Photo Courtesy JRPR (Lauren Sammis, left, won the FEI Test of Choice aboard High Field’s Casimirov, owned by Paula Runnells.)
Grandioso earned a 68.421 in the Intermediaire II class, and King-Dye was pleased with the stallion’s performance. “It was his second time to show in the Intermediaire II and I was very happy with his improvement,” King-Dye said. “We still had some green mistakes, but when you are doing the Intermediaire II you feel like you have a foothold into the grand prix. There isn’t anything new the horse needs to learn, you are just perfecting everything.”
King-Dye described the 16-hand PRE as “incredibly talented.” A 1999 stallion, he was imported from Spain in 2003. Grandioso was the recipient of the Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse’s Open High-Point Award for the PRE at the Palm Beach Derby last year. “I feel very fortunate to have the time to develop him into a Grand Prix horse,” King-Dye said, adding that she appreciated Sho Clothes sponsoring the Intermediaire II class.
“We were very pleased to present Courtney with the Sho Clothes scrim,” said Betsy Rebar Sell, who co-owns Sho Clothes with Michele Hundt. “Courtney had great success all weekend, also winning classes with Don Principe and Atomic.”
Hundt designed the Sho Clothes scrim King-Dye won, which features Rebar Sell’s horse Wonderful Walden. Rebar Sell and Wonderful Walden were Gold medalists at the Pan Am Games. Sho Clothes, located at 3220 Fairlane Farms Road in Wellington, boasts a wide variety of the finest dressage riding clothes, apparel, jewelry and dressage accessories available and has become the “go to” dressage boutique for dressage enthusiasts from all over the world.
In addition to sponsoring shows throughout the year at West Palm Beach’s world-class dressage shows, Sho Clothes also hosts a monthly get together called Shop Talk. Held the second Tuesday of every month, Shop Talk has become a hot spot for riders to gather with top professionals in the equine industry. For more information on Sho Clothes, call (561) 319-2121 or visit their website at www.shoclothes.com.
The second time in the show ring proved to be a successful one for Paragon, a seven-year-old Danish gelding, as he and owner Heather Blitz won the FEI Prix St. Georges class at the Wellington Classic Dressage Spring Challenge CDI. Draper Equine Therapy, makers of therapeutic products for horses and riders, sponsored the class at the Spring Challenge CDI held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center.
Blitz, who recently returned to the United States after four years in Europe, was thrilled with Paragon’s trip in the Prix St. Georges class. The 17.3-hand chestnut gelding scored at 76.842%. “I did all of his training and have owned him since the day he was born,” Blitz said.
Blitz added that she rode Paragon’s dam and planned the breeding to Don Schufro with the hopes of producing a horse tall enough to fit her six-foot frame. “Two weeks ago was his first time in the show ring, and I think he is ahead of the game,” Blitz said. “Paragon is really stepping up to center stage, and it is very exciting.”
Draper Equine Therapy, makers of products containing the innovative smart fiber Celliant™/Holofiber®, awarded Blitz with a saddle pad for her win. Draper products have been proven to reduce pain, increase oxygen levels and help balance overall body temperature in the body as Celliant works directly with the body to make it more efficient.
“Draper Equine Therapy produces everything from leg wraps to quarter sheets, all complimenting the horse’s health,” said Kat Wojtylak, Product Manager of Draper Equine Therapy. “Draper also offers products for riders to ensure that the entire team is at their best. Draper products help your horse work harder and recover faster from exertion and injury. Celliant™/Holofiber encourages the body's natural processes and there are no known side effects. In fact, the only effects that have been found from the use of Celliant™/Holofiber have been increased stamina, more rapid recovery and better overall performance.” For more information on Draper Equine Therapy, visit their website at www.draperequinetherapy.com.
Pam Am Gold medalist Lauren Sammis piloted High Field’s Casimirov, a 14-year-old Westfalen owned by Paula Runnells, into the winner’s circle during the Wellington Classic Dressage Spring Challenge CDI. Sammis and Casimirov won the FEI Test of Choice, sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center in Ocala, and were awarded a $250 gift certificate to the world-class center.
