The Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I Blown in with the Cold Front

Saturday Coverage

With the temperature hovering around a blustery 40 degrees, and the persistent rain showers falling, day one of the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I was truly a challenge for horses and riders alike.

However, despite the weather, many riders pulled through with impressive scores. Amongst the winners was Shawna Harding, who had a clean sweep Saturday, winning her Grand Prix class on Come On III with a 69.787%, and the FEI Test of Choice class with Rigo where she won with 72% in the Developing Horse Test. Harding also took the high score award for Saturday with her 72% in the FEI TOC on Rigo, a nine-year old Hanoverian gelding by Rotspon out of Winnepeg owned by Tonya Rowe.

“I was very pleased with Come On’s Grand Prix,” Harding said. Come On III is an 11 year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Come Back II out of Canna, owned by Shawna Harding. As for the weather, Harding said she and her horses knew it was coming, and were prepared. “What we had on Saturday was summertime in Denmark,” Harding said, laughing. Harding believes that although the weather this past weekend was not ideal, riders should enter the show and prepare for such conditions accordingly. Luckily, she did, and it truly paid off. As for her ride on Rigo, Harding said, “I’m really thrilled with this horse…. Saturday was his first time at this test.” Harding was also pleased with Rigo’s ability to cope with the weather conditions. “Despite a layer of ice in the warm up, he handled himself phenomenally,” Harding said.

Tuny Page, Christopher Schruefer, and Melissa Jackson were also amongst the best for the FEI divisions Saturday. Page, riding Alina, took the blue ribbon in the Intermediare II class with a score of 65. 526%. Overall, she had a solid ride with beautiful extended trots and correct pirouettes.

Not all riders were lucky enough to ride in Ring 1 in the covered arena, but rather were forced to brave the weather in Ring 2. Despite the conditions, Schruefer, riding Cocktail’s Olymp, won the Prix St. George class with an impressive 70%.

Melissa Jackson took the second Grand Prix class Saturday with a 65.957% atop Wellington. Her ride showed fantastic suspension in the passage, clean transitions, and deliberate accuracy.

As for the Adult Amateur division, Krystalann Shingler riding Tividor got the highest score for an AA on Saturday, scoring a 69.4745% in her Prix St. George class, coming in second place to Schruefer.

Sunday Coverage

Day two of the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I looked more promising weather wise, as the rain showers moved out of the Wellington area. The cold front however, did not. With highs barely reaching 50 degrees by 2pm, and winds gusting up to 25 mph, Sunday too brought its share of weather challenges.

Between the flapping of banners and gusting winds, many of the horses had extra energy and spookiness in them on Sunday. However, none of the riders would complain, but rather, were simply grateful that the rain had passed.

Some of the highlights on Sunday included Kassie Barteau’s ride on Be Sé in the FEI National Young Adult Brentina Cup class, which she won with a score of 66.928%, and the Grand Prix Freestyle Class won by Susan Jaccoma with a score of 71.750%. Barteau’s ride showed lots of class and poise, excellent extended trots, and a couple of impressive passage sets.

Be Sé, an 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Flemmingh out of Wabatsje, owned by Diane Rosenberg, and is Kassie’s prospect Brentina Cup horse. She thought that her ride Sunday was an important step in getting to know this fabulous gelding. “Be Sé felt much improved from Saturday. This is my first show with him and I am just learning all of his buttons,” she said. Kassie also said she is learning a lot through making mistakes. Also, Barteau is thankful to be a working student for Cathy Morelli, whom she calls her idol and mentor.

Barteau cleaned up Sunday, also scoring a 74.8% in the FEI Young Horse TOC in the FEI 6 Year Old Test atop GP Superstar Crusader. GP Superstar Crusader is a 6 year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Virginia Frantz. Barteau felt like the lead changes and the medium gaits were the highlights of the ride.

