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Vaquero HGF Steps Down from Sport.
Life has its stages. On Sunday, March 13 2022, Kerrigan closed a beautiful stage of her riding career with Vaquero HGF as this combination said a final goodbye to the competition arenas. Vaquero HGF made his last strides in the competition ring at the national level Grand Prix Special at WEC, OCALA . There is always a horse that marks your life and sports career, and for Kerrigan Gluch, that horse has been Vaquero HGF. Her evolution, from Young Riders to Grand Prix, has been a journey full of all of the joys and sorrows necessary to achieve success. Retiring your first important equine partner is always bittersweet—but Vaquero’s career and success began quite a while before he partnered with Kerrigan. This is his story: Bred in Michigan for Success around the World. Bred in the beautiful state of Michigan, Vaquero HGF has the bloodlines of two of Hampton Green’s most well-loved stallions—Idilio II on the dam side, with Cuatrero IV (Marin Garcia) for his sire. Originally selected by Courtney King-Dye as a future prospect, owner Kimberly Van Kampen was forced to make other plans for Vaquero following Courtney’s untimely departure from the sport. At 3 years old, Vaquero was sent to Spain for his early training, and to see how this American product would do in competition against the best young horses in that country. In the hands of Daniel Martin Dockx, Vaquero became an elite young horse prospect for Spain. He made his national debut as a four year old, finishing in the top 10 at the National Young Horse Championships and among the top five of PRE breed. In 2013, he campaigned at the five year old levels and again finished the National Young Horse Championships in the top 10, and in the top 3 PREs in the country. His last year of young horse competition at 6 years, Vaquero finished 6th nationally, and the highest ranked PRE in the country. The year ended with a bronze medal at SICAB, which is particularly notable in that he is the first PRE horse bred in United States to win a medal in the prestigious PRE World Championships. The Growth of a New Partnership Vaquero HGF and Kerrigan Gluch began their partnership in 2015. Together they achieved many successes representing the colors of American Flag in both the US and Europe. Gluch and Vaquero were one of the most dynamic and successful dressage combinations in the Young Rider level in US. The pair made numerous appearances at the international level, more precisely a total of 36 entries. On February 20, 2015, Kerrigan faced the center line for the first time with Vaquero in Wellington, Florida . As an 8-year-old, under the training of Oded Shimoni, Kerrigan and Vaquero HGF won the Bronze Medal at NAJYRC and went on to become the USEF Reserve Young Rider National Champion. Their successes continued and in 2016, this duo was selected for the European Tour. They concluded their Euro Tour in the ribbons at the Young Riders Nations Cup in Hagen (Future Champions), Germany, the only PRE among the best warmbloods and young riders in Europe. In 2018, with the help of Robert Dover, they debuted in the U25 level with scores up to 68%. Two years later, at their peak of their level, Kerrigan Gluch and Vaquero HGF took home the runner up Champion of the USEF Brentina Cup. Following his success at U25, Vaquero never showed the same enthusiasm for the Big Tour. After several national starts, rider and owner decided that the horse had given enough and deserved to have a say in his own future. After an early rigorous start in the young horse circuits of Spain, Vaquero became the great companion of battles for a young rider on the long road to Grand Prix . This horse not only taught her the way but allowed her to fulfill her dream of representing the United States on foreign land. At 16 years old, Vaquero has nothing more to prove. On March 13, Kerrigan and Vaquero took their final salute together at X. Still 100% sound and able to enjoy pleasure rides with his special girl, Vaquero will be rewarded with a peaceful retirement at the farm of his birth. Thank you Vaquero HGF for all these years…
Idolo Americano 2003-2019
We regret to announce the passing of a member of the HGF family, Idolo Americano. The 16 year old PRE gelding was bred and born in Fruitport Michigan, by Idilio II out of Escapada. Idolo was an impressive young stallion with promise. In 2007 he was the recipient of the Born in America award for top placing US-born stallion at the Devon Breed Show, typically dominated by warmbloods. He went on to be trained by Maria Lithander, who took him to a Region II Reserve Championship at Second Level, then on to Courtney King Dye and Jose Daniel Martin Dockx in Spain. He returned to the United States as a gelding and proceeded to take a number of HGF working students to their first CDIs, USDF training conferences, Palm Beach Derby high point awards and more. His riders over the years included Rachel Chowanec and Katja Creswick. But it was in the hands of Sophia Schults that Idolo found his best partner. They progressed through the international Junior levels to the Young Rider levels, competing regularly at Global Dressage, and in 2018 participating in a NAJYRC and Festival of Champions. Known for an amazing piaffe and passage, Idolo was a generous teacher to all his riders. He passed away last night suddenly after a brief struggle with colic. He was in the hands of the veterinarians and did not suffer. We are all feeling his loss.
