Tag Archives: Sabine Schut-Kery

Sabine Schut-Kery Leads West Coast Sweep in FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3*

Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo ©SusanJStickle.

Wellington, FL – March 20, 2021 –The Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued on Saturday, March 20, with a second victory of the week for the USA’s Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo, this time in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3*, presented by Iron Spring Farm. Schut-Kery rode Sanceo, Alice Womble’s 2006 Hanoverian stallion by San Remo, to a score of 75.660%, topping the competitive class by over two percentage points.

“Of course it’s amazing,” she remarked, “I don’t even know what to say! My heart always goes to Sanceo for pulling it off. I felt that there were some things that I could’ve done better today as I was riding, but then I also tried to just stay focused and make sure that I didn’t start making other mistakes. It really felt so amazing. He is always with me and always pulls it off. Obviously he can have a strong day with a high score, and a lower day, and so can I.”

The pair has won every class that they’ve competed in this season, coming all the way from California to test their talents and marking a few personal best scores along the way. Schut-Kery summarized, “It’s been amazing to be able to be here and compete, especially with so many places still shut down. I’m so grateful to be able to keep going. Especially for me – having a horse that is peaking in his age and in his training – to be able to come out here and compete, that’s wonderful. To be here surrounded by our [USA Dressage team’s] coaches with so much access to the wonderful vets, farriers, the entire high performance environment here – it is a unique place, and I’m grateful to be able to come here.”

Schut-Kery and the gelding will now head back to the west coast after their busy season. “I do feel like it’s time for a little break,” she said. “The horses do their job so well, but getting excited does put a little more performance pressure on them. I think he is ready to go home and relax for a while before we get back to it.”

Second place went to another West Coast rider, the USA’s Nick Wagman on Beverly Jean Gepfer’s 2008 KWPN gelding by Johnson TN, Don John, with a 73.340%. Third was rounded out by west coaster Anna Buffini (USA) on her own FRH Davinia la Douce, a 2007 Hannoverian mare by Don Frederico, with 69.936%.

For more information and results, please visit www.GlobalDressageFestival.com.

Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo Maintain Momentum to Win FEI Grand Prix Special CDI5*

Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – February 27, 2021 – Week 7 of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued on Saturday, February 27, with a second victory for the USA’s Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo, this time in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI5*, presented by Palm Beach Equine Clinic. Schut-Kery and Sanceo, Alice Womble’s 2006 Hanoverian stallion by San Remo, marked their highest Grand Prix Special score to date, earning a 77.468%, more than four points higher than second place finisher Lindsay Kellock (CAN).

“I feel so much joy and have happy tears,” began Schut-Kery. “It’s very emotional. Aside from those feelings, to ride the test, you are focused in there of course, but it’s also joyful. It’s an amazing feeling to have an animal like that to respond to you in there with such small aids and cues. That amazing feeling is still there for me after 30-plus years, how we can communicate with an animal like that.”

The personal best score for the pair comes after a successful win on Thursday in the Grand Prix CDI5*, and Schut-Kery noted her appreciation for the team that supports the duo and has helped them get to this point.

“During the awards,” Schut-Kery explained, “I thought, ‘My gosh, there are so many people on my team, and I want to thank the ones behind me that keep a horse at that level.’ The coaches, vets, farriers, grooms, and the owners of course. When you have such a nice ride, one that you’ve been working up to, those are the things that go through your head.”

Schut-Kery noted that though Thursday welcomed a victory, it wasn’t her favorite performance, and she was happy that she was able to stick to her plan to really ace the Grand Prix Special. She said, “How many times in your life do you have a plan and you hope you can stick to it, but it doesn’t go right? This really feels like it all went to plan today. My goal was the special. I did it a week before in the National show to prepare because we had been out of the ring since November, so today was nice. Thursday was a little disappointing on my part as a rider, so it’s nice that today it worked out so well. It’s one of those special moments, and I know that I will always have to work hard for it, but it’s a moment of joy.”

For more information and results, please visit www.GlobalDressageFestival.com.

Steffen Peters and Sabine Schut-Kery Shine in Grand Prix CDI5* Classes at AGDF 7

Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper ©SusanStickle.

