E-Mail This Page

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Olympic Selection Trials for Dressage at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions

Matrix Horses and Team Members Shine at 2008 National Dressage Championships and Olympic Trials

Matrix horses and Matrix Equine Team members shone bright at this year's 2008 National Dressage Championships, held June 20-29 at The Oaks Blenheim show grounds in San Juan Capistrano, California. The annual event, officially called the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions, served not only as America's national dressage championship competition, but also as the selection trials for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Dressage Team.

When the dust settled, several Matrix horses and team members were left standing at the top of the leader board. In Grand Prix competition, Matrix Equine Team member Steffen Peters was number one, earning the title of 2008 American National Dressage Champion. His partner in competition was Ravel, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Akiko Yamazaki. That number one placing also earned Peters a place on the 2008 Olympic Dressage Team.

Joining Peters on this year's Olympic Dressage Team will be Debbie McDonald with Brentina and Courtney King-Dye with Harmony's Mythilus. Mythilus, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, is a Matrix horse and he and King-Dye will be competing in their first Olympics.

America's newest National Intermediaire Dressage Champion is also one of the newest members of Team Matrix. Michelle Gibson, who represented the U.S. in the Atlanta Olympics, swept the Intermediaire competition at the Festival of Champions winning all three rounds of competition to take the championship title. Her win came with Don Angelo, an eight-year-old Oldenburg stallion owned by Terri Kane. Also competing in this year's National Championships in Intermediaire competition were Matrix horses Dacardo, owned and ridden by Melissa Taylor, and the fifth-placed Intermediaire horse Wadamur, owned and ridden by Team Matrix member Sue Jaccoma.

"The Matrix would like to congratulate all the riders who competed in this year's National Championship because we recognize that just qualifying to compete is itself a great honor," said Matrix Vice President Keith Manfred. "And of course, we are really proud of our Team Matrix members and Matrix horses. We're really lucky to have such a fabulous group of riders and horses on our team."   

Mushroom Matrix Plays Host to Riders, Owners and Judges at Selection Trials for U.S. Olympic Dressage Team

The Mushroom Matrix played host to riders, horse owners, judges and spectators who gathered in San Juan Capistrano, California for the Olympic Dressage Selection Trials and the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions, held at The Blenheim Oaks show grounds from June 20-29.

During both weekends of the competition, the Matrix hosted a reception on the show grounds featuring award-winning wines from the Matrix's own Dr. Mushroom, a.k.a Dr. Marvin Hausman. Dr. Hausman is the lead developer behind the Matrix formula and in addition to his successful career as a medical researcher, he and his wife, Deborah, also own and operate Quailhurst Vineyard Estates where they produce both award-winning wines and award-winning show horses.

Helping play host during the two weekend receptions was DressageDaily.com, Custom Saddlery and Shaw's Saddlery. Dozens of partygoers gathered for each reception sharing wine, food, fun and Matrix information. Dr. Hausman was on hand to share in the fun during the first reception and DressageDaily.com's Mary Phelps was on the grounds for weekend two. Matrix Vice President Keith Manfred held down the Matrix fort throughout the entire run of the Festival proving that with a daily dose of Matrix one really can handle endless long days and short nights. The Matrix wishes to thank its Equine Team Matrix members, dressage fans and fellow reception hosts for a successful Festival run.

Produced by Golden Gourmet Mushrooms of San Marcos, California, the Matrix is a special blend of organically-grown medicinal mushrooms that comes in formulas for humans, small animals and horses. A growing number of top riders and trainers are discovering the benefits of the Matrix and many of joined Team Matrix – as the group of equestrian Matrix promoters is called. Group members include Shannon and Steffen Peters, classical trainer and rider Bettina Drummond; Jane Hannigan, who represented the U.S. in the Dressage World Cup this spring; Carl Nafzger, trainer of Kentucky Derby winners Street Sense and Unbridled; leading California show jumping rider Will Simpson and U.S. Equestrian Federation Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler and his wife, Susanne. Some of the newest members are dressage riders and trainers Willy Arts, Sue Jaccoma and Michelle Gibson.

DressageDaily's Mary Phelps/Hathaway "On the Bit" With Mushroom Matrix Daily Life Essentials

"This is NOT your father's mushrooms! I was excited to see the Mushroom Matrix Daily Life Essentials provided in capsule form, much easier to take, much easier to remember. I got my first bottle during the Dressage Olympic Trails, and started right away with 2 capsules a day.

The following 4th of July weekend my husband and I went 4 wheeling for 2 days covering over 100 miles of rough terrain in the Kentucky hills and "hollers". I was amazed at how great I felt the following morning after my rough rider weekend. Now I am back in front of the computer, doing a lot of repetitive tedious work required for maintaining the websites. I have found my focus to be much better, and I am getting more done. This stuff really works which is why we have been behind this product and company since they first launched in 2007."

What has made the Matrix so popular is that it provides multiple benefits. Mushrooms contain L-Ergothioneine (ERGO), an antioxidant far more powerful than that found in other substances such as beta-carotene and vitamins C and E. Antioxidants are the body’s defense system and aid in the prevention of the cellular damage that contributes to aging, injury, cancer and many other diseases. Rich in this vital antioxidant, Matrix supplements provide multiple health benefits for horses, including promoting healthy joints, reducing inflammation, boosting the immune system, increasing stamina and reducing stress and anxiety.

To learn more about Equine Team Matrix members and Matrix nutritional supplements visit mushroommatrix.com