US-Born VAQUERO HGF Tops 5 Year Old PREs at Spanish National Young Horse Championships
Hampton Green Farm is proud to announce that Michigan-born Vaquero HGF, ridden by Daniel Martin Dockx, topped all PREs in the Five Year Old Division of the Spanish National Young Horse Championships, held last week in Zaragoza, Spain. Additionally, Vaquero HGF was the only PRE to place in the top ten for the division. The Spanish National Young Horse Trials, this year hosted at Feria de Ecuzar, brought out more than 150 young horses in the four divisions (4 Years, 5 Years, 6 Years, and Developing Horse 7-9 Years). There were 60 horses in the 5 Year Old Division, roughly divided equally between PREs and warmblood horses. Qualifiers for the finals were held at rated shows throughout the year, and this year's championship field presented the finest exemplars of the best studfarms in Spain, as well as many high-quality imported German stock. Vaquero HGF is by Cuatrero IV, out of Encina HGF (by Idilio II). Vaquero's sire was imported from the Yeguada Marin Garcia and is closely related to Grandioso III. Vaquero's dam, like Vaquero, was bred at HGF's Michigan location. As a three year old, Vaquero was selected by Courtney King-Dye as a future prospect, however, following her injury, Vaquero was sent to Spain to be started by Daniel. The pair had a very respectful showing at the 2011 Four Year Old National Championships (finishing in the top 10 horses, and top 5 PREs). Competition photos to be posted as we get them. Final classifications athttp://www.topiberian.com/shows/2012/ecuzar/docs/caballos-jovenes/medallero.pdf
Spanish National Championships 2012
The Spanish National Championships will be held in Zaragoza on 5-15 October. HGF will compete in the 5 Year Old Division in the Young Horse Championship with Vaquero HGF (Cuatrero x Encina x Idilio). Live coverage on-line at .
HGF at Sunshine Tour, Week Two
HGF at Sunshine Tour 2012, Week 2 Vaquero HGF (Cuatrero x Encina x Idilio) finished the second week of Sunshine Tour with a Second Place in the FEI 5 Year Old Finals with 75%. They were the highest scoring young horse of any breed for Spain in the circuit, and also took the ANCCE Young Horse award for PREs for both weeks. In the Big Tour, Grandioso and Dani were 3rd all weekend behind Portugal's Rubi and France's Riwera de Hus, but topping a class of close to 40 again in this final week of Sunshine Tour. In the Grand Prix, they scored 70.2, finishing with a 73.9 in the Kur. Additionally, 10 year old Encanto HGF (Evento x Cantora) received 66.1 in the Grand Prix.
Hampton Green Farm Year in Review 2011
Hampton Green Farm Year in Review 2011 The headlines use expressions like “gathering steam” and “gaining momentum” to describe the gradual improvement of the American economy now at the beginning of 2012. At HGF, our fortunes have followed a similar course as the national economy over the past few years of downturn—with the devastating loss of our Grand Prix rider Courtney King-Dye and the difficult necessity of a herd reduction sale of our prize babies in 2010—to a year of change and good momentum forward in 2011. The highlights of 2011 have been many, and are already well publicized: --Grandioso III leaves for Spain in January to go to rider Jose Daniel Martin Dockx , who introduced the stallion to the Grand Prix level in May. By October, the pair had competed in one CDI and 3 national shows before going on to win the Spanish National Championships in Madrid. Their first year together, and first year at this level, finished with a surprising Fourth Place at both Grand Prix and Grand Prix Kur at CDI4* Salzburg in December. At the end of the year Grandioso was named to the pre-selection team for Spain in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics. --HGF-bred Encanto XI (Evento x Cantora 2002) was also introduced to the Grand Prix in 2011, with a respectable debut at the Sunshine Tour in March with rider Daniel Martin. The pair later traveled to Saumur to represent Spain in the CDIO, and finished Fifth in the Consolation Grand Prix. --Idilio II and Mica Mabragana spent the winter in the highly competitive international small tour classes in Wellington, receiving their qualifying scores for the Pan American Games. Later in the year, they are invited by the National Equestrian Federation of Argentina to represent that country in the Games. Although they did not make the trip to Guadalajara, Idilio completed his best year at international competition and now at 17 is retired from formal dressage competition to enjoy the more relaxing schedule of exhibition work. --HGF-sponsored horse and rider team, Embrujado XI and Rachel Chowanec, take Wellington by storm in 2011 with numerous wins at FEI Junior level. They went on in September to be USEF Reserve National Champion Juniors. --HGF-bred Vaquero (Cuatrero x Encina 2007) qualifies for the National Young Horse Championships in Spain, and from a field of over 60 horses, finishes 9th overall and 5th of all PREs nationally at the Four Year Old level in September with rider Daniel Martin. --HGF-bred Icono, (Idilio x Escapada, 2006), owned by Martin Schaudt and ridden by Jasmin Schaudt, places first or second in three large FEI Five-Year Old competitions near Stuttgart, Germany—a first in Germany for a PRE at the Young Horse levels. --HGF-bred horses around the United States achieve over 70% at their respective levels with their owners and riders, including: Decoroso HGF and Cindy Ramirez Smith Innato HGF and Suzanne O’Brien Icaro HGF and Annie Morris Fiero HGF and Nicholas Fyffe --In 2011, HGF continued its commitment to Dressage4Kids by hosting the first Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest in July, along with the first annual Emerging Dressage Athlete Invitational clinic. Of that event, 5 Midwest riders were among 18 total riders under 21 who were selected to attend the year-end Robert Dover Horsemastership Week and Mega-clinic in Wellington, where HGF had the honor of hosting the final dinner for the young people and their parents. Looking forward to 2012 with great excitement…We have 6 foals on the way and Sandy Talbot and her team are now managing many fields of young horses again… Our two Grand Prix horses are getting ready for the Sunshine Tour in February, along with 5 year old Vaquero...Mica Mabragana is preparing Cuatrero for the International Small Tour this winter in Wellington, while Rachel and Embrujado enter the Young Rider division…Our dates for the Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest and EDAP Clinic are set for July…The TEAM70 horses are moving up the levels…and finally, the American economy seems to be back on track…Hang on, its full steam ahead!