Jaccoma’s freestyle was also quite impressive, featuring a fabulous zigzag passage, beautiful extended trots, incredibly matched rhythm to the music, and practically perfect one tempis. Jaccoma’s ride looked effortless, and was one of the most graceful rides of the entire show. Her horse, Wadamur, made every movement look easy, from the half passes to the piaffe and passage. Wadamur is a 10 year-old bay Hanoverian gelding by Sandro out of Weltmeyer owned by Susan Jaccoma.

“I was very happy with my rides this weekend!” Jaccoma said. “The weather was terrible, but the footing held up and it always nice to ride in the covered arena!” As for her freestyle, she went into the ring with confidence. “When the music started for my freestyle, I felt him almost say, "Got it Sue, let's have some fun!"” Jaccoma, who trains with Lars Peterson, is pleased that the program they are using for Wadamur is a successful one.

Another such success this weekend was by Cheryl Meisner who earned her best personal score at the Grand Prix Sunday, scoring a whopping 69.3625% atop Paganini in the FEI Grand Prix special. Paganini is a 13-year-old KWPN stallion by Havidoff out of a Statuar mare. Meisner was very happy with her ride. “My horse felt great today. We did less of a warm up in the cold weather and I took him in a bit more fresh than I usually would but I trusted Robert's judgment that we were ready and it worked out great,” she said. The highlights of Meisner’s test were the passage and piaffe. “I was also very happy with the trot half passes,” Meisner said.

Meisner trains with Olympian Robert Dover, who has helped her improve her riding immensely. “Working with Robert has been great… he is demanding but at the same time positive which is motivational and ends up making the quality of the everyday work better and better,” Meisner said. “I have been working this past week with both Robert and Bert together for the first time and it was very productive. I am lucky to have two amazing trainers in my corner.”

Robert was also pleased with Cheryl’s ride himself, and looks forward to their bright future together. “I congratulate Cheryl and owner, John Risleys. Cheryl did a super job and the best thing is there are still many points to be made by her and Pagi,” said Dover.

Overall, despite the record-breaking weather, it was a successful weekend. Shawna Harding recognized all of the incredible effort put into making these shows happen. She said, “Thanks, as always to Monica Fitzgerald and Noreen O’Sullivan for putting up a great show, despite the weather.” And to all others involved, thank you.

Many riders used this show as a warm up for the Gold Coast Opener CDIW-Y, which runs from January 22-24. Look forward to more coverage On the Scene in Wellington, 2010.

Watch Out for McKenzie Jenkins- Rising YR Superstar!

From showing Western pleasure in a pink shirt with white fringe at only 7 years old, to training with top Dressage riders such as Steffen Peters, McKenzie Jenkins has made a huge splash in the horse world already. Jenkins, 17, and a homeschooled 11^th grader from Nashville, TN, has dedicated her life to her horses for the past 12 years. Most recently, Jenkins is a full-time working student for her trainer Tami Crawford of Traveler’s Rest Farm in College Grove, TN.

Jenkins took her first horseback-riding lesson at age 5 after she had tried to get into other hobbies without any luck. “My sister had been in dance classes since she was three, so my Mom took me when I was three as well. I hated every minute of it. I tried dance, softball, and swimming. Nothing seemed to click until my first riding lesson at age five on a little lesson pony named Bebop,” Jenkins said.

From there on, Jenkins will admit, it was love at first sight. Jenkins continued to pursue her passion for horses at Lazy J Farm at a mere 7 years old, riding Western as well as English. She recalls the exciting day when she got her first horse. “My parents bought me my first horse for my 8th birthday. He was a very large barreled 15.2 hand quarter horse. I looked like I was doing the splits across the saddle on him,” Jenkins said. It was with her quarter horse that McKenzie rode in her first dressage show at the Intro level. Little did McKenzie know back then that she would eventually be competing at international dressage competitions with some of the top young riders in the nation.

Jenkins recalls becoming interested in Dressage after a family friend sent McKenzie and her parents to Michelle Deel in Conyers, GA. That was the weekend that Jenkins fell in love with Dressage. “I will never forget that weekend. Michele had a horse named Money Train. He was absolutely gorgeous. I watched Michele ride him, and watched him half pass across the arena, looked at my mom and said, "I want to do THAT."

