Dressage News Notes - Brought to You by Mary Phelps, a Markel Equine Insurance Specialist

The 140th running of the Kentucky Derby is just around the corner and with so much coverage it is fun to run across an article that talks about the 3-year-old contenders as foals which adds some insight into their personalities! Speaking of foals, one lucky RSPCA foal in Great Britain has found himself resucued by a very special (very) well known rider! Yancey Farms recently teamed up with DressageDaily.com to have a Birthday Frozen Semen Give Away. See who won and which stallion they choose! The 2014 Alltech WEG in Normandy is coming up and the race is on to qualify for the event - one German horse/rider combintaion has been given a bye. See who it is! The Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is a wrap and while the winner receives a Rolex Watch, it will not be the first for the 2014 winner! Check out who has won a third watch!It is a very busy weekend coming up and there are several shows all across the nation! Lets get going starting in the north with the Dressage at Bucks County Horse Park I in Revere, PA and the Sperry View Farm Dressage Show in Bethany, CT. The south has the Canterbury Cinco de Mayo Dressage in Newberry, FL, the Spring Fling Dressage in Franklin, TN, the Reiterhof's Dressage at the Palace I and II in San Antonia, TX, the Dressage at the Meadow in Doswell, VA and the CDCTA Dressage at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA. The mid-west has the Ride for the Roses I and II in Batavia, OH, the May Flower I and II Dressage Show in Wheeler, WI, the Carousel Connection I and II in Springfield, IL and the Kansas City Dressage Society Dressage at Longview I and II in Kansas City, MO. On the west coast we have the Whidbey Equestrian Center Spring Dressage in Coupeville, WA and California is crammed full of competitions with the Dressage at Mission Pacific May 2014 in Somis, the Central Coast Summer Benefit Dressage in Paso Robles, the Dressage at Hossmoor Spring in Martinez, the CDS Shasta Annual Spring Dressage in Palo Cedro and the Dressage in the Almonds May in Lodi.

The Kentucky Derby is fast approaching with the 140th Run for the Roses being ran on May 3, 2014 at the historic Churchhill Downs! A lot of people (me included) like to hear the "back story" on the horses, trainers, owners and breeders inspiring an enormous amount of pre race coverage. The Kentucky Derby website has a really fun article titled "Before the Were Famous" going into the horse's history from when they were foals. Some of the stories are quite cute  and it is interesting to get some of the breedong farms take on raising foals. Check it out here and don't forget to watch the race! Will we have a Triple Crown winner after 36 years?

Speaking of foals - one lucky little guy named Santa that was recently rescued by the Great Britain RSPCA has found himself in the "lap" of reining Olympic, European and World Cup Champions Charlotte Dujardin. Charlotte's friend helps care for the homeless foals and this is where she met little Santa and could not be without him. Will Santa become a dressage superstar for someone? We will see.....check out the cutie here!

Yancey Farm is the largest frozen semen import brooker in the U.S. and is celebrating 40 years in the business of breeding! Judy Yancey celebrated her birthday on April 24th and in honor of the big day Judy decided to team up with DressageDaily.com to hold a Birthday Celebration Give Away! More than 351 people entered for a chance to win a dose of semen from a select group of stallions represented by Yancey Farm. When the time came to draw a winner - Judy was feeling extra generous and awarded not one, but two winners! Check out the story to see who won!

Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill have received a bye from the German Olympic Equestrian Committee from having to compete at the 2014 German Championships in Balve which is the 1st mandatory WEG selection trial. After coming in second at the 2014 World Cup and their performances leading up to the World Cup, it was decided that Damon Hill had more than proven that he is on form for the WEG. Balve is a madantory selectin trial for all A and B German Team Memebers. Check out more here!

William Fox-Pitt has pulled out yet another Rolex watch for his third victory in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event held this past weekend at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. This is not only his 3rd time winning Rolex but it is his 13th win in a CCI4* and this one earned him not only the watch for his wrist but $80,000 in his pocket! Second place went to Lauren Kieffer and Veronica and third to Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM. Check out the details at HorsesDaily.com!

Mary Phelps (mary@horsesdaily.com) is a Markel Equine Insurance Specialist and CSR Tracey Scharf (tracey@horsesdaily.com) provide the personal attention needed to help make the lives of their clients smooth and easy when it comes to the process of insuring your Farm, business and equine mortality needs. While Mary travels to the shows and barns, you can count on Tracey in the office to be available to answer questions and manage the details with ease. 1-800-572-3286.