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Dressage Olympic Selection Trials and the Dressage National Championships at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions 2008
We Know AND Love Dressage! Flash!! USEF Names Nominated Entry for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in Dressage Perseverance Pays Off for Olympic Dressage Reserve Rider Leslie Morse
"I am very excited about being named the reserve rider and horse for the Olympics," Morse said. "This is such an important position, which enables the United States to field four super quality, experienced combinations for the Olympic Games in Hong Kong." Read More.... Debbie McDonald Says This is the Last Year for Brentina
Next year's World Cup will be held in Las Vegas, jointly with the Show Jumping World Cup, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Thomas and Mack arena. It is the Thomas family that donated the funds to build that arena, which has hosted each of the World Cups that have been held in Vegas, and it is the Thomas family that owns Brentina. "Parry Thomas donated that ring to Las Vegas and I think it's right to retire her before a great sponsor and a great audience. He's done much for the country and the sport. So, for me, it was a no brainer. I think that's the place it's got to be," McDonald said. Read More.... The Money is in and Olympians Robert Dover and Guenter Seidel Raise $120,000 for USET Foundation
When Guenter had his photo session with Aragon, it began with a white tuxedo shirt, but Garcia was quick to notice his Olympic tattoo on his left arm. She then changed him into a black T-shirt where the tattoo was visible. The coaxing began, and Robert Dover stepped in to up the anty. Jessica Ransehousen began to unbutton Guenter's shirt, then Dover joined in to show his tattoo as well. The quiet and humble Seidel was embarrassed by the whole thing, but the crowd went wild over the buff bodies of the American Dressage Olympic heroes. Dover has long been an advocate of working out for himself and his students, and always manages to find a gym wherever he is in the world. But Seidel's six pack abs come from surfing on the California coast. Read and see More.... Steffen Peters, Debbie McDonald and Courtney King-Dye Make U.S. Olympic Dressage Team
After four rounds of Grand Prix competition that began June 21, Peters and Ravel swept all four rounds finishing with an overall score of 75.863 percent. Peters also finished fifth with Lombardi II and an overall score of 70.024. McDonald and Brentina finished second with an overall score of 73.627 percent. Rounding out third was King-Dye with Harmony's Mythilus and an overall score of 73.333 percent. She also finished fourth with Idocus and an overall score of 70.23 percent. In an effort to ensure that the U.S. is well set for the Olympic Games in Hong Kong, the U.S. Equestrian Federation will have Peters and King-Dye take both of their leading horses, which means that Lombardi II and Idocus will also be leaving on July 10 for Aachen, Germany where the horses will go into quarantine before heading to Hong Kong.
It was a sold-out crowd that was on hand for the final round of the Olympic Selection Trials – the Grand Prix freestyle. And the enthusiasm of spectators was a thrill for the riders. "It was amazing," McDonald said. Peters called the crowd "unbelievable" and King-Dye thanked them for turning out and sitting through a hot afternoon sun. The final weekend of competition was nearly perfect weather with three days of sunshine and relatively moderate temperatures. Riders and spectators could not have asked for more. Read More Three Wins in a Row Make Michelle Gibson National Intermediaire Champion at 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions
"I'm so excited," said Gibson, whose overall score was 72.898 percent. "He came in there and was like, 'Everybody is looking at me.' And he liked that. Every day he got better and even today in the warm-up he felt tired but when we went in there he woke up and it all came together." Reserve Intermediaire Champions were Steffen Peters and Montango who were pulled up from their third place position by their freestyle score of 72.90 percent for an overall score of 70.95 percent. Read More.... Olympic Riders Help USET Foundation Raise More Than $200,000 to Help Send U.S. Dressage Team to the 2008 Olympics
The two riders both have five Olympic rings tattooed on their bodies and in an effort to up the bids for a portrait session with photographer Elma Garcia, "auctioneer" Brian O'Connor told bidders if they offered enough cash, Seidel just might remove his shirt to show his tattoo. Seidel responded that "no one over 40 should remove his shirt in public," at which point, fellow Olympian Robert Dover was called upon to show his tattoo causing Jane Clark to quip, "I'll pay $30,000 to see this." Read More..... Dog Fans Courtney King-Dye and Debbie McDonald Are Hot on the Heels of Steffen Peters
