Melissa Jackson and Wellington Capture Grand Prix Win Sponsored By the Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation

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Melissa Jackson and her 12-year-old Hanoverian, Wellington, captured the win in the Grand Prix at the Wellington Classic Dressage’s Autumn Challenge of Champions show, held in conjunction with the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Region 3 Dressage Championships. The Grand Prix was sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, and Jackson won a beautiful Sanctuary signature orange embroidered polar fleece cooler and a $250 gift certificate for services at The Sanctuary.

“Wellington was really good and he was right there for me, Jackson said, following her win. “We started him in Prix St. Georges and then took him to Europe for a while and he has been back about a year.

Jackson, who is a trainer out of Bradenton, FL, said Wellington is in a different place after returning from Europe. He’s really solid in the Grand Prix now, so I have to figure out how to ride him to get him to peak in the ring as opposed to just doing the movements, Jackson said, adding that she was really excited about her win.

Jackson was also pleased with her orange cooler from The Sanctuary and the $250 gift certificate. "Orange is our signature color at The Sanctuary as it is associated with the sun, health, healing and is a vibrant color that represents energy," said Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is always pleased to support the horse community and we want to congratulate Melissa and Wellington on their win.

The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, located on 30 pristine acres in Ocala, FL, is a world-class, multi-million dollar facility dedicated to the healing, conditioning and well-being of all equine athletes. The Sanctuary features some of the most advanced conditioning and rehab equipment in the world, and their staff is committed to excellence.

High-performance competitors, including top dressage horses, are using The Sanctuary’s facilities for rehab, post-surgery rehab, conditioning, fitness and training. The Sanctuary is well-suited for treating medical conditions that often face dressage horses," McDuffee said. "The conditions we have seen the most in dressage horses have been hind end problems or weaknesses and suspensory injuries, and The Sanctuary has many therapies that address these injuries and targets specific problems."

For more information on The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, visit their website at www.sanctuaryequinerehab.com.

Sandy Osborne and Plato Carlos Win Sho Clothes Sponsored Intermediaire II
Sandy Osborne and her Dutch gelding Plato Carlos won the Intermediaire II class, sponsored by Sho Clothes. Thanks to a solid ride, Osborne rode away with a Sho Clothes embroidered fly scrim featuring the Sho Clothes Wonderful Walden logo.

Osborne is a rider, trainer, instructor, judge and writer based out of After the Fox Farm in Madison, GA. A USEF "R" judge, as well as a USDF Gold and Silver medalist, Osborne was happy with her ride on the 12-year-old Plato Carlos.

“I was pleased with the fact that it had no mistakes," Osborne said. "It was a little on the conservative side so we will need to create more power and brilliance to get higher scores, but we had positive comments form the judges, so I am pleased."

Osborne said she is already a fan of Sho Clothes boutique, and thanked them for sponsoring the class. "I went shopping and bought something at Sho Clothes before my class," Osborne said, adding that the embroidered scrim will be put to good use on Plato Carlos.

Sho Clothes, an upscale dressage boutique in Wellington, specializes in the latest and most fashionable dressage apparel for show and play. Co-owned by Betsy Rebar Sell and Michele Hundt, Sho Clothes has served the dressage community since 2001. They feature a fashionable and fun boutique in Wellington and a mobile boutique that attends the horse shows.

Hundt, an accomplished art director, designed the Sho Clothes logo after Rebar Sell’s horse Wonderful Walden. Rebar Sell and Wonderful Walden were Gold medalists at the Pan Am Games. Both Rebar Sell and Hundt are committed to providing top-quality merchandise, uncompromising customer service and making a difference in the dressage community by sponsoring events and shows, such as the Intermediaire II class.

The Sho Clothes Sho Room, located at 3220 Fairlane Farms Road in Wellington, boasts a wide variety of the finest dressage riding clothes, apparel, jewelry and dressage accessories available. Sho Clothes also hosts a monthly get together for dressage riders called "Shop Talk," which has become a hot spot for riders to gather to learn from top professionals in the equine industry.

