April 2017 YourDressage

YOURDRESSAGE

April 2017

Ayden Uhlir Finds Her Place Down on the Farm

A United States Dressage Federation Publication

Welcome to Your Wonderful World of Dressage YourDressage is compiled by the United States Dressage Federation, written by participants from throughout the dressage community. The articles in this publication are submitted by people like you to share and be shared by all. Experience their stories as they navigate through the wonderful world of dressage and become friends with your dressage community.

It’s YourDressage, be part of it! If you would like to submit your story see the last page of this publication.

Get Connected

The 2017 USDF Online Stallion Guide is now LIVE! This annual online stallion guide is released by the United States Dressage Federation for the dressage community.

The guide is available both through the USDF website and the USDF app.

Featured article this year is, “The Hottest Bloodlines in Rio” which looks at what sport-horse pedigrees were represented in the 2016 Olympics.

We continue our look at breeding statistics from USDF’s major championships, adding Great American/USDF Regional Championshps.

Once again we have the “Index of Progeny for Advertised Stallions,” which includes progeny that have ranked 1-100 in Adequan®/USDF Year-End Awards. It also includes horses that have placed in US Dressage Finals, Great American/USDF Regional 2017 USDF Championships, and Great Online Stallion Guide American/USDF Breeders Championships from 2009-2016.

This guide contains interactive links to give you all the information you need to make a favorable breeding decision. Whether interested in breeding, or looking for a breeder with offspring already on the ground, this is a great way to learn more about dressage breeders throughout North America.

The Hottest Bloodlines in Rio

Trending Stallions in the Sport Horse Arena: USDFBC Statistics

Pursit of Excellence: Regional Championship Statistics

Finals by the Numbers: US Dressage Finals Statistics

March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

Give us your feedback. #yourdressage

WHAT TO SEE INSIDE DEPARTMENTS HORSE TALES: All Thanks to the Doctor Maryanna Haymon tells the story of Doctor Wendell MF and how this horse fulfilled her dream of breeding a Grand Prix stallion.

YOUNG & INSPIRED: NAJYRC: From Dream to Reality Meghan Miller never thought she would be able to compete at the Junior/Young Rider Championships. She shows us how this dream became a reality.

COVERING GROUND: Badminton, Anyone?

Nicole Landreneau visits the famous eventing competition at Badminton in England.

HEARD AROUND THE ARENA: World Cup Social media reports from the Longines FEI World Cup Finals held March 29 - April 2 in Omaha, NE. USDF FLASHBACK: Graf George The remarkable Graf George helped put American dressage on the map at two consecutive Olympic Games, under two different riders.

GMO SPOTLIGHT: Maryland Dressage Association (MDA) Take a look at this group member organization.

COVER STORY A Farm to Pay it Forward Ayden Uhlir shares her adventures in how she made the decision to become a property owner and how she is using it to pay it forward to the equestrian youth community.

March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

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HORSE TALES

All Thanks to the Doctor

By Maryanna Haymon

T

he story of Doctor Wendell MF is one of a dream and an ambitious goal to breed a Grand Prix stallion.

To start at the beginning, I need to tell you about Doc’s biological mother. She was a direct Sandro Hit daughter out of a SPS Don Gregory/Hill Hawk mother, who was a full sister to three other SPS mares and her full brother is a licensed stallion; top genetics for a good basis. We owned Don Principe (Donnerhall/Prince Thatch), aka Prince, at the time and Sandro Hit was very popular. We wanted to show that Prince would cross well on that line. When Stellar Hit MF was three years old, we decided to sell her, as we needed to pay some medical bills. But before we did, we collected an embryo that would later become Doctor Wendell MF. Doc was born to an embryo transfer recipient mare and was Doctor Wendell ridden by James Koford

March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

HORSE TALES

rejected at birth. My husband, Wendell, and I spent hours trying to convince the mare to let Doc nurse. Eventually, after hobbles, drugs, and multiple attempts, that little black foal was allowed to get to the milk bar. When that small and weedy black colt went outside for the first time, he took our breath away—he had a huge walk with a lot of overstride, an uphill, bounding canter, and a trot with expression. He was everything we had hoped for.

