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News Articles
County Saddle a Member of Team Grandioso
When Daniel Martin Dockx and Grandioso went down the center line in London, they were supported by a team of top trainers, veterinarians, physical therapists, farriers, Spanish Federation staff, and an international saddle maker who provides saddles for the best horses in the world. County Saddlery first sponsored Grandioso when he was trained by Courtney King-Dye. When Grandioso left the United States for Spain, County continued their sponsorship of the horse and new rider Daniel Martin Dockx. County has shown a special interest in providing well-fitting and comfortable saddles for the Iberian horse, and presently provides saddles for Fuego de Cardenas and Juan Manuel Munoz, and Rachel Chowanec--US Reserve Champion Junior--and Embrujado. A full time representative in Spain has spent many hours making sure that Daniel and Grandioso are in perfect comfort with their saddle. In the past year, other HGF-horse owners have purchased County saddles and have the same experience of a comfortable and happy ride. Our thanks to Mr. Gene Freeze for his support of Dani and Grandioso, and we expect this investment to continue to produce many happy results in the future. For more about the philosophy, construction, and types of County Saddles, see
Hampton Green Farm's Grandioso and Daniel Martin Dockx Appointed Spanish Olympic Team Reserves
In January 2011, ten months after Courtney King-Dye's riding injury, Grandioso left Wellington for Spain. In the year and a half that he has been in the hands of Daniel Martin and trainer Jan Bemelmans the horse did his first Grand Prix test, completed six months at the national levels, won the National Championship of Spain, started his international career in Salzburg, took 2nd at the Grand Prix in Fritzens, scored over 70% and finished in the top 15 in the Grand Prix at Aachen, and now has been named as the Reserve for the Spanish Olympic Team. We are amazed at this progression and grateful to the group of people who have believed in Grandioso and whose time, talents and support lie behind his successes--Dani, Jan, Federico, Antonio, Gaspar, Roman, the RFHE, Bobbi, Rosin, Courtney, Lendon, County Saddles, Pavo, and Mohamed. There is no nicer nor more dedicated group of people in this sport! For London, Spain is fielding a strong team that includes Juan Manuel Munoz and Fuego, Beatriz Ferrar Salat with Delgado, and Morgan Barbancon with Painted Black. Grandioso will travel to London to be on call if needed prior to the Veterinary Inspection. Dani and GR, in their first time to show in Germany, made a very good impression at CHIO Aachen last weekend, scoring 70.46 in the Grand Prix and 69.6 in the Special and finishing 15th and 20th respectively.
Mica Mabragana Takes First FEI Win of 2012 with Cuatrero
At last weekend's Gold Coast Opener in Wellington, HGF Rider Mica Mabragan debuted 11 year old Cuatrero in the National PSG and Intermediare I. Cuatrero (Cuatrera x Adelante) is the younger brother to Grandioso (Cuatrera is the dam of Grandiosa), 2011 Champion of Spain. He was last competed in early 2008 at 2nd level. Shortly after he went to Courtney King Dye who was preparing him for the small tour at the time of her injury. Cuatrero returned to HGF, but developed a hoof condition that took many months to correct. Thanks to the patience and skills of Dr. Steele and HGF farrier Mike Phillips, Cuatrero returned to work with Mica last summer. On Friday, In his first class in four years and first time at FEI-level, the pair placed in the PSG but were still a bit rusty with a 62%. On Saturday, Cuatrero was more on his game and Mica rode a beautiful Inter-1 to win the close-scoring class with 65.6. A spontaneous round of applause after the ride from the attending Judges' forum topped off the morning. Mica is very pleased with her stallion and we are all looking forward to more good news from this pair. Cuatrero is the sire of Vaquero HGF, trained by Daniel Martin, who placed in the top 5 PREs at the National Young Horse Championships in Spain as a four year old last fall. Cuatrero is also the sire to Diva HGF and Bohemia HGF.
Lots Happening in Welly World...
