Fumella Frostbite's Dressage - July 2005 Issue

Summer is here so naturally Fumella brings you only the hottest news.  And this little buzz is burning to be told. Yes, it’s true Bent Jensen has just returned from Denmark the proud owner of a new Danish stallion. You remember he lost his beloved, Rockefeller just a few months back.  Well, ooh la la is his new charge eye-candy.  Bent’s new four-year-old stallion is none other than the 2005 winner of the Best Danish Bred and Approved Stallion Award, Cassidy.  His leggy and refined so it’s not surprised he scored an overall 9 in his stallion testing.  But after riding him twice a giddy Bent, assures us that Cassidy is the perfect 10! He’ll arrive in Florida after Devon in early October.  He’ll be one to watch for.  

And Bent isn’t just burning up in the sale barn.  He and three students dominated the upper level classes at the recent VADA Nova Summer Dressage show in Virginia. Bent won the I-1 with a 70% on Colombo with student’s Kelly Corrigan, Nicole Levy, and Vanessa Swartz finishing right behind in second, third and fourth place respectfully. Bent and student, Erin Moran first and second in every Fourth level class too.  It’s great to see Bent and company on top.

Other news from Denmark and Sweden, Lynda Alicki made her Grand Prix debut in Europe with Carol Cohen’s new stallion, Comeback II in July.  They scored in 60’s after such a short partnership, so Fumella predicts a bright future for this pair. 

And no mention of European can dressage be made without a toast to Susan Dutta’s outstanding finish in the Young Horse World Championships in Verden.  Susie and her handsome Currency DC finished 11tth -the only American team to make it to the finals!  “Curri” received high praise from the judges, just as husband Tim Dutta’s homemade curry dishes do from all who are lucky enough to sample his spicy fare!

Susie was seen celebrating her victory in Washington State with pal Arlene (Tuny) Page. Tuny must still be high from her incredible success with Wild One at Gladstone, where the pair were the Res. Champions in the Grand Prix to George Williams and the rejuvenated Rocher.  It seems like just a heartbeat a go that Wild One was living up to his name and giving dressage followers the rodeo stunts they secretly craved.  But Tuny told he was starting to settle in and now his talents render him limitless.  Needless to say both Susie and Tuny had a lot to toast to over looking the harbor and the Pacific Ocean. 

And by the way, Fumella found out how Arlene became Tuny, although it is much less scandalous than one might hope.  Seems her older brother donned her Petunia at the hospital when she was born.  Shortened to Tuny -it just stuck.  Before she married David Page she was Tuny Full- which I guess makes her Tuny Full Page today!  Perhaps she should be penning a column of her own with that name.

Also on West Coast we heard from A’Dashi’s Shirley Johnson who sounded a bit homesick for Welly World. And why shouldn’t she be, she told us it was cold in Pebble Beach, this from the ER where she was having her foot x-rayed after a fall on the show grounds.  No horse involved.  Thems the breaks, Shirley.  Hurry back to Florida after Devon will you!

Speaking of hurrying back to Florida. Dressage’s favorite party girl, Smokey Brook’s young horse Granger left North Carolina in a hurry.  The youngin’ is now with 8-time National Reining Champion, Jon Ingram.  Doing dressage basics, of course.  You remember Fumella caught Jon swapping secrets with Walter Zettl last season. These two sports have a few things in common, but it sure isn’t the clothes!

Rumour has it the dressage judge, Barbara Marks is thinking about selling her home in Wellington and moving up to North Carolina to be closer to her eventer/caterer daughter, Rachel Lincoln. She revealed this possibility over dinner surrounded by horsemen including Holger Bechtloff, Jackson Mitich, Bent Jensen and John Zopatti. All of who protested her possible move!

Speaking of John Zopatti, he’s sure done a great job bringing back AA rider, Johnny Robb’s big gelding, Mr. Boombastic late in the year.  First time out, Robb and Boomer scored a 69. % in the Prix St George and then the pair dominated at the Tampa Hot Summer Nights Dressage show last month winning the PSG, the freestyle and the AA FEI Championship.  AA is adult amateur- not what you might have been thinking! But such a division might draw some extra entries!   Meanwhile, Fumella hears that JZo himself may be debuting Boomer in the I-1 next Fall.  Not of course in any AA division!

With Hurricane season upon us, the last stragglers are packing up to head Northward Ho.  Shannon Dueck is retuning from Europe this week and then heading north at the end of the month to chase more scores at the Canadian CDI’s .  She’s all ready leading the pack with top points in the Canadian League World Cup standings, with old pal Jackie Brooks in second place.  Looks like many of the Canadians who did so well at WEF last season will shine at the Canadian league World Cup in November, Fumella will keep you posted.

Meanwhile, fellow Canadian rider, Cheryl Miesner, traded in her bridle for a bridle gown recently. Cheryl got married last week to her Dutch heartthrob, Patrick Linnfen in a very posh ceremony in Nova Scotia.  She’ll be back in the saddle again soon, but still no word on where she’ll make her winter home now that Lobster Point South is sold and turning polo!

The main event from New Jersey – it’s official Robert Dover will coach the USEA-yes the eventing team!  So we should continue to see them excel in the dressage phase.  We might even see a few more event riders convert to strictly dressage like so many of the rider’s in this month’s column. (Susie Dutta, Tuny page, Shannon Dueck –all former event riders.  Did I miss anyone?)

Patrick Burssen’s wife, the lovely Marasol, visited Palm Beach Equine to learn about procedures and health care a few times and wound up with a job there.  Now she can look out at Bev Zimmer’s stately life size bronze everyday. Best of all, Marasol will be a welcomes face for those bringing their horses to PBE .

And while most are heading North away from Florida’s hurricane haven, a few prominent clinicians are braving Florida and evening drawing riders south to attend soak up their wisdom.  Dennis Callin made it out of town just before hurricane Dennis scared and soaked Floridians. Callin was in town for a quiet clinic at Quiet Oaks Farm in Orlando.

And Madrid’s master, Juan Matute, is in Wellington this training several die-hard locals and few out of towner’s including Jim Koford and Cathy Priest! 

Later in the month, Cathy Morelli is scheduled to host a clinic at her Wellington farm to teach her system that seems to bee putting her and many of her followers on top in the FEI ring! 

Hopefully the hurricanes will stay at bay –so all these clinicians can work their magic!

On the store front, it seems our own goodtime Charlie has rally closed the EuroAmerican store in New Jersey and planning to set up shop full time in Florida.  Rumor has it that his store will be located in the warehouse district near Polo Gear.

And not moving, but ever on the move, shop keeper Susan Rubin told us that her Beyond the Barn will be sponsoring the High Point Championship at the SDCTA Summer Shows in August.  “You’ve got to keep supporting the sport, even in the dead of summer,” explains Rubin.  Thanks Susan!... will keep supporting you in kind this summer because shopping is still the best way to beat the heat!

Cañon Ridge Imports just returned from Germany with a bunch of new horses. Among them is Wellendorff, a seven year old with a talent for piaffe and already solid in his lateral work.  They also snuck out of the country a three year old by Florestan I and a three year old by Casparino, who as you'll remember was ridden by Hubertus Schmidt at the German Championships.  The Colorado based Cañon Ridge Farms is making a name for itself, not just with incredible German horses, but for furthering dressage education. Debbie McDonald will be conducting a USDF Instructor Certification program at the state of the art facility on September 17-18.

Finally from California, mix-ed signals.  Rumours a flying about Steffen Peters moving to another farm and maybe Günter and Sue Blinks are moving too.  Fumella will get to the truth and report back with this and more hot news next month!