Right at that moment, we planned to develop and sell him for enough money to pay the farm mortgage. Even then, we hoped that he would fulfill our expectations of the first licensed son of Don Principe. At first, he was named Delacroix MF, after a family friend, but his barn name had always been “Doc”. Eventually, another stallion secured that name and I decided to call him Doctor Wendell after my very supportive husband; the best product of our breeding program to date was due to Wendell’s unwavering support.

As Doc grew up on the farm, he had several other colts to run and play with. We keep all of our youngsters outside with run-ins, so they can be normal horses. When he reached the age of two, we started preparing Doc for in-hand shows. Here at Marydell, we believe that the experience of sport horse breeding shows is great exposure to our youngsters, for future shows.

They learn to tie, cross tie, bathe, braid, trailer, stand in a stall, and are handled by a stranger.

Doc was an instant star on the line. Being a very precocious youngster, we had our hands full with him and needed a great handler to exhibit those exceptional gaits. Doc was handled by Brendan Curtis for most of his two-year-old year, and Doc was the Champion Colt/Gelding at numerous competitions. As the year went on, Doc became a bit “cheeky” about the championship rounds. He seemed to know he had done well. Those championship rounds had made him eligible for the USDF Breeders Champi-

onships Series Finals in both the East Coast Series and Southeast Series. Since we competed at Dressage at Devon every year, we went to the East Coast Series Final.

Doctor Wendell then went on to meet our first big goal and dream- he became a licensed stallion at four-years-old, for the American Hanoverian Society (AHS) and the German Oldenburg Society (GOV), and later, the ISR/Old NA as well. Wendell and I, after much discussion, went with the performance route, rather than the 70 day test for full approval. That meant that Doc had to have five scores of over 64% at Prix St. Georges (PSG) to gain full approval for AHS and GOV. The plan was that we would compete at the Markel FEI Young Horse Championships, on the way to the FEI levels of PSG and higher. Doc’s experiences at USDF Dressage Sport Horse Breeding shows became a foundation for him to understand that he had two different careers- performance and breeding. He unMarch 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

HORSE TALES

derstood the rules and was never “breedy” while under saddle.

However, during the jogs- watch out- naked horses! His antics kept us all in stitches.

Doc qualified as a five-yearold under Chris Hickey, placing sixth in the championships.

Then, when Chris changed jobs, Jim Koford, Don Principe’s rider, took over the reins. Doc was invited to the Markel FEI Young Horse Championships, again, as a six-year-old; where he finished in fifth place overall.

At last, in January 2015, when it was legal for him to do so, Doc debuted at PSG in Wellington, Florida. In an interesting twist of fate, Don Principe’s breeder, Adelheid Bruning, was making her first trip to Florida and was on hand for the first PSG and Intermediate 1 that Doctor Wendell competed in. Doc did very well, garnering all the needed scores in only two months, in tough international competition, at the most

prestigious venue in the USA. This was the final component needed for full approval. In the summer, Jim and Doc qualified for, and competed at, Lamplight in the Developing PSG. In November, Doc won the PSG Open Championship at the US Dressage Finals with his rider, Jim Koford. A stellar year indeed!

In 2016, at eight-years-old, the big game Grand Prix was the plan. We never wondered whether they could do it, but instead wondered how much would be too much for this young stallion. We need not have worried. Developing Grand Prix was easy for Doc. Doc and Jim also competed in Intermediate II, and were ranked fourth place at Intermediate II in the Adequan®/ USDF Dressage Horse of the Year standings.

A fun highlight of the winter season was The Dressage Foundation Two-Tempi Challenge, sponsored by The Horse of Course. We Wendell Haymon PhD with his namesake accepted the challenge and took the risk. Doc had never been ridDoctor Wendell MF March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

HORSE TALES

den in the dark, under the lights, with 3,000 people cheering and clapping. During the warm up behind the grandstand, we thought for a moment that we had overreached, and Doc was tense and unsure. But the moment he went into the Global Stadium, he lit up, turned on the expression, and strutted. He performed an amazing amount of two-tempis and tied with the other horse in the arena.