“I have been riding Casimirov for about six months and this is just the beginning of my experience with him in the show ring,” Sammis said. “He is just coming into himself. At this show he earned a 69.035 and in his extensions he scored 9’s. He has a beautiful presence, it is just the beginning for him.”
Runnels, who is from New Jersey, said she bought Casimirov in Germany. “He a loving horse, very casual and easy,” she added.
Sammis is no stranger to the winner’s circle. As a member of the 2007 United States Pan American Dressage team, Sammis led the team to a Gold medal with the highest score in the Prix. St. Georges class. She also won a Silver medal in the Individual competition for the Intermediaire I and Freestyle classes.
“We are thrilled that Lauren and Casimirov won the FEI Test of Choice, the class The Sanctuary was sponsoring,” said Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary. “Lauren is certainly an accomplished dressage rider, and we look forward to watching her partnership with Casimirov as it progresses. We also look forward to assisting Lauren with any dressage horses she may bring to The Sanctuary. We are well aware of the physical demands put on dressage horses and we have the technology to keep dressage horses competing at their peak.”
The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center is a 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,” McDuffee said. “Our conditioning and rehab equipment helps equine athletes in all disciplines stay fit, avoid injury, and recover faster and more completely from injuries they might experience when competing in intense and physically demanding sports.”
The Sanctuary is home to an Equine Hyperbaric Chamber with box stall-type freedom of movement, as well as an Aqua Pacer Water Treadmill, the safest, most effective water treadmill available. The Sanctuary also features: a cold saltwater leg spa featuring 34-degree, highly salinated water for all types of leg therapy; an equine swimming pool that is a 110 feet long, 14 foot deep inline pool with therapeutic water; a 5/8 mile race track; two Eurocisers with therapeutic tracking surface—one under cover and one outdoors; solariums; temperature-controlled veterinary inspection area with semi-surgical lighting, and rubberized surfaces in most areas.
For more information on The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, visit their website at www.sanctuaryequinerehab.com.
Joan Pecora showed off her talent during the FEI Intermediaire I Adult Amateur class at the Wellington Classic Dressage Spring Challenge CDI, riding into the winner’s circle aboard her Dutch gelding named Talent. Sponsored by Classic Equine Equipment, a nationally recognized leader in quality horse stall systems and stable accessories, Pecora won a polar fleece vest from Classic Equine.
“It was windy and Talent was tense, but I was able to hug him and ride him through the test,” Pecora said, adding that she was pleased with the show and appreciative that Classic Equine sponsored the class.
Pecora, who commutes between Illinois and Florida, bought Talent as a three-year-old, while on a horse-buying trip in The Netherlands. Pecora hopes to eventually compete the now 10-year-old Talent in the Grand Prix.
“I want to wish Joan and Talent congratulations on behalf of Classic Equine,” said Adam Busse, owner of the stall system company. “We love to see riders striving to do their best, as we also believe in being the best. At Classic Equine, we go to great lengths to make sure our passion for quality and love for horses shows in the details of the products we produce.”
Classic Equine Equipment has earned a reputation as the leading producer of beautiful, innovative and high-quality stalls. The company designs, develops and manufactures stall systems and stable accessories that are not only safety oriented for the horse, but easy to install as well. For horse owners who can’t find what they are looking for, Classic Equine Equipment custom designs dream barns. “In addition to stall systems and stable accessories, we have expanded to include stall mats, eco-friendly flooring, exercisers and treadmills” Busse said.
Classic Equine is hosting a vendor booth near the Tiki Tower overlooking the International Ring throughout the Winter Equestrian Festival, and Busse invites all horse enthusiasts to stop by for a visit. “We look forward to meeting and speaking with horse owners who stop by the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center,” he said. “Our products were developed in part through the observations and insight of countless horse owners. We love to be inspired.” For a complete list of Classic Equine Equipment, visit their website at www.classic-equine.com.