JANUARY 2011 THE RIDER /43 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair 2010 Dressage Quadrille Freestyle Competition By John Harris.


It done, it’s over, we know the answer, the 2010 Royal Dressage Quadrille Freestyle Competition winners are the Los Mysterios Team of Stephanie Jensen, Megan Lane, David Marcus and Whitney Harris.


A new event for this year’s Royal was a Dressage quadrille freestyle competition. There was a prize list, three teams to be accepted, later increased to four teams, to be judged by the


ers for the hair, earrings, make up and even extra hair were added. David made us a little nervous, without a costume as we left for the Royal; but he came up with an authentic Zorro look, almost by accident. Carla Bahr generously donated black saddle pads and polos. Through Unique Fine Fabric’s donation of embroidery trim, Whitney’s mothersewed gold trim on the saddle pads and made gold trim for the polo’s. Bernie Bahr allowed his racing brow bands


moved to the hitching ring for the last ten minutes; finally our turn. For those competing at the Royal for the first time, the Col- iseum can be intimidating. It’s dark with spotlights and a large crowd, not a typical horse show for most. Our Team was fortu- nate, at various times all had competed in Young Riders, Dressage at Devon and some such as Whitney had previously competed at the Royal in evening performances.


Overall on Tuesday, Team Bennville was first with a 76% riding an Elvis routine, great costumes and a hair comb over to disguise their helmets. Los Mysterios was second with 74%. A good ride, with a quiet crowd. Friday Hill was third with a 68.5%. They had some interesting choreography, but had the misfortune to have a horse canter in the trot work. Team Remember was fourth with a 68%. Nicely ridden, but I suspect they were marked down


for not riding together enough as a group of four. Overall we were happy with the ride and knew we could do better. Wednesday we are third in. Team Remember changed their choreography and, scored a 75.5%. Friday Hill, same canter in trot issue, scores 69%. In we go, much better ride than Tues, great entry to set the tone,the music is louder, better riding as


a group, the technical move- ments work really well together and the crowd got into the rou- tine. I think the difference in the crowd Wednesday to Tuesday night is more dressage people in the crowd. They probably came for the afternoon CDI GP and stayed to watch the quadrille, at least I hope they did. Down the final center line, Zorro unleash- es his sword, the crowd loves it


and the smiles on the riders said it all. They knew they had done a great job and had had fun rid- ing the test. Los Mysterios scores comes up as 82.25%, provisional first place. Last in is Team Bennville, they need 80% or more to win. Turns out good but not quite so good as Tues- day with a score of 73.25.Our provisional first becomes offi- cial That puts Team Bennville second, Team Remember third and Friday Hill fourth.


The Royal does a fabulous job with the ribbons, presenta- tion coolers, silver trays, won- derful keep sakes of two really fun nights. The victory lap was enjoyed as much by the riders as the crowd. Friday night was a repeat performance by the Team, a little erratic, but then winning was not on the line. Oh, the music you ask, hmmm, done by a little indie operation in Burlington Ontario, by appointment only!


same five FEI judges who judged the CDI at the Royal. The judges were Joan McCart- ney and Brenda Minor of Cana- da, Axel Steiner of the US, Mer- cedes Campdera of Mexico and Paramjeet Chopra of India. The technical requirements were basically the Intermediare 1 freestyle with some exceptions. Trot and canter gaits had to be on both hands, but walk just one hand if desired, and movements, figures and transitions did not have to be on both hands. Team riding and harmony were a requirement. The teams compet- ed Tuesday and Wednesday nights [November 9 and 10]. Scores from each night were averaged and the total average of both nights determined the final placing. The teams were encouraged to dress for the competition to reflect their cho- sen musical theme. Helmets were mandatory.


Stephanie and Megan had both ridden in the demonstration quadrille at the WEG Team fundraiser held at Gary and Jeannie Vanderploeg’s Pine Ridge Farm. It was there they decided to create a team and enter the Royal event. They contacted David and Whitney and a team was set and the required scores sent in the Royal.


Once accepted the Team got to work. Stephanie and Megan trailered to David Mar- cus’s dressage barn, where Whitney also trains and back to back choreography sessions were held. A basic foundation was created and then the follow- ing week, back came Stephanie and Megan and a workable choreography was completed. Much discussion on music and costumes, but time was ticking so decisions were made. The music would be Zorro inspired. The dress concept was to reflect the era of the Zorro movies. Megan sourced two Spanish style gowns, one for herself and one for Whitney. Stephanie found a dress which Whitney’s mother modified and added extra length to with a generous slit!


To add to the flavor, flow-


to be turned into dressage quadrille brow bands, I think he knew that beforehand…


We had one last ride through with the music, unfortu- nately Mega could not make the practice, but the music worked and all received a copy to listen to afterwards and then off to the Royal.


We arrived Monday – November 8. Our first and only practice as a full team of four with the music came after the Monday evening performance; a very late night. It was warm for that time of year and stabled upstairs was very warm indeed. Adding to the Royal atmosphere were the “out of towners” sta- bled behind us who were in fine form that afternoon and night, though strangely quiet the next day, maybe it was something they consumed! Tuesday we found time for a light ride dur- ing the day for those that want- ed to and then we started to prep for the evening. Tuesday night ride times were held by draw, we drew first and Wednesday would be reverse order of Tues- day results. With the mighty words of encouragement, “go first be first “, all got ready to go. We had decided to pretty up the horses with sprinkle spray gel and coloured hoof polish – thanks again Carla – though our blacksmith decidedly grumbled about the red metallic hoof pol- ish next time he trimmed our horse. Getting ready took longer than a regular show, what with costumes and dressing the hors- es.


We also were keeping track of the ring timing, seems an entire class in the schedule never existed, we were suddenly early. At the Royal events can lag or instantly speed up, you need to keep track. Last minute drama, David could not find his black mask. So in true Zorro fashion, he cut a piece of black cloth off his cape, Whitney’s mother cut eye holes in it – funny David wanted the mask off while that was happening, mask tied on zorro style, prob- lem solved and off we went. The warm up started in the horse palace ring, and then we


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