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OVERSEAS RIDERS

VIRGINIA MCKEY

Vee and Wolly competing end February 2011 with an impressive score of 66% in the Prix St. Georges Test

Virginia “Vee” McKey grew up riding in Bermuda from the age of 7. She rode her first pony at Warwick Riding School and then went on to lease a horse named “Junior” at Terceira’s stable, as well as riding many of the ponies. When she was 13 years old, she leased Pat Haycock’s 16.2hh Thoroughbred gelding, Justin Thyme, and started taking lessons from Mary Frances Gaglio, with whom she trained regularly until leaving Bermuda in 2007. As well as riding Justin in Bermuda, she travelled to Ontario for a summer of eventing at Horse People Inc., and then a summer as a working student with Peter Gray.

After finishing high school in Canada, Vee went to US Olympian eventer Denny Emmerson’s farm for a summer and bought a 5 year old Thoroughbred gelding named “Henley”. Henley and Vee were very successful in all disciplines competing in Bermuda until he was retired. By that time, Vee had found an unbroken 2 year old Oldenburg gelding named “Invincible” aka Bugs, in New Jersey. She imported him to Bermuda and stabled at Spicelands Riding Centre where she started him with regular help from Spicelands' trainer, bereiter Eddo Hoekstra and visiting clinician, George Williams. Bugs and Vee went on to compete successfully in the jumper and dressage shows until he was sadly retired early due to medical conditions.

With the help of Spicelands' trainers Eddo Hoekstra and Angela Halloran, plus the regular visits of US dressage trainer/rider George Williams, Vee fell in love with the art of dressage!

Now Vee and her husband Stephen live in southern Ontario on a 25 acre farm raising beef cattle and boarding horses. Vee is now able to train full time with one of Canada’s top dressage riders, Diane Creech (www.equineselect.ca) and attends regular clinics with Cindy Ishoy. She is very excited to have been accepted to train and show with Lars Peterson at his Legacy farm in Florida from January through March next year. Her mare, Pirouette aka “Annie” who completed a successful summer last year at Fourth level, winning Reserve Champion of the London Dressage Association is now in foal. Vee is also now the proud owner of an exceptionally talented 6 year old gelding by Wolkenstien 2. Wolkenglanz (Wolly) is currently schooling Prix St. George with an exceptional extended trot, beautiful half passes and clean flying changes. Earlier last summer they competed at 3rd and 4th levels and achieved scores in the 60s. Wolly and Vee achieved 3rd Level Reserve Champion status at the Equivents Summer Dressage Classic in Ontario, Canada, June 25th-27th, 2010 and enjoyed continued success in July. In August they attained their goal of competing in their first Prix St. Georges test, and in September, in only their 4th PSG test were awarded 63% in front of an FEI judge, and won the class.

Undaunted by a serious injury, Vee travelled to Florida in February this year to train with Wolly under renowned trainer Lars Peterson, and showed at Prix St. Georges level. Vee most recently won a silver medal Achievement Award from Dressage Canada for the 2010 season at 4th Level.

Vee and Wolly entering the ring for their first ever Prix St. Georges Test, August 2010

Bermudian Virginia McKey and Wolkenglanz
Reserve Champions 3rd Level
Equivents Summer Dressage Classic, Ontario, Canada
June 25th-27th 2010

ANNABELLE COLLINS

Annabelle Collins on Medici competing for Bermuda at the 2007 Pan Am Games, Rio de Janeiro

Bermudian Annabelle Collins lives in Spain with her husband, Agusti Elias. She competed in the Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro, 2007, on her beautiful horse Medici (above). Annabelle rode in the Prix St. George test where she qualified for the Intermediare I and by virtue of her performance in the Intermediare I qualified for the Musical Kur. She finished a very creditable 10th. Results below:

FEI Prix St. Georges Test
Annabelle Collins on Medici
Judge at E 66.25 (7th), Judge at H 65.75% (7th) Judge at C 64% (14th) Judge at M 67% (6th) Judge at B 62% (16th) Overall Score 65.00% = 10th/27

FEI Intermediare I
Annabelle Collins on Medici
Judge at E 64.75%(9th), Judge at H 64.25%(10th), Judge at C 63.5%(13th) Judge at M 63.00%(11th), Judge at B 63.25%(14th)
Overall Score 63.75% = 12th/25

FEI Intermediare I Freestyle (Final)
Annabelle Collins on Medici
Final Score 64.550% = 10th/15

Annabelle is currently riding two horses, Simply The Best, and Alfa. See below for some of her latest achievements

