News & Horses:
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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.
From Michigan to the World Stage: HGF Horses in FEI Championships Summer 2018
Two Michigan-bred PRE horses from Hampton Green Farm will represent the USA and Spain this summer in FEI Championship shows. Mejorano HGF, a son of two-time Olympian Grandioso III, has been selected to represent Spain in the World Championships of Young Horses in the 7 Year Old Division. A rigourous qualifying agenda beginning in January of this year was established by ANCCE, the national PRE breed association which represents Spain in the Championships. Among the best horses from the best stud farms in Spain, American-bred Mejorano HGF, ridden by Jose Daniel Martin Dockx, topped the 7 Year Old ranking and was subsequently selected by team trainer Jurgen Koschel for his spot in the 2 horse quota for the division. On the other end of the spectrum, long-time schoolmaster Idolo Americano (Idilio x Escapada) has found a new career in the hands of Sophia Schults of Saint Joseph, Michigan. In two years, 17 year old Sophia has taken Idolo from FEI Junior to FEI Young Riders and has now qualified for the FEI North American Youth Championships for Region 3. Both Championships will be held the first week of August, in Ermelo, Netherlands and North Salem, New York respectively. HGF is a breeder of PRE horses for dressage and has consistently produced internationally relevant competitors. Our accomplishments include: 2 Olympics--London and Rio 1 World Equestrian Games--Normandy 7 Nations Cups in Aachen and Wellington, for both US teams and Spain 3 National Champions or Reserve (Spain and US) 3 FEI North American Championships, with Individual Medals 1 World Championships for Young Horses HGF has an exceptional line-up of young sale horses in training with international potential. For more information, contact Maria Lithander at hamptongreenfarm@aol.com.
HGF Horses at Adequan Global Dressage Festival 2017
Hampton Green Farm competed five horses over the course of the 12 weeks of the 2017 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, in both the national and international levels. Our riders this season were Head Trainer Maria Lithander, and working students Kerrigan Gluch, Nicole Pelfresne and Sophia Schults. Our MVP of the season was clearly Maria Lithander with Barbara HGF (Bolero x Huelvana), who debuted at the Developing Horse Prix St. George level with scores reaching 74%. Barbara HGF is a powerful, talented 8-year-old gray mare owned by Maria, who first competed her at the PSG last summer. This season, they will secure their place in the USEF ranking with hopes of participating in the Young Horse Finals at the Festival of Champions this summer, a first for a PRE mare. HGF-sponsored young rider Kerrigan Gluch presented HGF Brio in several national classes at Inter II and U25 last fall, receiving scores above 70%, prior to entering the international ring in January. Following the 5*, a small injury sidelined the pair for the majority of the season, but they were ready when called to represent the United States in the first-ever U25 Nations Cup held during Week 11. As part of the three-member team for the US, Kerrigan and Brio completed their 2017 winter season with a Gold Medal. Throughout the winter, Kerrigan and Vaquero continued to work with Wellington-based trainer Oded Shimoni, as they prepare the horse for the U25 Grand Prix next year. At the end of the season, Kerrigan showed Vaquero at Inter I, placing well both days in large Open classes with scores in the mid-60s. Junior rider Sophia Schults presented Idolo Americano HGF at the Junior level with accuracy and consistency throughout the season. The pair won several national Third Level classes prior to showing the FEI Junior test. They did two CDIs (which includes all three Junior tests—Team, Individual and Freestyle) with success, averaging 65% and placing as high as Third in the final outing. This is the first time Idolo has competed in the international arena and we are very proud of how well Sophia presented him. Sophia trained Idolo with Anne Gribbons this winter. Wellington first-timer Nicole Pelfresne brought her own Diva HGF to the big rings this winter with the assistance of Maria Lithander. Nicole’s parents purchased Diva as a two-year old at the HGF Top Ten auction in 2010, and seventeen-year-old Nicole has trained her from the start. She joined the HGF team last summer as a working student, and both Nicole and her nine year old mare by Cuatrero (out of Luz/Idilio) have flourished in the program. Diva, who has outstanding gaits, has been known to be a strong ride, but became much more seasoned in the show ring this winter, eventually scoring close to 67% at First Level. We are very proud of Nicole and excited to see what she and Diva will do in the future. Additionally, former working student and HGF family member Sarah Roda and Quintanillo JJ (purchased from HGF) had a successful first season together at Third Level--so successful, in fact, that the pair were the High Scoring PRE of the Palm Beach Derby and second highest scoring pair overall for the whole show with 75.641%! Sarah is trained by Maria Lithander. All the horses will return to Michigan some time this spring. Maria and Kerrigan’s upcoming plans are to work with Daniel Martin Dockx, who will come to HGF for extended clinics several times over the summer. Special thanks to Marketing Intern Lily Forado for the beautiful photo coverage of our season.
