This year an over-ear style personal receiver allows you to follow all the commentary of some of the foremost experts in the world of dressage. Listen as they comment and give personal opinion and insight into the horse and rider during their performances. For only $35 (pre-ordered) or $40 on the day of the show, you get a behind the scenes perspective exclusive only to those with a radio. More info on pre-purchase can be found at www.dressageatdevon.org.
This year, the expert line-up includes:
Johanna Gwinn
Originally from Princeton, West Virginia, Johanna was introduced to horses at an early age through lessons at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, where her family was living. She holds an advanced degree in biology, and worked for many years in academic and industrial research, while successfully training and competing her Arabian, Pan, through Grand Prix. Johanna has held many equestrian teaching positions, and has recently returned from two years in Cali, Colombia, where she was the dressage instructor at the Club Campestre de Cali. She now teaches, trains, and judges from her base in West Chester, PA. A USEF Senior dressage judge, Johanna has been judging for almost twenty years. She is committed to extending her knowledge of judging as well as of training and riding by attending the annual seminars and other educational opportunities such as the recent FEI courses on Young Horses and on the Musical Freestyle, both of which took place in Germany. Johanna is also an International Paralympic Equestrian Committee (IPEC) International Candidate judge and an American Driving Society (ADS) registered judge for driven dressage in combined driving competitions.
Catherine Haddad Staller
In 2007, Haddad placed 7th in the FEI World Cup with Maximus JSS. In 2009, she won ten national and international Grand Prix with her up and coming horses, Cadillac and Winymaro. In 2010, Haddad was named Reserve Rider for the US Team with Winyamaro for the World Equstrian Games in Kentucky. The following spring, she placed 12th in the FEI World Cup with Winyamaro. In the fall of 2011, Haddad won two Grand Prix in the United States and earned her USDF Gold Medal in Dressage.
Michael Kierkegaard
Michael Kierkegaard is a recently retired AHSA/USEF “Senior” Dressage Judge of 33 years (1977 - 2010), as well as a former member of the prestigious IDJC (International Dressage Judges Club). Himself a seasoned competitor before becoming a judge, Michael’s own instructors were from among the who’s who of classical dressage: Richard Watjen; Danish Olympic Coach, Gunnar Andersen; German Olympian and National Coach, Harry Boldt; and Reitmeister Egon von Neindorff.
In addition to numerous dressage judging assignments throughout the United States at most major shows, including Devon, plus various USDF Regional Awards, Michael has judged the Ontario, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan Provincial Championships, as well as the Canadian National Championships (1992, '94, and '99). He has also judged in Central America, pre Pan Am trials.
Michael has also been a USDF Certified Dressage Instructor (thru 4th level), and was Chairman/Author of the Unites States Dressage Federation Manual, which was well received in the US as a must read for dressage education. He was the originator of the USDF Symposiums. Michael has also successfully brought riders with their own horses into all levels of competition dressage, including several to Grand Prix (among them three USDF gold medalists). His first love, teaching riders and training horses, eventually caused him to end a 33-year judging career in 2010. Michael has done presentations of this sort before, and he is an experienced writer and speaker.
Sidley Payne
Sidley Payne is one of the founders of the show that became Dessage at Devon. Sidley was an FEI judge for more than 35 years before she retired last year. She received scholarships to the American Dressage Institute where she trained with Herr Kotas and Herr Bachinger. Sidley continues to take part in clinics with Herr Herwig Rettner from the Spanish Riding School.
Her years of experience in the equestrian field are shown in a wide variety of skills. Sidley rode in the Grand Prix before there were any awards given. She was alternate for the 1972 Olympic team and a member of the US 1972 World Championship team. Sidley has trained horses and riders to the Grand Prix level. She holds a Level 3 USEA ICP in eventing /dressage. Also, she has earned a USDF silver medal and has completed the qualifications for a Gold medal. In 1994, Sidley received recognition from the USET as Master for her contributions. She is the inventor and creator of Sadltite (now Sekur Grip) which is known by many riders worldwide. Sidley currently rehabilitates injured horses by developing individual physical therapy exercises to rejuvenate injured muscles and rebalance any compensation developed because of the injury.
Monica Sinks
Monica Sinks is a USDF Gold Medalist and has ridden multiple times at Dressage at Devon. She trained in Europe for many years, under Olympic Trainers. In 2003, Monica won the Grand Prix Special aboard Carrera, trained from the beginning by Monica and her husband Ed Borresen. Both Monica and Ed train and teach in Pittstown, NJ area in the summer and compete at the FEI levels. With a strong belief in riding with balance and harmony, they both love training students that are passionate about their horses and learning Dressage.
Suzanne King
Suzanne began riding at the age of 7 in Lakenheath, England and competed in the local Gymkhanas and Show jumping events. In 1976, her father was transferred to Zweibrucken, Germany where she boarded her pony at a Trakehner breeding facility. She was fortunate to have participated in the daily training program with Peter Neumuller. In 1979, she returned to the U.S., where she competed throughout the southeast and worked with top riders such as Jim Graham. Olympic Gold Medalist Tad Coffin, trained with judge (S) Scott Peterson, and attended clinics including Charles de Kunffy and Kaye Smarslic. In 2004, she purchased a young colt named Wango Tango and is currently campaigning the now seven year old Wango Tango. She currently teaches barns in the metro Atlanta area including Moonlight Equestrian Center, Foxberry Riding Academy, Rose Equestrian Center and Westbrooke Farms among other private facilities.
Classes with expert commentary include:
Grand Prix B Qualifier for Grand Prix Special (Friday)
Grand Prix Freestyle (Saturday evening)
Intermediare I (Saturday)
Young Rider Freestyle (Sunday)
Grand Prix Special (Sunday)