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Gladstone, NJ – It was a busy day at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions on June 16th, the second part of the Intermediaire I Pan American Games Selection Trial, the finale of the Young Riders Championshipthe Freestyle and the third and final part of the Grand Prix, made for plenty of spectating in unsettled weather at the USET Foundation Headquarters.

Sammis Turns Tables on Hickey in Pan Am Selection Trial

Two little horses got big scores in the Intermediaire I test, serving as the second leg of the Pan American Games Selection Trials. Hyperion Farm's 16.1 hand Sagacious HF, ridden by Lauren Sammis, tried as hard as he could and was rewarded with a score of 72.3%. A local New Jersey rider, Sammis was greeted with plenty of praise upon completing her test. (Lauren Sammis and Sagacious HF are pictured at the right below.)

27-year-old Katherine Poulin-Neff and the even more diminutive Brilliant Too grew in stature when they cruised down the centerline and into third place. The winners on Thursday – Christopher Hickey and Regent split the pair of smaller horses for second.

In second after the first day of competition, the 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Sagacious HF, demonstrated very strong half pass and pirouettes. Marred by two small mistakes, he and Sammis received 8s and 9s in their collective marks which more than made up for the bobbles.

"I knew after I messed up that change that I had to get 9s on my pirouettes," said Sammis who has a very active sales business in New Jersey. "He just tries so hard. The whole horse has changed so dramatically. He just feels really, really great. He learned how to passage and that's a big thing for a horse going from Prix St George to Grand Prix. That's when your horse is really learning to collect. Its this new button that has just appeared. It gives a horse a lot more expression."

Hickey put in another animated effort with Regent to switch places with Sammis and end up second on a score of 71.4%. (Christopher Hickey and Regent are pictured at the left.)Lots of animation from the flashy 9-year-old Dutch gelding held the judges' attention for the second time The pair received very good marks on some of their canter work and pirouettes. Lower marks on the half-pass in the trot and a couple of mistakes in the extended canter allowed Sammis the lead.

"I added a little more power to my horse today," said Hickey. "Thursday I did a fairly quiet conservative test and today I felt like we were in a good enough spot to add a little more power and add a little more risk. There were a few places that I did a little too much risk. Too much risk in the extended canter, too much risk in the two-tempis, they got a little big for my own good. You need more risk to bring your scores up in this sport but it needs to be smartly channeled. But I'm very pleased with my horse."

Hickey, who is the resident trainer at Hilltop Farm in Colora, MD rode Brenna Kucinski's gelding to another very solid performance. Hickey was gracious in expressing his gratitude to all of his supporters.

Standing at only 15.2 hands, Brilliant Two, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood/Thoroughbred Cross, is by Brilliant out of the Thoroughbred mare, Brigetta. He and Poulin-Neff stepped up their performance from the opening day and were rewarded with their score of 70.7%. (Katherine and Brilliant Too are pictured at the right.)

"I took a little more risk today," Poulin-Neff explained. "In the Prix St. George I was nervous and I made a mistake and I typically do better in the Intermediaire than I do in the Prix St. George. Overall I was really happy with him. He had no mistakes, he was very fluid. He listened to me. I was really happy with my ride."

The number of entries for the final leg of the tomorrow's Pan American Selection Trial, the Intermediaire Freestyle has changed. Carol Lavell's horse Much Ado has fallen ill and Susan Halasz felt her horse, Paradiso B, was not up to his normal performance today. Upon the advice of the veterinarians both have been withdrawn. Ten horses will now compete in tomorrow's Intermediaire Freesyle.

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au Best of the Young Riders
Barteau Best of Young Riders

The Young Riders completed their championship to lead off the third day of competition. Kasandra Barteau, of Gilberts, IL, the winner of the first test on Thursday stood out again and was much the best with Gabriella – finishing the second day of competition with a score of 68.55%.

Gabriella, a 15-year-old Hanoverian mare moved happily through the test, and although they lacked a little of the accuracy demonstrated on Thursday, both horse and rider seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Gabriella was rewarded with a huge hug at the end of her test. Their two-day score of 69.3% left them the clear winners of the Young Riders Championships. (Kasandra and Gabriellaare pictured at the left during their Victory Pass.)

"I'm very, very happy and excited and pleased with my horse," said Barteau. "She worked really well. It's definitely exciting, I'm really excited, even more so now, for young rider's next month. My goal is to keep being here and hopefully do the Brentina Cup and then it would be amazing if I could eventually do the small tour. I really know my mare and I think that's a real benefit."

