Winter Competition 2016

HGF horses were active participants in the Global Dressage Festival circuit this past winter in Wellington.[nbsp]

The past four years have seen growth in all of the international levels in dressage in Florida, but none more than the youth divisions. With the exception of Pony, all of the youth divisions in the Wellington shows have more than doubled in class size, and have brought out top riders from as many as 7 countries. Scores have risen to world-class levels and the same can be said of the quality of the horses of the top competitors.

The PREs of HGF continue to place among the top scorers in these divisions, attracting more young people to consider a PRE for their competition horse of choice.

19-year old Kerrigan Gluch competed nine year old Vaquero HGF at the Young Rider division throughout the season, achieving consistently good scores from the best judges in the sport. She finished the season with several distinctions: Fourth Overall (and Second American) in the Young Rider Division at the Florida International Youth Dressage Championship; multi-time USPRE High Point winner; and as of 1 April, 27th in the FEI Individual World Dressage Rankings.[nbsp]

Kerrigan also debuted HGF Brio at the U25. Brio is a 12 year old black stallion, imported from Spain, with some special abilities for the Grand Prix. Both Kerrigan and Brio are learning this level and becoming more experienced in the ring together, learning to ride clean tests and balance expression with accuracy. This past winter, as their first year at the Grand Prix, they posted scores as high as 69% in the national classes, and 66% in the CDIs. They are hoping their scores are good enough to qualify for the Festival of Champions in August.[nbsp]

Kerrigan trains both horses with Wellington-based trainer Oded Shimoni, who has been the significant factor in the development of this young rider and her two horses.[nbsp]

Additionally, working students Sarah Roda and Katja Creswick, under the training of Maria Lithander and Lendon Gray, showed HGF schoolmasters Lentisco and Idolo Americano, gaining experience and learning many lessons about competing in the large, high-profile shows. Sarah moved up from the national classes to her first CDIs at the Junior level with Lentisco, and Katja was selected to ride for the Charlotte Bredahl USEF clinic with Idolo. Both Katja and Sarah were part of the 2016 Winter Intensive Training program run by Lendon Gray for Dressage4Kids, held annually at Hampton Green. Marketing Intern Lily Forado from Barcelona provided an unforgettable photo diary of the entire Global Festival.

Meanwhile in Spain, Daniel Martin competed Bolero CXLVIII at the Grand Prix in two CDIs—Jerez and Valencia. These were only the third and fourth time Bolero has competed at Grand Prix, and he has shown consistently in the 66-68 range in the GP tests, and over 70% in the Freestyles. Dani is very pleased with the progress of Bolero, who at 12, is becoming more confirmed at the level with much more to offer as he matures.

In February, in transit to the Jerez show, Grandioso sustained an injury to the synovial membrane (or sheath) of the left hind tendon. The decision was made in March to do surgery. The minimally invasive procedure removes the torn tissue and any adhesions, and allows the tendon to move freely again. The surgery was done on March 22. As there was no injury to the tendon itself, we predict the horse will be back under saddle in mid-May, with hopes of returning to competition in the summer prior to Rio.[nbsp]

[nbsp]