News & Horses:
Found 11 results
Horses
News Articles
New Mares Join the HGF Breeding Program
At Hampton Green Farm, broodmares are our backbone of the breeding program. With the goal of continuously improving the quality, diversity, and athletic potential of its PRE horses bred in the United States, HGF has expanded its broodmare program with the addition of several carefully selected mares from distinguished P.RE Breeders. Among the most notable additions is Carol de Susaeta (2022), a mare with exceptionalpedigree, by Poeta de Susaeta out of Sal de Susaeta by Digital. This lineage combines some of the most respected genetics in modern PRE breeding with Cacique IX and Oficial XXIX. The farm has also incorporated Naveganta FSR (2021), by Malagueño LXXXIII out of Indiscreta FSR by Joyero XXIV, reinforcing lines known for their quality of movement and rideability. Alongside her arrives Orgullosa FSR (2022), by Lucero CXLVII and out of Opositora IX by Selecto VI, another mare bringing strong genetic bases. Completing this group are two mares from the respected Nadales breeding lines: Financiera Nadales (2020) and Fandanguera Nadales (2020), both daughters of Egoísta A, out of Ajolí Nadales and Bodeguera Nadales respectively, both by Grandioso de Nadales. With these additions, Hampton Green Farm continues to invest in the future of U.S.-bred PRE horses, combining some of the most influential bloodlines of the breed with its established stallion base.
José Daniel Martin Dockx Will continue as the PRE Team Dressage Coach
ANCCE is pleased to announce that Daniel Martin Dockx will continue as the PRE Young Horse Dressage Team coach throughout the 2026 season. This fact reiterates our commitment to continue growing together and moving forward towards the highest possible international level. Since 2020, José Daniel Martín Dockx has been responsible for the coordination and training of riders within ANCCE’s Annual Dressage Sport Plan, working with both adult horses and young prospects to optimize their competitive performance. In addition, since 2021, he has served as Head Coach of the PRE Team for the World Championships for Young Horses, a role that has been instrumental in the growth of its international prestige. With the pathway that we have built together, we confirm that Martin Dockx will continue with us in 2026. The circumstance offers continuity for this solid and coherent project based on long-term efforts. Our sights on the Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses, in Verden from the 4th to the 9th of August this year. This venue summons the world's best young horses competing in the 5, 6, and 7-year-old Dressage categories. The event has become key to showcase the projection of international Dressage talents. We would like to express our most sincere gratitude to breeder Kimberly Van Kampen for her steadfast commitment, constant support for PREs, and her trust in this joint project. Her involvement has been vital in enabling us to continue moving forward with enthusiasm and ambition in this line of work. Likewise, this announcement is also an invitation for breeders and riders to start preparing their 5 to 7-year-old horses as we continue to see future PRE Horses excel on the international stage once again this year. In due course, the specific regulations and key dates for the PRE Dressage Team clinics will be announced. These regulations will provide detailed information regarding how the program works and the steps to follow for this new season. Source ANCCE/USPRE LINK : https://www.usprea.com/en/news/daniel-martin-dockx-will-continue-as-the-2026-pre-team-dressage-coach Link: https://www.ancce.es/en/ver-noticia12/3163/daniel-martin-dockx-continua-como-seleccionador-del-equipo-pre-de-doma-clasica-2026/ Link : https://www.eurodressage.com/2026/01/16/jose-daniel-martin-dockx-continues-2026-pre-team-dressage-coach
HGF US-Bred PREs Take Silver and Bronze at SICAB, World Championship of PRE Horses
Two of Hampton Green Farm's Michigan-bred young horses took home medals from SICAB 2018--the World Championship of PRE Horses--from the Finals of the Copa ANCCE. Competing against the highest ranking PRE horses in the country of Spain following a year of qualification, Mejorano HGF attained a Silver Medal and Campanero HGF the Bronze in the 7 Year Old and 5 Year Old Divisions respectively. Both horses represent the bloodlines that characterize the output of HGF, primarily the lines of Olympic stallion Grandioso III from Yeguada Marin Garcia. Trained and competed by Jose Daniel Martin Dockx, Mejorano HGF is completing an outstanding year in which they formed part of the first all-PRE team to represent Spain in the World Championship of Young Horses in Ermelo, Netherlands, in August. Campanero HGF was long-listed for the same event, and has maintained his standing among a very competitive field of 5 year olds in Spain. For information about sales horses at HGF Michigan, please contact HGF at hamptongreenfarm@aol.com
