Monday July 5, 2004

Great Learning Experience for Austin and Malone at CDI-YR Hagen, Germany

Last weekend, American Young Riders Elizabeth Austin and Mary Alice Malone Jr. competed against some of Europe's top young riders at the CDI competition "Horses and Dreams" at Hof Kasselmann in Hagen, Germany. Thanks to the generous support of Scott Hassler of Hilltop Farm, the American young riders' duo was able to travel to Europe at a minimum of cost and borrowed two schooled Intermediaire I dressage horses from international dressage rider Michael Klimke and Americans Robin and Bill Weiss.

For Austin and Malone, the CDI-YR Hagen was an eye opening experience. Riding against the Belgian A-team Young Riders, the German B-team and several other experienced combinations from Holland, France and Denmark, the pressure was definitely on.

Aboard the black Hanoverian mare Dorana (Donnerhall x Pik Bube), Austin scored 58.96% in the team championship test, placing 18th, and 61.50% in the Prix St Georges, placing 8th. Mary Alice Malone Jr received Cascade as a ride, a dapple gray Holsteiner mare by Corofino x Fasolt. In the preliminary and team test they finished 19th with 56.38% and 58.88%. In the Prix St Georges, Malone and Cascade were more on the same wavelength and pushed the score up to a nice 61.20% and 9th place.