Overall, Ashley Schempp and the 13-year-old KWPN gelding Mowgli from Encinitas, CA were fifth in Saturday's competition but were able to hang on to their second place finish overall with their score of 65.6%.

"Today was not as up to par as it was on Thursday," said Schemmp. "He got a little long which makes it a little harder to get the changes. It's definitely a little hard for me. Overall I can't believe it was a possibility to rank that high. They really make you work for it. It's a great group of girls."

Schempp was impressed with the camaraderie and professionalism on the East Coast and with the Festival in general.

"It's top notch," she said. "I'm very gracious just to be here, coming from California, I've heard the names and it was great to get a chance to meet some of the riders,"

Third overall in the Young Riders Championship was Hannah Shook and Capetown, Like Schemmp, they didn't quite match their performance of the previous day but it was good enough for third.

Runner-up on the day with a score of 66.6% was Jocelyn Weise from Keene, NH. With her 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood Lamborghini she executed very good trot work and lots of 7s for her flying changes. In third was Caroline Roffman and Rigaudon. They put in a very workmanlike performance and improved their score by three points from the first day. On a final mark of 66.35% they slipped into third.

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Courtney King Wins Grand Prix Freestyle
Steffen Peters Wins Overall National Grand Prix Dressage Championship

The first pair in the ring, Tami Crawford and Markant, went to the lead with a score of 68.15% which held until the winner of the first two Grand Prix classes, Steffen Peters – the first rider of the final rotation – marched into the ring with Lombardi and served notice that his lead was not going to be wrested easily.

His test started with passage and piaffe and the Celtic music matched the horse's animated action beautifully. A unique canter – piaffe – walk combination showed the 12-year-old Holsteiner's versatility.

"I was at the ultimate today with this horse," said Peters. "After the last two days he felt more honest and more reliable in the changes. I thought the pirouettes were even better – that was the ultimate for Lombardi. This was his third Freestyle. Certainly the girls gave me a run for my money especially today. Because I didn't know if he would make a Grand Prix horse it's just a really big thrill."

Idocus and Courtney King had other ideas than to let Lombardi and Peters sweep the division. Idocus, the 17-year-old KWPN stallion had not felt like himself over the first two days of the competition but showed his return to form in the Freestyle for King. Moving to the music from the Wizard of Oz the pair showed off lots of beautiful flying changes and very good pirouettes. Extremely expressive trot work scored well throughout the test.

"I was needless to say thrilled," said King. "I thought Idocus was a little bit better than yesterday. He had a good motor, he was expressive. During the Grand Prix I thought I wouldn't make it through the end of the competition. But I'm getting more comfortable riding him with more risk and that was our highest score yet in the Freestyle."

Harrison-Naness put on a game face after the storm with Rociero, the 12-year-old Andalusian stallion, and despite looking a little flat footed after warming up twice put forth a stellar effort and finished third with 71.9%.

Good changes, and Rociero's typical workmanlike approach to his test picked up scores for the hard trying duo. The classical music suited the pair who looked very composed and confident throughout the entire test.

"I started listening to rap music to get myself psyched up," said Harrison-Naness. "He was a little tired, I had to warm up twice. He usually has a little bit more engine. In the passage the footing felt so flat it was hard to gauge how much suspension I had. It was definitely a little tricky to ride but. He handled it great."

When it was all over, Peters won his sixth Festival Championship and Lombardi still reigned supreme finishing with three day total of 72.084% to win the Grand Prix Championship in convincing style. King and Idocus rocketed up the rankings on the strength of their Freestyle test to end up second on 70.172% and Harrison-Naness achieved her goal of consistency and ended up third with 69.527%.

For more information, please contact Joanie Morris, High Performance Communications Manager by email at jmorris@usef.org. USEF press releases and full results from this event are posted at www.usef.org.

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Friday, June 15, 2007

Day Two at Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions Ends in Close Finish

Peters Hangs on in Grand Prix, Austin wins Brentina Cup and Efird Best of the Juniors

Gladstone, NJ – June 15th, the second day of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, got underway with the Brentina Cup. Organized for young adults and named for Debbie McDonald's World Cup Champion mare, the Brentina Cup is open to riders 21-25 years of age.

Performing the Intermediaire II test, the horses in the Brentina Cup are developing their skills for the highest level of dressage competition.

