News & Horses:
Found 19 results
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.
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.
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 .
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
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, 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!
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...
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
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!
End of Summer News at Hampton Green Farm
Courtney ClinicJoin us for the upcoming one-day Courtney King-Dye clinic, to be held in Fruitport, Michigan on August 25, from 8 am to 4 pm. Auditors welcome. Cost is $35.00, including lunch. Please call Joan at 231-865-6000 to reserve your spot. Congratulations!Congratulations to Ana Gilmour for her completion of the USDF Trainer's Certification Program . This program entails several workshops and seminars around the country, and a weekend of examinations in riding, teaching, longeing, and training by some of our country's best judges. Ana passed her examination in July with flying colors. . .more on Ana Gilmour's plans for the Wellington season in an upcoming article. Congratulations to Rachel and Embrujado! They were first with a 72% in a large Second Level class at Lendon's Youth Dressage Festival in Saugerties, NY, and finished Fourth overall in their category. Lendon ClinicMark your calendar for our upcoming 3-day Lendon Gray clinic, September 2-4. Auditors are welcome. No auditing fee and no lunch. We have a few riding spots open, please contact Joan at 231-865-6000 if you are interested. USPRE High Point AwardsUSPRE is sponsoring High Point Dressage Challenges at two major North East Shows this fall--The Fall Festival at NEDA and Dressage at Devon. If you plan to compete your PRE horse, or are interested in more information, contact us at 231-865-6000. Come see how much fun the PRE Dressage High Point Challenge can be. Dressage at Devon HGF is pleased to sponsor again this year the Dressage with the Experts program at Dressage at Devon. We will be there in person, competing several of our young horses in the Breed Show from Tuesday through Thursday. Additionally, USPRE is sponsoring the PRE Breed class on Thursday. Come and bring your best examples of our marvelous breed! HGF Employment and Working Student Opportunities Be a part of the team. We are looking for qualified applicants for a few positions this fall and winter. Please contact the office at 231-865-6000 for more information.
COURTNEY CLINIC--NEW DATE!! PLEASE NOTE
2008 Olympian Courtney King-Dye will be doing a public clinic for one day only at HGF. A limited number of ride-times are available to non-HGF horses. Please contact Joan at 231-865-6000 to reserve a slot. Date: August 25Location: Hampton Green Farm, Fruitport, MITimes: 8 am to 4 pm. Auditors Welcome: $35.00 Includes lunch
Grandioso and Courtney King-Dye Finish Fifth in USEF Dressage Festival of Champions
Nothing but rain for the Festival parade! This year's 2009 Festival of Champions at Gladstone will be remembered for the persistent bad weather and the controversial decision to cancel classes on the final day. The first day's cancellations must have been a bad omen for the weather report the rest of the weekend, and the unseasonably cold and dreary weather never seemed to let up. This, however, didn't dampen the performances of the riders in all of the championship classes, and especially the Intermediare 1 Championship which had strong leaders in the first two places and a very competitive group vying for the next few spots. Unfortunately, with the Freestyle was canceled, Grandioso and Courtney did not have a chance to repeat their strong performance from their first CDI in Wellington when they won the Freestyle with over 72%. Nevertheless, their Prix St. George and Inter 1 tests were impressive and competitive. Courtney drew the first ride of the championship and opened the class with 70.684% at the PSG on Friday. The Inter 1 on Saturday started very strong but troubles in the pirouettes brought the score down slightly to 69.789. The combination of the two scores gave the pair their closely contested ranking of Fifth Place out of 13 for the weekend. All of us at HGF are so proud of both of them for doing so well in the face of the best small tour competition in the country and we congratulate winners Katherine, Jan, and all the other riders on a great show, in spite of somewhat soggy conditions, and the excellent job they all did. It was a privilege to be counted among them!( . . . more photos to come from Gladstone when Mary Phelps returns from Aachen!)
HGF Friends and Family
Congratulations to Rachel Chowanec for her first rated show with Embrujado, better known as "Mouse"! Rachel took over the ride on Embrujado last fall and has been training with Lendon Gray at Gleneden Farm in New York all winter. She had quite a challenge ahead of her: Mouse was an imported PRE stallion who was traumatized during the shipment process to the US. He was subsequently gelded and ended up at HGF for retraining. He has a sweet personality and a ton of talent for dressage, but had developed a fear of trailering and going to new places. Prior attempts to take him off property caused him to be extraordinarily stressed, and so everyone assumed he would remain someone's backyard pet. Then Lendon and Rachel entered this little horse's life! Lendon took to him instantly at a clinic in Michigan and suggested that one of her exceptional Junior Riders might be able to help him. Rachel traveled to Michigan last fall to try him and he immediately took to her calm and reassuring nature. Over the winter, the two have bonded deeply and the training progressed to the point that Rachel submitted a tape and was chosen to participate in an Anne Gribbons/Courtney King-Dye clinic. His first day ever off-site was quite stressful for him, but the next day's ride with Courtney went very well. When an opening became available at an upcoming show, the pair found a way to make it happen. Rachel showed Mouse twice last weekend at 2nd Level. In his first class he struggled with a trailer parked at the end of the ring, but by the second day, he was "all business" in both the warm-up and the show ring. Now that they have cleared this first big hurdle, Rachel and Mouse are anxious to do more shows and focus on reproducing in the show ring his quality work at home . What a super opportunity for both horse and rider and a success story that we all believe will have many more chapters! Another update from the outer reaches . . . . Hampton Green Farm and USPRE Super-Fan Marilyn Fahringer has beamed in another photo of her latest converts to encourage all of you to get with the beautiful people and get an HGF or USPRE shirt!!! NOTE: Lendon Gray Clinic Dates: July 6 and 7. Auditors Welcome. Free Admission (no lunch provided). 8 am start.
