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August 23, 2007

Ninth Annual Dressage For Kids Youth Dressage Festival

Judges Give Credit to Lendon Gray

When it comes to taking credit for the creation and atmosphere of the Youth Dressage Festival, Lendon Gray doesn’t seek it, but the judges certainly offered it. Gray has an amazing knack for getting tremendous support for the event from both sponsors and parents and it shows, Reid-Offield said.

“One thing I liked best about what I saw today was the family participation. It reminds me of where the sport really starts from and it starts from the parents encouraging the children and the parents participating. The parent participation and sponsor participation really makes this show work,” she said.

“I’ve said it many times, but I’ll say it again. What a success Lendon has done here. It’s much more than I ever expected,” Scott Hassler said. It’s Gray’s focus on horsemanship that the Hasslers said made the Youth Dressage Festival such an important and fabulous event.

“It’s been such an inspirational day to see so many kids come out and try their best and be proud of themselves as riders regardless if they are at Training Level or FEI. I so appreciate the atmosphere that Lendon has created. The focus is all about the kids,” Susanne Hassler said.

And the riding talent of those kids astounded her husband who said that he “was shocked by the quality of the riding. They really, really did a good job. And we’re really enthused by this event. Its success over just nine years is tremendous.”

Wednesday is the final day of competition and it’s one of the most fun with such events as the dressage trail and prix caprilli classes.