The region’s top dressage talent converged at the Colorado Horse Park for Dressage in the Rockies August 3-5, 2007. The event, which offered three separate shows for riders to earn three sets of qualifying scores and points, featured classes for professionals, amateurs and juniors, from training to the FEI levels. With more than $7,500 in prize money and awards, the events drew riders not only from Colorado, but also throughout the region.

Fifteen-year-old Evan Hills from Holladay, UT, was one of the out-of-state competitors who took home top prizes. With his big grey gelding Mega Bucks, Hills claimed the Lower Level Junior High-Point during shows one and two. Although Evan and Mega Bucks have only been together for a little over a month, they seemed to have secured their relationship with multiple wins throughout the event. The high school sophomore says that although he sometimes takes advantage of the excellent snowboarding at Brighton and Solitude, which are just a short distance from his home, he prefers to spend most of his free time working with horses.

While Hills and his mount are new to each other, Westmanton Stables’ Grant Schneidman and Superman have been partners for years as the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood has moved up the levels. Owned by a syndicate of 14 partners, Superman earned the FEI High-Point at show one with a win the Prix St. Georges classes with a 67.750%. Described as both sweet and explosive, the future looks bright for Superman.

Nicole Gluesenkamp also had many winners for Westmanton Stables. Partnered with Wyning Edge Friesians and Paula Marsh’s Eeltsje F, Gluesenkamp earned the Upper Level High Point during shows one and three. He has funny habits like eating popsicles, fruit salad and yogurt from a plastic spoon without breaking the spoon, Nicole says of the six-year-old Friesian stallion. The duo placed in the top ten at last year’s USEF/Markel National Young Horse Dressage Championship in the five-year-old division, and Gluesenkamp hopes to qualify for this year’s championships in Lexington, KY. She also was Upper Level Reserve High-Point during show one with Kathryn Hobbs’ mare Sublina and Lower Level Champion during show one with Michele Leonard’s Brecht Ans.

Amateur rider Michelle Albertus claimed the Upper Level Amateur High-Point during show one with her win in Third Level Test 3. Albertus rode Troy, a 16.1-hand Dutch Warmblood imported from Holland. “I just had to have him,” she remembers of the first time she rode the handsome gelding. Known as Mr. Personality, Troy competed at the Young Horse Championships in Verden as a six year old. Albertus' goals include qualifying for the 7-9 Year Old Developing Horse Program.

Several riders also earned multiple high-point awards. Kenneth Rohrbach and Piet were the FEI Amateur High-Point Champion during shows one and two and the reserve for show three. Loren Kristick and Mauritius claimed the Upper Level Junior High Point for shows one and two. Julie Hesse and Maude RF earned the Dover Medal during the third show as well as the Lower Level Amateur High-Point during shows one and three.

Complete show results can be found at www.cornerstonedressage.com.