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Registration Now Open for 2016 Lendon Youth Festival Midwest and EDAP Clinic
Registration is now open for the 2016 LYDF Midwest, and it is shaping up to be another unforgettable experience for youth riders in the Midwest! This all-youth horse show is open to any rider under 21, and consists of 3 divisions: a Written Test, a Dressage Test, and an Equitation Test. Modeled after the highly successful LYDF held every summer in New York, the Midwest version is a one-day event, preceded by an Emerging Dressage Athlete clinic and a Saturday night Exhibitor's Dinner Dates are: Friday and Saturday, June 24-25: Emerging Dressage Athlete Clinic Saturday night, June 25: Dressage4Kids Benefit Party—Friends and Parents Invited Sunday, June 26: Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest, 3-Part Competition Where: Hampton Green Farm, Fruitport, MI www.hamptongreenfarm.com The following speakers and commentators will be involved with this year’s event: Lendon Gray, Founder and President of Dressage4Kids: Two-time Olympian Lendon Gray believes dressage is for every horse and rider. Generous, outspoken, and pragmatic, Lendon has devoted her energies to the improvement of all riders (not just the privileged ones) and all horses (even the littlest ones). With the goal that all youths might learn how to become not just better riders, but all-around horsemen, Lendon established Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival (formerly known as the Northeast Junior/Young Rider Championships) in 1999. With the formation of the Youth Dressage Festival (YDF) came the creation of the organization Dressage4Kids. Originally just the name of a website, D4K has blossomed into a full-fledged non-profit, operating the YDF, the Weekend Educational Program, pony-only clinics, the East Coast Dressage Pony Cup, and the Winter Intensive Training program, while transforming the proceeds from these functions into valuable scholarships for aspiring dressage riders. Lendon will be lecturing to the riders throughout the weekend and overseeing all of the Divisions. Devon Kane: Devon is a Grand Prix rider and trainer who is a regular in the Global Dressage Festival circuit. In 2007, Devon was the individual Gold Medalist at NAJYRC, and Bronze Medalist with her team, highlighting a stellar Young Rider career. She went on to train with top Olympian professionals including United States Olympic Bronze Medalists Michelle Gibson and Debbie McDonald, and Olympic Gold Medalist Hubertus Schmidt of Germany. Devon has earned titles such as USDF Gold Medalist, USDF Silver Medalist, USDF Bronze Medalist, and Grand Prix Champion. In 2015, with her Grand Prix mount Destiny, Devon represented the United States at the CDIO5* Nations Cup in Falsterbo, Sweden. Devon and her mother own and manage Diamante Farms in Wellington, Florida. In addition to her training and competing, Devon has a heart for philanthropy. Devonhas been the Young Professionals Committee Chairperson for the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center’s annual auction and dinner for the past five years, and has helped in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to benefit the special needs riders. Devon will be our Speaker for the Dressage4Kids benefit dinner on Saturday evening, June 25, and will be the commentator for the Dressage portion of the LYDF Midwest show on Sunday. Other Guests this year include: Dressage Judge: Merrilyn Griffin, USEF “r” Judge Equitation Judge: Stephanie Brown-Beamer, USDF Gold Medalist, Dressage Trainer Turn-out Judge: Samantha Burgess, Dressage Trainer at Dreamview Stables, Ontario Saturday PM Speaker: Kerrigan Gluch, NAJYRC Medalist, FOC Reserve Champion, Member of US Young Rider Team, European Tour 2016 LYDF Midwest Prizelist and Entry Form now available on the Home Page of this website. EDAP riders must apply through the Dressage4Kids website. Information and Application available at http://www.dressage4kids.org/emerging-dressage-athlete-program/ For information about last year's LYDF Midwest, see http://www.hamptongreenfarm.com/news-single/items/memories-of-lydf-midwest-2015.html#/home PRIZE LIST AND ENTRY FORMS AVAILABLE ON HOME PAGE OF THIS WEBSITE.