When the time came to realize our final goal for Doc—to make enough money to pay the farm mortgage—several people looked at Doc during the winter season in Florida. Most walked away, saying he was too small.

At 16.1, Doc was a normal size, not as big as some of the horses winning the CDIs. But he was also short coupled, and when combined with 16.1, would look small. However, that short coupling was what gave him the talent for the piaffe and passage.

So, Wendell and I sent Doc to Germany, to the barn of Jennifer Hoffman, an American who re-

sides just outside Düsseldorf. Jennifer and I met some years ago, when Don Principe was in Klaus Balkenhol’s barn for some training, so I knew that her training and riding would suit Doc. Doc was only with the Hoffman’s for a short period of time; some few weeks to get to know each other, and then to show to clients.

We had a set price that we needed to clear that was his marketing price, which in the end was what we received. However, with several additional commissions and a trainer’s fee, Doc sold for a staggering 1.1 million Euros! Being the breeder of Doctor Wendell MF is the story of a dream— a fully licensed and approved stallion, a Grand Prix competitor. Pay off the farm mortgage, indeed.

e h t e v Sa

! e t Da

20117 2017 Adequan®/USDF Annual Annual Convention Convention Adequan®/USDF Welcome to our old Kentucky home

eTRAK Extra

Listen to Hagyard Equine Medical Institute Veterinarian Karen Wolfsdorf talk about embryo transfer and other options for mare owners.

November 29-December 2 Lexington, KY March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

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YOUNG & INSPIRED

NAJYRC: From Dream to Reality

By Meghan Miller

I

n 2010, when I first became serious about dressage, my trainer Jessica mentioned the North American Junior/ Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC).

My parents entertained the idea while I watched YouTube videos from NAJYRC and imagined myself there.

At the time, I could barely get my Arab on the bit, but I was ambitious!

Meghan and Remy

For the next five years, NAJYRC was a dream, but never the plan.

As much as I needed a horse to move up on, financially, it was just not possible to buy one. It was not until August of 2015 that we were contacted about a horse named Remington. He was huge, goofy, talented, and available for lease.

When I met Remy, I wasn’t thinking about NAJYRC. I had never shown above Second Level, but we quickly clicked and seemed to thrive under pressure.

We began to imagine the idea of qualifying for 2017. In preparation mode one evening, while I reread the selection procedures, I realized that though I would still be 21 in 2017, my December birthday made 2016 my last year as a Young Rider. I felt hopeless, but Jessica promised it was still a possibility.

My first qualifier was in March, a whole year earlier than we had planned to debut. It was a complete disaster, and yet, I left that show determined; on-

ward and upward! Many times throughout the grueling season, a particularly low score would convince me it was the end of my NAJYRC dream, but at the final qualifier, I pulled my scores up just enough to qualify. I knew I wouldn’t make the team, and it was frustrating that I didn’t have that extra year, but I was thrilled with my personal improvement.

Then, the unexpected happened. I’ll always remember the phone call. Two riders had declined their nominations, bumping me up to the fourth spot on USDF Region 3’s team. That was an emotional night. What an unexpected, amazing gift. I was going to NAJYRC! In the month between that moment and NAJYRC, we should have ramped up my training, but we spent that month resting Remy. An ultrasound revealed inflammation in some of the minor ligaments in his left front.

The prescription was rest, ice, and NSAIDs. The season had taken a toll, and despite joint injections, March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

YOUNG & INSPIRED

he was still not right. We departed for Colorado, with a questionably sound horse that I had not ridden in a month. I lunged him before the jog, and doubt started to creep back in my heart, but somehow, by the grace of God, he passed the jog and was deemed ready for competition the next day.