2013 Show Roster
This coming winter and spring, HGF will have a number of our horses in training and dressage competition here and in Spain. This is the starting line-up for next year: Cuatrero IV--2000 bay stallion, foundation breeding sire, brother to Grandioso, will be competed by EDAP Rider Kerrigan Gluch at FEI Juniors in Wellington. Idolo Americano--2003 gray gelding by Idilio, 2007 Champion American-bred Stallion at Devon, returning from Spain later this month to be trained by EDAP rider Rachel Chowanec for U25 Grand Prix competition later this year. Bolero CXLVIII-- 2004 bay stallion, breeding sire for HGF and brother to Fuego de Cardenas, will be trained this winter by Nicholas Fyffe of Australia. Baroco HGF--2009 gray gelding, son of Bolero out of Escapada, will be trained and shown by Nicholas Fyffe. Grandioso III--1999 bay Stallion, trained by Dani Martin Dockx and competing at Grand Prix for the Spanish National Dressage Team. Encanto XI, 2002 gray Stallion by Evento, trained by Dani Martin Dockx and competing at Grand Prix in Spain. Vaquero HGF--2007 gray Stallion by Cuatrero, trained by Dani Martin Dockx and competing FEI 6 Year Old level in Spain. Also watch for: Fiero HGF--2008 bay stallion by Grandioso (Ibiza), owned by Robert Dover, trained and competed by Nicholas Fyffe in Wellington. Genio HGF--2006 bay gelding by Grandioso (Ibiza), owned by Martin Schaudt and trained by Jasmin Schaudt in Stuttgart, Germany. Icono HGF--2006 gray stallion by Idilio, owned by Martin Schaudt and competed by Jasmin Schaudt. Icaro HGF--2006 gray gelding by Idilio, owned and competed by Annie Morris, schooling Second and Third level. Infanta HGF--17 hand 2005 gray mare by Idilio, owned by Mary Magee of Chicago, to be trained by Rachel Chowanec and competed at Third Level. Iris HGF--2008 gray mare by Idilio, owned by Valerie Lazarra, trained and to be competed by the owner at Training Level. Brioso HGF--2009 bay gelding by Bolero, owned and trained by Andrea Landis. Cochise HGF--2008 gray gelding by Cosaco, owned by Isabel Ferriera Gould and trained by Andrea Landis. Innato HGF--2006 gray gelding by Idilio, owned and trained by Suzanne O'brien, Training and First Levels. Decoroso HGF--2006 chestnut stallion, owned by trained by Cindy Ramirez, training Third Level, USDF All Breeds Champion at 2nd Level. Carina HGF--2009 bay mare, owned and trained by Cindy Ramirez, Training and First levels and Jumping. Cocota HGF--2009 gray mare by Cosaco, owned and trained by Maria Lithander. Descarada HGF--2007 gray mare by Mejorano, owned by Beth Baumert and trained by Annie Morris. Decente HGF--2006 bay gelding by Decoroso VIII, owned by Sandy Hartenstine Williams and competed by Christina Arrington. Ideus HGF--2005 gray gelding owned by Mary Smith and competed by Hannah Pierucci. Diaz HGF--2005 gray gelding owned and competed by Kelly Farmer. More young HGF-bred horses are in training and will make the roster sometime in the next 12 months. Good luck to all competitors!