2014 Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest Features an Exciting Line-Up of Speakers and Clinicians
Registration is now open for the 2014 LYDF Midwest, and it is shaping up to be another unforgettable experience for youth riders in the Midwest! This all-youth horse show is open to any rider under 21, and consists of 3 divisions: a Written Test, a Dressage Test, and an Equitation Test. Modeled after the highly successful LYDF in New York, the Midwest version is a one-day event, preceded by an Emerging Dressage Athlete clinic and a Friday night rider/parent dinner. Dates are: Saturday, June 28: Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest Thursday and Friday, June 26-27: Emerging Dressage Athlete Clinic June 27: Exhibitors/Parent Party Where: Hampton Green Farm, Fruitport, MI www.hamptongreenfarm.com The following speakers and commentators will be involved with this year’s event: Founder and President of Dressage4Kids: Lendon Gray Two-time Olympian Lendon Gray believes dressage is for every horse and rider. Generous, outspoken, and pragmatic, Lendon has devoted her energies to the improvement of all riders (not just the privileged ones) and all horses (even the littlest ones). With the goal that all youths might learn how to become not just better riders, but all-around horsemen, Lendon established Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival (formerly known as the Northeast Junior/Young Rider Championships) in 1999. With the formation of the Youth Dressage Festival (YDF) came the creation of the organization Dressage4Kids. Originally just the name of a website, D4K has blossomed into a full-fledged non-profit, operating the YDF, the Weekend Educational Program, pony-only clinics, the East Coast Dressage Pony Cup, and the Winter Intensive Training program, while transforming the proceeds from these functions into valuable scholarships for aspiring dressage riders. Lendon will be lecturing to the riders throughout the weekend and overseeing all of the Divisions. Friday Night Speaker: USEF and NAJYRC Gold Medalist Ayden Uhlir Ayden Uhlir is the 2012 FOC champion and NAJYRC Junior Individual Gold, freestyle and team Bronze medal winner. In 2013 she moved up to Young riders and was the first person to ever win back to back Individual Gold when she took both Individual and Freestyle gold and team silver. She went on to also win the FOC Young Rider championship. She is most proud however of being awarded the Dressage Style Award at the NAJYRC and winning the USDF Youth Sportsman of the Year nomination for the USEF Youth Sportsman of the Year. Ayden has participated all three years of the Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic with the Emerging Dressage Athlete Program. Her horse Sjapoer is a 15 year old KWPN by Contango out of Jenna. Sjapoer was awarded the 2012 KWPN-NA FEI Horse of the Year award. Ayden is the first Equestrian to be sponsored by Nike Corporation. Saturday Lecturer: Equestrian College Advisor Randi C. Heathman Randi C. Heathman is an independent educational consultant whose decade of experience in higher education and lifetime involvement in equestrian sports give her a unique foundation from which to assist families. Heathman holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in communicationstudies.She honed her craft as senior assistant director of admission at Albion College (Albion, Michigan)while also working extensively with their equestrian programfromits opening in 2004. She gained valuable experience in college admissions while guiding students and their families through the search, application, and financial aid process - all while shefamiliarized herself with intercollegiate riding at the varsity and club level. She is an associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC),and travels to many college campuses, educational workshops, and equestrian college eventseach year so that she can be familiar with the unique offerings of a variety of colleges and universities and best assist students in finding their right-fit school. In 2009, she and her Dutch Warmblood gelding Ricochet were GAIG/USDF Regional Champions at second level in the adult amateur division. She is a USDF bronze and silver medalist. Saturday Lecturer: