The amateur rider’s dedication pays off with two titles.

Abby Hardy knew from the beginning that she belonged in the dressage ring.
   
“I did Pony Club and eventing [as a child], and for some reason when I did the dressage phase, I just felt like that was home, like it was where I was supposed to be. When I started jumping, it didn’t really pique my interest. Dressage just drew me in. I liked the technicality of it and the training,” Hardy said.

And at the Great American/USDF Region 8 Championships, held in conjunction with the New England Dressage Associa-tion’s Fall Dressage Festival, Sept. 12-17 at the HITS-On-The-Hudson show grounds in Saugerties, N.Y., Hardy proved she’s at home at the front of the victory gallop as well.

Hardy, of Rockport, Maine, took the Region 8 adult amateur Prix St. Georges win with her 19-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Cascaya. “We’ve worked really hard for this,” she said. “She’s a great horse and she’s taught me a lot and tolerated a lot. She’s been so good at teaching me how to ride better in the ring and be more affective.”

Hardy and Cascaya (Cassie—Atradin Formateur) topped the class with a 64.33 percent.

Like so many adult amateurs, Hardy struggles to find the time to ride. “I work very hard to support my habit,” said Hardy, who runs her family’s construction business. “I ride five to six days a week. I’m an early, early riser. I go to the barn in the morning, and I get home late at night. On the weekends, I spend a lot of time at the barn. I have an understanding husband.”

Hardy has been married to that understanding husband, John, for 10 years, and he’s most likely learned that his wife’s passion for horses is unlikely to ever waver.

“I’ve always been obsessed with horses. I started riding when I was 5 and thought it was the best thing going. We really couldn’t get a horse, although I wanted one. So I took lessons and then when I was 12, I finally got a horse. After that, I think my parents thought I was nuts because I was just at the barn all the time. And that’s the way it’s been my whole life. I can’t seem to outgrow it,” Hardy said.

Rather than outgrowing her passion, Hardy is actually expanding it. Last year she added a second horse to her line-up, a 6-year-old Hanoverian gelding named Hohenstern. With that horse, she also won the Region 8 adult amateur first level championship (70.39%). The pair also placed second in the Region 8 adult amateur second level championship (63.09%).

“He’s a great young horse, so fun,” Hardy said. “I want the experience of training him correctly and to feel that I’m accomplishing good things with him. I want to feel that I really understand how to improve the quality of his gaits and bring along a young horse. Basically, I’m just thirsty for learning.”

Although excited about her young prospect, it’s clear that Hardy has a real appreciation for Cascaya.

The mare, she said, is teaching her how to ride but doesn’t give her any breaks, which has taught Hardy that she must ride correctly. The mare had last summer off due to an injury, and Hardy spent all winter getting her back into show form. With Cascaya’s guidance, Hardy hopes that one day she’ll compete in a CDI with Hohenstern.

Romancing The Judge
In the open Prix St. Georges class, Bill Warren and Romantic (Rohdia-mont—Arabella, Argentinius) trotted off with the Region 8 championship title. Warren, of Slatersville, R.I., and the 9-year-old Oldenburg gelding scored a 68.00 percent. The pair also topped the Region 8 Intermediaire free-style championship (69.66%).

Warren has ridden Romantic for four years, starting him at second level and bringing him up through the ranks.

“He’s a special horse. He has great character, a good work ethic and our personalities suit each other,” Warren said. “Today’s win was special because we were tied with Jackie Smith and the owner of her horse is also part owner of Romantic.”

Smith placed second with River Run Roscoe, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Beverly Dudley. The collective marks broke the tie between the two.

“Romantic is a big, elastic mover and that’s probably what the judges decided on,” said Warren. “He has good genes and a good temperament, and those two things combined make for a good horse. I had a good warm-up, but I didn’t feel that the ride went so well. And yet, a number of people came up to me and complimented me, so I think I’m just my own worst critic.”

Susanne Hamilton also has hopes for a bright future with Donauwalzer CSF, whom she rode to the Region 8 open training level championship.

Hamilton, a professional rider and trainer from Montville, Maine, and Donauwalzer (Doll-man—Wallery S., Wol-lenberg), a 5-year-old Rhinelander stallion she owns herself, scored a 74.40 percent. They also won the Region 8 open first level championship (75.92%).

