YourDressage
May 2018
Kimberly Clark's love of Thoroughbreds has made her an advocate for retiring racehorses
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.
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The 2018 USDF Online Stallion Guide is now LIVE!
2018 USDF Online Stallion Guide A Foal of Your Own Dreaming of breeding your mare? Read our primer on the process first.
A Showcase for the Dressage Sport Horse The 2017 USDF Breeders Championship Series Finals Statistics
Achieving the End Goal The 2017 Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Championships Breed Statistics and Information
High Performance The 2017 US Dressage Finals Presented
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.
by Adequan® Breed Statistics and Information
This annual online stallion guide is released by the United States Dressage Federation for the dressage community. Available through both the USDF website and the USDF app, the Online Stallion Guide includes: • • •
Featured Breeding Article, Breeding Statistics from USDF competitions, and Index of Progeny of Advertised Stallions.
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.
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What to See Inside Departments engagement: Hurricane on Her Parade Martie Healy was faced with one of the worst things that a show manager can go through, a hurricane. My time to ride: More is a Four-Letter Word Jody Wilson loves to compete and being at the 2017 U.S. Dressage Finals presented by AdequanÂŽ was a challenge that left her wanting more. YOUNG & INSPIRED: Convention from a Youth Perspective Callie Jones attended the 2017 AdequanÂŽ/USDF Annual Convention on a youth scholarship. She gives us her perspective on the event. Heard ARound the Arena: Events and Happenings The Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event was very popular with people, as well as several other happenings going on in the dressage community. GMO SPOTLIGHT: Delaware Valley Combined Training Association Take a look at this group member organization. USDF flashback: Margarita "Migi" Serrell In the early 1960s, dressage was little known or respected in the US. Margarita Serrell was one of a few dedicated enthusiasts who sought to promote and develop the sport in this country.
Cover story For the Love of the Thoroughbred
Kimberly Godwin Clark's love of horses and particularly Thoroughbreds has turned into a life long pursuit to help retired racehorses find new homes and careers. Cover photo by Katherine Turnbull. May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
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Hurricane on Her Parade By Martie Healy
Once I got to Williamston, on Wednesday, things got real. ntries were in, the schedule was The little bitty tropical storm had finished (and oh, so pretty), turned into a Category 4 hurricane the stabling was done, and all was and was heading our way – just in posted online, with barely a query time to collide with the cold front from competitors. Prizes, ribbons, that didn’t seem to know it was and radios were shipped. Staffing supposed to get out of the way. We was complete. My car was packed went ahead setting up for the show and bluetoothed to the nines, – getting the stalls tagged, setting iPod at the ready, and off I went rings, setting up the office, setting for what was promising to be a up the worker’s check-in and the marvelous championship show in awards table… all the while, ditherWilliamston, at the Senator Bob ing about the weather. Martin Agricultural Center. I had, At first, the big question was naturally, been watching the weath- simply ‘Should the judges be in er and was feeling pretty good the gazebos or in vehicles under tents?’ week before the show. Yes, there It quickly became apparent that the was a little bitty tropical storm way gazebos were out. So, I jumped on down in the islands – but, it wasn’t the phone to find marquee tents going to bother North Carolina! – tents that would give cover to a And, yes, there was a cold front vehicle and be able to stand up to coming – but it was just going to rain and wind – with success! Yay! wet the rings and bring crisp, cool The facility had already sealed the weather for the show…or so I rings. All appeared good, but the thought, as I merrily drove to the weather continued to deteriorate show grounds. Looking back, I and the governor declared a State marvel at how naïve and innocent I of Emergency. Oh, dear. was on that drive. Competitors started e-mailing, texting, and calling, mostly reMartie
E
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engagement
Lynn Kerin, NCDCTA vice president makes a presentation. High Time Photography
