Monday September 11, 2006

It's a Double at the 2006 USEF/Markel National Young Dressage Horse Championships!

Blake Brings it On

Several horses later, Blake entered the arena on Catapult, (Cantour – Hell or Highwater by Condino), a Holsteiner gelding owned by Blake’s mother, Nancy Blake, of Champaign, IL. The striking gray horse stood out from the crowd with an impressive performance in the arena 27-year-old David, of Thousand Oaks, CA works regularly with Steffen Peters and Christine Traurig, and his hard work has paid off.

Ayers complimented the pair, saying, “Here is a dressage horse with a lot of potential. He has some difficulty in the trot keeping all of that power consistent, but in the canter he has a good ability to engage, to sit, and to push off his hindquarters.” Though his walk, which Ayers said should cover more ground earned only a 7, an 8.8 on his canter work pushed him into the tie for first.

“I’m so happy with the tie,” said Blake. “David’s been so supportive, he was even coaching me earlier. I’m honored to be right under him; I feel like he won, because he really deserved it, he’s so exceptional and a great rider.”

Blake said that Scott Hassler’s coaching has really helped him figure out the nuts and bolts of the Young Horse tests. “I went to the symposium at Hilltop Farm last year and the training session at Flintridge this year, and I wouldn’t have known how to get the cadence and what the judges want without that,” he said. He said that he has also studied videos of the World Championships in Verden to learn what the judges are looking for.

Blake a well respected professional trainer from Thousand Oaks, California, also credits Steffen Peters for his progess. Catapult is Blake’s only personal horse, and he is hoping to train him to the Grand Prix level. He trained his former mount Dante to Grand Prix then gave him to his mother an amateur dressage rider, for a schoolmaster. He has a full barn of fourteen horses in training for clients. Blake is looking forward to the 7-9 year old Prix St. Georges tests with Catapult that will be introduced next year as part of the Young Horse program to help keep his training on track.