Debbie McDonald-Hanneke Gerritsen Give Para-Equestrian Dressage Riders Clinic at Del Mar Horsepark March 14-15...
After a very exciting week at the 2011 Dressage Affaire CPEDI3* Para-Equestrian Dressage riders will spend Monday and Tuesday at a dressage clinic featuring Debbie McDonald and Hanneke Gerritsen (NED). The informational clinic is scheduled to start March 14, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Del Mar Horsepark.
This is the second year for Debbie McDonald to give this educational clinic to the Para-Equestrian riders. McDonald brings many years of riding and training experience to this clinic including leading the U.S. team to team bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, winning the 2005 FEI World Cup Final, and her memorable rides for Team USA at the 2006 World Equestrian Games.
As a rider and trainer McDonald enjoys working with the Para-Equestrian riders to help them grow as a team. Trainer, equestrian, and Coach Hanneke Gerritsen will also be working the Para-Equestrian riders this week. Gerritsen holds her senior FEI PE Judge License as well as her FEI DI/TD and Steward Licenses. This week Gerritsen was one of the three judges who judged the Para-Equestrian tests which gave her a chance to view each rider on multiple tests.
Hanneke noted, "I am really looking forward to this clinic because it is going to be good practice for the Para-Equestrians. Since I have seen most of the riders this week I feel that I can begin working with them. I hope that I can help them to improve and score higher because ultimately that is the goal."
(Hanneke Gerritsen (NED) at the 2011 Dressage Affaire. (Photo © 2011 Lindsay McCall for USPEA)
She continued, "After watching the Para-Equestrian riders this week I think the quality of horses has really improved. I think it could be even better and still has room to grow but right now it's a great start. It's very important to find a suitable but good horse but even I come from a country where there are loads of horses and finding the perfect horse can be very difficult. I look forward to this week working with each of the riders."
March 14, 2011 Para-Equestrian Dressage Clinic Schedule:
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - Laurietta Oakleaf Grade Ib
10:40 a.m. - 11:10 a.m. - Jonathan Wentz Grade Ib
11:20 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. - Eleanor Brimmer Grade III
12:05 p.m. - 12:35 p.m. - LUNCH
12:35 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Donna Ponessa Grade Ia
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Lisa Swanson Grade Ib
1:40 p.m. - 2:10 p.m. - Sydney Collier Grade II
March 15, 2011 Para-Equestrian Dressage Clinic Schedule TBA.
