Dressage by the Bay Wrap-Up
RELEASE: August 5, 2009
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Lauren Fisher
The 2009 Dressage by the Bay at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, MI, concluded on Sunday after holding in-hand classes in the VanKampen Arena. Sport horse prospects and breeding stock classes were followed by individual breed classes. The overall highest score of the in-hand classes was a 78.2% awarded to Idolo Americano, owned by Hampton Green Farm of Wellington, FL, and Fruitport, MI. Idolo Americano, a USPRE stallion, was handled by Tom Reed.
Spectators came out in a festive spirit for Sunday's polo match, many bringing picnic baskets, chairs, and blankets to spread out on the grassy hill overlooking the grand prix ring. The VIP tent at the top of the hill featured a special fundraiser benefiting the Munson Medical Center Volunteers who are raising money for their new Cancer Center. Spectators were able to buy tickets for a catered lunch, and a champagne diamond drop was held with a $4,000 diamond going to the winner thanks to Federico's Design Jewelers in downtown Traverse City. Spectators were also able to take part in the second annual hat contest, which awarded ribbons and prizes to participants in the categories of Best Team Elmer's Spirit, Best Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel Spirit, Most Over the Top, and Silliest Hat.
Wednesday marked the opening day of competition for Dressage by the Bay Series I during the fourth and final week of the 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc., has been awarded the opportunity to host the 2010 Great American Insurance Group/United States Dressage Federation Region 2 Dressage Championships, which will be held September 9-12, 2010, at Flintfields Horse Park. The honor of hosting this event was awarded based on prior performance producing quality dressage shows, and this year's Dressage by the Bay Series continued that excellence.
The competition got under way on Wednesday with the FEI Prix St. Georges, FEI Intermediaire I, and FEI Grand Prix de Dressage classes, generously sponsored by Hampton Green Farm. The day's classes were judged by Anita Owen, and Traverse City resident Colleen Haveman rode to the win in the FEI Intermediaire I in the morning aboard her 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding Warello (Werther x Carolin). Haveman has owned Warello just over a year and the pair scored a 65.790% for their test.
Haveman rides out of Orchard View Stable, about 20 minutes from Traverse City, and has competed at Dressage by the Bay since its start. She also had two students with her this year and was very happy that they did well.
The FEI Prix St. Georges and FEI Grand Prix de Dressage classes were also held in the Vankampen Ring Wednesday morning. Anna Marek rode Amy Awerbuch's eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Unico G (Negro x Kleora) to the win in the FEI Prix St. Georges. The pair scored a 70.527% for their test to take top honors.
In the FEI Grand Prix de Dressage, Alicia Lee and Indurain scored a 60.639% to take the top honors in the Adult Amateur division. Indurain is a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Cannon x Lenka), owned by Lee, who is from Oxford, MI. Kelly Burke Hayne showed Rantaro to a score of 66.383% at the top of the Open division. Rantaro is a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Rantaras x High Voltage MMP), owned by Kelly Burke Hayner of Hamburg, MI.
Competition continued for Dressage by the Bay Series I on Thursday as the FEI Musical Freestyle and FEI Prix St. Georges classes were held in the spacious grand prix ring at Flintfields Horse Park.
Debbie Riehl-Rodriguez judged Thursdays classes, which were generously sponsored by Hampton Green Farm. The FEI Musical Freestyle began the morning, and Haveman and Warello topped the class in the Open division with the high score of 70%. Also earning a 70% in the class were Meredith Kenyon and Rambunctious, who showed under the Junior/Young Rider division.
The FEI Prix St. Georges followed,