Betsy Labelle, Equestrian Journalist and Author, to speak on “Climbing the Dressage Ladder in America”. A Dressage Rider in Germany in 2000 and 2003, Betsy has worked with Han-Juergen Armbrust and Sebastian Langehanenberg. Knowledgeable about young horse training, mare performance tests, and preparing young horses for competition, Betsy’s horses have won championships in the Oldenburg mare inspections, in Hannover and in Devon. Betsy rode the Stallion, Routinier (Rohdiamant x Inshallah) to Prix St. George from 2005 through 2008. She's trained several young horses up the levels with Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel and Anne Gribbons. Betsy is a graduate “B” from North Star Pony Club in Minnesota. Betsy's journalistic accomplishments: a Press Release Journalist and Photographer assistant writer for Equestrian Sports Productions(ESP) during the inaugural year for the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida in 2011-2012. From 2013 to current, Betsy works as Feature Writer for Dressage Daily, Dressage Today and several other publications. Dressage Judge: Maryal Barnett, USEF “S” Judge Maryal Barnett is a FEI “C” Dressage Judge, an USEF “S” Dressage Judge and a Canadian Equestrian Federation Senior Dressage Judge.Additionally, Maryal has shown her own horses from training level through Grand Prix. During her competitive years, she won the Midwest Dressage Association’s “Award of Excellence” through the levels to Grand Prix. Her horses have also won numerous local and national awards, including the USDF Horse of the Year (training – USEF Intermediate 1). Maryal Barnett is a full-time dressage instructor working out of Nottingham Equestrian Center (of which she is a part owner) in East Lansing, Michigan. She teaches at many other stables throughout the state of Michigan and gives regular clinics in Illinois, Indiana, New York, Missouri and Wisconsin. Many of Maryal’s students have earned local and national awards; and they are USEF Judges and USDF Certified Instructors themselves. Equitation Judge: Elizabeth Crosby, USEF “R” Judge LYDF Midwest Prizelist and Entry Form now available on the Home Page of this website. EDAP riders must apply through the Dressage4Kids website. Information and Application available at http://www.dressage4kids.org/emerging-dressage-athlete-program/
Time to Register for the Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest and HGF EDAP Clinic
Time to Register for the Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest and HGF EDAP Clinic Registration is now open for the Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest, Thursday July 12 at Hampton Green Farm in Fruitport, Michigan. LYDF Midwest is a one-day version of the internationally acclaimed youth dressage festival held annually in New York. This is the second year of the Midwest version, and this year's show is shaping up to be unforgettable! We are pleased to announce Special Guest Robert Dover--6 time US Olympian, former Canadian National Dressage Coach and co-founder of the EDAP program--for the Wednesday evening dinner speaker and dressage commentator on Thursday. USEF "I" Judge Natalie Lamping will be our dressage judge for the day, with many of the Midwest's dressage trainers also on hand to assist and evaluate riders. LYDF is open to all riders who turn 21 in 2012 and younger. The competition consists of three divisions: a written test based on the LYDF reading list; a dressage test, and an equitation test. Special awards are presented for Best Turn-Out, Best Pony and Breed, Top Scoring Young Trainer, and more. The 2012 HGF EDAP clinic will be conducted two days prior to LYDF Midwest (Tuesday and Wednesday, July 10-11), and all EDAP riders will be required to participate in LYDF. The Emerging Dressage Athlete Program (EDAP)--founded by Olympians Lendon Gray, Robert Dover and Courtney King-Dye--is a series of invitational clinics for youth riders of distinction held around the country. Riders must apply on-line at and submit a video. At the end of the year, 12 riders will be selected to attend the week-long Robert Dover Horsemanship Week in Wellington, Florida. LYDF Midwest Prizelist and Entry Forms are now posted at the links on this Home Page. Register now as space is limited.
