Young Horse Dressage Short List, visit: http://usef.org/documents/disciplines/dressage/WBCSelectionProcedures.pdf.