Harmony News
We are all so proud to be a part of what Courtney and harmony's Mythilus have accomplished. We can't wait for Hong Kong.
Courtney King-Dye and Harmony's Mythilus Named to USEF Nominated Entry for 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong; Idocus Earns Substitute Slot
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA - July 2, 2008 - Courtney King-Dye rode Harmony's Mythilus and Idocus to third and fourth place respectively in the USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship/USEF Olympic Games Selection Trials at the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions on June 21-22 and June 28-29 at the Oaks Blenheim/Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano, CA.
As a result of their stellar performances and #3 ranking after these Selection Trials, King-Dye, 30, of New Milford, CT, and Harmony's Mythilus, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation, have been named to the USEF Nominated Entry for the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong.
Based on his #4 ranking at the Selection Trials, Idocus, an 18-year-old KWPN stallion that King-Dye leases from owner Christine McCarthy, will accompany the nominated horses to quarantine in Aachen, Germany, as King-Dye's substitute mount for the Olympic Games.
"What can I say? This is the culmination of 21 years of blood, sweat, tears and dreaming," said King-Dye. "On Monday morning when I walked into the stable and Debbie and Steffen both greeted me with 'Hello, teammate!' it was the greatest feeling in the world. I feel so lucky that I could reach this dream because I know that sometimes people can work as hard as possible, be very, very good riders, and still never have this chance. It takes a lot of good fortune and opportunity to have the right horse at the right time, have him stay healthy and fit and be able to show him at his best on the given day. I really can't thank my team enough - my owners, current and previous, clients, husband, grooms, vets, coaches, farriers, and physical therapists. It is a huge team effort and I never could have done it on my own."
King-Dye and her mounts were two of the top 12 combinations in the United States that qualified to compete in the national championship and selection trials. King-Dye and Idocus were ranked #3 in the nation and Harmony's Mythilus were ranked #7, but over the two weekends it was 'Myth' who placed higher in each of the four tests.
The first Selection Trial kicked off on June 21 with the Grand Prix. King-Dye rode Harmony's Mythilus to fourth place with a score of 70.208% and piloted Idocus to fifth place with 69.042%. On June 22, competition continued with the Grand Prix Special and King-Dye and her mounts earned higher scores and placings - Harmony's Mythilus finished in third place with 73.160% and Idocus notched fourth place with 70.20%.
The classes were weighted 35% for the Grand Prix and 20% for the Grand Prix Special, putting King-Dye in third position overall with Harmony's Mythilus and fourth position overall with Idocus at the end of the first Selection Trials.
"The selection trials just got better and better for both Idy and Myth," King-Dye said. "The first Grand Prix, I was a little too easy on Idy, and I rode Mythy very conservatively because I had to in order to make a clean test. For the Special, I could trust Myth more, let out his frame, and take some risks. That made a huge difference. And Idy I simply prepared better, so he was better."
The second Selection Trial started on June 28 with the second Grand Prix competition. Once again, King-Dye upped the ante with both horses. Aboard Harmony's Mythilus, King-Dye captured second place with a score of 75.208%. With Idocus, King-Dye earned fourth place with 69.958%. On June 29, in the Grand Prix Freestyle, King-Dye clinched her rankings in the Olympic Selection Trials with outstanding scores on both horses. With Harmony's Mythilus, King-Dye rode to music themed on Cat Stevens' "Sad Lisa" and earned a whopping 78.050% for third place. Aboard Idocus, King-Dye rode the Broadway show tunes-themed freestyle that the duo performed at the 2007 and 2008 World Cup Finals and scored 75.40% for fifth place.
The classes were weighted 35% for the Grand Prix and 10% for the Grand Prix Freestyle.