Summer News at HGF
June is here and HGF Michigan is ready! Spring cleaning is wrapping up just in time for the arrival of our students for their summer program and the last shipment of horses from Florida. Friends from around the country-- and the world-- have planned their summer trips to Fruitport to attend the special events and see the young stock. Four of six 2012 foals are on the ground and Mare Manager Sandy Talbot says they are a strong and lively group. Joan is busy attending to the final plans for over 14 special events to be held at HGF, not least of which is the Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest and the concurrent Emerging Dressage Athlete Clinic in July. Mark your calendars for these important summer dates: Dressage Shows: June 7-10 Fritzens Schindlhof June 22-24 Traverse City June 21-24 Rotterdam July 4-8 Aachen July 10-11 EDAP at HGF July 12 LYDF Midwest August 2-9 London Olympic Games Clinics at HGF*: June 22-23 Lendon Gray June 13-14 Lendon Gray July TBA Lendon Gray TBA Courtney King-Dye *Contact the office if you are interested in riding in any of these clincs. Dressage4Kids Dinner with Robert Dover and Lendon Gray (Open to Public): Wednesday, July 11--6.00 pm $20.00 per person (All proceeds benefit Dressage4Kids) RSVP--231-865-6000
Robert Dover and Dr. Hilary Clayton to Headline the Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest in Michigan
Hampton Green Farm in Fruitport, Michigan, is pleased to announce that Robert Dover will be the speaker at the LYDFM Exhibitor's Dinner on Wednesday, July 11. Robert Dover is the most honored dressage athlete in the United States--a multiple-Olympic and World Equestrian Games medalist for the United States Dressage Team, former Team Trainer for Canada, and founder of the Equestrian Aid Society. His latest passion is the Emerging Dressage Athlete Program, which he founded in early 2011 with Olympic riders Lendon Gray and Courtney King-Dye as a venue to identify and develop potential international talent among America's youth riders. Robert is based in Wellington, Florida, and operates a training business that takes him around the world, in addition to hosting a weekly radio program and daily blog dedicated to issues pertinent to equestrians. HGF is honored also to have Dr. Hilary Clayton as the Educational Lecturer on Thursday afternoon of the LYDFM. Dr. Clayton is the first incumbent of the Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Clayton is a faculty member in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and holds academic appointments in the Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and the Department of Materials Science and Mechanics in the College of Engineering. As a veterinarian and researcher, Dr. Clayton's studies on the biomechanics of equine gait have focused on sport horses, including dressage and jumping horses. Some recent work has included videographic studies of Olympic dressage and jumping events and kinematic and kinetic research with some of the world's top dressage riders and horses in the Netherlands. The Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest is a one-day version of the LYDF held every summer in New York--a three-phase competition encompassing a Written Test, a group Equitation class and an individual Dressage test--for youth riders 21 years old and younger. LYDFM Exhibitor's Dinner is open to the public and will function as a fund-raiser for Dressage4Kids. Date: Wednesday, July 11 Time: 6.30 PM Place: Hampton Green Farm, 5440 E. Farr Road, Fruitport, MI 49415 Cost: $20.00 RSVP: 231-865-6000
Endel Ots to Replace Robert Dover at Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest
Due to circumstances in his family, Robert Dover regretfully has had cancel his appearance at the Exhibitor's Dinner and Lendon Youth Festival Midwest. We are happy to announce that Pan American US Team Alternate Endel Ots will take Robert's place as speaker at the Exhibitor's Dinner on Wednesday evening, July 11, and Dressage commentator on Thursday during the Festival. Endel is a "rising star" on the American dressage scene, with a number of National titles to his name. At 26 years old, he has numerous CDI wins including CDI Dressage at Devon Intermedire 1 and Intermedire 1 Freestyle with over a 75%. Endel has years of experience teaching everyone from beginners to adult amateurs. He coached his sister to a Bronze Medal at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships, and to other top place finishes at Gladstone. Endel has much experience with troubled horses and starting young horses on the path to success. He has trained in Germany with Hubertus Schmdit, and currently resides in Florida where he works with Lars Petersen on a daily basis and operates Lions Share Dressage with his business partner Caroline Roffman. Endel joins Lendon Gray and Dr. Hilary Clayton as special guests at the LYDF Midwest on July 12. Tickets for the Exhibitor's Dinner--Wednesday, July 11 at 6.30 pm-- are available to the public for a $20 donation to Dressage4Kids.RSVP-231-865-6000.
