Gilberto and Weide circling the ring before earning a 78.158% in their Third Level test at the 2012 STRIDE Schooling Show in Ocala, FL.

Gilberto Gonzalez, working student extraordinaire for River House Hanoverians, had a fabulous Florida show season riding Nora’s ex-grand prix mount, EM Weide (Weltmeyer/Werther). In his first season of recognized dressage competition, Gilberto was able to earn his USDF Bronze Medal! Weide has now helped to earn three USDF Bronze medals, one USDF Silver Medal, one USDF Gold Medal, as well as a Pony Club A Dressage Specialty Rating. Good girl!

Gilberto and Weide debuted at the Twice as Nice I Dressage at Canterbury competition, just 25 minutes from River House South. There they earned one score at both first and second level for their Bronze and took home the blue at first level. In February, at the Twice as Nice II Dressage at Canterbury, Gilberto and Weide earned their second scores at first and second level, this time taking home the blue in their second level class. With their Bronze medal 2/3rds complete, Gilberto and Weide headed to the STRIDE Schooling Show at the nearby Florida Hore Park in Ocala. There they were the stars of the show – winning their second level test with a 72.368% and their first third level test together with a 78.158%! The latter impressive score – including 16 eights and 5 nines – made them the High Point Champions of the Show! Gilberto and Weide returned to the Florida Horse Park in March for the Ocala Spring Dressage competition, where they were able to earn the two third level scores necessary to complete Gilberto’s USDF Bronze Medal. They won one of these third level classes earning a notable 72.237% (including 6 eights and 2 nines!) and the comment… “Lovely mare in generally well ridden test!”

CONGRATULATIONS GILBERTO AND WEIDE ON A GREAT FLORIDA SEASON AND EARNING A USDF BRONZE MEDAL!!!!!!!

The Wellington Classic Dressage Spring Challenge, in the middle of February, was a stand out show for Farleight. He was second in the Open Intermediare I with a 68% and also performed in his first Intermediare Freestyle class, which he won with a 70.6%. Bretone put in a solid test to place fifth, with a 64+%, in his huge Grand Prix class.

The Palm Beach Derby, at the beginning of March, was an exciting, star-studded affair. At the Derby, Farleight competed in his second CDI small tour. He put in two smooth, clean tests to place sixth in both the Prix St. Georges and the Intermediare I, with scores around 66%. The classes at the Derby were very large and filled with stiff competition, so Farleight did very well to get in the ribbons (especially since they were beautiful neck rosettes!). Atta boy Flumpy!

Lauren Hampton’s Amalie/Amanta was did a solo show at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II. She performed fabulously in all three of her classes, earning many bananas! She and Nora put in a gorgeous, clean Prix St. Georges test to earn a 68% ad second place out of a very large field. On Saturday, they repeated their clean performance to place second in their equally large Intermediare I class, with a 66%. They wrapped up the show with another lovely Intermediare I test to place third in a 19 horse FEI Test of Choice class, with a 69.5%. Good girl Moo!

Belita RH is an adorable bay filly by Bretone (Brentano II / Salut) out of SPS Mijou (Matcho X / Argentan). Born in 2011, Belita is a wonderful sport horse prospect in a small package. She has three good gaits and a fabulous pedigree. With Bretone, a grand prix competitor from the famous stallion Brentano II, and her dam line which has produced approved stallions, Belita’s pedigree is superb for performance and/or breeding.

2011 Regional Awards:

The New England Dressage Association Year End Awards banquet is this Saturday. The River House Hanoverians crew will be in attendance to collect multiple awards as Nora and Farleight are also participating in the NEDA Fall Symposium with Kyra Kurkland as a demo pair this weekend. Nora and Farleight were the NEDA Year End Champions for the Intermediare I with a median score of 71.184%. Nora and Bretone will also be receiving NEDA Year End Champion honors for the Grand Prix Freestyle with  a median score of  71.463%. And Bretone’s handsome 4 year old son, Barcelona RH, is the NEDA FEI Young Horse Champion with a median score of 75.8%. Once again, YAY Tony babies!

2011 National Awards:

For the fourth year in a row, Bretone was the American Hanoverian Society Adequan All-Breeds National Champion for the Grand Prix Freestyle, with his 71.463% median. Unfortunately, Nora missed the deadline to submit Farleight’s registration papers and so missed out on being the AHS Adequan All-Breeds National Champion for Intermediare I. He had the scores, but not the paper work, so Nora will be kicking herself for a while for that one! In the USDF/Adequan Horse of the Year standings for Intermediare I, Farleight was ranked ninth nationally. Bretone was also  ranked ninth nationally in the USDF/Adequan Horse of the Year standings for the Grand Prix Freestyle. Multiple horses ranked in the top 10 nationally! Great job River House horses!