Spring News at HGF
The Wellington Season has officially ended, and all the horses here will have the month of May off to rest and enjoy the breezy warm days. Our young riders posted another winning season: Kerrigan Gluch won 6 of her 9 Junior classes with Cuatrero, establishing strong averages toward the Region 2 NAJYRC classification. She also placed 4th in the Florida Youth Championships with Lentisco. Rachel Chowanec and Embrujado received scores to 67.8 in both Young Riders and Prix St. George at the big shows with many firsts, and re-introduced Idolo Americano to the showring with a high score of 71.9 at Third Level. Congratulations and nice work to both young women who worked very hard this season in the barn as well as the arena. In Michigan, Sandie Talbot and her staff are getting ready for the mares to foal and the stallions to return. HGF is expecting a large group of foals this year, by stallions Cuatrero IV and Camaron IX out of our Marin Garcia brood mares along with those of our other featured performance lines. With new ANCCE Revision guidelines stipulating that all presented stock be past their 3rd birthday, all remaining 2010 stock will be presented for Revision in the fall. Spring cleaning is finally starting, and the farm is recovering from a particularly long and wet Michigan winter this year. We have a full slate of charity events planned for summer 2013, as well as lots of work for the students--horses to start, Lendon Gray clinics, the LYDF Midwest, Dressage at Waterloo and more. In Spain, Daniel Martin Dockx and Grandioso, along with other Spanish competitors, are headed next to CDI4* Treffen at the Glock Horse Performance Center in Austria, the weekend of 15-19 May. We will inform as to live coverage of this show.
Spanish National Championships and Arrival in Malaga of HGF Horses
HGF's Encanto XI was slated to be one of the top horses in the Intermediare I Championships for Spain in Toledo last month, and his performance in the Prix St. George suggested the same, a Third Place on Friday and leading PRE. This championship, however, was not to be like the last two--and rider Daniel Martin scratched Encanto just before the Intermediare I for a minor inflammation of a superficial cut on the horse's coronary band that made him slightly uneven on Saturday. Treatment by the show vet resulted in 100% soundness the following day, but the championships were forfeited. Following this weekend, Encanto will move on from the Small Tour, and will begin working toward a Grand Prix debut at the National levels sometime next year. Later in the week, four additional HGF stallions arrived safely from Michigan to the training facility of Daniel Martin in Fuengirola, just outside of Marbella. Two of the horses, Adelante (Grandioso VII) and Idolo Americano have many winnings and substantial show records at the lower levels in the United States, having been trained and shown the past two years by HGF rider Maria Lithander with scores consistently over 70% in Wellington. Adelante is a 2002 full brother to Grandioso III, Courtney King-Dye's Grand Prix prospect, and Idolo Americano (2003) is the 2007 Champion US Bred Stallion at Devon Breed Show, and 2010 USDF Regional Reserve Champion for Second Level. Both horses will be ready for Prix St. George at some point during 2011. Two 2007 colts were also sent to be trained by Daniel. Vaquero HGF is by Cuatrero IV (Marin Garcia) out of Encina (Idilio). Conquero HGF is a half-brother to Encanto XI on the dam side, and sired by Cosaco XI (Dehesa de Yeguas). HGF is happy to work in collaboration with the training program of Daniel Martin in Spain and we look forward to seeing the horses in the Spanish show rings in 2011.
