Thursday, February 27, 2014

Gary Vander Ploeg Crowned Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award Winner for Stillpoint Farms CDIO Nations Cup
Wellington, FL (February 27, 2014) - “You have to laugh at least a few times each day,” said Dutch Grand Prix rider Gary Vander Ploeg, whose winning smile and attitude earned him the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award after his performance in the Stillpoint Farms CDIO Nations Cup Grand Prix at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida.






Gary Vander Ploeg Premier Equestrian Award




Vander Ploeg rode Degas, a 15 year-old Oldenburg (Donnerhall x Pretty Lady) gelding, co-owned with Jean Vander Ploeg, that he has trained through the levels since the 17-hand bay was just four year-old prospect.



“It's been a tough winter,” said the Toronto, Canada horseman. “Between ice storms and bad weather, it was tough getting to Florida and it took time to acclimate. But the weather has been getting better and so have the horses.
“I've had the good fortune of seeing alot of the world, but Wellington? This is an absolutely all-in-one, world class facility that can't be beat.”
“When you reach the top levels of international competition, you not only expect the best, you deserve it,” said Heidi Zorn, president of Premier Equestrian. One of the world's leading names in equestrian arenas and footing, Premier Equestrian is the Official Dressage Arena of the USEF, North American Young Riders, and U.S. Dressage Finals.
In addition to presenting a tricolor neck ribbon to Degas, Zorn gave the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award winner a gift certificate from Premier Equestrian, and hardcover copy of Ask Walter, the latest book on classical dressage training for the horse and rider written by German Gold medalist and author, Walter Zettl and available through Premier Equestrian.
For over a decade, professional horsepeople have come to Premier Equestrian for affordable, quality arenas built from PVC and other topnotch materials, as well as footing, stadium fences, barn and stable equipment, gifts, books and DVDs.

Some of the world's top dressage and combined driving horses have performed on Premier Equestrian surfaces, including at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and Del Mar National and World Dressage Masters.

For a free catalog, free arena footing sample or free arena sand analysis, call (800) 611-6109 or visit www.PremierEquestrian.com.


Photo: Gary vander Ploeg is presented with the Premier Sportsmanship Award at the Global Dressage Festival Nations Cup CDIO. (Photo courtesy of JRPR—no photo credit necessary)

Monday, February 17, 2014

Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award Winner for AGDF5 Sahar Daniel Hirosh Delivers a Classy Ride

Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award Winner for AGDF5 Sahar Daniel Hirosh Delivers a Classy Ride 


 

Wellington, FL (February 17, 2014) - As one of the leading names in arenas and footing, Premier Equestrian understands that the first step inside the show ring doesn't belong to the rider: It's taken by the horse. So when Sahar Daniel Hirosh praised his partner, Classy Sinclair, before himself, after their Open Fourth Level Test 1 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center during AGDF5, it resonated with Premier Equestrian president, Heidi Zorn.

Sahar Daniel

“The horse was fantastic.  He's a homebred that I've known since he was born.  He was a little hot on the changes but overall, a very good ride.  With hot horse you learn to ride not just the physical body, but also the soul and mind,”  Hirosh said of the bay 16.1 hand Oldenburg stallion by Sandro Hit, and owned by Lisa Grossi. Between Friday and Sunday, the Israeli dressage rider continued to coax that mind/body harmony, bringing the horse along from a 66.714% on Friday to a 68.571% by Sunday.
“That's why he's worthy of this Sportsmanship Award,” said Zorn. “He praised his horse first, which is the way it should be.  This Premier Equestrian award is our way of trying to recognize the people who are partners with their horse, because that partnership is what dressage is all about.”
In addition to a classy tricolor ribbon for Classy Sinclair, the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award winner received a generous gift certificate from Premier Equestrian, and a hardcover copy of Ask Walter, the latest book on classical dressage training for the horse and rider by German Gold medalist and author, Walter Zettl.        
For more than a decade, Premier Equestrian, the Official Dressage Arena of the USEF, North American Young Riders and U.S. Dressage Finals, has offered horsemen and women affordable quality dressage arenas built from PVC and other top materials, including dressage arena packages, as well as footing, horse jumps, barn and stable equipment, and gifts, books and DVDs. 
Premier provided the dressage and driving arenas for the 2010 World Equestrian Games and its Arena Footing is installed at The Del Mar National and World Dressage Masters.  Request a free catalog, free arena footing sample or free arena sand analysis by calling (800) 611-6109 or visiting www.PremierEquestrian.com.

