For Immediate Release
MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer M. Keeler, Yellow Horse Marketing, jennifer@yellowhorsemarketing.com
|
Monday, September 11, 2017 |
Riders Dare To Dream as Regional Qualifying Starts This Weekend for the 2017 US Dressage Finals Presented By Adequan®
Source: Yellow Horse Marketing for the US Dressage Finals
Last year, Julie Forman of Franktown, Colo.
traveled to Kentucky to attend the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® as
a spectator with her long-time friend, coach, and FEI 5* judge Janet Foy. The
trip left quite an impression.
“It was unlike any event I had seen before,” Forman remembered. “What a
treat to watch all the wonderful horses and riders in that amazing venue, which
was much larger than I am used to. All I could think was that it would be such
an honor to ride there.”
Forman may get her chance to qualify for this year's US Dressage Finals as
she and more than 500 other competitors prepare to ride down center line during
this week's first round of Great American Insurance Group/United States
Dressage Federation (USDF) Regional Championships, being held in Parker, Colo.
for Region 5 exhibitors and in Batavia, Ohio for Region 2. Additional
championships are scheduled across the country in the coming weeks, including
Regions 6, 7 and 8 on September 21-24; Region 4 on September 28-October 1; and
wrapping up with Regions 1, 3, and 9 on October 5-8. Besides pursuing qualification
for November's US Dressage Finals, Regional Championship competitors will be
vying for a portion of more than $180,000 in prize money and awards.
“I have to admit that I am super excited yet nervous about Regionals this
year because I really want to do well,” said Forman, who will compete in the
Second Level Adult Amateur and Second Level Freestyle championship divisions.
Her partner will be Prince Berimba, her nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Pablo
x Berimba by Banter) bred in South Carolina by Middlefield Farm. “The Colorado
Horse Park is a wonderful venue, and it looks like it will be a big show as we
are scheduled to compete in classes over four days in a row.”
Forman and Prince already know what Regional Championship success feels
like: the talented pair was crowned Region 5 Reserve Champions at First Level
in 2016, and actually received a wild card invitation to go to the Finals. At
the time, Forman made the tough decision to turn it down – but she won't if
given the chance again this year.
“Last fall it was a complete surprise – I actually didn¹t know there was
such a thing as a wild card, and I was very excited and honored to suddenly get
a letter inviting me to attend the Finals,” Forman explained. “But after
talking with Janet Foy we decided that I should just go and watch and see what
this whole thing was about before I decided if I should go with my horse. I
wanted to be sure that both Prince and I would have the necessary confidence
and be ready for a big trip like that. Janet also thought I should do a
freestyle for the level so if I drove the distance to Kentucky I would be
entered in two divisions instead of just one, which is why we added a freestyle
when moving up to Second Level this year.”
In order to ensure she wouldn't miss another opportunity to compete at the
Finals, Forman submitted an easy, online Declaration of Intent form long before
packing her trailer for the Regional Championships. As a reminder for all
competitors, a horse/rider combination must declare their intention to participate
in the US Dressage Finals by completing the Declaration of Intent form by
midnight on the day prior to the first day of their Regional Championship
competition (including any open class day before the start of championship
classes). There is no fee to declare, but horse/rider combinations must declare
at the level(s) and eligible division(s) they intend to compete in at the US
Dressage Finals. Declarations may be submitted at this link: https://www.usdf.org/usdressagefinals/competitors/eiq.asp.
Don't miss your chance to compete! The US
Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® is a unique national head-to-head
competition which offers a wealth of championship titles and over $75,000 in
prize money, all while showcasing adult amateur and open riders from across the
country in Training Level to Grand Prix. To learn more about the US Dressage
Finals presented by Adequan®, download competition information, declare and
nominate for the Finals, and sign up to receive news and updates, visit the
official event website at www.usdressagefinals.com.