Jul 04 2011
Freestyle Dressage Growing In Popularity
Nancy Jaffer/The Star-Ledger
Freestyle Dressage Growing In Popularity
When the dressage musical freestyle debuted in the Olympics at Atlanta in 1996, it was a huge step forward for the discipline. With that high-profile event serving as inspiration, the addition of music at many shows helped dressage soar to popularity from being a sport that bored all but its most avid spectators (the common assessment used to be that it was “like watching paint dry.”) Imagine a tango dancer without a soundtrack.
Such is the demand now that at the Olympics and other championships, the freestyle tickets are among the hardest to obtain. Even at the lower end of the scale, music adds the magic to dressage. The freestyle enables riders to showcase what their horses do best, instead of following in the hoofprints of everyone else who is performing the same test, whether it’s Third Level or Grand Prix.
Randy Leoni wants to capitalize on that as she takes the next step in her presentation of “an evening of freestyles” that she has put on for the last two years in conjunction with shows at her Hawk Hollow Ranch in Bedminster.
This year, she is staging it at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, along with a two-day dressage show July 6-7.
“I want to turn it into an event. This is the first time I’m doing this show at the Team, because I’m thinking if I do it at the Team, I’ll ultimately be able to get some sponsorship and be able to offer prize money. I can’t do that at home with a small show,” said Leoni.
She hopes next year it will be a more lavish affair, held in conjunction with a cocktail party, and has plans for increasing its scope.
Although the show will feature two rings during the day, there will be just one ring for the freestyle evening, which will begin about 4 p.m. July 7 and run through all the levels. Among those competing will be Pan American Games team gold and individual silver medalist Lauren Sammis of South Orange and well-known trainers Heather Mason of Tewksbury and Sara Schmitt of Pittstown, both U.S. Dressage Federation gold medalists.
There is no admission charge. People can bring their own picnics or buy something to eat from the In Thyme caterer, which provided the food for the VIP tent at last year’s national dressage championships. Leoni, who has handled the hospitality at USET events for 25 years, hopes that her show can be on a weekend in the future, which would help maximize attendance.
“People love to show at the Team and people love to go there for events,” said Leoni, who wants it to be as successful for spectators as it is for exhibitors. One thing that helps is the cachet of the historic venue, which can’t be overestimated; it hosts numerous events put on by everyone from the U.S. Equestrian Federation to a variety of smaller organizations.
“The Hamilton Farm facility has been an important part of the community, and our United States Equestrian Teams for 50 years,” said the federation’s executive director, Bonnie Jenkins.
“Upgrades and improvements have recently been made to the competition arenas, providing a world class facility for high performance training sessions, national championships, selection trials, Pony Club Camps and a host of other local equestrian competitions. No matter what discipline or level of riding, Gladstone is a special place, where we welcome riders and equestrian supporters to come and enjoy.”
“It’s an enchanting place,” agreed eventer Sinead Halpin of Branchburg, who is having a benefit cocktail party there July 28.
“You walk in and it’s got every bit of history and every bit of nostalgia that goes along with that. It’s a really beautiful venue; you feel part of the venue,” she said.
Halpin is hoping to raise funds for several worthy causes as well as her trip to the British 4-star Burghley event in September with Manoir de Carneville. She finished third with him as the highest-placed American at the Rolex Kentucky 4-star last month.
The party, billed as “An Evening at the Team,” will feature eventing team veterinarian Brendan Furlong as a speaker. Halpin plans to do her 4-star dressage ride at the place her event poster calls, “The Heart of American High Performance Horse Sports.”
This has been quite a week for Halpin, who was selected to be an observer at next month’s test event for the 2012 Olympics in London.
“I’m super-excited,” said Halpin, who also just made the “A” national eventing high performance training list and dreams of riding in the Olympics. She is ranked eighth in the U.S. Eventing Association Rider of the Year standings, while Manoir de Carneville is first in the Horse of the Year standings.
“It’s a whole brand-new experience and it would be helpful to have already gone there once and know what the venue is,” she said of her July trip to London.
Also on the “A” list are Will Faudree, Boyd Martin and veteran Phillip Dutton. All will be working with coach Mark Phillips in preparation for the Pan American Games and Olympics.
Named to the “B” list is Doug Payne of Gladstone, who had previously been on the developing roster. Payne’s top mount at the moment is Running Order, owned by Patti Springsteen. He hopes to take the Irish former steeplechaser to the 3-star in Blenheim, England, this fall and then to Rolex Kentucky in the spring as he bids for the Olympics.
“Realistically, it seems like he has a pretty good shot at it. A lot of things have to go right and it’s a long time from now, but it’s a good position to be in right now,” said Payne, tied for sixth in the USEA rider standings. Running Order is fourth in the Horse of the Year standings.
Doug Payne and Running Order
Payne has a number of promising horses, but he also had some bad luck this spring. For instance, he was second in the 1-star after cross-country at the Bromont, Canada event earlier this month with Camerlingo, but the gelding twisted an ankle and was not presented for the final horse inspection. He expects Camerlingo to be fine for the Fair Hill International this fall, however.
“In a year’s time, we should have three or four advanced horses going,” he said.
“I’ve got a couple of exceptional nice young horses. The most exciting one I’ve got is Royal Tribute, an Oldenburg/thoroughbred cross, who did his first Training last week at Bucks County.”
Payne owns half of the horse; Kristen Burger owns the other half. He is very excited about the 17.3-hand horse, who was a champion as a 3-year-old. While Royal Tribute seems to have potential for the top ranks, it will be a long wait. Payne said the 2014 World Equestrian Games might be a little soon; more likely he’d hit the international championships at the 2015 Pan American Games or the 2016 Olympics, if all goes well. With eventing, you have to plan far ahead.
Source nj.com/sports
