Tuesday June 29, 2004

Elly Schobel and Raison D'Etre Headed for the USEF/Markel National Young Dressage Horse Championships

USEF/Markel National Young Dressage Horse Championships – An Affair to Remember

The 2004 USEF/Markel National Young Dressage Horse Championships will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park , September 10-12, which will also be hosting the MSEDA Dressage at the Park, Lexington , Kentucky , and the 2004 National Dressage Seat Medal Equitation Championships. Organizer Margie Koffler has announced a Black Tie Gala Saturday night, September 11 with Freestyles to the live music of the Lexington Philharmonic.

Established as a yearly event in 1999 the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses is a fairly new program, but has caught on like wildfire, with huge crowds attending the Finals in Verdun Germany each year. The USEF and the Dressage Board quickly followed through with developing a national program in the United States to help develop and recognize the tremendous talent we have in this country. America, with its sheer size has to have qualifiers and selection finals throughout the country.

This is only the second National Young Horse Championships, but has attracted a title sponsor for 2004, with Markel Equine Insurance, a company which has provided uninterrupted equine insurance services for over 40 years. “Markel is committed to the world of Dressage,” said John Seger, director of agent development for Markel's Equine Insurance Specialists. “We see the potential for this program to help put American breeders on the map, as there are many quality farms and facilities throughout the country producing quality horses.”