December 2008

Four of our horse and rider combinations finished in the top ten in the nation in the USDF final award standings. Monika Schnacke and Prince Pommery came in 4th place with a median score of 61.459 in the AA Grand Prix. Monika placed 9th in the AA I-1 with a median score of 64.0% with her younger horse, Cardelano. In the Jr/YR division, Ryan Eskridge and Rubin placed 2nd in the Grand Prix with a median score of 60.521%. Bonnie Efird and Magie Noir placed 5th in the Prix St. Georges with a median score of 67.313%. Congratulations to all!

December 2008

Congratulations to the following 2008 NCDCTA HOY award winners:

AA Third Level – Karen Bates and La Luna (4th); Victoria Breece and Fudge (5th)
Open Fourth Level – Carrie Teixeira and Wolkentaenzer (6th)
AA Prix St. Georges – Pamela Silverman and Diamero (3rd)
AA FEI Intermediate 1 – Monika Schnacke and Cardelano – Reserve Champion
AA FEI Grand Prix – Monika Schnacke and Prince Pommery – Champion; Karen Bates and Diam Khan – Reserve Champion
Jr/YR FEI Dressage – Ryan Eskridge and Rubin (3rd); Bonnie Efird and Magie Noir (4th)
Jr/YR Musical Freestyle – Bonnie Efird and Magie Noir – Champion

November 15-16, 2008

Harvest Moon Dressage
Williamston, NC

Ryan Eskridge and her new horse Kana had a successful first show earning scores of 65.2%, 70.8% and 73.2% at training level. Ryan was the highest scoring Jr/YR rider at the show as well as the high score for training level. Congratulations to Ryan and Kana!

October 2008

Congratulations to Ryan Eskridge on the purchase of her new horse, Franziskana. “Kana” is a 4 year old 16.3h chestnut Rheinlander gelding. He is by Furst Heinrich out of a Rohdiamant mare. Best of luck to Ryan and her new partner!!

October 11-23, 2008

Dressage at the Park
Raeford, NC

Bonnie Efird and Magie Noir earned first place scores of 65.25% and 65.75% in their first time showing I-1 and received the FEI High Score Award for the weekend! Valerie Heckrodt continued to go out and ride some fabulous tests with her horse, Remmington Steele, receiving scores of 68.92%, 66.97% and 65.41%! Carrie Teixeira and Woody won their 4-1 class on Sunday with a 62.05% and came in second in their 4-2 class with a 64.65%. Jami Edwards won her 3-1 class on Saturday with a 61.03% showing Bill Wiltsee’s gelding, Pedro. Melodie Griswold and DaCapo returned to the show ring and earned a 61.32% in their 1-4 class on Sunday. Kellyn McLamb and Vandenhurk earned a 66.07% in their training level class and a 60.67% in their first level class. Jami Edwards rode 5 yr old Freuhling and scored a 62.43% in second level test 2 for a third place ribbon. He received two second place ribbons at the same show at second level test 4. Congratulations to all riders!

September 27-28, 2008

Pinehurst Fall Dressage
Pinehurst, NC
Everyone managed to find enough gas to fill their tanks to make it to Pinehurst where fuel was plentiful. We all enjoyed watching Monika Schnacke and Prince Pommery perform their first Grand Prix Musical Freestyle on the Saturday evening - a dream come true for Monika! Monika and her younger horse, Cardelano, earned scores of 63% and 65.25% in their I-1 classes. Shiloh Gilbert and her horse, Shakespeare RH, won their 4-2 class with a 62.5% and came in second place in their 4-1 class with a 61.628% on the Saturday. Carrie Teixeira and Woody, won their 4-1 class on Sunday with a 64.8%. Jenny Buchanan and her horse, Ukeegan, won two of their Third level classes with scores of 67.4% and 66.1%. Congratulations to Melodie Griswold and Duke of Branscome on earning their score of 61.2% in 2-4 - we look forward to their musical freestyle! Victoria Breece and Fudge showed on the Saturday and earned a 64.1% in their 3-2 class. Sheriden Oliver and Dancing On Air, tied for first place in their 3-3 class with a score of 62.791%. Valerie Heckrodt and her young horse, Remmington Steele, had a successful debut at second level with scores of 64.1% and 64.2% winning one class and placing second in another. Congratulations everyone!

September 20-21, 2008

Borderline Dressage
Tryon, NC

Jenny Buchanan won all of her Third level classes with her horse, Ukeegan, with scores of 67.692%, 65.128% and 62.821%. Their score of 67.692% in the Third Level test 2 was the highest score for a junior rider at the show! Kellyn McLamb and her young horse, Hurk, has a terrific first show together scoring in the 60's in all their training level classes. Congratulations to both riders and their trainer, Diane Ritz.

July 2008

Congratulations to Kate Antrim on earning her USDF Silver Medal! Kate has been faithfully coming to Hidden Spring Farm for several years training with Diane Ritz to bring her horse, Up for Gold, through the levels. Congratulations Kate - all that hard work has paid off!

