Horsemen across all disciplines admire dressage rider and trainer JJ Tate. While in Palm Beach during late March, Monty Roberts filmed JJ as a demonstration rider for his upcoming show on RFD-TV. She’s riding 7 year-old Westfalen Faberge, owned by Elizabeth Guarisco
Photo by Molly Oldham

Catching up:  Vicky Moon reports that in addition to a highly successful week at the Kentucky Horse Park, dressage star Tina Konyot was busy at the Keeneland Race Course. Tina was up at dawn during the early morning workouts at the track with her current significant other, Roger Attfield (who saddled two big winners on the final weekend.)  Tina changed from an early morning in jeans to an afternoon in fashionable pants suit to be right there in the winner’s circle with Roger.  And once again, we find Tina in the winner’s circle, as she won the Kentucky Cup Test event’s Freestyle Dressage competition in the same weekend!

Gil Merrick gave an informative day long interactive lecture titled “The Mastery Course” at Stillpoint Farm, organized by Tuny Page and Betsy Steiner on April 12.   The focus was on managing our lives and our relationships with better results.

Dance fever? Hmmmm.  Shannon and Lorne Dueck took a trip back into to time for Dave Page’s most amazing Birthday Party at IPC.  The entire Wellington scene relived their misspent youth at Dave’s disco themed bash!!

Dressage Divas gone polo?  Tami Hoag took friends away from the sandbox into the world of polo—and this time it was no novel.  Tami purchased a polo lesson and chance to play with Nacho Figueras and Brandon Phillips at the Vinceremos fundraiser. She took along Betsy Steiner, Joile Burrell and Johnny Robb.  Too much fun!!  Even so,  it appears Tami is staying true to dressage . She bought a young mare in the Highlife Farms Auction and we hear she is currently out of the country looking at another dressage horse!

Newly crowned, USDF President , George Williams was on hand at Sho Clothes for a evening of questions and answers.  Looks like dressage has a humble committed leader at the helm!

Once again dressage rider and trainer Pati Pierruci of Pierruci Dressage at Far Afield Acres in Ruckersville, VA has a barnful of darling working students and even more darling horses.  We hear they’re all doing very well at the shows. Just ask Kim Schmidt about her homebred Hanoverian gelding Portobello!

Visiting fireman Karin Offield and her Jack Russell, Cabo, spent the day with The Dressage Foundation staff at its national headquarters office in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Karin planned this visit as a mid-point stop on her drive from Aspen, Colorado, to her northern Michigan home.

Karin and The Dressage Foundation staff worked on the further development of a new program being launched into the equestrian marketplace in the near future.  The new program, “Lessons in Fundraising, Giving, and Horsemanship...Your Foundation for the FutureA9,” will teach participants the basics of fundraising, and how they can develop the financial support necessary to pursue their equestrian education and careers.  The Dressage Foundation, working with potential participant focus groups, is developing a curriculum to be taught by an excellent faculty cadre of people who have “been there, done that,” as well as trained fundraising professionals.

Bumps and bruises:  Nan Sexton had a bad fall from her newest horse on April 7th,  sustaining a brain bruise, a fracture in her neck, and several fractures in her pelvis.  She underwent surgery for the hip fractures on April 14th and is starting on her recovery.

As most of you are aware, in March Courtney King-Dye was riding a young horse that slipped and fell, leaving her in a coma for nearly four weeks. She  is now awake and recovering at the Kessler Institute in West Orange, New Jersey. Her bills are more than what her insurance will cover, not including her day to day costs of mortgage, car payments and other necessities. To help out, Robert Dover asked to ride Don Principe in a benefit for Courtney as well as Charlie Weaver, another injured equestrian. The following is a link to that ride.  And Robert wore a helmet when he rode.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCgxmMyfByQ

Emails and cards are appreciated and the address can be found on www.courtneykingdressage.com

Arenus executive Simone Pophal visited Florida and after a few days of watching dressage and jumping she decided to Cowboy Up at Ingram Training and try her hand at reining!  Even though Arenus is a strong sponsor of the NRHA, this was Simone’s first time spinnin’ and sliding!

News to share:  new baby, engagement, pickup truck?  On the move, having parties, falling off horses?  Share what’s happenin’ with your dressage friends by e-mailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Be sure to put “News for Off Centerline” in the subject line. 

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