minding me about Hurricane Floyd and North Carolina flooding, and asking if the show was going to go on. ‘Oh Yes! We are running!’ said Pollyanna (me). Then, we entered what I like to think of as the ‘Divination Period’. We looked at every weather forecast we could find, we pored over maps with incomprehensible isobars and computer model lines, we discussed, we wavered, we changed positions. We continued to discuss more, until finally, late on Thursday, we decided that we could not ask our competitors to risk themselves and their horses driving/hauling to and from the competition, and we chose to cancel the show. To our amazement, the facility said we could reschedule in three weeks. A flurry of activity ensued – competitors had to be notified, officials, workers, catering, vendors, EMTs – who was I forgetting? Reschedule, reschedule! I fell into bed Thursday night, only to awaken with a start at one in the morning – oh no, the judges! I didn’t remember getting a confirmation from my two “S” judges May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
engagement
High Time Photography
who were coming in from the west, and I didn’t want them getting on an airplane in the morning! So there I was, texting at 1 AM, so thankful of the time zone change. By Friday morning, I had hired two new “S” judges for the new date, posted notices on websites and on Facebook, re-opened the online entries, answered a TON of e-mails/texts, and Olga and I started packing up the show. Keith Whitaker, at the facility, generously offered to store all of our stuff, and there’s a lot of it, for the three weeks. We could even leave the outdoor rings up (assuming they weathered the hurricane). Saturday, I sadly drove back home. The hotels in Williamston were a bright, shining spot of relief in the whole mess. The hotels learned of the reschedule and moved all the horse show reservations to the new weekend, without even being asked. I had two rooms at the Days Inn as pre-pays, which I figured the show would have to absorb the cost of, but instead, the Days Inn called me and asked if I wanted to move the
reservations to the new weekendunsolicited. I could not have been more thrilled, happy, and appreciative of all the Williamston folks! Next came the hard part; when competitors started contacting me. “I can’t make the reschedule date!” “I need to make changes.” “I have a new horse to come to the show.” “I can’t come to the new date. Can I get a refund?” That last one was the question I dreaded the most, because there are no refunds after the closing date of a recognized show, for any reason. So many expenses are already a done deal, bought and paid for, that most shows cannot offer refunds. In this scenario, it was especially bad since, with a reschedule, we would have many duplicate expenses. However, in this particular case, the NCDCTA board showed true compassion and determined that those who had to scratch, due to scheduling conflicts with the new date, would get a full refund, minus only their office fee. Thousands of kudos to the board for their generosity! So, as the new show date fast May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
engagement
approached, I quickly got back to work. Redo the schedule, redo the stabling, recreate and reprint the show program, re-staff the show, contact USEF and USDF, talk to judges, vendors, sponsors, and send out e-mail after e-mail. My to-do list seemed quite long! Then, the time came for me drive back up to Williamston, for the second take of this show. And, what a marvelous show it was! The weather was beautiful, the competitors were all so happy to be there, and most, if not all, achieved
personal best scores. We gave away tons of ribbons, prizes, and prize money, and we even awarded double Horse of the Year points. In my opinion, it was the best little show ever! So many competitors came up to me to thank me for rescheduling. Jeanne Karver (champion of both Open Third Level and Open Fourth Level in the 2015 NCDCTA Championships) said, “We were going to scratch from the show, as we did not want to risk the drive, and there was so much flooding
around my farm. We are so happy that you decided to reschedule and we could come after all!” Elizabeth Moore (third place in the Open Intermediate I Level) said, “Thank you for putting the welfare of the horses first.” Briana Atwell (champion of Open Intermediate I) stated, “You made the right decision!” Susie Wiedman, who couldn’t make the rescheduled date, posted on Facebook, “The weather driving to and from the show this weekend would most likely have been very treacherous. A huge thank you to Martie Healy, Olga T. Wagner, Lynn Hickman Kerin, and NCDCTA for looking out for the best interests of horses and riders!” Despite the chaos that ensued from the weather, their replies are what make it all worthwhile.