Daniel Martin Dockx' Other Projects
We have just returned from Malaga, Spain, where we had a chance to photograph some of our up-and-coming FEI horses. In addition to Grandioso, Daniel has three HGF horses in training: Vaquero HGF (Cuatrero x Idilio; 2007)--nationally top-ranked PRE in Young Horse Division and Copa ANCCE Conquero HGF (Cosaco x Cantora: 2007)--not competed to date Bolero CXLVIII--(Utrerano x Urano II)--well-known breeding stallion for HGF and half-brother to Fuego de Cardenas, recently re-purchased by HGF and returned to our training program. Groom Mohamed Dana assists Daniel in his program.
Idilio Rising
Enjoy these photos from this morning of 18 year old Idilio II, posing for equine photographers Bob and Pam Langrish at Hampton Green Farm in Wellington.
Hampton Green Farm 2012 Year In Review
Its been more years than we can count that we’ve been doing the annual Year in Review at HGF—but this one, hands down, tops them all. HGF was founded with a purpose—to promote the breeding, training and development of one breed, the PRE horse, for one sport, dressage. Our claim from the first was that a well-bred, well-trained PRE could compete among the best warmbloods in the world. This year we proved it beyond question. HGF’s Grandioso, as a green Grand Prix horse, finished 29th out of 50 at the London Olympic Games amongst, by all accounts, the best field of dressage horses in history. The past twelve months following his progress were some of the most exciting in our equestrian lives, and to be there in London was an experience that we still find hard to put into words. There is simply nothing left to prove, and we continue to thank our rider, Daniel Martin Dockx, the Spanish Federation and Jan Bemelmans for their faith in our horse and their support all along the way. In 2012, we also had success with our other horses here at home and in Spain. Encanto began his first full year at Grand Prix and quickly achieved his own qualifying scores for London, although with the emphasis on Grandioso we did not compete him as much as we plan to this coming year. Vaquero HGF finished 2012 as the top-ranked Five Year Old PRE in Spain, not an easy task considering the quality of the young horses in the National Young Horse Championships in Zaragoza in October. Mica Mabragana brought Cuatrero back to the show ring after several years without a trainer following Courtney King-Dye’s accident. Mica and Cuatrero competed during the winter season at the international small tour levels at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington.Also in 2012, we said good-bye to our first generation of competitors. Beautiful Idilio II was retired, and has been enjoying his relaxing schedule, long days of turn-out and light work with young rider Rachel Chowanec. Cosaco IX passed away last spring in Michigan, but left us many top quality sons as his legacy. Camaron remains at HGF as a breeding stallion and a mount for the owner, and also appreciates a lighter riding routine without the stress of competition. This past summer was a busy one for HGF in Fruitport where we hosted a series of events for local charities and enjoyed the musical routines of our working students and various local riders. Our work with Dressage4Kids continued with a second Emerging Dressage Athlete Clinic and Lendon Youth Dressage Festival in July. This year Endel Ots flew in to speak to the youth riders and give his advice and experiences as a young man making his way up in the equestrian world.Our breeding program, managed by Sandy Talbot, produced 5 foals in 2012 and saw 9 mares in foal for 2013. Our young horses continue to attract top professional riders who will be coming out on their own HGF-bred PREs in a few years. Throughout the country, HGF-bred PREs have been making a name for their owners and riders, and we had 5 Team 70 riders again this year. Looking forward, we have much work to do in 2013. Lendon Gray’s Winter Intensive Training program starts this month at HGF in Wellington. The WIT riders, all 21 and younger, have just arrived last week with much excitement for their winter in Florida. HGF is also a sponsor of the new Florida Youth Championship at Global Dressage Festival, and everyone is excited about the young talent that is coming out for this season. Our own sponsored youth riders are busy getting their horses ready to show. This year, Kerrigan Gluch will be showing Cuatrero at the FEI Junior level with sites on the National Championships at Gladstone and the North American Championships. Idolo Americano has returned from 2 years of finishing school in Spain and has just begun his new relationship with Rachel Chowanec as a U25 prospect for this top-ranked young rider. Bolero CXLVIII has returned to HGF and is currently in training with Nicholas Fyffe, Robert Dover’s rider for Fiero HGF. And Dani Martin will be coming to Florida this spring to look at Baroco HGF, (Bolero x Escapada) a four year old future prospect for Spain. And later this year we will start the run-up to the European Championships in Denmark…the next challenge in Grandioso’s international career. We thank all of our clients and friends for their support and well-wishes this year. Now is the time to look forward. Young horses grow up, improve, get stronger, get smarter, develop abilities for collection and produce movement that we could only imagine to be possible. This is our wish for all of you for 2013!
