Dressage News Notes Brought to You By Back On Track

Dressage News Notes for the week of January 23-27, 2012. The World Dressage Masters CDI5* this weekend at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center is a sell out for general admission tickets as the American dressage fans are eager to see our North American stars go at it with some of Europes finest including two favorites for the team Gold in London! Speaking of the Olympics, the U.S. riders are gearing up for the selection trials to be held in Gladstone in June and the Para-equestrians are also looking ahead to their own selection trials for the Paralympics to be held after the London Olympic Games. Sweden's Patrik Kittel has a new ride and wait to you see who it is! The Bechtolsheimers have lost their former Olympic horse Giorgione at the ripe old age of 30!

The Dressage community has all eyes focused on South Florida this weekend as the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5* will get underway with top action from North American and European competitors! The WDM will be held in conjunction with the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3*.  Action in Apopka rounds out the shows in Florida with the Snowbird's Paradise Show In Orlando. California continues on its own winter circuit with the Los Angeles Winter Dressage in Burbank. The Fields & Fences January Dressage Fest in Gurnee, IL will also take place this weekend!

The list of competitiors for the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI 5* have been announced with the competition taking place this weekend at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. Defending champions Steffen Peters and Ravel will face some stiff competition with combinations such as Charlotte Dujardin/Valegro, Carl Hester/Wie Atlantico and Tinne Vilhelmsson-Silfven/Favorit (to name a few) coming from 7 different nations to compete. The WDM is being held in conjunction to the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3* where the top two placings in the Grand Prix CDI will receive invitations to compete in the CDI5*. See the list here!

The countdown continues with 183 days to go until the start of the 2012 London Olympic Games! High performance clinc have taken place with more training sessions for Olympic Dressage Hopefuls. Steffen Peters and Team Coach Anne Gribbons worked with 7 combinations in Wellington, FL and 4 hopefuls in San Diego, CA. There is still much to do before selecting our Dressage Team and those combinations will be chosen over two weekends in June at the USEF/Collecting Gaits Farm Festival of Champions held at the Dick and Jane Brown Arena - Gladstone, NJ. Read More here!

Our nations Paralympians are also gearing up for a spot on the U.S.Team for the
2012 London Paralympic Games to be held Aug 29 - Sept 9, 2012! 23 Para-equestrians from 7 countries contested both team and individual titles at this past weekends Gold Coast Opener CPEDI3* in Wellington, FL. While Team Canada was the ultimate winner earning the Gold in the team competition, the U.S. Team is looking very strong. Many U.S. riders continue to put in high quality rides and medal contending scores. Check out the results and story here!

Sweden's Patrik Kittel is one lucky guy! Edwin and Arlette Jasper-Kohl of Gestut Peterhof have purchased the 2010 World Young Horse Champion UNO Donna Unique. Patrik will be aiming the 8-year-old black beauty for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. While Donna is already trained to Grand Prix, Patirk states that "she's still not there yet and I can do the last touch". The Kohl's are patient sponsors and will allow Patrik to take his time in finishing this brillant mare so that she will not be pressured. Check out Eurodressage.com for the full story!
 
Former Olympic Dressage Star Giorgione, the Oldenburg licensed stallion that took Carl Hester to his first Olympics, had to be put down after a severe bout of colic. Giorgione was owned by Dr Bechtolsheimer who also rode the stallion at the 1995 European Championships and a reserve spot for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Giorgione was just shy of his 31st birthday. See more here...

The rumor always seems to be out there about the USET Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ closing its doors but once again this rumor has to be dispelled. The USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) has been discussing moving its staff, that is still currently based out of the historic property, to consolidate to itsheadquarters at the Kentucky Horse Park. The USET (United States Equestrian Team) is staying put! The property is actually owned by the USET Foundation and its intention is to continue on with world class selection trials and trianing sessions. Read the full story here...