Tag Archives: Heather Mason

Leach and Mason Earn First Two Championship Titles Presented at US Dressage Finals

November 11, 2016 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Amy Leach and Radcliffe.

Five months ago, the last thing on Amy Leach’s mind was returning to the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® to defend her 2015 Intermediate II Adult Amateur Championship title. She just wanted her horse Radcliffe to be healthy again.

“It’s been a very difficult year for us. He had some serious health issues and was off from last December until June. We’ve had some very long days, but he’s my family and I fought hard for him,” she explained. “When he finally started feeling better, we started back to work just for fun and he felt really good. So we went to a few shows in August, and Regionals was just his fourth time down centerline where we qualified to come here.”

Then disaster nearly struck again. “Two days ago, he stepped on me in the stall 15 minutes before he got on the trailer. I knew right away he had broken my foot. My mom had to drive the truck and trailer seven hours to get here and then I went to the emergency room after we arrived,” said Leach of South Elgin, Ill. (Region 2). “I didn’t even know if I would be able to get my foot in my boot today.”

Courageously, Leach did get her dress boot on, and would not be denied another victory as she and her 18-year-old Holsteiner gelding that she’s developed from a gangly three-year-old (Rantares x Felicitious by Coriolan, bred in the U.S. by Cheryl Kellerman) earned 67.982% for the unanimous victory under all three judges in the Intermediate II Adult Amateur Championship. “This would not have been possible without so many people helping me, both my friends and members of the show staff, who offered assistance without my even having to ask for anything. It’s been so amazing and I’m so appreciative,” Leach continued. “Our intention was just to enjoy this experience and have fun after everything we’ve been through, and he’s a total ham – he lights up in the show ring. It’s our fourth time here, and I’m so glad to be back. It’s our favorite event and I so appreciate all the sponsors and people who make it happen. It’s not about competing and coming out on top – for me, it’s about enjoying each moment with him. I even took time to look around me today in the arena, and it was a great feeling.”

Fellow Region 2 competitor Amy Grahn of Lake Bluff, Ill. and her 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Zabaco (Contango x Piacenza by Juventus, bred in Florida by Roy and Beth Godwin of Bear Creek Farm) were first down centerline and gave Leach a run for her money with a solid mark of 64.254% to earn the Reserve Championship title. “My horse showed in the Grand Prix here two years ago, and then when he came up for sale I was lucky enough to try him. I’d never ridden at this level, so for the first two months I couldn’t even get him to canter, so we’ve come a long way!” she laughed. “We had a good clean test and he’ll work his heart out for you. For our first time here and riding at this level, I’m thrilled. I have to say that I have been so impressed with how nice everyone is here. It’s so welcoming, and the facility and organization are the best. I’ve never been in anything like that – going in that arena is overwhelming.”

Leach and Grahn were two of the nearly 400 horse/rider combinations representing all nine United States Dressage Federation (USDF) regions and 39 states as well as the District of Columbia in attendance at this year’s US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, being held November 10-13 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Due to the high number of entries (which have steadily increased every year since the Finals’ inception in 2013), the first two championship classes were held on Thursday afternoon, a day traditionally reserved for “warm-up” classes held as part of the Dressage in the Bluegrass open competition.

The day’s second awards ceremony was held for the Intermediate II Open division, where Heather Mason of Lebanon, N.J. (Region 8) rode Warsteiner to victory. Mason found the Dutch Warmblood (Riverman ISF x Welona by Roemer) as a two-and-a-half year old in Europe and purchased him as a resale project, but soon decided to keep the now 13-year-old gelding with the big personality for herself to develop through the levels. And Mason’s brave decision to make a last-minute tack change and discard her double bridle for the Finals resulted in a winning score of 69.737%. “It’s the first time he’s shown in a snaffle bridle since Third Level,” Mason explained. “I decided to change it up after Regionals because he’s always gone well with it, even though I was having second thoughts this morning because he was jumping around! But I had made the decision so I stuck with it, and it paid off. He felt really good and elastic today; we just worked to keep the test steady and not too electric. He is the barn favorite and he’ll stay with me forever.”

Finishing with Reserve honors was Karen Lipp (Ball Ground, Ga.) of Region 3 with Kathleen Oldford’s 11-year-old Hanoverian mare Whitney (White Star x Grace by Grand Cru) on a score of 68.202%. “I showed her in the USEF Young Horse Program as a four-, five-, and six-year-old, then the owner rode her for a while, and now we’re back together to work on the Grand Prix,” said Lipp. “She’s a hot, electric horse and I was a little worried about the atmosphere because it’s a lot for them to deal with, but she stayed with me in there and I was very happy with her.”

