News on Dressage at the Bay Traverse City Michigan

The 2010 Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 2 Dressage Championships were held at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, Michigan this weekend. Yvonne Barteau, of Maple Park, IL, had a great day with her mount GP Raymeister, first winning the FEI Intermediaire II Championship and then topping the FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle Championship later in the day. The championship classes are being held in conjunction with the Dressage by the Bay Fall Classic, which offers a full schedule of competition through the Grand Prix level.

Competition in the Grand Prix Ring was judged by Scott Petersen at 'R' and Hilda Gurney at 'C', with many of the Midwest's top horses and riders competing throughout the day. In the FEI Intermediaire II Championship Barteau and GP Raymeister took top honors over second place finishers Judy Kelly and Rakker. Barteau and Ray then went on to win the FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle Championship over George Williams and his mount Don Bailey.

GP Raymeister is an 11-year-old Holsteiner Stallion (Rantares x Miss Nickel Annie), owned by Gina Frantz of Grand Prix Equestrian. Barteau and her husband run their business, KYB Dressage, out of Frantz's farm and run a 63 stall training facility. “Gina has been a great sponsor of ours and we are also good friends. She is so nice and supportive and it is great that she lets us keep the horses and work through all of the levels with them,” Barteau stated.

Ray was purchased as a seven-year-old when he was still competing as a Training Level horse and Barteau rode him for the first year and a half until her daughter, Kassandra, took over the ride and took Ray to the Young Rider World Cup Finals last year in Frankfurt. “We switched over during the winter and I started working with him again and it has worked out really nicely with us,” Barteau explained. “I will probably keep him and finish him for the Grand Prix for another season and then go on.”

“The Intermediaire II is a stretch for him,” she continued. “He did Gladstone and won the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I championships there and I had enough scores to qualify and I think he was great today. He is super honest and I think that he is going to be a good Grand Prix horse next year. I could not have asked for him to be any better; I did not even care how the scores worked out, I was just super happy with how good he was. It is very new to him and he is not strong enough in the piaffe and passage, but he has a good idea. He is really good in the one-tempis and I was happy with all of the canter work.”

This was Barteau's first time competing in Traverse City and she noted what a great time she has had. “This is our first time here and we love it,” she smiled. “The footing is fabulous, the management is fabulous and everyone is really helpful. I absolutely think it is a great place to show.”

First win for Becker

Thursday competition started in the beautiful Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, Michigan. Showing in the Grand Prix Ring overlooking the scenic countryside, the FEI Prix St. Georges class was held judged by Anita Owen at 'C'.

Patricia Becker of Wadsworth, Illinois rode Wish to the highest score of the class, earning a 67.106% to finish in first place in the open division. Elizabeth Juliano and Ducasse received the top adult amateur score with a 62.105%.

Showing for the first time in Traverse City, Patricia Becker had a great day with her mount Wish, a seven-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Frank Allgauer. Wish is a beautiful 17.3 hand Liver Chestnut (Flemmingh x My Fonsa).

“We got Wish as a four-year-old and he has a super temperament,” Becker noted after her ride. “He is a little bit new to all of the work, but he tries harder than any horse I have ever ridden. I think his athleticism and his great temperament help him to move ahead a little bit faster in the training."

Becker began riding dressage when she was a child with the influence of her aunt. She started training with George Williams when she was 18 and has now ridden with Jan Brons for the last eight years. In addition to her own riding and training, Becker also teaches and started her own business out of college. She now trains out of Fireside Farm in Camp Lake, Wisconsin, which is owned by Carole and Frank Allgauer.

“I am very fortunate to have Carole and Frank,”, Becker acknowledged. “They own Fireside Farm where I train and Frank owns Wish. They are very supportive and it is hard to do this without people like that.”

Becker plans to keep working with Wish throughout the year and will start taking the horse in Grand Prix level CDI classes in Florida this winter.

Horse Sports by the Bay would like to thank the title sponsor Great American Insurance Group as well as the United States Dressage Federation for choosing Flintfields Horse Park to host this special event. Tuff Rider is the official supplier of championship jackets and coolers. Dressage by the Bay sponsors include series title sponsor Hampton Green Farm and morning hospitality sponsor Linda Wanstreet's Lost World Farms LLC, and LWF Sporthorses.

GAIG/USDF Region 2 Dressage Championship Results - September 11, 2010

FEI Prix St. Georges Junior/Young Rider Championship
1 Robyn Weston and Willow
2 Lauren Nelson and Weltano

FEI Prix St. Georges Open Championship
1 Jochen Hippenstiel and Sir Ricco
2 Kassandra Barteau and GP Delano

FEI Intermediaire II Open Championship
1 Yvonne Barteau and GP Raymeister
2 Judy Kelly and Rakker

First Level Freestyle Championship
1 Agata Rekucka and Bella Luna GP
2 Amy Schierbeek and Romance GP

Second Level Freestyle Championship
1 Amy Walker-Basak and Wagner
2 Elisabeth Maurer and Wynshire's Valiant

Third Level Freestyle Championship
1 Amy Gahn and Sinaebeau
2 Mattie Kay Nelson and Sam

Fourth Level Freestyle Championship
1 Robyn Weston and Willow
2 Emily Wright and Florestano

FEI Prix St. Georges AA Championship
1 Robyn Weston and Willow
2 Emily Wright and Florestano

FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle Championship
1 Yvonne Barteau and GP Raymeister
2 George Williams and Don Bailey

FEI Grand Prix Freestyle Championship
1 Amanda Johnson and Pip
2 Brad Cutshall and Pointjack

First Level Junior/Young Rider Championship
1 Jillian Ann Johnson and Noah's Art
2 Jacob Goodale and Superstition

Third Level AA Championship
1 Martina Minor and D'Artagnan
2 Amy Grahn and Sinaebeau

Third Level Open Championship
1 Judy Kelly and Benise
2 Amy Walker-Basak and Wagner

Third Level Junior/Young Rider Championship
1 Mattie Kay Nelson and Sam
2 Nicole Chiappetti and Oxford

First Level AA Championship
1 Ann Libert and Gusto
2 Barbara Hanus and Sijmen fon LaClar

First Level Open Championship
1 Heather McCarthy and U Go Girl
2 Christopher Gentner and Inquisitive

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