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Laura Noyes Blocks Julie McKean from Hat Trick in Young Rider Competition at 2008 Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W/Y |
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June 9, 2008 |
 Soon-to-be-21-year-old Laura Noyes won the CDI Young Rider Freestyle at the 2008 Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W/Y, thus keeping Julie McKean from sweeping the CDI Young Rider category. McKean and Stavinsky had won both Friday's Young Rider Team Test and Saturday's Young Rider Prix St. Georges. Noyes and Syncro won the Freestyle with a score of 69.35 percent. McKean scored 65.70.
Noyes and McKean are both originally from Maine. McKean is now in college in Florida and Noyes goes to college in Ohio where she now trains with George Williams. She's owned Syncro, a 14-year-old Trakhener gelding by Enrico Caruso, for five years and has brought him up the levels, but they missed out on last year's show season. "Unfortunately, last year he was injured and we couldn't train at all."
Hence, the Derby was the first time she's competed with her freestyle in more than a year. "I was really happy that it all came together. There were a few mistakes but overall, I thought it was rather well," Noyes said. Ruth Hogan Poulson helped her with the freestyle and Noyes said the most difficult part is the canter work because it changes rather quickly. "There are a lot of movements that come right after another so he really had to be with me in order not to have mistakes."
Noyes turns 21 this month and this will be her last year as a young rider. Hence, not only is she aiming for the national championships in California, but she is also hoping to make it to the North American Junior/Young Rider Championships in Colorado.
More news coming soon on the winners of the Intermediaire Freestyle
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Shawna Harding and Come On III Continue to Dominate Dressage in Florida |
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June 4, 2008 |
 Note: Sunday's day sheets on line
$10,000 ESP Dressage/Jumper Spectacular presented by Absorbine will continue Sunday Morning 8:00 am in Ring E with the Jumper Phase
When Shawna Harding looked at Come On III four years ago in Europe she saw a future that no one else did. Since then, the pair have developed a bond that has become so special that the 17.2-hand horse has become Shawna's "world."
Together, they posted a score of 72.5 per cent in the Intermediate I Open at the Equestrian Sport Productions' Wellington Dressage that is the first in a series of three dressage competitions at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival presented by Zimmerman Advertising at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Photo: Susan J Stickle
In the Prix St. Georges on Friday, Harding and Come On posted the same score to place second although they were awarded a score of nine out of 10 for the entering halt and salute.
Saturday, Susan Dutta of Wellington on Manette DC were second with 68.00 per cent and Tonya Grant Barber and Nice Catch third on 66.75 per cent.
Harding, 38, of Aiken, S.C. said that heavy rain Friday night made warm up difficult while a jumping class in the adjoining competition arena created an "interesting" environment. The ride on the Danish Warmblood gelding was better than Friday.
Harding was working for seven years in Europe when Come On was sent to her for training. "Nobody wanted to buy him," she said. "He definitely has a lot of personality, a lot of energy. Nobody could see what was in him." She said she has developed a "special bond" with Come On to the point "he's my world."
Saturday Results
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Another Blue for Shawna Harding and Come On III at the 25th Annual Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W/Y |
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June 4, 2008 |
 Shawna Harding and Come On III continue to collect blue ribbons with the latest coming from their Prix St. Georges win at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W/Y. And she clearly hasn't tired of being in the winner's circle. "It was a fabulous win and I'm very excited and proud of my horse," Harding said. "He's come so far from last year."
Harding and Come On III, a nine-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding sired by Come Back II, took the win despite a few freely admitted mistakes. "We did have a few mistakes, just from tension and from being a bit nervy and having a lot of sneezing that needed to come out," Harding said. "But overall, I was very happy that he stood for all his halts, something that we're always trying to work on. And tomorrow will be another day and I hope to have an even more confident horse in the arena. We'll see what happens."