Where Are They Now: Icaro HGF and Annie Morris
Annie Morris is a young professional from Connecticut. In 2010, Annie was chosen by the Dressage Foundation from the country's top Young Riders to be one of the Olympic Dream Program participants and travel to Germany to meet and observe top international trainers in our sport. "Annie has been riding since she was six, and focusing on Dressage almost immediately. She grew up in Arizona, working with many different types of horses including her own Arabian gelding that she got at age four and trained herself through Grand Prix. She has competed through Prix St. George and has received her silver medal. She also is a certified USDF Instructor through 4th level. Annie has been training with Lendon Gray for the last three and a half years, arriving in New York as a working student but now as an assistant trainer and the barn manager of HW Dressage (formerly Gleneden Dressage). She’s ridden in clinics with several amazing teachers including Lilo Fore, Debbie McDonald and Conrad Schumacher and plans to become an international quality trainer."(http://www.dressagefoundation.org/Olympic_Dream_2010.htm ) In 2009, Annie became the owner of Icaro HGF, at that time a newly started three year old gelding son of Idilio out of Candela. Like his sire, Icaro is tall and impressive, with expansive gaits and a good mind for the work. Annie has this to say about their progress: "Icaro is doing very well. He loves living here in CT, he lives outside in a huge lush pasture. I have been riding him with Beth Baumert and Lendon frequently and he is really growing up and finding his balance better and better. I am enjoying him andtogether we are learning a lot. This yearI am hoping to bring him to someclinics and attend some shows just to get him out of the barn and see what somejudges or other prefessionals think of him. In any caseI really adore him and am looking forward to a great summer with him!" Icaro is Annie's first PRE and we are excited to see where they will go together.
Hampton Green Farm's Idilio II to Retire from Competition
Hampton Green Farm's Idilio II to Retire from Competition Hampton Green Farm and Kim Boyer announce the retirement ofIdilio II from formal Dressage competition. Idilio is a coming 17 year old PRE stallion who was one of the first PREs to compete in FEI-level Dressage in the United States and as of this year is the oldest PRE horse competing at the International levels in this country. In September, Idilio was selected by his rider's native Argentina to represent that country in the 2011 Pan American Games. Over the years, Idilio's competitive career has helped to pave the way for other PRE horses in this country by his correct and impressive performances in the show ring, not to mention his exceptional beauty which has attracted many riders to the PRE breed. His legacy lives on in his offspring which have won National Championships in Open Breed divisions, are consistently scoring over 70% with their amateur and professional owners, as well as topping large fields of FEI four and five-year old classes in Germany and Spain. Idilio II was born in the Huelva region of Spain, close to the Portuguese border. His sire was a full-brother to two-time Champion of Movement of SICAB, Spain's national breed competition. Idilio's dam was the daughter of one of Spain's early Grand Prix competitors, Flamenco XII (who is also sire to France's 2011 National Champion Helio II), and derived from much-desired lines for movement from the Yeguada Marin Garcia. Idilio was first discovered in Spain in 1999 by US rider David De Wispelaere who approached Hampton Green Farm with an investment proposal. When the horse arrived in Florida in 2000 as a five year old, HGF owner Kimberly Boyer decided to buy out De Wispelaere's portion and keep the horse, a decision which eventually led to the exclusive focus of HGF as a PRE breeding and showing operation. Idilio was trained to Prix St. George level by De Wispelaere who competed him successfully at the national levels in Wellington prior to David's move to Europe. Afterward, Pati Pierucci took over the training of Idilio. During this period, he was shown at Grand Prix and competed with very promising scores in national classes in both Michigan and Florida. In 2006 German Olympian Martin Schaudt worked with Pati and Idilio and was so impressed with his nature, trainability and athleticism that he purchased one of Idilio's foals, Icono HGF--currently competing with great success at the Five Year Old level in Germany with his wife Jasmin Schaudt. In 2008, Maria Lithander of Wellington Florida took over the ride on Idilio and the decision was made to return to the Small Tour to work out some training issues that had developed following an injury. Maria's work with Idilio eventually saw him ranked in the USDF Top 15 Small Tour horses in the country in 2009. Currently Idilio is ridden and competed by long-time Lendon Gray student and former international Young Rider Mica Mabragana who, following a year of hard work and excellent riding, received the crowning honor of Idilio's career--the invitation from a national federation to represent a country at an international championship. "Now is the right time to take Idilio out of formal competition," says owner Kimberly Boyer. " Mica, Lendon and I feel that Idilio has put in many years under the pressure of multiple riders and lots of competitions, and now he has earned the right to move to the next chapter. Idilio is still very energetic about his work and Mica hopes to play around again with the Grand Prix movements. She is planning to prepare several freestyles for him to be able to perform for exhibition. He is the kind of horse that will want to be worked until his last day, but now without the tension of showing. We are hopeful to showcase his beauty and abilities for many years to come, if he wants it. And of course, he will continue to be a breeding stallion for HGF mares." Idilio did not achieve his full potential at Grand Prix due to many factors, not the least of which was his being one of the first Spanish