SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CHAPTER
of the
CALIFORNIA DRESSAGE SOCIETY

Dear Show Competitors, SBC-CDS Members, Sponsors and Friends, 

 

Below are the results and High Point and Central Coast Dressage Circuit Awards for the Summer Dressage in Santa Barbara show.

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Our Summer Dressage show was the largest show and the first two ring show we've experienced since 2010! I can't tell you what a joy it was taking us into the Dome once again.  My own personal memories of riding down Centerline in the Dome flooded back as I taped out the arena dimensions.  

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It was fabulous to see so many of our old friends, and new ones who were first timers to our show.  We can't thank you enough for being there to support us through the whole weekend.  Whether you were a competitor, volunteer, sponsor, SBC CDS member or one of our board or committee members, your support made this show a wonderful weekend for so many horses and their enthusiastic partners and families.  

 

Much to our dismay the Fiesta Rodeo left scars in the footing foundation that challenged us and Earl Warren's tireless maintenance crew beyond measure.  We have joined with Earl Warren's Administration to make sure our show's footing is never affected like that again.  I can assure you that next year, our footing will be leveled, well developed and ready.  We may even have new footing: currently the Earl Warren footing sub-committee (with 3 CDS members) is evaluating options and soliciting bids for complete rebuilding of the base and all new footing in all four rings. 

 

Even with the challenges we still heard positive feedback as to how nice it was to be back at Earl Warren.  You may not realize that Earl Warren Showgrounds has been in financial trouble for some time and receives no state support.  We all love this facility and want to do our best to keep it going and hopefully rebuild it into a high-quality show venue. Our CDS Chapter is working hard to join with several of the other equine organizations locally and Earl Warren to raise awareness of the need and find sponsors who are willing to help us keep this historical facility alive and thriving.  We will keep you informed as this effort progresses.

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Our Junior’s we met in May came back with friends, it is always extraordinary to see these young riders giving it their all with enthusiastic vigor!  Abigale Sietsema and Stellar rode to one of the highest scores of the day at 72.414%.  Congratulations Abigale and each of our Jr/YR riders, we can’t wait to see what you do in the future!

 

It was so good to see Ulf Wadeborn and Lars Holmberg back, it had been a few years, what a pleasure to have them with us for the weekend.  Also, Hilda Gurney and Barbie Breen-Gurley, along with newcomers Jaclyn Meinen and Jenifer Luce-Zakhary.  It’s always a pleasure to have all of you return and inspire us.  Many returning partnerships along with newcomers gave us enough motivation for many months ahead, thank you!

 

Sponsors & Prizes:  Huge thanks to our sponsors Dressage Extensions, Riding Warehouse, Wild Fed, Mrs. Pasture’s Cookies, Platinum Performance and Straight Arrow for contributing to our competitor bag gifts and high point prizes.  A special thanks to Mission Equine Associates for our new metal water bottles with logos for first prizes. 

 Thank you to Dave Jensen DVM, San Marcos Equine Practice, Steven Goss DVM South Coast Equine Practice and Karen Blumenshine DVM Santa Barbara Equine Practice for their cash gifts to the chapter. Thank you to dressage trainers Susan Galsterer, Rincon Vista Equestrian, Louise Caccese,  Marianne Kruidenier  MQ Equitation and Julie Corlett  for their donations. A heartfelt thank you to all of our chapter individual and business sponsors who graciously underwrite the chapter, allowing these shows to be put on.  

 

Volunteers:  Our volunteer team is the foundation that makes it all possible. It takes a large community of tirelessly, passionate, generous folks to keep all the positions of the show enthusiastically moving forward.  Whenever you come across a volunteer at one of our shows, please take a moment to thank them, their dedication is extraordinary and we sure couldn’t produce these shows for you without them.  We are blessed with each and every one of our volunteers.  

 

Ellen Corob our Show Manager/Secretary aka Wonder Woman kept all the balls in the air seamlessly for three days, straight off managing the RAAC the weekend before. On Tuesday when we realized we had enough riders for a second ring, she scrambled to locate 2 additional judges and rescheduled the show for 2 rings.

 

We are looking forward to next season, hopefully as the community of equine enthusiasts and our SB Community come together, we can imagine a new and improved Earl Warren.  I want to see us riding once again in the Dome for our Spring Dressage in Santa Barbara!

 

Thank you everyone for your tireless support and encouragement, we truly couldn’t have done it without you!

 

All the best,

 

Gina von der Burg, Show Chair

 

Show and Awards Committees: 

Mary Couch, Karen Christensen, Suzanne Kramer Morton, Michelle Bischoff, Sarah McClintock, Margaret Fleming, Suzanne Galsterer