DressageDaily:Natalie Hamilton-Hinnemann and Dark Dream by Dream of Glory Top Six-Year-Old Division at the USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage Central Selection Trial

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Natalie Hamilton-Hinnemann and Dark Dream by Dream of Glory Top Six-Year-Old Division at the USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage Central Selection Trial

The Six-Year-Old division was won by “Dark Dream” (7.25 overall), a black Rhinelander gelding by the stallion Dream of Glory The Six-Year-Old division was won by “Dark Dream” (7.25 overall), a black Rhinelander gelding by the stallion Dream of Glory, by Donnerhall out of a Pik Bube mare, who sadly passed away in 2002. Ridden by Natalie Hamilton-Hinnemann and owned by Lisa Alexander of Greenfield, MN, the handsome gelding was handpicked by Johan Hinnemann himself, and sent to the United States to train with his son Stephan and daughter-in-law Natalie.

The couple have recently relocated and purchased land near Minneapolis, Minnesota, and plan to build a farm and training and sales facility. Working with the master trainer Johan Hinnemann in Germany, who continues to send them talented young horses to develop, Hamilton-Hinnemann, a North American Young Rider veteran, is thoroughly enjoying the process of riding and training with the Young Horse program in mind. “I have learned how much more we can really ask of the horses in these tests,” said Natalie, “and it is because of Dark Dream’s great attitude and work ethic that makes him eager to rise to the challenge.”

Natalie continued by saying how much she enjoyed the facilities at Paxton Farm, a perfect venue for the first in a series of three competitions to select young horses for the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses to be held in Verden, Germany, July 1-3. Paxton, the location of the Central United States Selection had a small but enthusiastic field of competitors.

Kate Stanton and Savanna Second was the bay Dutch Warmblood mare by Jazz “Savanna” (6.98) owned and ridden Katie Stanton of Westfield, IN, who graduated from the top ranks of the five-year-old division last year. Stanton who has her Doctorate and is the Associate Professor, Adapted Physical Education at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, also helps run Jennifer Conour’s busy training facility and barn.

Conour took Savanna along with her and her other horses to Florida for March to train with Robert Dover. The duo who was the top placed Adult Amateur Young Horse in 2004 at the USEF/Markel National Championships, was fifth overall, are hoping for a return engagement in 2005 in September.

While no one reached the magic cutoff score of 7.5 required by the selection process for Verden, there is still the USEF/National Young Horse Championships to be held in Lexington Kentucky September 9-11, at the Kentucky Horse Park.

DressageDaily will be On the Scene this weekend in California for the Western Selection Young Horse Selection Trials.