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Friday, June 15, 2007

Kassie Barteau Leads Young Rider Division

Gladstone, NJ – The first day of the Collecting Gaits Farm Dressage Festival of Champions got off to a chilly start on June 14, blankets and jackets were the most sought after on the grounds of the US Equestrian Team Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ. The Young Riders got the Festival started, performing their team test first thing in the morning.

Hannah Shook and Capetown were the first combination in the ring and put in a very solid performance to grab the early lead on a 66.975% and hold it until more than halfway through the class. Capetown, a former champion event horse (he won Radnor CCI** in 2001 with Clark Montgomery), looked very comfortable in his new vocation. Their score was finally bested by Ashley Schempp and Mowgli who picked up a score of 68.177% two-thirds of the way through the first division.

Two horses later Kassandra Barteau, from Gilberts, IL, and the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare, Gabriella became the only pair to break the 70% barrier with a fluid and relaxed effort, featuring eights on their flying changes. A big hug rewarded Gabriella at the end of her test and Barteau was visibly elated with her seasoned campaigner.

“I couldn’t stop smiling,” said Barteau after scoring 70.177%. “ I’ve been riding her for four years – we started at 3rd level and did our changes together. She’s just a big old happy mare. I did Young Riders’ two years ago and then last year she had a foal. It was a surprise breeding.”

Barteau explained that they didn’t know the mare was in foal, but now a yearling named Sebastian, lives on Barteau’s family farm.

“We think he’s by Liberty,” said 18-year-old Barteau laughing.