Tag Archives: Gold Coast Fall Fling

Heather Houck Wins Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at Gold Coast Fall Fling

Dr. Heather Houck (right) and Elite are presented with the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award by April Leonard. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (November 18, 2014) — “If I get to ride, I’m happy,” smiles Dr. Heather Houck. “If you get to ride you have to be very grateful, because the alternative — not getting to ride — would be terrible!” Like all true horsemen and horsewomen, Houck cannot imagine life without horses. Her obvious joy to be a part of the dressage discipline inspired the popular footing and arena company Premier Equestrian to award Houck with the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at the Gold Coast Fall Fling, presented by the Gold Coast Dressage Association, on November 8-9, 2014.

At the Gold Coast Fall Fling, Premier discovered that Dr. Houck shares its priority of treating horses and equestrians exceptionally well. “I think it is important to have a positive attitude in general with all riding,” Houck of Loxahatchee, Florida explains. “If you are grateful for being able to get on a horse every day, that comes through when you talk to the people who help you, and it shows in everything you do.” Premier awarded Houck for her exemplary attitude with a Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award ribbon and a copy of The Horse Angels, a novel by Premier Equestrian’s CEO Mark Neihart.

Houck was thrilled to win the award, which was not her only victory during the Fall Fling weekend. She and her five-year-old Dutch gelding Elite (Zapatero VDL x Laurentin) had a phenomenal ride in the USEF First Level Test 2 Open division. The pair scored 74.324 percent, winning the class by nearly ten points. Houck was proud of her young horse for how far he’s come since she imported him from England. “I got Elite when he was two. I saw him on a jumper video where they chased him in a field and he jumped right out of the field. I immediately said, ‘I want that horse!’ So I imported him — and he showed up here and was probably the ugliest horse I’ve ever seen in my life,” Houck laughs. “And now he’s beautiful! He’s such an interesting young horse — I love him. I think it’s important when developing a young horse to always be happy and calm. If you’re grateful to be riding, you feel happy and calm anyway.”

For Houck, a cheerful disposition is especially important because she must budget her time to as a professional competitor in the dressage ring and as a full-time dermatologist. “My career is fantastic!” Houck enthuses. She operates Palm Beach Skin Solutions with her business partner Stacey Macleod, as well as seeing patients as a dermatologist. “I’m excited,” says Houck. “We just came out with a new line of products that include anti-aging moisturizers, acne treatment products, and sunblocks — which are especially important because here in Florida we need them. The products are elegant and don’t block your pores, so you can really use them. They are all medical grade so they actually have very good active ingredients.”

In another display of sportsmanship, Houck was quick to thank everyone who helped make her success at the Gold Coast Fall Fling possible — including Premier Equestrian, the show staff, those who helped with the horses’ stalls, and her sponsor dac ® Direct Action Company.

Premier Equestrian is pleased to announce Dr. Houck as the newest winner of the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award. To learn more about Premier and its affordable and high-quality products, including dressage arenas, horse arena footing, horse jumps, barn equipment, and accessories, visit www.PremierEquestrian.com or call 800-611-6109.

For more information contact:
Heidi Zorn, Premier Equestrian
1-800-611-6109
www.PremierEquestrian.com
heidi@dressagearena.net

Ann-Louise Cook’s People’s Choice Award Presented to Jan Brons at the Gold Coast Fall Fling

Jan Brons receives the People’s Choice Award from Ann-Louise Cook. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (November 14, 2014) — Throughout the weekend of the Gold Coast Fall Fling presented on November 8-9, 2014 in Wellington, Florida, the weather worsened but the riding talent remained strong. Ann-Louise Cook, a successful Wellington-area realtor and dressage competitor, attended the show to support her fellow riders and congratulate Jan Brons, winner of Cook’s People’s Choice Award, and Marcel Van Der Burgh, winner of the Intermediaire 1 class that Cook sponsored.

Cook was eager to present her second People’s Choice Award during the award’s inaugural year. The award — which is given to riders that exhibit exemplary sportsmanship, horsemanship, and performance — is Cook’s way of applauding excellence in the Wellington dressage community. Spectators at the Gold Coast Fall Fling were invited to help Cook chose the show’s most worthy candidate. USDF Gold Medalist Jan Brons of Wellington, Florida was selected as the winner of the People’s Choice Award, and was presented with a ribbon sash (which looked beautiful on his mount Zonneglans) and an engraved silver bowl.

“I just want to thank Jan because he puts so much effort into training adult amateurs, and as an adult amateur I appreciate that very much. His riders are always so well prepared and really have a very strong foundation. I’ve also been very impressed with Jan’s professionalism at the shows,” Cook explained as she presented Brons with the People’s Choice Award. “I really appreciate it, and I’m thrilled to win this award,” Brons beamed. “I was totally surprised!”