In warm-up for the individual test, Remy felt really good- fluid and responsive. But I couldn’t help feeling out of place, like I didn’t belong. I had unwisely looked up my competition on Centerline, which had shaken my confidence. I blocked out those unwelcome thoughts, and focused on riding. No matter the results, I was here and it was a gift.

The bell rang, and I cantered down centerline. I can count the number of ‘perfect’ tests I’ve ridden in my life on one hand… that rare kind of test that flows exactly like it’s supposed to. That day I rode one of those tests. The cheers of friends, family, and March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

YOUNG & INSPIRED

teammates registered distantly.

I was overcome with emotion knowing that it was the best test I had ever ridden. Walking back to the barn, I alternated between anxiety about the score and overwhelming gratitude for that moment and everything that lead up to it. Jessica was tearful but beaming. “I am so proud of you.”

I placed 7th individually, and participated in the awards ceremony I had been dreaming about since 2010. NAJYRC was magical. It was everything I’d ever hoped it would be, and more. I had made my dream a reality, and it made my other distant dreams seem a tiny bit more possible.

Podcast Alert

PODCAST

For more about NAJYRC listen to our podcast #137 usdf.podbean.com..

March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

COVERING GROUND

Badminton, Anyone?

By Nicole Landreneau Eiditor's Note: This article won first place for a GMO newsletter award for general-interest for GMOs with 75-174 members. It appeared in the July 21, 2016 issue of the Southern Eventing and Dressage Association newsletter, Bleeps.

I

n early May, I had a wonderful opportunity to visit some friends in England. They are an equestrian-friendly lot, and so part of that experience included a trip to the Badminton Horse Trials. Actually, it was the first thing we did after I got there: nothing like hitting the ground running on jet lag! I was quite eager to visit this famous competition both for the thrill of the event itself, and to see how it compared to my experiences at Rolex and Burghley a few years earlier. (Not a bad track record for a dressage rider!) We only went for the cross country day of the competition, but that certainly made the trip worthwhile.

As with any trip, part of the fun is getting there. The competition is held on the grounds of the Manor of Badminton. It’s a vast expanse of land with rolling hills, ponds, and beautiful vistas.

Oh, and a really big house (think Downton Abbey). The road going into the grounds isn’t exactly a major highway. (Note: get there early.) I would call it about a car and a half wide, but it’s turned into a two-lane thoroughfare that is bumper-to-bumper from the main highway to the parking fields. In several places, you had better hope you don’t have a breakdown as there is no shoulder: it’s pretty much stone wall, road, stone wall or thick hedge, road, thick hedge. It didn’t seem to be a problem for anyone, though, other than one little chap whose father had to, er, point him toward the hedges to prevent an ‘accident’ and then run half a mile up the line of cars to catch up to their ride. It made for some good comic relief while sitting in the traffic.

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COVERING GROUND

Knowing the slow pace of entry, show organizers do offer some entertainment for your drive, in the form of Badminton Radio, which you can catch

on your car radio. They have interviews with the riders, commentaries, and chats with some of the spectators. My friend and I were vastly humored with an

interview they did with a gal who was having her ‘hen party’ at the competition. (For those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s a bachelorette party. I myself had a

vastly different mental picture of a ‘hen party’ – something akin to blue haired ladies playing bridge –prior to the explanation. That whole ‘English language barrier’ thing, I guess.) We wondered if we would be able to spot these gals over the course of the day, and as it turned out, we couldn’t get away from them! It seemed that everywhere we looked, we spotted their pink Stetsons.

Once you finally get there, you park your car in one of several enormous fields. (Note: make a note of WHERE you parked. All the fields look the same.) And then you start walking. The place is huge! I was amazed at the turnout: there were thousands of people there, and it was a family-and-dog crowd which made for some interesting people and pet watching. For the shopping inclined, there’s a fabulous selection of vendors: if you cannot find what you are looking for there, then I’d say there is little hope for you! I am not kidding when I say we saw everything from stock pins and socks to washing machines and March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

COVERING GROUND

stoves. It was amazing. It was also packed. If you’re not a fan of large crowds, you may want to stay away from the vendor area.

