International Dressage rider Suzanne Dansby Bollman and her equine partner Cooper, an 18.3 hand Holsteiner gelding, have returned to the Grand Prix following an injury that put Cooper on the sidelines three years ago. Bollman calls Cooper’s return a miraculous event and they will compete at The Georgia Dressage Southern shows and the Raleigh CDI. Photo courtesy of Robert Cieszenski of WNC Photography
Catching up: Cheers for our favorite “retiree” Robert Dover, who seems to be far from actually retiring. Robert was apparently thrilled with his new 3 year old stallion, Hampton Green Farm Fiero, when he had his first ride since Nicholas Fyffe began the breaking process. “He is already understanding leg-yielding and simple transitions to all three gaits with a motor that just goes and goes and an honesty and sweetness that is truly beyond compare. In other words,” says Robert, “I’m psyched! And I very much appreciate everyone who has had a role in Fiero’s coming to me and evolution into a riding horse: Kim Boyer – breeder, Tuny Page – owner of Stillpoint Farm, Dr. Shana Chase – my great vet, Don Later – my great farrier, Oded Shimoni – my eyes on the ground, and Nicholas Fyffe, Fiero’s trainer and future Olympic rider (God willing!)” Um, Robert, are you really, really sure about that retirement thing? Olympics looming and all?
Shawna Harding checked in to say that she’d just competed in the World Cup Final in Leipzig, Germany, with fellow Americans Catharine Haddad and Jan Ebling before heading to Hagen then Munchen, Fritzens and hopefully Aachen! Shawna promises to keep us updated on her four months abroad.
Everyone in the know is really excited about the Emerging Dressage Athlete Program and The Global Dressage Festival. These two projects became a reality within a week of each other and deserve a great deal of support from the equestrian media to help and nurture them along. They will, together, usher in a new era for American Dressage! We heard that Equestrian Sport Productions recently received a special use permit officially allowing them to hold dressage competitions on the Old Polo Stadium Property in Wellington from November 2011 – April 30th, 2012, as part of the new Global Dressage Festival.
Preparations are in high speed for the annual International Dressage at Devon (DAD) Horse Show (www.dressageatdevon.org). The show combines world-class dressage competition and the world’s largest open breed show outside of Europe with international Fall Festival shops, crafts, food and fun for the entire family. This year, new footing has been added to the Gold Ring, matching it to the high standards set last year in the Dixon Oval. Dressage at Devon will take place from September 27-October 2, 2011 at the Devon Horse Show Grounds, located on US Route 30, in Devon, PA.
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