Gladstone, NJ (September 19, 2011) – While dressage riders made history at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions in Gladstone, New Jersey, there was one man in the background of the competition who felt like history was being made for his company. Fred Taht, Vice-President and Master Saddle Fitter at Custom Saddlery, was able to watch as riders Steffen Peters, Tina Konyot, Heather Blitz, Kathleen Raine, Lauren Sammis, Caroline Roffman, Endel Ots and David Wightman competed in saddles made by Custom Saddlery.
“Words can not describe how happy I was for all of our riders because they all did fantastic. Their list of victories was astounding and we are so proud of all of them. We are equally proud that each of these riders was competing in a saddle from Custom Saddlery. Gladstone exceeded our wildest dreams,” Taht said.
Peters, who is a long-time Custom Saddlery rider, proved his star power over the weekend with not one but two horses. Peters and Weltino’s Magic swept the Intermediaire I division and earned a place on the 2011 U.S. Pan Am Dressage team. Peters then went on to dominate the Grand Prix National Dressage Championship on Ravel, owned by Akiko Yamazaki. “Steffen is often quoted as saying that he owes part of his success to his saddle and that is a huge thrill for us,” Taht said.
Taht added that in the Grand Prix National Dressage Championships, riders taking first, second, fourth and fifth were all riding in a saddle made by Custom Saddlery. “It really was a Custom made moment to watch Steffen Peters, Tina Konyot, Kathleen Raine and Lauren Sammis finish at the top in Gladstone,” Taht said.
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Caroline Roffman, who also rides with Custom Saddlery, won the Young Adult Brentina Cup Championship on Beemer, while Heather Blitz and Paragon placed second in the Intermediaire I and Intermediaire I Freestyle and third in the Prix St. George to secure a place on the 2011 American Pan Am Dressage team.
The victories for Custom Saddlery riders continued with great results for Endel Ots and David Wrightman. Ots was also named the alternate for the U.S. Dressage team for the 2011 Pan Am Games. “In addition, Endel won a free saddle through our Custom Saddlery’s All American Saddle Fit Challenge raffle, when Steffen pulled his name at random from the raffle box,” Taht said. “It was a great weekend for him all the way around.”
For more information on Custom Saddlery, to learn more about their riders or to enter the All American Saddle Fit Challenge online, visit their website at www.mysaddle.com.