Legendary Dressage Rider Brings Talents To Clifton Farms, Hernando MS Debbie McDonald has one impressive resume' when it comes to competitive equestrian experience. Among her many accomplishments in the the field are: being named AHSA Equestrian of the Year and USOC Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year in 1999, earning individual and team Gold medals at the 1999 Pan American Games, winning the team Silver medal and placing fourth individually at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, being the first American dressage rider to win the World Cup in 2003, winning the 2003 Bayer Festival of Champions, winning the U.S. Grand Prix Freestyle Championship/US League Final and helping win the team Bronze medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004, riding her way to second place in the World Rankings in 2004, and helping win the team Bronze medal in the 2006 World Equestrian Games. On August 11 and 12, she brings her knowledge and expertise to Clifton Farms in Hernando, Mississippi, for a two-day symposium aimed at helping attendees refine their own skills, as well as those of their mounts , in the arena. McDonald, who now hails from Hailey, Idaho, began riding as a young girl in California, after convincing her parents to buy her a pony on the condition that she pay for boarding and other maintenance costs. Before becoming such an accomplished rider in dressage, she spent some twenty years riding hunter/jumper, studying with rider-trainer Bob McDonald who would later become her husband. She currently trains and teaches at River Grove Farm in Sun Valley, Idaho. Her most famous mount is Brentina, a 1993 Chestnut Hanoverian mare, who was part of the Bronze medal team at the 2004 Olympics, was designated as the Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year in 2005, and was named to the 2006 World Equestrian Games team which brought home a Bronze medal. McDonald and Brentina are currently training for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Clifton Farms is located at 6303 Robertson Gin Road in Hernando, Mississippi, just 30 minutes south of Memphis. The seminar is presented by the Mid-South Dressage Academy, and sponsorship is provided by Nutrena. To purchase tickets, obtain an application, or find more information visit midsouthdressageacademy.org or call (800) 255-4024, ext. 555.