Chris Burton won the Australian leg of the HSBC FEI World Cup99 Eventing series at Sydney’s World Cup Show (7-9 May), just edging last year’s winner Megan Jones (AUS) who narrowly failed to repeat her 2009 feat of a Kihikihi-Sydney double

Catching up: Congratulations to Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center. They had 16 riders qualify for the Special Olympic State Equestrian Games. Their contestants had a wonderful time in Tampa where they competed in English and western equitation, trail ride competition, dressage, and pole bending.

Diamante Farms’ Terri and Dick Kane and daughter, Devon rode two of Diamante Farms’ promising young horses to victory recently while also cheering on client Amy Bock to two big wins at the recent Poplar Place Farm’s May Dressage Show held in Hamilton, GA.

Stillpoint Farm had the “who’s who” of the event world on hand to watch Oded Shimoni polish up the Three Day High Performance Riders’ dressage work as they prepare for WEG.  Oded had to do his coaching in his “spare time” because he was quite busy qualifying Granada (owned by Sam Grunkhorn out of Lendon Gray’s NY based stable) for the WEG...this he did quite handily in only two CDIs.  Oded’s assistant Danielle Vallandingham carved out enough time from her managerial duties for Oded to compete Anita Fialco’s horse “Donney” in multiple Brentina Cup classes, now with several wins to her credit.

Lisa Wilcox and her assistant Jessica Kozal got several of the Highlife Farm horses into their first FEI competitions as well as managing the first Highlife Farm sport horse auction. Lisa had her longtime trainer Ernst Hoyos at the farm several times for clinics which were always well attended and a pleasure to watch.

Tuny Page’s assistant, Sara Andersen, is not only making a name for herself in the dressage world she showed one of the Stillpoint Farm sales horses in the adult hunter and equitation divisions at the WEF shows -with lots of ribbons to her credit!

Dressage riders say they can’t catch ride, but German rider Nadine Schlonsok of Canaan Ranch can. Nadine jumped on Vlegel, Ann Reilly’s 8 year old who had not shown for a year, and won the third level classes at the CDCTA Spring Show with good scores and kudos from the judges. Maybe the German’s shouldn’t put limits on what they can do!

New baby department: From the other side of the pond, we hear that Point to Point Champion Richard Burton and his wife Hannah have had their first child, Arabella Burton.  Mother and baby are home and doing well.

Congratulations to the four advanced young riders selected for the 2010 Advanced Young Rider Olympic Dream Program’s 10-day dressage experience in Europe. The program is funded by The Dressage Foundation.  Mimi Stanley (ND), Brian Hafner (CA), Christine Stephenson (CA) and Kristen Schwaegerle (NH) are the lucky four, and Laura-Hope Gammell (RI) and Kathryn Butt are the first and second alternates. John Boomer, past President and CEO of TDF said, “The committee was very impressed with the quality and quantity of this year’s candidates, and they have selected a wonderful group of young riders.” Further information on the Advanced Young Rider Olympic Dream Program will be kept current on the TDF website: www.dressagefoundation.org.

On the move:  Donna Cameron, owner of Cutler Farm in Medfield, MA, has asked Diana Mukpo to take over the reins as the farm’s head trainer.  “Diana is a wonderful rider and a super trainer.  Asking her to develop and direct Cutler Farm’s training program is one step in my longer term vision of building a top-tier European-style training facility,” she said.

Earlier this year, the USEF announced that Capt. Mark Phillips will be retiring as US Eventing Technical Advisor/ Chef d’Equipe after the 2012 Olympic Games. The USEF has formed a Search Committee to identify candidates to succeed Capt. Phillips. The Search Committee’s initial responsibility will be to develop a job description and timeline which will then be posted. Interested individuals will then be invited to apply.

News to share:  new baby, engagement, pickup truck?  On the move, having parties, falling off horses?  Share what’s happenin’ with your dressage friends by e-mailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Be sure to put “News for Off Centerline” in the subject line.

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