Mikala Gundersen & My Lady Win Devon World Cup Grand Prix In Another Step on Road to Rio Olympics

Mikala Gundersen and My Lady competing in the Devon World Cup Grand Prix. © 2015 SusanJStickle.com

Oct. 3, 2015–

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

Mikala Gundersen rode My Lady to their third straight victory in capturing the World Cup Grand Prix at Devon, Pennsylvania Saturday night and took another step toward earning a start for Denmark at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next summer.

The score of 72.241 per cent for Mikala and the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare came the same week the pair were ranked fourth in the latest International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Olympic individual standings.

Belinda Trussell on Anton, that competed for Canada at the 2010 World Games and this year’s Pan American Games, placed second on 70.560 per cent with the American Olympian Lisa Wilcox on Galant third on 70.060 per cent. At the Pan Ams, Belinda and Anton clinched an individual spot for Canada in Rio but the nation needs to qualify two more combinations to be able to field a team at the Olympics.

Cold and rainy weather caused major changes in the show schedule that moved the Grand Prix to Saturday night in place of the Freestyle that usually draws large crowds.  Only a few spectators were on hand to watch the 16 combinations from five countries in the Grand Prix.

Mikala, 47 years old and the mother of two has been based in Wellington, Florida since moving more than a decade ago with her jumper rider husband who built a nationwide horse treadmill business,

My Lady was bought in late 2011 by Janne Rumbough, a Danish transplant, passionate amateur dressage rider and longtime resident of Palm Beach.

Since then, the pair have competed extensively on both sides of the Atlantic including the 2014 World Games in Normandy and this year’s European Championships in Aachen, Germany on the Danish team, as well as two World Cup Finals.

Mikala Gundersen and My Lady at the European Championships this year. © 2015 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

However, when Denmark was not among the 10 nations to directly book a team ticket to Rio, she and other Danish combinations were told by team manger, Kimi G. Nielsen: “Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and go out and get some individual qualifications.”

That means qualifying at least three individual horses and riders to form a so-called “composite” team. Riders have until March 6 to rank high enough with their four best results from the year-long qualifying process for 12 remaining individual places.

“We all believe it’s possible and being competitive as we are, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make this qualification happen, ” Mikala told dressage-news.com. “This was the sole reason for me to travel up north to do the two CDI-Ws in Saugerties and Devon.

“My Lady is going better than ever at the moment.

“All summer in Europe we have worked on strength and conditioning and I feel that I brought back an even stronger and fitter horse than I had last winter season in Florida.

After this road trip, Mikala said, My Lady will have a break before competing in two or three shows at Global before the Mar. 6 Olympic qualification deadline.

If Denmark qualifies, her next goal is to be on that team.

The year has been long with 11 CDIs but, she said, “it’s been a fantastic year with lots of great shows. My Lady loves to show and she always does her best in the ring so I don’t feel it has been hard on her at all. It’s different from horse to horse but My Lady has so much energy and I feel that going to shows makes her happy.”

The past three years of Mikala and My Lady campaigning for Denmark have been at high cost, as the Danish federation pays only entry fees for Nations Cups unlike the United States that covers most of the costs of several combinations competing in Europe.

Mikala Gundersen celebrating victory on My Lady at the Global Dressage Festival where the pair were the top money earners in 2015. © 2015 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Prize money earned at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, among the highest in the world, has been a big help–more than $42,000 in 2014 and $60,000 this year.

“All the prize money she wins goes right back to paying for Lady,” Mikala said.

“Janne is a big supporter on top of that as the winnings alone pretty much only pay the cost of keeping her in Florida nine months of the year. Without Janne’s support there’s no way I could go to Europe to train and show. The cost of three months in Europe is about the same as nine months in Florida when you include shipping, training, board, housing, etc.”

Leah Wilson and Fabian JS won the Grand Prix Special on 69.608 per cent with fellow Canadians Jill Irving on Degas second on 67.000 per cent and Christilot Boylen on Drentano third on 64.314 per cent.

This was the first international Grand Prix for Leah and Fabian, a 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding, since launching their Big Tour career at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida last winter.

Leah on Westside Lady won Freestyle silver medal at the 2007 North American Young Rider Championships.