The second horse of the day filled up the ring with plenty of presence and caught the eye of the judges taking the early lead. Manhattan, a 13-year-old KWPN nearly white gelding showed lots of maturity with rider Jodie Kelly to pick up a score of 63.122%

"My ride today was not what I hoped it would be," said Kelly. "It was a pretty clean test but he was a little up."

Their led held until the second rider after the break when a very exuberant Nimbus bounded down the center line with former event rider Nicholia Zamora and took command of the ring.

From Irvine, CA Zamora, riding the 12-year-old KWPN gelding for Diane Morley, made an impression in her first trip to the Festival. Despite a few moments of inattentiveness, Nimbus' lively composition and flashy gaits made up for a little distraction early on. They landed on a score of 66.00%

"It was an honor to even come down the center line here," said Zamora. "Such a journey to get to this spot. A lot of stars have to be aligned to even get to this spot especially traveling all the way from California. So just getting to go in the ring was amazing and getting to have a good test was just icing on the cake. He's so much fun to ride."

Two riders later Vermonter Elizabeth Austin, a winner last year in the Brentina Cup returned to the Championship and put in a beautiful effort with the lovely moving Olivier. The 11-year-old KWPN tried very hard and his ability and panache were well rewarded. Their score of 67.317% pushed them ahead of Zamora.

"I schooled him in the morning just to see what I had," said Austin. "He felt really quite good to me. He can be a bit hot but he came out today totally on the job so that was good. I was unbelievably happy with him but not so happy with myself. He really saved me in a couple of spots and I went off course. I was here last year you think I would know better. I was super, super proud of him in the piaffe and passage. Compared to last year he has really matured in that. Aside from my mistakes the work feels more secure."

Owned by Madeline Austin, the very flashy gelding is by Idocus who is also competing at the Festival. The 17-year-old stallion was second in the Grand Prix Special with Courtney King.

"I got to ride my test (last week) for Courtney," said Austin. "It was amazing she gave me a few real good pointers and its fantastic, She said, 'Oh I know where he gets that from.' I've looked up to her since I was 15 years old. To be here with her is kind of surreal."

Efird Best of the Juniors

The Juniors followed the Brentina Cup riders onto the stage in Gladstone and put forth consistent efforts throughout the division with lots of quality performances. Bonnie Efird, from Waxhaw, NC and Magie Noir ended up best of the bunch. Barring a mistake in a pirouette and a wobbly final centerline, the 13-year-old KWPN mare showed lots of class, good engagement and excellent flying changes. They were rewarded with a score of 65.4%.

"My goal was to just get here," said a smiling Efird. "I just bought this mare in October and I've been working on the Junior test with her. I plan on keeping her for awhile. I didn't think that it was my strongest ride I've ever had. Overall it was solid and I'm proud of her no matter what. I had a little trouble in the walk pirouettes and in the canter depart which are not things I usually have problems with."

Two horses later another mare gave Magie Noir a run for her money. Ghita carried Taryn Briones into the ring and put in a valiant effort. The adorable 9-year-old Hanoverian mare picked up a 10 in one of the half passes and exemplified very solid flying changes. All the way from Snohomish, WA ¬– Briones made the trip worth it with her very polished performance slipping in just behind Efird with a score of 63.1%.

"I was happy with it," said Briones. "All the bobbles that happened were my fault. That always happen. I got done and could think that it was a good ride and I was happy with it and hope we just improve on Sunday. She's a good mare. I'm happy where she is right now."

Lora Kay Witterstaeter and Weltkaar, third in the ring held on for third. The 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding put in a very steady and consistent effort to score 64.6%.

Witterstaeter has ridden at Jodie Kelly's barn since she was 5 years old and Weltkaar is a hand-me down horse from her coach.

"He's really big so it's hard to keep him pizzazy throughout his test, but it was fun," said Witterstaeter.

The Junior competition concludes on Sunday and each day accounts for 50% of the score.

Peters Still Leads Grand Prix

The hunt for the Grand Prix Special honors was fierce late in the afternoon. Three very different horses staked their claim to the honors and in the end, a tie had to be broken between two of them.

Crowd-pleasing Rociero, the only Andalusian in the competition, didn't disappoint his fans. In second place coming into the competition the strengths of his test lay in his passage and his changes with rider Kristina Harrison-Naness. Lack of impulsion in the pirouettes cost the pair a couple of points but they marched happily through their test with plenty of charisma. With a score of 70.16% he went to the lead – momentarily.

