Wellington, FL – He’s always shown great potential. No one would be surprised if he’s a (US Dressage) team horse down the road. For now, we’ll focus on the Developing Horse Championships,” said Bethany Peslar, of Everglades Dressage, LLC in Florida’s Wellington Grand Prix Village, referring to German-bred Wurtemburg gelding, Donatus (Don Schufro x Zuchtbuch/Caramel), who will ride into Lamplight Equestrian Center qualified for the Markel/USEF National Developing Horse Championships, August 20-24, in Wayne, IL, top in the rankings for the 2014 Markel/USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Dressage National Championship.

Photo:  Everglades Dressage’s Donatus ready to rock the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Championship. (Photo Credit: Susan J Stickle)

Endel Ots will show Donatus in the Developing Horse Grand Prix and he is no stranger to the playing field. Ots won the Reserve Championship Developing Horse Grand Prix title in 2012 riding Agastrofos.“I’m so excited ‘Donny’ is going into the competition in the top position,” said Peslar. Having an Everglades Dressage horse qualified for the Developing Horse Grand Prix Championships reflects both her successful collaboration with Endel Ots and a childhood memory come full circle. “I competed there as a young rider, but I have never been to the Young Horse Championships. Endel is also bringing a young horse of his own, Lucky Strike, that he qualified for the Four-Year-Old division, so it’s going to be a great experience for everybody.”Ots and the Everglades 10-year-old have been undefeated in their career together and lead the Grand Prix national rankings with its only score in the seventies: 71.250%.

“Donny is exceptionally talented in piaffe. It’s easy for him and he likes to do it, so I think that could give us an edge,” Peslar said, expressing optimism for the title test ahead.  A USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medalist (Peslar was 21 when she earned Gold in 2003), and 2006 Brentina Cup reserve champion, her experience as a USEF High-Performance Grand Prix rider guides her as a sport horse breeder, trainer, and competitor. With some exciting new young horses in the Everglades barn, she is already excited about next year’s championships.