Symposium Riders:
Young Horse: Jules Nyssen on San Regilio
Jules Nyssen grew up in Holland and began riding at an early age. After graduating from law school, instead of taking the bar exam, he moved to France to attend the Ecole Nationale d’Equitation (Cadre Noir), in Saumur. In 1983, Jules came to the U.S. He competed at the Rolex, won the Georgia Three Day Event, had several wins at the Devon CDI and the Tournament of Champions, and narrowly missed the opportunity to compete at the Barcelona Olympics due to an injury. Today, Jules, who runs marathons in his spare time, concentrates on Dressage. He has trained a number of horses to the Grand Prix level, and has recently shown at Intermediaire I in a snaffle. For more information, go to julesnyssendressage.com.
Jules is riding a newly imported 3 year old Westphalian gelding named San Regilio, who's sire is Don Shufro and dam's sire is Rohdiamant.
Training Level: Cathy Fletcher on Night Music
Cathy is an Amateur rider residing in Washington, NC with her husband Fred, 2 horses and 4 dogs. Cathy did pleasure riding as a teenager and later got back into horses as an adult and fox hunted with the Triangle Hunt.
She started taking lessons in dressage on borrowed horses in the 90’s but at the time didn’t have a lot of time to ride or compete with a horse of her own.
In 2004 she decided to get more serious in her dressage pursuits and started showing in schooling shows with EDCTSA. In 2006 she took the plunge into showing recognized dressage.
She is currently competing with 2 horses that she owns. Night Music, the horse she is riding in the symposium, is an 11 year old black Clydesdale/TB cross mare that previously competed as a pleasure driving horse. She was bred by the Flying W farm in Ohio. Nightie and Cathy have had much success at training level this season and won the Adult Amateur Sweepstakes class at Dressage in the Sandhills this past May.
Cathy also competes with Cashe’ otherwise known around the barn as Geoffrie. Cashe’ is a 7 year old, 18 hand Holsteiner that Cathy bought as a young horse and is currently also competing in training level this year.
Cathy currently has Night Music horse qualified for the GAIG Region 1 championships this year at training level and is hoping to be able to move up to First level this fall and eventually earn her USDF bronze medal.
First Level: Anne Aloi on Ronaldo
Anne Aloi is a USDF Silver and Gold Medalist who grew up riding; a difficult event horse sparked what would become a life-long passion for training and riding dressage. In addition to her long time coach, Elizabeth Lewis, Anne has ridden in Germany with Rudolf Zeilinger, and clinics regularly in addition to competing. Anne and her husband, Joe, reside in Charlottesville, VA and run Hayground, a 33-acre training facility. For more information, go to annealoi.com.
Second Level: Erin Mullen on FDR
Erin Mullen, 19 began riding at age 5 beginning in H/J and switching to dressage and Eventing at age 11. She competed her small pony Backstreet Boy in dressage and BN and her mom’s OTTB at Novice. Erin began training with Karyn Becerra in 6th grade and became her working student at age 13 when she switched to home school in order to devote more time to riding. Erin spent the next 5 yrs working with Karyn, progressing from Training Level through FEI Pony with Welsh stallion Wynnbrook Starburst and later with her large pony Gideon’s Fire, whom she also competed at the American Eventing Championships. She purchased Karyn’s half Arabian Zhivago and has competed him at Training Level Eventing, CH/Ad jumpers, and now PSG, winning the Reserve CH at the 2008 USEF Dressage Seat Equitation Championships and the 2009 NCDCTA FEI Jr/YR HOY. Since summer 2009 Erin has also been riding Robert Belton’s four Hanoverians, competing the two younger ones FDR and Figure of Speech while training with Brendan Curtis, Kathy Rowse and Diane Ritz whenever possible. Erin will be a junior at Wingate University this fall with the goal of achieving her Phd in Psychology while continuing to ride and train at Diane Ritz’s Hidden Spring Farm.
Third Level: Donna Christopher on Landor SB
Donna Christopher is an adult amateur and lives on Bahama, NC, with her husband and three daughters. She keeps her horses at home and trailers out weekly for lessons. Donna is a licensed pharmacist and is a Vice President of Operations with Almac Clinical Services. Donna began training with Lynn Leath in 1995, and has owned several horses over the years. During this time she has participated regularly in clinics with Jessica Ransehousen and Cathy Morelli.