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 and WEG 2014: New Records, New Standards
The rain and wind of Normandy did not dampen the thrill of being part of the World Equestrian Games 2014. For our team, Spain, and for our horse and rider, Jose Daniel Martin Dockx and Grandioso, the World Championships in France were a highly successful and unforgettable experience. The 2014 WEG hosted the strongest field of dressage horses in history. The top 15 horses scored a full 5 percentage points higher (in final individual score) than the top 15 in 2010. As our sport grows in popularity, our horses and riders are growing in skills and capability, and the 2014 WEG was a celebration of new levels of achievement. In the Team Competition, the top three teams were clearly defined prior to the games, and their final point tallies left them virtually untouchable. The only question was the order among themselves. The real drama—at least behind the scenes—was the placings for the next four positions: Spain, US, Denmark and Sweden were in a heated race. Predictions in the press put Spain and the United States behind the other two, and in most cases Spain coming in last, in spite of the results at Aachen where the Spanish took the bronze. When the first two days of team competition were done, 98 riders had entered the arena in Caen, representing the best pairs from 47 nations. In the end, it was Germany, Great Britain, and the Netherlands in the medals, with US taking fourth and close behind Spain in fifth, followed by Sweden and Denmark—with the fourth through sixth place teams scoring less than a point and a half apart. Strong rides from the three top riders for Spain boosted the team above many well-known combinations for the other countries, with a finish that seemed to take many by surprise. Jose Daniel Martin Dockx and Grandioso finished13th in the Grand Prix with 74.23, setting a World Games record for the highest Grand Prix score by a PRE. A 75.1 for Morgan Barbancon and Painted Black, and 72.4 for Jose Antonio Garcia Mena and Norte ensured that all three would move on to the Individual finals in the Grand Prix Special. In the Individual competition, Dani and Grandioso achieved a personal best in the Special, breaking the 74% mark for the first time in their career (74.09). An excellent score, just missing the top 15 for the Kur, the cut-off for which was 74.9. Individually, Dani and Grandioso finished 18th among the best 100 dressage horses from all the nations in the world—an exhilarating feeling for all of us at HGF, the fulfillment of many years of dreams. By all accounts, 2014 WEG was quite different from 2010 in Kentucky. While there was no Fuego Moment at this World Games—no "underdog" who enchanted the audience, causing them to leap to their feet in thunderous applause—there was also no disagreement with the scoring or final placements, nor was there booing from the specatators this year, which must have been a relief for the FEI management. It was all very orderly, but with many high points and stellar performances by veterans and newcomers alike. For PRE horses, the elite results gave even more credibility to the benefit of having these horses make up part of an international team, and we predict that very few countries will turn away a horse based on breed if that horse is capable of scoring over 72%. Following the Games, Grandioso returned home to Malaga, Spain for rest and time off. Soon he and Dani will begin to start preparing for the next big thing…..winter in sunny Florida. Photo Credits: Susan Stickle and Bob Langrish
HGF at Global Dressage Florida Classic