Finding a souvenir that says ‘Badminton’ is a challenge, though.

The selection consists of baseball caps, a couple styles of shirts in small sizes, a shopping bag, and a couple of mugs. Marketing, apparently, is not their forte. Or I’m an American used to all manner of excessive merchandising. But, I digress.

After you get in, you develop a plan for the day. Basically, you make your way around the course and watch a couple of rides at each obstacle. To think that it takes you the entire day to walk the course and the horses finish in something like 11 minutes… it’s amazing! It’s so exciting to watch these world class competitors in person, galloping past and hurling themselves over these enormous jumps! All I can say is it takes a lot of courage and skill on the part of the rider, and a huge amount of trust on the part of the horse, to make it over these obstacles. Wow!

We totally lucked out with the weather. For the most part, it was warm and dry, which is apparently unseasonable for any season in England. There were a few sprinkles, and at one point there was a downpour on one part of the course, but we managed to miss that. I was glad for the good weather because I really didn’t want to see any spills. But, alas, even in a competition of this caliber, there are going to be a few refusals and mishaps. Thankfully, we didn’t see anyone get seriously injured, but there were some scary moments. One fence in particular, the Vicarage Vee, was very difficult. It was a very narrow fence with a tricky approach, a very tricky landing, and not much room for error. I didn’t see anyone ride that fence well.

One pair slid in the front ditch, one pair fell in the ditch on the far side, several nearly fell on the landing … it was very unnerving.

If I’d been riding, I’d have taken the alternate jump. But, realistically, I’ll never be riding that, so I won’t criticize…

It was just fantastic watch-

ing these athletes. I was humbled by the trust these horses have in their riders to jump over things so high and so wide, often they can’t see the far side and have no idea what they are landing in.

What a testimony to the partnership between horses and riders!

What was even more humbling was watching the warm-up area.

Warm-up my foot! Good grief!

The size of those warm-up jumps was intimidating; I just can’t even imagine putting myself over them!

Overall, it was a great experience. I loved seeing the competition live rather than as a televised event – the entire atmosphere is just so much more exciting in person! It was great to be so close to these world class riders, many of whom may likely be representing their countries in the Olympics in Rio. And I’d have to say that, simply because you’re an equestrian, if you get the opportunity – even if you’re not an eventing rider – it is definitely worth the effort to attend an international level horse trials. It’s an experience unlike any other.

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A F ARM

TO

P AY

IT

F ORWARD

by Ayden Uhlir

March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

I

rider to adult career. As youths, our parents are not only emotionally supportive of our goals, but they often financially support them and, more importantly, guide our actions. When we become adults, we strike out on our own. Yet, there are so many roads and new obstacles in adulthood that we haven’t previously faced.

I have struggled with many of these choices throughout the last two years.

A turning point in my journey came while attending the 2016 USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate Program (YRGP).

The weekend is designed to give participants a sort of crash course in “adulting” in our industry. You learn from experts about sponsorships, business contracts, tax laws, and other numerous options for directing and financing Podcast Alert

PODCAST

Ayden at the Nations Cup

have participated in many events, clinics, and educational programs during my years as a junior/young rider. The information and knowledge I learned was invaluable in helping me to achieve competitive success and emotional maturity through those formative years. However, at eighteen, after having won both Junior and Young Rider National and North American Championships, I was hit with an entirely new world. I had felt competent and secure in where I was and what I had achieved.

But, in the naiveté of my youth, I thought it would go on in the same way into adulthood. But then, so many things began to change, which put new pressures on me.

I had choices to make about college, selling my competition horse, where I would train, if I would take a working student position in Europe, and how I would continue to finance my dreams. I now know that these are the choices that we all have to make, in that phase from youth

Listen to Ayden and Genay talking about preparing for NAJYRC in episode 82 at usdf.podbean.com..