The World Dressage Masters just wrapped up, at the same time as the season's fourth CDI. One more to go--the inaugural International Horse Sports Champions Cup later this month. Steffen Peters, champion of the Masters, continues his monthly clinic series here, in which Mica has been fortunate to ride with a number of her horses, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Renee Isler. The Challenge of the Americas, benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, is a highlight of the Charity circuit, and last weekend's event was won by the Team Purina USA, featuring riders Betsy Steiner, George Williams, Pam Goodrich, John Zopatti, Bill Warren and Jim Koford. The other favorite event of the Wellington Dressage community is Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, and last month's event, spearheaded by Tuny Page, brought much-needed funding for the center which is now serving injured Olympian Courtney King-Dye in her quest to fully recover from her brain injury of last year. Every weekend in Wellington during the months of January through March brings an opportunity to support a worthwhile cause, and the equestrian community here steps up to the plate--from a $1,000,000 Charity Challenge at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, to the Equestrian Aid Foundation Auction at the Palm Beach Derby, and many more. Last week the management of the Winter Equestrian Festival announced plans for the development of its most valuable piece of property next to the main PBIEC showgrounds--the former Polo Stadium of the Palm Beach Polo Club, at the corner of Pierson and South Shore. The plans include the construction of a new events arena and rings, with the primary purpose to be the home to a new series of International Dressage shows beginning in 2011. Robert Dover, who has served as coach for Team Canada all season, will be the "Front Man" for the promotion of this new series of CDIs, which will provide prize winnings similar to those of the Jumper circuit for the first time in the United States. Read more about it on Robert'sdoversworld.com site, or listen to his radio program live on Tuesday nights at 6pm. HGF riders Mica Mabragana, Rachel Chowanec and Molly Reynolds continue to train and prepare for the final few shows of the season. Mica has completed two successful CDIs with Idilio, obtaining qualifying scores at both shows for representation at the Pan Am Games for Argentina. Rachel Chowanec and Embrujado continue to improve their scores in the FEI Juniors tests, proving at the Palm Beach Derby that they are in a league of their own. Rachel will be one of four riders competing in the Dressage Under the Stars on Wednesday evening with HGF's Camaron at the Player's Club. This week's competition is an "Iberian Challenge" and will feature two PREs and two Lusitanos doing "fun and cultural" freestyles. On March 22, HGF will host a reception for 80 friends of D4K (Dressage4Kids), with Lendon Gray and her many successful students of our sport, including CKD, Liz Austin, Isabelle Leibler, Jocelyn Wiese, Meagan Davis, Mica Mabragana, and now Chelsea, Molly, and Rachel! More news and scores to come...
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.
Hampton Green Farm in the News
We've been making the news recently. Some highlights of our recent press coverage... Robert Dover on Dover'sWorld.com: "I am so excited to have a young horse again after so many years, and HGF Fiero has been a total pleasure to deal with...The other day as I led him into his stall, he began to passage down the aisle-way and when I held him back he produced what I know will be a perfect, classical piaffe. You have to love that!" Courtney King Dye on DressageDaily.com: "He's in his prime now, and she can't just wait around for me to get better or ask someone else top to ride him, and give him back to me if I'm better right before the Olympic qualifications. I agree that just wouldn't be fair. But he'll come to me right after, and I have plenty of her young horses getting ready for me!” Kim Boyer on Eurodressage.com: "My opinion has always been that Spain is full of good horses, and yet so few make it into the hands of top riders who can compete them at top levels. Why is this and why has the world-class success of a few not brought the same opportunities to so many others? The full answer to this is complicated and a topic for another day, but the conundrum is best illustrated at SICAB." Video Interview about the HGF horses in Spain, Katharina Braren,TopIberian . Links: http://doversworld.com/blog/2010/11/more-thanks/ http://www.dressagedaily.com/index.php?option=com_content[&]view=article[&]id=5669:courtney-king-dye-getting-ready-to-ride[&]catid=344:december-2010[&]Itemid=437 http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2010/12/02/state-sicab-2010
HGF Year in Review 2010