For more information on Sho Clothes, call (561) 319-2121 or visit their website at www.shoclothes.com.

Christy Scotch and Kontessa Win Equilite Sponsored Intermediaire I
Christy Scotch and her eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Kontessa rode away the winners of the Intermediaire I class at the at Wellington Classic Dressage’s Autumn Challenge of Champions. The Intermediaire I class was sponsored by Equilite and Scotch took home a giant tote bag filled with Equilite products, including the award-winning Sore No More products and Botanical Animal Flower Essences.

Scotch, who is from Birmingham, AL, has done most of Kontessa’s training on her own. "I started off as a cowgirl and then got Kontessa when she was four years old. My farrier helped me at my first show and we rode training level. We won the high score at that first show and decided we might like this," Scotch said.

While Scotch works hard on her own, she said she has been fortunate to take lessons over the years with Jason Canton and Conrad Schumacher. "This was my second time to ride in the Intermediaire I and it was a solid ride," she said.

Scotch, who is already a big fan of Sore No More, said she is looking forward to trying the other Equilite products she won.

“It’s exciting that Christy already uses Sore No More," said Stacey Small of Equilite. "She will love trying out the other products in our Sore No More family as well as our line of herbal supplement blends."

Sore No More, which has twice been voted Product of the Year by the Horse Journal, is an all-natural arnica herbal horse liniment that features a blend of witch hazel, arnica and other herbs developed to reduce muscle fatigue, bruising, swelling and related soreness. Equilite’s Sore No More family of products includes Sore No More Liniment, gelotion, cooling clay poultice, massage shampoo, The Sauce and Sports Salve.

Equilite also prides itself on its Herbal Blends which include Ani-Motion, Bleeders Blend, Garlic+C, Fly Away Garlic, Equinacea, Four Hoofs, RelaxBlend, RelaxHer Blend, Relax Blend Valerian Free, PrePro and Sow Your Seeds Pasture Blend. Equilite also produces Botanical Animal Flower Essences, which are a favorite among riders all across the country.

For more information on Equilite products, which are part of the Arenus family of products, visit their website at www.equilite.com or call (800) 942-5483.

Kerensa Muller Wins Trilogy Saddle "Best Seat" Award
Kerensa Muller rode away the winner of the Trilogy Dressage Saddle "Best Seat" Award at the Wellington Classic Dressage’s Autumn Challenge of Champions, thanks to an impressive ride on her mare Fantassia. Muller and the gray 18.1-hand seven-year-old Hanoverian mare drew the attention of the Trilogy selection committee during the show held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center to take home the “Best Seat” Award.

“What an exciting experience to win this award," Muller said. "I ride one of my horses in training in a Trilogy saddle. The

Trilogy is very supportive of my leg and gives my leg a nice grip on the saddle and the horse."

Muller, a renowned dressage trainer based in Wellington, FL, was born and raised in Holland where she trained under the tutelage of Sjef Janssen for three years. Muller said she believes her strong seat developed during her early days on the back of a pony. “For seven years I rode my pony bareback and it helped develop my seat and balance," she said.

The Trilogy "Best Seat" Award is presented to the rider that best fits the following three criteria: effective secure seat; well-fitting saddle that enhances performance for horse and rider; and overall performance on the horse. Debbie Witty, President of Trilogy Dressage Saddles, said she looks forward to presenting the award during the winter dressage season in Wellington, FL. "t is an opportunity to recognize riders and the importance of well-fitting equipment,"she said.

Witty, a qualified saddle fitter from the Society of Master Saddlers of England, has spent years helping top riders such as Debbie McDonald, Shannon Peters, Courtney King-Dye, George Williams and Guenter Seidel with their saddle fitting needs.

Trilogy Dressage Saddles are built in England by some of the most experienced craftsmen in the world. They feature a British tree made of laminated Beechwood, and a specially tanned hide from England that offers the rider an elastic broken-in feel.

For more information on Trilogy Saddles or their sponsored riders, visit their website at www.trilogysaddles.com.