DRESSAGE DAILY
Missy Fladland Rewarded with a 10 at June High Prairie Dressage
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Posted by Christine DeHerrera



Suzie Halle and Tennyson ISF, by Contango, earned two FEI Amateur/Junior High Points and one Reserve High Point during June High Prairie Dressage at the Colorado Horse Park. Among their awards were beautiful gift buckets full of prizes from Murdoch's Ranch and Home Supply.

Winzig at her very first horse show!
Another star in Fladland's stable is Royal Gem. The gelding was the Open Lower Level High Point during show I. The six-year-old, by Rubin Royal out of a Renaissance mare, earned scores in the 70s, including a 76.613%. Royal Gem spent last year hacking and growing, and June High Prairie Dressage was only his third show. "Each show I can ask more of him," she said. "He has a lot of potential in there."
Grant Schneidman, Elizabeth, CO, rode Julie Hesse's Maude RF to two FEI High Points and one Reserve High Point over the course of the weekend. The pair earned scores in the high 60s in each of their Prix St. Georges tests. "Maude has a lot of natural expression in her movement," Schneidman explained. "We're still getting her stronger. Julie's done an amazing job--all the basics are there."
Hesse bought the Oldenburg mare as a yearling and successfully campaigned her as a young horse. Maude RF, by Manhattan out of Vosmaer mare, suffered a pasture accident several years ago. When she returned to work last fall, Julie brought the talented mare to Schneidman to help her regain her strength and training. "She has a lot of ability for the FEI movements," he said. "We're on the right track. Now she's getting used to being in the showring as an FEI horse, which requires a lot more concentration."
Suzie Halle, Cherry Hills Village, CO, also collected armfuls of prizes during the show, including two FEI Amateur/Junior High Points and one Reserve High Point. Riding Tennyson ISF, by Contango, a half-brother to Steffen Peter's Olympic mount Ravel, Halle has steadily moved up the levels from Training Level to Intermediaire I. She purchased the gelding from Iron Spring Farm in 2007 after learning about him from Scott Hassler and Belinda Nairn Wertman.
"I had a list of qualities I was looking for in a dressage horse and Tennyson had every single one. I saw his DVD... and bought him sight unseen," she recalled. Last year the duo won the RMDS Amateur Championships at both Prix St. Georges and Fourth Level.
Suzie rides five times per week, trains with Shannon Dahmer and clinics with Olympian Kathleen Raine whenever she comes to town. Suzie explained her program, "I think of dressage as going to the gym. Every day we work on exercises that supple and strengthen [Tennyson] interspersed with lots of trail rides. Visualizing is huge for me. When struggling with something in particular, and/or learning a new test, Youtube is my go to place. I watch a movement, or a well-done test at my level, and then try to recreate it the next day when we practice. I keep all my Dressage Today issues as well. Sometimes there are really great tips on something we are working on. Usually they are saying the same thing Shannon is saying, only different words. And a light bulb goes off."
For Layne Sandercott, June High Prairie Dressage was a redemption of sorts. The University of Denver student hadn't shown since 2008 and her horse, Rolex Tyme, is a new ride for her. The seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Rosario gave her a good lesson in persistence when his overly exuberant behavior earned them a 52% on Sunday morning. However, Sandercott was not dissuaded and returned to the show ring a couple of hours later to earn a 71.795% in Third Level Test Three, along with Upper Level Amateur High Point.
"When I finished my test, my entire family, my trainer [Maureen Sterling] and I were brought to tears," she said. "Rolex has given me a new, amazing outlook. We have come a long way in such a short time and I am just so excited."
Sandercott tried all disciplines, including western and eventing, before settling on dressage. "The second I tried dressage, I instantly fell in love. I love the connection and partnership that develops through dressage, and although it is difficult, my horse and I learn something new every day."
Complete results and information on the Parker Adventist Hospital Dressage in the Rockies, August 3-5, can be found at
www.coloradohorsepark.com.
The Colorado Horse Park would like to recognize their generous sponsors:
Parker Adventist Hospital, Parker Hospital Foundation, Littleton Equine Medical Center, Platinum Performance, Griffis Residential, Guaranty Bank, Murdoch's Ranch and Home Supply, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Suzy Sweitzer, Gesco Nursery, Bessemer Trust, Holiday Inn, Super 8, Hampton Inn, Norstar Industries, Nutrena, Pfizer, Grand Meadows, A Bit of Tack, Horse Connection, Equine Comfort Products, Days Inn, Sidelines, Comfort Suites, Chronicle of the Horse, Jump 4 Joy and Wild Ranch
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