HGF Year in Review 2010 It’s been a year of unexpected changes at Hampton Green Farm since our last Year-in-Review. At the beginning of 2010 we were very pleased with the course we were on, and could not have imagined the events that would take place throughout the year to alter the direction of the farm and business. And yet, looking back over what has been a challenging year, we can see new doors open to us, new relationships and new roads to explore. Hampton Green Farm will continue to breed and campaign top-quality PRE horses for Dressage, while we welcome the new challenges that come with change. On a number of levels, 2010 was a year of loss for HGF. We lost two beloved horses to colic—Cantora, mother of Encanto and Ibiza; and Mejorano, a promising small tour horse for HGF prior to an irreparable suspensory ligament tear in 2007. However, the event that shook our world, as well as the entire Dressage world, was the injury to US Olympian Courtney King-Dye, who sustained head trauma in early March in a fall on a client’s young horse. Courtney had been training HGF’s Grandioso III for the past two years, hoping to qualify him in 2010 for the Team Selection Trials for the World Equestrian Games. She was preparing him for his first Grand Prix at the Palm Beach Derby the weekend of her accident. Courtney remained unconscious for close to a month and then, beating all expectations, awoke with full mental capacities. Within a few months, she was able to help the US Team as they prepared for the WEG in Kentucky and to teach her assistant rider Jen Marchand and HGF’s Maria Lithander on their horses. Her physical healing, however, has taken more time and she is hoping to begin to ride competitive horses by the end of next year. Grandioso remained in condition and light work at HGF while we waited and hoped for Courtney’s full recovery. Now that 2011 is approaching, Grandioso will need to go to a rider who will campaign him with sites on the London Olympic Games. Courtney is involved in the decision of who should ride Grandioso for the next 18 months, and HGF expects to announce his new rider in early 2011. Another circumstance that shaped the direction of HGF this year was the continued recession and its impact on horse sales, particularly sales of horses younger than 4 years old. Continued economic uncertainty prompted our decision to hold a “Top Ten” Herd Reduction Sale in August, where 10 of our best young horses under 3--with excellent bloodlines, movement, temperament and radiographs--were sold at auction for bargain prices. The sale brought in buyers from all sectors of the horse community—from young riders and amateurs to professionals—and we ended up selling 14 horses during the month of August. What appeared to be a bust for the bottom line actually turned into a highly successful marketing event for HGF. Since the sale, our phones have been ringing regularly for young horses, we ended the year with over 20 sales and we’ve been able to return to prices of former years. Additionally, Olympian Robert Dover’s purchase of HGF Fiero has resulted in a new level of interest in our young horses from professional riders (the performance of Spain’s Fuego before an American audience also played a part…), and we are excited to hear of Robert’s progress with Fiero on his doversworld.com blog. (See also www.hamptongreenauctions.com.) We’ve also made changes to our riding staff, and this has widened our horizons now to Spain and eventually Europe, we hope. The young horses, who had been competed by Maria Lithander at the lower levels with notable success in Wellington and Michigan, have now begun their FEI training in Spain with Daniel Martin Dockx. The original plan was for Courtney and her team to take over the training of these horses once they were ready for the work of the Prix St. George. With all factors considered, we chose Daniel to train them for the upper levels, which also will allow these horses to begin their international careers in Spain. HGF’s name in Spain is well recognized, thanks to Dani’s work with HGF’s Encanto, which has brought him national titles and top accolades, and we felt that the environment there would be more conducive to train and compete Idolo Americano and Adelante. Additionally, this past fall we welcomed Mica Mabragana to our riding staff. Mica is a talented young trainer and long-time student of Lendon Gray who rides for Argentina. She will be stabled with her clients at HGF in Wellington this winter and campaigning Idilio II for qualification for the Pan Am Games next October. She also will be continuing Cuatrero’s training for the time being. Looking forward, we will continue our monthly clinic series with Lendon Gray, who will be based at Hampton Green Farm all winter, as we also maintain our close relationship with Courtney during her rehabilitation. We will be reporting on our horses who are showing at the upper levels this year with hopes of international championship competition, and we will continue to bring along the best PREs in the United States for Dressage—both at home and in Europe. 2010 Highlights and Awards: Wellington Season: First Level through Intermediare II— 11 First Places, 4 Second Places FEI in 2010: 6 First Places, 2 Second Places Region Two Championships: Reserve Champion, Second Level, Idolo Americano Fifth Place, First Level, Bolero CXLVIII Fifth Place, Prix St. George, Idilio II Sixth Place, Intermediare I, Idilio II USDF All Breeds Awards: Champion, Prix St. George, Open--Idilio II, median score 67.105 Champion, First Level, Open--Bolero CXLVIII, median score 70.00 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Leading Dressage Owners for 2010: National Ranking #34 (out of 7677) Many thanks to all of our staff and riders who helped make these successes possible for us, and best wishes to all for a safe and happy 2011!
