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Huge Turnout Expected for This Week’s Great American/USDF Region 7 & California Dressage Society Championship Show
Written by CRM
Wednesday, 26 September 2018 20:16
By Yellow Horse Marketing for the California Dressage Society

For hundreds of riders and horses, this week will be filled with anticipation and excitement as a year’s worth of work is about to be put to the test at theGreat American Insurance Group/United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Region 7 and California Dressage Society (CDS) Championship Show, being held September 27-30. Once again this annual event will welcome a huge turnout of 330 exhibitors gathering on the grounds of the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank for four thrilling days of dressage competition across five arenas, all combined with a festive atmosphere, complimentary hospitality, shopping, activities, entertainment and a camaraderie that can only be found at these championships.

092618 usdf1Adult amateur Jackie Weisbein will be one of 330 entries riding into the Los Angeles Equestrian Center this week for the Great American/USDF Region 7 & CDS Championship Show in Burbank, Cal. Photo: Kelly Kenneally Photography

“Of course last year’s show was particularly special because it was our CDS 50thanniversary celebration, so that can be a bit of a hard act to follow and you never know exactly how much of that enthusiasm will carry over,” said Glenda McElroy, who has managed the CDS Championship Show for more than 25 years. “But I’ve said before that this Championship Show has truly become a destination event here on the West Coast, and to have such an incredible turnout of competitors like this, year after year, proves my point. Every year our team of officials, staff and volunteers work tirelessly to make this the best event it can possibly be, because we realize how special this experience is for CDS members. We continue to make adjustments and improvements and are very proud of how it all comes together every year, and now we’re ready! We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Burbank for another amazing show.”

Among its many competitive and educational programs for members, the California Dressage Society offers one of the largest and most lucrative annual championship events in the nation. A multitude of CDS Horse of the Year championship titles and cherished perpetual trophies will once again be presented at the show at all levels from Training to Grand Prix and for open, adult amateur, and juniors/young riders, as well as thousands of dollars in prize money and awards.

092618 usdf2RAAC competitor Marcella Levatino of Laguna Hills will compete this week in her very first Great American/USDF Region 7 & CDS Championship Show in Burbank, Cal. Photo courtesy of M. Levatino

Even more opportunities await as a full roster of championship honors will also be awarded for Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 7 Championship divisions. In addition, declared horses and riders participating in the Region 7 Championship classes can earn an invitation to the U.S. Dressage Finals in Lexington, Ky. in November, a nationwide showcase for open and adult amateur riders across all levels of competition. Since the event’s inception in 2013, dedicated West Coast riders have made the long journey to the Kentucky Horse Park where they have been rewarded with national titles at a variety of levels. To date, nearly a hundred Region 7 horse/rider combinations have declared for this year’s Finals and will seek their chance to be written into the history books as well.

Qualifying for the CDS Championship Show is an achievement in itself, as competitors spent a full year earning required scores through an expansive network of local CDS and licensed USEF/USDF shows up and down the West Coast, as well as through the CDS Junior/Young Rider Championship shows, like Sophia Kohlmann of Walnut Creek, who punched her ticket at the Northern Region Junior/Young Rider Championship Show earlier this summer and will now travel to Burbank with her horse Florian to compete in the Second Level JR/YR championship divisions.

The wildly-popular Equine Insurance/CDS Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) program also provided a pathway to Burbank for riders like Marcella Levatino of Laguna Hills, Cal., who says she “can’t wait!” to compete at the CDS Championship Show for the very first time with her Holsteiner gelding Ciminiti in both the USDF and CDS Training Level championship classes. Joining her will be fellow adult amateur Jackie Weisbein of Napa, Cal. who found success at the Northern Region RAAC and is now looking forward to making the long drive to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center where she will compete two horses, Zev and Rosenstolz, at Second Level. “I really thought this year was just going to be a rebuilding year for me,” said Weisbein. “But after gaining a lot of confidence at the RAAC show, I am so excited to show them both, see my friends from all over California, and enjoy the magic of the Championship Show!”

092618 usdf3Junior/young rider Sophia Kohlmann will look to earn even more Second Level championship titles at this week’s Great American/USDF Region 7 & CDS Championship Show in Burbank, Cal. Photo via Facebook

Another perennial highlight of the championship weekend will be the popular CDS Young Horse Futurity and the unique Cal-Bred Futurity, which this year boasts 60 entries across four, five, and six-year-old divisions, has more than $12,300 in prize money, and offers special awards for adult amateur competitors. As the largest regional young horse program in the country, the CDS Young Horse Futurity has proven itself to be a successful launching pad for top dressage horses across the country. Adult amateurs as well as juniors and young riders can also prove they have the best seats in the house and demonstrate their riding skills in Friday afternoon’s CDS Dressage Seat Equitation Challenge classes, as well as the USDF Adult Amateur Equitation Regional Final class and the USDF Dressage Seat Medal Semi-Finals (for riders ages 14-18 and 13 & under) on Saturday.

Be a part of the excitement – for complete information about the California Dressage Society Championship Show, including news, schedules, ride times, and results, visit the CDS website and follow along with behind-the-scenes updates and photos on the CDS Facebook page
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