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my time to ride
More is a Four-Letter Word By Jody Wilson
B
entley and I just returned from the 2017 U.S. Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®, where we competed in the Intermediate 1 Open Championship class. It is always exciting to be at a big event like this. I love to compete and so did everyone else who was there. The atmosphere was very festive with quality vendors, decorations, and excited chatter, as friends from all over the country got to see each other. An arctic cold front had just arrived and the air was very, very cold. Bentley was about to have to put on his big boy pants and get his indoctrination to CDI style scoring, and holding his own against some of the best horses competing at I-1 in the country. We were there on a wild card invitation, based on his high score at the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Dressage Championships earlier this fall. On Thursday, we did a warmup in the Open I-1 class. It was out-
side, windy, and bitter cold. I could barely move my fingers, after the class was over. It was a long walk from the Alltech barn to the competition ring. A ten-minute walk in the freezing cold, on a clipped, fit horse surrounded by carts, machinery, lunging, and riding horses, is a bit nerve wracking. Luckily, Bentley kept his act together and we arrived to the warm-up ring in one piece. Unfortunately, I failed to allow enough time to have a focused walk warm-up, in addition to the walk from the barn. I found myself only having time to warm up some of the movements. Without my usual warm-up routine to develop the suppleness and half halts that are the true foundation of any test, I could only perform tricks. So, in the show ring, I had a very stiff, cold horse that resolutely did my bidding, but without the suppleness needed to satisfy the directives of the test. We scored in the sixties, but it was an unremarkable test. I knew we needed moremore warm-up, more suppleness, more time. May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
my time to ride
The next day, it was even colder, and the draw for my championship ride time was late afternoon. I decided to do an early morning warm-up. The only allowable warm-up arena, for schooling a horse that is not showing, was a long ways away from stabling. It was even colder, but I was determined to give Bentley more time to loosen up, without the deadline of a test. Tami Crawford, saint that she is, bared the cold and marched along with us. She really helped, by staying focused on how his body responded to my work, me get the job done with great feedback. This was a gamble. I had to balance helping him be ready to put in a solid test, with not using up his energy or good nature. Time ticked by slowly, and late that afternoon, I started my test warm-up. It went much better than the day before, though there was still some residual tension, but it was much better. I decided the morning warm-up ride paid off. Finally, my time arrived and we entered the stadium arena. The
jumbotron was huge. There were judges at C, M, and B, along with cameras and lots of people and activity everywhere in the stands. I was so proud and happy to be there, and to compete. The whistle blew and in I went. So how was the test? Well, it was good. Did I mention I went off course? I never go off course... except for that ride. The truth is, I was so busy congratulating myself for making a very lovely corner after the first extended trot, that I just rode right by the turn-up centerline I was supposed to make… and I had to make the dreaded circle of shame! Two points off the final percentage score, so my final score went from a 62 to a 60. Note to self... save congratulations for great corners until after the final salute. What would have made this a higher score in an open class event like this? The answer is “more.” More suppleness, more uphill balance, more thrust from behind, more self carriage. More, more, more. May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
my time to ride
But despite the need for more, I have come home feeling like my green FEI horse successfully put his toe into the big pond of dressage. I have my homework to do now, before winter Wellington show season. I have to give myself the same lecture I give my students- it is not about the tricks, it is about the development of a beautiful, generous, big-hearted, dancing partner. Bentley’s suppleness, strength, and power will be what transform him into a true contender. Now I’m home, and bundled up with a cup of tea and a good book. Bentley had some turnout this afternoon, in his pasture, and a yummy horse dinner. He is settled and relaxed, as well. All is good in my world and right now, I couldn’t ask for more.
Click here to go to a recap and the results of the 2017 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan®
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YOUNG & INSPIRED
Convention from a Youth Perspective By Callie Jones
A
ttending the 2017 AdequanÂŽ/ USDF Annual Convention was such a great opportunity for me. It was so much fun meeting other aspiring youth and being able to sit in on the meetings, to learn about current happenings within USDF and the sport of dressage. Receiving the USDF Youth Convention Scholarship is such an honor, and being that this is my first year sitting in on the meetings, I am already looking forward to attending in 2018! My mom and I arrived in Lexington late, Thursday night. On Friday morning, we ate breakfast and then, I attended my first meeting, which was the Competition Open Forum with a Q&A. This meeting was very interesting, as we learned what to do and what not to do when preparing for and riding in a musical freestyle, judge and rider responsibilities, and things to do to make sure you do not get eliminated. After this meeting, my mom and I were able to spend the afternoon exploring Lexington and May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
YOUNG & INSPIRED S AV E T H E D AT E !
