Amy Speck-Kern and Zenanta on their way to victory in the White Fences Summer Fun II Prix St. Georges. (Photo by Equinium Sports Marketing)

Loxahatchee, FL (July 21, 2017) – Excel Dressage’s Amy Speck-Kern has had a progressive summer, with multiple FEI debut performances and the advancement of her goal to receive her ‘r’ judging license with training in Lexington, Virginia. Just before flying north to undergo the rigorous judging exams, Speck-Kern also slipped in to win the Prix St. Georges at White Fences Summer Fun II, held July 8-9, in Loxahatchee, Florida. Speck-Kern rode Zenanta, a KWPN mare (Krack C x Ferro) owned by WBS Group, to a 68.421% to win the FEI Prix St. George and qualify for regional championships.

Zenanta, debuted at PSG in June of 2017 with scores in the mid-60s. The flashy moving mare, who has been displaying increasing consistency over the past few months, is becoming more and more relaxed in the show arena, allowing Speck-Kern to showcase her incredible shoulder freedom and engaged hind leg. Speck-Kern has struck a balance between off site lessons with Olympian Ali Brock, a carefully evaluated nutritional program, and innovative tack and equipment to bring the sensitive mare to competition success.

“She continues to improve, and especially showed her balance and impulsion in the canter pirouettes, the left of which we were awarded an 8,” said Speck-Kern. “It has been a long journey with this mare as she is spectacularly talented but needed the time to build her confidence, strength, and to put all the pieces in the right place. I couldn’t be happier with her effort and progress this summer.”

Bred in Holland by Annemiek Raaijmakers, Zenanta’s owners, WBS Group, were formed to support Excel Dressage’s equestrian vision and Speck-Kern’s competitive career. WBS represents ‘work before success,’ which is a reflection of Speck-Kern’s journey with Zenanta. Zenanta’s diet was of particular importance to Speck-Kern throughout her training, and she found complete nutrition in Crypto Aero, a wholefood horse feed that keeps Zenanta cleaning her bucket despite the stress of showing or training. Wanting Zenanta to be as comfortable as possible in her tack, Speck-Kern began riding her in the Tota Comfort System noseband, whose innovative design relieves the torque and pressure along the poll, facial nerves, and TMJ, making it a happier option for Zenanta to step into the hand.

Founded in 2010 by Speck-Kern, Excel Dressage offers training, showing, and sales of top caliber dressage horses minutes from Wellington’s equestrian center. After beginning her career with Olympic Bronze Medalist Michael Poulin and “S” Judge Sharon Poulin, Speck-Kern’s naturally quiet and effective riding style and training methods drew a strong client base of competitive amateurs. A successful FEI competitor, in addition to her recent wins and debuts in the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I, Speck Kern was ranked top in the nation at the 2016 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championships aboard Kathryn Hoog’s KWPN mare Gerona, and has developed a base of international adult amateurs that compete through the FEI level. Excel Dressage imports a select number of exceptional sales and show prospects each year, and Speck-Kern is also an equestrian Ambassador for the Kids Cancer Foundation. By providing the local community and afflicted families with therapies, treatments, counseling and support, the Kids Cancer Foundation is reminiscent of the research and protocols that saved Speck-Kern’s life when she was diagnosed with Acute Myleoid Leukemia at 18. With her sights set on eventually obtaining and international judges accreditation, she was also recently accepted into the USEF “r” program, attended the exams in Virginia in July, and continues to develop her string of competition horses and list of clients.

For more information on Amy Speck-Kern, Excel Dressage, or its services, visit www.ExcelDressage.com or call 414 550 1176.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
+1 954 205 7992

Katie Hoog (left) and Amy Speck-Kern with Gerona (Photo courtesy of Excel Dressage)

Wellington, Florida (November 11, 2016) – As 2016 begins to wind down, Excel Dressage and its students are winding up for the national championships and setting personal records in the FEI levels. Based in Loxahatchee, Florida and led by head trainer Amy Speck-Kern, Excel Dressage celebrated a number of milestones over the summer and fall, with top finishes for its riders on a few different levels.

Speck-Kern’s 2016 Markel/USEF Young Horse Championship mount, Gerona (Tango X Odessa X Junior STV), forged a new partnership with her amateur owner, Katherine Hoog, and the pair successfully qualified for the 2016 US Dressage Finals, November 10-13. The invitation only competition recognizes the best amateur and professional riders in the country, and Hoog and the elegant 5-year-old KWPN mare will travel to the Kentucky Horse Park this week to vie for the Training Level Adult Amateur Championship. With Speck-Kern at the reins, Gerona, known around the barn as Gigi, placed among the top 15 5-year-olds in the nation this summer, after only a few months of being imported from The Netherlands. Hoog took over the ride on the mare with her sights set on the Finals, and qualified in one shot during the USDF/GAIG Region 3 Championships at the Atlanta National Fall Show in Georgia, the mare’s second National Championship qualification in less than a year. With qualifying scores in the mid-60s, the pair also won an entire Open/AA class with a 73.8% and was fourth in her Championship class out of over 50 riders with a score of 72.5%.

“I’m extremely proud of Katie’s success with Gerona, a horse she scouted and imported and now has qualified for the US Dressage Finals,” said Speck-Kern. “We experienced an almost 30 degree drop in temperature, intense wind, and a huge atmosphere at Regionals. Katie stepped up to the plate and rode like a pro, showing a great deal of poise and skill in presenting a young horse. In training at home, they took time to get to know each other, especially the timing of the aids to get Gigi moving freely forward in self-carriage. Talented young horses are wonderful to ride, but they don’t just do it by themselves. In addition to athleticism and balance, it takes a lot of feel from the rider.”

Bonnie Kretchik, another Excel Dressage student, recently debuted at the FEI level after beginning her career with Excel Dressage schooling 4th Level. With scores in the mid to upper 60s at 4th and Prix St. Georges, in their most recent show at the Wellington Classic Fall Challenge she and her 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding San Dante (Sandro Hit x Weltmeyer) scored a personal best of 66% in the Prix St. Georges, only their third show at the FEI level.

“Bonnie has come a long way in the past year,” said Speck-Kern. “When we first began working together she was just starting to show 4th Level and has made a ton of progress. They are now confident at the Prix St. Georges and are just about ready for the Intermediaire I as well. Sammy [San Dante] was not a schoolmaster and has never been competed at Prix St. Georges by a professional, so Bonnie gets a lot of credit for training him at the FEI level and developing him in to a true show partner.”

Esteban, an Excel Dressage import, also made his way to Nationals with his new owner, after being scouted and imported in November of 2015 and sold in January of 2016.

Excel Dressage was founded by Speck-Kern in 2010 and offers training, showing, and sales of top caliber dressage horses. After beginning her career with Olympic Bronze Medalist Michael Poulin and “S” Judge Sharon Poulin, Speck-Kern’s naturally quiet and effective riding style and training method drew a strong international client base of competitive amateurs. Excel Dressage imports a select number of exceptional sales and show prospects each year, and Speck-Kern is also an equestrian Ambassador for the Kids Cancer Foundation as a way to give back to the research and therapies that saved her life when she was diagnosed with Acute Myleoid Leukemia at 18. With her sights set on eventually obtaining an international judges accreditation, she was recently accepted into the USEF “r” program and competing her FEI mounts on the 2017 Wellington show circuit.

For more information on Amy or Excel Dressage, visit www.ExcelDressage.com.

Media Contact:
Holly Johnson
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
holly@equinium.com
954 205 7992