Results:

CDI-W Grand Prix

E: Holler – GER

H: Hotz – USA

C: Matthiesen – DEN

M: Ernes – NED

B: Zang – USA

		Rider	Nat.	Horse				E	Rk.	H	Rk.	C	Rk.	M	Rk.	B	Rk.	T	Pl.
		Gundersen, Mikala	DEN	My Lady				73.500	1	73.100	1	72.800	2	70.000	3	71.800	1	72.240	1
		Trussell, Belinda	CAN	Anton				71.000	2	70.100	2	73.100	1	70.800	2	67.100	5	70.420	2
		Wilcox, Lisa	USA	Galant				69.900	3	68.400	4	68.900	3	71.700	1	71.400	2	70.060	3
		Fraser, Brittany	CAN	All In				69.700	4	69.100	3	66.300	5	66.500	6	68.500	4	68.020	4
		Matute Jr, Juan	ESP	Don Diego Y				66.800	9	65.700	6	68.200	4	67.400	4	65.600	8	66.740	5
		Pavicic, Karen	CAN	Don Daiquiri				68.400	5	65.700	6	64.900	7	65.000	9	68.700	3	66.540	6
		Brooks, Jacqueline	CAN	D-Niro				67.400	7	66.500	5	64.500	8	67.300	5	65.900	7	66.320	7
		Strasser, Evi	CAN	Renaissance Tyme				68.200	6	65.700	6	63.700	9	66.400	7	64.400	10	65.680	8
		Koford, James	USA	Don Principe				67.300	8	65.400	9	65.400	6	65.500	8	63.100	11	65.340	9
		Sammis, Lauren	USA	Whitman				65.600	10	65.200	10	60.900	12	63.700	11	64.900	9	64.060	10
		Layne, Kelly	AUS	Udon P				64.400	11	62.900	12	63.100	10	62.300	13	66.200	6	63.780	11
		Tarjan, Alice	USA	Elfenfeuer				64.200	12	63.100	11	63.100	10	63.100	12	62.500	12	63.200	12
		Rizvi, P.J.	USA	Unlimited				63.800	13	62.800	13	59.400	13	64.200	10	61.400	13	62.320	13
		Johnson, Amanda	USA	Pluto VI Andorella				58.900	14	61.000	14	57.100	14	57.200	14	61.100	14	59.060	14
		Priest, Kathy	USA	Wild Dancer				Withdrew
		Lane, Megan	CAN	Caravella				Withdrew

Grand Prix Special

E: Zang – USA

H: Holler – GER

C: Hotz – USA

M: Minor – CAN

B: Leyman – BEL

		Rider	Ctzn	Horse				E	Rk.	H	Rk.	C	Rk.	M	Rk.	B	Rk.	T	Pl.
		Wilson Wilkins, Leah	CAN	Fabian JS				68.824	1	68.529	1	73.039	1	68.529	1	69.118	1	69.608	1
		Irving, Jill	CAN	Degas 12				66.471	2	67.549	2	67.353	2	65.490	3	68.137	2	67.000	2
		Boylen, Christilot	CAN	Drentano				60.686	4	64.706	3	64.118	4	66.078	2	65.980	3	64.314	3
		Lopardo Grana, Cesar	ARG	Tyara				61.961	3	62.059	4	64.608	3	63.725	4	62.255	4	62.922	4

Heavy Rain Washes Out Top Contenders in Devon CDI-W Grand Prix for Special

Christilot Boylen on Drentano competing in heavy rain at Devon. © 2015.SusanJStickle.com.

DEVON, Pennsylvania, Oct. 2, 2015–Heavy rain washed out the top contenders in the CDI-W Grand Prix for the Special and forced the Grand Prix for the World Cup Freestyle to be moved to Saturday.

The organizers cited “safety reasons” for moving the Grand Prix for the Freestyle but would not do so for the Grand Prix to qualify for the Grand Prix Special.

Canadians filled the top three places of the six combinations that competed.

Christilot Boylen on Drentano was first on 67.860 per cent, amateur Jill Irving on Degas was second on 67.380 per cent with Leah Wilson Wilkins on Fabian second on 67.120 per cent.

Lisa Wilcox of Wellington, Florida on Pikko del Cerro HU and Allison Brock also of Wellington on Rosevelt withdrew.

