Sunshine, Sequins, and Stellar Scores

The 2026 Spring SBC-CDS Dressage Show Delivers

Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara, CA | May 16–17, 2026

The Santa Barbara County California Dressage Society Chapter's Spring show returned to Earl Warren Showgrounds the weekend of May 16–17, 2026, and there was plenty of buzz among competitors afterward. The USEF/USDF Level 3 competition served as an official qualifying competition for the 2026 USEF Championships and offered CDS Pony & Para and US PRE & IHLA High Points series. Despite rising fuel costs keeping some haulers home, entries were robust, the weather was kind, and the atmosphere was wonderful.

"The Spring SBC-CDS Dressage show started up at 8:30 am Saturday and ran as smooth as Swiss clock all weekend," said chapter chair Lisa White. "There was an air of quiet concentration and focus, and with the calm pleasant weather, the show was a delight for all involved."

A Well-Oiled Machine

Behind the scenes, Show Manager Regina Antonioli and Secretary Diana Muravez kept the show office running with precision, while Technical Delegate Cynthia Reid ensured the rulebook was followed to the letter. Announcer Hunter Schumake delivered a steady, professional presence throughout both days. Judges Teresa Stewart (Washington) and California's Joan Williams brought sharp eyes to the arena across all levels. When asked about her weekend, Judge Williams offered a dry gem: "I had some excellent scribes."

Christi Sulzbach's oversight was credited with shaping the event from the ground up, and Sara Cutter drew particular praise for assembling an exceptional volunteer corps. "Thank you to all the high-quality volunteers," said White. "It truly makes all the difference." The setup and cleanup crews — many of them competitors and their own families — also got well-deserved recognition: "It is no small feat," noted Sulzbach. "We are very grateful for their commitment."

The Dome Warmup and a Touch of Dazzle

One of the more talked-about decisions this year was using The Dome as the warmup ring — a choice that raised a few eyebrows beforehand but won everyone over quickly. "Some of us had concerns about this prior to the show but it worked out great!" White confirmed.

SBC CDS board member and scribe Nicole Walther appreciated more than just the functionality: "The dome warm up was fun to visit and I really enjoyed seeing some riders show off their legally bedazzled boots and different show coats and saddle pads. Everyone looked really good — I'm glad we are allowed to wear more dazzle and color in the show ring now, and I think many riders pulled it off very elegantly."

The show also welcomed Olympian Sabine Schut-Kery to the entry list — always an exciting addition that reminds every competitor what the upper reaches of the sport look like.

Among the new offerings this year were two Prix Caprilli classes, which blended dressage with small jumping efforts and drew a number of current and former USPC members. "We look forward to having more of these in the future," said Sulzbach.

Vendor Village and Competitor Bags

Between rides, Vendor Village offered high-quality browsing courtesy of The Peppermint Pig Boutique, GeeGee Equine, Slick Horseware, Horse Coin Jewelry, and Romitelli Riding Boots, with Pacific Greens supplying both plants for sale and greenery for the popular photo booth.

The black-and-white competitor bags from Olson's Tack Shop were a crowd favorite — packed with Chapstick from Riding Warehouse, water, and Mrs. Pastures horse cookies. The beloved Dressage Dollars awards system returned with prizes including feed supplements from Twenty Four Carrots and Honor Nutrition, tail bags from Brooke Doss

Dressage, Dover Gift Cards, and more.

Saturday Night Fiesta: Tacos, Churros, and Community

If the competitive action was the heart of the weekend, the Saturday Night Fiesta was its soul. Around 50 people gathered for an evening anchored by the on-site cooking of Nana's Kitchen, whose made-from-scratch homestyle menu became the talk of the showgrounds.

"First there were appetizers and I thought that was it, but then the main dish was tacos to order exactly the way you wanted them. That was already amazing, but then there were churros," said competitor Kelly Thoits. "It was really a lot of great food." Sara Cutter added that the timing was perfect: "You could have dinner and then do your night check on your horse right after!"

Sponsors and What's Next

The show was made possible by the generous support of sponsors Samantha Flynn, Mission Equine, and Honor Nutrition, ring sponsors Vanquish LLC and Twenty Four Carrots, and Wendy Brown, who underwrote the always-popular Coffee Cart. Gratitude also goes to the many individual class sponsors throughout the weekend.

"Our dressage community truly came together this Spring and created a successful show weekend that was enjoyed by all," White said.

The next SBC-CDS Chapter competition is the USDF/USEF/RAAC in August — and if this Spring show is any measure, it's one worth marking on your calendar now.