Hampton Green Farm Names Dani Martin as New Rider for Grandioso III
Hampton Green Farm is happy to announce that beginning in 2011, Grandioso III will be campaigned by Daniel Martin Dockx for Spain. Over a period of months when it became clear that Courtney King-Dye, Grandioso's partner since 2008, would not be able to ride him in 2011, many very good options for the horse were entertained. HGF would like to thank those US riders who showed an interest in him and we were encouraged by the positive response from many qualified competitors.When all factors were taken together, HGF, in collaboration with Courtney, decided that the current environment in Spain and Europe offered the best opportunities to Grandioso and we were happy to place the horse with long-time HGF friend and rider Daniel Martin Dockx. Dani's success with Encanto over the past two years has brought much attention to HGF in Spain and we know that he will represent Spain, and our farm, with the highest quality of work. We look forward to working with Spanish National Trainer Jan Bemelmens in this transition and we are excited to be a part of a place and a program that has produced so many excellent PRE competitors over the years. "I think it's the right decision to send Grandioso to Spain. He needs to show GPthis year, and he's green, so even if I'm ready to ride (which is doubtfulunfortunately) I won't be ready to train a green GP horse. Grandioso is a greathorse ( not for a PRE, for ANY horse) and he can help Spain get a medal. Soalthough I'm sad to see him go, I am sure it's the right move for him. I can love him to bits here, or he can be a contender for the olympics. Hmmm, toughchoice! It will make me happy to see the latter. And I totally plan to have himback and go for the 2012 Team!" Courtney King-Dye
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 and Emerging Athlete Clinic UPDATES--July 28, 2011
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Dinner with Courtney King Dye has been moved to Saturday Evening, Aug. 6 at 7 PM. Dinner is free to all Clinic/Festival riders and 1 groom each. All others please call the Farm Office to reserve your place ($20.00 per person): 231-865-6000. Emerging Athlete Clinic: --8 Riders have been selected from applicants. Please note that the clinic is open and there is no charge for auditing--all are welcome! There will be a charge for lunch on-site. Lendon Youth Dressage Festival: --Entries are coming in! Space is now limited so get your entry in by the Closing Date--July 31. --Note change to Courtney King-Dye Dinner above. --There may be a problem buying the book Principles of Riding for the written test. We are adding Debbie MacDonald's Riding Through as an alternative. --Remember to make all checks out to Dressage4Kids. Hampton Green Farm FAX #: 231-865-7419.
The Festival is Here!
After months of planning, the week of the Lendon Youth Dressage Festival has finally arrived! "I am so excited to be doing the first clinic. We had some wonderful applications — what a multi-talented group of young people we have. I already know some of the riders and know of their talent, but I am hoping to find a least one diamond in the rough – someone who hasn’t had the opportunity to demonstrate her considerable talent. Having another Youth Dressage Festival after the clinic gives Courtney and myself a chance to watch these riders in competition, a real bonus. Thank you Hampton Green Farm for making all of this possible." Lendon Gray The riders for the Emerging Dressage Athlete Section A Clinic have been selected. They are: Madelyn Guthrie Westmont, IL, Trainer: Agata Rekucka Jessica Hainsworth Mt. Morris, NY, Trainer: Armando Hale-Brown Megan Heeder E. Lansing, MI, Trainer: Maryal Barnett Kylie Heitmann W. Olive, MI, Trainer: Tena Frieling Megan Levine Haslett, MI, Trainer: Tracy Rowe McEwan Melynda Walsh Lansing, MI, Trainer: Megan Levine Emily Gillispie Heath, OH, Trainer: Jennifer Goldberger Chelsea Reed Groveland, FL Trainer: Tom Reed Nicole Chiapetti Lake Villa, IL Trainer: Amanda Johnson Claire Kendall Muskegon, MI Trainer: Sandra Tull Kerrigan Gluch Mt Pleasant, MI Trainer: Laurie Moore Clinic rides will start promptly at 7.30 am on Friday and Saturday. The public is invited to audit at no charge. There will be a luncheon offered on site for $15.00 per person. The Lendon Youth Dressage Festival will be on Sunday and is open to the public. The riders will begin the morning with a Written Exam, followed by Dressage and Equitation classes. The Awards Ceremony will be held at 5.30 PM. Tickets are still available for Dinner with Courtney King-Dye. Please call the office at 231-865-6000. Ride Times for both the Clinic and Festival will be posted on Thursday evening. Good luck to all the Riders!!
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
A week in Spain--SICAB 2011
This year's trip involved several days in Malaga to check on the HGF horses, as well as our usual SICAB activities. Courtney King-Dye and her husband Jason made the trip again with us this year, and we also met up with many more friends including Charlotte Mogenson, Alex Zilo, Cindy and Eric Smith, Carmen Deville of PREA Israel, Sylvia Tonnear, Michele Widner, Jaime and Christina Chapa and others. For the full report, seewww.usprea.com orwww.eurodressage.com .
