Wellington, FL- February 10, 2013– On Saturday, February 2, 2013, Der Dau was on hand to sponsor the first of six weeks of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Throughout each week of the season, Der Dau will honor the horse and rider combination with the highest Horse Gait and Rider Position scores for a division with the “Der Dau Dream Team Horse and Rider Award.” For the first week of the season, the award was presented in the FEI Young Horse Final for Five Year Olds.
“We are excited to be a sponsor of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival,” said Joseph Der, President of Der Dau. “We want to align ourselves with the dressage community and support its growth.”
Anna Marek and Dilona presented the Der Dau Dream Team award
by Barbara Lange at the first week of the Global Dressage Festival
The Der Dau Dream Team last week was presented to Anna Marek and Dilona who earned top scores in the Young Horse Division. Marek hails from Michigan and moved to Florida two years ago to train with and ride for Belinda Nairn Wertman at INSPO in Williston, FL.
Marek piloted Dilona, a Dutch Warmblood mare by Lord Leatherdale out of Kennedy and owned by AJ Stapleton, to the 2012 Adequan/USDF USEF Four-Year-Old Horse of the Year honors.
“Belinda found her in Holland as a coming three-year-old,” said Marek. “She was not broke yet. From the moment I saw her running around in the field, I was in love with her. She goes to a show and just puffs herself up. She knows when she goes into the arena. She’s just a fun horse to ride.”
Remarking on the Der Dau Dream Team Award, Marek shared that she feels that way when she rides Dilona, that she is a dream horse and they make a great team.
Marek has such confidence in the horse that when owner AJ Stapleton expressed that he was a little wary of showing the young mare this early in the season she and Wertman convinced him otherwise.
“She clocked off the test like it was no trouble. She is born a show horse-a professional. I think she knows how much I love her,” she said.
Der Dau looks forward to promoting a new Der Dau Dream Team each week of the Global Dressage Festival.
For 50 years, New York-based Der Dau has been making high quality, custom boots and shoes by hand. The Der Dau craftsmen create perfectly-fitted, second-skin boots and shoes through an unparalleled, exacting process. A family business founded by Jose´ Der, is now lead by his son Joseph Der with passion and vision. The company prides itself on its commitment to excellence, hard work and dedication.
The quality and beauty of the Der Dau boots and shoes have made them a favorite of celebrities and top equestrian competitors. Debbie Stephens, Ian Millar, Margie Engel, Eric Lamaze, Jessica Springsteen and Betsy Steiner all ride in Der Dau custom boots.
For more information go to: www.derdau.com or call 718-336-4513
