Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

WAYNE, Illinois, July 24–DG Bar Ranch’s Brendo ridden by Willy Arts and Bantana ridden by Caitlin Masiel were champion and reserve in the Markel U.S. four-year-old Championship at the Lamplight Equestrian Center on Saturday, the best young horse results ever for the trainer who has been in the U.S. for 26 years.

Brendo, born in the U.S. and by Florencio, scored 8.46. while stablemate Bantana, born in The Netherlands by Flemmingh from a Hemmingway mare, scored 8.32.

Willy Arts, who has had a long association with DG Bar Ranch in Hanford, California, attributed “super gaits combined with character” that achieved First Premium award at the KWPN foal inspection and the four-year-old championship for the gelding.

“His character and temperament are very good,” he said. “He’s calm and cool but underneath there’s a lot of electricity. The way he’s built he’s naturally uphill.”

Bantana was bought early this year and has been ridden by Caitlin,who has been under tutelage by Willy for the past 10 years–and the mare had her first show in April.

“Everything fell into place,” he said. “She just gets better and better. She has elasticity, is very focused and light to the aids with very expressive front legs.”

Willy is a big supporter of the still new young horse championships in the United States.

The first years of horses are critical–initially for the right nutrition and environment and then from about 3 1/2 to five years when training is the most important.

“If things go wrong, it can be very critical and expensive after five years of investment in a horse,” he said.

“A lot of horses that could be very good will go by the wayside if not trained properly.”

Willy said he hopes for a time when a network can be created with the breed associations that can spot outstanding young horses early and match them with the right riders and get the right training.