Hamilton bought the stallion as a 3-year-old in Germany and couldn’t be more pleased with him. “He’s the coolest horse I’ve ever owned, and I hope to get him to Grand Prix one day,” she said. “He’s a breeding stallion and yet, he’s a 10 for rideability. He’s just so good.”

All Smiles
Following her win in Friday’s large Prix St. Georges class, Lauren Sprieser said she “tried to get the childish grin off my face but I couldn’t do it. This is an amazing class, and I would have been so happy just to get in there and make it to the awards ceremony.”

Sprieser and Clairvoya (Certus—Wachtel, Wenzel I), a 9-year-old Hanoverian mare, cleaned up in all their classes, taking first in the CDI Prix St. Georges (68.66%), first in the CDI Intermediaire I (70.30%) and first in the CDI Intermediaire freestyle (69.25%).

Sprieser spent her summer training with Pam Goodrich after graduating from Sarah Lawrence College (N.Y.) with a degree in public policy. She’s now heading to her new home in Marshall, Va., where she’ll run a training barn with her parents, John and Judy. The family is relocating to warmer weather from the Chicago area.

“ ‘Cleo’ is a really dynamite horse, and every day she just gets stronger and better,” Sprieser said. If the mare has any weaknesses, Sprieser said it’s simply that “she’s 17.2 and very powerful, and channeling that power has always been the challenge.”

Sprieser bought Clairvoya from Deanna Landwehr from Wisconsin a little more than a year ago. “I’ve known the horse since she was 5. She was terribly unruly and always made her presence known, but she’s a super horse. When she came up for sale, I said, ‘I’ll have a look at that one please,’ ” said Sprieser.

A Good Goal
Jane Hannigan had the opportunity to show in the CDI competition at Saugerties, but she also chose to contest the Region 8 championships. It paid off with the win at Grand Prix (65.87%) aboard Maksymilian. They also placed second in the CDI Grand Prix freestyle (69.90%).

Hannigan is based in Harvard, Mass., and while she and Maksymilian, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Elcaro, have been showing successfully in CDI competition, she chose to compete in the regional competition because she always encourages her students to do so.

“When I was getting dressed today some people asked me why, and I told them that some of us actually live in the region and compete in the regional championships. It matters that we participate. I think it’s a wonderful program,” she said. “I encourage my students to qualify for the championships and to participate in the programs. The regional competition is a great program because it gives you something to shoot for at the end of the year.”

In the CDI competition, Ashley Holzer and Pop Art (Amsterdam—Jody Prinses), a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, prevailed. Holzer, who rides for Canada but lives in New York, won both Saturday’s CDI Grand Prix (70.70%) and Sunday’s CDI Grand Prix freestyle (73.55%) with Pop Art.

Michael Barisone rode Neruda to win the CDI Grand Prix Special (69.88%) and took second in the Grand Prix (69.29%).

Young Stars, Bright Futures
Argentina’s Micaela Mabragana continued to collect blue ribbons in the Young Rider classes of the CDI. She and Granada, an 11-year-old gelding owned by Sam Grunkorn, won every class they entered.

They took the blue in the FEI Young Riders Team test (67.60%), the Young Riders freestyle (65.75%) and the Young Rider Prix St. Georges (68.90%). Mabragana trains with Lendon Gray.

In breed competition, a foal, Delucia CRF, took the big win—the New England Sport Horse Breeders Futurity. Delucia (Deluxe—Galena, Galaparis) got to compete in the big class with the support of her mother since she’s only 6 months old. Although young, the filly beat out more experienced—and much older—challengers.

“We are so excited,” said owner Anne Early, of North Brookfield, Mass. “That was the big one to win because we were up against some really nice horses, gorgeous horses from some breeders with great stallions. I felt extremely lucky.”

Delucia is an Oldenburg filly, and her winning score was a 77.90. Early said she’s won at every breed show she’s contested.

“She is just a phenomenal filly. She’s been spectacular from Day 1,” said Early, who operates Coyote Ridge Farm with her father, Paul Early. Delucia also knows she’s special. “She’s a princess. She’s loving, easy to work with, but she knows she’s hot stuff.”

Lyndee Kemmet