Horses in the United States to enter the top competitions. There were both ups and downs in Idilio's career, but to all who have seen him or who have had the privilege to sit on him or train him, he is unforgettable. Career Highlights: Over 25 FEI-Level Firsts or Second Placings, 6 at Grand Prix 8 Show or Association FEI High Point Awards In the Ribbons at 3 USDF Regional Championships at FEI-Levels. Multiple USDF All Breeds Champion for PRE Horses at Prix St. George through Grand Prix. Ranked in Top 15 National Prix St. George horses in 2009. Top 20 Adult Stallions at SICAB, 2002. Multiple Breed and Functionality Championships in Spain and US. Offspring: Idolo Americano (2003) --Dressage at Devon Born in the USA Champion Stallion, 2007. Reserve Second Level Regional Champion, USDF Region 2, 2010. Now in training in Spain. Vaquero HGF (2007)--Top Ten Four Year Old at 2011 National Young Horse Championships in Spain. Top 5 PRE nationally. Icono HGF (2006)--Multiple First and Second Placings at FEI-Five Year Old Tests in Stuttgart Germany with Jasmin Schaudt. Watch for upcoming offspring of Idilio II, all scoring over 70% in their first year: Icaro HGF--owned and ridden by Annie Morris Infanta HGF--owned by Mary Magee and ridden by Mica Mabragana Innato HGF--owned and ridden by Adult Amateur Suzanne O'Brien
Four Year Old Vaquero HGF Finishes in Top Five PREs at Spanish National Young Horse Championships
This past weekend in Almeria Spain, Vaquero HGF competed in his second horse show with notable results. He and his rider Daniel Martin Dockx placed in the top five PREs nationally at the Four Year Old Level, and in the top ten for the Four Year Old Championship overall. The first class of the competition had close to 60 horses and was divided into two days. Following the Preliminary Test, fifteen horses would move on to the Finals. Vaquero placed 13th with a score of 6.9. In the Final Test, Vaquero moved up significantly to 7th place with a score of 72.6, giving him a cumulative score of 248.7 and a 9th place overall, and 5th of the PRE Horses nationally at that level. Vaquero is a 2007 gray PRE colt by Cuatrero IV out of Encina HGF (Idilio), born at HGF in Fruitport, Michigan. In late 2010 as a three year old, Vaquero and his pasture mate, Conquero HGF, traveled to Spain to be in training with Daniel Martin. Conquero has yet to be shown. Both horses will continue their training with Daniel at Hipica Dana. Video of the ride and the rest of the Championship can be seen at TopIberian:http://www.topiberian.com/index.php?option=com_seyret[&]Itemid=67[&]task=videodirectlink[&]id=5315[&]lang=es
Where Are They Now?: Icono HGF, Genio HGF and Martin and Jasmine Schaudt
We had the pleasure to visit Icono and Genio this summer at Martin and Jasmine Schaudt's barn in Stuttgart, Germany. This has been a big summer for Icono, who has been showing in the FEI Five Year Old Classes with Jasmine and achieving top placings in each showing. In three separate shows from July through September, three panels of judges have placed Jasmine and Icono in First or Second place, with scores up to 8.2% in classes of over 20 horses, including former Four Year Old and Five Year Old champions of the Trakhener and German Young Horse circuits. Jasmine, wife of German Gold Medalist Martin Schaudt, is the rider and trainer of both Icono HGF (Idilio II x Escapada) and Genio HGF (Grandioso III x Ibiza), two five year old PREs purchased by Martin in 2006 in Michigan when both horses were still at their dam's sides. Martin is known for his passion for young horses, and in 2006-7 was riding and training the sires of his horses, Idilio and Grandioso, at Hampton Green Farm. Genio is a full brother to Robert Dover's 2008 Fiero HGF and has not been shown yet. Icono and Genio are Jasmine's first experience with PREs. Jasmine is best known as the former owner and rider of Girasol, Nadine Capellmann's Olympic-hopeful mare and half-sibling to Totilas, with whom she obtained scores to 70% in German national Grand Prix classes. About competing in a Young Horse Class in Germany with a PRE, Jasmine laughs: "When I first enter the ring on Icono, I get a lot of comments like 'how exotic...'. But when he starts to move, the smiles freeze!" After three shows with top results, it looks like their success is becoming a trend. Jasmine and Martin are planning to keep both young horses for the time being, with the goal of training them to Grand Prix.
Hampton Green Farm's IDILIO II and Mica Mabragana Invited to Represent Argentina at the Pan American Games
We have just received word that the Federacion Ecuestre Argentina has invited Mica Mabragana and Idilio II to represent Argentina at the upcoming Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Mica took over the training of Idilio last December, and competed him for qualifying scores in the International Pan Am qualifiers in Wellington this past winter. The pair maintained a consistent and respectable average against a high standard of performance among American and Canadian contenders. Long-time protegee of Lendon Gray, 25 year old Mica has represented Argentina as a young rider in both the NAJYRCs and in the Young Rider World Cup in Germany in 2007. This was Mica's first year to show at the international levels in Wellington, and she has begun to be noticed for her quiet, correct and effective riding. Idilio II is a foundation breeding stallion for Hampton Green Farm. At sixteen years old, Idilio was one of the first PRE stallions to compete successfully in Wellington at the FEI levels, which he has done for the past 8 years. He is also a highly successful breeding stallion, sire to many winning young dressage horses in the United States including Idolo Americano (2003), Champion US Bred Stallion, Devon 2007, Region II Second Level Champion 2010 and Icono HGF (2006), owned by Martin Schaudt, who has earned top placings and winnings in several large FEI Five-Year Old classes in Germany this summer. All of us at HGF are very proud of Mica, and happy to see our beloved stallion achieve this distinction at this point in his long career.