Brons’s desire to always continue improving and to truly enjoy the sport, as well as his high-placing performances at the Fall Fling, made him an ideal recipient of Cook’s award. “At horse shows, I really try to see where we are in the training — what do I want to change, what do my riders need to work on, and where are kinks that we can work out.” Brons explained. “Also, enjoy it! Have fun,” he encouraged. “Yes, there has to be work involved, but you also have to be able to go out and just have a good time with your horses.”

Brons’s spirit served him well in the show ring at the Fall Fling. He and Bel Canto, an eight-year-old KWPN (Negro x Josien) mare owned by E. B. Schaffner, won the USEF Fourth Level Test 1 Open division. Brons also placed well on Zonneglans, a KWPN (Rubin Royal x Orchidee Kelly) gelding owned by Prentiss. The pair received second place in both the FEI Prix St. George (with an impressive 73.026 percent) and the FEI Intermediaire 1. “Zonneglans has been an interesting horse because he’s not so easy to deal with even though he’s really super sweet. I’ve struggled with him some in his training, but now we’re at the point where he’s becoming really fun to ride,” Brons smiled.

After congratulating Brons, Cook presented the show’s Intermediaire 1 winner Marcel Van Der Burgh with the class’s first place ribbon, a horse cookie, and a bag. Van Der Burgh, of Loxahatchee, Florida, won the class on Kempinski, a fifteen-year-old Trakehner gelding owned by young rider Chloe Hatch of Vero Beach, Florida. Van Der Burgh and Kempinski scored 69.474 percent.

“It was a really good ride compared to yesterday, when the horse was kind of nervous. I came back much stronger. Kempinski was great today, and had more confidence. This is his first time out in the I-1. This horse is really for the young rider program. We keep molding him along and building him up. I’m really proud of the horse for his first time out,” Van Der Burgh said. Cook expressed, “Congratulations, and thank you so much for coming out in the rain! It shows that you’re a true competitor that you came back in this weather and improved from yesterday and won your class!”

Van Der Burgh’s dedication to strengthening the young dressage generation is just as strong as his talent in the show ring. “I really like the young riders program,” he commented. “The owner of Kempinski is a new young rider. I really like to promote the younger generation to get that experience at the show, and we trainers have to keep that up for them.” Van Der Burgh added, “Thank you to all the sponsors and the show office, and the judges here. We have a little bit of rain, and still people are going — that’s good. I always like to support the sport for everybody, for amateurs and professionals and young riders.”

Cook was happy to have the chance to award Jan Brons and Marcel Van Der Burgh for their riding talents and their efforts to give back to the dressage community. For more information about Ann-Louise Cook and her business at Illustrated Properties Real Estate, Inc., please visit www.annlouisecook.com.

Contact: Ann-Louise Cook
561-301-4626
acre@bellsouth.net
www.annlouisecook.com

South African Rider Wins The Horse of Course High Score at GCDA Fall Fling Dressage

Neve Myburgh rode Accent Aigu FRH to the highest score at the Gold Coast Fall Fling, earning a 75.0% in the Prix St. Georges and winning The Horse of Course High Score Award. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (November 15, 2011) – South African dressage rider Neve Myburgh, who spent many years training and competing in Italy, France and Germany, rode Accent Aigu FRH to the highest score at the Gold Coast Fall Fling, earning a 75.0% in the Prix St. Georges. The High Score Award is sponsored by The Horse of Course, Inc, one of the nation’s premier tack shops specializing in dressage tack, clothing and supplies, and Myburgh rode away with a beautiful cooler from The Horse of Course.

Myburgh, who is now a Wellington-based trainer, was pleased with Accent Aigu’s ride in the Prix St. Georges class. “I have been riding him for two years and he went really well,” she said. “He loves to do everything when competing. His changes are great and he does beautiful canter pirouettes.”

Myburgh was thrilled to win the High Score Award from The Horse of Course and said she hopes to compete Accent, a Hanoverian gelding, in several CDIs during the winter circuit. Beth Haist, CEO of The Horse of Course, congratulated Myburgh on her winning score. “Neve and Accent Aigu earned a fantastic score and should be very proud of winning the High Score Award at the Gold Coast show,” she said. “Florida is certainly the place to be in the winter and The Horse of Course is very excited to be part of the dressage season. The shows attract top competition from around the world and we are excited to meet each of the winners. I look forward to seeing Accent Aigu wearing his cooler at future shows.”

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