HGF at Dressage at Devon

We are quite happy to be back from our week in Devon. Ana and Will put
four 3 year old colts on the truck early Monday morning and made the 15
hour drive to the historic showgrounds. In tow were Icono and Genio,
Martin Schaudt's two colts who are leaving HGF for the first and last
time. Following the show, they were picked up by a van for Dutta Corp
and taken to Rigby Farms for quarantine prior to travel to Martin's
farm outside of Stuttgardt, Germany. Also leaving the farm for the last
time was Icaro--on his way to Glenedon, Lendon Gray's farm, and to his
new owner Annie Morris, one of Lendon's students and riders. The fourth
colt, Decoroso, was the only horse to return back to Michigan following
the show. Its hard to say good-bye to these young horses that we have
lived with and into whom we have put so much in their early years, but
not so hard when we know they are going to riders such as these and
their wonderful new homes.

The Breed Show at Devon was very competitive. Firstly, Devon is best
categorized as a warmblood breed show, and those horses that vary from
the conformational type and movement norms of warmbloods often suffer
in scores. Secondly, the nation's top young warmblood stock is always
there in every class to represent the leading sport horse breeding
farms of the US. And thirdly, the majority of the farms represented are
from the North East region and many are able to bring their horses in
and take them home daily.

We ended showing on the day following the horses' long and grueling
ride, and our young horses did their best in spite of their exhaustion.
We finished up placing in the large 3 Year Old Colts and Geldings
class--a Fifth Place for Decoroso and a Sixth for Icono. Later in the
evening, following a 2 hour delay, poor Decy decided we'd asked enough
of him and refused to trot in the Eastern Region GAIG Championship, but
we weren't in the least disappointed. We were happy to again bring home
ribbons from Devon--we were the only non-warmbloods in the class and we
represented the PRE breed with dignity!

On Thursday, we were happy to compete in the inaugural USPRE Breed
Class. Although there were only three of us in the class, we made a new
friend--Susan Holtz and her lovely Brujo--and we garnered quite a bit
of attention with our horses' extravagant movement. Icono took first
place, with Genio and Brujo following close behind. We hope to continue
to promote this class at Devon, for no other reason than that the PRE
Horse must be represented among the Sport Horse breeds. Many other
handsome breeds were represented in their respective classes, however
the PRE horse is the only non-warmblood breed that has represented its
country on an international dressage team and the only breed to bring
home Olympic Dressage Team Silver. We will continue to encourage the
riders and breeders of PREs to participate in this prestigious show.

Our thanks again to expert handler Tom Reed, who ran quietly and showed
the horses brilliantly without yelling, chasers or mayhem. Also, we
were happy to have the assistance of summer intern Brianna
Lemson-Ibarra, who filled in everywhere we needed her.

And now our thoughts turn to warmer climes . . .

[nbsp]

Photo Credits: Hoof Prints

[nbsp]