Dressage-News

Story & Photos by ILSE SCHWARZ

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Apr. 20–The Rolex FEI World Cup saw, for the first time, a demonstration of young horses (actually, later research showed that they weren’t all as young as we thought).

Steffen Peters on a five-year-old KWPN stallion opened the exhibition moving him through the basics required for young horses while Linda Zang talked about what the judges looked for in the FEI young horse classes. The young stallion, Zidane (Rhodium x Falco) owned by Emma Weinart of Sydney, Australia took the enthusiastic crowd in his stride which was just as well because every time it was mentioned that Steffen had won the Grand Prix Thursday the crowd forgot it was a five-year-old he was riding and cheered as if Ravel were there as well.

Next in was the extraordinarily well performed six-year-old stallion, Wynton (Jazz x Matador). Wynton has won virtually everything possible in the young horse classes in the Netherlands and was 4th as a five-year-old at the World Young Horse Finals. I even contemplated breeding my mare to this talented youngster so I was thrilled and eager to see him. He certainly didn’t disappoint. Rider Edward Gal, received almost as loud applause as Steffen had, much of the crowd remembering his electric performance on Lingh at the World Cup final back in 2005. Wynton seemed to barely touch the ground in his trot work and the canter was as uphill as any rider dare to hope for.

As an aside, his full sister lives in Ocala, Fla. with Judy Yancey. She just (Apr. 17) had a red bay colt by Florestan.

The final two horses served as a representation of horses that have come through the USA young horse classes. Californian based Willy Arts on Valeska DG (Krack C x Farrington) now seven years old represented the USA at the World Young Horse Championships in Verden, Germany in 2008.

Big Tyme (Sarosvan’t Gestellhof x Wendekreis), ridden by Marisa Festerling, also based in California represented the USA in Verden in 2006. They just did their first Developing Horse Qualifier at Del Mar in March. Huge correct gaits that both extend and collect with ease, Marisa making it look effortless. Linda commented that “it was a pleasure to watch and she was very pleased that she was riding for America!”

Next on the program was Brentina’s retirement, story already posted and without question Kleenex could have seen a significant rise in its stock price had they been roaming the stands. However, before the emotional tribute we needed a little more entertainment….Vegas style!