Alberta Equine ...On-Line News: Wellington Dressage to Feature Large Contingent of International Grand Prix Riders Aiming for World Equestrian Games

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Wellington Dressage to Feature Large Contingent of International Grand Prix Riders Aiming for World Equestrian Games

February 1, 2006

Canada’s Ashley Holzer and Gambol Photo Credit: SusanJStickle.com

WELLINGTON, FL --- Wellington Dressage, the first of three dressage shows featured at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, kicks off on Thursday, February 2, and runs through Sunday, February 5, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club. Featured in the four-ring show are qualifying competitions for the 2006 World Equestrian Games Selection Trials, and qualifiers for the 2006 USEF National Grand Prix Championship and USEF National USEF Intermediaire I Championship.

Mary Silcox, head of dressage at Stadium Jumping, Inc., the producer of the Winter Equestrian Festival, stated that an especially large contingency of international riders is competing this year, a reflection of the drive towards the World Equestrian Games (WEG), which will be held August 20 to September 3 in Aachen, Germany. “Many of these international riders are using our shows to gain scores to qualify for the WEG, or to compete in a setting that helps prepare them for the WEG,” Silcox said. To accommodate the increased amount of entries at the Grand Prix level, Silcox has extended the Grand Prix classes by one hour and included an additional Grand Prix section.

Riders representing Canada, Colombia, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, and Brazil will be competing in the Wellington Dressage show, with the Colombian and Brazilian riders using the competition as one of their country’s qualifiers for the WEG. The Canadians represent the largest international contingency and include five of the country’s Short-Listed riders: Ashley Holzer, Shannon Dueck, Tom Dvorak, Evi Strasser, and Jacqueline Brooks. Germany is also well represented, with riders including Martin Rathfelder, Franzi Pfeiffer, and Mirja Block. Additional international riders include Pia Aragao of Brazil; Marco Bernal of Colombia; Lars Petersen of Denmark; and Nina Soderberg of Sweden.

A strong contingency of American riders will also be competing at the Grand Prix level at Wellington Dressage, as the show serves as a qualifier for both the U.S. WEG Selection Trials and the 2006 USEF National Grand Prix Championship, which will be held June 15-18 at the USET Foundation headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey. Super stars of the U.S. dressage world participating in the show include: Katherine Bateson-Chandler riding FBW Kennedy, the 2004 Athens Olympic mount for six-time Olympian Robert Dover; Pierre St. Jacques and Lucky Tiger, a duo that competed on the 2003 Pan American Games team; Charlotte Bredahl Baker, a member of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Team, aboard Komo; George Williams with Rocher, a pair that competed on the 2005 CDIO Aachen team; and the 2005 USEF National Reserve Grand Prix Champion Arlene ‘Tuny’ Page with Wild One.

Silcox also noted that the two full sections of Grand Prix horses illustrates that many horses shown in the small tour (Prix St. Georges/Intermediaire) in previous years have now moved up to the Grand Prix level. “It’s wonderful to see that so many of the horses have advanced,” Silcox said. “We have lots of really nice riders. It shouldn’t be a hardship for the USEF to pick a team for the WEG.” Silcox added that some of the U.S. riders entered in the show are competing as part of their strategy to accumulate enough scores to be Long-Listed or Short-Listed for the USEF High Performance Dressage Team. “Also, you’re allowed to drop a score if you have more than the amount necessary, which can boost a rider’s chances of getting on the Short List,” Silcox pointed out.

Also highlighting Wellington Dressage is the 10th annual running of the $25,000 Windsome Dressage/Show Jumping Team Spectacular, which will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, February 4. This featured competition is a spectator favorite as first-rate dressage riders and show jumpers pair up and switch disciplines. Jumpers will ride Third Level Test 3 and dressage riders will jump a Hit ‘n’ Hurry course up to 3’ 6”.

Entries in this fun and exciting class include the defending champions – show jumping’s four-time Olympian Anne Kursinski and dressage Olympian Bent Jensen; this duo has won the class more than half a dozen times. Additional entries include dressage rider Nicole Levy, a Team Bronze Medalist at the 2002 NAYRC, paired with Ireland’s Olympic show jumper, Kevin Babbington; and Heather Bender, who has earned her United States Dressage Federation Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals, paired with Grand Prix show jumper Roberto Teran of Colombia, who has represented his country in Nations’ Cup competition.

Mr. John Deuss and Windsome Farm have sponsored Wellington Dressage and the $25,000 Windsome Dressage/Show Jumping Team Spectacular for 10 consecutive years.

Officiating at Wellington Dressage will be a distinguished panel of international judges at the FEI rings: Natalie Lamping 'I', Marianne Ludwig 'I', Joan MaCartney 'I' and Lois Yukins 'I'. Judging Training through Fourth Level will be Maryall Barnett 'C', Jane Weatherwax 'C', Susan Roberto 'R', and Lynda Southam 'R'.

In addition to ribbons and prize money awarded to the top six places in each class, at the conclusion of the show High Score Awards for Champion and Reserve Champion will be presented to the top two horse/rider combinations in each of the following divisions: First Level, Second Level, Third Level, and Fourth Level.

Winter Equestrian Festival Dressage Schedule

• February 2-5 – Wellington Dressage

• February 16-19 – Zada Enterprises, L.L.C. Florida Dressage Classic

• March 16-19 – Zada Enterprises, L.L.C. WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3*/Y

• March 17-18 – USEF National Grand Prix Freestyle Championship / U.S. League Final CDI-W, the Official Selection for the 2006 FEI World Cup Dressage Final

Winter Equestrian Festival Fast Facts

WHERE: Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, 14440 Pierson Rd., Wellington, Florida 33414

HOURS: Wednesday through Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m.

ADMISSION: General Admission Tickets are available at the gate. Wednesday: Admission is free. *Children 12 & Under Free Everyday.

Thursday and Friday: Adults- $5.00, Seniors (65)/Children 13 & Over-$5.00

Saturday: Adults- $10.00, Seniors (65)/Children 13 & Over- $5.00

Sunday: Adults- $15.00, Seniors (65)/Children 13 & Over- $5.00

Weekly General Admission Pass- $30.00

Seasonal General Admission Pass- $125.00

PARKING: Parking is free Wednesday through Sunday

DIRECTIONS: Approaching the show grounds from the Florida Turnpike, take Exit #93, Lake Worth Blvd., and travel west, crossing over 441. Travel five miles to South Shore Blvd., turn right on South Shore and proceed one mile to Pierson Road, then turn left at the light. Spectator Entrance is first left, on Equestrian Road.

Approaching the show grounds from Interstate I-95, take Exit 49. Travel west on Forest Hill Blvd. 11miles to South Shore Blvd. Turn left on South Shore and follow to Pierson Road. Turn right at the light on Pierson. Spectator Entrance is first left - Equestrian Road.

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