HorseShow.com Congratulates "Carette MG", Champion of California Dressage Society Young Horse Futurity

Bettina Loy and "Carette MG"(owned by Rya Lahti) win the CDS Young Horse Futurity for Five-Year-Olds. Awards presented by (l-r) Anne Margaret Meyers of HorseShow.com; U.S. Olympic Dressage Team member Jan Ebeling; and CDS Board Member Ellen Corob. (Photo: Jennifer M. Keeler)

HorseShow.com, the online horse show and clinic network, proudly congratulates the connections of "Carette MG", winner of the five-year-old division of the prestigious Young Horse Futurity, part of the 45th Anniversary California Dressage Society Championship Show Presented By HorseShow.com held October 4 - 7, 2012 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, CA. "Carette MG", a chestnut Dutch Warmblood mare (His Highness x Turette MG by Silvano, bred by Kathy Hickerson) was ridden by Bettina Loy of Ramona, CA to earn an overall average of 75.817% and the Futurity title.  Prior to the Championships, owner Rya Lahti of San Diego submitted a video of her mare to HorseShow.com's online clinic with international dressage judge Axel Steiner.

Entry to this special clinic was free of charge for California Dressage Society (CDS) members who were preparing for the annual championship show, providing a unique opportunity to submit videos of practice tests and receive a real-time voiceover commentary about their ride with expert advice to improve their scores. 

"Knowing that such an esteemed judge as Axel Steiner was going to critique this, and as an added bonus it was free, I thought, 'why not? I'll give it a try'," said Lahti. "When we got the voiceover commentary back for Carette's video, it was incredible.  The comments were so 'right on' from a judge's standpoint, and everything he noted was how the score could be improved to a 10. It was so helpful and a great experience. You can pay a lot of money to participate in a live clinic, or simply upload a video and get the same kind of expert feedback.  I will absolutely use HorseShow.com again."

Anne Margaret Meyers of HorseShow.com interviews guest judge Axel Steiner during the 45th Anniversary California Dressage Society Championships Presented By HorseShow.com. (Photo: Jennifer M. Keeler)

Axel Steiner, an FEI "O" judge who has officiated for national and international events worldwide such as the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, and World Cup Finals, was also pleased with his experience as a guest judge for HorseShow.com, as well as the response from CDS members. "I heard great feedback from people here at the Championships whose videos I reviewed prior to the show," Steiner explained. "I think HorseShow.com is right for the times. Technology-wise we're becoming so much more advanced, and I think this is a great way to interact with riders, especially with riders who may not have access to regular help.  Being able to give advice and an evaluation of where a rider and horse are in their training using HorseShow.com's online platform is very valuable."

Steiner was complimentary of HorseShow.com's unique voiceover technology for review of video rides. "The voiceover feature worked very well and was so easy to use, even for a 'non-techie' like me," he said. "I'm looking forward to doing future video reviews, and learning more about the various features that HorseShow.com is offering. I think people should think outside the box and embrace the possibilities that technology like this offers. In this country, we have to broaden our base of riders in the sport, and I think HorseShow.com can be very helpful in this effort, for all levels of riders."

For more information about HorseShow.com's online programs, review sample videos, sign up for a free member profile, and easily upload a video, visit the HorseShow.com website www.horseshow.com