"The second week, Idy was at the very beginning of the class, and although his score was nearly the same, I was happier with the ride. He received some 9s on his piaffe," recounted King-Dye. "And Myth was out of this world. He was so much more on my seat, so I could let his frame out to the maximum and really go for it in the extensions and short sides. It was an incredible feeling ride. Both horses were very good for the Freestyle. Idy the whole two weeks was not at his best, but he did a very good job. I had never ridden Myth's freestyle before, so when I'm more comfortable with it I can make it a little more dramatic, but Myth was awesome, and I love the way the music feels with him."
King-Dye and Harmony's Mythilus finished the competition with a final overall combined score of 73.333%. The score gave them a third place finish in the Grand Prix Championships and in the Dressage Selection Rankings for the Olympic Games.
King-Dye and Idocus completed the Festival with a final overall combined score of 70.230%. The percentage placed them in fourth place in the Grand Prix Championships and in the Dressage Selection Rankings for the Olympic Games.
"I can't say enough times how thankful I am to all the amazing people who helped me to get here: the Malones, Rich Malloch, Renee Isler, Purina, Lendon, all the Questers, my clients and grooms. We still have work to do and seven weeks left to keep the horses well 'bubble-wrapped' and prepare. What an amazing journey - I can't wait to continue."
May 10, 2008
News: Harmony's Davidoff Hit on a Roll!
With two shows under his belt (or do we say girth?) thus far in the 2008 competitive season, Harmony's Davidoff Hit is off to a fantastic start. Undefeated to date, he has currently won 8 of 8 classes and is averaging better than 70% at Second Level!
At his first competition of the season, EMMA's Spring Fling, held at Gladstone over the weekend of April 19-20, "Davi" shook off the nerves of the first time out in a many months and put in some fine performances. He won all four classes and was High Score of the show both days. Though this was not a heavily attended competition, it will be next year! We plan to bring all our students/riders up to enjoy the wonderful experience of competing at historic Gladstone.
At his second competition, the CDCTA's Dressage at Morven Park, Davi really started to relax and perform to his potential. He won High Score of the show at Second Level with a 73.488% and once again put in four winning rides among some very good competition. With all four tests scoring comfortably into the 70%'s, Davi's composure, relaxation, and overall expression matured remarkably from one competition to the next. We are looking forward to giving him more mileage and exposure as the season continues. Harmony's Davidoff Hit will next compete at the PVDA Dressage at Morven Park over the weekend of May 24-25.
May 6, 2008
Locksley III wins first Bundeschampionat Qualifier!
Locksley III, full brother to Harmony's Locksley I (Londonderry - Weltmeyer), won the first qualifier for the Bundeschampionat at the Munich Horse Festival CDI in Munich, Germany over the weekend of May 3-4. The five year old Hanoverian stallion earned an overall 8.7 under rider Friederike Schulz-Wallner. Placing first out of 18, the pair are now qualified for the Finals which take place Sept 3- 7th, 2008 in Warendorf, Germany. Locksley I also qualified for the Bundeschampionat with an 8.6 in 2006 before his stallion career at the Hannoverian State Stud, Celle!
Wamberto is Champion of North American 100-Day Stallion
Performance Test!
Congratulations to Harmony Sporthorses as their 4-year
old KWPN stallion Wamberto (Rousseau-Voltaire-Dutch
Boy) claimed a bit of history along with another Champion
title with the conclusion of the 2007 100-Day Stallion
Performance Test November 11, 2007. Shortly following
his importation to the US in August, Wamberto, the 2006
KWPN Stallion Show Champion, joined a group of 23 other
stallions to participate in the 100-Day Stallion Performance
Testing, hosted by the American Hanoverian Society and
ISR/OldenburgNA at Paxton Farm in Batavia, Ohio. Despite
a 5-point penalty for his age, Wamberto achieved unprecedented
scores and was named the overall Champion of the 100-Day
Performance Testing with a remarkable 158 points. His
outstanding rideability and movement was represented in
his overall dressage index of 168. His abundant athleticism
shone through in his jumping index of 145. Such scores
have never been awarded a stallion in a North American
testing.