Wellington, FL – February 25, 2021 – Week seven of the 2021 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) began at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL on Thursday, February 28, with top placings for the USA’s Steffen Peters in the FEI Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, and Sabine Schut-Kery with Sanceo in the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI5*, presented by Palm Beach Equine Clinic.

Peters and the 2008 KWPN gelding by Spielberg, owned by Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farm, kicked off their week on a high note, besting the FEI Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, with a score of 77.109%.

“After the test he felt like he had another two tests in there,” began Peters. “This is actually the right weather for him, where I can ride him a little bit and he settles down a bit more. That warm weather is what we are going to face in Tokyo, maybe even quite a bit hotter than this, and Mopsie seems to be ready for it. He’s been very consistently in the 76, 77 percentile, and that’s super exciting that I can ask for a bit more. Today he had a very clean test with a good, relaxed walk, so I’m extremely happy.”

Peters and the gelding have won every class they have competed in this season, and Peters is moving into the freestyle with hopefulness. “I think it’s always fun to support the organizers in the five-star freestyle,” he explained. “If we do well then, it’s nice to give back to our people, and help to pay the bills a little! We’re really looking forward to it. The freestyle is one of my favorite tests to ride, though sometimes it’s not Mopsie’s, but the night atmosphere is still something he needs to get used to.”

Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo Top the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI5*

In the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI5*, presented by Palm Beach Equine Clinic, the USA’s Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo took the highest honors of the class with a 74.522%.

Schut-Kery and Alice Womble’s 2006 Hanoverian stallion by San Remo re-entered competition after a summer break in November, earning scores of over 74% in the CDIs in California before arriving in Florida in January. Those classes, along with a national class last week at AGDF, helped prepare the pair for their biggest competition in a year.

“Sanceo was really great,” noted Schut-Kery. “Any errors made today were rider errors, and I think I lost him in the zigzag. However, he felt great in the first part of the test and then recovered quite well [from those rider errors]. I have no complaints, and I feel like we are getting to the point where we can see where we want to push more, and where we need to finesse things.”

She exclaimed, “Having this five star is amazing. When I look around, a lot of the places are closed down all over the world. We are so fortunate. I think everybody agrees that we would follow any protocol, just to be able to keep going. Speaking for myself, I have a horse that’s 15 years old. It’s not like he’s eight or 10, and one year doesn’t matter. For me, it’s very special to be here and be invited to this competition, to the five star, and that there is that caliber of show. Thank you to everyone that puts this on and supports it.”

For more information and results, please visit www.GlobalDressageFestival.com.

US Pan American Dressage Team Has Sights Set On Olympic Qualification

Laura Graves and Verdades (StockImageServices.com)

Caledon, Ont. – The 2015 Pan American Games equestrian competition will begin tomorrow with dressage. New for the 2015 Pan American Games, dressage teams may be comprised of both Small Tour and Big Tour combinations. The following nations have entered at least one Grand Prix combination in team competition and are thus eligible to compete for 2016 Olympic qualification: Argentina, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The remaining six teams have entered Small Tour combinations only, but are still eligible to compete for team medals. Competition gets underway tomorrow at the Caledon Equestrian Park with the first day of team competition. Small Tour combinations will contest the FEI Prix St. Georges test, while Big Tour competitors will perform the FEI Grand Prix test. All United States horses passed inspection yesterday. There were two draws, one for each tour, and the U.S. has drawn fifth in the order for the Small Tour and fourth in the order for the Big Tour. The U.S. will ride in the following order with Small Tour combinations competing first, followed by Big Tour:

  1. Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo (11:34 a.m. ET)
  2. Kimberly Herslow and Rosmarin (2:39 p.m. ET)
  3. Laura Graves and Verdades (4:27 p.m. ET)
  4. Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (5:12 p.m. ET)

The stakes are high as the team of Laura Graves, Steffen Peters, Kimberly Herslow, and Sabine Schut-Kery aim to qualify the U.S. for the 2016 Olympic Games. Direct qualification will be secured by earning the Pan American Games Team Gold medal.

