Wellington, FL- June 14, 2012- Peter Leone and Monica Carrera’s Lincourt Gino continue their consistent top placings at important Grand Prix events this spring. Last week, Leone and Gino were third in the $100,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix HITS on the Hudson in Saugerties, NY. They also had a good prize in the Level 7 Jumpers. Peter Leone and Lincourt Gino at HITS Saugerties

Calgary, Alberta – Canadian Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, topped a starting field of 55 entries to win the $32,000 RSA Cup during the Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ tournament on Thursday, June 14, in Calgary, AB. Eric Lamaze and Coriana van Klapscheut won the $32,000 RSA Cup on June 14 at the CSI4*-W Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ tournament in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Parker/Russell – The Book LLC) Riding Coriana van Klapscheut, Lamaze posted a time of 68.25 seconds, stopping the clock almost three seconds faster than his closest rival to take his first victory of the season at Spruce Meadows.  Tim Gredley of Great Britain came the closest to catching Lamaze’s time, crossing the timers in 71.08 seconds riding Unex Chamberlain Z while Katie Dinan of the United States took third place with a time of 71.93 riding Nougat du Vallet.

Gladstone, NJ (June 12, 2012) – Sixteen-year-old dressage rider Rebecca Cohen faced many challenges during her quest for success at the 2012 USEF Dressage National Championships in New Jersey. Despite the fact that Downtown, her 17.2 hand Westphalian gelding, spent more time with the veterinarian than in the dressage arena, Cohen and her mount proved their star power and bounced back from the setbacks. The duo rode to victory in the Junior Division, taking the Reserve Championship title. Rebecca Cohen and Downtown won the National Junior Dressage Reserve Championship at the 2012 USEF National Championships at Gladstone. Just weeks prior to the Festival of Champions, Downtown, aka Daddy, was hospitalized with a leg infection; Cohen was unsure if she would be able to compete at all.  After making a full recovery and showing himself strong enough to make the trip to New Jersey, Daddy’s trials and tribulations were not over as he colicked when they arrived, just days before the prestigious show.  The chestnut gelding showed his mettle, however, and despite the setbacks pulled through the colic and took his rider to victory. “When we arrived in New Jersey, he didn’t ship well and I couldn’t ride him for a few days,” Cohen said, adding that they were uncertain about whether they would be able to compete. “Daddy did get better and the first day I rode him was the day before the show so we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare.” Cohen and Daddy earned a score of 67.378% in the Junior Team Test and a 69.500% in the Junior Individual Test to ride away with a 68.493% combined total and the 2012 Junior Dressage Reserve Championship.

Wellington, FL (June 12, 2012) – Claudia Gundersen and Mirage, a Danish warmblood gelding, proved their grit and persistence during the Gold Coast Dressage Association’s May Show, where thunder, lightning, wind, and rain threatened to upset their performance.  Gundersen, who trains with her mother, Mikala Gundersen, was undaunted by the bad weather, and returned to the show ring the next day to win the Training Level Test 2 class with a 67.5%.  Gundersen’s poise and determination won for her the Custom Young Ambassador award, which seeks to recognize outstanding young dressage riders at various shows on the Florida circuit. Claudia Gundersen and Mirage were the winners of the Custom Saddlery Young Ambassador Award during the GCDA May Show Gundersen has also only been riding Mirage for a few months, and this is their first show.  “Since he is a new horse, I want to continue to show him as much as I can, and to get a lot of experience.  This show was a nice test for us, with lots of challenges, but I think in the end it was a positive experience.”  Gundersen added that she wanted to thank Custom Saddlery for sponsoring the award, and was happy with the prize of a set of Dressage Sport Boots. “We started the Custom Young Ambassador award to recognize driven young dressage enthusiasts as they competed their horses,” said Cary Wallace, President and Master Saddle Fitter at Custom Saddlery. “Young riders like Claudia are the future of dressage and we are happy to encourage and promote their enthusiasm for the sport and their love of their horses. Wallace also said that the Young Ambassador awards and promotions are part of an ongoing program to highlight the importance of young riders to the sport and proper saddle fit for both horse and rider.  Wallace said.