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Monday, February 25, 2008

Dressage In California - Dressage Getaway, Indio, California

Schooling and Homework Pay Off for Marie Meyers and Fandango
By Kathy Beal for DressageDaily.com - Photos by Christina Beale

Marie Meyers traveled from Los Angeles to compete Fandango in his first Intermediaire II. Meyers found Fandango in Belgium two years ago. He is a lovely 12-year-old Oldenberg gelding by Feinstern. Meyers has taken seven months off from competition to train with Guenter Seidel and to bring the horse along to Grand Prix. “We competed at the Festival of Champions at I-1 in 2006 and qualified again last year. I decided not to go again, but to focus on his training for Grand Prix. I bring him to the shows just to work with Guenter,” she said.

Meyers was very pleased with Fandango’s first I-II and the winning score of 66.60 percent “He has a great piaffe and passage, and got seven ones in the test. He is a horse with wonderful character. He had pulled a shoe the day before, so had to just sit in his stall until our shoer could get here,” she said. Despite the day off, Fandango conquered the I-II test. Meyer’s credited much of her success to help from Seidel.

Seidel himself also had a good weekend. With his partner U-II, he scored a 79 percent in Fourth Level Test 2 judged by Jane Weatherwax. When asked what made the test so good, he remarked, “It was rhythmic and really had no mistakes. He is feeling much more solid. I plan to do the Developing Horse Prix St. Georges with him beginning at the Dressage Affaire.”

Elizabeth Ball and De la Frontera Win Dressage Warmbloods’ Intermediere I Open