Courtney King-Dye and Grandioso Win the PSG and Inter 1 at CDI Lamplight and Secure Their Spot in the Festival of Champions at Gladstone.
This past weekend's wet, windy and cold Chicago weather did not deter the performances of Courtney King-Dye and Grandioso in their second-ever international competition. The pair topped the field of 11 horses and riders both days with a 69.386 in the PSG and 70.00 for the Inter 1. They needed one more score from a CDI to complete the minimum qualifications for the Festival of Champions, so Courtney decided to make the trip to the western suburbs of Chicago from her summer home base in Millbrook, New York, where both Grandioso and HGF's Cuatrero are in training. Their new combined average falls comfortably within the first twelve horse and rider pairs for the small tour and they are now focused on preparations for the Festival of Champions. At HGF, we are very excited to be a part of the Festival for the first time and we look forward to whatever the future holds for Courtney and Grandioso as they continue to improve and grow in their partnership. For more information, see
Courtney King-Dye Rides HGF Stallion Camaron in the 8th Annual Challenge of the Americas
This past month at the International Polo Club in Wellington, FL was held the 8th Annual Challenge of the Americas Event for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This event has come to be known as a sparkling evening of Quadrilles and Pas de Deux performances featuring popular music and team riders from the US and other countries.This year's competition featured a US Team and an International Team, riding to musical features specially compiled and choreographed for them by the industry's best freestyle designers. Several "warm-up" acts preceded the competition, including a Dressage vs. Western freestyle, and a freestyle by Uncle Sam!2008 Olympians Courtney King-Dye and Ashley Holzer performed a tribute to the riders of the Hong Kong Olympics. As Pop Art, Ashley's Olympic mount, was in training for the upcoming World Cup qualifier, and Courtney's Olympic ride, Mythilus, was still getting back into shape from a short time off, both women were invited to select another horse on which to perform their Pas de Deux. Courtney's selection was HGF's 1995 foundation stallion, Camaron IX, competed this year by Ana Gilmour. Camaron was all business the night of his big ride under the lights, and although he wasn't sure he liked riding croup to croup with another horse, he did so because he knew his job and, chivalrous guy that he is, nothing was too much to ask in the name of a cause that helped women.Courtney said she had to keep from laughing all throughout the ride because he was so much fun. Unfazed by the flashing lights and the roaring crowd, Camaron put his whole heart into every formation--especially the big ending when both horses, side by side in an extended trot, came close enough to allow their riders to "High Five" down the center line!Camaron is the sire of a number of competitive and award-winning offspring, including Diaz HGF owned by Kelly Farmer, Destinado owned by Pam Geniac, Carmen HGF owned by Richard and Melanie James, and Bocelli owned by Jill Lane.For information on Camaron offspring for sale, contact HGF at 231-865-6000.
Courtney King-Dye Introduces Grandioso to International Competition
At the Wellington Classic Spring Challenge on Februrary 6-8, Courtney King-Dye rode HGF's Grandioso in his first international show and instantly put themselves on the map in the national rankings. The prior weekend, at the ESP Wellington Dressage Open Show, the pair did warm-up classes of Prix St. George and their first Intermediare 1, with scores above 68% in both classes. At the CDI in the Prix St. George, Grandioso's test had a few mistakes and he finished 6th in the class of 17 with a 66.2. He was more confident in the Intermediare 1 and the pair finished 2nd with a 68.2%. On Sunday, Courtney rode Grandioso to a compilation of classic Spanish orchestral pieces in his first Freestyle, and the pair won the class with over 72%, with artistic marks to 80%. Congratulations Courtney and Grandioso! National Intermediare 1 rankings have them for the moment in third place. We look forward now to the Palm Beach Derby, for Courtney and Grandioso as well as HGF's other riders and horses.
Wellington Spring Classic, Feb. 6-8
Congratulations to HGF riders and USPRE High Point Award Winners!Ana Gilmour finished the weekend with both a First and Second place at Training Level once again this past weekend with Bolero. She was also the USPRE High Point Award winner for the Open National Levels.Maria gets the Persistence Award for finally convincing Adelante that the entire test MUST be done INSIDE the arena. In his first time out, this big young stallion was convinced that an impressive warm-up should be enough and those people in the tent at the end of the ring were not his friends!USPRE High Point Award Winners:Open National Level ChampionAna Gilmour and Bolero 69.13 (First Place) Training 1Open FEI Level ChampionCherri Reiber and Kabileno 61.579% (Sixth Place) Inter 1Adult Amateur National LevelJanne Rumbough and JR 67.857% (Second Place) 2nd 4CDI LevelCourtney King-Dye and Grandioso 72.4% (First Place) Inter-1 FreestyleAnd what can we say about Courtney's rides on Grandioso this past weekend? That will deserve its own page! Check back for photos of Courtney and Grandioso and more next week.
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.