McDonald has been staying at the Double Tree hotel and a fire alarm early Sunday morning forced many riders, judges and spectators staying at the hotel to flee their rooms in the middle of the night. In referring to that moment McDonald said, "I have to say that I apologize if I talked to anybody and don't remember because I had taken a sleeping pill and was kind of walking around in a daze. I grabbed my dog but forgot my husband." To which Peters joked, "There are priorities." Read More... Steffen Peters Holds the Lead Heading into Final Round of Grand Prix Championship at 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions
Adrienne Lyle Stays on Top to Take the Win in Brentina Cup Competition
"We've been talking to Brentina. She's the queen," Lyle said. "It was great to win a competition named after one of the Thomases horses on their horse." Lyle took her Brentina Cup win with Wizard, a nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by the Thomas family. The family also owns Brentina. Lyle and Wizard finished with an overall score of 68.265 percent. Michelle Gibson and Shawna Harding Continue Friendly Battle for Intermediaire Title at 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions
Competitors and Spectators Enjoy Free Wine and Steak at Mushroom Matrix and DressageDaily.com Reception
East Coast Riders in the Lead in Intermediaire Competition at Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions
Adrienne Lyle and Wizard Lead in Brentina Cup Competition
Lyle and Wizard, a nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding, head into the final day of Brentina Cup competition in first place after winning Friday's Brentina Cup Test competition with a score of 67.846 percent. Behind them in second was Kelly Casey with Luzifer, a 14-year-old Warmblood gelding, and a score of 64.872 percent. Read more and see results.... The Trials of the Trials
DressageTraining Online.com to Feature the 2008 Olympic Dressage Selection Trials Alamo, CA- Dressage Training Online.com will tape the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Olympic Dressage Selection Trials for Dressage Training Online viewers. The best horses and riders from each division in dressage are there to compete for the honor of being one of three horse/rider combinations to represent the United States during the equestrian portion of the Olympic Games held in Hong Kong, August 8-24, 2008. The exciting National Grand Prix Dressage Championship is also the USEF Selection Trials for the U.S. Olympic Team.. Dressage Training Online will bring you ringside with exclusive live commentary by two-time Olympian and FEI I Judge, Hilda Gurney and FEI I Judge, Janet Brown Foy, as Olympic hopefuls Lisa Wilcox, Michael Barisone, Debbie McDonald, Steffen Peters, Michelle Gibson, Courtney King, Sue Blinks, Kristina Harrison-Naness, and Leslie Morse perform the tests that will determine our 2008 team. The viewer will have the added benefit of hearing the comments of the judges as they watch history in the making. Read More.... Junior Rider Brandi Roenick First USEF National Dressage Champion to be Crowned in 2008
Kassie Barteau and Gabriella Defend National Young Rider Dressage Championship with Gabriella
"Gabriella was ranked first in the country and even though it was a long drive I wanted her to have the chance to win the title again,” said Barteau. “I just love riding her every day.” Barteau rode Gabriella first after the break and improved on yesterday's winning effort to take the Championship with a score of 69.35% in the Prix St. Georges Test. “I'm just really proud of her,” said an emotional Barteau after her test with her beloved mare. Equestrian Olympic Trials in Dressage Continues as Steffen Peters wins Grand Prix Special
Dressage Olympic Selection Trials Set to Begin2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions Kicks Off in San Juan Capistrano
On The Scene with Kathy Beal, Lynndee Kemmett, and Mary Phelps, photos by Christina Beal and phelpsphotos.com A special thank you to our Californian reporting and photographic mother-daughter team Kathy and Christina Beal who have been our eyes and ears and those in the know for the first week of the Olympic Selection Trials for Dressage at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions
USEF Reports from Joanie Morris
Preview and Profiles It’s a Short Trip to the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions for Elizabeth Ball
