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USDFLusitano Stallion Zairo Interagro Represents the Breed in 2012 USDF Trainer’s Conference Zairo Interagro and rider Heather Bender receive coaching during the USDF Trainer’s Conference at High Meadow Farm. (Photo courtesy of JRPR) Wellington, FL (February 7, 2012) – Zairo Interagro, a beautiful grey Lusitano stallion bred by Interagro Lusitanos, participated as a demonstration horse the during the USDF FEI-Level Trainer’s Conference with trainer Heather Bender. The USDF Trainer’s Conference was held at High Meadow Farm in Loxahatchee, Florida, and featured Christoph Hess, an FEI “I” judge in both dressage and eventing. “I am so pleased that Zairo Interagro had the opportunity to represent the Lusitano breed during the Trainer’s Conference,” said Cecilia Gonzaga, the Managing Director of Interagro Lusitanos in Brazil. “Trainers from around the United States attended the conference, and this event was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the breed.” Zairo and Bender took part in the Third level demonstration, working on flying changes and stretching over the back under the tutelage of Hess. “Zairo is a talented horse and a good representation of the Lusitano breed, which are known for their generous temperament and trainability,” Gonzaga said. Region 5 and Region 1 Take the Team Dressage Gold Medals at the 2011 Adequan/FEI NAJYRC Region 5 claimed the Gold medal in the Young Rider competition. Photo by SusanJStickle.com Lexington, KY – Temperatures soared, but dressage competitors managed to keep their cool as the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North kicked off today at the Kentucky Horse Park. This is the third year the championships have been held at the Kentucky venue, which was the site of the 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games last fall. The day began with Junior and Young Rider dressage competitors vying side-by-side in the USDF/Platinum Performance Dressage Championship Team tests and ended with the pomp and pageantry of the official opening ceremonies. Competitors started early in the Young Rider Team dressage event, but late in the day when the dust cleared from the center line it was U.S. Region 5 standing on the Gold-medal podium for the second year in a row. Brandi Roenick, aboard Pretty Lady, Madeleine Birch on Uoeri, Catherine Chamberline on Verdicci, and Aylin Corapcioglu aboard Ruhmann captured the top spot with a combined Team score of 198.104. “It’s just great to be a double Gold medalist!” gushed Birch, 20, who was part of the 2010 Gold-medal-winning Young Rider Team, “especially coming back here with my own horse,” she added. New Rules and Criteria for USDF Freestyles! by Ruth Hogan PoulsenQuick tips and facts about the new Freestyle requirements! 1. There is a maximum time limit but NO minimum time. Maximum time limit for all USDF freestyles is 5 minutes. Your time begins when your horse moves off after the entry salute and ends at the final salute. 2. One point will be deducted from the total artistic score for exceeding the time limit. 3. Movements done above your level will be penalized by a four point deduction from the technical score for each “clearly forbidden” movement done. 4. The rider must enter the arena within 45 seconds of the signal from the judge and within 20 seconds of the start of the music or will be eliminated. 5. Halt and salute are now judged at the beginning and end of a freestyle. The halt with a salute must be facing “c”. Premier Equestrian and the United States Dressage Federation Now Offering “On the Levels” DVD for New Tests FEI “O” judge Gary Rockwell gives the judge’s perspective, scoring each movement of each test and giving a final score, on the new “On the Levels” DVD series produced by Premier Equestrian and the USDF. (Photo courtesy of Premier Equestrian) Sandy, UT (May 17, 2011) – Dressage riders seeking to learn and study the 2011 USDF dressage tests can now do so with a new and updated DVD edition of “On the Levels.” Produced by Premier Equestrian, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories, and the USDF, the new versions of the tests became effective December 1, 2010. “The DVD includes the USDF Introductory through USEF Fourth Level Test 3. The three hours of test video features elements of both training and judging and allows the viewer to see and hear how each of the newly designed dressage tests should be ridden,” said Heidi Zorn, President of Premier. “And of course being able to watch and learn from the comfort of your own home is great. Or a group of riders can get together in a clinic setting and watch and learn as a group.” The “On the Levels” DVD features FEI judges Lilo Fore and Gary Rockwell. Fore is a well-known dressage trainer and FEI “I” judge from California and throughout the DVD Fore comments on each ride and gives a trainer’s perspective on how to successfully ride each test. Rockwell, who lives in Florida and is one of only three U.S. FEI “O” judges, gives the judge’s perspective, scoring each movement of each test and giving a final score. Fleet Footing International Now a Sponsor for USDF Shows at CanterburyFleet Footing International is now a sponsor for two USDF shows held at Canterbury. Back in February the new fiber was put into ring 1 and two warm up rings and the competitors are just raving about it. Canterbury was always nice; however, under very rainy conditions, the rings outside would get tough to ride in. Now they are useable in all weather. Manager Wendy Low said this is the best type of fiber to mix with existing sand areas she has ever seen. “We are fortunate to have this available at a very reasonable price. We had estimates from a few footing equine companies and it was way out of reach for us. But this was in our budget.” The fiber is tilled in with the existing sand top layer and then rolled and watered. The result is a springy, carpet like ride. The horses love it. William Solyntjes, USDF clinician and “S” judge, said at the Twice As Nice Show, “After an all night rain and well into the morning, riders at the Canterbury show found the footing to be secure. The fiber seems to soak up the moisture and keep its integrity. Not one horse slipped and I was able to give many 8s and even some 9s because of the resilient and safe footing. Horses stayed soft in