In addition to being a critical High Performance qualifying competition for the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team, the Mid-Winter Dressage CDI is the second and last West Coast qualifier for the 2016 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Finals in Goteborg, Sweden, in March. One of 14 entries in the large tour is Olympic Bronze Medalist Guenter Seidel, who is currently ranked fourth on the North American League (NAL) standings for this year’s World Cup with his rising star Zero Gravity. He will be joined in the Grand Prix by additional up-and-coming talent including Michelle Reilly with Umeeko (ranked among the top ten on the NAL standings); perennial High Performance competitor Elizabeth Ball with two exciting mounts in Liaison and Avanti; adult amateur national champion Adrienne Bessey with hers and Olympian Hilda Gurney’s Oldenburg gelding Wintersnow; Young Rider sensation Anna Buffini, who makes the jump to the Grand Prix level for the first time with her NAJYRC gold medal-winning partner Sundayboy; as well as Canada’s own Wendy Cristoff with Treffer and Joni Lynn Peters aboard Travolta.

Top Marks

Competitors will also vie for top marks from the ground jury of Annette Fransen-Iacobaeus (5* SWE), Brenda Minor (4* CAN), Sarah Geikie (4* USA), Mike Osinski (3* USA), and Peter Storr (3* GBR) in the CDI small tour, Young Rider, Junior, and Under 25 divisions. Dressage fans in attendance at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center can enjoy the covered ringside VIP area with California Dreaming Productions’ renowned hospitality, including full breakfast and lunch service for guests. Thanks to the generous support of sponsors including SmartPak, Kastel Denmark, Shapley Horse Products, Professionals’ Choice and Lisa Seger Insurance, national show exhibitors in three additional rings will also compete for prizes and valuable qualifying scores towards a multitude of national awards and championship programs, including the Markel/USEF National Young & Developing Horse Dressage Championships; the National Dressage Pony Cup (NDPC); USDF year-end awards and regional championships; and California Dressage Society (CDS) Horse of the Year awards and annual championship show.

Don’t miss any of the excitement! To learn more about the Mid-Winter Dressage CDI-W/Y/J/U-25, visit www.californiadreamingproductions.com or visit us on Facebook. Don’t miss your chance to watch America’s top dressage riders LIVE, including Axel Steiner’s expert commentary and behind-the-scenes interviews sponsored by Lisa Seger Insurance. Signing up for CDP Live is easy – no special PayPal accounts are needed as fans simply need a credit card number.