Illinois Horse Fair
CLD has been honored to sponsor the dressage clinic at Horse Fair in the past with such memorable clinicians as Gerhard Politz, Col. Christian Carde, Betsy Steiner, Michael Kierkegaard, J. Ashton Moore, Kathy Connelley, and Lilo Fore.
Typical Format
The CLD sponsored dressage clinic at Horse Fair has in the past included eight private lessons from the clinician on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. In addition to the lessons, open to the public, an exposition ride featuring horses and riders from the clinic demonstrating basic and advanced dressage movements take place on Saturday and Sunday.
This demo ride has historically taken place in the Exposition Building in front of a crowd of a few thousand spectators and affords many their first opportunity to see dressage. In past demonstrations the crowd has been standing room only. Both Saturday and Sunday the clinician gives a brief lecture in the basement of the Exposition Building with a question and answer session following. These lectures often draw an eclectic mix of eager spectators learning about dressage for the first time and seasoned dressage riders.
Click on a year below to view more information.
2009
March 6 - 8 2009
CenterLine Dressage returns to this year's Horse Fair with Lilo Fore as clinician.
Format
The CLD sponsored dressage symposium at Illinois Horse Fair included 8 private lessons with Ms. Fore on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The lessons were open to the public to watch and enjoy each day from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Barn 13. On Friday, March 6th following lessons CLD members were invited to enjoy a late lunch with Ms. Fore and the riders for a showing of "If Horses Could Speak" the video by Dr. Gerd Heuschmann at MJ Kellner, 5700 International Parkway, on the west side of Springfield.
On Saturday, March 7th following the clinic, Ms. Fore provided an explanatory commentary to the video "If Horses Could Speak." It was shown at 2:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Livestock Center available for all Horse Fair attendees.
Participants
NANCY BLAKE, of Champaign, IL, is a professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Illinois in Champaign. She notes that she has been learning dressage for a longer time than she spent getting two PhD’s. REMBRANDT is a 16’3” 15 year old imported Danish Warmblood trained to I-1.
PAULA BRINEY, a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medalist, manages her family's saddlebred and dressage training facility, Pratense Farms, in Chatham, Illinois. CHAMBORD, proudly raised and owned by Denis Kerasotes of Springfield, Il., is an 8 yr old Holsteiner cross by Rejent. He was 3rd in the 2007 ABIG/USDF Region 4 Training Level Championships. In 2008 Chambord and Paula won several regional year end awards. They plan on showing 1st and 2nd levels in 2009.
DEBRA KLAMEN, the Associate Dean for Education and Curriculum at Southern Illinois School of Medicine in Springfield, trains at StarWest. Deb completed her USDF Bronze Medal in 2007 on her Dutch Warmblood, Lerro. She also owns Kelly, a Friesian, who with Martin Kuhn aboard, won the National All Breed Award at Third Level Open last year. Deb debuts her new horse, BOSS, a 17h Swedish warmblood, trained to Grand Prix.
KATE FLEMING-KUHN is a USDF Certified Instructor through Fourth Level who trains at StarWest in New Berlin, IL. She is a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medalist. Kate has completed on the international level as an FEI Junior and Young Rider aboard LA Baltic Mariner. She has won Second Level USDF Horse of the Year on Phoenix. Kate and ROYAL FLASH, her 16h3” Hanoverian stallion, are competing at Grand Prix, and qualified for the Brentina Cup in 2008.
MARTIN KUHN is a USDF Certified Instructor through Fourth Level who trains at StarWest in New Berlin, IL. He is riding his 18h Hanoverian gelding, RUBINSTAR, known as “Tiny”. Kuhn was on the NAYRC team in 2002 and 2003 aboard Romulus where they won the Gold and Bronze Medals respectively. He has competed through Grand Prix. In 2008, Tiny won high point at every show they attended with Tiny finishing sixth in the country for USDF Training Level Horse of the Year.
JORDAN MEADOWS, a junior at Illinois College, is a full time working student at StarWest in New Berlin, IL. In 2005 she was a member of the bronze medal Junior Dressage Team Championships at Dressage at Devon and in 2006 and 2007, she earned a spot on the Region 2 Young Rider Team as first alternate. Jordan has both her USDF Bronze and Silver medals. She is debuting her new horse, AVENGER JP, a 16h 4 year old Dutch Warmblood (Sir Sinclair x Jazz) and hopes to show him in 2009 in the USEF Young Horse Test for 4 year olds and Training Level.
PINKY NOLL, Springfield, Il., purchased her first horse when she turned 45, and rode hunters for 8 years before focusing on dressage at StarWest 7 years ago. She brings her 16h3” Holsteiner stallion, COEUR DE LION, who is trained to Grand Prix. Pinky earned her USDF Bronze Medal in 2006. She will show “Lion” this year at Fourth Level.
