Friday September 12, 2003

Second Annual Dressage At The National Features Top Prize Money And New Classes

The 2nd Annual Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage at the National will again be held in conjunction with the National Horse Show Outdoor Championships during Thanksgiving Weekend at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Florida. Produced by Stadium Jumping, Inc., the event showcases dressage riders November 28-30 along with nationally ranked hunters and jumpers competing November 26-30 in the 120th National Horse Show Outdoor Championships. The combination of dressage and show jumping competitions at the park-like 120-acre, eight-ring Palm Beach show grounds was a resounding success last year, drawing more than 400 riders and 50,000 spectators to a unique holiday event.

Riding the wave of the inaugural show’s momentum, this year’s Dressage at the National has gained a new sponsor, Zada Enterprises, LLC, and features $10,000 in prize money and awards. Classes are offered from Training Level through Grand Prix, including qualifiers for the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Championships. The show’s top purses of $1,000 are offered for the Open Intermediaire Freestyle and Grand Prix Freestyle. Prize money will also be awarded for all of the Open FEI classes as well as a brand new class – the USDF Freestyle Test of Choice for First through Fourth Level riders. All of the freestyle rides to music will be contested on ‘Freestyle Sunday’, November 30, in a crowd-pleasing finale to the three-day show.

Also new this year is a unique class making its debut at Dressage at the National – the Zada Enterprises Take Your Own Score. Competitors from Training Level through Grand Prix can ride a test of choice and declare what their score will be prior to the class. The rider whose prediction is closest to the judges’ actual score will win $500 and a trophy. This ‘guessing game’ promises to be fun for spectators, dressage aficionados, and competitors alike – the high score of the class may not be the winner!

Horses and riders will also vie for prestigious titles destined to become part of the tradition of this annual event. This year’s titles to be awarded are: Dressage at the National High Score for First through Fourth and Junior/Young Riders; Dressage at the National Leading Rider; and Dressage at the National Leading Horse. Daily awards presentations are also a part of the prestige of this show – ribbons, trophies, and prize money will be announced in mounted ceremonies with horses and riders in full show attire.