Also competing in the Intermediate II Open class was none other than USDF President George Williams, who finished sixth with Sara Anderson’s Dutch Warmblood mare Uniqa. “I have to say, from its inception I’ve wanted to ride in the Finals, but it just hadn’t worked out until now,” said Williams. “I just started competing this horse this spring, and I find myself here. It’s been a lot of fun and it’s great to see everything from the competitor perspective, and yes, I had that same magical feeling that so many others have experienced. There is something exceptional about riding in the Alltech; it’s a great atmosphere here, and it’s even more special knowing all the hard work and vision it took to create this event in the first place.”

Watch live online streaming on the popular USEF Network at this link: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2016USDressageFinals/. To learn more about the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, download competition information, review day sheets and results, and read daily news releases, visit the official event website at www.usdressagefinals.com.

Source: Yellow Horse Marketing for the US Dressage Finals

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven Victorious with Divertimento in FEI Grand Prix Special at AGDF 3 CDI W

January 26, 2014 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Divertimento. Photos © SusanJStickle.com.

Heather Mason and Zar Triumph in FEI Intermediaire-I

Wellington, FL – January 25, 2014 – Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven finished first for the second time with Divertimento during the third week of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), this time winning the FEI Grand Prix Special presented by US P.R.E. Association on Saturday evening. Vilhelmson-Silfven and Divertimento, a 12-year-old Westphalian owned by Lövsta Stuteri, topped the class with a score of 74.882%.

The third week of the AGDF concludes tomorrow with the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle along with a full complement of national classes.

American riders finished second and third, with Adrienne Lyle and Wizard placing second with their score of 70.549% and Katherine Bateson Chandler earning the third place finish with Wellnetta. The pair’s final score was 69.686%.

Vilhelmson-Silfven felt Divertimento was tenser in the ring than he had been earlier in the week in the FEI Grand Prix, but was still pleased that she could keep his focus and rideability.

“Thursday he was more relaxed; I had an easier ride. He got a bit tense [tonight but] I could still ride him and he still let me ride him and he trusted me and got relaxed during the test. Educationally, I’m very happy. I think he’s getting better and better,” Vilhelmson-Silfven commented.

Vilhelmson-Silfven is focused on maintaining the frame of mind Divertimento is currently in for future competitions.

“He’s working very well, and he’s technically much easier to ride this year than last year. I’ll just keep training. He’s in a good mood and in a good feeling right now, so I’m going to try to keep him soft and happy in that way,” Vilhelmson-Silfven explained.

Lyle was also quite satisfied with Wizard’s performance in the class, chalking up any lost points to pilot error. Despite not having as clean of a test as she did Thursday, Lyle was happy to see the gelding’s piaffe-passage work improve.

“I haven’t ridden the special in a really long time, so I have to say a couple of the errors I think were a little rider error. I was quite happy with parts of it. We had some errors, but the quality I thought of the rest of [the test] was going in the right direction,” Lyle detailed.

Third place finisher and fellow American Bateson Chandler was full of praise for her mare Wellnetta, especially since the two have not been together for long.

“My horse is amazing! She has an incredible work ethic. She goes in the ring, she has her ears up on go,” Bateson Chandler grinned.

Wellnetta’s tireless attitude does occasionally result in having a bit too much ‘go’ during the test, but Bateson Chandler would much prefer that to a mount she would have to constantly push along.

“You’re going to get tension when you have that much go in a horse. She is a workhorse. She doesn’t quit the whole time. [She wants to do] more, more, more and you have to tell her ‘less, less, less,'” Bateson Chandler explained.

Heather Mason (USA) and Zar won the FEI Intermediaire-I presented by Chesapeake Dressage Institute on Saturday afternoon. Mason and Zar also won the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle during the first week of competition and topped week three’s class with a score of 71.842%.

Second place went to Brittany Fraser of Canada and All In for their score of 71.053%. Fellow Canadian Chris Von Martels rounded out the top three with Zilverstar. The pair finished on a score of 70.868%.

The 2014 AGDF was Mason’s first, but she and Zar certainly made the most of their trip south. Her goal for the year was to qualify Zar of the Festival of Champions (Ky.), which, thanks to her multiple wins at AGDF, she has already accomplished. Mason worked with Lars Petersen while in Wellington, who she credits with putting them on the path to success.

“I’ve been working with Lars [twice a week] since I’ve been here. We’ve been working on more power and more engagement, especially in the extensions. I need to keep going like this and build the strength now. Our goal coming here was to qualify for the Festival, which now he’s pretty sure to be in [since] his average is over 70,” Mason explained.

Following the Festival of Champions, Mason’s focus with Zar will be moving him up to the grand prix level. It’s time for her “backburner horse” she’s owned since he was four months old to step into the big leagues.

