A Tribute to Reagan
Thursday, November 7, 2019

by Jodie Kelly

Destin, FL - A tribute to Reagan.

Around 25 years ago, I was around 11, she was around 5 (none of us can remember exactly) Dr Amy Williams, our dear friend, asked us if we’d be interested in her mare as a school horse for our lesson program. We took her, but she was a little green for the school program, so the plan was for me to ride her until she would be suitable as a lesson horse. Lets just say, she never made it to being a lesson horse.

Last night we said goodbye to truly, one of my heart horses and the one who jump started my career, our dear, sweet, Reagan. She was the product of Dr Williams’ research on amniocentesis in horses and my partner in crime down many centerlines. From Florida, to California, to Chicago, we traveled the country together. She put me on my first podiums and gave me my first tastes of what riding on a team really meant. SHE made me thirsty for more. She also is the only one, to date, that I have managed to get five 0’s on a movement in a CDI!!!

I’ll never forget, in a lesson in the beginning, I asked Jos how far I thought she could go. His answer is an answer I have carried through my whole career. He said “who am I to put a limit on this horse?” And what an accurate answer that was for Reagan. She lived her life with no limits and I am happy she once again, has no limits. Dr Williams was there for her first breath, and 30 years later, was with her for her last.

It was the greatest honor of my young life to be her rider. Until we meet again, my friend.

US Equestrian Announces Dressage Development Program Members
Thursday, April 18, 2019

by US Equestrian Communications Department

Lexington, KY - US Equestrian (USEF) is pleased to announce the updated member lists to the Dressage Development Program.

The aim of the Dressage Development Program is to provide strategic guidance and resources to selected athletes with the perceived ability to make the podium or contribute to podium scores. This program is overseen by the USEF Development Coach with the assistance of the USEF Dressage Youth and Young Horse Coaches, as well as the USEF Dressage Technical Advisor. The Program is supported by Akiko Yamazaki and her family’s foundation, The Red Husky Foundation. In alphabetical order, the following athlete/horse combinations meet the criteria for Dressage Development Program membership:

• Lauren Asher (Littleton, Colo.) with West Side, Select Equine International’s 16-year-old KPWN gelding
• Jennifer Baumert (Wellington, Fla.) with Handsome, Betsy Juliano LLC’s 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding
• Patti Becker (Wadsworth, Ill.) with Freedom, Anne Ramsay’s 12-year-old Oldenburg stallion
• Heather Blitz (Wellington, Fla.) with Praestemarkens Quatero, her 10-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding
• Michael Bragdell (Colora, Md.) with Qredit Hilltop, Hilltop Farm Inc’s 11-year-old Oldenburg stallion
• Michael Bragdell with Sternlicht Hilltop, Hilltop Farm Inc’s nine-year-old Hanoverian stallion
• Niki Clarke (Temecula, Calif.) with Coral Reef Scoobidooh, Coral Reef Ranch’s 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding
• Lehua Custer (North Hollywood, Calif.) with F.J. Ramzes, Wendy Sasser’s nine-year-old KWPN gelding
• Claire Darnell (Moorpark, Calif.) with Harrold S, her seven-year-old KWPN gelding
• Susie Dutta (Wellington, Fla.) with Dimacci DC, her and Tim Dutta’s 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding
• Shawna Harding (Aiken, S.C.) with Regent, her nine-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding
• Kristina Harrison (Burbank, Calif.) with Finley, her nine-year-old KWPN gelding
• Chris Hickey (Wellington, Fla.) with Straight Horse Zackonik, Cecelia Stewart’s nine-year-old Danish Warmblood mare
• Aaron Janicki (Mount Vernon, Wash.) with Heron, his seven-year-old KWPN gelding
• Jodie Kelly-Baxley (Destin, Fla.) with Caymus, Beth Godwin’s 12-year-old KWPN gelding
• Jami Kment (Palmyra, Neb.) with Gatino Van Hof Olympia, her and Elaine Vandeventer’s eight-year-old KWPN gelding
• Sarah Lockman (Wildomar, Calif.) with Balia, Gerry Ibanez’s seven-year-old Westphalian mare
• Amy Miller (Fullerton, Calif.) with Encore, her 10-year-old KWPN gelding
• Jennifer Schrader-Williams (Olympia, Wash.) with Millione, Millione Partners, LLC’s 16-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding
• Melissa Taylor (Wellington, Fla.) with Dixie WRF, her and Marcia Pepper’s 11-year-old KWPN mare
• Alice Tarjan (Oldwick, N.J.) with Harvest, her seven-year-old KWPN stallion
• Carly Taylor-Smith (Malibu, Calif.) with Rosalut NHF, Nikki Taylor-Smith’s nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding
• Dawn White-O’Connor (San Diego, Calif.) with Bailarino, Four Winds Farm’s 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding

Find out more about the Dressage Development Program online or contact Kristen Brett, Director of Dressage Programs, at kbrett@usef.org. Stay up to date on news and information about USEF’s dressage programs and teams by following USA Dressage on Facebook.

Third Place Finish at 2018 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions
Monday, August 27, 2018

Wayne, IL - Heather Blitz and Praestemarkens Quatero held on to the lead from day one and maintained their form to win the USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship. Blitz (Wellington, FL) and her nine-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding had an up-tempo freestyle that clinched the win in the national championship.  Jennifer Baumert (Wellington, FL) and Handsome, Betsy Juliano LLC’s 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding, were the reserve champions, followed by Jodie Kelly-Baxley (Destin, FL) and Caymus, Beth Godwin’s 11-year-old KWPN gelding, placed third.

All of the top-three finishers in this division are members of the USEF Development Program supported by The Red Husky Foundation.

Overall Results

• Heather Blitz and Praestemarkens Quatero – 73.336%
• Jennifer Baumert and Handsome – 72.794%
• Jodie Kelly-Baxley and Caymus – 70.689%

Results: FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle

• Jennifer Baumert and Handsome – 75.530%
• Heather Blitz and Praestemarkens Quatero – 74.045%
• Nick Wagman and Ferano – 73.915%
• Jodie Kelly-Baxley and Caymus - 71.130% (6th place)

Moving up from sixth place in the Prix St. Georges into third, Jodie and Caymus earned a score of 71.912% in Thursday's Intermediate I class.  Over the course of the week, they earned a 69.147% in the Prix St. Georges, a 71.912% in the Intermediate I and finished the week off with a 71.130% in their Freestyle, contributing to their combined total of 70.689%.

Jodie stated, “I really need to give a shout-out to The Red Husky Foundation because I am a new member of the Development Program and it really has made a huge difference in me being able to be here and accomplish what I have accomplished. And then, my coaches, Anne Gribbons and Toine Hoefs, have been with me every step of the way. Anne really held my hand through today and it means a lot.”