Article & photos by Nancy Brannon
It really was spring time in Hernando, Mississippi for the Mid-South Dressage Academy (MDA) USDF show on May 5-6, 2018, with warm temperatures – albeit intermittent rain on Saturday. Owner Elizabeth Clifton welcomed back judge Maryal Barnett, whom she says is a favorite, and TD Michele King. Entries were up and the show attracted quite a few “out of towners.” Elizabeth commented on the good weather and the overall delightful show atmosphere.
This was a special show for Jennifer Van De Loo, who earned her USDF Gold Medal on Saturday! She showed her Lanzelot 99 in FEI Grand Prix Adult Amateur, scoring 62.935% on Saturday and 64.348% on Sunday. A USDF gold medal marks the highest level of accomplishment in the sport of dressage. Elizabeth explained the importance of this award: “In order to achieve a Gold Medal you need two scores at Intermediate of 60% or higher from two different judges and two scores at Grand Prix of 60% or higher from two different judges. The Grand Prix test is the most difficult Dressage test and is the same one used in all international competitions, i.e., Olympics, World Cup, WEG, etc. So this is quite an accomplishment for an Adult Amateur! I think that there are 1437 gold medals that have been issued in the US since 1979. Jennifer will be #1438.”
Kim Gentry brought three horses to the show: Frasier, Leonardo, and Fine Art, who scored 73.415% in Second Level Test 3 Open. Leonardo won the FEI Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 70.900%. Frasier was first in FEI Prix St. Georges, scoring 68.529%.
Alexandra Du Celliee Muller also brought three horses, with Imperial WRF scoring 75.000% and 75.909% in his two rides in Training Level Test 3 Open. Rumba was first in FEI Prix St. Georges Open with 67.500% and first in FEI Intermediate Open with 71.176%. And Sorja Rc performed well in Training Level Test 3 Open, scoring just shy of 70% at 69.091%.
Kathy Massey did well with North Fork’s Lady Zoe, who looks like a miniature Friesian, in the Training Test 1 – PONY Adult Amateur, scoring 66.739% on Sunday.
Caitlyn Massey scored an astounding 81.000% in Dressage Seat Equitation on her Zassafrass on Saturday. The pair also showed in Second Level Test 3 Jr/YR, scoring 64.268% on Saturday and 68.415% on Sunday.
Other High Scores for the weekend were:
Bethany Gallager: 73.409 % Training Level Test 3 AA
Alex Du Celiee Muller: 75.000% Training Level Test 3 Open
Halyer Baker: 69.091% Training Level Test 3 Jr/YR
Claire McNulty: 65.880% FEI Intermediate A Jr/YR
Full results of the show are available at www.foxvillage.com.
It really was spring time in Hernando, Mississippi for the Mid-South Dressage Academy (MDA) USDF show on May 5-6, 2018, with warm temperatures – albeit intermittent rain on Saturday. Owner Elizabeth Clifton welcomed back judge Maryal Barnett, whom she says is a favorite, and TD Michele King. Entries were up and the show attracted quite a few “out of towners.” Elizabeth commented on the good weather and the overall delightful show atmosphere.
This was a special show for Jennifer Van De Loo, who earned her USDF Gold Medal on Saturday! She showed her Lanzelot 99 in FEI Grand Prix Adult Amateur, scoring 62.935% on Saturday and 64.348% on Sunday. A USDF gold medal marks the highest level of accomplishment in the sport of dressage. Elizabeth explained the importance of this award: “In order to achieve a Gold Medal you need two scores at Intermediate of 60% or higher from two different judges and two scores at Grand Prix of 60% or higher from two different judges. The Grand Prix test is the most difficult Dressage test and is the same one used in all international competitions, i.e., Olympics, World Cup, WEG, etc. So this is quite an accomplishment for an Adult Amateur! I think that there are 1437 gold medals that have been issued in the US since 1979. Jennifer will be #1438.”
Kim Gentry brought three horses to the show: Frasier, Leonardo, and Fine Art, who scored 73.415% in Second Level Test 3 Open. Leonardo won the FEI Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 70.900%. Frasier was first in FEI Prix St. Georges, scoring 68.529%.
Alexandra Du Celliee Muller also brought three horses, with Imperial WRF scoring 75.000% and 75.909% in his two rides in Training Level Test 3 Open. Rumba was first in FEI Prix St. Georges Open with 67.500% and first in FEI Intermediate Open with 71.176%. And Sorja Rc performed well in Training Level Test 3 Open, scoring just shy of 70% at 69.091%.
Kathy Massey did well with North Fork’s Lady Zoe, who looks like a miniature Friesian, in the Training Test 1 – PONY Adult Amateur, scoring 66.739% on Sunday.
Caitlyn Massey scored an astounding 81.000% in Dressage Seat Equitation on her Zassafrass on Saturday. The pair also showed in Second Level Test 3 Jr/YR, scoring 64.268% on Saturday and 68.415% on Sunday.
Other High Scores for the weekend were:
Bethany Gallager: 73.409 % Training Level Test 3 AA
Alex Du Celiee Muller: 75.000% Training Level Test 3 Open
Halyer Baker: 69.091% Training Level Test 3 Jr/YR
Claire McNulty: 65.880% FEI Intermediate A Jr/YR
Full results of the show are available at www.foxvillage.com.