HGF at Global Dressage Florida Classic This second CDI of the series of 5 was the official Opening for the new Global Dressage Festival. Not until the very last minute on Wednesday night were all permits issued for occupancy on the shiny new buildings and grounds. 200 horses moved in the next morning for a three day show with close to 400 rides. The international Grand Prix fielded over 30 horses from 5 countries, with several of the judges making their first visit to South Florida. Over 600 people attended a sparkling evening of freestyles and 5 additional show sponsors from the Wellington dressage community signed on to be part of what appears to be a game-changing venue and series for our sport.Wednesday evening was the USPRE kick-off party. Normally held on move-in day, this year people had to make a special trip to come out the night before the show for the event--but the response was overwhelming. The Patron's Club was set for 350 people, and there was overflow of at least another 50 outside of the tent--never before has USPRE seen so much support and enthusiasm! A line-up of promising young PREs with top riders--from established US Team riders to Lendon Gray's hand-picked Emerging Dressage Athlete (EDAP) youth riders--rode to music or to the instruction of their trainers. This year's riders were: Endel Ott, Mica Mabragana, Rachel Chowanec, Emily Copeland, Lily Zilo, Chelsea Reed, Maddy Guthrie, Sophie Hoffman and Kerrigan Gluch. Tina Konyot and Lendon Gray taught demonstration riders and gave testimonials of their experiences and endorsements of PRE Horses.The show commenced on Thursday morning, and our attention turned to our HGF riders and their horses. As is our tradition, HGF horses were beautifully ridden and received top scores in their classes--Rachel Chowanec continued to gain experience in this first year of riding the Young Riders tests, improving her marks as she and Embrujado become more experienced at what is essentially the Prix St. George level. They took first and second in the national Team and Individual tests respectively with scores of 68.28 and 67.1. 15 year old Kerrigan Gluch of Michigan traveled down to Wellington with her parents Tina and Brent to represent the EDAP riders in the USPRE exhibit, and to do her first Wellington show as a bonus. Having only ridden Camaron three times in the EDAP clinic in December, Kerrigan proved what her trainer Laurie Moore says are her particular strengths--showmanship and test-riding! They showed third level all weekend and received three of Camaron's best scores at this level: 67.69, 67.94 and 68.415, just edging out Rachel for the Youth Rider High Point Award for USPRE.Mica Mabragana is continuing to live up to her press with exceptionally high marks on the young mare Infanta HGF (Candela x Idilio). Owner Mary Magee of Chicago was on hand to see the pair as they easily topped their Training Level classes with scores of 71.42, 72.00, and 77.85! The judges praised the mare's three excellent gaits and made special mention of the harmony between horse and rider (for which they received a 9 in collective marks from one judge). Mica and Infanta's score of 77.85 was not only the Open High Point score for USPRE, but was the High Score for the entire Florida Dressage Classic show--a fitting conclusion to a weekend sponsored by the United States PRE Association!
Where Are They Now: Carmen HGF
Hampton Green Farm distinguishes itself as a breeder of PRE horses for sport, as opposed to a breeder of morphology horses. Nevertheless, our breeding stallions have morphology distinctions and awards, even championships, and our offspring are revised and competed in morphology competitions with high marks in both Spain and the United States. (See http://hamptongreenfarms.com/PRE-horses-awards-en-84.html) Carmen HGF (Camaron IX x Escapada) is one example. Purchased in 2008 by Richard and Melanie James of Christchurch, New Zealand, they recently had the opportunity to have her evaluated by Spanish officials. Here is their update: "Very recently we've had a very well respected ex college of judges category A ANCCE judge visit NZ to do a judging tour. We were nervous for a while as he seemed to be being quite hard on our locally bred horses and was less than impressed with most of what he saw. You will be pleased to know though that Carmen blew everyone away with her movement and scored the highest marks across the country with 25 points. This was against a top class calificado stallion from Spain, and a recently imported show quality amazing mare from Spain, who also has very good movement. The judge scored her walk and trot as excellent, both 9's! The judge also liked her morphology very much, and overall she either came second or third in the country at around 106-7 points (just checking our calcs as the other imported mare had very close marks to her). The next highest mark was the top horse, the calificado stallion, who got some amazing scores, but Carmen was not beaten on movement. The judge was very impressed with her and told us