News & Horses:
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News Articles
Vaquero HGF and Kerrigan Gluch Lead Team USA at Hagen Future Champions CDIOY
Nineteen year old Kerrigan Gluch and 2007 PRE Stallion Vaquero HGF concluded the 2016 USEF Young Rider Euro Tour in the ribbons at the Young Riders Nations Cup in Hagen, Germany, capping a six-week tour of Europe that included two international shows. Following a disappointing performance in May at the CDI in Compiegne, France, Kerrigan and Vaquero moved to Krefeld and spent four weeks preparing for the Hagen show with Jan Bemelmans. The Hagen CDIOY, known as the PSI Future Champions show, brings together teams of Young Riders and other youth levels from all over Europe in both dressage and jumping. The United States Young Rider team finished Fifth overall, with Kerrigan and Vaquero the leading pair for the US. In the YR Individual class they finished sixth, and a respectable 10th in both the Team and Freestyle tests-- distinguishing themselves among the best Young Riders and top horses in Europe. For more information see: http://www.dressage-news.com/?p=36642 http://www.dressage-news.com/?p=36676 http://www.dressage-news.com/?p=36670
Spain Takes Bronze at CDIO Hagen 2015
Spain took the Bronze Medal again this year at the Nations Cup held annually in Germany. Normally located at the prestigious Aachen showgrounds, this year's CDIO was moved to the private facility of Hof Kasselmann due to the upcoming European Championships being held at Aachen in August. Eight nations were invited to compete at what was also the German final qualifier for the ECs. Germany, as expected, took the Gold, with Denmark the Silver and, repeating their placement of 2014, Spain took home the Bronze. The Spanish team consisted of Beatrice Ferrer-Salat and Delgado, Daniel Martin Dockx with Grandioso, Jordi Domingo and Wonder, and Claudio Castillo with Alcaide. HGF's Grandioso and Daniel moved up in the Individual standings with every test, to finish at 11th placein the Kur, solidifying their place on the Spanish Team for the more important upcoming European Championships. Photo Credits: Lars Jehmiller
Grandioso and Martin Dockx Finish in the Ribbons in the Kur Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen
Grandioso III and Daniel Martin Dockx were an unknown pair a year ago when they rode in their first Aachen CHIO. In 2012, their first year together at International Grand Prix, the CHIO Aachen was the occasion of their first 70% outside of Spain, and the rookie duo impressed many by finishing 15th in the Grand Prix Nations Cup on the first day of the competition. Now in 2013, following their role on the Spanish Team in the London Olympics and multiple Grand Prix victories since, Grandioso and Martin Dockx returned to Aachen to head a young Spanish delegation that was slated for this year's stand off in the "dressage cathedral" of Germany. A field of 8 nations and 37 riders, including the American A-team for the first time in several years, gathered together for a highly competitive preview of the European Championships. Grandioso and Martin Dockx started out strong in the Grand Prix test on Thursday with 71.447, tying for 12th place with Mikaela Lindh of Finland and Skovland's Mas Guapo. The test had errors in the two-tempis and a miscount in the zig-zag, and so there was room for improvement. On Saturday, the pair rode a stronger Grand Prix Special, with more confidence, expression and technical accuracy, but still one costly error--perhaps to be expected as this was their first time doing the old (pre-Olympic) Special. Their final score of 71.854 held their 12th place position above many higher-ranked and more veteran pairs from other countries, and winning them a coveted spot among the top 15 in the Grand Prix Kur.It was in the Kur where Grandioso and Martin Dockx showed the German dressage world that a new and ambitious Spanish horse and rider were on the horizon. Dancing effortlessly to the movie music from "Hemingway and Gellhorn", Martin Dockx demonstrated the strengths of the PRE horse in the most difficult movements--soft yet energetic piaffe, seamless transitions, floating passage, pirouettes on a dime, up-hill canter work and scopey trot tour including impressive airborne extensions. The Kur designed by Marlene Whitaker from North Carolina brought out the best in this horse and rider, and the judges agreed, awarding them 78.175%, a virtual tie with Anabel Balkenhol of Germany and USA's Steffen Peters. Grandioso finished in 8th place and continued to please the sold-out Deutsche Bank Stadium and national TV audience in the awards ceremonies that followed.