2012 Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest Champions
In its second year, the 2012 LYDFM brought out close to 35 riders (up from 20 last year) from as far away as Georgia and Missouri, and close to 60 rides at levels from Walk/Trot up to Intermediare I, including the 8 participants of the Emerging Dressage Athlete Program Clinic held concurrently at HGF. Top names in dressage were on hand to coach, judge, and instruct the riders-- ages 8-21--in all things pertaining to general horsemanship and dressage in particular, with lectures on topics ranging from lungeing the young horse, emergency shoe removal, pre-purchase examinations and training scale to stretching exercises to build the core of the horse, and how to manage college and riding. Parents were on hand to help throughout the week and many local and not-so-local volunteers came to support the youth riders and the show. Our thanks to all those who contributed: lecturers, volunteers, show management, sponsors, HGF staff, parents, siblings and riders! Our special appreciation to Lendon Gray, Lyn Kendall, Marilyn Fahringer, Endel Ots, Natalie Lamping, Jacklyn Brooks, Tom Reed, Hilary Clayton, Mike Shoernbern, and Dr. Ira Engeltsje. HGF would like to congratulate the Champions: 2012 Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest Championship Award Winners Grand Champion—Katie Foster on Rehlein High Score Written Test—Katie Foster Sponsored by David A. Noyes [&] Co. High Score Dressage Test—Katie Foster on Rehlein Sponsored by David A. Noyes [&] Co. High Point Equitation Test—Katie Foster on Rehlein Sponsored by Jacqueline Brooks for Equine Canada Turnout Champion—Alexandra Hollenstein on My Lucky Copper Penny Sponsored by the Wildlife Gallery High Point Walk/Trot—Ella Angelo on Champagne Bubbles Sponsored by Metlar and Dr. Hilary Clayton High Point Training Level—Helen Claire McNulty on Phantom’ Sponsored by Metlar and Dr. Hilary Clayton High Point First Level—Kylie Heitman on Champs Proof Sponsored by Metlar and Dr. Hilary Clayton High Point Second Level and Above—Katie Foster on Rehlein Sponsored by Metlar and Dr. Hilary Clayton High Score PRE Horse—Madelyn Guthrie on Bolero CXLVIII Sponsored by USPRE High Score Pony—Emma Higgens on Flying Chocolate Chips Sponsored by Millbrook Tack High Score Horse/Pony Started by Rider—Megan Levine and Boogie Sponsored by Hampton Green Farm Most Valuable Volunteer Award—Alivia Stille Sponsored by Coopersville Hardware
Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest 2013--Prize List Now Available
The 2013 Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest, held annually at Hampton Green Farm in Fruitport, Michigan, will begin accepting entries on 1 May. This year's Festival will be held on Sunday, June 23--preceded by the Emerging Dressage Athlete Clinic on June 21-22. We will be making more exciting announcements in the coming weeks, but MARK YOUR CALENDARS, bring your HORSE, TRAINER, and MOM AND DAD, and plan to be a part of this exciting annual YOUTH EVENT! Details below: Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest (LYDFM) What: A one-day version of the Lendon Gray Youth Festival: a highly successful equitation and dressage show for riders under 21 at all levels. To be held on June 23, 2013 at Hampton Green Farm in Fruitport, Michigan. Featuring top international riders as judges, lecturers and commentators. 3 Divisions--a Written Test, a Dressage Test, and an Equitation Test. All ages and levels welcome. Teams may also compete. For more information, see Prize List above or . When: June 23 Where: Hampton Green Farm, MI Special Events: D4K Dinner with a Dressage VIP (to be announced) on Saturday, June 22 Emerging Dressage Athlete Clinic (EDAP) What: A two-day intensive training clinic with Lendon Gray for riders who are selected via application. Riders are selected based on a riding video, copies of tests, an application letter and recommendations. To apply see http://dressage4kids.com/Emerging%20Dressage%20Athlete%20Program.htm When: June 21-22 Where: Hampton Green Farm, MI Special Events: All EDAP riders are expected to attend the D4K Dinner and are expected to compete in the LYDF Midwest on Sunday, June 23.