"I was thrilled with my ride," said Harrison-Naness. "I felt like my horse gave me all he had. I could feel the humidity today, I think the Californian horses they breathe a lot harder. He was with me the whole ride. My whole goal here was to be consistent and that we've done."

Harrison-Naness was followed immediately in the ring by Courtney King and the 17-year-old KWPN stallion Idocus. An elegant effort, highlighted by straight 8s on the one-tempi changes and very polished canter work made up for any disappointment from the first day. On the strength of plenty of 8s in the collective marks King slipped into the lead with a score of 71.76%. Idocus had been feeling under the weather yesterday, explaining his unusually score for the consistent campaigner.

"The vets felt he was a little dehydrated," said King. "They did a lot of massage and body work and chiropractic adjustment to relieve what was bothering from breeding. They definitely did a stellar job. Yesterday, try as he might, he just couldn't do it. It was hard, he wasn't himself today but he could do it. I'm hoping tomorrow he feels a little bit better. Yesterday I came out of the ring in tears and I wanted to scratch him out but everyone said let's look at the horse and see if there is something we can relieve and warm him up today and see how he is. It was hard, I was a little apprehensive in the beginning. But I had to put it out of my mind. It was hard and we were both having to work hard but he could do it."

Overnight leader and Olympic medalist Steffen Peters followed King into the ring on Lombardi and used all of his skill to finesse a stellar performance out of the exuberant 16-year-old Holsteiner. Uncharacteristically, the test was marred by a few mistakes and Peters worked hard for each point. The consummate professional, Peters picked up eights and a nine for his riding. He too ended on a score of 71.76%. Using the collective marks to break the tie, Peters won the second portion of the Grand Prix and King ended up second.

"My (collective) score was just one point ahead of Courtney's, a little luck sometimes," said Peters. "At the end of the day it was Brian (O'Connor)'s fault because right when I came in he announced Courtney's score and I like her a lot but when we go down the center line it's competition. When they announced it was a 71 I knew I had to step it up and that's what we did."

After the first two portions of the Grand Prix Peters leads from Harrison-Nanes and Jane Hannigan (who was fourth in the Special).

The Grand Prix concludes Saturday afternoon at 2 pm.

For more information, please contact Joanie Morris, High Performance Communications Manager or by email at jmorris@usef.org. USEF press releases and full results from this event are posted at www.usef.org.

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Thursday, June 14, 2007

Three Championships Underway at the Collecting Gaits Farm Festival of Champions

Peters Leads Grand Prix, Hickey Leads Pan Am Selection Trial, Barteau leads Young Riders

Gladstone, NJ – The first day of the Collecting Gaits Farm Dressage Festival of Champions got off to a chilly start on June 14, blankets and jackets were the most sought after on the grounds of the US Equestrian Team Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ. The Young Riders got the Festival started, performing their team test first thing in the morning.

Hannah Shook and Capetown were the first combination in the ring and put in a very solid performance to grab the early lead on a 66.975% and hold it until more than halfway through the class. Capetown, a former champion event horse (he won Radnor CCI** in 2001 with Clark Montgomery), looked very comfortable in his new vocation. Their score was finally bested by Ashley Schempp and Mowgli who picked up a score of 68.177% two-thirds of the way through the first division.

Two horses later Kassandra Barteau, from Gilberts, IL, and the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare, Gabriella became the only pair to break the 70% barrier with a fluid and relaxed effort, featuring eights on their flying changes. A big hug rewarded Gabriella at the end of her test and Barteau was visibly elated with her seasoned campaigner.

“I couldn’t stop smiling,” said Barteau after scoring 70.177%. “ I’ve been riding her for four years – we started at 3rd level and did our changes together. She’s just a big old happy mare. I did Young Riders’ two years ago and then last year she had a foal. It was a surprise breeding.”

Barteau explained that they didn’t know the mare was in foal, but now a yearling named Sebastian, lives on Barteau’s family farm.

“We think he’s by Liberty,” said 18-year-old Barteau laughing.

Pan American Games Trials

The first sighting of the potential Pan Am riders took place before the lunch break and the preparation by the riders was evident in their performances. Christopher Hickey (from Colora, MD) and the 9-year old Dutch Warmblood gelding Regent marched into the ring first, took control of the test, and never looked back. They were awarded a score of 71.5%, which held throughout the entire class.

“I had a lot of reservations about going first,” said Hickey. “It doesn’t matter if you win the qualifier and if you come in the number ranking one spot, when you get to Gladstone everyone comes in on an even level playing field. There’s a lot of really good horses and very experienced riders that deserve to be here. If you’ve gotten yourself here you have to have faith you’re doing something right.”