March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

From the left: Catherine Chamberlain, Ayden Uhlir, George Williams, and Jessica Hainsworth representing the USA as part of the first US Young Rider Team at Nations Cup in Hagan, Germany.

a future in the equine industry.

During the business discussions that weekend, I had a revelation: If I desire a life-long career in dressage, I was going to have

to do something dramatically different from my youth years.

My parents were not going to fund me forever and, in fact, they never had the ability to fund me

to the level I needed, in order to achieve my long term dreams of international competition. It was time I faced the adult reality that this sport is very expensive.

After the YRGP weekend, I changed my college major from psychology to business. I finished my season in Wellington, with my beloved horse Sjapoer, and then I made the heavy hearted decision to sell him. But, instead of my initial plan to sell him and buy a new young competition horse, I changed my strategy. I scoured real estate sites. I made calls to sellers about my plans. I eventually found my little slice of heaven, forty acres in Battle Creek, with three arenas and two beautiful barns with 33 stalls! I negotiated with the seller, and turned the money from the sale of my junior/young rider horse into a business that could support my long term dreams. It is a huge undertaking, I know.

But the YRGP gave me the courage and ideas on how to proceed and move forward. Without that spark, I don’t think I could have taken the leap.

Furthermore, having been the recipient of so much help from so many amazing groups like the USDF, USEF, The Dressage March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

The arena

The youth barn

The stalls

The paddocks

March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

Foundation, KWPN, and most importantly Dressage4Kids (D4K), I decided I needed to give back to the equestrian youth community. I needed to do my part to help with the goals of the YRGP, and help others make the transition and experience the revelation that I had.

So, I decided to donate one of the two barns (eleven stalls) and one arena to Lendon Gray and the D4K programs. We have already discussed having additional follow-up programs for youth transitioning to the adult ranks. We have discussed things like week-long clinics on topics like barn management, or weekend crash courses in being a working student.

Every day, I become more excited about all the opportunities

this adventure is bringing to me and other youth riders. Every day, I realize that while the transition is scary and hard, it is not only possible but exciting. There are so many people in the industry who want to help, and who care about our youth members and their industry goals. I have already had so many great trainers volunteer to come for clinics. I have already gotten support from all my sponsors, to be part of my programs.

Even the local feed stores and business are amazingly supportive.

I am so grateful for the advice, direction, and guidance, and can’t wait to be asked back some day to the future YRGP weekends, to share the stories of my adventures in property ownership.

Ayden and her horse, Sjapoer, from her first Wellington season.

SusanJStickle photo

March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

HEARD AROUND THE ARENA

What interesting or fun thing have you heard lately? Send it to us using #aroundthearena

People reported on the FEI World Cup Dressage Finals from Omaha, NE

March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

USDF FLASHBACK

Graf George Reprinted from the May 2015 USDF Connection magazine.

T

he remarkable Graf George helped to put American dressage on the map at two consecutive Olympic Games, under two different riders. Along the way he also made a star of a young Guenter Seidel, was touched by a scandal that rocked the horse world, and saw his last owners become strong supporters of the dressage sport.

Born in Germany in 1982, the gray Hanoverian gelding (Graphit–Mongolin, More Magic xx) was imported to the US as a three-year-old by Meg Hamilton of Hamilton Farms in Massachusetts. “George” was trained by Michael Poulin (himself a RoPodcast Alert

PODCAST

Check out podcast 74 and 75 about Graf George at usdf.podbean.com.

emer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame member), and together they earned many titles, culminating with a team bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

After the Olympics, George was sold to equestrian and cellular-phone-communications heir George Lindemann Jr. But in 1995 Lindemann was among those convicted of wire fraud in an infamous scheme involving the killing of high-dollar horses for the insurance money. Facing a prison term, Lindemann put George on the market.

A sale to a foreign country appeared imminent when Olympian (and now USEF dressage chef d’équipe) Robert Dover, concerned about the loss of a great asset to US dressage, contacted Californiabased dressage supporters Jane Brown and her late husband, Dick.