catching up with family. Friday night, we attended the featured education session with Dr. David Horohov. He focused on “Equine Vaccinations: What, When and Why?” He began by giving us a brief overview of the types of cells in a horse’s body and what their main functions are. Next, Dr. Horohov explained what a vaccination’s ultimate purpose is, then went on to explain the three types of vaccinations that are given to horses, as well as the pros and cons of each. Finally, he talked about the factors that affect immune responses and went into detail on each. Dr. Horohov ended with his “FAQs”, which included “Why do we vaccinate so often?”, which I found very interesting. This was very educational, and I really enjoyed it! On Saturday morning, the first meeting I attended was the Board of Governors General Assembly. It was such a unique experience, being able to listen to some of the current issues within the sport of dressage and the changes that are to come within the next few years. Next, I went to the Youth Education
meeting with Charlotte BredahlBaker and Rosalind Kinstler. They focused on “Clinics: Getting the Biggest Bang for Your Buck.” They gave some great tips on how to pick clinicians that will suit you, your horse, and your training needs. They also allowed us to interact with each other and explain how we pick which clinics to attend, and how to take home what we learned. Charlotte also explained that when she teaches a clinic, it is a requirement that everyone must watch the other riders. I thought this was a great tip because you can get a lot of information from watching other riders. You can see their strengths and weaknesses and find ways to correct them, which you can apply to yourself. Another great tip that Charlotte mentioned, which really stuck with me, was to ride a test, video it, and then judge it yourself, to “become your own judge.” This will help develop your eye and allow you to identify the things you are struggling with and little details that you might have forgotten about. The next meeting was the
Youth Open Forum. This is where I had the opportunity to meet the other USDF Youth Scholarship recipients. In this meeting, the main focus was on how to get youth involved and ways we can spread the word about upcoming clinics. We also discussed the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships and upcoming changes that will be made. Finally, on Saturday night, I attended the Salute Gala and Annual Awards Banquet. It was so nice being able to catch up with old friends and seeing all their accomplishments for 2017. It was also very cool being able to see Lilo Fore being inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame. She is such an inspiration and an asset to the sport. I received my silver medal and my silver freestyle bar, which was such an honor, and an accomplishment I will always remember. I had so much fun at the convention, and I can’t wait to see what next year has in store. Thank you again to USDF for the scholarship that has allowed me to continue my dressage education!
2018 Adequan®/USDF Annual Convention November 28-December 1 Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek Salt Lake City, UT
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For the Love of the Thoroughbred by Kimberly Godwin Clark
Katherine Turnbull Photo
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F
rom the first moment I saw a horse, I wanted to be near them. My mother would plan routes to my grandparents’ house, or the mall, expressly to avoid Sagamore Farm, where there were many Thoroughbreds grazing in the fields. She would choose a longer route because it wasn’t worth dealing with my campaign to have a horse, which would begin as soon as I saw the horses at Sagamore, and continue sometimes for the duration of the entire trip. I can remember reacting this way as early as age five. Aside from very few precious riding lessons for my sixth birthday, and some uneducated riding in my teens, I would not have the relationship I craved with horses until I reached my twenties. I didn’t know it at the time, but Thoroughbreds would become my life. At eighteen years old, when I was in college, I found myKimberly. Katherine Turnbull Photo
self around someone who had horses. My insatiable attraction to them was reignited. I thought I was too old to be a good rider, but now I had the chance to be around horses and at least learn the basics of riding. It wasn’t long before I was cleaning stalls to pay for my own horse’s board. Then, I found someone to teach me to gallop racehorses. What could be better? However, everyone I talked to told me I was too old. They said I wouldn’t have the heart for it. They didn’t know horses were in my DNA. I had never been more certain about wanting to do anything. I ignored the naysayers and began cleaning stalls, and doing anything I could, to get my new connections—John Bosley and Ann Merryman—to teach me to gallop racehorses, and they did! On a farm in Monkton, galloping the most magnificent creatures on earth, my dream became a reality. I was where I had always wanted to be. Racehorses May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
Ya at Hollywood Casino at Penn National. B & D Photograhpy
Ya learning dressage
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gave me a wonderful life through my forties and beyond, as a rider, trainer, and owner. They took me to Florida, where I galloped for several winters, and back to Sagamore, where I operated a business starting young horses. During this time, my love and appreciation for the Thoroughbred never waned- it only grew. When I turned 39 years old, I met a man willing to put up with my commitment to horses. Upon our marriage, my mother’s advice to him was, “Whatever you do, don’t try to get between her and the horses.” He didn’t. Instead, he enabled me to start helping them find new lives, once their race careers ended. This wonderful man, who had never owned a horse, was all in for helping them, and still is. In order to help the horses coming off the track, I needed to learn about riding show horses. While most people learn to ride as a child or teen, I had learned in Ya, a five-year-old gelding