Wamberto was unquestionably a favorite amongst the riders
and training team coming into the final days. His rider,
Alexa Bendfeld, a very successful international Three
Day rider from Germany, truly adored Wamberto and claimed
he would make a fantastic event horse if we ever chose
to direct his career that way. We are tremendously grateful
to Alexa for her deep commitment and wonderful training
of Wamberto over the course of the testing. Training Director
Helmut Schrant did a superb job managing the development
of all the stallions over the course of this rigorous
test and also in managing his team of riders. Wamberto’s
charming and positively focused character earned him a
10 in this most critical evaluation. He earned 9’s
for this rideability, willingness to work, and constitution.
Wamberto’s handy athleticism and eager spirit to
please were clearly evident through the final days of
the test. With ears perked forward at all times, he easily
managed the free jumping phase, soaring over the highest
fences and earning an 8 from the judges. Under guest dressage
riders Jessica Jo Tate, Fred Weber, and Verena Stock,
Wamberto demonstrated very positive rideability, performing
counter canter, walk-canter-walk transitions and canter
and trot lengthenings. Always happy, it was evident how
pliable and pleasant Wamberto is to ride. Under the guest
jumping riders Mike Patrik Leichle and Rudy Leone, Wamberto
proved his handiness over the tight indoor course, producing
clear flying changes and clear rounds over the highest
course settings. With scores of 8 for his walk and trot,
9 for his canter, and 8 for his jumping ability cross
country, Wamberto has demonstrated his athletic ability
is indeed outstanding.
Hassler Dressage welcomes Wamberto home to Chesapeake
City, Maryland and will manage his breedings to a select
group of mares in 2008. He will begin his sport career
under Susanne Hassler as well, which we look forward to
with great excitement!
Mid Winter Dressage - Burbank, California
Harmony’s Sandro Rides For The 10
by Trysta A. Bissett
The
cleverly nicknamed “Golden Arches” of judging--Jeanne
McDonald, Lorraine Macdonald, and Joan Macartney--couldn’t
stop raving about the performance given by Harmony’s
Sandro at the Mid-Winter Dressage Fair. The 10 year old
Oldenburg gelding won the High Performance Prix St. Georges
with a score of 73.083 and the High Performance Intermediaire
I with a 72.083. “He rode for the 10 and was the
clear winner in both classes,” according to Joan
Macartney. Lorraine MacDonald agreed, “He is elastic
and fun to watch.” Sandro’s rider for the past
two years, Leslie Webb, attributes the horse’s success
to his incredible movement. “He’s all leg,”
she said of her petitebodied mount.
Sandro is owned by Harmony Sporthorses of Kiowa, Colorado.
Leslie Malone was on a shopping trip in Europe when she
just happened upon Sandro, who was a stallion at the time.
Malone was drawn to his “presence and strong hind
leg.” Sandro’s sire, Sandro Hit, is one of Germany’s
most sought-after stallions, having produced World Cup
competitor Salieri and many other up and coming young
horses. Webb admitted, “It was a big change [for
Sandro] coming from Europe, and it took a while for us
to trust each other.” But it didn’t take long
for the pair to make an impression. Webb and Sandro were
2006 Region 7 Champions in the Open Prix St. Georges CDS
Horse of the Year, winning over the other competitors
by a solid four-point lead. This year, Sandro and Webb
are preparing for Grand Prix and plan to try out for the
Pan Am Games.
Listening to Webb chuckle about the 17.1-hand wonder,
it sounds like the real fun in watching Sandro happens
outside of the show ring. “In the stable area, he
will stick his head out and tilt it to the right so you
can scratch his chin. That’s his signature.”
Always in need of attention, Sandro won’t hesitate
to lick his human companions. “He’s worse than
any dog I’ve met,” laughed Webb. Even after
a hard workout, Sandro is a big mover. He makes the most
of his pasture time by rolling and then bucking for a
good five to ten minutes. But there’s nothing Sandro
loves more than a good scratching from his favorite tree.