“All our U.S. combinations had a wonderful warm-up in the main arena today and I feel extremely confident in their ability to excel in each phase of competition,” said U.S. Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor Robert Dover. “We are focused on achieving Olympic qualification and realistically this means we need to win Team Gold. We are ready for this challenge.”

Graves, of Plymouth, Fla., will ride down center line on her own Verdades, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding. Graves and Verdades made their international debut last year and were on the U.S. Team at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, where they earned fifth place in the Grand Prix Freestyle and helped the U.S. Team to a fourth-place finish. In 2015, Graves and Verdades had another spectacular finish on the world stage, taking fourth place individually at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Las Vegas.

Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (StockImageServices.com)
Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (StockImageServices.com)

Peters, of San Diego, Calif., will partner with Four Winds Farm’s 13-year-old Westphalian gelding Legolas 92. Peters is one of the most successful dressage athletes ever to represent the U.S., having participated in three Olympic Games, three FEI World Equestrian Games, and four FEI World Cup Dressage Finals. At the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, Peters rode Weltino’s Magic to Team and Individual Gold medals. Upon the retirement of his famed mount Ravel, Peters has continued his winning ways with Legolas 92. In 2014, the pair clinched their third consecutive The Dutta Corp./USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship title. In 2015, they performed beautifully at the Aachen CDI5* Grand Prix to finish in third place.

Herslow, of Stockton, N.J., will ride Kiroli Enterprises LLC’s Rosmarin, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding. Competing in the Small Tour classes, the duo began the 2015 season in top form as they helped the U.S. Team to victory in the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup in Wellington, Fla. Competing in Europe for the first time this summer, Herslow piloted Rosmarin to wins in the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I at CDI4* Achleiten and CDI1* München-Riem.

Also successful in Small Tour classes and competing as a member of the U.S. Pan American Dressage Team is Schut-Kery, of Thousand Oaks, Calif. Schut-Kery will pilot Alice Womble’s Sanceo, a nine-year-old Hanoverian stallion. Schut-Kery has competed Sanceo since his five-year-old year, forging a long and successful partnership. This year, the pair has had tremendous success on both U.S. coasts with wins in California and Florida. Extending their efforts to Europe, they were third in the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I at CDI4* Achleiten and second and third, respectively, in the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I at CDI1* München-Riem.

Poised and focused, the U.S. Pan American Dressage Team will be a formidable competitor at the 2015 Pan American Games.

Pan American Games Order of Go and Results

Behind the Scenes with the U.S. Teams: USEF Sport Director Will Connell’s Blog

From the USEF Communications Department

Riders Named to 2015 Dressage Pan American Games European CDI Observation Event Squad

Steffen Peters will compete on Legolas 92 (pictured) and Rosamunde in the Big Tour in the 2015 Dressage Pan American Games European CDI Observation Event Squad (Photo courtesy of JRPR).

Aiken, SC (May 12, 2015) – Custom Saddlery is proud to announce that three of the outstanding riders the company sponsors have been named to the 2015 Dressage Pan American Games European CDI Observation Event Squad. Steffen Peters, Kathleen Raine, and Sabine Schut-Kery were chosen to compete for the chance to represent Team USA in the 2015 Pan American Games to be held from July 10-26 in Toronto, Canada. “We’re just so blessed here at Custom Saddlery to have some of the world’s best riders,” says Custom Saddlery’s saddlefitter Sarah Boothe, expressing the sentiment of the company, which is the Official Saddle of the United States Dressage Team through the 2016 Olympics.

Olympian Steffen Peters recently earned a third place ranking in the Grand Prix at the 2015 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Finals in Las Vegas, riding in his Custom saddle. To achieve this placing, Peters and his mount Legolas 92 scored an incredible 76.832 percent. The year so far has been flowing in Peters’ favor, as he can already boast wins in Wellington, Florida and San Juan Capistrano, California, amongst others. Peters has been riding in Custom Saddles for a large portion of his riding career, and will once again rely on the brand during his performances in the 2015 Dressage Pan American Games European CDI Observation Event Squad. “We’re thrilled to have worked with Steffen for over a decade now,” says Boothe. Peters has been named not once but twice to the 2015 Dressage Pan American Games European CDI Observation Event Squad – the Californian will compete in the Big Tour on both Legolas 92, a 2002 Westphalian gelding, and Rosamunde, a 2007 Rheinlander mare. Both horses are owned by Four Winds Farm.