Photo:  Heidi Zorn of Premier Equestrian presents Sahar Daniel Hirosh with the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award. (Photo courtesy of JRPR—no photo credit necessary)

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Premier Equestrian Gives Rider’s Walter Zettl’s Latest Book at Adequan Global Dressage Festival’s Nations Cup

ask walter

Premier Equestrian Gives Rider’s Walter Zettl’s Latest Book at Adequan Global Dressage Festival’s Nations Cup

Wellington, FL (February 13, 2014) - Talk about hospitality with a dash of horse sense: Premier Equestrian is providing a complimentary copy of the book, Ask Walter, by German Federation Gold Riding Medalist and classical dressage author, Walter Zettl, in each and every rider’s goodie bucket distributed during Nations Cup week, February 19-23, at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.


The man affectionately known in the dressage world as WAZ is a four-time author who has gained a strong legion of Wellington fans, thanks to the enthusiastic support of Zorn and Premier Equestrian, who were also responsible for distributing personalized, advance copies of Zettl's book on classical dressage during last February's USDF-accredited Dressage Summit.
“It's our February 'Valentine' to our dressage trainers,” said Heidi Zorn, president of Premier Equestrian. “It's always a privilege to work among the world's best horses and riders, and Ask Walter is an amazing resource for every rider.”
Ask Walter offers in-depth definitions for over 300 riding terms plus training tips addressing even the most complicated problems, and specific exercises to 'fill in the holes' in the training process and encourage more correct movement.
The German-born Zettl, who now resides and trains in Canada, is an accomplished rider, trainer and author. In 1998, he releasedDressage in Harmony and in 2007, published The Circle of Trust.  Zettl has been honored with the German Federation Gold Riding Medal, was an Olympic Three-Day coach, and is a Toronto CADORA Hall of Famer.
The AGDF is the world's largest international and national dressage circuit featuring 8 CDIs, five CDI-Ws, a 4* and 5*, the only non-championship CDIO Nations' Cup in the Western Hemisphere, and weekly U.S. National events.
Considered America’s leading manufacturer and distributor of equestrian arenas and footing surfaces, Premier Equestrian also offers a complete range of high quality equine products such as barn accessories, books, DVD’s, and more. Ask Walter is also available for purchase through PremierEquestrian.com. For more information visit www.PremierEquestrian.com or call (800) 611-6109
Photo: Premier Equestrian is providing a complimentary copy of the book, Ask Walter, by German Federation Gold Riding Medalist and classical dressage author, Walter Zettl, in each and every rider’s goodie bucket distributed during Nations Cup week, February 19-23, at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.  (Photo courtesy of Premier Equestrian)

Mary-Haskins Gurganus and Richmond HL Recognized with Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award

Mary-Haskins Gurganus and Richmond HL




Mary-Haskins Gurganus and Richmond HL Recognized with Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at AGDF CDIW3



 



Wellington, FL (February 6, 2014) - When Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award winner Mary-Haskins Gurganus says, “You're always going to face setbacks and, especially at this level of the sport, you need to face them with a positive attitude,” she knows what she's talking about.






Gurganus won accolades and recognition from Premier Equestrian and its president, Heidi Zorn, after she and her 2012 Wellington Cup and FEI High Score champion, Richmond HL, returned to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for Week Three of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CDIW series. It was the first time the pair had appeared in a ring together since a November bout of colic, which occurred shortly after posting the highest scores of their career at the Autumn Leaves Dressage and CBLM Championships in North Carolina.


The pair, who have trained together since Gurganus acquired the 16.2-hand black Hanoverian as a five year-old dressage prospect in 2010, presented themselves in Friday's FEI Prix St Georges 2009 and Saturday's FEI Intermediare I 2009, and earned scores as high as 70.395% from individual Wellington judges.


“I'm very happy with how things went. He felt great. It's important to always stay positive,” said the NAYRC individual Gold medalist and trainer of two USDF Prix St Georges champions.


The Adequan Global Dressage Festival is the world's largest international and national dressage circuit featuring 8 CDIs, including five CDI-Ws, one 4* and one 5*, the only non-championship CDIO Nations' Cup in the Western Hemisphere, as well as weekly U.S. National events.


Since 2000, Premier Equestrian, the Official Dressage Arena of the USEF, North American Young Riders and U.S. Dressage Finals, has offered affordable quality dressage arenas built from PVC and other top materials. Premier provided the dressage and driving arenas for the 2010 World Equestrian Games and its Arena Footing is installed at The Del Mar National and World Dressage Masters.  Learn more by calling (800) 611-6109 or at www.PremierEquestrian.com.


Photo: Mary-Haskins Gurganus and Richmond HL.  (Photo courtesy of JRPR--no photo credit necessary)