However, it was not until later that Jenkins discovered Tami Crawford, her current trainer and mentor to whom she admits she owes much of her success in Dressage. “A few months later, we went to a dressage show here in our area and I saw Tami Crawford ride a Grand Prix test on her horse, Dakota. That sealed the deal for me. Dakota was bucking and acting silly around the outside of the arena and Tami was smiling and laughing. The judge rang the bell and Tami got him together and went down centerline and it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I knew for sure dressage was what I wanted to do, and wanted to train with Tami.”

Deel found McKenzie George, a Welsh pony with a jumping background. With Tami’s help Jenkins trained George to second level, and then sold him after she outgrew him.

It was after Jenkins sold George that she found her mare Tsarina, the Arab-thoroughbred cross whom has made Jenkins a competitive FEI Young Rider. Although McKenzie’s mom was skeptical of buying a horse with this breeding, Tami Crawford encouraged McKenzie to try Tsarina. “I tried her and we clicked from the start. We never tried another horse,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins’ first Wellington experience was with Tsarina at the Palm Beach Derby riding 3^rd level. Jenkins remembers being a little intimidated by all of the big names in Wellington, but excited by the idea of warming up in the same arena with dressage ‘celebrities’. “There were no other juniors at third level, so I was in an open class. I was in a class with Shelley Frances, Caesar Parra, and George Williams. I was so nervous, but so excited.”

Since then, McKenzie has become a well-known Young Rider and has had some incredible opportunities for a rider her age. “I've done clinics with Neil Ishoy, Oded Shimoni, and Steffen Peters,” Jenkins said, “I also earned my USDF bronze medal, made the 2008 Region 3 junior team for the NAJYRC where we won a bronze medal in the individual and a silver in the freestyle, and made the 2009 Region 3 Young Rider Team where we won a team bronze. We also got the opportunity to go to Gladstone for USEF Young Rider Championships in 2009.”

Despite her great achievements, Jenkins is humble and is quick to add that she owes much of her success to her trainer, Tami, her parents, and her horse Tsarina. “Tami Crawford is the reason I have had so many opportunities,” Jenkins said.

Recently though, McKenzie sold Tsarina to Amy Borner, which was a difficult decision for all involved. However, this story has a happy ending. Jenkins said, “When Amy came to try Tsarina, I think it was love at first sight. It made the sale easier and I am so happy for Amy. She sends me updates and pictures every week, which I love! I miss her very much, but am so happy Tsarina is making someone else as happy as she made me. ”

Since selling Tsarina, Jenkins bought her new gelding Dollarprinz by Donnerhall. At a mere 8 years old, “Prinz” is already schooling all of the Prix St. George, and Jenkins looks forward to trying for the FEI Young Riders again with her talented new gelding. However, Jenkins truly has her hands full as her other new horse, a Dutch Warmblood mare, Olivia, just arrived at Traveler’s Rest Farm January 8^th.

In between working her two new horses, Jenkins continues to show great dedication to dressage as she has recently taken on working for Tami Crawford as a full-time student. Jenkins, however, is excited by all of her new endeavors. “It has been a goal of mine to work for Tami since I started training with her eight years ago,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins drives an hour each way to Traveler’s Rest Farm; she emphasizes how it is worth it, and how it is both beneficial to her and her horses. “Traveler's Rest is a beautiful place with top notch facilities. Both of my horses will be in full training with Tami.”

Tami Crawford has obviously made a large impact on her life. “If I could give any advice to any junior/young rider it would be to find a great trainer that you click with,” Jenkins said, “Tami is always looking out for me even when she cannot be there. She is always positive, always smiling, always pushing me to meet my goals, and always looking out for what is best for me in and out of the saddle.”

Crawford, herself, has two upcoming superstar horses; Wise Guy owned by Sue Ann Wells, and Roncali who is her own. “Both of them are fabulous 6 year olds who have the potential to be international stars,” said Jenkins.