No one could touch Hickey’s score, but local rider, Lauren Sammis (from North Orange, NJ) and her beloved 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood Sagacious HF (owned by Hyperion Farm) had a virtually mistake-free test to also break the 70% mark finishing up on 70.15%. A spectator at the Festival of Champions in the past, 2007 marked the first chance for her to compete and Sammis was honored by the opportunity to bring her horse to the venue.

“It’s certainly nice being on the inside of the ring instead of on the outside,” said Sammis. “I’m so, so lucky – lots of my friends and family are here. I ride the horse every day like I’m just lucky to be on him. I’m so proud of him and so excited for people to see him. He’s just that nice of a horse. The show and the judges are nice but riding that horse around, for a rider, that’s what it’s all about.”

Sagacious HF has propelled through the dressage ranks at a rapid pace, he was competing at training level just a year and a half ago.

“He’s got his head on straight and he comes down the center line and he’s relaxed all the time,” said Sammis.

Rounding out the top three in the Prix St. George was veteran rider, Shelly Francis and Dominion. A 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Dominion’s power and strength were evident throughout his work. When asked about the possibility of a Pan Am Team spot for Dominion, his rider was realistic. (Shelly and Dominion are pictured at the right.)

“I hadn’t given it a lot of thought, I’ll do it if I get the chance,” said Francis. “But there are two more classes to go.”

These horse and riders contest the Intermediaire I test on Saturday and the Freestyle on Sunday. The Prix St. George portion counts for 45 percent of the final score, the Intermediaire - 30% and the Freestyle is the remaining 25%.

The big guns rounded out the first day at the Festival and there was not a standout test throughout the first two-thirds of the Grand Prix. Kristina Harrison-Naness held the lead for most of the division until Steffen Peters cantered into the ring meaning business with Lombardi and didn’t give a point away.

Solid passage, a defined and very supple walk (which scored straight eights) highlighted the test along with fluid changes, plenty of animation and very accurate riding (again scoring straight eights) pushed Peters over the 70% mark with the 16-year-old Holsteiner. Hailing from San Diego, CA Peters has been a mainstay of the US dressage program for two decades.

Owned by Akiko Yamazaki, Lombardi excelled in the half-passes but Peters felt that his transitions from the walk to the passage was flawed.

“It was a good wake up call for the rest of the weekend,” said Peters. “I just trusted him a little too much. There’s a fine line with him though between waking him up and keeping his trust. He’s opinionated and sure of himself.”

Three riders finished within a percentage point of each other, filling the second through fourth spots. Harrison-Naness held on gamely to her runner-up spot with a 67.958%, Michael Barisone and Neruda slipped into third on a 67.458% in a test highlighted by a nine for the passage and Jane Hannigan with Maksymilian, who followed Peters into the ring, had to settle for fourth on 67.292%.

Harrison-Naness, also from California, riding the 12-year-old Andalusian stallion Rociero for Margaret Carrera was thrilled with her horse’s performance.

“I feel so passionate about this horse,” said Harrison-Naness. “There’s something about him.”

Harrison-Naness felt that the small Andalusian, the only one in the competition was looked down on by some judges when he first got to the Grand Prix level, now however, she feels like he is taken seriously.

“He is the biggest lovebug,” said Naness of the stallion. “My daughter handles him he is the nicest horse to handle. He’s the best.”

Barisone, of Clifton, NJ and Jane Sumalsky’s Neruda, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding didn’t execute his tempi-changes cleanly and Barisone took all the blame.

“He is as honest as the day is long,” said Barisone. “I rode the changes wrong, I can’t adjust on that horse. I missed, it was totally my fault. When I’m clear and don’t change my approach he can do it. The horse is wonderful. I’m in third place due to no fault of my own.”

Harrison-Naness and Barisone both praised Peters’ reputation and ability to focus in the ring.

“As an up and coming rider, I’m just honored to be second to him,” said Harrison-Naness.

Barisone envies his focus and ability to put in a clean performance.

“Steffen is an example,” said Barisone. “f you go in there and don’t do make mistakes on a quality horse you will get the results. “

Peters explains it a little differently, “I’m not very good at multi-tasking but I can do one thing really well. I can focus on each movement and not the score.”

For more information, please contact Joanie Morris, High Performance Communications Manager or by email at jmorris@usef.org. USEF press releases are available on our web site – www.usef.org.

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