Nicholas Fyffe and Lorraine Stubbs to Headline at the Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest
The final plans for the 2013 Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest have been finalized, and this year's speakers bring the world of High Performance Dressage to the youth riders attending the show. The Saturday evening dinner for the riders and their families will kick-off the weekend with speaker Nicholas Fyffe. Nicholas was born in Australia to a family of racehorse trainers. From his youth he excelled at both riding and gymnastics. As a young adult, he decided to dedicate his life to the pursuit of the ideals of Dressage. Nicholas has lived and trained in Germany under top international riders including Martina Hannover Sternberg, Ulla Salzgeber, Hubertus Schmidt, and Catherine Haddad. He was a member of the Australian Dressage Team, winner ofthe 2007 Tri-Nations Cup in South Africa, and long-listed for the Olympic Games in Beijing. Nicholas has qualified multiple horses for the World Young Horse Championships and during his years as manager of Suntori Park in Sydney, Australia, Nicholas won multiple Australian Championships up through the FEI levels. In 2010, Nicholas relocated to Wellington, Florida, to be an assistant trainer for Oded Shimoni. Now in partnership with Canadian Olympian David Marcus, Nicholas continues to ride and train at Stillpoint Farm in Wellington, and in Campbellville, Ontario. Nicholas is a rising star, having competed successfully in the Wellington circuit in the past few years at both national and international levels, and is the current trainer of Robert Dover's Fiero HGF, a 4 year old PRE stallion by Grandioso III. Nicholas is busy giving clinics around the country and in Canada, and we are grateful he is taking time to help out at LYDFM. Nicholas will also be the Dressage Commentator on Sunday morning during the Dressage Test component of the show. He will be sitting with our judge, Lorraine Stubbs, and providing each rider with a short review of their ride. Lorraine Stubbs, Canadian Olympian, 4* Judge and author, will provide a lecture to the riders at the conclusion of the Equitation classes, and just prior to the awards ceremony. For more about Lorraine, see http://www.hamptongreenfarm.com/PRE-horses-lendon-youth-dressage-festival-update-2013-judging-panel-led-by-lorraine-stubbs-of-canada-en-289.html. LYDFM 2013 is shaping up to be an exciting and highly educational experience for all of our riders! Registration is now open. See the Prize List and Entry Form provided above on our Home Page.
Important June Dates:
June 14-16 Dressage at Waterloo June 21-22 Emerging Dressage Athlete Clinic (EDAP) June 23 Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest June 26-30 Dressage at CHIO Aachen Check our Facebook Group (Hampton Green Forum) for updates on these shows and our riders.