Many Young Riders struggle balancing high school and college with their horseback riding careers. Jenkins, though, is thankful that she has been homeschooled most of her life. “There would be no way to be as involved with the horses without homeschooling. Homeschooling has made it possible to go to Wellington and now to be at Tami's more.”

As far as her social life goes, Jenkins admits that she’d rather be riding. “My mom likes me to have a day a week with no horse stuff, but honestly, I prefer to be at the barn far above doing anything else. One great thing about dressage and especially being involved in the Young Rider program is that I have friends of all different ages all over the country.”

As such a talented and experienced young rider, Jenkins is surely one to look out for on the ‘emerging YR superstars’ list. Jenkins looks to the future in hopes to have a career in the horse world, but still remains focused on the present. “Right now, I'm just focusing on my new horses, my new job, and finishing high school, she said. “I'm not sure about college, but the place my family calls ‘Tami Crawford University’ is a great place to be.”

published on dressagedaily.com January 9th, 2010

peace, love, & blogging

The History of DressageDaily.com & HorsesDaily.com

HorsesDaily.com and DressageDaily.com were both started January 1^st, 1997, and just recently celebrated their 13^th successful year as one of the biggest and most trusted sport horse publications in the U.S. Mary Phelps-Hathaway started the publication after the 1996 Olympic games, when the Internet became an integral tool across the world. Phelps-Hathaway had previously established Phelps Photos, her equine photography company, and had been at the Olympic games in ’96. Inspired by recording history through photography at the games, Phelps-Hathaway decided to start her own website where she could provide timely news for the Equestrian world. Today, both horsesdaily.com and dressagedaily.com are well-respected resources amongst a large high-end niche audience- competitive and passionate equestrians of all disciplines.

Mary Phelps-Hathaway and her husband JJ Hathaway travel all over the world covering horse shows, however, Phelps-Hathaway has many talented employees whom work for her from all over to contribute to her highly successful publication. The biggest competition for Horsesdaily and DressageDaily is dressage-news.com, and Dressage Today magazine, two publications with similar content for a similar niche audience. However, it is well known among true “horse people” that dressagedaily and horsesdaily are the best of the best. The reason is simple- dressagedaily.com has established what Phelps calls an “Inter-Structure” that benefits their clients and is a trusted source for the consumer. DressageDaily and HorsesDaily are considered to be e-commerce websites, advertising horses for sale, farms for sale, horse insurance, and recently having added a “shop horses daily” component with products for horse owners and lovers alike. Not only that, but DressageDaily is a trusted news source and is an entertaining way to get any equine information, whether it’s rider health, horse health, or who’s who in the Dressage world. Thus, the motto and philosophy of Dressage Daily is to benefit the client via “Inter-Structure”, provide timely and newsworthy news on all important equestrian events, and to provide a website that equestrians can trust to be their number one guide to everything “horsie.”

DressageDaily.com is still owned and run by Mary Phelps-Hathaway, who acts as the editor-in-chief and C.E.O. I am lucky enough to have her as my direct supervisor. She has a web designer and programmer who does a good amount of the backend work on the website such as writing html code and creating templates. She has several writers and reporter, and an official photographer. Thus, Mary holds the highest position in the company.

DressageDaily.com provides me with huge opportunities for advancement. Not only will I be helping to develop the Young Rider section of the site, but I will also be helping to develop the Rider Health section, and the Horse Health section. Thus, I will have the opportunity to write many articles and experience web management, including using all the skills it takes to be proficient to update and maintain a website. Also, I have already been offered to continue working for and writing for DressageDaily.com after my internship has come to a close.

Peace, love, & blogging

Life as an Intern in Welly World

For the entire month of January, I am in Wellington, FL interning for DressageDaily.com, an online sport horse publication. I will post my articles on here to share with you all.

Check out DressageDaily.com to see one of the top sport horse publications in the U.S.

I will also write about my experiences down here in "horse heaven." Between writing for the website, covering horse shows, attending important events, and the occasional Sunday afternoon polo match, life as an intern in Welly World is fast-paced.

Look forward to my entries as a chance to live vicariously through me!

Peace, love, POLO, & blogging