Courtney Update--March 12, 2010
We have forwarded on to Jason all of the get well wishes from the HGF family. Thank you for the immense outpouring of concern and prayers for Courtney and her family. She is loved all over the world. We can give you this brief update: Courtney remains in the ICU at St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach, resting comfortably. She is still unresponsive, but everyday there is more positive news about her condition. Her MRI earlier this week ruled out any additional injuries or post-injury complications, which was fantastic news! Her swelling is minimal and never became a risk factor following her arrival at the hospital--also very good news. The breathing tube has been removed and, although she now has a tracheostomy, she breathes on her own for a good amount of time every day, her color has improved and she is resting much more comfortably. Additionally, she has started to make some very small neurological signs of improvement that are becoming more apparent every day. Currently, it can be said that the depth of her unconsciousness appears to be decreasing slowly but steadily. She has taken no steps backwards! We remain patient in our hopes that she takes all the time she needs for her injuries to heal, while we wait with anticipation for her waking. Her immediate family and closest friends have been sitting with her daily and reading as many as she can handle of the hundreds of emails and letters she's received over the last eight days. Her husband Jason is holding up well and managing all of the responsibilities that have suddenly come up, with the help of Courtney's mentor Lendon Gray. Courtney's assistant Jen is keeping up all of the barn and training responsibilities and making plans for their move back to New York when Courtney is ready. Grandioso has come back to HGF in Wellington for the time being. Maria will keep Grandioso and Cuatrero fit for Courtney, under the watch of Lendon Gray, for as long as it takes Courtney to recover and return to riding. We will do our best to update you on Courtney's progress as time goes on. Next week we will report on our recent shows and other activities.
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.
Courtney Dye Visits HGF and Grandioso
We were thrilled to have a visit from Courtney and her husband Jason last weekend at the Michigan farm. Courtney had spent the morning with the US Team as they made final preparations for WEG, and then flew into Grand Rapids on Friday evening. She had not been to the farm for a year, and more importantly she had not seen Grandioso since her riding accident in March. Her visit was intended to be low-key and more of a show-and-tell than a formal clinic, but Courtney asked for the microphone during the first ride of one of our young horses and began to teach just as she has done so many times before at HGF. Maria Lithander rode four horses for her on Saturday, and three rides on Sunday. Additionally we worked several of the colts and fillies whose progress Courtney has followed since they were weanlings. Courtney's first priority was to see Grandioso and his work with Maria, who has been keeping him tuned since the horse came back to us from Courtney's barn in mid-March. She coached Maria through all of the Grand Prix work, and she was very happy to see that the horse had not lost anything in the time she has been off of him, and that he was relaxed and happy in all his work under the interim rider. Grandioso also appeared extremely pleased to see Courtney again--in a stallion kind of way--and we had to make sure that he didn't knock her off her feet with affection!Courtney has informed us of her plans to go to Wellington this winter, to assist Jen Marchand with the training of all of the horses in Courtney's program and also with the hopes of starting to ride again at some point over the winter. She also will be overseeing the training of Grandioso until the point that she can take the reins again herself. But her main occupation will remain her road to recovery, and she is fortunate to have Jason to keep her on-track and focused with all the distraction of her enthusiasm for getting back around the horses!On another note, it's WEG week and we are there! If you are unable to attend, find the Hampton Green Forum on Facebook and follow along with us as we post our experiences and impressions. And as much as we love and support our US Team, we are also fans of the wonderful Spanish horses who are coming--Fuego, Norte and Gnidium--and we'll be watching them and wishing them all good luck in the games!
Robert Dover Finds His FIERO at Hampton Green Farm
Hampton Green Farm is proud to announce that Robert Dover, six-time United States Olympian for Dressage and current Technical Advisor and Coach for the Canadian National Dressage Team, has recently purchased an outstanding 2008 son of Grandioso III. For several years, HGF has worked with Robert in the training of some of our top horses, including Grandioso, and we have always been aware of his respect and admiration for the PRE breed. During those years, Robert expressed his interest in finding a young PRE of a certain type that would meet his standards for athleticism and temperament. Conversations with Robert began earlier this summer following his announcement on DoversWorld.com that he was looking for an international prospect for himself, which eventually culminated in his selection of FIERO HGF (Grandioso III x Ibiza). FIERO is a virtual replica of his sire, Grandioso III--trained and competed by Courtney Dye--a stallion with whom Robert has had much interaction and influence. Robert was immediately attracted to the son who, in his words, "has 3 exceptional paces and an extremely uphill expression already as well as a lot of scope." At Hampton Green Farm, we have been aware of this colt's exceptional potential and we are happy to know that he will go to one of the world's top trainers and the sport's greatest showman, and we are happy that FIERO HGF will be trained, like his sire, with the hope of joining the United States Dressage Team in the future!