June News
We have nine new foals at HGF, all healthy, strong and full of character. Our 2013 breedings include 2 colts by Camaron, 3 colts by Cuatrero, and 4 fillies by various sires. Additionally, we have a number of young horses available to age 4. Interested buyers should contact the HGF office for a complete sales list. The HGF Team had a successful show weekend: --Young Rider Rachel Chowanec and Embrujado scored over 68% in both the Team and Individual Tests at Waterloo Dressage in Grass Lake, Michigan. --Kerrigan Gluch maintained her average with scores of 63 and 64% with Cuatrero in the Junior Division. --Andrea Landis showed her own Brioso HGF (Bolero x Quintera) in the USEF Four Year Old Division and scored 71%. She now joins the ranks of HGF's TEAM70. --Daniel Martin Dockx competed Vaquero HGF in the CDN*** at Dos Lunas for a high score of 77% in the FEI Six Year Old Final Test and for the fourth time in four outings, won the Copa ANCCE Award (top scoring PRE for the show). And this week is our Youth Week at HGF featuring the Emerging Dressage Athlete Clinic and the Lendon Youth Dressage Fesitval Midwest. Dressage4Kids announced the riders of the EDAP clinic: Kylie Heitman Rachel Chowanec Kerrigan Gluch Katrina Sadis Anna Logan Kailey Gehl Nicole Gallant Ella Angelo Claire Kendall Katja Creswick Katherine Esterline (Auditing is allowed, free of charge, no lunch provided.) The LYDFM is bringing out riders of all ages to 21 years old, from Western Michigan and several other states. Join us this Saturday evening. Dressage4Kids Annual Dinner at HGF is Open to the Public When: Saturday Evening, June 22 Where: Hampton Green Farm, 5440 E Farr Road, Fruitport, MI What: Dinner with Special Guest Speaker Nicholas Fyffe and Lendon Gray. Cost: $20.00 per person donation to D4K Contact: 231-865-6000
Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest, with Courtney King-Dye, and Emerging Dressage Athlete Program Clinic, August 5-7
Hampton Green Farm will be the location of the first Lendon Youth Dressage Festival held in the Midwest, as well as the first regional "Section A" Clinic for the new Emerging Dressage Athlete Program, both events to be held during the weekend of August 5-7 at HGF's Fruitport, Michigan farm. Courtney King-Dye will be a Special Guest and Judge. The regional "Setion A" Clinic on Friday and Saturday is for dressage riders under 21 who are interested in working with Lendon Gray and qualifying for the invitational "Section B" sessions in Wellington, Florida with Robert Dover and Courtney King-Dye. (See ). Interested applicants must apply on-line at . The Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest will be held on Sunday and is open to all riders of any discipline under 21. A mini-version of the original, the LYDF Midwest is modeled after the highly successful LYDF held every year in New York in July, which annually draws over 250 youth riders from the United States, Canada and South America and which brings aspiring equestrians together with top judges and professionals who judge them in three categories: A Written Test, Equitation and Dressage. The Prize List for the the LYDF Midwest will be posted on this site shortly and Entry Forms will be available on-line or by emailing . A special dinner on Friday night, August 5, will be a Q and A with Olympian Courtney King-Dye, and open to all her fans. (Cost is $20.00 per person/ RSVP to the HGF office.) For directions and lodging information, see Call the office for more information, and plan to join us for this very special weekend!
Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest and the Emerging Dressage Athlete Clinic Bring Aspiring Dressage Stars to Hampton Green Farm
For three days last week, Fruitport Michigan was the place to be for top youth talent and young equestrians with big dreams. On Friday and Saturday, 11 hand-picked riders participated in the first ever Emerging Dressage Athlete Section A Clinic. This program was conceived last winter by three Olympians--Robert Dover, Lendon Gray and Courtney King-Dye--and patterned after the successful program of the same name for young Jumpers. The 11 riders, all under 21 years old and all young women, were given an exam on the first morning based on a reading list, and then two in-depth riding sessions each with Lendon Gray and/or Courtney King-Dye. The riders came from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Florida and New York to participate, hoping to be selected for the Section B clinic in November in Wellington with Robert Dover. Not all of the riders were able to bring their own horses, and so mounts were loaned to them from various owners. The level of work was high and the atmosphere intense, but all 11 rode their very best and took away invaluable lessons for the future. Many of the riders brought their own trainers from home, who were able to interact with the clinicians