April Plans:
April 10--Mica leaves Wellington for New York April 16-17 Gold Coast Grand Finale, and final USPRE High Point Challenge of FL Season April 22--Molly, Idilio and Bolero head to New York April 28-May 1 CDI Saumur Other Notes: Head Groom Molly Reynolds will accompany Mica to New York for the summer to care for Idilio while he continues to prepare for the Pan American Games with Mica, at Fritz and Claudine Kundrun's Bedford facilities. Molly will also be taking her Bolero, for continued training with Lendon and Mica. We will miss them all this summer at HGF. Rhianna is taking time off to spend the summer with her family in Alaska. We hope she enjoys her break and hope to see her again in Florida in the fall. Foaling season starts in May, just as the Florida team returns to Michigan. Sandy, Lora and the Michigan staff have weathered another winter in Fruitport and expect to send all herds back outside round the clock in another week or two. The Michigan winter has been good for the horses there, mares are strong and active, and the young horses are well-boned and hearty. Check back for more news about our summer plans--training, clinics, events, and sales. Good things are in the works for summer 2011...
Mica Mabragana and Idilio II: Great Start on the Road to Pan Ams
Last weekend was the third and final CDI for Mica and Idilio this season. For both horse and rider, this was their first season in the International ring. Mica, a native of Argentina, is a 24 year old long-time student of Lendon Gray who has come up successfully through the ranks of Young Riders in the United States. This is her first year as an independent professional and her first season in Wellington. Idilio II is one of HGF's seasoned foundation stallions, who has competed through Grand Prix at the national levels in past years. Now at 16, he is helping Mica achieve her dream of competing for Argentina at the Pan American Games in Mexico this October. To say the least, the big news of the winter in Florida has been the highly-competitive group of Pan American hopefuls, filling classes of over 40 horses at each of this winter's 6 CDIs. Over the past three months, Mica and Idilio have faced almost all of the contenders for the American and Canadian teams as well as those from several other countries. And their results have been respectable: the pair maintained a high 63% average for the season, and finished yesterday at the IHS Champions Cup CDI 3* with their best score of the season at 64.2% for the Inter I. Mica started riding Idilio in December of last year, and has proven this winter that she belongs in the international arena, holding her own against horses and riders who have been showing at that level for many years, including several International Grand Prix horses who've been dropped down to the PSG/Inter I in order to qualify for Pan Ams. For this young professional and her PRE mount, we could not be more proud and pleased! Mica, Idilio, and Head Groom Molly Reynolds will head to New York next month, where Mica plans to continue to train and compete Idilio for the summer. The final selection for Team Argentina will be announced at the end of August. Footnote: Many thanks to "Staff" Photographer Alexander Zilo--Super Fan of the PRE Horses at the Wellington Shows...for more of his photos seewww.usprea.com .
2011 Off and Running with JR Wins at Gold Coast Opener CDI
HGF is fielding 3 riders this year on HGF-owned or originated PRE horses--Junior Riders Rachel Chowanec and Chelsea Reed, and former Young Rider Champion/World Cup Rider Mica Mabragana. Sixteen year old Rachel Chowanec made her Florida International debut with double victories in the Junior Team and Individual tests at the Gold Coast Opener CDI last weekend on Lendon Gray's Embrujado XI. Scores of 63.063 and 65.395 were enough to top another very competitive and promising Junior Rider, Paula Matute, and her lovely Spanish stallion, owned by Deborah Williams. The two Junior riders, on their almost-matched gray PREs, were the talk of the show and their closely contested classes were the highlight of the weekend for many. Keep an eye this pair in the future! Embrujado XI is a 12 year old PRE gelding from Malaga, Spain, that HGF initially located for a client. A series of circumstances resulted in HGF's ownership of the horse in 2007 and the following year, Lendon Gray purchased him with her young student Rachel Chowanec in mind. The two have been together for a little over two years and have begun to bring home the rewards. In 2010, Rachel and "Mouse" were USEF Reserve National Dressage Seat Champions, finished in the top 15 at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in Lexington, and were Regional Champions at Junior Level for Region 8. In addition, Rachel was awarded Best Seat for the JR/YR Division this past weekend, an award hosted by Trilogy Saddles and determined by vote of the judges. In other news, Mica Mabragana did her first show with Idilio at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge on Jan. 15-16. They finished 6th in large Open national classes both days at the PSG and Inter I, with scores of 65.658 and 66.579. Mica has been training Idilio since the beginning of December and was delighted with this first time out together and a career-high Inter I score for Idilio in Florida. Their next show is the Wellington Classic Spring Challenge CDI, where they plan to do the international classes. HGF's third sponsored rider, Chelsea Reed, is the 15 year old daughter of Medieval Times' Tom and Megan Reed. She will make her first Wellington appearance also at the Classic Spring Challenge with HGF's chestnut dynamo Lentisco. Chelsea is a student of Lendon Gray's and at Lendon's Youth Festival in 2010, Chelsea and Lenny took First in two of their three classes. Stay tuned as the season progresses...