Dressage by the Bay Results
Dressage by the Bay, in beautiful Traverse City, MI, has it all: sun, water, beaches, a resort town full of activity, great footing, beautiful grounds, super show staff and world-class judges. Be sure to put it on your calendar for 2010--July 8-11--and join us for one of Michigan's premier dressage competitions.Results from Dressage by the Bay, 2009: Idolo Americano, ridden by Maria Lithander Training 1 73.913 First Training 1 71.739 First Bolero, ridden by Maria Lithander Training 2 75.00 First Training 2 70.714 Second Camaron, ridden by Ana Gilmour Third 3 65.8 First Fourth 3 61.951 First Fourth 3 64.390 First Championships: Fourth Level High Point Champion, Show I Camaron/Ana Gilmour Champion Young Horse, USDF Sporthorse Division Decoroso HGF Champion Three Year Old Colt Decoroso HGF Reserve Grand Champion Decoroso HGF USPRE Breed Class Champion Idolo Americano USPRE Breed Class Reserve Champion Bolero Overall High Point Horse for USDF Sporthorse Show Idolo Americano All horses handled by Tom Reed for USDF Sporthorse Classes. Congratulations also to Working Student Micaela Johnson and her high score of 69.130 at Training One for a Second Place with her PRE mare, Condoleeza.
David and Ulla Sonshine Are New Owners of Iliado II
Congratulations to new owners David and Ulla Sonshine, who have purchased 2005 PRE Stallion Iliado II, by Idilio II out of Ibiza. Iliado is revised in the Spanish PRE Studbook, and was awarded Best Movement (Mejor Movimiento) for 3 Year Old Colts by the Spanish ANCCE Judge at Fiesta Midwest in Ohio in 2008. He has started his dressage training with Maria Lithander this past summer. He has three impressive gaits that are easily recognized as the product of his sire, Idilio, who is also sire to Devon Champion Idolo Americano and German Medalist Martin Schaudt's Icono HGF. David and Ulla live in Ontario, Canada and David trains with Canadian Team member Belinda Trussell. He currently has an Iberian stallion and enjoys traditional riding along with classical dressage training. His wife, Ulla, is a competitive Ballroom Dancer who also enjoys the traditional music and dance of Spain. Iliado will spend the winter in Wellington working with both Maria and Belinda, and then will return to Belinda's barn in Ontario in the spring. We look forward to hearing more of Iliado's success in Canada! For more information about viewing HGF sale horses in Wellington this winter , please contact our office at 231-865-6000.
Wellington Show Report
Maria Lithander has been quite busy with her young horses recently. She dominated the First Level at the Palm Beach Derby with all three of the younger horses--Bolero, Idolo Americano, and Adelante. Each of the horses showed that they were ready to move up, with all three horses scoring over 70 per cent. Now if we could just not have them all in the same class! We were especially proud of Idolo for his 3 scores over 72% at only his second dressage show--and of Bolero for winning the USPRE Open National Level High Point Award, and missing the High Point Award for the entire Palm Beach Derby by only .2 points! Palm Beach Dressage Derby Results First Level Test One Idolo 72.00 First Bolero 66.67 Second First Level Test Two (Judge Lilo Fore) Idolo 74.722 First Adelante 70.667 Second First Level Test Three Bolero 69.714 Second Adelante 64.00 Fourth First Level Test Four Bolero 75.5 First Idolo 75.2 Second We also want to congratulate Maria and Adelante for their win at Adelante's first ever 2nd level test, at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II with a 66.3. At the FEI Level, we are following Daniel Martin's progress with HGF's Encanto XI in Vejer, Spain, at the 2010 Sunshine Tour. This is Dani and Encanto's first international competition and first time to compete at Inter I together, and for a 7 1/2 year old horse, Encanto has shown exceptional promise. His results so far in this highly competitive CDI, with one weekend of the Tour left to go, are: Week One PSG 68.5 4th out of 34 Inter I 64.8 10th out of 29 Week Two PSG 65.4 10th out of 38 Inter I 66.5 7th out of 32 For real time results and information about the Sunshine Tour, go tohttp://www.sunshinetour.net/index_sp.html . Courtney continues to make small signs of progress and we remain hopeful for her full recovery. For current updates, please seewww.courtneykingdressage.com .
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!
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.