Saturday, November 25, 2006

What’s Happening in US Dressage World

Lily Zilo Leaves for Asian Games, Tami Crawford Gets New Horse, Janet Foy Survives a Swim with the Sharks, Phelps-Hathaway, Puppy Named, Friends from Aachen Visit Kentucky

DressageDaily has just heard from Lily Zilo, who leaves today for the Asian Games. Her horse Windsor’s Mira will be on a plane for the long trip across the world. “Team Zilo” with groom Gabe Meyer, Coach Linda Smith, and hubby Alex Zilo will also be joined by Georgian Elizabeth Kane who promises to send reports to DressageDaily. Announcer Frank Waters, the voice of Dressage at Equestrian Estates is the announcer for the Asian Games as well. We have just heard that Ingrid Lin will be going too. This is an important segue to the 2008 Olympics which will be held in Hong Kong.

FreizeFrame Photo of Linda Zang, Linda Smith, and Lily and Mira with her new Markel saddle pad.

Congratulations to Tami Crawford who just bought an exciting new horse coming from Germany. He is by Ruben Royal a Rubenstein son out of a Don Gregory (x Donnerhall) mare. Crawford continues to develop her grand prix partner Markant. The recent loss of her beloved Donnerhall son Dakota was reported here on DressageDaily. Tami now has a new prospect, and we look forward to seeing her later in 2007 in Florida.

Dressage judge Janet Foy and her husband survived the diving and shark feed, “We were NOT in cages” on the Great Barrier Reef while she was in Australia judging the CDI-W in Australia. The newlyweds decided to take a week on a live aboard dive boat and do the great barrier. “What a wonderful place! Never had so many sharks!” reports Janet.

We had a huge, and I mean huge response to our “name that corgi” request. Thanks to everyone for writing in your suggestions. We got so many names to consider, but it was my Mother's suggestion which swayed our vote.

In the end, we chose Tasha, after Tasha Tudor, and amazing 90ish year old woman, who lives in Vermont and has written a series of children’s books with corgis as the characters.

We hope everyone has had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, as we continue entertain our dear friends from Aachen, Marion and Manfred Heinrichsen. The world’s show jumper riders all know Manfred who is in charge of the in-gate to the main arena of the 2006 World Equestrian Games Aachen and the yearly Aachen CHIO. Manfred adores Beezie Madden. He said was always so friendly and nice to him during the event. They got a first hand look at the Kentucky Horse Park, the future site for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Kentucky 2010 where we bumped into Olympic eventing course designer Mike Ethrington-Smith, making the preliminary decisions of the track for the event in April.

Having visitors is a great excuse to visit our favorite spots in this great state. With temps edging 70 degrees, we even put the top down on our PT Cruiser during our drive to Cumberland Falls, where Mary and JJ posed in front of the "Niagra of the South". On a clear full moon night it is said you can see a "moonbow" in the mist. Today we are going to Boonesboro, Kentucky where there is an old fashioned Christmas marketplace, as the original settlers would have had in the 1700’s. Phelps ancestors settled in Boonesboro, and my 5th great grandfather is buried alongside my Dad at our family property which was settled in 1789. We will soon begin our reporting on the preparations of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010, with a travel guide of all the wonderful things Kentucky will be offering its visitors.

Enjoy your weekend!

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