Early on Ball and Orion started up the qualifying phase ranked 2ndth in the country on the Intermediaire list, but slipped down to 10th in the final standings because of having no drop score. With De la Frontera she was 14th on the list but earned an invitation after riders ahead of her opted out of the championships. "We had to put a freestyle together for her rather last minute," Ball said. Read More.... George Williams and Gypsy Woods Farm's Rocher Making Their Olympic Bid at 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions
Earlier this spring, Williams and Rocher traveled to Europe for two months of training and competing. He and the 17-year-old Westfalen mare owned by Chuck and Joanne Smith of Gypsy Woods Farm, then returned to the U.S., competed at the Paxton and Raleigh CDIs and then headed to California where they arrived at Epona Farm, the California base of friend Debbie McDonald. With Wig Wam and Dominion Shelly Francis Doubles Her Chances of Victory at Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions
Courtney King-Dye Says She's Ready for 2008 Dressage Olympic Selection Trials with Idocus and Mythilus
Legacy Farm's Melissa Taylor and Dacardo Make Quick Plans to Head West
Sue Jaccoma and Wadamur Off to the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Intermediaire Championships Thanks to Fundraising Effort Donna Novella Fulfills Melissa Mulchahey's "Wildest Dreams"
In 2002, Mulchahey traveled to the Verden Elite Auction and spotted Donna Novella. "I was looking at her as an amateur horse for myself. I didn't have huge dreams. I was just looking for a lovely amateur horse to be regionally and national competitive with myself," Mulchahey said. "I thought if I could get her to FEI, that would be the icing on the cake, but it wasn't the plan." Michelle Gibson and Diamante Farms' Don Angelo To Compete in California For the First Time Lisa Wilcox and Naomi Get Ready For Olympic Trials "I'm really feeling like she would be a really strong team contender. My dream would be the number three rider. I know that's going to be a challenge because there are some good riders there. But when I look at how the mare has progressed and how consistent she has become, I get excited. I feel like that goal is more and more tangible. Things are coming together at the right time," Wilcox said. Read More...
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After a two-year hiatus, Leslie Morse and Kingston returned to the competition arena just in time to qualify and compete at this year's Olympic Selection Trials at the 
Brentina is on the road to Hong Kong, but she is also on the road to retirement. At the USEF Foundation's 'A Salute to Hong Kong' fundraiser held during the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions, McDonald announced that she'll be retiring Brentina in 2009. A retirement celebration will be held during the 2009 Dressage World Cup. 
Guenter Seidel and Robert Dover may not be in the running for the Olympic Team this year, but they made a huge contribution, simply by taking their shirts off. It all started when Debbie McDonald was auctioning off a portrait session with Elma Garcia, who created the beautiful and dramatic images of USET riders for the USET Foundation. 
Steffen Peters, Debbie McDonald and Courtney King-Dye nabbed the top three places in Grand Prix competition at the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions held at The Oaks Blenheim earning themselves a spot on the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team. As the leader in Grand Prix competition, Peters also earned the title of National Grand Prix champion for 2008 with Ravel. McDonald and Brentina earned the title of reserve champions. 
At least one alternate horse and rider will also head to Germany, but it won't be announced until later Monday who for certain will hold that alternate position or if two, rather than only one, alternate riders will go. Leslie Morse and Kingston will most likely be heading to Germany with the team as they finished sixth in the Olympic Selection Trials with an overall score of 68.551 percent. 
San Juan Capistrano, California – Michelle Gibson and Don Angelo won the Intermediaire Freestyle competition on the final day of the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions to become the National Intermdiaire Champions. The pair took a clean sweep in the Intermediaire Championships having also won both the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire test portions of the championship competition.
Olympians Robert Dover and Guenter Seidel helped the USET Foundation raise money the easy way – by taking it off. Not all of it, but stripping off their shirts raised $80,000 for the USET Foundation at its 'A Salute to Hong Kong' fundraiser held Saturday evening during the final weekend of the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions.