“It’s been a challenge,” Mason admitted when asked about her and Zar’s journey. A habitually spooky horse that Mason describes as “an honest to goodness chicken,” Zar has certainly tested Mason’s fortitude. It all came together Saturday afternoon, although the 10-year-old KWPN gelding was briefly unnerved as the test began.

“Zar was more relaxed than yesterday, so I could go for a little bit more. We did have one major spook at A. But everything else was good. After the spook, I upped the ante a little bit more and pushed a little bit harder to make up the points,” Mason commented. “He was much more rideable, minus the spook, which actually surprised me.”

When Mason first arrived in Florida, she hadn’t had a lesson with Petersen on Zar for some time. Not wanting to push the gelding too quickly, they played it conservative during AGDF 1 before going for more week three.

“This show I definitely pushed for more. It helps to have Lars standing out there yelling at me,” she joked. “We played it low-key at the last show, but we knew we could ask for more. Yesterday, I had to be conservative again, but today, Lars was like ‘Go for it!'”

The final test for Mason and Zar at the 2014 AGDF will be the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle, which will wrap up competition for the third week of the AGDF. Mason and Zar will head back to Mason’s Flying Change Farm, based in Lebanon, NJ, at the end of the month, but the AGDF carries on with nine more weeks of world-class dressage competition through March 30.

Competition concludes with the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. for the AGDF 3 CDI-W, presented by the US P.R.E. Association and the Chesapeake Dressage Institute. AGDF 4 Dressage National runs January 29 – February 2.

About the Adequan Global Dressage Festival:

The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring 8 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $400,000 in prize money for the six international competitions, making it one of the richest circuits in the world. The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world-class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.

Please visit
www.globaldressagefestival.com
www.equestriansport.com
or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Adequan Global Dressage Festival is located at
13500 South Shore Blvd, Wellington, Florida 33414

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Competitions, Dressage

Heather Mason and Zar Triumph in FEI Intermediaire Freestyle at Adequan Global Dressage Festival 1 CDI W

January 13, 2014 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Wellington, FL – January 12, 2014 – Heather Mason (USA) and Zar finished on top of the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle, presented by Everglades Dressage, with a winning score of 72.275% at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AFDF). Second place went to Leida Collins-Strijk (NED) and West Side for a score of 71.150% and Austria’s Katharina Stumpf rounded out the top three with a score of 67.000% on Nymphenburg’s Love.

The FEI Intermediaire Freestyle was on the final day of the first week of the AGDF, sponsored by MTICA Farm and Everglades Dressage. Competition will resume on January 1619 with the AGDF 2 Dressage National and Gold Coast Dressage CDI. The feature event of the “Friday Night Stars” is the Wellington Wild West Show, with exhibitions such as trick riders, comedy acts, barrel racing, roping, Roman riding teams, and more for a full western rodeo atmosphere! The AGDF continues for 11 more weeks of top dressage competition through March 30.

Despite a few minor missteps, Mason was overall very pleased with Zar’s performance during the test. “I had two little mistakes. One going into the first shoulder-in that he wasn’t expecting, so we kind of wavered into it. The other one was the second extended canter. He switched [leads] behind when I brought him back. But he felt great. He was very happy. His changes and his pirouettes were very good,” Mason described.

Now that Zar’s rideability has been solidly established, Mason will start to work on his expression in preparation for the AGDF 3 CDI W, presented by US P.R.E. Association and Chesapeake Dressage Institute, which runs January 23-26.

“What I need to do is get more power in him still. More power, more expression. He’s very consistent. He’s very obedient. Now I just need to get a little bit more brilliance out of him,” Mason detailed.

“I’m going to start working more with piaffe-passage work, which he’s done before, but hasn’t been a focus,” Mason continued. “I haven’t really been using it to strengthen his [Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire tests], which I think I need to do.”

Mason has developed a close relationship with Zar after riding him for seven years. She broke Zar as a three-year-old, even showing him in-hand, and the KWPN gelding recently turned 10.

“We get along really well. He’s a really easy horse to get along with. He’s very honest under saddle, as long as you don’t act too nervous. That’s the biggest thing with him – he’s a big chicken!” Mason laughed.

Mason tailors her care for each horse, including a simple routine of lunging Zar simply for 10 minutes before he is ridden. Despite a tendency to feed off any nerves his rider may exhibit, Mason says Zar is a simple ride as long as he gets his morning lunge. Zar has even played schoolmaster for one of Mason’s young clients. “I have one junior rider who’s been with me for a few years now and she’ll ride him on the weekends – but she always lunges him first. She’s a fairly timid rider, but she knows how to handle him now. She’s learning a lot on him. She does the changes, (and) she’s learned pirouettes on him,” Mason revealed.

Mason and Zar plan to return for competition at AGDF 3. AGDF 2 resumes Thursday, January 16. The AGDF hosts 12 weeks of world-class dressage competition at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, continuing through March 30. For full results and more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.