3rd Annual Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage At The National Featured At 121st National Horse Show
Arlene ‘Tuny’ Page and Claire |
The sport of dressage, competed in the Olympic Games at the Grand Prix level, will be showcased at the 3rd Annual Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage At The National in its full range of competition classes, which includes Training through Fourth Level at the lower levels, as well as four international levels – Prix St. Georges, Intermediaire I and II, and Grand Prix.
More than 85 horses are entered in the dressage show. “The people coming are top-flight riders from the east coast,” said Show Secretary Mary Silcox of Stadium Jumping, Inc, the producer of the event. “I am actually very impressed by the entries. It will be a really, really nice horse show.” Some of the international caliber riders entered include: Arlene ‘Tuny’ Page, one of the top 12 US riders to qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympic Selection Trials; Betsy Steiner, who represented the US at the 1990 World Championships; Katherine Bateson aboard Rainier – Robert Dover’s Team Bronze Medal mount in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and one of the two mounts he qualified for the 2004 Athens Olympics Selection Trials; Jan Brons debuting his new mount Jourdan at Grand Prix; and Janne Rumbough, who will unveil her new PRE (Pure Spanish Andalusian) stallion Gorran. Showing several horses at various levels are top trainers Chris Hickey, Marco Bernal, and Mimi Block. “The Grand Prix looks to be hotly contested,” noted Silcox.
New this year is the breakout for each of the lower level classes. For the first time since the inception of the show, management elected to split the classes out so that all the lower levels have an Adult Amateur, Junior, and Young Rider class of their own in addition to the Open class. “The riders talked to me about doing this and it was important to them,” explained Silcox. “It’s double the amount of classes and work, but it’s worth it because it’s what the riders really want.”
A unique class offered for the second consecutive year is the brainchild of sponsor and rider Joe Zada. Entitled the ‘Zada Enterprises Take Your Own Score’, the class allows riders to compete at the level of their choice, from Training Level through Grand Prix, but the twist is that they must declare in writing before their ride what they think their score will be. The rider whose declared score is closest to her actual score as posted by the judges will be the winner. Prize money for the class is $500.
A highlight of the dressage show and the traditional crowd-pleaser is ‘Freestyle Sunday’, December 5, when exhibitors ride to music in uniquely choreographed programs.
Riders aiming for the Regional Championships in dressage will have the opportunity to notch scores towards qualification. Qualifying classes for the GAIG/USDF Regional Championships (Great American Insurance Group/United States Dressage Federation) are offered at every level.
Dressage competition will be held in the Mogavero Arena starting at 8:00 AM daily, December 3-5. Officiating are three ‘S’ level judges: Jeanne McDonald of Pennsylvania, and Canadians Lorraine McDonald and Brenda Minor. Klaus Fraessdorf is the Show Manager. Total prize money for the 3rd Annual Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage At The National is $7,000.
For more information about the 121st National Horse Show & Family Festival, write to National Horse Show, PO Box 386, Greenvale, NY 11548. E-mail: NationalHS@aol.com; Phone: (516) 484-1865; Fax: (516) 484-1982. Web: www.nhs.org.
121ST NATIONAL HORSE SHOW & FAMILY FESTIVAL FAST FACTS
WHAT: 121st National Horse Show & Family Festival
WHEN: November 30 – December 5, 2004
WHERE: Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, Wellington, Florida
TICKETS:
866-NHS-SHOW or on the web at www.nhs.org
THE EVENT:
The 121st National Horse Show & Family Festival is one of two shows produced by The National Horse Show Association of America, Ltd.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Palm Beach Post National Welcome Stake, CSI*** (December 1)
National Horse Show Championship, CSI-W presented by Chesapeake Petroleum (December 3)
AGA Championship, CSI*** presented by Chesapeake Petroleum (December 5)
THE FACILITY:
The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club is the home of the Winter Equestrian Festival and the site of the first outdoor Nations’ Cup held in the United States. The competition areas include the 400’ x 400’ grass Internationale Arena, which is surrounded by bermed seating, chalets, and VIP areas; plus the Bertalan DeNemethy Arena and Grand Hunter Field, both with all weather footing. Amenities include the Diamond Horseshoe Club VIP area.
DIRECTIONS:
Approaching the show grounds from the Florida Turnpike, take Exit #93, Lake Worth Blvd., and travel west, crossing over 441. Travel five miles to South Shore Blvd., turn right on South Shore and proceed one mile to Pierson Road, then turn left at the light. Spectator Entrance is first left, on Equestrian Road. Approaching the show grounds from Interstate I-95, take Exit 49. Travel west on Forest Hill Blvd. 11 miles to South Shore Blvd. Turn left on South Shore and follow to Pierson Road. Turn right at the light on Pierson. Spectator Entrance is first left – Equestrian Road.