TheraPlate Recognizes “Lotta” Peak Performance at Kentucky Dressage Association Annual Dressage Show and Spring Warm-Up

Lisa Spillman (left) of TheraPlate presents the TheraPlate Peak Performance Award to Anna “Lotta” Eklund (right) at the Kentucky Dressage Association 29th annual Dressage Show and Spring Warm-Up (Photo: Lisa Michelle Dean)

Lexington, Kentucky- All of the horses shown by Anna “Lotta” Eklund at the Kentucky Dressage Association 29th annual Dressage Show and Spring Warm-Up exhibited outstanding overall fitness— causing the judges to award Eklund with not only solid test scores but also with the TheraPlate Peak Performance Award. The TheraPlate Peak Performance Award, presented by TheraPlate Revolution, is given to the rider of a horse that embodies the TheraPlate Revolution core principles of ideal soundness, fitness, performance, and strength. In this exceptional case, German-trained dressage instructor Eklund’s entire show string presented winning appeal.

Eklund, who is originally from Sweden and has been in the U.S. for almost a decade, is a trainer at Saint Louis Equestrian Center (SLEC) in Wildwood, Missouri. "Lotta," as she is known, was accepted at age 14 into formal equestrian training at a Swedish state-run riding academy. She then traveled to Germany to complete her Bereiter (Instructor) Training, where she graduated with honors in the top one percentile of her class.

“During my years in Germany I rode a lot of horses, and learned to ride and train from the ground up. I get a big kick out of watching horses grow up, starting their training, and taking them to their first shows,” Eklund smiled.

The quality of her training— and peak performance results— were evident with each young horse at the Kentucky Dressage Association 29th annual Dressage Show and Spring Warm-Up. Her scores included a reserve finish (71%) in the FEI Five Year-Old Horse Final on Jennisa Rossiter's Holsteiner, Chaminade; a 71.8% win in USEF Training Level Test 3 on SLEC's five year-old Westphalian (Freestyle/Rubenstein) mare Freedance; and top 10 results to bring home to Saint Louis with five year-old Holsteiner (Camiros/Chardonnay) mare Camira, and Anne McGruder's six year-old Hanoverian (Pomeroy/Rubenstein) Princeton SLEC.

“I was very happy with all the scores the horses achieved,” said Eklund. “But most excited about how well they performed at such young ages.”

Eklund was proud to receive the TheraPlate Peak Performance Award because, like TheraPlate Revolution, she puts focus and effort into achieving high levels of equine fitness. “A lot goes into great fitness. I am a big believer in consistency in training, so all my horses have individual work-out plans followed pretty strictly. I'm also lucky to ride very nice, well-bred horses,” she explained.

Lisa Spillman, who represented TheraPlate Revolution at the Kentucky Dressage Association show, said, “This TheraPlate Peak Performance Award was determined by the show's dressage judges, Technical Delegates, and ring stewards, who had nearly two dozen horse-and-rider nominees to consider. With so many incredible horses walking past our TheraPlate booth, I was thankful I did not have to narrow it down to a winner myself,” she laughed. “I was happy to see Lotta take home the award after completing all her rides.” 

“It was so exciting to see so many TheraPlate customers riding at the show,” Spillman continued. “I have to brag that every horse I knew here that uses TheraPlate was at the top of their respective division, from Training to Grand Prix. To help these great horses and their riders not only achieve their goals but also maintain their fitness and ability to perform at their peak is very gratifying. Success takes a team— vets, farriers, physiotherapists, everyone— who can compliment each other for the good of the horse. TheraPlate is proud to be part of so many winning teams.”

Eklund told Spillman that she was familiar with the TheraPlate and, “Would like to learn more about it and try it on my horses and myself!”

With an eye on the prize in October at the Kentucky Dressage Association Regional Dressage Championships, the Saint Louis Equestrian Center trainer and her horses plan to continue their dedicated training to take their performances to yet another peak.

TheraPlate Revolution, based in Weatherford, Texas, is committed to helping horses and people reach ultimate health and body condition to deliver peak performances. Consistent use of a TheraPlate platform increases circulation, bone density, and muscle mass; reduces swelling, inflammation, and pain; and encourages rapid healing. For more about the next revolution in therapy platforms, visit www.theraplate.com or call (800) 920-3685.