Spanish WEG team medallist Rafael Soto made his first ever trip to Wellington, FL for a clinic at Halcyon Farm . It was only the second Soto clinic in the United States ever). The clinic drew over 85 auditors and featured Grand Prix riders Bruce Miller, Pati Pierucci, Arlene Page (pictured), Cheri Reiber, Janne Rumbough, Michael Kohl, and Kathy Von Ertfelda. "Soto had all of the riders perform a number of exercises regularly used by the Royal Riding School in Jerez, such as a piaffe to canter to walk to piaffe regime, and lots of time on the circle in renvers and travers at all three gaits. What was particularly effective on all of the horses was the shoulder-in to create the piaffe, which the horses then offered naturally and which Rafael worked from the ground," it said in an extensive Dressagedaily report on the clinic.
More US News! In continuation of their strong commitment to dressage, Jeff and Shereen Fuqua's Collecting Gaits Farm has elevated their partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to become title sponsor of the 2007 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions which will be held in Gladstone, NJ on June 14-17. Also, Mary Phelps and DressageDaily reporter Lynndee Kemmet will be on the scene providing photos and daily reporting and scores.
Hans van Schie has resinged from his position as the Dutch Dressage Team Veterinarian. Van Schie's contract was supposed to end after the 2008 Olympic Games but he has told the Dutch Equestrian Federation he finds it too hard to combine his duties as a norma veterinarian with those for the Dutch team. The timing for his resignation is related to Sjef Janssen's resignation. Normally, Van Schie would have supervised the Dutch Olympic Team in Hong Kong, but now that a new team coach will be appointed, the timing is right to work with an entirely new team, according to Van Schie and KNHS.
The 2006 Pavo Cup Champion, Ucelli T, has been partly sold by owner H. Tuss to Hans Vrijvogel. The dark bya Olivi x Gribaldi offspring will be presented at shows under the name Freebird Ucelli T. Freebird is Vrijvogel's wholesale aluminium and caravan company. Hans Peter Minderhoud will keep the ride on the now 6-year old Ucelli T and is aiming to qualify him for the 2007 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses.
The KWPN reported that the Oldenburg bred and KWPN licensed stallion Don Primaire (Donnerhall x Pik Bube I) has been sold to England as dressage horse. He will no longer be available for breeding. The 15-year old Don Primaire competed at Grand Prix level under Nars Gottmer in 2006.
And for those of you who are not really THAT interested in dressage but want to have a good laugh anyway, check out Eurodressage's pick of funny Youtube video clips: Funniest Laugh Ever (this is an all time favourite) and an amazing Scarlett Johansson at SNL