Harding was especially pleased with Come On III's half passes, both the trot and the canter work. "And his right canter pirouette was very nice," she said. And, Harding said, his pirouettes are now more like small voltes than "the eggs that we've been sometimes riding lately. I was also pleased that the extended canter was nice today. He was really up and forward and in front of my leg."
Despite her relatively consistent wins this season, Harding said she's not getting cocky saying that she and Come On III have had their fair share of bad rides. "But he is maturing. He's going to be nine next month so he's getting more confident. But, I'm also working him harder and starting to put the Grand Prix into him. I think he still has a way to go and we do have a lot of things to iron out in the ring."
Complete results - CDI Prix St Georges
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In Run for 2008 Paralympic Games Lauren Barwick Teams up with Walter Zettl at Ocala Winter Dressage |
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June 3, 2008 |
 Ocala, Florida – The Ocala Winter Dressage show, held at the Florida Horse Park January 19-20, is the starting point for Lauren Barwick’s journey to the 2008 Paralympics and helping her on that journey at this weekend’s competition was dressage master Walter Zettl. Barwick, a 30-year-old rider from Vancouver, Canada, joined forces with Zettl to test potential mounts for the upcoming Paralympics.
Barwick, who competed for Canada in the Athen’s Olympics, has already qualified herself to compete in this year’s Paralympic Games, but now needs to qualify a horse. Hence, she was using Ocala Winter Dressage as a testing ground to find her Paralympic partner. “I’ve personally qualified, but I haven’t yet qualified a horse. I had a Grand Prix mount at home that got put down recently. So, now I’m trying out different horses in hopes of finding one for the Paralympic Games,” Barwick said.
It was through Pat and Linda Parelli that Barwick linked up with one of the world’s most recognized classical dressage masters. Zettl, a native of Czechoslovakia who lives in Canada, makes regular trips to the Parelli’s farm in Ocala, Florida. It was there that he met Barwick, who has clearly impressed him.
“ I have much respect for this young lady because she has no feeling in her legs, but has a very good seat and is a very good rider. She’s an amazing young lady,” Zettl said of Barwick. “She also has a great mind and ability to focus and she tries to do everything that one says.” Barwick’s riding ability, despite being paralyzed from the hips down, is such that Zettl often forgets she’s paralyzed.
"The funniest thing is when we’re having lessons and he says, ‘posting trot’ and I go, ‘hmm.’ (Barwick can’t post.) Or he’ll say, ‘just squeeze your bum muscles together’ and I’ll go, ‘hmma, aha,’” said Barwick showing the humorous blank look she gives Zettl when he issues commands fit only for riders who can use their legs. “I love it when he does that, but then he’ll go, ‘oops, okay.’ He just forgets my situation.”
Paralympian Lauren Barwick is Aiming for her Second Paralympic Games
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Ocala Winter Dressage Blends Great Competition with Friendly Atmosphere |
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June 3, 2008 |
 Ocala, Florida – Good footing draws dressage competitors like a magnet and that’s why this past weekend’s Ocala Winter Dressage, held Jan. 19-20 at the Florida Horse Park, was so popular with those who braved the cool, chilly weather to compete. Just ask Melissa Vanacore who, when asked what she most liked about competing at the Horse Park answered without hesitation, “the footing. It’s amazing.”
More than a year ago, the Horse Park put Polytrack footing in all its rings and the investment sure paid off when it came to winning over competitors. The 500-acre Horse Park was created in 1996 and is working toward becoming central Florida’s key venue for equestrian competitions. Its dressage competitions are already drawing a growing list of top competitors who are setting up their winter bases in the Ocala.
Among those setting up winter shop in the Ocala area are members of Mary Alice Malone’s Iron Springs Farm team and Belinda Nairn-Wertman, of the farm’s leading riders and trainers couldn’t be happier. “Mary Alice bought a beautiful farm here and when you’re there, you don’t want to go anywhere else. We’re now based in Ocala all winter and I love it. It’s so good for the horses. There’s real grass and good turnout and it’s cooler, which is maybe not great for us but wonderful for the horses. It’s just a more realistic environment for the horses. I love the country up here.”
