Sunday, Sept 10, 2006

Roccoca WF and Verena Stock Reserve 2006 USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage National Champion for Four-Year-Olds

Second place in the championship for four-year-olds also went to a US-bred horse, Roccoca WF, a Hannoverian mare (Rienzi – Turtletaubchen by Tin Rocco), owned and bred by Veronica Carlson and ridden by Verena Stock, both from Caremore, OK. Stock immigrated to the US in 2002, when she came to the 100-day stallion test at Paxton Farm. She has been working for Carlton since then.

“[Roccoca WF is] a sensitive mare but not unusually spooky,” commented Stock. “She was born with only one eye and when I started working with her she often tilted her head to one side, but it never affected her while riding. She is homesick and wasn’t too happy to be here the first couple of days but she is doing better now.” Yesterday Stock competed Roccoca in a class at the Kentucky Dressage Society show that is taking place at the Horse Park at the same time as the Finals, in order to earn points toward year-end awards. Since USDF rules don’t allow competing in two separate shows on the same day, she skipped the warm-up class for four-year-olds.

“I rode late in the day and I was wondering if I made the right decision, because a couple other horses skipped the warm-up and didn’t score very well today, but I was happy with how it worked out in the end,” she smiled. “I heard the judging was really tough yesterday, but I am getting a cold so after I rode I went to bed for three hours and didn’t watch any of the other horses. Today I thought the judging was really fair.”

Jayne Ayers commented, “This is a lovely mare with lots of potential. She has been started in the right way and has a clear, correct rhythm with good reach in all three gaits.”