during each session. A dinner on Saturday evening ended with an extended question and answer session between the riders, their trainers and Courtney and Lendon. On Sunday, the clinic riders joined other local riders ages 8 to 21 for the Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest--a one-day competition that involved three components: a written exam, a dressage test, and an equitation class. In spite of a long weekend for some and a demanding show day for all, the enthusiasm among the riders, trainers and parents remained high and the day ended with many awards and personal bests. Congratulations to our Champions and all participants! Our thanks to our staff, volunteers and sponsors for making this possible: Show Manager: Lyn Kendall Show Secretary: Maureen Sharp Assistant Manager: Marilyn Fahringer Dressage Judge: Colleen Haveman HGF Staff led by Joan Mack and Sandy Talbot Parents and Trainers Millbrook Tack Coopersville Hardware [&] Feed A1 Tents West Michigan Veterinary Clinic Ver Duins Printing Sunset Valley Horse Stalls DressageDaily.com Jen Kaiser and Baker College and her nursing students Sycamore Lane Farrier Lendon Gray and Courtney King-Dye Results: Grand Champion (sponsored by Millbrook Tack): Megan Heeder 239.32 Reserve Grand Champion (Sponsored by Millbrook Tack): Chelsea Reed 227.89 Division One (15 and Under) Champion: Chelsea Reed and Lentisco 227.89 Division One Reserve Champion: Chelsea Reed and Kabileno 225.49 Division Two (16 and Older) Champion: Megan Heeder and Simpatico 239.32 Division Two Reserve Champion: Elizabeth Mauer and Wynshire's Valiant 223.58 Millbrook Tack Turn-Out Champion: Emily Gillispie and Goodnight Moon USPRE Champion: Chelsea Reed and Lentisco Hampton Green Farm Young Horse Champion: Megan Levine and Rhomann Coopersville Hardware and Feed Volunteer Award: Jim Guthrie
Megan Levine and Rhomann are the HGF Young Horse/Young Rider Champions at the Lendon Youth Dressage Festival Midwest.
In this first year of the LYDF Midwest, several new awards were sponsored by various organizations. To encourage young riders to be trainers as well as riders, HGF chose to present it's Champion ribbon to the highest scoring pair where the horse was started by the rider. We were pleased to see that there were several pairs who fit the criteria this year, but our winner was 20 year old Megan Levine on Rhomann. Megan has an impressive record already with training young horses....Here is her story: I have known Rhomann since he was first born. I began taking lessons at Rowe stables in Okemos, MI the week he was born. He is by the stallion Rhoquest (by Art Deco) and out of a brood mare, both owned by my instructor Tracy Rowe McEwan, and I had the pleasure of watching him grow up during my time there taking lessons on my mare. The year I turned 17, I was getting ready to show my first Prix St. Georges on an appaloosa mare that I trained from the time she was green broke. Tracy needed to down sized her number of personal horses, and seeing my dedication and hard work with my other horse, she offered me first pick of her two young horses. I chose to purchase Rho from her and since he had just turned 3, we promptly got to work with him. With some help from the local cowboy we got him started and the process went very smoothly. From the beginning of his training he has had a wonderful attitude and personality with a willingness to work and to learn. As well as comfortable, forward gaits. I have done all of his training, with weekly lessons and instruction at Rowe stable. He turned 6 this May and we are working on 3rd level at home. Today at my lesson we actually did our first flying lead change. He is a sensitive horse and has been very trainable and rideable because he likes to be kept busy. The more I keep him thinking the more fun he is to ride. This trait of his has made him very enjoyable to train because he catches on to movements quickly and once he understands it, I barely have to ask him from then on to produce that movement and he will perform with out a hesitation at the slightest cue. We do still have our challenges, Rhomann is built with a high set neck, and it takes a great deal of effort on his part to maintain the reaching stretching contact desired at the lower levels of dressage. This is improving though and is something that I work very diligently in our rides to maintain. I plan to continue riding and training with Tracy Rowe McEwan and work up the levels with him, and hope to eventually compete him at Grand Prix. Like most young dressage enthusiasts this is my goal. If this is met he will be the second horse I have trained to FEI. I have brought my appaloosa mare from a out of control barrel racing reject, to schooling Grand Prix in my 7 years riding at Rowe Stables. I have loved every second of my journey with him this far and hope to have many more years with him. Congratulations Megan and Rhomann!