The Browns purchased the 14-yearold Graf George and gave the ride to the then 35-year-old Guenter SeGraf George with Guenter Seidel in Atlanta 1996 Shawn Hamilton/Clixphoto.com

March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

USDF FLASHBACK

Graf George with Michael Poulin at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics Shawn Hamilton/Clixphoto.com

idel, a native of Germany who had immigrated to the US and who was slowly making a name for himself in southern California and beyond.

Seidel and George clicked, and their partnership became one of the more celebrated ones in the dressage world. Just five months after their pairing, George took Seidel to his first Olympic Games, in Atlanta 1996, where they won team bronze and finished eighth individually. The pair went on to finish eighth at the 1997 Volvo World Cup Dressage Final and ninth at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome. George also won US Equestrian Team National Dressage Championship titles in 1993 (under Poulin) and 1998 (with Seidel), and he was the 1993 and 1998 USDF Grand Prix Horse of the Year—the first horse to earn that title twice at that level.

In 1998, Breyer Animal Creations immortalized the handsome gray with a model likeness, and Graf George was inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame in 2000. A photo of George March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

USDF FLASHBACK

and Seidel at the 1996 Olympics also graces the cover of The USDF Guide to Dressage.

Graf George died of organ failure at his retirement home in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, in 2008, at the age of 26.

I

n 2007, the Browns and Seidel reminisced about the great horse for the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame record.

Read on for excerpts from their conversations.

According to Dick Brown, Graf George gave them cause for concern during the prepurchase exam—in fact, he said, a veterinarian advised them against buying the horse because George’s legs appeared to be in bad shape.

“The day we bought him, if you knew nothing about horses, you’d say, ‘This horse is a wreck,’” Brown said. “We never gave up, and no one will ever know the pain he went through, performing. But nothing would stop him.”

Graf George was famously Graf George with Michael Poulin at the Festival of Champions

high-strung. Said Jane Brown: “We had heard stories about him and the fact that smoke came out of his ears when he went to a competition. We sort of didn’t believe it was possible, but it was more than possible. He grew as he went into a competition.”

It was Robert Dover who played matchmaker for the partnership, according to Seidel. Dover, who knew the horse, thought Seidel would be a good fit. He was right.

“My temperament combined [well] with his temperament,” Seidel said. “I think I’m a very calm, patient person—at least on a horse—and Graf George was very high-strung, full of himself, with a lot of attitude, and he needed someone who would just sit back and let him do his thing.”

At the time of their purchase of Graf George, the Browns were new to horse ownership, particularly of one with a resume like George’s. Jane Brown recalled the day he arrived at their facility in Rancho Santa Fe, CA: “I remember the day they March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

opened up the van. I thought, maybe we should salute, because this was an Olympic horse. We were very uncomfortable. Guenter was out of town, and George had been flown out with a groom.

He was so imposing when he came down the ramp that we just didn’t know what to do.”

As hot as he could be under saddle, George endeared himself to all in the barn as an attentionseeking imp who would pin Dick Brown against the stall wall in order to get his withers scratched.

“He was a bad boy with a fun side to him,” Seidel said. “He was never a mean horse. He was always up for a joke. If he found an excuse for a little buck or a nip, he would do that. He loved interaction with people.”

Because of George’s questionable legs and hot temperament, Seidel took care never to overtrain Graf George at home. But in competition, he learned the hard way not to back off.

“Robert [Dover] said, ‘When you warm up the horse for the show, when you think he’s tired and ready to go, gallop and warm

him up another half-hour until you feel he’s too tired. Because when you go around the ring and you hear the whistle or the bell, he will buck and get really fresh.’

We went to the first show, and I warmed up the horse. He was just beautiful; just perfect. And I thought, ‘I don’t want to do more with this horse. Why stress him more?’ I went in around the ring, the bell rang, and sure enough, he exploded; and he went in the ring and had some mistakes because he was too fresh.”

But George rallied for his most well-known appearance with Seidel, at the 1996 Olympic Games, at which the horse was the seasoned veteran and the rider was the neophyte.