my twenties. Now, I was in my forties and learning dressage and jumping. I didn’t have any time to waste at my age, so I enlisted the help of James C. Wofford to learn to jump. I evented, participated in dressage shows, and found good homes for over a thousand retired racehorses along the way. I did this by founding Thoroughbred Placement Resources, Inc. (TPR), a 501(c)(3) charity, and working very hard to become a proficient rider. My goal has always been to showcase the incredible talent and generosity of the Thoroughbred, and especially retired racehorses. TPR has produced talented athletes like Constant Star, winner of the Breeder’s Bridge to High Performance Contest for Grand Prix jumping potential. This contest was held by John and Beezie Madden and open to all breeds. Star now belongs to Olympic gold medalist Tad Coffin. Rocky Times, who Katie Ruppel has developed into a four-star eventer, is another TPR graduate. May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
We continue to expand our reach, in finding good homes for this wonderful breed, by participating in the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover. I consider it an honor to be accepted as a trainer for this year’s Makeover, and I know it will be a special year for us because we already have two potential horses for the dressage division. Choosing one for the Makeover is going to be very difficult, but fortunately we have until August to decide. As horses often do, they will probably decide for us! Both horses came to us from an owner who is a credit to racing, Al Gold. Al operates a successful racing stable. What makes him special is his commitment to finding a home for each of his horses, upon their retirement from racing or breeding. Al sent us our Makeover prospects in the fall of 2017. One is a five-year-old gelding named Ya, who retired sound from racing in September. He has already begun training and is wonderful. The other, Scatjack, is a Scatjack, a three-year-old
three-year-old who arrived with an injury. Because of Al’s commitment to his horses, he received the time and care he needed to heal. He is about to begin training, with an excellent prognosis for a problemfree future. Besides working with these two talented horses, I am also training Mystical Harbor, or “Fellow” as we call him. We are competing successfully in dressage, at Third Level, under the tutelage of Linda Zang and Patrick Tigchelaar. In 2017, I earned my USDF Bronze Medal on this amazing horse—a horse I have trained since the beginning of his career. By developing these and other breed ambassadors, we hope to increase the popularity and value of Thoroughbreds. We believe this is the best way to help all retired racehorses and the people who love them. Click here to go to the Thoroughbred Placement Resources website May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
Heard around the arena
What interesting or fun thing have you heard lately? Send it to us using #aroundthearena
The Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event is always a favorite for the horse community at large, as well as dressage enthusiasts.
May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
Heard around the arena
What interesting or fun thing have you heard lately? Send it to us using #aroundthearena
The dressage community checked in on social media to let us know what they were doing
May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
GMO SPOTLIGHT
Tell us about your GMO. #GMOSpotlight
Delaware Valley Combined Training Association 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: 1965 Locality: Region 1, Pennsylvania Website: www.dvcta.org How many members does your GMO have annually, on average? 300 members Tell us about your GMO. The Delaware Valley Combined Training Association (DVCTA) is an organization of over 200 individuals who share a common interest in horses and the related activities of Combined Training (known popularly as eventing) and dressage. Some of us ride, some of us compete, some breed and train, and others just love being around horses. While our members come from all over the US, as well as several foreign countries, we are primarily active in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, Northern Delaware, and Northeastern Maryland. The story goes that the DVTCA was conceived over coffee in someone's kitchen in 1965. It was originally an "adult Pony Club" (and until 1997, members had to be at least fourteen years old). The membership roster in 1966 was composed of eighteen people, most of whom were total strangers to each other. DVCTA's first event was held that year ,where "the scoring and pinning could not be done until all the riding was over and the horses cared for, because the competitors had to do the scoring and pinning too." DVCTA is a founding member of USDF and the Gladstone Team Competitions, and has been responsible for such programs as the USCTA Event Evaluations, which were started on a local level by the
