Deborah Hausman who trains dressage horses and students at her Quailhurst Stable and Vineyard in Sherwood, Oregon, travelled over 3000 miles across the United States to Florida for the 2013 winter dressage season. With two young horses, Alexiss, a 2005 Holsteiner Mare (Caletino x Tjinja/Kennedy) and Verona, a 2002 Dutch Mare (Jazz x Glennridge) Hausman, her “girls” and her horse van towing her Austin Mini Cooper settled into a cozy studio apartment at Anne and Davis Gribbons’ Knoll Dressage near Orlando. Hausman, a longtime professional and breeder brought Alexis who she bred, backed and trained and Verona the mare she placed in the top 15 overall at the highly competitive PAVO Cup Young Horse series in the Netherlands. But they were not part of the original longtime plan. Hausman has trained and competed in Europe, works with Conrad Schumacher when he comes to the US, as well as competed on the busy California winter circuit, yet has always wanted to work with Gribbons. While her two young mares were worthy of the time and investment, they were not in the original plan. Deborah Hausman proves that starting over after loss is reachable. In 2012 a huge tragedy struck with the loss of her two FEI horses within a devastating six months.

Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) and Jerich Parzival, the London 2012 Olympic silver medallists, have reclaimed the world number one spot in the FEI World Dressage Rankings. The pair have a 97-point lead over Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW, who have moved up one slot to second place after clinching the 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage title - their first FEI World Cup Final victory - last weekend in Gothenburg (SWE). Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, who became the first British combination to head the FEI World Dressage Rankings in September last year after their double gold medal performances at the London 2012 Olympic Games, are now in third with 2,563 points. There are no other changes in the Top Ten, with Germany’s Kristina Sprehe and Desperados FRH holding on to fourth (2,517 points) and Edward Gal (NED) with Glock’s Undercover in fifth (2,474 points).

Wellington, FL – USDF gold, silver and bronze medalist Heidi Degele was presented with the Custom Saddlery Most Valuable Rider (MVR) Award during the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge III for competing three different horses and coaching two of her students into the ribbons. Wrapping up the Florida winter season, Degele was very pleased with her success. She rode Don Fredo HD (Don Federico x Pik Bube) owned by Greystone Equestrian, LLC, in the FEI 6-Year-Old Test to a score of 73.4% in what she described as an “almost flawless” performance. “I’m super proud of this young horse,” she said about Don Fredo, “He really didn’t put a foot wrong!” Because of Degele’s excellent training, Don Fredo is currently ranked 3rd in the nation in the 6-year-old division. She said that after this win she is now more excited than ever to show him at the Markel/USEF National and Developing Championships held August 21-25 in Wayne, IL.

Following her victory in Thursday’s Sydney CDI Grand Prix, Sheridyn Ashwood said she and her stallion Prestige VDL would only get better as the competition progressed. And she was right. Ashwood’s prediction came true at today’s Australian Sports Commission Grand Prix Special where together with the 16 year old bay stallion she took out the title with a super performance which blitzed the field. The Queensland based rider and her mount scored a personal best 70.37 and were the only duo to score over 70 per cent. The next best placed combination was Rozzie Ryan and GV Bullwinkle who scored 66.72. Ashwood is delighted to win but even more thrilled to achieve a mark with a seven in front of it. “I was in shock, I rode the horse down to the stables and the girls came in running and cheering. Then they told me I’d scored over 70 per cent and I was so excited.”