June 21-22, 2008

Down East Dressage
Raeford, NC
Trainer Diane Ritz coached several riders at the FEI levels at this show. Pam Silverman and her horse, Diamero, received a 62.5% in the Prix St. Georges and Pam earned her USDF Silver Medal! Congratulations Pam and "Denny"! Two riders from Hidden Spring rode the Grand Prix. Congratulations to Monika Schnacke and Prince Pommery who won the Grand Prix class both days with scores of 61.25% and 61.67%. Ryan Eskridge and Rubin were close behind with scores of 61.0% and 60.2%. Monika also had her younger horse, Cardelano, in the ring showing I-1 with scores of 66.0% and 64.0%! Bonnie Efird and her mare, Magie Noir, took the blue ribbon in the FEI Freestyle class with a 72.5%! Valerie Heckrodt and her new horse, Remmington Steele, had a terrific first outing together with scores of 67.3%, 66.2% and 66.0% at first level. Victoria Breece and Fudge, coached by Lindsay Staiano, won the Second Level Dover AA medal class with a score of 65.3%. Everyone enjoyed the showground and many plan to return for the Fall show. Congratulations to all on a successful show!

June 2008

Congratulations to Kellyn McLamb on the purchase of her new horse, Vandenhurk, a 5 year old Andalusion/Hanoverian bay gelding. Also, congratulations to Donna Nelson and her new horse, Remonte, a 10 year old FEI Dutch gelding. Best of luck to both Kellyn and Donna with their new partners!

May 31-June 1, 2008

Beat the Heat
Aiken, SC Quite a few riders headed to Aiken though due to some unseasonably warm weather didn't "beat the heat." Jenny Buchanan riding her new horse, Ukeegan, had a successful weekend winning two of her Third level classes and was the high score Jr/YR with a 67.949%!! Trainer Diane Ritz won the Grand Prix class on Saturday with a 63.542% and earned her final score needed for her USDF Gold Medal riding Ryan Eskridge's Rubin. Diane riding her new horse, Al Forno, earned scores of 63.3%, 63.0%, and 61.6% winning her two Third level classes and placing second in her Fourth level class. At their first show together, Sheriden Oliver and her mare, Dancing on Air, came home with a first place and two second place finishes competing at Training and First levels with scores of 60.5%, 64.2% and 64.4%. Victoria Breece and her gelding, Fudge, earned scores of 63.7% and 62.9% at second level winning one class and coming in second in another. Victoria and Fudge will be making their Third level debut in June at Down East Dressage in Raeford. Ryan Eskridge won two of her First and Second level classes riding Freuhling, owned by Barbara Ritz. Congratulations to everyone!!

May 2008

Congratulations to the Buchanan's on their purchase of Ukeegan, a seven year old chestnut gelding by Flemmingh. Jenny Buchanan and Ukeegan are schooling Fourth level and will be heading to their first show together at the end of the month in Aiken. Best of luck to this new partnership!

April 26-27, 2008

Dressage at Fence
Tryon, NC
Trainer Diane Ritz, riding Ryan Eskridge's Rubin, won the Grand Prix classes both days with a 67% and a 64%! In the Prix St. Georges class, Pam Silverman and Diamero earned scores of 64% and 62.5%! Carrie Teixeira and Wolkentaenzer earned a 63.7% showing second level and won their Third level class on Saturday with a 63.7%.

April 19-20, 2008

Longleaf Horse Trials
Raeford, NC
Congratulations to trainer Lindsay Staiano and Triumph for their 1st place finish at their first Open Training level at Longleaf finishing on a dressage score of 23!!!

April 12-13, 2008

Greater Atlanta Dressage Southern
Conyers, GA
Bonnie Efird and her mare, Magie Noir, came home with two blue ribbons winning the Young Rider Team Test on Saturday with a 64.333% and the the Young Rider Prix St. Georges on Sunday with a 66.125%! Ryan Eskridge and Rubin took 1st place in the FEI Grand Prix class Saturday with a 60.208% and came in 2nd place with a 61.6% first time showing the Grand Prix Special. Congratulations Bonnie and Ryan!

April 1, 2008

Congratulations to Valerie Heckrodt on her purchase of Remmington Steel. "Remy" is a seven year old grey gelding by Riverman that Valerie along with trainer, Diane Ritz, found in Florida. They are schooling third level and Valerie is planning on showing him in June at Down East Dressage in Raeford.

March 28-30, 2008

Dressage at Equestrian Estates
Loxahatchee, FL
Congratulations to Ryan Eskridge on earning her USDF Gold Rider Medal! Ryan and Rubin made their successful debut at Grand Prix in Florida earning scores of 60.521% and 60.208% from the judges. Ryan, along with trainer Diane Ritz have brought Rubin along from Fourth level to Grand Prix! At age 17, Ryan is the 3rd youngest rider to have earned her USDF Gold Medal - congratulations to Ryan and Rubin!!! Bonnie Efird and Magie Noir also had a great show earning a 64.444% in the FEI YR Team test and and 68.500% in the FEI YR Prix St. Georges - congratulations Bonnie and Maggie!

March 2008

Congratulations to trainer Lindsay Staiano and her horse, Triumph, for a first place finish in Open Novice at the Ark Horse Trials and another first place finish at Open Novice at Southern Pines Horse Trials. They are currently leading the Nunn Finer series at Novice Level!