DVCTA inspired Local Organizers Meeting, held in 1976. DVCTA is also responsible for the creation of Dressage at Devon (DaD) in 1975, which is the largest breed show/CDI in North America. Starting with the 2006 show, DaD became a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation. While still maintaining a strong working relationship, DaD and DVCTA now operate as separate entities. The majority of the DaD committee members are members of DVCTA, and DVCTA still supplies strong volunteer corps to the show. Famous members over the years include Bruce Davidson, Phillip Dutton, Paul Belasik (author), Todd Fletrich, Harry Gill, David Goodman, Scott Hassler, Mary Hazzard, Marilyn Heath, Chris Hickey, Mary Alice Malone, Silva Martin, Edith Master, Karen and David O'Connor, Lars Petersen, Jessica Ransenhousen, and John Winnett. Does your GMO offer unique classes or activities that cater to youth, adult amateurs, or professionals? If so, please provide a brief description. DVCTA offers clinics on everything from groundwork to bit fitting for youth, adult amateurs, and professionals. Our proximity to University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center Hospital allows us access to lectures given by their expert veterinarians throughout the year. While DVCTA stopped running their own dressage schooling shows, they now "sanction" four show series in the area. Members can earn year end awards by participating in sanctioned schooling shows. Working to get back to our eventing roots, DVCTA has partnered with a professional event trainer to offer cross-country schooling sessions and, eventually, a few schooling shows at a local farm. We offer May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
USDF 2018 Member Perks Partners one USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized show each season and also run a championship schooling show in the fall season. We keep our thirty juniors and young riders busy, throughout the year, by offering them access to riding clinics, the opportunity to attend a week-long eventing camp, and Lendon Grey’s Dressage4Kids competition. In recent years, the DVCTA quadrille team has become a favorite pastime for the club. Teams have performed at every level, from Training to FEI. Each team consists of anywhere between four-fifteen horses that perform exhibition rides at prestigious events, within our region. Various themes have been presented; Salute to our Country, Fighting Breast Cancer, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Uptown Funk, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Chorus Line, western dressage, and our juniors did a "Peanuts" theme on four matching Haflinger ponies. Performance venues have included DaD, Fair Hill International, Jersey Fresh CDI, Plantation Field's BEST.EVENT.EVER, PVDA Ride for Life's Dancing Horse Challenge, and our annual DVCTA recognized Spring Dressage Show. What type of educational events does your GMO offer? DVCTA hosts clinics (mounted and unmounted), a veterinarian lecture series, various judges programs (musical freestyle and L Program), dressage competition "viewing" parties, as well as a year-end banquet that include Adult Amateur, professional, Jr/YR, Master, and volunteer awards in the categories of schooling dressage, recognized dressage, rider medals, western dressage, and recognized/unrecognized eventing. What type of “fun” events does your GMO offer? DVCTA holds quadrille performances and “play-dates”, sanctioned dressage schooling shows, a USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized show each year, and cross-country schooling.
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USDF FLASHBACK
Margarita "Migi" Serrell Reprinted from the April 2016 USDF Connection magazine.
city of Saratoga Springs. It was there that she would help make American dressage history. n the early 1960s, dressage was In Saratoga, Serrell befriendlittle known or respected in ed other dressage enthusiasts, the US. Margarita “Migi” Noble including future Roemer FounSerrell (1917-2008) was one of dation/USDF Hall of Famer Dr. a few dedicated enthusiasts who Max Gahwyler, who lived not far sought to promote and develop from Serrell in Darien, CT. The the sport in this country. The friends began riding in Saratoga dressage organization she found- and enjoying the city’s cultural ed would become the first in offerings, including as the sumthe country to launch a national mer home of the New York City educational program, and it was a Ballet. forerunner to the USDF. In 1967, eager to further their Serrell, a nearly lifelong residressage educations, Serrell and dent of Greenwich, CT, rode from her friends made what she called an early age and served as joint a trial effort at hosting a dressage master of the Fairfield/Westches- seminar in Saratoga. As she told ter Fox Hounds before developUSDF Connection in 2002: “One ing a love of dressage. She evensummer, we got together a couple tually progressed to the Grand of guinea pigs who wanted to Prix level, becoming something become acquainted with another of a rarity among American dres- level of riding. Things went so sage riders of her time. well during those first two and Like many New York City half weeks that we said, Let’s not metropolitan-area residents, let this go, and let’s put it together Serrell liked to beat the summer the next summer. Guess who heat by escaping to the upstate everyone looked at?” Serrell thus New York resort and horse-racing was put in charge of the effort,
I
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USDF FLASHBACK
and she would serve for six years as president of the organization she created, which she called the American Dressage Institute. Serrell herself provided most of the funding for the ADI’s inaugural seminar, a three-week program held in Saratoga in 1968. Then-Spanish Riding School of Vienna director Col. Hans Handler, a friend of Gahwyler’s, was the clinician. The ADI Dressage Seminar initially attracted riders from New England and the MidAtlantic, but word spread and soon riders were coming from as far away as California and New Mexico to learn. The organization even developed a symbiotic relationship with the New York City Ballet. The late George Balanchine, the legendary NYCB director, loved the Spanish Riding School’s Lipizzan stallions. Although Balanchine’s dream of having his dancers perform with the Lipizzans never materialized, Serrell at the 1978 USDF convention
he did arrange for a 1967 publicity photo of himself and thenNYCB prima ballerina Suzanne Farrell en pointe next to a stallion and his rider. Then-NYCB general director Lincoln Kirstein became board chairman of the ADI, as well; ADI letterhead from that time even bears the address of Lincoln Center, the New York City home of the NYCB.