In 2009 after an exhaustive search for a sound, competitive and amateur appropriate horse, she purchased Landor SB, a 15-year old German-bred Oldenburg gelding by Landor S, who is trained through Intermediaire 1. The pair made their show debut at the Capital Dressage Classic in June 2009, and have successfully competed at First, Second and Third level during the past year. Donna earned her USDF Bronze Medal; qualified for the 2010 GAIG/USDF Region 1 Championships at Second and Third level; and hopes to move up to Fourth level during the coming season and start working on scores for her silver medal.
Fourth Level: Cindy Sydnor on Rose Diamont
Cindy grew up in Milton, Massachusetts, started riding at age twelve, and claims to have ridden almost every day since. She started eventing and dressage with Mr. H.L.M.van Schaik from Holland when he and his family moved to Cavendish, Vermont. He was quite a mentor and introduced Cindy to Mr. Egon von Neindorff and paid for Cindy to go to Germany to ride at Reitinstitut von Neindorff for several months.
Shortly after her time in Germany, Cindy moved to Vienna, Austria, worked for Time-Life and rode with a rider from the Spanish Riding School. Two years later she and her husband moved to Brazil for four years, where they worked to develop an international dressage team for Brazil. After four years in Brazil, Cindy moved back to the U.S., bringing her Brazilian Thoroughbred gelding "Lover" with her and competed at the Grand Prix. She tried out for the USET Dressage Team and was long-listed for the 1976 Olympics. She stayed on the "long list" for several years, riding with Colonel Bengt Ljungquist, Coach of the USET Dressage Team. Cindy began working as a professional shortly after. At that time one had to be an amateur to try out for international teams.
Cindy competes Onno, her DWB gelding by Ferro, at Intermediaire 1, her younger gelding “Windsor” at 4th level, and others at 2nd and 4th level. She has been an examiner for the USDF Instructor Certification program for over 15 years, and has had her USEF Dressage Judge’s “R” license for over 30 years!
Cindy has lived in Snow Camp, NC, since 1979 with her husband and three children, at Braeburn Farm. Her daughter, Eliza, is an enthusiastic young dressage professional who already trains and shows through Grand Prix on her “Lancer.” Eliza is a USDF Certified Instructor now through 4th level!
Cindy speaks German and Portuguese and helped Walter Zettl translate his book
Dressage in Harmony into English from the German.
Rose Diamont (DD) is a liver chestnut, 16.2 hh, 11 year-old Hanoverian mare, by Rohdiamant. She was imported "in utero" by Angela Barilar of High Point Hanoverians. She is owned by Mrs. Susan Haas of Hardwick NJ.
Cindy has had DD in training since January of 2009. In the spring of 2009 Cindy showed her at 2nd and 3rd levels quite successfully.
This year she has been competed at 4th level test 1 at Lexington, Virginia, with 69% and 68% and second placings. Cindy is hoping to be able to ride the PSG with her later in 2010.
She is a very talented, somewhat hot mare with three wonderful gaits.
She has shown ease in learning piaffe in work-in-hand and also under saddle. We have touched on the passage, which was also easy for her. She is a very exciting training project, and Cindy feels very lucky and honored to be riding her.
FEI: Jeanne Karver on Welle
Jeanne Karver was raised in Indiana on a farm for hay and horses. Although, introduced to dressage in childhood, dressage education was not highly available. Show opportunities were limited. But, her enduring passion was to ride, train and show horses.
After getting her BA from Purdue University in journalism, she moved around the US. During this time she found opportunities to further her dressage education from generous and skillful people and their horses. Her passion and quest for knowledge prevailed and now she professionally shows and trains horses. She is a USDF certified instructor/trainer, silver medalist, and “L” program graduate with distinction. Jeanne plans continue to enhance her teaching and training education ambitiously. She is now settled at Karver’s Creek Farm in Summerfield, NC.
Welle (Vell’ – eh) is Jeanne’s 11 year old Hanoverian mare. Jeanne trained Welle from “just backed” to successful PSG competition. Welle is Jeanne’s first warmblood, first long term competition mount, and has earned the biggest portion of Jeanne’s professional credentials. Karver’s Creek Farm and other horses can be seen at www.jeannekarverdressage.com.