“When we see the tree shaking in the field,”
Webb mused, “we know what he’s up to.”
ScoreSource - Results
on Line for LA Mid Winter Dressage
Markel
Equine Insurance
2007 Palm Beach Dressage Derby
Susan Jaccoma and Harmony’s Weissmuller Take
Home a Blue in the Intermediaire 1
By Lyndee Kemmet for HorsesDaily.com
A
number of horses owned by Harmony Sporthorses showed their
talent at The Palm Beach Dressage Derby, among them was
Harmony’s Weissmuller who took the blue in the Open
Intermediaire I with Susan Jaccoma aboard. The pair’s
winning score of 71.25 percent was also Saturday’s
FEI high score. Jaccoma not only happy with the score
but also to be contributing to the winning reputation
of Harmony Sporthorses. “I was thrilled with the
score,” she said. “The horse really doesn’t
make mistakes in the ring. He’s super and the whole
ride was really fun. When it feels fun, you know in the
back of your head it’s good.”
Harmony Sporthorses is owned by Leslie Malone of Kiowa,
Colorado. Malone has a number of her horses placed with
various riders, included Courtney King, who had a successful
weekend with Harmony’s Wyoming. “Leslie gives
riders an opportunity to have good horses and to compete
her horses. And she’s proud of the fact that she’s
given opportunities to people,” said Jaccoma, who
has had Malone as a sponsor for more than seven years.
Jaccoma used to train and ride Harmony’s Coolio,
which was sold last year to Tim Malin, and that new team
was showing at Grand Prix in the Derby. Harmony’s
Weissmuller is not the only Harmony horse under saddle
with Jaccoma. “Right now, I also have Harmony’s
FX, which is a young horse they own that I competed last
year in the Young Horse Championships in Kentucky,”
she said.
Harmony’s
Weissmuller, is a nine-year-old Hannoverian stallion by
Weltmeyer. Jaccoma, who is based in Maine, has been training
and riding the horse since it was imported from Europe
five years ago. “His greatest strength is his character.
He’s a kind, willing, stallion who tries hard.”
They only thing keeping the stallion from moving up to
Grand Prix is his age. “I’d say the challenge
I have with him is he tends to be very muscle bound. His
neck is really thick, keeping him always 150 percent through
is a challenge we work on every day. There’s no real
reason as to why he’s not at Grand Prix, other than
that he’s just not yet ready and strong enough.”
Jaccoma and Weissmuller have been getting some training
help from Scott Hassler and Lilo Fore and with that help,
the pair is aiming to ride at the National Dressage Championships
in Gladstone, New Jersey this summer.
Congratulations Harmony's Sandro and Leslie Webb
We want to wish Leslie Webb and Harmony's Sandro (Sandro
Hit/ Glorieux) on their top honors at the region 7 championships
Sandro and Webb were FEI Region 7 Champions in the Great
American/USDF Championships as well as Prix St. George/Open
Champion. We can't wait to see what's next. Good luck in
the Pan Am qualifying shows.
BREAKING NEWS! February 3, 2007
A Rousseau Son Makes History:
Zagreb is named Champion of the 2007 KWPN Stallion Show
For the first time in the history of the KWPN Stallion
Show the same stallion has sired the champion stallion
for two years in a row! The stallion selection committee
awarded Rousseau's son ZAGREB (Rousseau-Jazz-Belisar)
the title of Champion of the KWPN Stallion Show, February
3, 2007. He succeeds his half-brother WAMBERTO (Rousseau-Voltaire-Dutch
Boy) who claimed the title at the 2006 KWPN Stallion Show!
Never in history has this occurred…never before has
the stallion committee awarded the Champion title to stallions
by the same sire in successive years!