Steffen Peters may be leading the Grand Prix competition at the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions, but Courtney King-Dye and Debbie McDonald are right on his heels. And the girls knew how to steal the spotlight during a press conference – they brought their dogs. "I think I need to get a dog," Peters remarked when photographers asked King-Dye and McDonald to pose with their dogs. 
San Juan Capistrano, California – Watching Courtney King-Dye and Mythilus in their Grand Prix test ride, Steffen Peters thought for a moment they may have edged ahead of he and Ravel but when the final scores were tallied, Peters and Ravel came out on top scoring a 75.25 percent. King-Dye and Mythilus scored 75.208. "Every single movement, I just thought it was an incredible ride," Peters said of King-Dye's ride. "For a moment I thought she had it." The win meant that Peters remained undefeated in Grand Prix competition this year and it was his 10th straight Grand Prix win. Rounding out the top three in Saturday's Grand Prix was Debbie McDonald with Brentina and a score of 73.042 percent. 
Adrienne Lyle maintained her lead in the final round of Brentina Cup competition to become the Brentina Cup winner and she promptly went back to the barn and told Brentina. Lyle works for Brentina's rider, Debbie McDonald, as an assistant trainer and rider. 
San Juan Capistrano, California – Michelle Gibson and Don Angelo maintained their lead in the race to be crowned American Intermediaire champion at the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions. The pair finished first in the second phase of competition with a score of 72.55 percent in the Intermediaire I test. Right on their heels again was Gibson's good friend, Shawna Harding riding Come On III with a score of 71.00 percent. "It's great that we have a friendship and can support each other. I think that what makes us such great competitors is that we can compete and we can be serious and we can be really driven about it," Gibson said. But at the end of the day the two said when it's over they can look at each other and say, "Let's go have a glass of wine." 
DressageDaily.com and the 
San Juan Capistrano, California – Day one of competition in the Intermediaire National Championships at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions finished with two East Coast holding first and second place. Good friends and training partners Michelle Gibson and Shawna Harding are neck and neck in the competition. Gibson and Diamante Farm's Don Angelo finished the first day of competition with a score of 70.50 percent. Harding and Come On III were second with a score of 70.15 percent. 
San Juan Capistrano, California – Adrienne Lyle may be getting a bit of help in the Brentina Cup competition from the Cup's namesake. Lyle trains with Brentina's rider, Debbie McDonald, who hinted that Wizard may be getting a bit of advice from Brentina herself. "I'm sure Brentina talks to Wizard at night," McDonald joked. 
The two weekend stay is a real test for these twelve athletes. Horses and riders must be “ON” not only for competition and training, but athletes must be ever ready for interviews, and for every little or big interaction with any and all those people involved at the show. They are being watched, as they are ambassadors for the sport of dressage. Despite any disappointments after weekend one, these six basically must face the world with a positive attitude and continue through to next weekend’s second leg of the trials. 
The USEF National Junior Dressage Championship got the morning started, and the Individual Test proved more challenging than the team test, including difficult canter serpentine work and a number of flying changes. Three-tenths of a percent separated Mackinzie Pooley and Brandi Roenick after Saturday's class and both put in16-year-old professional efforts again on Sunday. But by the end of the morning, Roenick prevailed as the most consistent of the group with a two-day average of 68.075%. “We are connected when I sit in the saddle,” said Roenick. “I know how to loosen her up when she gets tense. It's special to know that you have a really deep connection with your horses. “I'm feeling really, really good. I feel confident for the NAJC in Colorado. She put a lot of effort in today. I'm really proud of her.
She's not the easiest to ride, you need to know her well. I've only been riding her since March of 2007.” 
Twelve Young Riders went to task on the second and final day of the USEF National Young Rider Dressage Championship and Kassie Barteau held onto her lead with an excellent test on Gabriella. She made the trip from Gilberts, Illinois to California a winning one.
