Login
Oct 17, 2015
Blog: YEH Le Lion d'Angers Grant Recipient Sits in Top Half After Dressage
Debbie Adams and her horse D.A. Duras have traveled to the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championship in France to showcase this gelding on an international stage. Their trip has been made possible by the Holekamp/Turner Young Event Horse Lion d’Angers Grant. D.A. Duras is the first recipient of this award, having earned it by being the highest scorer of the 2013 USEA Young Event Horse 5-year-old Championship who also qualified for Le Lion d'Angers. Adams is a guest blogger with the USEA to share her inside experience of this event.
Today was the second day of dressage at Le Lion d'Angers. As I said 110 dreams coming into the competition to represent the 110 competitors. Unfortunately, not everyone has their dreams come true and as they say, sometimes you leave your best in the warmup. D.A. Duras looked quite special as he worked in preparation this week. His test that was obedient, but not what [he and rider, Kelly Prather] are both capable of. Still I am quite proud of him today, and he belongs here with the best of the 7-year-olds the world is bringing along. Equally as important is how much we are all learning as we live the European Eventing experience. He is placed in the top half and now let's hope he finishes on that score.
I have attached a clip of how the Germans were working their horses in for the first day of dressage. Cantering ground poles absolutely straight and the step never varied in rhythm or length. Simple and difficult exercises which produced terrific canters.
German Riders Preparing for Dressage. Debbie Adams Video.
And we have our minds on the cross-country already. The 7-year-olds will run a ten-minute course with many combinations of very demanding terrain. The placement of the fences and distances require a very forward positive ride while maintaining the balance. There is a lot to be said about this course. It features large solid questions atop a hill leading down to skinnies that will require a very precise ride. Next follows quite wide efforts into and throughout the water. There is a lot to do tomorrow out there for both levels and this will be the first time Duras is challenged this intensely. I have been told [Kelly Prather] and I will learn a lot about him tomorrow on course.
The action starts at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow which sounds quite civilized, but actually it isn't even light till 8:00 a.m.. Everything is different here but oddly similar at the same time.
Here is a sneak peak of the cross-country course.
Debbie Adams Photos.
Follow the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championships Live!
Click here for 6-year-old/CCI* Live Scores
Click here for 7-year-old/CCI** Live Scores - Including D.A. Duras
Click here to watch the dressage live
Dec 22, 2024
USEA Foundation
Top Tips for Applying for a USEA Foundation Grant
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
Dec 21, 2024
Education
3 Ways to Help Eventing Thrive in 2025
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Dec 20, 2024
Sponsor
“Happy Horse Equals Happy Judge”: Ask An Expert with Dressage Judge Peter Gray, Brought to You by Ride iQ
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.
Dec 19, 2024
Volunteers
The VIP Volunteer: Cathy Hale Has A Thirst for Adventure and a Love for Volunteering
With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.