HGF's Grandioso, Daniel Martin Dockx and the Olympic Experience
The level of competition in the London 2012 Olympics was by all accounts the highest in the history of the sport, as was the level of spectatorship. The popularity of dressage is at an all-time high-- and the world's best athletes, both equine and human, were in London to put on an historic record-setting horse show. Competition among the teams was extremely close, and standings were not determined until the very last minute. Great Britain won its first Team medal ever in the sport, no less than the Gold, removing the long-standing world champion Germans from the spot. Ten teams started the competition, seven moved on to the Grand Prix Special, with the final rankings within fractions of a point after the second test. Grandioso and Daniel Martin Dockx were originally appointed Team Reserves following Aachen, but were moved into the starting line-up after the unfortunate last-minute withdrawal of Beatriz Ferrer-Salat's Delgado. Their job was to maintain the Team average so to allow Spain to move forward to the Special. Having competed at the international levels only since last December, the pair were by far the greenest and least known of the combinations that entered the arena at Greenwich Park, but they gave a clean and impressive test that showed many moments of quality and also room for improvement as they become more seasoned and stronger in the exercises. In an environment indescribably electric and intimidating, Daniel was focused and confident, and showed Grandioso in his very best light. Their score of 69.042 in the Grand Prix topped many more experienced pairs and gave the Spanish Team what they needed to progress to the next test. The new Olympic Grand Prix Special proved to be a challenge for most of the field of 32 horses, with the majority of the pairs receiving lower marks than in the Grand Prix. Grandioso and Daniel were one of a very few who improved their marks, to 69.286, allowing them to be competitive in score with horses with prior world championship experience. At the conclusion of the Team Competition, Spain finished seventh, and in a virtual tie with veteran teams such as the United States and Sweden. In the end, Daniel and Grandioso finished 29th out of the 50 top dressage horses in the world and now they will return to Malaga Spain for a much-deserved period of rest and renewal. Memories of leaving a quiet warm-up arena, taking a short path, rounding a corner and entering an arena with walls of 25,000 people rising up into the sky, hundreds of cameras and press personnel, the backdrop of the Maritime Museum and Queens House--as well as the other thousands of moments that made up the total London Olympic experience-- will live with all of us forever. Photo Credits Bob Langrish
HGF-bred Horses in the Show Ring
HGF has been breeding PREs for dressage competition since 2002. Today, HGF-bred horses are ridden by professionals and amateurs in top competitions in the US, Canada, Germany and Spain, and are consistently receiving top placings and scores over 70% at all levels in both National and International competitions. Most of our clients purchase their HGF horse under three years of age, and have found that our recommended program of buying young and starting their horses with HGF staff has paid off with winning results. Contact HGF for a current list of available foals and young horses. 2005 Infanta HGF and Mica Mabragana--77% at Training 2 in Wellington 2008 Fiero HGF and Nicholas Fyffe--70% at Three Year Materiale in Wellington 2006 Icono HGF and Jasmin Schaudt--82% at National FEI Five Years, Stuttgart, Germany 2006 Innato HGF and Suzanne O'Brien--2012 USPRE Adult Amateur Scholarship Recipient 2003 2003 Idolo American and Maria Lithander--75% at Second Level, Palm Beach Derby, 2010 USDF Second Level Reserve Regional Champion, Traverse City 2006 Decoroso HGF and Cindy Ramirez-Smith--71% First Level, SLO-CDS 2007 Vaquero HGF and Daniel Martin Dockx--80% at International FEI Five Years, Vejer, Spain 2002 Encanto and Daniel Martin Dockx--International GP scores to 67% in Europe
Preparing for Devon
Following several busy weeks of visitors at HGF--including Scott Hassler, Courtney King-Dye, Lendon Gray, Pam Nelson and Heidi Gaian, our focus is now on preparing for the trip to Pennsylvania and our participation in the Devon Breed Show. HGF is proud to be sponsoring again this year the Dressage with the Experts program in the Performance Division, and also to be supporting the competitors in the USPRE Dressage High Point Challenge as well as the USPRE Individual Breed Class. Dressage at Devon (September 22-27) is a highlight of the year, and allows us to showcase the products of our breeding program. In 2007, HGF's Idolo Americano was the recipient of the Born in the USA Breeder's Award for Stallions, a first for a PRE horse. This year, we will be bringing a group of 3 year olds, including 2 young stallions owned by German Olympian Martin Schaudt--a stop on their way to their new home in Germany--as well as our own Decoroso HGF, Champion Young Horse and Reserve Grand Champion at Traverse City. Our horses will be presented in hand by Tom Reed. If you plan to attend Dressage at Devon this year, stop by to see us in the barns and take a look at this year's representatives of the HGF breeding program, and join us as we showcase the PRE horse among the top dressage breeding stock in the United States!
Fall News 2009
Fall is a season of transition for the entire farm. The Stallion Barn staff is preparing to relocate to Wellington. Several young horses will be making the trip to Florida for the first time this year, starting their new lives as riding and performance horses. The Mare Barn staff is making plans for bringing the mares and young horses inside as soon as the weather drops below 32 degrees outside. Once the stallions leave, the 2009 babies will be weaned, making use of the stallion paddocks behind the main barn where they are out of site of their mothers. The colors around the farm are glorious, in spite of the wet weather we've had all month--a fitting send off to the end of the Michigan season. The herd has been reduced considerably this summer, with many young horses having left for their new homes and owners, along with several older horses who made the trip to their new retirement home in Kentucky. In the past few months, two three year old colts left for Germany, one three year old gelding arrived in New York, another three year old gelding made the short trip to his new home in Kalamazoo, two mares-- three and four years respectively--just left together for their new life in beautiful Christchurch, New Zealand, and three young HGF horses are being sent with us to Wellington by their new owners. This exodus helps us make room for the 7 babies of 2009 and another 5 that we expect next year! Its the cycle of life . . . the young babies become unruly yearlings, who then become curious two year olds, who then become trainable three year olds and eventually obedient four year olds. By the time they leave, the HGF three year olds have been trailered, shod, trained in hand in the Spanish tradition, trained on the longe in the German tradition, started under saddle and, when possible, had lessons with their new owners. The day they leave is a Graduation and we are excited to hear about their future progress. Congratulations to Rachel Chowanec and Mouse (Embrujado) on their JR Regional Dressage Seat Championship and Second Level Reserve Championship at NEDA Region 8 Championships, their USPRE High Point Award, and also their recent JR Team Test wins. We can't wait for next year!Congratulations to Dani Martin and Encanto. In only their second time in the show ring, they were first place in two large classes in Cordoba, Spain, winning the Prix St. George and the Inter 1 Kur and topping a field of 15 that included many excellents riders. They were also the Copa ANCCE winners for the weekend. Enhorabuena, Dani! Finally, we send our sincerest condolences to Courtney for the loss of her dearly loved Mythilus. He was a gentleman, a hero, and an unforgettable horse.