the back and showed elastic gaits.” Intercollegiate Dressage Association’s 2011 National ChampionshipNewberry, FL – Riders from more than 20 colleges and universities throughout the United States will converge at the Canterbury Equestrian Show Place in Newberry, FL, to compete at the Intercollegiate Dressage Association’s 9th annual National Championship. More than 100 riders will compete April 30 and May 1 as part of a 4-member team or as individuals in each of the IDA’s four divisions: introductory, lower training, upper training and first level. The IDA is comprised of 680 student riders representing 60 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada, divided into 10 regions. The qualifying teams and individual riders have earned their way to the championship by earning points in IDA-sanctioned competitions held throughout the academic year within their respective regions. University of Florida and its dressage team are hosting for the event. Along with their host duties, team members are among the early qualifiers for the competition, which include Delaware Valley College, last year’s National Champion Team, Virginia Intermont College, and Mt. Holyoke College. With three national championship titles each, Virginia Intermont and Mt. Holyoke have dominated the IDA since it began as a national organization in 2001. The Dressage Foundation Announces Changes to the Major Anders Lindgren Scholarship for Dressage InstructorsLincoln, NE – The Dressage Foundation is pleased to announce that the annual Major Anders Lindgren Scholarship has recently been revised to provide scholarships to a greater number of qualified dressage instructors. Major Anders Lindgren was an accomplished dressage rider, having won the 1971 Swedish Dressage Championship and ridden on the Swedish Olympic Team in 1972. He also won the Scandinavian Eventing Championship in 1959. Lindgren’s contribution to American dressage was large, as he was solidly committed to the education of U.S. dressage instructors. Over a ten-year period, almost 1,000 participating instructors learned from his systematic, structural approach to teaching Dressage at the USDF/Violet Hopkins National Seminars for Dressage Instructors, and then at the National Symposium. Major Lindgren passed away in 2010 at the age of 85. Since 1996, The Dressage Foundation has offered annual scholarships in Major Lindgren’s name, for instructors to train in Europe. However, beginning this year, the Major Anders Lindgren Scholarship has been restructured to offer funding to more instructors, to train in the United States. Florida’s Dressage Initiative Gets Big Thumbs Up in California as Great for Sport in U.S. Steffen Peters. Photo by Ken Braddick/ dressage-news.com Glenda McElroy, who probably has run more dressage competitions, including four World Cup Finals on the West Coast, than any other show manager in the United States, is excited about the initiative to create a dressage stadium in Palm Beach, FL, as are the top riders competing at her shows. “Anything that can showcase dressage and appeal to a broader audience, bring a brighter spotlight to the sport, is good for dressage,” she said during her Festival of the Horse World Cup qualifier at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Some of California’s top dressage figures who were competing at the LAEC in Burbank came out strongly in support of plans to build a new dressage complex as part of Phase II of development of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, home to the world famous Winter Equestrian Festival. Dressage Rider and Two-Time Olympian Jane Gregory Dies Jane Gregory. Getty Images. Former British Olympic dressage rider Jane Gregory has died at the age of 51 from a suspected heart attack. Gregory first rode for Britain in 1994 and went on to team up with Cupido at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. And the Wiltshire-based rider returned to Olympic action three years ago in Hong Kong when she rode Lucky Star. “This is tragic news. Her enthusiasm, energy, dedication and positive outlook on life was infectious,” said British Dressage chief Jennie Loriston-Clarke. “Jane was an inspiration to many in the sport and was so proud every time she competed for her country. “She will be dearly missed by all in British dressage and everyone who had the privilege to meet her or watch her perform.” The two-time Olympian, who was born in Bromley, is survived by her husband Aram, the Hong Kong dressage rider with whom she set up a yard in 2001 before marrying in 2006 after more than 20 years together. Peters Sweeps Small Tour & Ebeling Prepares for World Cup at Festival of the Horse CDI-W/Y/J Steffen Peters and Weltino's Magic. Photo by Jennifer M. Keeler Burbank, CA – In sunny California, the competition for a coveted spot on the U.S. and Canadian Pan American Games teams heated up during the Festival of the Horse CDI-W/Y/J, held March 31 – April 3, 2011, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. Despite a large and talented group of international competitors, there was no stopping Steffen Peters with what the judges deemed his new “super horse”, Weltino’s Magic. Peters and Jen Hlavacek’s nine-year-old Westfalen gelding (Weltino x Diva by Diamond Boy) swept the small tour with impressive scores of 75.395% in the Prix St. Georges and 77.237% for the Intermediaire I, and debuted their new freestyle to a score of 79.417%. “The first word that comes to mind is ‘fun’,” says Peters in describing the weekend’s rides. “He’s really a pleasure to ride, so supple and forward now, it’s like that feeling that I get from Ravel.” On Peters’ heels throughout the competition were Guenter Seidel and Sundayboy (Dutch Warmblood gelding by Kennedy, owned by Richard and Jane Brown), who earned second-place finishes in both the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I; as well as Freestyle runner-up Jan Ebeling and Anne Romney’s Sandrina (Oldenburg mare by Sandro Hit x Stutbuch by Ganymed). “There are really nice horses here on the West Coast,” noted judge Cara Whitham (5* CAN). “While I haven’t seen every single horse out there, at this point and from what we saw this weekend it looks like it may be a U.S. team of gentlemen riders going to Guadalajara for the Pan Ams. It’s very strong out here. But it is still a long while until October. We’ll see!” |
