This weekend the West coast dressage community will descend upon Epona Farms as it hosts the second USEF Dressage Pipeline Clinic. This clinic, which is made possible through a gift from Betsy Juliano and Havensafe Farm, will be held October 11-12, hosted by Michael Fowler's Epona Farm in Thousand Oaks, California.
The clinic will showcase the U.S. dressage pipeline of athletes and horses with the USEF Dressage Coaches, including Robert Dover, USEF Chef d'Equipe/Technical Advisor, Debbie McDonald, USEF Developing Coach, and Scott Hassler, USEF Young Horse Coach.
“We are very excited about the upcoming Pipeline Clinic on the West Coast and are certain it is going to be educational and fun for everyone involved,” said Dover. “We have great momentum flowing in U.S. Dressage right now following our success at the World Equestrian Games and want to keep that progressing as we look forward to the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2016 Olympic Games.”
"I am very much looking forward to the Pipeline Clinic. It's always inspiring to work together with the other USEF coaches at the same location and have all our programs represented,” Hassler commented. “I hope many people will benefit from the enormous support given to us from Betsy Juliano and Havensafe Farm and our host facility Epona Farms."
Agreeing with her fellow coaches, McDonald noted, “This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the talent U.S. Dressage has at all levels of the sport. As coaches we are committed to excellence in training and I am excited to once again demonstrate our continued efforts to the community. We are hugely appreciative of the generous backing of Betsy Juliano and Havensafe Farm and Michael Fowler and Epona Farms.”
The coaches will work with 17 world-class athlete/horse combinations in an effort to demonstrate the harmonization of the various coaching programs.
The Elite combinations include five up-and-coming pairs. New combinations Elizabeth Ball and Cadence, LLC's Liaison and Kasey Perry and Diane Perry's Trostruplund's Scarlet both debuted this spring with much success. Kim McGrath and Arianthi Ferronato's Winslow are a confirmed pair who have received consistent scores since their CDI Grand Prix introduction in 2012. Nick Wagman and Beverly Gepfer's Zenith and Dawn White-O'Connor and Carla Hayes' Aristo are two combinations who experienced success at the Small Tour level in 2014, as well as finishing in the top ten at The Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship.
The Developing combinations will feature a 2014 National Champion and three successful Under-25 athletes. Sabine Schut-Kery and Alice Womble's Sanceo represented the U.S. at the 2012World Young Horse Championships and took home National Champion honors at the 2014 Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage National Championship. The three Under-25 athletes experienced tremendous success as Junior and Young Riders, amassing between them 11 team and individual medals at the North American Junior & Young Rider Championships. Ari Lopez and her own Corlander II (2008 Junior Team Bronze) now competes at the CDI Young Rider Grand Prix level, while Jamie Pestana and her own Winzalot (2010 Junior Team Silver and Individual and Freestyle Gold, 2012 Young Rider Team Silver, 2013 Young Rider Team Gold and Individual and Freestyle Silver) swept all three classes in the CDI Small Tour debut this spring. Genay Vaughn and Starr Vaughn Equestrian, Inc.'s Donarweiss GGF (2010 Junior Team Silver [aboard Waranja] and 2012 and 2011 Young Rider Team Silver [aboard Donarweiss}) were the 2013 U.S. Under 25 Reserve National Champions and have since moved up to the National Grand Prix level.
The four Youth combinations will include: Lindsey Brewin and her and Heather Brewin's Vaillant, 2013 NAJYRC Junior Team Silver and 2014 Young Rider Team Gold medalists; Catherine Chamberlain and her own Verdicci, 2010 NAJYRC Junior Individual and Freestyle Silver, 2014 NAJYRC Young Rider Team, Individual, and Freestyle Gold medalists; Eva Larsen and Carolyn Adams' Laffran Sponti, top ten finishers at the 2014 USEF Pony Rider National Championship; and Ariel Thomas and her own Heraldik Star, 2012 NAJYRC Junior Team Silver and Individual Bronze and 2013 NAJYRC Young Rider Team Gold medalist.
The Young Horse combinations include an impressive line-up of past and present National Champions. Kelly Casey and her own Emilion SA were the 2014 U.S. Young Horse 5-year-Old Dressage National Champions. Ashlyn DeGroot and DG Bar Ranch's Dalina DG are an accomplished pair with Daina DG competing in the U.S. Young Horse Dressage National Championships as a four-, five- and six-year-old, while DeGroot has competed both for Region 7 at the NAJYRC and with multiple horses at the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage National Championships. Amy Miller and her own Encore, 2013 U.S. Young Horse Four-Year-Old Reserve Champion and fourth overall at the 2014 National Championship as a five-year-old, and Carly Taylor-Smith and Nikki Taylor-Smith's Rosalut NHF, 2014 U.S. Young Horse 4-year-Old Champion, will also be in attendance.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Riders Announced for Second USEF Dressage Pipeline Clinic
USEF Dressage Coaches Come Together for 2014 USEF/USET Foundation Dressage Pipeline Clinics