ANNABELLE EXCELS AT CDI*** VIDAUBAN, FRANCE

Annabelle Collins on Simply The Best, Vidauban, France, June 2011

Bermudian Annabelle Collins completed a very successful show at Vidauban, France, June 16th-19th with a 4th place win (66.868%) in the Prix St. Georges test on her KWPN 12 year old chestnut horse Simply The Best. She followed that with a 5th place win on her DWB Alfa, with a score of 66.132%. Annabelle also competed at the 3* CDI event at Yeguada in San Jose, Spain with similar impressive results. She has most recently competed at CDI 3*show at Hickstead, England 28th - 31st July, where she achieved a score of 65.868% in the Prix St. Georges and 65.368% at Intermediare I on Simply The Best, and a score of 65.184% at Prix St. Georges on Alfa, with an impressive score of 69.050% on Alfa in the Musical Freestyle.

Annabelle riding Alfa in Vidauban, France

ANNABELLE COLLINS' 5 YEAR OLD BORENCIO
WINS PRESTIGIOUS PAVO CUP IN THE NETHERLANDS
August 9-11, 2011

After three rounds of competition Borencio, a Dutch Warmblood Gelding (Florencio x Lord Sinclair) owned by Bermudian Annabelle Collins and her husband Agusti Elias won the 5 year old division of the Pavo Cup Finals in the Netherlands, becoming Holland's 2011 National Dutch Young Horse (5 year olds). Ridden by Emmelie Scholtens he was given a 10.0 score for rideability and potential, and emerged 10 points ahead of his nearest rival. Many congratulations to Annabelle and Agusti!

CATHY FOX

Cathy Fox riding Rolls Royce

Bermudian Cathy Fox lives in Crossville, Tennessee, where she rides and trains horses. She travels frequently, giving clinics in Chicago and Knoxville every month, and has a good client base in South Carolina. In addition she assists in training Tennessee Walking horses.

Cathy is particularly proud of Oxford, a Dutch horse she trained to Prix St. Georges and Intermediare I, whom she sold to buy her current horse. Oxford has competed for the past two years in Young Riders and was sold to a training level rider who competes in the Junior Young Riders' division and has made the team again this year. At Lamplight, Oxford won all his classes this year.

At home Cathy currently has two horses in training, in addition to her horse Rolls Royce (Roy) who is schooling Grand Prix. She describes Roy as the horse she has been waiting for all her life.

Cathy, riding Roy, gave a demonstration ride at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. She rode a Pas de Deux with the Tennessee Walking stallion Champagne Watchout whom she helped train. The demonstration took place on October 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th of 2010.

Cathy Fox, now living in Crossville TN, has gotten back in the show ring after a 2 year hiatus. In true Cathy style she did it with a bang!

Her first show was at Riverglen in June where she showed Rolls Royce in his first ever show at Prix St. George level and gained the highest scoring FEI ride. Cathy won all 6 classes on a young horse she has in training, Wrainier, and had the highest score through 2nd level. One of her students, Kathy Ridenour, won all 6 of her classes at 1st level on her horse Wraiders Whisper

On to her second show in August at Ashville, North Carolina, Rolls Royce won both his classes with scores of 66% & 67% at Prix St George level. Her student Kathy Ridenour won both her classes and was High Point Amateur Rider of the Show and High Point Overall Rider of the Show.

A lovely little Dutch horse called Oxford that Cathy owned and trained to Intermediare 1 won the Young Riders class at Lamplight this year. This young rider had only competed at 1st Level when she bought Oxford and it is a testament to Cathy's solid training with this horse as well Nicole's hard work that they have progressed so far so quickly.

Cathy's hope is to qualify for Dressage at Devon at both Prix St. George and Intermediare I Levels.

Submitted by Susan Leighton

Roy in piaffe with Cathy Fox

MICHELLE INGHAM

Michelle flying the flag for Bermuda at the North American Young Riders' Championship
Photo courtesy of Phelps Photography

Although in the past, the accomplishments of Michelle Ingham are worthy of note on this page. Michelle prestigiously won the Bronze Medal in dressage at the North American Young Riders' Championships (NAYRC) in 1993. She rode a horse called Fatal Attraction (Ferry) a 16.3hh 13 year old Westphalian mare who was owned by Cara Whitham who coached Michelle at Young Riders. She trained with Susanne Dutt-Roth at Rideauwood Farm in Merrickville, Ontario. In addition to this major accomplishment Michelle was the 1993 Young Riders Champion at the Festival of Champions held in Gladstone, New Jersey, and 1992 Ontario Young Riders Reserve Champion.

For further information on Bermudians who have competed in NAYRC: http://www.bef.bm/northamericanyoungriders.htm

If you are interested in learning more about the North American Young Riders' Championships go to http://www.youngriders.org/

Pirouetting Michelle and Fatal Attraction