Marydell Farm is pleased to announce that its stallion Don Principe will now be trained and ridden by Olympian Courtney King-Dye.

The 10-year-old Hanoverian by Donnerhall out of a Prince Thatch xx dam, SPS Papagena, has been trained and ridden by Jim Koford of Raleigh, NC, since his arrival in the USA at age six. Throughout their partnership, Don Principe and Koford gathered many honors along the way, including several championships, both regional and BLM, including a triple at the 2008 BLM Championships. Due to his obligations to his other clients, Koford had sadly reached the conclusion that another rider would need to give Don Principe the chance to further his grand prix career.

Taking into consideration the abilities and qualities that his rider would need, King-Dye was at the top of the list. “Prince” and Koford participated in a clinic with King-Dye in 2008, and the exercises were well received by horse and rider. King-Dye herself has cliniced with several of the same trainers that Koford has, so the methods and techniques were similar.

King-Dye is an elegant and tactful rider with an impeccable education in basics and the upper levels of dressage. Her intuitive riding was evident during her first ride on Don Principe at her barn in New York. Don Principe has been referred to by judges as powerful and elegant, allowing Marydell Farm to feel that this will be a harmonious and exciting partnership of horse and rider.

King-Dye’s experience with stallions that compete at the highest level of dressage includes Idocus, who represented the USA at the World Cup in both 2007 and 2008, as well as qualifying as the reserve horse for the 2008 Hong Kong Olympics. As both Idocus and Don Principe are successful dual-career breeding stallions, a rare creature requiring an understanding of the physical demands of both careers, Marydell Farm felt this was an important factor in the decision to send Don Principe to King-Dye.

An exciting career lies ahead with King-Dye choosing the show schedule with the hopes for qualifying for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.