The GDCTA and equine artist Ulla Strickland organized an equine art show at the Georgia International Horse Park during the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 3 Dressage Championships in Conyers, Georgia in October. Visitors enjoyed Ulla’s art along with works from local artists Susan Burns, Helena Savenius, Kim Sheldon, Julie Nestor, Phyllis Burchett, Elise Hammond and Steven Stinchcomb. Ulla said, “While we have an art show at our annual awards gala every year, we had never done anything on this scale before. It was very well received by the crowd, so we’re happy.” As with every GDCTA art show, part of the proceeds will go to the UGA vet school. From the left, Susan Burns, Helena Savenius, Kim Sheldon and Ulla Strickland gather around Harry, a member of the Sidelines staff who stays busy toting Sidelines Magazines around show grounds.
The pas de duex Birthday Bash for Endel Ots (Oct. 8) and Bethany Peslar (Oct. 10) rocked the Wanders Club at International Polo last month and it looked as if the dressage season was starting early with so many DQs and DKs celebrating.
The chase is on … rumor has it that Kevin Kohmann may be ready to pop the question to Chase Hickok. We’ll keep you posted.
Yo Momma … Mary-Haskins Gurganus is back in the show ring and pulling in the blues! Mary-Haskins took a few years off to start a family and headed back to the show ring recently with an impressive string. She is still a super mom, too!
New dressage groupie (and rider) Allyn Maix is taking it up with Congress. The AQHA Congress that is. Allyn teamed up with Schneider’s Saddlery to take her Choice of Champions products to the Congress, leaving her horses behind with her French Connection dressage trainer Francois Lamare.
The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce and congratulate its new USDF Certified Instructors at Training through First Level. They are Jennifer Kaiser of Lafayette, Indiana, Corinna Scheller-Fleming of Falls Village, Connecticut, Kim Aikens of Petoskey, Michigan, Emme Johnston of Snow Camp, North Carolina, Bonnie Walker of San Diego, California, Crystal Taylor of Greenville, Rhode Island and Denise Laigle of Harrah, Oklahoma.
Wellington residents were a powerful presence at the recent USDF Region 3 Championships held at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia in October. Lisa Tota, who owns the local Dressage Connection with her husband Charlie, won the huge training level open class aboard De La Vinci. Amy Swerdlin of the Palm Beach Equine Horse Sports Complex won the third level adult amateur class aboard Scholastica. Kristy Truebenbach Lund of Blue Marlin Farms won the adult amateur intermediare 2 class and placed reserve in the fourth level class aboard Reel Adventure and Akavavit. Local trainer John Zopatti was reserve in the grand prix musical freestyle with an impressive 75% aboard Blue Marlin Farms owned Fabio. Wellington dressage icon Janna Rumbough received a well-deserved adult amateur grand prix win aboard Junior after struggling the previous days with the rumbling ice trucks. Seasonal resident trainer Cathy Morelli aboard 20-year-old BeSe placed reserve in the open grand prix. All these riders have qualified for the USDF National championships November 7-10 in Lexington, Kentucky. We will keep you posted on their accomplishments in blue grass country.
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