Zagreb was later sold through the KWPN Select Sale for
430,000 € to Blue Hors Stud of Denmark. Such a future
is extremely exciting for this outstanding young son of
Rousseau. We congratulate Blue Hors Stud and we wish them
ultimate success with Zagreb in sport and breeding.
Rousseau had five of seven sons selected for the third
round of the KWPN Stallion Show. In addition to Zagreb,
two other Rousseau sons were accepted to proceed to the
Stallion Performance Testing in Ermelo this spring: Zoltan
(Rousseau –Sultan-Symphonie) and Zodiac (Rousseau-Amethist-Variant).
Sources say that the buzz word at the KWPN Stallion Show
this year was "Rousseau!"
Click
for KWPN Select Sale video of Zagreb.
Harmony Sporthorses is excited to announce our recent
purchase of Hilltop Rousseau, from Hilltop Farms
in Maryland. Hilltop Farms and Harmony Sporthorses have
owned this stallion in partnership since July 2003. Now,
Harmony's Rousseau, will be handled by Hassler Dressage.
We wish to thank Hilltop Farm for the opportunity to be
involved with such a fantastic stallion.
AHHA Inspection
We had a wonderful day. Santa Fee(Ariadus/Riverman) our
four year old mare was Premium Select with a score of
54. She also was Champion of the site. She showed fantastic
movement,disposition and presence as she impressed all
who saw. Our weanling colt Rocketman(Riverman/Coriander)
recieved a 9 for confirmation and a 9 for movement out
of a possible 10. He was just what the judges were looking
for. We were very proud of our horses. We would also like
to thank Crooked Willow for their hospitality.
Leslie Webb Wins at CDS Championships
Leslie along with her mount Harmony's Sandro won the PGS/I1
championship. They were also third in the nation for PSG.
Together they are on the road to the Pan AM games qualifications.
Picasso Never stops amazing us. He was 3rd in the PSG/I1
Championships. He will also be going twards the Pan Am
games. Leslie's new mount Riddler was 5th in frist level
over all. He went up against some very tough horses and
for his first show season we are very happy.Congrats to
Leslie and the horses.
HARMONY'S FX SUCCESSFUL AT THE MARKEL YOUNG HORSE
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Harmony's FX qualified 11th in the country for the young
horse championships under susan Jaccoma. She only had
him for four weeks prior to get him qualified and ready.
FX excelled and impressed all who saw him. On Friday he
was 4th with a 7.88 and was 5th in the country over all.
Congrats to both FX and Susan Jaccoma.
Jaccoma's Harmonious Ride Wins At GMHA
Susan Jaccoma's long partnership with Harmony's Weismuller
paid off with the FEI-level championship at the Green
Mountain Horse Association's Dressage Days, in South Woodstock,
Vt., July 21-23.
The pair placed first in tests at Prix St. Georges (69.75%)
and Intermediaire I (69.25%). "He floated around
the ring and it felt simple because he was totally focused
and with me both days. He got good marks for almost everything,"
said Jaccoma.
She's been riding the 9-year-old stallion, owned by Leslie
Malone of Harmony Sporthorses, for four years. Jaccoma
said, "I've never had a stallion before, and he's
so good that sometimes I forget that he is a stallion.
"Sometimes I'll ride him almost like I ride my gelding,
and he suddenly gets a little stallion-y, whinnying at
passing horses, saying 'I'm here!' He's a breeding stallion
and he wouldn't be normal if he didn't do that, but I
maybe need to be a little more assertive with him than
I am--but he's just so sweet!"
Courtney King Earns Four East Coast Rider’s Cup
Championships at Centerline Events at HITS on the Hudson
CDI***
BEDFORD, NY – August 24, 2006 – Courtney King
of Bedford, New York, reigned supreme at HITS on the Hudson
CDI *** in Saugerties, New York, which hosted the East
Coast Rider’s Cup Championships, August 18-20, claiming
four of the championship titles. King brought eight horses
to the event and competed in up to 12 classes each day,
spanning Training Level through Grand Prix. “All
the horses did so well,” said King. “I am so
pleased to have so many different horses showing successfully
at so many different levels.” Remarkably, King never
uses a reader to call the movements for her, riding each
test from memory at every level.