Miscellaneous.....
The last few weeks have been a blur. Now that Courtney has made distinct steps toward consciousness and is in the early stages of response and communication, we have been overwhelmed with relief! All other "news items" just don't have the same importance... but here are some miscellaneous little bits of information that may or may not constitute real "news": Congratulations to Chelsea Reed on her first Dressage test on Lentisco, and for winning the First Level, test 4, with over 65%. We are so thankful to learn that ANCCE official Manolo Gonzalez is recovering well from his scooter accident in Sevilla. Congratulations to Lily Zilo on the arrival of her new PRE from Spain! We have learned that David and Ulla Sonshein will be taking Iliado home to Ontario in about two weeks, where he'll be boarded at Belinda Trussell's barn. Congratulations to Maureen and Cludies Sharp on their recent purchase of Graciosa and Menina, two fabulous fillies from sires Idilio and Grandioso. They are starting their new breeding business with the best of HGF bloodlines. For those of you on Facebook, we've started a new HGF Group called Hampton Green Forum, a place for conversations, photos, videos and more. Check it out. Former YR star, Krystalann Shingler looked super on Camaron at the Challenge of the Americas. Krystalann, who has been competing her Small Tour horse Tividor in the CDIs since last year, rode Camaron on the Canadian Team for the Challenge. This is Camaron's 2nd Challenge, and he looked like an old pro out there, along with Dr. Kohl and Jazmin who dazzled in the Ice Dancing with Horses performance. It looks like last month's Wellington visit by David De Wispelaere and Patrick Roggenbau is resulting in a Michigan clinic in July--hosted by Sheila Murdoch at Jubilee Farm, and including a dinner and party at HGF. Stay tuned for more details.... We've been in touch with Ana Gilmour down in Texas and she sounds extremely busy and happy. She has more than enough work with the large group of lovely young horses and also riding horses owned by USPRE Board Member Marianne Lattimore, who we hear is building the most incredible covered arena in all of Texas! Be sure to keep checking the USPRE website (www.usprea.com) for news about the upcoming summer events--revisions in your area and USPRE High Point and Breed Awards at shows across the country. We are especially pleased with the planning and organization of Erin Lohec and Betsy Ketcham as they've put together a terrific series of High Point Challenges at Dressage and breed shows in both Southern and Northern California. We extend our thanks again to all of you who have written Courtney and have sent their love and support. The outpouring has overwhelmed her family and friends, and they have recorded every letter into a notebook, which we now know she will read some day! For those of you who would like to send her a note, you may do so at comebackcourt@gmail.com.
Courtney Dye suffered an accident
On Wednesday, March 3, Courtney Dye suffered an accident with a young horse at her training barn in Loxahatchee, Florida. She sustained a skull fracture and TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury. She is stable and resting at a hospital in Palm Beach County, surrounded by her family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with you always, Courtney. You are loved. Get well soon!
Lendon Gray Clinic Series at Hampton Green Farm Wellington
Hampton Green Farm is pleased to announce that Lendon Gray will be part of the training team this winter at the Wellington FL facility. Lendon is a two-time Olympian, Director of the Dressage Foundation, member of the USEF High Performance Dressage Committee, founder of Dressage4Kids, Honorary Board Member of the United States PRE Association, and long-time coach to Olympian Courtney King-Dye. She plans to come down once a month from her home base in Bedford, New York, to give a training clinic to Hampton Green Farm's riders--Maria Lithander, Ana Gilmour, and Janne Rumbough--and the Hampton Green Farm stallions. A few spots will be made available to other riders of PRE horses, including clients of Hampton Green Farm who are in Florida for the winter with their horses. Auditors are welcome for $20.00 per day (lunch may be occasionally provided for an additional minimum cost). The HGF/Lendon Gray Clinic schedule is: November 17-18 December 15-16 January 16, 17, and 20 February 17, 18 and 19 March 19- 21 For more information, please call Joan at 231-865-6000.