US Olympic Dressage Trials

US Olympic Dressage Trials, Dressage Festival of Champions on the Road to Hong Kong, are being held June 20-22 and June 27-29 at the Oaks Blenheim/Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano. This event will feature some of the world's top horses and riders as they compete to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics being held in Beijing and co-host city, Hong Kong.

The USEF Selection Trials for Dressage will also feature the National Championships for Intermediaire I, Young Adult "Brentina Cup," Young Rider, and Junior divisions.

Those interested tickets and further information click here.

Spanish Dressage Trainer Alfredo Hernandez Clinic

Alfredo Hernandez, the renowned Moorpark-based Spanish dressage trainer, will be hosting clinics this week at the Nellie Gail Equestrian Center dressage arena. The clinics will be held on Thursday, May 8th from 12:00 to 4:00 PM and on Friday, May 9th from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Alfredo trained in Jerez, Spain where he trained horses not only for dressage but also for bull fighting. Here in the USA he specializes in the piaffe and passage using original Spanish techniques.

The piaffe is a dressage movement with the horse moving in a highly collected and cadenced trot in place or nearly in place. The piaffe was originally used in battle to keep the horse focused, warm, and moving, ready to move forward into battle. In modern times the piaffe is mostly taught as an upper level movement in Classical dressage and as a Grand Prix level movement.

The passage is an upper-level dressage movement, in which the horse performs a highly-elevated and extremely powerful trot. The horse is very collected and moves with great impulsion.

Alfredo is the trainer for many Olympic and Grand Prix riders and has come to Nellie Gail to train FEI (International Equestrian Federation) dressage riders seeking to improve their skills for international competition. All are welcome to audit his clinic.