Season of Change
Hampton Green Farm would like to thank Maria Lithander for over two years of training and competing for Hampton Green. When Maria came on in 2008, she took on the responsibility of starting three young stallions and also the job of reworking parts of Idilio's training to make him competitive again at the FEI levels. All of this Maria accomplished beautifully, bringing Adelante, Idolo Americano and Bolero up to third level with consistent scores above 70% in Wellington, a Region II Reserve Championship (Idolo), several USDF All Breeds awards, and scores up to 72% for Idilio in the Small Tour. Last March, she agreed to take on Olympian Courtney Dye's mount Grandioso III while Courtney recovered from a head injury in a fall, a task she approached with great care. Last month Courtney visited Grandioso for the first time and was thrilled with his condition, attitude and the freshness of his work, all thanks to Maria's careful schooling over the past six months. Now the young horses are moving on to the next phase in their training. Spanish rider Daniel Martin will take over the reins of Idolo Americano and Adelante beginning in November, and long-time Lendon Gray student Mica Mabragana will begin to work with the others once they are settled in Wellington for the winter. Our thanks to Maria for everything and we continue to consider Maria part of the HGF family for her outstanding work with PRE horses.
Traverse City Success Stories!
HGF took 5 stallions up to Traverse City with an agenda for each. Excellent showing conditions and top-quality judges who are Wellington regulars are only two reasons to attend this fantastic show. We are please to report the following success stories: Idilio II--Back in the FEI ring after almost 10 months, having sustained two slight back-to-back injuries. Maria LIthander was looking to retain his high scores from Wellington 2009 at the PSG with hopes to qualify for Regionals at the Small Tour. This they accomplished easily, with a high score of 70% on the second day and the FEI Reserve High Point Award (second to George Williams). Idolo Americano and Bolero CXLVIII--Last year's TC show was Idolo's first time in the ring. This year, he and his stable mate Bolero dominated the Second Level Four classes, taking first and second each of the three days and securing their Regional scores. Adelante rode in his first ever 3rd level tests, taking Second Place both days with scores up to 67%. We are especially pleased with this young horse, who has made such progress since his Training Level debut in 2009. He received scores of 7s from Judge William Solyntjes on his lead changes and showed his usual confidence in the ring. Decorosito HGF--Son of Molly Reynold's Decoroso and HGF's Quintera, this 4 year old amazed us all with his performance in his first ever dressage show. Scores in the mid to high sixties and placings of Fourth and Third in large classes. The beautiful liver chestnut was a superstar! Congratulations, Maria, Molly, and staff for a great week!
HGF 2009—The Year in Review:Hampton Green and its PRE Horses AchieveNational and International Status
HGF 2009—The Year in Review:Hampton Green and its PRE Horses AchieveNational and International Status 2009 has been a year of highlights, of moments of recognition that have symbolized many months and even years of planning and hard work. Looking back over the past 12 months, there has been a significant change in the kinds of successes we are achieving, the levels at which we are finding ourselves ranked, and—as a result—the level of expectation for our horses at all the various venues of competition. We don’t tell ourselves that we’ve arrived . . . except at that point where we can now see better where it is we want to go! The goal of Hampton Green Farm is to develop the PRE Horse into one of the world’s top sport horse breeds, and to become one of the world’s most important breeding operations for equine athletes whose bloodlines are uniquely owned and improved in the United States. The entire HGF team is dedicated to this goal, and all of our activities throughout the year are designed to get us closer, one step at a time.We have many people to thank for our achievements this past year, and some of their names are mentioned below, while many others work quietly in the background. We want all those who’ve contributed to our accomplishments this year to know that we recognize you and are grateful for your partnership in this most successful year. And now, 2009 in review . . . --Courtney and Grandioso After close to ten months training together, Courtney King Dye introduced Grandioso to international competition in Wellington in February. At their first show, the results improved with each class, with the pair placing 6th in the PSG, 2nd in the Inter I, and 1st in the Freestyle. They later went on to win both small tour classes at the CDI in Wayne, IL, cementing Grandioso’s invitation to the Festival of Champions at Gladstone in June. A rained-out show prevented the 3rd and final class to distinguish between the many closely scoring Intermediare 1 competitors, but Courtney and Grandioso never-the-less finished Fifth at these National Championships. Following Gladstone, Courtney is focused completely on Grandioso’s training for the Grand Prix. A USET clinic this past fall with Kyra Kirkland was particularly helpful and gave Courtney the chance to be assessed by one of the most masterful international trainers. We look forward to an eventual introduction of Grandioso to the Grand Prix ring sometime in 2010. --Continued Success for HGF’s Older Stallions Two of HGF’s foundation stallions—Idilio and Camaron—well known to the HGF family, returned to the show ring in 2009 with renewed success and