Don Jospeh Stays With Aussie Ilse Schwarz “To Reach His Full Potential”
12 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Don Jospeh Stays With Aussie Ilse Schwarz “To Reach His Full Potential”
WELLINGTON, Florida, Jan. 20–The seven-year-old Don Joseph will stay with Australian Ilse Schwarz who built a successful young horse competition record with the Oldenburg gelding that was bred and is owned by Gaye Scarpa of Wellington, Florida.
Ilse has begun working Don Joseph with U.S. Olympian Steffen Peters, her trainer for the past six years and who is in Florida to give riding clinics and compete with Legolas at the World Dressage Masters.
Don Joseph (Don Kennedy x Calmera x Santander H) was bred in Germany by Gaye who with her husband, Joseph Scarpa, own Magnolia Farm in Wellington.
Ilse has been the trainer of Don Joseph from the time of his arrival in the United States at the age of four and competed him successfully in five and six-year-old classes including the inaugural Spy Coast Farm Young Horse Championships as well as U.S. national levels, scoring into the high 70 per cent.
“Even though I had wanted to share him during his education,” Gaye said, “I realized Ilse needed him full time if he was going to progress.
“Our 10-year relationship is still as strong because I believe in her ability and training. I have ridden most of her horses that she alone has trained and the feeling is amazing. The lightness in hand, the willingness to go forward with throughness in connection is frankly mind blowing especially to an amateur like me.
“If Don J is to reach his full potential then Ilse is the one to bring him along. He was seen favorably by the judges in the young horse classes so we have high hopes that he will be a small tour horse next year.”
“I feel incredibly lucky to have been the trainer of Don Joseph since he was imported,” Ilse said “At that stage we had mediocer steering at best and his enormous canter covered the long side of the arena in 11 strides… with NO ability to turn at the end. I don’t think I have gone so fast with such little steering since my eventing days! However, he proved a quick study and we have had an absolutely phenomenal time in both young horse and open classes since.
“I have been based out of the Scarpas farm for 10 years now and Gaye and Joe are like family to me. I am thrilled to continue this new chapter in our relationship. I believe he is a horse for the ‘big’ arena, and as an added bonus he is a total blast to ride.”
