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Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Dressage In California
Cornerstone Event Management's Festival of the Horse CDI ***

Trio of Sisters Own Winner of Markel/USEF Six-Year-Old Test

Winner of the Markel/USEF Six-Year-Old competition at the Cornerstone Event Management's Festival of the Horse CDI*** was Hit Parade SFS, a Rhiendlander stallion by Show Star out of Esprina. Hit Parade scored 8.48 with rider Sandra Burns-Gardner. Burns-Gardner co-owns the stallion with her sisters, Jeanne Burns and Kathy Schack.

"We're a group," Burns-Gardner said. The sisters purchased the horse from a friend in Holland, Norbert Gieling. "He has a really good character and a fantastic work ethic. And, of course, he has beautiful gaits." Hit Parade was fourth overall in last year's national five-year-old competition. "He's just a pleasure to ride every day," said Burns-Gardner who works with Guenter Seidel. She said all Hit Parade needs is time to develop and grow stronger.

The judges clearly liked Hit Parade and awarded him a 9.3 for his trot, which Betsy Berrey called the highlight of the test. "The horse is uphill, balanced, active and covers ground." Berrey said it's clear the horse has the ability for collection. His weak areas in his test were lack of suppleness and difficulties in the flying changes. "He does need to be a bit more supple and due to some difficulties in the flying changes, his submission score went down to 7.8."

Second in the six-year-old competition went to Valeska, ridden by Willy Arts, with a score of 8.18. Valeska is a Dutch Warmblood mare by C Krack out of Polimbria that is owned by DG Bar Ranch. Third went to Weltino's Magic, ridden by Shannon Peters, with a score of 8.16. The Westfalen gelding, sired by Weltino, is owned by Jen Hlavacek.

Steffen Peters Again at the Top of the List in Grand Prix Competition at Cornerstone Event Management's Festival of the Horse CDI***