Results:

Grand Prix for Special

E: Matthiesen – DEN

H: Wysocki – USA

C: Holler – GER

M: Colliander – FIN

B: Weatherwax – USA

		Rider	Nat.	Horse				E	.	H	.	C	.	M	.	B	.	TOTAL	Pl.
		Boylen, Christilot	CAN	Drentano				67.800		66.500		67.400		68.700		68.900		67.860	1
		Irving, Jill	CAN	Degas 12				67.600		67.000		66.800		67.900		67.600		67.380	2
		Wilson Wilkins, Leah	CAN	Fabian JS				68.900		65.900		64.700		67.700		68.400		67.120	3
		Lopardo Grana, Cesar	ARG	Tyara				64.700		63.900		61.600		64.100		62.200		63.300	4
		Burns, Frank	USA	Killian				59.100		57.800		56.900		60.400		61.000		59.040	5
		Gentry, Kim	AUS	Leonardo				52.400		54.700		54.000		51.600		58.000		54.140	6

Dressage Shows Around the World in 2016 Show No Increase Over 2015

Oct. 1, 2016

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

The total of 162 international dressage shows scheduled for 2016 is almost unchanged from the number staged in 2015, with the official figures listing an increase of almost nine per cent in Europe offsetting declines in the rest of the world.

A breakdown of the schedule showed a changing face of dressage in Europe with Germany still hosting more shows than any other nation with 17 in 2016, down from 20 in 2015 and France with 10 compared with 14 in 2015. Spain scheduled 12 CDIs in 2016 as against seven in 2015 and Russia doubled the number to 10 for next year.

The United States with 24 CDI competitions scheduled for 2016 compared with 22 this year remains the nation with the greatest number of events approved by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), according to the official calendar that had a deadline of Oct. 1. The U.S. added new CDI3* shows at Omaha, Nebraska a year ahead of the Midwestern city hosting its first World Cup Final in 2017 and Conyers, Georgia at the 1996 Olympic venue. California with eight CDIs matches Florida for the first time since creation of the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington in 2012.

Of the two other Olympic disciplines, the total number of jumping events is at 679 in 2016 compared with 666 in 2015 while 238 eventing competitions are listed for next year as against 278 in 2015.

Records of FEI dressage competitions shows a big increase from 129 in 2008–the first year details are available on line–to 162 scheduled for 2016. A bubble was created in 2010 with 44 developmental dressage competitions that boosted the worldwide total that year to 189 competitions but fell to 146 by 2012 when there were no development shows.

The total rose to 161 in 2015 with 102 in Europe, 38 in the Americas, 12 in Oceania, seven in Asia and two in Africa.

For 2016, the calendar lists 162 events with 111 in Europe, 34 in the Americas, 11 in Oceania, five in Asia and one in Africa.

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of Under-25 competitions 2008 when four were on the calendar–three in Europe and one in the United States–to 63 scheduled for 2016.

CDI Amateur competitions that were created this year with nine competitions in the United States, four in Spain and two in France expands to a total of 25 in France, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Spain and the United States in 2016.

Susan Rothgeb, lifelong equestrian, FEI judge, past chair of Dressage Canada – 1939-2015

Sue Rothgeb

Sept. 30, 2015

Susan Rothgeb, a lifelong equestrian, retired international dressage judge and past chair of Dressage Canada, died Tuesday at the age of 76.

Sue rode hunters, three-day eventers, Arabs, Western reining and three gaited saddle horses but her passion was dressage.

The Dressage Canada Officials Committee honored Sue’s contribution to Canadian dressage and in particular to the development of Canadian officials with the announcement that the Dressage Canada’s Officials Bursary has been renamed the Sue Rothgeb Officials Development Bursary beginning in 2016. To make donations to the bursary, contact Christine Peters at Dressage Canada (cpeters@equinecanada.ca).

Sue began riding at the age of 10 in Roswell, New Mexico. At 19, she participated in the United States trials for the three-day eventing team for the 1960 Olympics.

She pursued a life as a rider, coach, judge, mentor and volunteer for riders across North America and Europe.

She first moved to Montreal in the mid-1960s before she and her husband settled at Hopewell Farm in Green Valley, Ontario in 1970.

In the mid-1970s she went with her husband, involved in high tech, to Kuwait. Sue used the opportunity to train in Europe. On her return to Canada, Susan achieved her greatest success as a rider with her horse Pegasus Playboy, winning advanced level championships in Ontario, Quebec and northeastern U.S. At the same time, she devoted herself to trainng and operating a
high performance breeding farm.

She became an international dressage judge in the early 1980s until her retirement as an official a quarter century later. She was also chair of Dressage Canada.

She has two children, five grandchildren and great grandchildren.