he thought she was the mare of the future. We were stoked and very humbled all at once. We knew she was special, but we were surprised at how much she impressed him, as Dr Rodriguez has very high standards especially re morphology and particularly breed type. We are just annoyed we didn't capture any video of her trotting out as she just flew in her trot that day. Rich could hardly keep up with her but she stayed with him and floated beautifully. So I hope this news will be exciting for you, knowing you have bred a very special top quality PRE who in theory could compete with the best at SICAB (along with the many top quality competitive horses you have also bred). You probably wish now you didn't sell her. We are so grateful to you for allowing us to bring her to NZ. She will have always been special to us whatever happened. It is clear that she will be key to helping us develop the PRE in NZ, as we had hoped." Back, Loins - 9 Croup, Tail - 8 Forelimbs, Limb Alignment - 7.5 Hindlimbs, Limb Alignment - 8.75 Height, Overall Impression - 8 Breed Fidelity - 8 Walk - 9 Trot - 9 Canter - 7 Overall Total 107.25
Where Are They Now? Decoroso HGF and Cindy Ramirez-Smith
Meet Cindy Ramirez-Smith, Dressage trainer from Santa Barbara, California, and owner of Decoroso HGF, a 2006 Chestnut PRE Stallion (Decoroso x Quintera): "I've been horse crazy ever since I was a small child, and was fortunate enough to get my first pony at the age of nine. Soon after, I became a member of Black Oaks Pony Club, eventually achieving the "A" rating from United States Pony Clubs. I grew up riding anything and everything that I could, from gaited horses, to foxhunting and eventing. For several years I worked as a working student for Brian and Lisa Sabo at their eventing facility. My passion was eventing, and in order to do this I gave lessons, started young horses, showed horses, and rode horses that their owners didn't want to ride. I evented up through the Intermediate level before I decided to make dressage my primary focus. I have shown many horses up to fourth level and then either sold them for their owners, trained their owners on them at lower levels, or sold my own horses at that point as a wise business move." "Three years ago, on a vacation to the Andalucia region of Spain, my husband and I fell in love with the PRE horses that we saw performing in Jerez. Their innate athleticism, coupled with their extremely high work ethic and trainability, made them a great choice for a dressage horse. After a long search, last year we purchased Decoroso HGF, a 2006 PRE stallion from Hampton Green Farm as an upper level dressage prospect. He is such an incredible horse that earlier this year we went back to Hampton Green and purchased Carina HGF, a 2008 mare that will begin her training this summer. We are looking forward to the future of these two very promising young horses." "Decoroso HGF has been steadily improving all spring. He is a wonderful stallion to be around because he loves attention and is a very hard and serious worker. Vulcan Mesa Ranch is his home in Atascadero, California. Every day he goes to work in arenas that he shares with mares, geldings, children on ponies, and jumpers and never bats an eye at any of it. Deco has shown remarkable consistency at shows for any horse of his age with 5 tests at First Level having scores between 67% and 70%. Our plans for the year include competing in October at the CDS Annual Championships and moving up to second level." "The last show that we went to, SLO-CDS Spring Fling on April 24, we won 1st level 2 and 3 with a 70% and a 69.6%!"
Introducing ...HGF's TEAM 70!
For all owners and riders who achieve 70% with their HGF-bred horses, we are happy to announce you are now on HGF's TEAM 70! Many of our clients who purchased young horses are now reaping the rewards of their choice of an HGF horse, and are scoring in the elite 70+ bracket. We want to congratulate you and welcome all to strive to do their best with their PRE horses from Hampton Green! TEAM 70 Jasmin Schaudt and Icono HGF (FEI 5 Year Old) Suzanne O'brien and Innato HGF (Introductory and Training Levels) Cindy Ramirez-Smith and Decoroso HGF (Training Level and First Level) Annie Morris and Icaro HGF (Training Level) Daniel Martin Dockx and Vaquero HGF (FEI Four Year Old) Maria Lithander and Idolo Americano (Training Level, First Level) We also are aware of several HGF young horses scoring close to this mark, and we will add new TEAM 70 members as they happen...
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!