Education and Beyond Serrell and her fellow ADI supporters dreamed that the organization would become a true US national dressage academy. In her 1969 letter to the ADI membership, she wrote hopefully: “Our goal of a school whose sole purpose is to teach the correct basic elements of classical dressage seems to be almost within our grasp and points the way toward putting the USA in the running again on an International level.” For a time, it seemed as if the dream might come true. The May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
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dents, maintaining, the while, our own identity.” The Skidmore College Riding Center, with ADI facilities, did indeed open in July 1971, with Serrell and other ADI and dressage dignitaries attending the opening ceremony and dressage performances. The ADI went on to conduct several week-long sessions from the riding center’s opening until its eventual dissoluAmerican Dressage Institute president Migi Serrell addresses the audience at the 1971 tion in 1978. Gahwyler took over opening of the Skidmore College Riding Center and ADI facility in Saratoga Springs, NY from Serrell as president in 1973 and served until the ADI’s clos1969 ADI seminar drew 17 riders in her 1969 letter: “Skidmore ing. Under his watch, the ADI’s and 10 auditors from 15 states, College [in Saratoga Springs] is most significant achievement was according to Serrell’s letter. Many planning a new riding center to well-known riders and trainers be, hopefully, ready in the spring the hiring of the late Swedish Col. Bengt Ljungquist as its head inwere ADI “graduates,” among of 1971. A.D.I. has agreed to them FEI 5* dressage judge and raise $50,000 toward the building structor, and the subsequent ADI Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall fund which would insure [sic] us sponsorship of dressage training of Fame inductee Linda Zang, permanent riding facilities where sessions at Hamilton Farm in Gladstone, NJ, headquarters of the Olympian and fellow Hall of we can teach twelve months of Famer Michael Poulin, the late the year. In return for this money, United States Equestrian Team (now USET Foundation). FEI-level competitor and judge A.D.I. would have ten box stalls, The ADI had a vision that Alexsandra Howard, and judge an office, indoor school and our went beyond dressage education, Thomas Poulin. own teaching staff, available to Even more tantalizing was all at any pre-arranged time, plus and with Serrell’s help it too became a reality. In that same 1969 the thought of a permanent ADI additional outdoor arenas and letter to ADI members, she wrote: riding school. As Serrell reported housing for non-resident stu-
“There is no reason to doubt that, with proper facilities and first rate staff, ADI could produce a rider and a horse of Olympic quality for 1972, and perhaps even two for 1976.” Surpassing Serrell’s hopes, the US was able to field an entire dressage team for the 1976 Olympics; and Hilda Gurney/Keen, Dorothy Morkis/Monaco, and Edith Master/Dahlwitz brought home the bronze medal—the first US Olympic dressage medal since 1948. The ADI footed the $20,000 bill to send the team to Montreal.
A Lasting Legacy Serrell proved instrumental in the establishment of the USDF, as well. Representing both the ADI and the Westchester-Fairfield Dressage Society, she attended the USDF founding meeting in 1973 and continued to attend USDF annual meetings as a delegate for some years to come. As the USDF took hold and grew, it became evident that the May 2018 Z YOURDRESSAGE
USDF Store American dressage community at the time was not able to sustain two national dressage organizations. According to Gahwyler, with a membership of about 500, the ADI was unable to keep pace with the USDF’s numbers, and the ADI’s run ended in 1978. But through her creation of the ADI, Serrell sowed the seeds of a wider-ranging effort to educate American dressage riders, trainers, and instructors. Today, the USDF Instructor/Trainer Program helps to carry on the ADI legacy of developing classicallytrained teachers and trainers. In recognition of her seminal efforts in developing dressage in the US, the Roemer Foundation/ USDF Hall of Fame inducted Serrell in 2003.
Sidley Payne and ADI president Migi Serrell perform at the ADI/Skidmore College Riding Center opening in 1971
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YOUR CONNECTION TO DRESSAGE EDUCATION • COMPETITION • ACHIEVEMENT © John Borys Photography
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