Arabian Sport Horse Nationals Features Driving and
Dressage Exhibitions
This
September, carriage driving enthusiasts and dressage riders who
compete in all-breed competitions will give four demonstrations
at Sport Horse Nationals in Lexington, Virginia-an obstacle driving
and driving dressage demonstration and two dressage musical freestyle
exhibitions.
According
to the chair of the Eventing & Combined Driving Committee, Wanda
Funk, the pleasure driving session will begin with a short working
class of five turnouts, demonstrating proper equipment, attire,
gaits, turnout, reinsmanship and other specifications. Then each
exhibitor will complete a short timed obstacle (cones) course. Committee
member Kristin Urban from Minnesota will announce times and explain
the rules and the various types of obstacles.
The
following obstacle driving demonstrators include Wayne Gavitt (the
organizer of this part of the demonstration), Dr. Larry Bason, from
Mill Hall, each of whom will be driving one of Gavitts' three carriage
horses, Half-Arabians Orvil Redenbacher (Lewisfield Nizani x Popcorn)
and Mohamed Knockout (Mohamed Aly x Copacabana), or Arabian FG Fire
Frost (Fire Free x S-R Serlona). Tina Cornell will drive Pamela
Koch's Half-Arabian Mazan Po Stardoo (Zanadoo x Masters Poco Honey).
Other prospective participants are: Diane Dincher, Janet Reed, Samea
Baker, Roy Mundt and Wanda Funk.
Christine
Smith-Byerly and her Arabian mare Gisela MBI+ (Aikon x Gildia) will
demonstrate one part of combined driving, driving dressage, and
possibly a mini-marathon.
The
driving demonstrations, which the Eventing & Driving Committee
developed to encourage the addition of these classes to the show
by 2005, will take place in Anderson Coliseum on Wednesday September
17 after the sport horse in-hand classes (early afternoon) and on
Thursday after the 5:00 p.m. hunter schooling rounds.
The
Prix St. Georges pas de deux is a magnificently choreographed dressage
ride to Henry Mancini music. Performing the pas de deux are two
of the top FEI Arabians in the country: Fleet Halaaniz (Ibn Mirzaz
x Fleeta Twin-aana), 1996 Fourth Level and Prix St. Georges National
Champion owned and ridden by Lisa Payne, and PF Succeeding On (Ivanhoe
x Aval), 1998 Fourth Level Reserve National Champion and Top Ten
Prix St. Georges, owned by Penny Turner and ridden by Johnny Robb.
When Payne and Robb perform the pas de deux in competition, they
are always the high scorers. What makes this ride a special delight
to watch is the contrast of the two horses, one black and one white,
but nearly identical in size and movement. The pas de deux will
take place on September 20, Saturday night during the 7:00 p.m.
session in Anderson Coliseum.
The
next day, September 21, Lauren Ball-Tisdale will perform an Intermediate
I freestyle exhibition on FM Kaswyn+/, the 2002 National Champion
Fourth Level Horse. FM Kaswyn+/ (PS Kasenova x Eowyn) and Ball-Tisdale
have also performed a demonstration ride at the 2002 United States
Dressage Federation Musical Freestyle National Symposium. The exhibition
will be held on Sunday afternoon after the Hunter Classic and right
before the Sport Horse Supreme Champion class.
AHA
is a 40,000 member equine association that registers and maintains
a database of more then one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian
horses. It administers more than $4 million in annual prize money,
produces national events, maintains official event records, recognizes
more than 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides
activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For
information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses,
call 303-696-4500, e-mail info@ArabianHorses.org
or visit www.ArabianHorses.org.
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