 At this past weekend’s Ocala Winter Dressage, Nairn-Werman was showing one of Iron Spring Farm’s future stars, the five-year-old mare Watch Me, sired by Sir Sinclair. The mare was purchased last year with hopes that she would show the talent of offspring by Sir Sinclair and she seems to be living up to that hope. Although she had a successful showing last year in Training Level and in the Four-Year-Old classes, Ocala was the mare’s first outing at First Level.
"She’s just starting, but I think she has all the capabilities in the world,” Nairn-Wertman said. “She really gives me the feeling that she could be a really good FEI horse. She’s careful and sensitive, but has a wonderful work ethic and she wants to do things right. She doesn’t like to make mistakes. When you go to turn, you realize you’re on a young horse but when you just sit on her, you feel like you’re on a Fourth Level horse. She’s very smooth, very well-balanced, very easy to put together.”
Although Nairn-Wertman does travel southward to the Wellington area for shows from her Ocala base, she’s become a big fan of the Florida Horse Park. “I like the fact that it’s a more relaxed atmosphere if you’re going to spend the winter. And it’s easy enough to get to Wellington. I don’t mind the drive because we’re used to driving to shows all year, so going to Wellington is no different.”
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Melissa Vanacore and Stacy Parvey-Larsson Have a Friendship Built on Mutual Respect |
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June 3, 2008 |
 It’s technically a competitive sport, but dressage certainly has its share of deep friendships found among competitors. At Ocala Winter Dressage, Melissa Vanacore and Stacy Parvey-Larsson are two friends who couldn’t say enough good things about one another. Vanacore is manager of Longfield Stables at Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina. She trains with Parvey-Larsson, of Hidden Acres Dressage, located in the Ocala area.
With six students and eight horses to manage at Ocala Winter Dressage, Parvey-Larsson was kept on the run. “It was a little stressful this morning because everybody was stacked on top of each other with ride times so I didn’t get to school all the ones that went this morning,” she said after a hectic Saturday morning at the show. And the reason she had so many students at the show, said her friend and student, Vanacore, is because Parvey-Larsson is such a great instructor and coach.
“ Stacey is wonderful. She makes sure that when you come to a show, you’re 100 percent prepared. You do your very best and she gives you the tools to execute that. She’s fabulous. And, I’ll add, she’s a wonderful neighbor,” Vanacore said. “Stacey inspires me.
She’s just an awesome rider and trainer and she inspires you to do your best. She doesn’t hold back when you need to know you’re doing something incorrectly, but she then tells you how to improve it.”
From her perspective, Parvey-Larsson said being a good teacher is easy with great students like Vanacore. “Melissa is very much a ‘diligent’ worker,” she said with a laugh. “She’s been a really good student. She always asks good questions. She’s always prepared and she does her homework.” Parvey-Larsson carefully chose the word ‘diligent’ to describe her friend as Vanacore had just finished competing with the four-year-old gelding Dillinger, sired by the Thoroughbred racehorse Diligence, who ran in the Kentucky Derby. And when asked how Parvey-Larsson has helped her with Dillinger, Vanacore joked, “we practice diligently with Dillinger.”
“ I had raised his sire so there is a sentimental attachment here,” Vanacore said of Dillinger. “His dad has a wonderful temperament so I’m thrilled to have found an offspring that hasn’t raced. He’s just a four-year-old with a very good mind.” Vanacore got Dillinger in May and quickly put him to work. Ocala Winter Dressage was only his second show. “He’s a very good boy and, hopefully, as he gains fitness he’ll become more and more competitive and his gaits will improve a bit.”
Among the horses Parvey-Larsson brought to Ocala Winter Dressage were High and Mighty and Rebus HAD. High and Mighty is a 15-year-old Trakehener gelding that had been owned by Christina Thompson, who passed away last year. Rebus is a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding imported from Germany that is showing Fourth Level. “He’s schooling Prix St. Georges at home and High and Mighty is schooling Grand Prix. Both are for sale,” Parvey-Larsson said.