Kathleen Raine, also hailing from California, is an influential figure in the dressage community, constantly proving herself a talented and experienced competitor in the sport. She started off 2015 strong, competing at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida. Raine and Breanna – a 2001 Hanoverian mare owned by Raine, Jennifer Mason, and David Wightman – received high placings in the Grand Prix and also took home first place in the Grand Prix Special in the CDI5* competition. Raine is an accomplished trainer, co-owning Adventure Farm training facility with her husband David Wightman. Raine and Breanna have been named to the 2015 Dressage Pan American Games European CDI Observation Event Squad to compete in the Big Tour.

Sabine Schut-Kery and Alice Womble’s Sanceo, a 2006 Hanoverian stallion Sanceo, have been named to the 2015 Dressage Pan American Games European CDI Observation Event Squad to compete in the Small Tour. The duo has been a pair to watch this year, already winning multiple competitions at FEI Prix St. George and Intermediate levels. Schut-Kery has been riding Sanceo since he was three years old, and their familiarity with one another shows as they continue to deliver solid performances in the ring. Schut-Kery was a part of the USDF Amateur Program in 2014, traveling around her home state of California giving amateur clinics. “She really gives back a lot of her time to the dressage community,” explains Boothe of Schut-Kery’s dedication to the sport.

Kathleen Raine will compete Breanna in the Big Tour (Photo courtesy of Sheryl L Ross Photography).
Kathleen Raine will compete Breanna in the Big Tour (Photo courtesy of Sheryl L Ross Photography)

Custom Saddlery strives to make saddles that provide both riders and their horses with comfort and the ability to perform to their full potentials. Anyone who has tried out a Custom saddle knows that the perfect saddle can make a great difference in the show ring. “People just have to sit in a Custom saddle one time,” Boothe comments. “Once they sit in the saddle, it changes their position and the way the horse goes. I’ve seen horses that are very short-strided fitted with a Custom saddle that opens their shoulders and gives them the freedom to move correctly. I’ve watched countless horses evolve just by changing the saddle.” Custom Saddlery is excited to watch Peters, Raine, and Schut-Kery compete in the 2015 Dressage Pan American Games European CDI Observation Event Squad, and is proud to supply them with saddles that can help propel them toward the 2015 Pan American Games.

To learn more about Custom Saddlery and discover a saddle designed just for you and your horse, visit www.mysaddle.com or call 1-800-235-3865.

For more information contact:
Custom Saddlery, Cary Wallace
www.mysaddle.com
cary@mysaddle.com
1-800-235-3865

Dockx and Schut-Kery Bring Home Big Wins in FEI Grand Prix Special & FEI Intermediaire I at AGDF

Jose Daniel Martin Dockx and Grandioso. Photos copyright SusanJStickle.com.

Wellington, FL – January 24, 2015 – Jose Daniel Martin Dockx (ESP) performed a lovely test with Grandioso, a 1999 P.R.E. stallion, in the Week 3 FEI Grand Prix Special presented by the US P.R.E. Association. The duo scored a 72.864% to take home the win in the class that was held beneath the lights at the International Ring at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Tinne Vilhelmson-Silvfen (SWE) and Divertimento placed second on a score of 70.647% with Christoph Koschel (GER) and Tiesto coming in third scoring a 69.471%. Tomorrow will conclude Week 3 of AGDF, highlighting the FEI Intermediaire 1 Freestyle class, presented by Chesapeake Dressage Institute, and FEI Individual and Team Young Rider classes.

Dockx was very pleased with the way Grandioso handled the atmosphere under the lights, an unusual circumstance for the class. The large number of entries in the Intermediaire 1 class forced the FEI Grand Prix Special to run later in the day than usual. “I have a horse with great character, and he didn’t seem to care,” commented Dockx on riding underneath the lights. “It was actually better because the day of the Grand Prix he was very warm which made me a little scared it could be too much for him. Tonight it was a little cooler, and he doesn’t seem to care if it is day or night.”