“Going up to Atlanta to the Olympics, I had no international experience,” Seidel recalled. “I’d done the Pan American Games a couple of years before, but that was my only big experience. He did not do one thing wrong. Obviously the atmosphere at those kinds of shows and events is very electric and very hard for horses to take sometimes, but he really

gave it the best he could at that time. He went in and just gave it all.”

For Seidel, a career highlight with Graf George was the Grand Prix Special at those Games. “I thought it was so beautiful to ride. I felt so one with the horse; I could have ridden him all day long like this. It just felt so great.”

Graf George, said Seidel, was an incredible entrée to the world of international dressage competition.

“When you first arrive on the international scene, it really puts a stamp on your riding; and your peers, judges, everyone looks at you as a rider. I thought people looked at me as a good rider because of Graf George.”

Watch a video of Guenter Seidel and Graf George, WEG Rome 1998 here

w w w. u s d f.o r g

Advice, Guidance, & Insight TAILORED TO THE DRESSAGE COMMUNITY

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GMO SPOTLIGHT

Tell us about your GMO. #GMOSpotlight

Maryland Dressage Association (MDA) Group Member Organizations (GMOs) are the foundation of USDF and integral in bringing dressage and dressage education to the masses. Stay connected with your local dressage community and support dressage at the local level by joining a GMO in your area today!

USDF GMO Established: 1982 Locality: USDF Region 1, Maryland Website: www.marylanddressage.org

What type of educational events does your GMO offer?

We hold clinics and host a guest speaker at our annual banquet.

This year’s speaker was Dr. Carol Bossone, who did a presentation on Lyme Disease.

How many members does your GMO have annually, on average?

80-90 members

What type of “fun” events does your GMO offer?

We have two fun schooling shows a year that are always well attended. In August is the Summer Fun Show and riders are encouraged to dress up in a fun/summer outfit- we’ve seen coconut tops! The other fun schooling show is our Fall Fun Show, in October, where we have a costume class and invite the judge to judge the costumes, with everyone receiving a small prize.

Tell us about your GMO. We are celebrating more than 30 years of sharing a love of dressage through our club’s schooling shows and clinics. We sponsor one USDF-recognized show each year, as well as monthly schooling shows, for not only our members, but the local horse community. Our membership is a combination of professionals and amateurs, who all enjoy showing. We offer clinics, taught by local and regional professionals, for all levels.

Does your GMO offer unique classes or activities that cater to youth, adult amateurs, or professionals? If so, please provide a brief description.

We offer year end awards to young riders, and encourage youth participation by paying the fees for young riders at our clinics. We sponsor schooling shows and year end awards for adult amateurs and a “trainer of the year” award, for professionals who encourage their students to participate in our schooling shows.

Additional comments MDA offers educational scholarships annually. Our JBB scholarship for $300 is awarded to a member with outstanding club service, as a volunteer, towards the betterment of the club and its members. We also annually present four Caitlin Ben Dror Scholarships, awarding $300 to members based on 60% work credits and 40% scores, thus allowing those with more volunteer hours, rather than better scores, a higher chance of being awarded the scholarship.

March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE

Visit www.usdf.org for a list of GMOs in your area.

Support dressage and connect with your local dressage community by joining a USDF Group Member Organization today!

We Want Your Story YourDressage is a chance to share your story with the dressage community. We are looking for personal stories about you, your horse, or horse-related experience. Your story should be 600-1000 words and should be sent as a Word document. We will need photos to go with the story, with a preference for candid shots that are clear and well composed. Please submit photos as JPEG formatted files.

Also, if you have any video(s) that we can use, related to your story, make sure to include their hyperlinks.

Please send your submission or any questions via e-mail at epubs@usdf.org

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Note: USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear Search for a GMO by zip code when mounted. For complete rules regarding helmets refer to the gmo@usdf.org USEF Rule Book. Click here.

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For more information, check out the USDF Member Guide available on the USDF website and app.

March 2017 Z YOURDRESSAGE