This organization is partially funded by the Ocala/Marion County Visitor and Convention Bueau.
Related Links
Results - Ocala Winter Dressage - January 21-22, 2008
HorsesDaily On the Scene at Ocala Winter Dressage
Florida Horse Park
DressageShowInfo.com
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Anne Gribbons Successfully Juggles Careers as Both Competitor and Judge |
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June 3, 2008 |
An Interview with Lynndee Kemmet
 A native of Sweden, Anne Gribbons has successfully represented the U.S. in numerous international competitions. She has trained many horses to Grand Prix and helped her students achieve tremendous competitive success. Yet, many know of her for her career as an FEI “O” judge. Gribbons is rare among international judges in that while she judges at the highest levels – and indeed this year she is judging the U.S. Olympic Dressage Selection Trials – she also actively competes. At the recent Gold Coast Opener CDI-W/Y, Gribbons competed with her 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding Alazan at the Grand Prix level. During the show, Gribbons graciously set aside a few minutes to discuss the challenges of being both a top-level judge and competitor.
Q: Is it difficult to go into the ring knowing the judges personally, especially when some of them are actually good friends?
 Anne: Some of them have a hard time with it. I think that for them, as for me, it’s a two-edged sword. They’re very careful not to be too friendly with their score because they certainly don’t want it to seem as if they’re in any way favoring me as a judge. And therefore, sometimes, it can have the reverse effect. If you judge someone you really know, as opposed to someone you are removed from, it’s just human nature that it is harder to be completely objective. But that’s one of the things that we judges are supposed to be – totally objective and most of us can pull that off very well. So, I would say that they all try to be totally fair, both to me and to the other competitors.
On occasion, it can be hard because some judges dislike the fact that some judges ride. That’s just how they feel. Other judges encourage you. It depends on each judge’s attitude about it. But, on the other end, I can say, I’ve never, ever had a competitor complain about my riding in competition in all the years that I’ve been riding and judging. I’m first a trainer, competitor, rider and teacher. I did not start this career wanting just to be a judge. That came with the territory. I love the judging. I totally enjoy it, but I will say that’s not all I am and I’m not ready to give up the riding.
Q: How does being a judge at your level impact your competitive schedule?
 Anne: It’s very hard to fit in the competing because the more you judge and the more you are in demand to judge different competitions, the more you have to make your show schedule fit into that and that affects the horses. Horses need a certain routine in their showing. They need so much time between shows, but not too much. For example, the Grand Prix horse I have now (Alazan) is a very, very hot horse.
But, he’s still sort of comparatively green because he doesn’t go to enough shows and that is a problem. He needs to get a routine down and he hasn’t really been able to do that because as soon as we go to a show then it’s several weeks off until the next. So, it doesn’t always work that well for the horses. It depends, of course, on the horse’s temperament as well.
Q: Are there any other FEI "O" judges who compete?
Anne: As far as I know, but I might be wrong, I’m the only "O" judge who has been competing at the same time. I don’t think it’s happened before so it’s a bit like being in my own unique situation. I don’t think I could actually be prevented from showing, but I have to be very careful to make sure it is totally fair. And of course, I’m not going to compete against the same people I’m going to judge as they try for the Olympics. There is an FEI rule that one cannot compete and judge a CDI on the same continent in the same year.
Q: Why do you keep competing?
 Anne: For several reasons. I’m first and foremost a competitor and trainer. And as long as I’m physically fit and have a good horse, I want to compete. I think if you don’t, it’s very easy to sit at home and pat yourself on the back and think that your horse is going marvelously and doing all the right things.
And, it’s not until you get in the ring with good judges that you really know what the truth is.
