Articles: Press Release

Contact:
Lauren Fisher for Phelps Media Group, Inc.
at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com

Traverse City, MI - July 30, 2009 - Competition continued for Dressage by the Bay Series I today as the FEI Musical Freestyle and FEI Prix St. Georges classes were held in the spacious Grand Prix Ring at Flintfields Horse Park. Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc. has been awarded the opportunity to host the 2010 Great American Insurance Group/United States Dressage Federation Region 2 Dressage Championships based on prior performance producing quality dressage shows, and this year's Dressage by the Bay Series is carrying on that quality.

Debbie Riehl-Rodriguez judged today's classes, which were generously sponsored by Hampton Green Farm. The FEI Musical Freestyle began the morning, and Colleen Haveman and Warello topped the class in the Open division with the high score of 70%. Also earning a 70% in the class were Meredith Kenyon and Rambunctious, who showed under the Junior/Young Rider division.

The FEI Prix St. Georges followed, and 20-year-old Anna Marek of West Bloomfield, MI, rode Unico G to the highest score of the class with a 65.790% showing in the Junior/Young Rider division. Alison Allen and San Marcus had the highest Open score with a 63.948%.

Unico G (Negro x Kleora) is a black eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Amy Awerbuch. Anna Marek has been riding Unico G for two years, and started the young horse at Training Level and First Level. The pair moved up the levels very quickly and is now competing in Prix St. Georges together.

"He was a little fiery today, but I thought he was great," Marek commented on today's test. "He is usually not like that, he is usually pretty sensitive, but not quite so hot. He was definitely ready to go today and I think showing in the big open ring really got him going."

"He is only eight years old, so it is just coming along," Marek continued. "When I learn to contain that energy and get quicker on my aids with that quality I think it is going to be awesome."

Marek explained that she is currently trying to buy Unico G from his owner so that she can keep improving and showing with him. "I really want to be able to keep going with him," she stated. "He is pretty much schooling all of the grand prix already. It is pretty green, but he does piaffe and passage, so I am trying to hang on to him. I would love to buy him and turn him into a grand prix horse; that is my long-term plan."

Marek noted that the last time she competed at Dressage by the Bay was two years ago, and it was actually the first time that she showed Unico G. "I think it is so funny that two years ago I was here and I was showing this horse Training Level and now he is a Prix St. Georges horse," she smiled. "He has moved up so fast."

"It is awesome here," Marek added. "My dad's cousin has a place on East Bay, so we come up here and my friends come and we hang out. It is just beautiful. The grounds are awesome, there is so much room, and they make everything really nice. It is great; I love the area."

Dressage by the Bay Series II will begin tomorrow at Flintfields Horse Park with more exciting dressage competition. The 2009 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival will continue through Sunday, August 2. For more information, please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com.