JULIE KELLNER, Springfield, Il., has been learning dressage at StarWest for five years. Prior to that, she enjoyed competing with her jumpers, Lucky Me and Rembrandt, at fences 3’6” to 3’8”. Julie earned her USDF Bronze Medal in 2008 on her first dressage horse, Paladin. She debuts her new horse, MANHATTAN, a nine year old, 17h imported Danish warmblood who is training PSG. Julie and Manhattan are schooling 3rd/4th level. Julie is the public relations manager for M.J. Kellner Food Service, and also assists with fund development for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Illinois.
2008
March 2008
Due to electrical problems the 2008 Illinois Horse Fair was cancelled. In its stead CLD hosted a clinic with Lilo Fore at StarWest.
2007
March 2007
CenterLine Dressage's participation at this year's Horse Fair will consist of a brief demonstration ride by selected CLD members in the Livestock arena on the Saturday and Sunday of Horse Fair. This demo supplants the traditional clinic for 2007.
2006
March 2006
CLD was pleased to bring Mr. Gerhard Politz back to Illinois Horse Fair. In more than 35 years of studying, competing, training and teaching classical principles, Mr. Politz has acquired the depth of knowledge and experience that enables him to bring out the best in both horse and rider. Since coming to the U.S., he has been working out of Flintridge Riding Club, near Los Angeles, giving clinics, seminars and workshops around the country.
Mr. Politz’s enviable credentials and accomplishments include professional certification (Reitlehrer FN exams in his native Germany and the British Horse Society Instructor’s exams) as well as an examiner for the USDF Instructor Certification Program.
Participants
KATHRYN “Kt” BARRY, of Bell Oaks Farm, Freeport, IL, is a former Young Rider, and a professional dressage trainer, who has earned her USDF silver medal. Her mount, Rheinstone, 9, a 16’2”h. bay Hanoverian mare, is owned by John and Rusty Hart (Barrington, IL). Rheinstone was the 2003 USDF All Breeds Training and First Level Champion and IDCTA Reserve Champion at Training and Champion at First Level and US champion for the Hanoverian Inspection tour.
PAULA BRINEY, a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist, manages her family's Saddlebred and Dressage training facility, Pratense Farms, in Chatham, Illinois. Paula is riding her own 17-year old Grand Prix Holsteiner stallion Rejent, a popular participant at Horse Fair for many years. Paula may also be seen on Rejoice, a 7 year old daughter of Rejent, training at Second Level.
KATE FLEMING, a professional trainer at StarWest, New Berlin, IL., has earned her USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medals. She is a North American Young Rider Bronze Team medalist and Cosequin Junior Championship Team Silver medalist. At Horse Fair she debuts her new horse, Phoenix, a seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood chestnut gelding, schooling Third Level.
AMANDA JOHNSON, of North Liberty, Iowa, is a professional trainer. Pip is a Hanoverian, training at Prix St. Georges Level. Last year the pair was 4th (69%) at Third Level, 3rd (65.465%) at Fourth Level, and second at Third Level Freestyle (71.198%) at the USDF All Breed American Hanoverian Society awards. Pip, owned by Barrie Anderson, was twelfth in the nation at Third Level.
MARTIN KUHN, a professional trainer at StarWest, New Berlin, is riding his 17.3h Oldenburg gelding, ROMULUS. The pair were members of the 2002 Gold Medal NAYRC team, the 2002 Gold Medal Coupe d’Amerique Team in Blainville, QC, where they also won the Individual Bronze and the Musical Freestyle. In 2003, they won NAYRC Team Bronze and placed 5th overall, Individual Test in Bromont, QC.
JORDAN MEADOWS, a senior at Auburn High School, is in training and works at StarWest. Jordan completed her USDF Bronze Medal in 2004. In 2005, Jordan and her former mount, Lerro, earned a spot on the USEF Junior National Championship Bronze Medal Team. Jordan debuts her new horse, LUCERO, a 17.1h Holsteiner, trained to PSG. Lucero is owned by Amy Jordan, Los Angeles.
EMILY MITCHELL, Fairview Sport Ponies, Sterling, Il., brings her German Sport Pony, Till We Meet Again. Last year the pair was Region 2 ABIC/USDF Fourth Level Champion (64.565%), 11th in the USDF HOY awards at Fourth Level (63.981%), and won Fourth (63.721%) and PSG (60.750%) Champions American Sport Pony Registry in USDF All-Breeds awards.
MARILYN WEBER, has her own training and breeding facility, Wallebb Arabians, Chesterfield, IL. The USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist is riding BANDANA V, a 14-year-old Arabian mare. They were Top Ten at the Arabian National Dressage Championship at Fourth Level in 2002, 2003 and 2004. They are competing at Prix St. Georges.