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2018 USDF All Breeds Award Winners

The Adequen/USDF All Breeds Award Program is designed to recognize the accomplishments of specific breeds in dressage, these awards are presented to horses declared for a participating registry/organization (PO) with USDF. The American Saddlebred Registry had three Adequen/USDF All Breeds Award winners for the 2018 season that you will find below. Thank you to our winners that responded to share their story and pictures of their American Saddlebred Dressage horses!

More information on the program is available .

If you would like more information on the American Saddlebred as a Sport Horse please visit our page.

Second LevelSir Earl GreyChampion: 66.209%Owner(s): Jeffrey Winton or James ModicaGreen Oaks, IL

First LevelSir Earl GreyChampion: 65.666%Owner(s): Jeffrey Winton or James ModicaGreen Oaks, IL

Training LevelHot Jammin’ BluesChampion: 67.692%Owner(s): Bethany NehseLivermore, CA

Arrowhead’s On The Prowl(Shown as First Officer York)Reserve Champion: 67.609%Owner(s): Marisa KingUrbandale, IA

Dressage is Sir Earl Grey’s Cup of Tea

Sir Earl Grey (122157G) is a nine-year-old American Saddlebred who is finding his favorite stage as a solo act in Dressage. Sir Earl Grey or “Earl” as he is more commonly known as is a prime example of what finding the right job for a horse can do. Earl’s owners, trainers, and breeder have supported finding the proper fit for him his whole career. He is our 2018 USDF All Breed Award Champion at both First and Second Level. After the conclusion of only his second season competing on United States Dressage Federation (USDF) circuit they all have high aspirations set for him in the discipline.

Jeffrey Winton and James Modica purchased Earl from breeder Joan Todd in 2009 as a three-year-old. Earl spent three seasons successfully competing as a hunter pleasure horse across the Midwest from 2014-2016. In the fall of 2016, his owners and then trainer Tom Thorpe identified his potential for dressage and approached Paula Briney of Pratense Farm in Springfield, IL about taking him.

Briney and her family have been influential in the American Saddlebred sport horse divisions. Pratense Farm has successfully trained and raised many successful full and half American Saddlebred Sport Horses. Full American Saddlebreds some will recognize are Pratense Midnight Belle (95813M*) who was the image used in the American Saddlebred Museum for years to display the jumping American Saddlebred. Solitary Lady (123705M) was shown successfully in Dressage and Endurance and is the dam of the successful combined-driving American Saddlebred Varoom (112497G). Their success with Half-Saddlebreds has been highlighted with Regal Heir who competed at Fourth Level and was sired by the Briney’s Holsteiner Stallion Regent who they competed at Grand Prix level in Dressage.

Briney started Earl’s Dressage training in November 2016, and by March 2017 he was competing in Training Level at USDF recognized shows. They compete in the extremely competitive USDF Region 2 Circuit which includes Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. In both the 2017 and 2018 Earl has qualified for the Great American Insurance Group USDF Regional Dressage Championships. In 2017, Earl made a tremendous debut and placed 8th in Training Level at the Regional Championship. In 2018, Earl qualified to compete at both First and Second Level at the Regional Championship but fell short of landing a top 10 placing.

The future is bright for Sir Earl Grey. This offseason they will focus on flying lead changes and hope to have him competing at Fourth Level tests in 2019. Briney’s goal is to pursue the Prix St. George Level, which is the level of tests you see at the Pan-American Games. Earl’s intelligence, size, level-headedness, athletic ability, and desire to please matched with his love of putting on a show all by himself has his connections confident he can pursue the elite level of Dressage.

Arrowhead’s On The Prowl is On the Rise in Dressage

Arrowhead's On The Prowl (125456G) is a five-year-old American Saddlebred who is making tremendous gains in his first season showing at United States Dressage Federation (USDF) recognized shows and for his first time American Saddlebred owner/rider Marisa King.

Arrowhead's On The Prowl, USDF registered name is First Officer York, and is affectionately known to King as “York.”

He had a strong year competing falling just short of the season goal to be champion at Training Level Open in the 2018 Adequan® USDF All-Breeds Awards with the American Saddlebred Registry. York made a strong run, winning the show high point award at his first recognized show for Training Level.

York competes primarily in USDF Region 4 which includes North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri.

York is the first American Saddlebred King has ever owned or shown in dressage. He came to King’s attention through an Iowa based American Saddlebred trainer, Louis Louw of Louw Stables, when York was a two-year-old. York’s potential for dressage was identified early on by both his breeder and training team in both Kentucky and Iowa. Recognizing that York showed a real aptitude for dressage and would excel if given the opportunity his connections found him his partner with King.

When asked why being an American Saddlebred has been an advantage to York competing in dressage, King responded, “York is a very intelligent forward-thinking horse with an exceptional work ethic. He is a very athletic horse with a conformation that allows him to naturally work over his back and carry himself in an uphill frame. He is always motivated to work and is very sensitive to my aids. His temperament and willing attitude have made training him a true pleasure.”

York was the first American Saddlebred for King, but he definitely won’t be her last. King feels “I would absolutely ride and train other Saddlebreds in the future. In working with my own horse and other Saddlebreds, I am always astounded by their unparalleled work ethic, athleticism, and intelligence. They truly are the complete package.”

Photo Credits: Anya-Maria Photography.