Zada Enterprises, LLC, 6th Annual Dressage at the National will be held December 7-9, 2007, at the 124th National Horse Show & Family Festival in Wellington, FL. Presented in a two-ring showcase at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, the dressage show will feature top international riders in the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) classes, including Denmark's Lars Petersen and Mikala Gundersen; Colombia's Marco Bernal; USA's Melissa Taylor; Bent Jensen and Susan Dutta.

New this year at Dressage at the National is the introduction of a "Test of Choice" format. The new format is designed to streamline the show and provide a spectator- and exhibitor-friendly flow of competition. "We are very fortunate that the open FEI classes at Dressage at the National always fill up, but we have few exhibitors at the lower levels, so instead of holding classes with only one or two entries, we've combined rides at certain levels in a Test of Choice format," explained Mary Silcox, show secretary for Dressage at the National.

The show offers a Test of Choice format for all USEF lower level classes. Each day, one Test of Choice class will be held for Training through Second Level, and one for Third and Fourth Level. As in previous years, every class offered in the lower levels is a qualifier for the Great American Insurance Group/United States Dressage Federation (GAIG/USDF) Regional Championships. The show also offers one FEI Test of Choice class each day. Riders may use the FEI Test of Choice score as a regional qualifier if the same class is not held on the same day in the open division. All of the FEI open classes (Prix St. Georges, Intermediaire I and grand prix) are GAIG/USDF Regional Championship qualifiers. The USEF and FEI Young Horse classes are not included in the Test of Choice format.

"With the Test of Choice format, if someone scratches, I can fill the slot easily, or if riders come in with late entries, I can accommodate them. We won't have any dead spots in the ring and riders will have more flexibility with their entries," Silcox said. "This makes the show flow better and keeps the riders happy."

Silcox added that the Test of Choice format also provides additional benefits to riders in that it offers a way for adult amateurs, juniors, young riders or riders with young horses or horses moving up, to compete with less stress. "Riders don't always want to face a two- or three-judge panel in the open FEI classes or have the score averaged into their regional qualifier tally. They just want to get their horse in the ring. So now they can go in the Test of Choice ring with one judge," said Silcox. "It's more of a schooling experience."

And for the more seasoned horses and riders in the FEI open classes, Dressage at the National has always been an opportunity to get in the ring before the Winter Equestrian Festival starts in January. "It's no pressure for the riders now," Silcox said. "But we are coming into an Olympic year when during season, the pressure is high and people are stressed. This show is high caliber, but much more relaxed."

With its showcase of international riders and horses in the FEI open classes, Zada Enterprises, LLC, 6th Annual Dressage at the National provides spectators with the opportunity to see top-level competition every day, including musical freestyles on Sunday.

"Dressage at the National is a super opportunity for spectators to watch some of the best horses and riders in the world," said Silcox. "We always get a really nice crowd and the riders tell me they look forward to that every year."