George Morris Gives Another Lesson to Ilse Schwarz — Part 3 of 3

Over the past couple of months, The Horse Magazine presented articles by US-based Australian dressage rider Ilse Schwarz working with American jumping coach George Morris. Both live in Wellington, Florida. George has helped Ilse prepare Sauvignon for Grand Prix. In this article George helps Ilse with a much different horse.

If you saw this horse going around the hunter ring, you too would likely pause and wonder if he were in the wrong arena. © 2015 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

By ILSE SCHWARZ

I am lucky enough for George to find time in his schedule to give me a third lesson, this time on a six-year-old gelding who recently made the transition from the hunter/jumper world to dressage.

Monticello (Monti) is by the Oldenburg stallion Rosenthal, out of a German thoroughbred mare that has produced some very good jumpers. He is absolutely stunning and was bought as a two-year-old by his current owners. He was unbeaten in his lead classes at top breed shows and jumps in quite a competent manner for the hunter world, however, he really had no enthusiasm for it.

He is lucky to have owners who recognized this and they approached me about taking him as a sales horse. I get asked to assess quite a few hunters as dressage sales prospects, and in general very few present as future FEI candidates. Monti is an absolute exception. Had I seen him going around the hunter ring, I likely would have sought out the owner and enquired about him.

The majority of our initial work was about developing acceptance of the bit and an understanding of the leg. In the hunter world, the use of the leg and the rein is completely different to the dressage world. They are never required to learn how to carry on their hind legs and become loose through the shoulders. The balance required for success in their world is, quite simply,  different to that desired in the world of dressage! Nevertheless, Monti is a quick student and within months developed a good enough understanding of collection to be consistently scoring in the 70s at 2nd level.

Unfortunately, during his time as a hunter he learned how to do a perfect late-behind change. As his understanding of the reaction to the leg and rein aids has improved, I have been getting some clean changes on him. However, the session with George presented the ideal opportunity to take a lesson on something still learning the changes. He is also a completely different ride to Savi. Whereas she is hot to the leg, Monti certainly isn’t. He is the type that would prefer to push into the leg rather than yield away from it, clearly a problem for the changes. I am eager to see where the lesson takes us.

George lets me warm up the horse the way I normally do. The owners of Monti, very successful hunter/jumper competitors, have come to watch the lesson, absolutely delighted to watch George work with their horse in a dressage arena!

I move through the warm up trot work with lateral work including shoulder-in, leg-yielding and travers and then some canter, George explaining to the owners what each exercise is and why I am doing it. After some simple exercises we move to counter canter and I am instructed, on the short side, to make a big volte, still in counter canter, and then turn onto the diagonal and almost immediately as I straighten on the diagonal ask for a flying change. I am then to finish the diagonal, approach the next short side in counter canter, make a volte and then as straightening on the diagonal another change and so on.

“This exercise really gets the change from the leg. Just think inside leg and then after the change half halt.”

So I come into each short side in balance. Monti is not immediately responsive to changes that truly only rely on the leg so the canter gets a little big and wild, the change isn’t coming where I ask and it honestly gets pretty messy. The changes are clean though so, if nothing else, it has made it pretty clear how much Monti wants to push into the leg.

Counter canter volte on the short side. Pity my mirrors weren’t cleaned. They are normally spotless! © 2015 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

We change the plan a little. I am now crossing the diagonal in true canter, aiming for a change over X, with George having very specific instructions for my legs.

Off the right lead, I am instructed to keep my left leg, the outside leg, on his ribcage but not back and then to ask for the change with simultaneous half halting on the right rein as the right leg goes back. Pretty standard aids for the change. Monti falls through my left leg and predictably, the change is late behind.

We try again.

“This time as you start the diagonal make him really straight. After making the horse straight, put the new inside leg (the left leg) forward. As you ask for the change with right rein and right leg moving back simultaneously, reinforce the aid of the left leg at the girth. If you keep the new inside leg too far back before the change, it is a chance for them to fall through that leg.”

As I coordinate the aids precisely, the changes come on the aids and clean.

“Don’t rush the change, first make the horse straight. As you approach the diagonal from the short side in right canter, the left leg is behind the girth because you have to make the horse straight but about one to two horse lengths onto the diagonal, the left leg moves forwards to the girth, the right rein engages and take the right leg behind.”

We then move to some exercises to make him more reactive and responsive to the leg aids. These are done in walk. We start with turn around the haunches, then turn around the forehand and finally. moving up and down the centerline, turns around the center. Yes, first time I have done this, also.

