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Dressage Success Stories
Last page update: 04/14/2009

Oct. 2008

Elisha Moorehead and SA Julia - Dressage: (One day horse trial held in Paris, KY) SA Julia’s debut in the eventing world was sensational, despite it having been about ten years since I was in a dressage arena. The quiet demeanor and wanting to please attitude of this wonderful Anglo Shagya cross, (Thoroughbred mare, Oak Island Jeeka , granddaughter of Ol" Bob Bauer, on the bottom and Allydar on the top, bred to Shagya stallion Bayram), definitely was a pleasant change from the last time I showed in the eventing world. Previously, I successfully showed a purebred Arabian gelding, SA Schedar. Not having very much room to warm-up we entered the dressage arena for her first time ever with the Judge being under a lawn canopy and competed as if she had been doing it forever, if only I had remembered the test. Again, with no warm-up whatsoever over fences we began our cross country course. The starter was kind enough to allow competitors to walk through the starting gate so as not to frighten our horse, Julie did not flinch. This mare is so willing she jumped all of the strange logs and railroad tie stacks with pumpkins and mums and upside down planters used for the flag holders with barely a ruffle, even feeling so good after a slight downhill fence to kick up her heels - I could hardly punish her for that. Finally, in the afternoon we were beginning our stadium round. Now, we have gone over a few cross-rails at home, but to say the least our fences are neutral in color. These fences were gorgeous, rainbow colored, lavender and other various shades of purple, camouflaged, yellow, bright green, and bright white. Like a pro who had jumped a million rounds we finished on our dressage score and finished in third overall with a penalty score of 39, despite my goof during the test. Thanks to the new Bluegrass Pony Club for putting on their “First Annual, Not So Very Scary Mini Trial”.