Click here to see the winning ride for Martin Dockx and Grandioso!

As for their test, Dockx was happy with the mostly mistake-free week the pair has had and saw improvement in their tempi changes in the Grand Prix Special. “I was very happy with the one-tempis because in the last two or three shows I always miss one or two changes and this weekend we didn’t miss one. It is difficult for him to do the tempis on the centerline, and he did very well with it today,” he continued.

Vilhelmson-Silvfen and Divertimento had a lovely test, placing them second in the large class. The pair, who has had a very successful beginning to their 2015 season, continues to improve with each outing. “I am quite happy with him after tonight. I was a bit worried about riding him in the dark under the lights, but he took it very well,” she smiled. “He was very nice to ride today and we had a fault free test, so I am always very happy with that.”

“I was very pleased with his pirouettes today and also that there were no mistakes in the tempis. He can get a bit nervous and they can be difficult and I’m happy we did them without any bobbles. We had a mistake in the Grand Prix so I was glad that we were able to go mistake-free there today,” said Vilhelmson-Silvfen when describing her ride on the big Westphalian gelding.

Sabine Schut-Kery (USA) also had a great day, topping another large class in Week 3 at AGDF, taking home the win aboard Sanceo, a 2006 Hanoverian stallion, in the FEI Intermediaire 1, presented by Chesapeake Dressage Institute, scoring a 71.184%. Tina Konyot (USA) placed second on a 70.895% with Wyoming, followed by Kimberly Herslow and Rosmarin in third scoring a 70.763%. The top five riders in the class were all U.S. riders.

Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo
Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo

Schut-Kery and Sanceo, who has had a phenomenal beginning to their 2015 season, continued their success with another big win at the CDI W level. “He felt very energetic and was very with me. I was able to make adjustments, which is always so important. We did have a bobble, which was my mistake,” she admitted. “I just lost him in all of that power!”

The duo, which also took home a win yesterday in the large FEI Prix St. Georges class, continued to impress the judges today. Schut-Kery is regularly based in California so the trip to Wellington each year is an investment she truly believes in making. “This is my second year at (AGDF) with this horse, but I have come in the past. The facility here and the entire show are just incredible, specifically the footing, but everything is just first-class,” she said. “To have this kind of consistent footing makes you as a rider feel so comfortable going into the ring. I know I can trust the footing out here, and it allows me to be playful and push for more.”

Sanceo’s owners, Alice Womble-Heitman and Dr. Mike Heitman, made the trip from Texas to watch the stallion compete at AGDF this week and Schut-Kery couldn’t more proud of how they performed. “I am so grateful for my owners. I wouldn’t be having this interview without their incredible support. We have a great relationship; we make decisions together, and I am just so proud that she chose me to ride this horse,” she commented. “It was just a phenomenal weekend; they won the Jill Irving Owner Award, which was presented last night. Everyone always wants to know what is going on with the horse and rider, but really the owners are the ones who make this possible.”

Several awards were given throughout last night’s “Friday Night Stars” festivities. These awards highlighted the commitment of owners and recognized high scoring performances throughout the week at Adequan® Global Dressage Festival. The Best Owner Award for Overall Highest Score in the National Show was presented by Jill Irving and awarded to Farah Rizvi (USA) for her outstanding performance at the National competition in the USEF First Level Pony JR/YR classes aboard Prince Z.

Jill Irving also presented the FEI Prix St. Georges Owner Award to the winner of the class, which was awarded to Alice Womble-Heitman and Dr. Mike Heitman, as their 2006 Hanoverian stallion, Sanceo. Marcia Pepper, owner of Mariett, took home the Best Owner Award presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty for the second time after her horse Mariett took another FEI Grand Prix Freestyle victory. Lars Petersen and Mariett also were awarded that Adequan® High Score Award for the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle.

AGDF 3 will conclude tomorrow afternoon with the FEI Intermediaire 1 Freestyle accompanied by several Individual and Team Young Rider classes. For more information on the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

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 7 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $650,000 in prize money for the seven 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.

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

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