Riding Harmony’s Wyoming, a five-year-old Hanoverian
gelding by Weltmeyer owned by King and Harmony Sporthorses,
King claimed the ECRC Championship at First Level, by
winning First Level Test 3 with a score of 72.571% and
First Level Test 4 with a score 71.944%. King also showed
the talented youngster in open classes at the show and
notched another victory, claiming the win in First Level
4 with a score of 74.412%. “He is such an awesome
horse!” King enthused.
Harmony's Weissmueller and Harmony's Coolio success
at the High Life Cup
Weissmueller has continued to climb the ladder of success.
He recently attended the High Life Cup in Orlando, Florida.
Weissmueller along with his rider Susan Jaccoma took Reserve
Champion in the Prix St. George Division, second in the
Intermediare I and second in the Intermediare I Freestyle
clenching the all around High Life Championship.
Weissmueller is now preparing for the USEF Intermediare
I Championship in the spring. We wish him lots of luck.
Susan Jaccoma other Harmony Mount Coolio is taking off
with his Grand Prix career. At the High Life Cup he brought
home second in both the high performance Grand Prix and
the Grand Prix special.
Congratulations Susan and Weissmueller.
Congratulations to Leslie Webb
We would like to congratulate Leslie Webb on another successful
year. She along with Harmony's Cassiano were CDS Grand
Prix Freestyle Champion, Third in the CDS Grand Prix Championships,
and Fourth in the Region 7 USDF Grand Prix.
Her success did not end there. Harmony's Picasso took
home champion in both CDS Fourth level and Region 7 Fourth
level. He was also given the honor of USDF year end Reserve
Champion.
We are very proud of these accomplishment and can't wait
to see new comers Sandro and Riddler in 2006.
Press Release: February 9, 2006
Hilltop Rousseau’s son is Champion at 2006 KWPN
Stallion Show
Wamberto (Rousseau-Voltaire-Dutch Boy), bred by Mr. and
Mrs. Heida of Wolvega, NL, was the clear winner of the
Championship ring for the dressage stallions at the 2006
KWPN Stallion Show. An absolute model in type, the wave
of applause from the audience followed him as Wamberto
toured the arena with extraordinary buoyancy, fluidity,
and expression. His movement was beautifully natural and
soft, rolling forward with an unparalleled suppleness
and freedom. His super character was evident as he stood
politely at the side of his handler, quietly taking in
the excitement and applause.
Scott and Susanne Hassler of Hilltop Farm, Inc., agents
for Harmony Sporthorses, had acted immediately to reserve
the first right of purchase on seeing this young superstar
on Friday, the first day for the dressage group. Harmony
Sporthorses is the proud new owner of this outstanding
young stallion. Harmony Sporthorses co-owns Hilltop Rousseau,
Silver Medalist at the 2003 World Championships for Young
Dressage Horses. After standing at stud three years in
the Netherlands, Hilltop Rousseau now stands in Germany
at Hengststation Pape. Wamberto will be prepared for the
stallion performance testing in Ermelo by Nicolette van
Lierop, who prepared and guided Hilltop Rousseau to his
many victories in sport.
Hilltop Rousseau was the top producer of dressage candidates
attending the stallion show. Represented by 11 sons, Rousseau
had received very positive press coming into the event.
Of Rousseau’s 11 sons, 5 were cleared to the 3rd
round. Three other sons of Rousseau were also licensed,
including: Winner (Rousseau-Jazz-Variant), who was sold
to VDL; Wittenstein (Rousseau-Roemer-Eros), whose dam
Cherites is a ster preferant prestatie mare with many
Grand Prix offspring to her credit; and Wiebert (Rousseau-Montecristo-Balzflug).
