IFSHA MEMBERSHIP NEWS

REMINGTON “SPORT”
Contributed by Julie Roche

    I have been asked to write a few words about my Friesian gelding, Remington, who is currently competing in dressage at the FEI levels.   Remington was bred by Judi Knapp, he is by Jurjen and out of a star Jillis mare. I purchased him as an unbroken four year old nine years ago. I had in my mind that I wanted to learn to compete in dressage, and lucky for me, I stumbled onto a horse that was uniquely suited to the sport.

   Early in his training we participated in a clinic with the famous dressage trainer Hilda Gurney. We were quite nervous as he was just being started and well…he was a Friesian! Hilda was very complimentary of him and told us that she felt he had the potential to become a top dressage horse. She felt his conformation was very suitable to dressage. We left the clinic absolutely on cloud nine.

   In 2004 Remington and I competed at the Region Two Championships and became Reserve Champions at Adult Amateur Training Level in an entry of over 50 competitors. That year he was also named National Silver Stirrup Grand Champion. Between 2004 and 2007 Remington won numerous FHANA, IFSHA, and USDF year end awards, including the Regional Championship at Third Level, third in the nation at Second Level among all breeds and, along with his stable mate Alta von Reh, was the National Champion Pas De Deux team.

   The FPS was just instituting the new “Sport Predicates”. In the beginning there was some question about the scores and level of US Dressage that corresponded to the European Dressage levels, but slowly things came together and Remington was awarded the Sport Predicate for his Third Level scores in 2007. I believe he was the first gelding in the US to earn this award.

I am very lucky to have a wonderful trainer in Linda Strine and she felt that Remington could compete at the FEI levels of dressage. With that goal in mind she started working him toward Prix St Georges the w   inter on 2007. Much to my delight and amazement Remington competed successfully not only at PSG but also at Intermediate One. He was FHANA Champion at PSG and I-1 in 2008. He was also fourth in the highly competitive PSG at the Region Two Championships. And just to prove what a rideable and tolerant guy he is I also rode him, earning my USDF Bronze medal and FHANA Champion at AA Third Level.

   Last fall Remington and I were chosen to be the Third Level demonstration horse/rider team at the USDF Region 2 Adult Clinic. I was so excited because the clinician was Jane Savoie. Her books had been a real inspiration to me in my quest to become a capable rider, not to mention, that she has also been competing with a Friesian at the upper levels of Dressage. She was delightful teacher and picked up right away on Remington’s mischievous intelligence. I don’t know who had more fun, as Remington always loves being the center of attention.

   This year Remington and Linda are competing with an I-1 Freestyle created by my husband, Emmet. In the debut of the Freestyle last weekend they ended up high scoring Freestyle for the three days of shows. We also have high hopes for our Friesian mare Alta who had her Third Level debut this same weekend. In stiff warmblood competition, she ended up with the Third Level high score award of the show.

   When we started showing our Friesians in Dressage they were a rare site at the shows. Now more and more Friesians are competing and doing well. Some judges still have a bit of a bias but many more are willing to judge this different breed honestly on their own merits and strengths. Friesians are so intelligent and honest, they will try their hearts out for you, how can you ask for anything more.