Tuesday, Septeber 13, 2005

USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage Championships Final Presents the Horses For the Future

Grand Makana and Laurie Falvo-Doyle Resrve 5-Year-Old Champion

Another Californian, Laurie-Falvo Doyle, who won the USEF/Markel Western Young Horse Selection Trials at Flintridge in June, traveled a long way with no regrets. With Joan Cvengros’s Hanoverian gelding, Grand Makana, a Davignport offspring out of Guadeloupe by Grundstein bred in Germany by Manfred Schaefer, Falvo-Doyle presented a picture of harmony and lightness, delighting the judges and audience as well. Long time friend Emmy Adwers showed up to help coach the pair to win the Reserve Championship of the 5-year-old division.

“This is truly a quality horse.” began Whitham. The long ground covering walk earned an 8.0. The rhythmic and balance trot work had “joie de vivre that said sit up, wake up and watch me” scoring an 8.8. The canter was big, demonstrating correct training, with a large scale but not debilitating the horse, increasing her overall average with a 7.9. With a submission score of 7.9, and a whopping 8.6 for type, the USEF/Markel Red cooler was placed on the pair for the awards ceremony and victory round.