CDS Dressage Letters November 2021

November 2021 ~ Dressage Letters ~ Page 2 IT’S A WRAP The 2021 CDS & GAIG/USDF Region 7 Championships by Regina Antonioli In a year of continued pandemic and epic fires, California Dressage riders persevered, coming together to showcase their talents and their outstanding equine partners. Over 75 Championship classes were presented with numerous additional special awards and trophies. Two notable trends featured the success of California bred horses, and that many were then developed up the levels by their riders and trainers. Chelsey Sibley of Sonora, CA won the $1000 CDS Grand Prix Championship, and the Sherry de Leon Memorial Trophy aboard her own Dutch Stallion, Finale. Sibley bred the big bay, selecting bloodlines to match a previous equine partner, started him, and brought him up to Grand Prix. Sibley described ‘Finny’ as one of the best horses she has ever had. “He just does whatever I want. He is so amazing that way.” Sibley was also the Reserve Grand Prix Champion, and Grand Prix Freestyle winner on Don Francisco, owned by Carol Papetti Di Maggio. She then went on with Don Francisco to capture GAIG/USDF Region 7 Grand Prix title and the CDS GRAND PRIX GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP (Keen Perpetual Trophy). Another successful California bred and raised winning horse was Lynn Radkowski’s 9-year-old, Ravenna N. The diminutive mare was bred by Christiane Noelting, started, and brought up to FEI by Ari Lopez, of Pleasant Hill, who rode to victory in the CDS HOY Open Prix St. Georges, winning the Bent Roswall Perpetual Trophy. Lopez also picked up the Peter and Bonnie Lert Perpetual Trophy winning the CDS Open Training Level Championship on Karen Helena Kahn’s Hanoverian gelding, Benefit. Fewnames inCalifornia breeding aremore illustrious thanDGBar Ranch in Hanford, CA. And the recognition is well deserved. Willy Arts, the long-time trainer and manager rode Malachi DG owned by Tom and Helga Astor (bred by DG Bar-Sire Furstenball-Dam Satina) to victory in the CDS 4-Year-Old Futurity Championship and INXS Perpetual Trophy with an impressive 75.784%. The win also earned the CDS Cal-Bred title and money. Arts was also the Reserve Champion in the 4-Year-Old Futurity on DG Bar’s Windsor, fourth in the Five-Year-Old (L Primo DG) and third in the Six-Year-Old (Koning DG) Maverick DG was second in the Cal Bred with rider, Stephanie Schauer, while L Primo DG picked up the third, giving DG Bar a clean sweep. Other multiple trophy winners included Ericka Reinig of Rancho Murieta, on Fuerst Magica RTH, owned and bred by Alanna Sellers who won the GAIG/USDF Training Level Championship honors with a 73.362% and the Cantata Memorial Trophy for the top mare. Kristina Harrison-Antell, from Burbank, won the GAIG/USDF Open First Level Championship on her own Quintessa RLF and both the USDF and CDS titles at Intermediaire II on Finley earning the Pelton Family Trophy and the High-score for a Dutch horse. One of the most emotional trophy presentations was the Sue Curry Memorial Trophy to Terri Sue Wensinger. In its first year, the trophy was created to commemorate long-time CDS and Board member Curry, who died this past year. Wensinger earned the trophy as the top scoring amateur, while also winning the CDS A/A First Level Championship and Full Cry Trophy on her own Kahlua. One of the highlights of the show was the presence of Olympic Team Silver Medalist, Sabine Schut-Kery. She was on hand to congratulate riders and pose for many of the victory photos. She also gave an inspiring talk on Saturday night, where she spoke about the value of the CDS program. Her own Olympic mount, Sanceo, owned by Alice Womble started in the CDS Four-Year-Old Futurity and developed into an international horse in the California system. Carrie O’Neill, who made the trip up from Villa Park in Southern CA, won the GAIG/USDF Grand Prix title and was second in both the USDF and CDS Grand Prix Freestyles. Another rider who brought her mount, Spartakus up through the levels from the start, mirrored the sentiments of many when she spoke highly of her show experience, “The people were wonderful, the footing was fabulous, the whole show experience was really wonderful. I am so glad I came.” For complete results check out our website at www.california- dressage.org.. Sponsored by GGT Footing, other GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP titles and trophies included: Anke Herbert and Roshs Tyler (Atherton Dressage Perpetual Trophy) First/Second Level; Christine Stephenson and Issira (Major Guy de Roaldes Memorial Trophy) Third/ Fourth Level; and Jaclyn Pepper and Cooper (Doug Downing Memorial Trophy) PSG/Intermediaire I). One of the best stories of the show belonged to Jessica Ferraro and Carol Papetti Di Maggio’s Oldenburg mare, LuLu. In her first year of showing, this amateur from Pleasant Hill, CA, won the RAAC competition earlier this year, then captured the GAIG/ USDF Region 7 Championship with 70.431%. They topped off the year winning the CDS Amateur Training Level Championship and Creswick Perpetual Trophy. The mare has a simpler name because she was bred to be a brood mare and not intended for the show ring, “I wanted to learn how to start a horse, so they let me try LuLu and it worked out, and I started showing. 2022 will bring more showing instead of breeding.” GRAND PRIX GRAND CHAMPION ~ CHELSEY SIBLEY / DON FRANCISCO WITH GGT FOOTING SPONSORS, AMANDA WILD AND CYNTHIA BREWSTER-KEATING ALSO WITH JUDGE N BRENT HICKS AND CDS PRESIDENT JOAN WILLIAMS PHOTO BY TERRI MILLER INTERMEDIAIRE 1 GRAND CHAMPION ~ JACLYN PEPPER / COOPER WITH GGT FOOTING SPONSORS AMANDA WILD AND CYNTHIA BREWSTER-KEATING, ALSO WITH CDS PRESIDENT JOAN WILLIAMS AND JUDGE N BRENT HICKS PHOTO BY TERRI MILLER