potential. Camaron’s job last winter season was to introduce Ana Gilmour to the high level of competition in Wellington. The pair rode against many more athletic and larger moving horses, but their correctness and harmonious presentation put them in the top three in all but a few classes all season long. Ana and Camaron finished the year with a First Place for Open Third Level for the USDF/USPRE All Breeds Program. With the help of Lendon Gray, Maria Lithander reworked some of the issues that had developed in HGF Champion Sire Idilio’s FEI training, to the point where Idilio was ready to go back into the show ring in the later part of the season last winter. Work in relaxation and throughness, as well as overall fitness, paid off as the pair topped several classes against some very accomplished horses and riders. Idilio’s PSG scores to 72% last winter placed them in the top 15 horses nationally at the end of the year USDF National Rankings. --HGF Debuts Encanto in Spain with National Title Another major highlight for HGF and our breeding program took place in Spain in 2009 with the achievement of Reserve National Champion Developing Horse by HGF-bred Encanto and Daniel Martin. Seven year old Encanto (Evento x Cantora XVI), ridden and trained by Daniel Martin in Malaga, began his show career with three national shows at PSG-Inter 1. Encanto was sent to Daniel in the Spring of 2007 for training, with the goal of having an HGF-bred and co-owned horse to sponsor at the upper levels. Daniel and Encanto made a stunning debut, winning or placing in the top three at large shows in the South of Spain, prior to becoming the only PRE Horse to medal at the National Young Horse Championships in Vejer in October. --HGF Young Horses in the Show Ring At home, Maria Lithander and Ana Gilmour brought out three young horses at Training Level. All three maintained averages close to or well above 70% in Wellington and Traverse City. Adelante, with Maria, was the USDF All Breeds Open Training Level Champion with a median score of 70.4. These young horses are continuing to train with Maria and Lendon Gray, and will be seen again in the ring later in 2010. --USDF Sport Horse Breed Classes, Traverse City and Devon HGF young stock continued to do well at USDF Sport Horse Breeding Classes. At Traverse City, HGF’s Decoroso was Champion Stallion and Reserve Champion Young Horse, and Idolo Americano was High Score for the entire show. At Devon, Decoroso and Martin Schaudt’s Icono finished Fourth and Fifth Place respectively in the Open Three Year Old Stallions and Geldings Class. Icono went on to win the inaugural PRE Class at Devon, sponsored by USPRE. --USEF Dressage Owner National Ranking #12 For the first time ever, Hampton Green Farm is ranked at the very top of the United States Equestrian Foundation’s National Dressage Owner Rankings, placing #12 out of 7625 owners. Rankings are achieved via a system where points are earned for placement within each class, with size and type of class taken into account. --Michigan Breeding Operation Under the experienced and watchful eye of Breeding Manager Sandy Talbot and her staff, HGF mares safely delivered all healthy foals in 2009 and another group were successfully bred for 2010. Breedings in 2009 were by Bolero and Cosaco, producing many beautiful strong bay colts and several lovely fillies out of daughters of Idilio. HGF Michigan also played host to many new friends and PRE fans this past year, including Scott Hassler, Pam Nelson, Heidi Guian, David and Ulla Sonshine, Laurie Forbes, and more. --HGF Horses Around the Country and the World In spite of a poor economy, HGF horses continue to sell, particularly as soon as they are started under saddle. This past year, many of our young stock left for their new homes in places as far away as Christ Church, New Zealand (Carmen and Bibiana), Stuttgart, Germany (Icono and Genio), Bedford, New York (Icaro), Ontario, Canada (Iliado) or as close as Kalamazoo, Michigan (Innato) and Wellington, Florida (Infanta and Huelvana). We’ve seen an increased interest in mares for riding and will be starting a group of three-year old sport mares this summer. 2010 Here We Come! This year we are looking forward to an increased presence in International competition: Courtney with both of her horses, Grandioso and Cuatrero; Maria and Idilio, and Daniel with Encanto at the Sunshine Tour. With Ana Gilmour now working as the head of her own training business following her USDF Trainer’s Certification, Maria Lithander is developing her team as they bring along the young horse program. We expect to be a steady presence in the lower level classes throughout the year. Lendon Gray’s influence is primary at HGF. She will be continuing her monthly private clinics at HGF, as well teaching several of her own students, including Rachel Chowanec and Annie Morris, on HGF-bred or imported horses. We are also exploring ways to expand our support of Dressage4Kids through events, fundraisers, and training opportunities. Hampton Green will be a presenting sponsor again this year at Dressage by the Bay in Traverse City in July. We just simply can’t think of a better place to be in July than Traverse City, Michigan! Come see what it’s all about! Finally, whenever we go through this exercise we always return to what matters most to us: the quality of our horses’ lives and care, the interaction we have with our friends and co-workers, and the priority we give to our families, biological as well as what we call the HGF Family. We are grateful to work, laugh, cry, share, celebrate and pick up the pieces with all of the dear people who believe in what we do and who share the vision. We look forward to another year of hard work and steps forward—together. God Bless in 2010!