Photo: 1995 Pan American Silver Medal Team - Anne Gribbons, Guenter Seidel, Elizabeth Ball, and Leslie Webb
Q: So competing is part of your role as a trainer?
Anne: That’s absolutely correct. I also want to see how my horses are going and if they’re up to snuff with what’s going on. And when I go to these big shows and compete in the open divisions and I get some of the really good judges that we have, I get the benefit of their input. And I’m not sitting out in the boonies pretending that I’m wonderful. So that’s important. I need to know how my horses are progressing.
So that’s one reason why I compete. Another is that so long as I can do it and want to do it, it keeps me nice and humble. This is a very difficult thing to do. To ride a Grand Prix horse well is a really detailed, intense skill and to really appreciate it, you have to have done it yourself. And by doing it all the time, I am never far away from it and I don’t forget how difficult it is. I really respect the riders. If they have a horrible test, I’m not going to give them a great score but at least I never say, ‘How could that happen to them?’ I know how it happens to them. And I know how difficult it is. And I think it keeps my level of respect for the rider higher.
Q: Can you say that competing makes you a better judge?
 Anne: That’s for the competitors to decide. I don’t think it makes me a better judge. I think it makes me a more sympathetic judge. And I also do understand that if somebody has the test of his or her life and it wasn’t expected to be that good, I really try to give that rider the credit because I know what it feels like when something goes really, really well and nobody pays attention. So, I think perhaps it makes me even more aware of how fair I need to be to the riders because it is so hard to do.
Q: Hypothetically, if you were told that you had to decide between judging or being a competitor, which would you chose?
Anne: If I were 20 years younger, there would be no choice. I would definitely go compete. At this point, in life, I honestly don’t know. I hope nobody ever asks the question. It’s like with a man and woman and one is a competitor and at some point the other says, ‘It’s enough. You have to chose between me and the horses.’ Sometimes, they’d be very surprised with the answer (Gribbons laughed loudly). So, I don’t know. I just hope I’m never in a position where they can prevent me from competing as long as I compete in the correct classes – as long as it’s not a conflict with what I have scheduled to judge.
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Leslie Morse and Tip Top 962 ‘Hop Over’ from King’s Court to Cornerstone Events’ L.A. Winter Dressage 2008 to take Grand Prix Win |
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June 3, 2008 |
 Just a month ago, Grand Prix rider Leslie Morse moved into her new King’s Court in Hidden Hills, California – located a short 20-minute hop from the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Very convenient for Morse who, this past weekend, loaded up Tip Top 962, zipped down the road to the Cornerstone Events’ L.A. Winter Dressage 2008, warmed up in a pouring rain and zipped back home with a blue ribbon from her Grand Prix win.
Morse and Tip Top, a 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion, scored a 70.00 percent in Sunday’s Grand Prix Open to take the win. The day before, they placed third in the Grand Prix Open with a score of 66.25 percent, behind winner Debbie McDonald and Felix and second-place finishers Steffen Peters and Prince.
"I think it was the best test I’ve ever had," Morse said of her Sunday ride. "Two days in a row, he went completely clean. He piaffed really well. I was really, really happy. He showed amazing changes. The first day, he was a bit stallionish. He had all these mares around in the warm-up and he didn’t want to leave his herd when he went into the arena."
Hence, on Sunday, Morse tried an trick often used in the by the racehorse crowd – she put some Vicks in Tip Top’s nostrils and it worked. "I had never tried that before because I never really had that kind of a problem with him," she said.
Morse and her horses just moved into their new home about a month ago, their own private retreat that she named King’s Court after her other Grand Prix partner, Kingston, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion by Voltaire. "It’s our own small, private place. It’s wonderful and it’s for Kingston and Tip Top and their offspring," Morse said. "The horses are so happy."
Tip Top and Morse Went from the Trails to the L.A. Winter Dressage 2008
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As part of its campaign to support the American team of Jane Hannigan and Maksymilian at this year’s Dressage World Cup, the Matrix will donate a portion of sales of
Showtime