California Dreaming Winter Circuit Returns in 2015 to Feature 2 World Cup Events
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Dec. 8, 2014
The three international shows making up the California Dreaming winter circuit in Southern California returns in 2015 featuring two World Cup events to qualify combinations for the Final of the annual global championships to be staged in Las Vegas in mid-April.
Steffen Peters, World Cup champion on Ravel when the Final was held last in Las Vegas in 2009, will seek to qualify Legolas for the 2015 event.
For the first time, the Festival of the Horse and companion Blenheim Spring Classic I & II jumper and hunter show at San Juan Capistrano will host the KWPN North America annual meeting.
The 2015 California Dreaming circuit will have the same schedule of shows as the inaugural circuit this year, a joint project of longtime show organizer Glenda McElroy and her Cornerstone Management and David and Alisa Wilson, active in a broad range of equestrian ventures. The schedule:
–Mid-Winter Dressage Fair World Cup qualifier and international Under-25, Junior and Young Rider divisions at Burbank Feb. 20-22;
–Capistrano Dressage International World Cup and Under-25, Young Rider and Junior divisions at San Juan Capistrano Mar. 20-22, and
–Festival of the Horse CDI 3* and Under-25, Young Rider and Junior divisions at San Juan Capistrano Mar.26-28.
The KWPN-NA annual meeting that is popular with breeders, riders, trainers, and sport horse enthusiasts will be held in conjunction with the Festival of the Horse Mar. 26-28.
“We were thrilled with how our first series of shows went in 2014, and that makes us look forward even more to the possibilities for the coming year,” said Glenda McElroy.
“We’re not just running horse shows–we are creating destination events for riders, owners, sponsors and spectators.
“There is a tremendous amount of excitement here on the West Coast about the upcoming World Cup Finals and Pan Am Games, and we’re delighted to be a part of it and provide everyone with great venues, fantastic competition, and a wonderful showing experience, all close to home.”
Steffen Peters of San Diego confirmed to dressage-news.com that he will seek to qualify in the North American League for the World Cup Final.
Kathleen Raine of Murieta and Jan Ebeling of Moorpark may also seek a berth in the Final that is a championship for individuals and decided by the Freestyle.
However, 2015 is expected to be unlike 2009 when the three U.S. combinations were Steffen and Ravel, Jan and Rafalca and Leslie Morse and Kingston were all from California. Canadian Olympian Ashley Holzer on Pop Art, who also competed in the 2009 Final, is based in New York and Wellington, Florida.
Laura Graves on Verdades, based near Orlando, Florida posted the highest CDI Freestyle result of any North American combination in 2014, 82.036 per cent at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.
Competitors in the three CDIs will also be seeking qualifying scores for the Pan American Games in Toronto in July where a new format of teams made up of big and small tour combinations will be implemented.
The three-day KWPN of North America annual meeting at San Juan Capistrano has a lineup of top presenters including the Netherlands’ Marian Dorresteijn, the sole female jury member for KWPN stallion approvals, and Bart Henstra, head jury member of the KWPN-NA keurings.
“This venue and the quality of horses and riders which will be on-site during this event will give us the best opportunity to educate our members, and will also be a great opportunity for riders, trainers, and owners to learn about identifying horses’ ability and the talent needed for the FEI level at a younger age,” said Willy Arts, KWPN-NA Chairman.
