Murrieta, California - An overwhelming response from West Coast professionals working with young horses is an early indicator that the November 3 - 4 Young Horse Specialist Program coming to Red Hawk Ranch in Southern California will be a huge success.

According to Lynn Randle-DeGour, program coordinator, many horse/rider combinations volunteered their time to demonstrate the principals of progressive and systematic training of young sport horses under the tutelage of German Oldenburg Verband (GOV) Deputy Director, Katrin Burger.

Katrin is well known throughout Germany for her expertise in developing young horses of international caliber. She holds numerous State, National and International titles (including World Champion for Young Dressage Horses).

Red Hawk Ranch owners Bob DeGour and Lynn Randle-DeGour are hosting this event for the second time this year. The DeGour’s Oldenburg horse breeding operation has received noteworthy recognition for their quality young dressage and jumping horses.

The concept for this professional development program event developed after Verband officials commented that warmblood breeding standards in USA are rising each year – yet there are not as many American young horse [specialist] trainers as there are in Europe. Armed with this insight, the DeGour’s made a special trip to Oldenburg Verband headquarters in Vechta, Germany to arrange for the inaugural event of this series that took place during January 2007.

During the first event held in frigid January weather, GOV officials received strong, positive reactions from the 120 trainers who represented five Western United States, Canada, and Sweden.

This November’s two day program will start with morning focus on 3 and 4 year old horses (with less than a year under saddle). Both afternoons will concentrate on 5 and 6 year old training expectations.

“Our goal is to provide trainers with a strong sense of what to expect at each level,” describes Randle-DeGour, “and to really emphasize the concept that building a young horse is a progressive, systematic effort.”

Demonstration riders include former U.S. Olympian Kathleen Raine, 5 time European Young Horse Championship qualifier David Wightman, former Canadian Equestrian Team member Liz Hopps, Brentina Cup qualifier (and 2nd place finisher) Niki Hall Zamora, USEF long-listed riders Jennifer Hoffman and Jo Moran, 1996 USET team member Merrie Veldon and Intenational riders Jaye Cherry and Sheryl Kunkle, as well as young horse specialists Nacho Moran, Robin Garrett, Kim Kulesa, Sandra Hansen, Timothy Mellot and Gayle Smith.

Generous sponsor contributions are permitting affordable tuition: $50 for German Oldenburg Verband members, $75 for non-GOV members, and tuition-free for Katrin’s demonstration riders. Event sponsors include KAM Animal Nutrition, Nutro Pet Food, Kelly Shaw Financial Advisors, Dressage Daily, Figaro’s Pizza, Chapin Winery, German Dressage LLC, Wonderful Sporthorses, Santa Rosa Wellness Spa, Blue Ribbon Manufacturing (barns), and Barenbrug Pasture Seed Company.

The Temecula Valley Chapter of the California Dressage Society is providing event volunteers.