Wellington, Fl- Ann Sterling Hart aboard her 6-year old Hanoverian mare, Kashmir won the Beyond the Barn Upper Level Championship at the December Vinceremos Benefit Dressage Show. The pair clinched the Championship by winning the Third Level High Score at the show.

Hart, a well-known figure on the dressage scene, both as a competitor and a dressage show secretary, was thrilled with Kashmir's performance. "Kashmir is a sweet loving mare who tries her heart out," said Hart. Kashmir was bred by Janne Rumbough (who coincidently won the Beyond the Barn Championship in 2004). Rumbough lent the then 3-year old, Kashmir to Hart after her show mount, Katrina foundered. "I had nothing to ride," Hart remembered, "and Janne let me take Kashmir to play with for a year". Hart quickly fell in love with her and Rumbough made her an offer to own the mare that she "couldn't refuse".

The match has been a good one! This past fall, the pair won the USDF Regional Championship for the First Level Musical Freestyle and Reserve Championships at both First and Second Level. Next they successfully turned it up a notch, winning the Third Level Championship and the coveted Beyond the Barn Championship cooler last month at the Vinceremos show. "I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my coach, Heather Bender", Hart said after the win, "And to Susan Rubin who sponsors this award each year."

Beyond the Barn has been sponsoring the Upper Level Championship at the Vinceremos Benefit Dressage show annually for the past eight years. Beyond the Barn owner and interior decorator, Susan Rubin explains, "We sponsor the upper level championship as an incentive to attract more riders to compete and support the Vinceremos Benefit Show. It's always a lot of fun to add a new face to our Wall of Fame in the store."

Rubin was referring to the "Vinceremos Wall of Fame" in Beyond the Barn's Florida Showroom at the Courtyard Shops in Wellington. "Each year another Beyond the Barn Champion from Vinceremos is added to the "Wall". It's become quite a popular tradition!", added Rubin. Hart was especially pleased to be this year's winner as her mother, Jean Nix was at the show, too. Nix was competiting her Trakehner gelding, Airborne, for the last time before his well-earned retirement. As a tribute to his show career, Airborne filled in for Kashmir (who was back at the barn munching hay) in the Beyond the Barn victory shot.

Proceeds from the Annual Vinceremos Fall Dressage Show benefit the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center located in Loxahatchee, FL. For more information or to make a donation to the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center contact, Iseult Broglio at 561-793-2311.