“Position the horse a little right and a half turn on the forehand with the left leg then walk forwards. Position the horse to the left and a turn on the forehand from the right leg.” Since Monti falls through my left leg, it is an opportunity to make him aware of that leg in its role as an inside leg. These turns on the forehand are different to what we traditionally learn. Here, we are turning INTO the direction of bend rather than away from it. More difficult but it really brings a focus to the reaction from the inside leg.

“Now position the horse to the right and a half turn on the haunches right, straighten, continue down the centerline. Position the horse left and turn on the haunches left. If the horse is sticky in the turning, use the outside spur. Make the exercise clearly about the reaction to the leg.”

“Now, a turn around the center. Position the horse to the right, turn the shoulder to the left and the haunch to the right so the axis of the turn is under your seat. walk forwards and a half turn to the left. Position the horse left, bring his shoulders to the right and the haunch to the left.”

“These exercises get the horses, especially horses like this one who are a little dull to the leg, very light to the legs. Every problem in riding comes down to horses not being enough on the legs. The turn on the center is the most powerful of the three turns because you are closing the shoulder to the haunch. You mobilize the shoulder and stir the haunch.”

It is time for a quick reminder for the rider, me, to quiet the hands again.

“Simply close the hand, you give the hand, you get too busy with the hand as is the fashion today.”

I promise you, I am working on being very quiet with my hands. He then has another word with me about my right foot slipping and sliding in the stirrup iron, I stare at it for a moment, internally direct bad words at it and put it back in place.

“My pet peeve in my life is the stirrup iron. When it is not correct it is aesthetically not pleasing. I hate that. You can tell every student I have had because the stirrup iron is correctly placed.”

Counter canter, clearly showing placement of the outside leg on the short side. When I turn onto the diagonal, THIS is the leg that George wants brought close to the girth, before asking for a change. Note the foot and stirrup iron correctly placed, yes, it is my left foot. © 2015 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Yes. we really did finish the lessons on a discussion of foot placement in the stirrup. So, when I next see Mr Morris, likely toward the end of 2015, I plan to show him perfect feet in perfectly placed stirrups on whichever  horse I am able to have a lesson with.

Oh, yes, and Savi with her 15 perfect flying changes as to head to Big Tour, she says, fingers firmly crossed.

(Editor’s note: After tis article went to press, Ilse competed Monti at a national show at 3rd level which requires flying changes and score almost 74 per cent Monti has since been sold.)

Monica Fitzgerald Appointed Global Dressage Festival Manager

WELLINGTON, Florida, Sept. 28, 2015–Monica Fitzgerald, secretary of dressage shows including championship events across the United States since 2001, has been appointed manager of the Global Dressage Festival of three months of international and national events in Wellington, Florida.

Monica, 51, of Maggie Valley, North Carolina has been show secretary for the Global circuit for the past three years and succeeds Lloyd Landkamer as manager. Lloyd, highly respected and widely admired, died last week at the age of 60 after a long battle with cancer.

The first CDI of the Global’s annual calendar international events will be dedicated to Lloyd in perpetuity.

The appointment of Monica as manager of the Global competitions was confirmed Monday by Michael Stone, president of the organizing group of Global competitions and the companion Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

The first Florida competition Monica will manage is the Dutta Corp. Festival of Champions of the United States Grand Prix and Intermediate championships scheduled for the Global show grounds in December.

In addition to the Global shows, her experience over a decade and a half includes the Festival of Champions, U.S. Young Horse Championships, U.S. Dressage Finals, Dressage at Devon, Palm Beach Dressage Derby, Wellington Classic Dressage, World Dressage Masters CDI5*, Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Championships as well as numerous shows across the nation.

“I’m excited and scared all at the same time,” Monica told dressage-news.com. “But Lloyd will be nudging me from up there.”

Request for Donations Instead of Flowers for Lloyd Landkamer Go to American Cancer Society

Lloyd Landkamer, show manager of the Global Dressage Festival who was dressage manager at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky surrounded by friends and colleagues at an awards ceremony in Wellington, Florida,. ©  Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

HAMEL, Minnesota, Sept. 27, 2015–Funeral arrangements are not yet available for Lloyd Landkamer who died Friday and life partner Bill Solynties has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations in Lloyd’s memory be made to the American Cancer Society.

Contact information for the society is 1-800-227-2345, P. Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 and earmarked for colon cancer research.

Lloyd and Bill Solynties, partners for 32 years, married when it became legal in Minnesota. Lloyd is also survived by two younger brothers and a sister who still live in Kansas.