San Juan Capistrano, CA - Overnight leader Steffen Peters returned to the Oaks Blenheim ring with Ravel in the USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship and the USEF Selection Trial for Dressage, and made it quite clear that he was not going to relinquish his lead. Owned by Aikiko Yamazaki, Ravel, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding took some of the much more experienced horses to task and never looked in danger of making a mistake. The elegant combination looked relaxed throughout the test with excellent changes and powerful extensions. They finished with a score of 75.240%. “He's so ready to work and giving 100% all the time,” said Peters. “After the last piaffe on the center line I got a little choked up. I don't even think that this is quite where he maxed out. He is the kindest horse, it's unbelievable.” 
The 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions kicked off on Friday in San Juan Capistrano, California. This year's national championships also serves as the Dressage Olympic Selection Trials. America's top Grand Prix riders and horses have met to engage in the long awaited head-to-head competition for a coveted spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Dressage Team. Twelve Grand Prix horses jogged for the Selection Trials ground jury, and both riders and horses looked fit and ready to take on the challenges before them. They were followed by the country’s top FEI Young Riders and Junior Riders. The inspection began at 3 p.m. under sunny and warm skies with the temperature in the high 80s. 
Cross country travel isn't cheap or easy, but for Elizabeth Ball, the trip to the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions is only an hour's drive away. And that's good news for Ball because she has two horses that have qualified to compete in this year's Intermediaire championships. 
A humble, hard-working horseman may be an apt way to describe George Williams. It is a testament to Williams' horsemanship and skill as a trainer that he and Rocher earned themselves a spot on the top 12 list that received invitations to compete in the 2008 Olympic Dressage Selection Trials. The pair has only been back in competition together since last fall, prior to which Rocher had a long time off due to injuries. 
Shelly Francis is the only rider to qualify for this year's Intermediaire Championships with two horses, thus doubling her chances for victory. She is going into the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions ranked seventh in the U.S. with Wig Wam and ninth with Dominion. Francis will be a force to be reckoned with because this is one seasoned and experienced competitor having represented the U.S. in international competition including the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome, Italy. Francis rode along on the plane that will took Wig Wam and Dominion from Florida to California. 
Courtney King-Dye shares something special with Steffen Peters and Debbie McDonald – all three riders are going into the 2008 Olympic Dressage Selection Trials with two horses. Peters is competing for a spot on the U.S. Dressage Team with Ravel and Lombardi II. McDonald is currently ranked number one with Brentina, but she's also ranked fifth with Felix. Both Peters and McDonald have represented the U.S. in Olympic competition, but if she makes the team, this will be the first Olympics for King-Dye. She has represented the U.S. in international competition before, as recently as this year's 2008 Dressage World Cup. But she's clearly thrilled to be a serious contender for the Olympic Team. Right now she's ranked third in the country with Idocus and seventh with Harmony's Mythilus. 
With her partner 
Northeasterners stepped up to a challenge issued by Robert Dover during his recent clinic for the New England Dressage Association. When Dover asked Sue Jaccoma, clinic demo rider for the Intermediaire Level with her Wadamur, why she and Wadamur weren't going to the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions despite being one of the top five Intermediaire pairs in the U.S., Jaccoma said simply, "I really can't afford it." That led Dover to turn to the audience of spectators and issue a challenge."Riders need support. Sue is a hard-worker with a world-class horse. They are very good representatives for your part of the country and it's a pity she can't go to San Juan Capistrano," Dover said. "I think all of you need to find a way to send her to California." 
Donna Novella, with rider Elizabeth Hendrix, has earned an invitation to the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions Intermediaire Championship.
Olympian Michelle Gibson has competed throughout Europe and the eastern part of the United States, based at Diamante Farms owned by Terri and Dick Kane of Wellington, Florida. But in all the years she has competed in dressage, she has never been to California. That will soon change as Gibson and Don Angelo, 
Lisa Wilcox and Naomi had their last competitive outing before preparing to head to California for the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. The pair continued their trend of earning scores in the 70s, bolstering Wilcox's belief that a spot on this year's U.S. Olympic Dressage Team is no longer an unrealistic goal.
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