Anna Kasprzak & Donnperignon to Return to Competition at Odense

Anna Kasprzak on Donnperignon at the European Championships. © 2015 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

HADERSLEV, Denmark, Oct. 6, 2015–Anna Kasprzak will compete Donnperignon at the Odense World Cup event next week, two months after the 26-year-old Danish rider was kicked in the chest at the European Championships.

Anna and the 16-old-old Finnish warmblood gelding that competed at the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 World Games is one of six combinations in the lineup for the first of nine qualifying events in the World Cup Western European League.

“I am doing well,” Anna told dressage-news.com. “I no longer have any pain from the incident in Aachen and will compete in Odense.”

The accident led to Anna withdrawing from the Grand Prix Freestyle after competing in the Grand Prix and the Special.

FEI to Review Dressage Training Methods–Focus on So-Called “LDR”

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Oct. 5, 2015–The FEI, International Equestrian Federation, announced Monday formation of a working group “to thoroughly review” dressage training methods focused on the horse neck “stretching” guidelines that were drawn up in 2010 as a reaction to “rollkur.”

The decision to review of the stewards guideline known as Annex XIII (click here–Annex XIII) was made at a stakeholder meeting at FEI headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland and came after persistent complaints about some training methods applied in competition warm up and training areas.

The composition of working group has not yet been finalized, but the FEI said it will include representatives from the International Dressage Riders Club and the International Dressage Trainers Club, the FEI Steward General representing the International Dressage Officials Club, a veterinary expert and a representative of the FEI Dressage Committee.

The group would aim to finalize its conclusions in the coming months for presentation to the FEI Bureau for approval.

Representatives from the dressage stakeholders clubs and the European Equestrian Federation were at the session, chaired by FEI Dressage Committee Chair Frank Kemperman.

Stewarding, including the monitoring of pre-competition training techniques, education, support and respect for officials, competition formats, and judging were all debated at length.

Dressage Committee members also in attendance included Deputy Chair Thomas Baur of Germany, Maribel Alonso of Mexico, Luis Lucio of Spain and Athlete Representative Anna Paprocka-Campanella of Italy.

Dressage Judge General Stephen Clarke, who is also President of the International Dressage Officials Club, and Steward General Jacques van Daele joined the meeting via teleconference. Carina Mayer, who has taken on the role of interim Head of the Dressage Department was also involved.

The Association of International Dressage Event Organisers (AIDEO) was represented by its Secretary General Federico Padron and German member Klaus Roeser. The IDOC was represented by Club secretary Olivier Smeets.

David Hunt, President of the International Dressage Trainers Club (IDTC), represented the Judges Supervisory Panel, while the IDTC was represented by Linda Keenan and Board Member Sjef Janssen. International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC) representatives at the session were the Club’s President Kyra Kyrklund and Secretary General Wayne Channon.

Hanfried Haring, President of the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) and the Vice President Ulf Helgstrand were also at the session. Dressage analytics expert David Stickland joined the discussion on judging.

“This was a very constructive meeting”, Frank Kemperman said, “and there was a lot of solid debate and interesting proposals about stewarding and judging. It was very good to reach agreement on the formation of a working group to review and, if necessary, revise Annex XIII of the Dressage Stewards Manual.”

Ingmar De Vos, the FEI President, was also “extremely positive” about the meeting.

“We had some very good open and frank discussions which resulted in great input from the stakeholders today, especially on the proposal to introduce new formats in the sport for future Olympic Games and FEI Championships”, Ingmar De Vos said.

The FEI Dressage Committee will continue discussions on these topics at its in-person meeting this week with the potential for additions to proposals that will be put forward to next month’s FEI General Assembly in Puerto Rico.

Charlotte Dujardin On Britain’s 2015 Sportswoman of the Year Short list

Charlotte Dujardin on the short list for Britain’s Sunday Times and Sky Sports 2015 Sportswoman of the Year, a title she was awarded in 2014. © 2015 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

LONDON, Oct. 4, 2015–Charlotte Dujardin has made it to the short list for Great Britain’s 2015 Sportswoman of the Year, a title the Olympic and world dressage champion was awarded in 2014.

The Sunday Times and Sky Sports that produce the prestigious awards in their 28th year on Sunday named the short list of six leading contenders.

Charlotte this year added a second consecutive World Cup title and European Championship individual gold medal to her resumé that includes Olympic team and individual gold as well as world and European championships gold medals.

With Valegro, she is the world’s No. 1 in their third year.

Others on the short list are Lizzie Armitstead (road cycling), Rachel Atherton (mountain biking), Jessica Ennis-Hill (athletics [track and field]), Bianca Walkden (taekwondo) and Lizzy Yarnold (skeleton).

Sportswoman of the Year is the headline award of the categories that recognize and celebrate outstanding contribution to sport made by elite performers, coaches, administrators, community volunteers and inspirational women.

The awards will be televised live on Sky 1 and Sky Sports 1 on Friday Nov. 6.

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.