A biography provided by Bill:

Lloyd was born in Lawrence, Kansas the son of Dale J. and Lorna Nolte Landkamer, both now deceased. He lived with his family for several years in Morocco, while his father was in the U.S. Air Force, before returning to Kansas. He left home as a teenager and lived for a time with his grandmother. Lloyd received college degrees in Animal Husbandry, Computer Science and Economics and worked for a time for Sperry in Minneapolis in the computer science field, receiving frequent promotions, before he realized his true calling was with horses.

Lloyd and William (Bill) Solynties met 32 years ago, when Lloyd was 28 years of age, in Mankato, Minnesota where they established their company, Solland, Inc. Lloyd’s interest in horses started in Mankato, where he purchased his first horse. He showed in dressage and soon after began breeding horses. Solland Farms moved to Delano and for many years has operated as Brandywine Farm in Hamel.

Early in their partnership, Lloyd and Bill had the opportunity to purchase two stallions, Renaissance and Fascination from Bernie Traurig. They learned to collect the stallions and handle all the breeding themselves. Later they purchased two other stallions, Tip Top and Donnerwerth. According to Bill, they have bred horses, primarily Oldenburgs, every year, except one, since that first year. Lloyd selected top mares and produced very successful dressage horses. In recent years, he had a great eye for world-class stallions, and raising young horses remained one of his favorite interests.

Lloyd showed in dressage for several years, earning national awards and his U.S. Dressage Federation bronze Medal before he became primarily interested in show management. He purchased failing shows and worked hard to make them succeed. He started managing dressage competitions at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois more than 20 years ago, often driving all night to and from the show to minimize expenses. He was meticulous from the beginning about following USEF rules and serving the needs of his competitors.

Through the years, his role in the sport expanded. He served as a manager, secretary, technical delegate, FEI steward, mentor and educator to many in the sport. While he is best known as manager of the dressage and para-equestrian competitions at the World Equestrian Games in 2010, NAJYRC, USEF Festival of Champions, USEF Young Horse Championships, and dressage competitions in Wellington, Florida–most recently the Global Dressage Festival, Lloyd has provided management and secretarial services to scores of other competitions through the years. With a particular interest in youth programs, he underwrote the cost of regional youth competitions and provided anonymous donations to youth programs for years.

In addition, Lloyd was the consummate volunteer. He served on the USDF Executive Board, USEF Dressage Committees, USEF Para Technical Committee and numerous other USEF and USDF committees. He was named USDF Volunteer of the Year in 2002. As a USEF and FEI official, he has served as a USEF Steward, USEF Technical Delegate and FEI Chief Dressage Steward. He was most recently named to the stewarding team for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

According to Bill, Lloyd was a total workaholic. “He got up around 3 am every day and worked into the night, doing the work of two or three people.” Those who knew him would agree. Kristi Wysocki, a long-time friend and colleague visited him this past week and he told her “I always tried to do my best.” Kristi added, “Lloyd took me under his wing many years ago early in my judging career. He was there for me in good times, bad times and tragic times. My friend, my teacher, my mentor, my brother and now my guardian angel–I will miss him beyond words!”

In addition to horses and shows, Lloyd was an avid reader. He was an accomplished cook and gardener, often sharing favorite recipes and flower bulbs with his friends. He also loved dogs, not just his own but every dog at his shows. He kept his show office well-supplied with dog treats and the dogs and their owners loved him.

Lloyd considered his friends and colleagues in dressage as his “family.” He valued loyalty and dependability and would support his friends financially and emotionally when they were in need. He provided for education, show supplies, and sometimes living expenses if a friend was in need. He created awards and funding, often anonymously, to honor his friends and those in need. He was a leader in the sport and an inspiration to us all.

Longtime colleague and friend Lisa Gorretta reminisced, “Lloyd was always concerned about improving the quality of dressage in the U.S. He made it a personal mission to provide opportunities to up and coming dressage judges, TDs and Stewards across the country and at every level.” Elisabeth Williams, FEI Dressage Steward General for the U.S. and Lloyd’s very good friend said, “The dressage world has lost the most giving, genuinely caring and real human being. He considered us all his family. He was the most unassuming man, never really thought he was doing anything special. I will miss him terribly, his wisdom, his wonderful quirky sense of humor, even his quick temper! Very few people give so much of themselves every day of the year. Rest in peace, best friend.”