Olympians Will Share in Celebrations During This Week's 45th Anniversary California Dressage Society Championship Show Presented By HorseShow.com

Over the course of nearly half a century, the California Dressage Society's (CDS) Annual Championship Dressage Show has become the largest gathering of horse and rider talent on the West Coast. And in celebration of CDS' 45th anniversary, this year's edition will not disappoint as two members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Dressage Team will make special appearances and join in the festivities. With 339 horses scheduled to compete over four days of non-stop competition for championship titles, excitement is reaching a fever pitch for the 45th Anniversary California Dressage Society Championship Show presented by HorseShow.com, which will be held October 4 - 7, 2012 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, CA.

Offering almost $30,000 in prize money and awards, this show will once again feature the popular CDS Young Horse Futurity (including the Cal-Bred Futurity), the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 7 Dressage Championships, and the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Breeders Championships West Coast Series Final.

The must-see events of the weekend will be on Friday and Saturday evenings as part of the popular "Masters Series". First, CDS welcomes special guest and 2012 Olympic Games U.S. Dressage Team member Jan Ebeling on Friday, October 5th, who will assist with awards presentations and give an evening lecture titled "Remembering London". Ebeling became a mainstream media sensation with his mount "Rafalca" (co-owned by Anne Romney) following multiple features on the popular television show, "The Colbert Report". On Saturday evening, October 6th, CDS will present a special panel discussion of "The 2012 Olympic Experience: From a Rider, Owner, & Judge Perspective", featuring U.S. Dressage Team member Steffen Peters; Akiko Yamazaki, a long-time owner of U.S. High Performance dressage horses, including "Ravel"; and FEI "O" judge Gary Rockwell, who was a member of both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games judging panels. Panelists will discuss their experiences at this year's Olympics in London as well as their thoughts on the state of the sport, and will take questions from the audience during the interactive discussion.

Olympic Dressage Rider Steffen Peters will be a special guest at the upcoming CDS Championships. (Photo: Jennifer M.Keeler)

Additional highlights of the upcoming weekend include the immensely popular CDS Horse of the Year classes, which award a treasure trove of perpetual trophies to Open and Adult Amateur competitors of all levels ranging from Training to Grand Prix. An astonishing 63 horses will contest the lucrative CDS Young Horse Futurity with divisions for four, five, and six-year-old horses. Among the talented youngsters scheduled to compete is the sensational Hanoverian stallion "Sanceo" (San Remo x Rivera by Ramiro's Son II, owned by Alice Womble), who traveled to Germany to represent the U.S. at this summer's FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships with rider Sabine Schut-Kery. In addition, the inaugural CDS Dressage Seat Equitation Challenge will showcase nearly twenty junior and amateur riders looking to show off their skills. Finally, attendees will be able to browse for their next championship mount in the innovative CDS Sale Horse Showcase, where horses offered for sale will participate in special presentations throughout the weekend.

With as many as six rings spotlighting the best of California's horses and riders there will be plenty of competition action, but exhibitors will also enjoy complimentary hospitality and entertainment as well as an impressive vendor village and silent auction to tempt the pocketbook. On Thursday, October 4th, a welcome pizza party will be held to kick off the show, and Saturday's spectacular entertainment will also include FEI-level freestyles and a special performance by the Rainbow Riders Drill Team. 

Spectator admission to CDS Championship competition and entertainment is free of charge, and food is available for purchase on-site. Sponsor tables, which are located in the main arena and include hospitality service, are still available and may be reserved by contacting Regina Antonioli, (805) 306-1885 or eqco...@earthlink.net. Attendees can get closest to all the Championship action by volunteering! For volunteer opportunities, please contact Glenda McElroy, (818) 841-3554 or gle...@glenroys.com.

For complete information about the upcoming 45th Annual California Dressage Society Championship Show Presented by HorseShow.com, please visit the CDS website, www.california-dressage.org.