A Great Team Builds Confidence in 5 Year Old Edward for the Markel Young Dressage Horse Finals

Building a strong foundation early in the year for the 2014 National Young Horse Championships a wonderful team including Joan Pecora and Patricia (Patti) Becker build confidence in the 5 year old Dutch Warmblood, Edward (United x Damiro). Late last summer, Joan Pecora discovered Edward’s Dressage Daily listing, and noticed his location in the Netherlands. Already heading to Europe that weekend to look at horses, Patti Becker tried him and called Joan to tell her that he was the perfect next horse for her to climb the levels. He vetted and he flew into O’Hare airport. Joan picked him up at Arlington Park Race Track outside of Chicago. Currently first on the USEF Ranking List for the 5 yr old division, the team works step by step in preparation for this years big finals. Working to bring Edward up the levels, owner Joan Pecora is no stranger to finding success, as she found her other horse Talent while on a horse-buying trip to the Netherlands. Purchased at three, with the help of Patti Becker, she’s brought him from Training Level to Grand Prix.Joan Pecora currently manages Industrial Real Estate and works towards earning the requirements for her small ‘r’ Dressage Judge. She shared, “My big horse, Talent is competing Grand Prix. I showed him last year and won the Regional Championship for Grand Prix for Region 2. We will continue to strive for better results at this level.” 

Joan, a busy adult amateur rider who teams up with Patti Becker for continuous success. Together they train in Camp Lake, Wisconsin, where Patti Becker is the sole trainer at Fireside Farm, and where she spends April - December. The remainder of the year is spent in Wellington, Florida. 

Joan said, “We traveled to Florida early in January and Patti took over the ride exclusively. She showed him at his first horse show and he won his training level classes with a 69% and a 72%. She showed him at the Palm Beach Derby and he won the training level with a 73% and he won his first level class with a 78.6%. He was high score for the show!”

“In March, Edward performed his first five year old class and won with an 83%. The next day he won the Markel class for 5 yr olds with an 86%. Now the plan is to qualify him for Regional Finals at Training and First Level. He will also go to Kentucky at the end of May to do the CDI for 5 year olds. For right now the plan is for Patti to continue to compete him. She is giving him such confidence at home and in the show ring,” said Pecora.

Patti is always striving to continue her own education and has been fortunate to work with some of the top riders. She has spent the last 10 years working with Jan Brons, as well as, being able to clinic and work with other professionals as well.  

Patti shared, “The Florida season was a fantastic experience for Edward. I spent the couple months before carefully building strength and working on the basics. He is an extremely good natured, focused young horse so keeping his work fun for him is important. Joan and I made a plan for getting him in the ring and ready to do the FEI 5 Year old test. The first show, we showed in the Training Level division.”

“We both want him confident so if at any point it seemed like it would be too much we could revise. His second show we tried the First Level. He handled both extremely well. He was a bit nervous but settled in and had the high score of the show at the Palm Beach Derby with 78% at First Level. On his third time out we undertook a practice test for the FEI 5 year old the first day and the qualifier the second. I was a little conservative with him the first day but he still scored very well with an 8.2. The second day he felt great. Very comfortable with the work, so I allowed him more freedom and it paid off with an 8.66. Joan and I were very pleased.”

They plan to compete Edward at the Markel Young Horse Finals that will take place at the Lamplight Equestrian Center, August 20-24, 2014.

Patti said, “I'm hugely proud of Joan and Edward. Joan is an absolute believer in taking the best care of her horses possible. She is instrumental in Edward's care. She grooms him and cares for him each day. She coordinates any extra care he receives. Her commitment to seeing Edward do his best is amazing. This year we, of course, have Edward on track for the FEI 5 Year Old Championships. At the IDCTA Summer Kick-Off at Lamplight they scored a new personal bestAfter that, ideally we will do a few more shows to keep him comfortable in the ring. Joan would also like to see him go to Regionals at Training and First level. Hopefully he can then qualify for Nationals.”

https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsDisciplines/discipline/alldressage/NatlYHProgram.aspx

Preparing for the Markel Young Horse Finals 2014 in The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program (for 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old horses) promotes the importance of selective breeding and correct training of horses in the United States, and encourages participation of breeders, riders, and trainers of young horses in dressage competition. The purposes of this program are to encourage the properly structured development of young dressage prospects through the training scale; to identify and recognize outstanding talent and the training of international-caliber horses; and to prepare these horses for future careers at the FEI level and participation on U.S. High Performance teams. 

For more information on Patti Becker: http://www.thefiresidefarm.com/

To follow Edward, Patti Becker and Joan Pecora – stay tuned to Dressage Daily