Horse Illustrated Magazine

The 2007 FEI Junior/Young Rider Clinic Series, supported by The Dressage Foundation, will be taught by clinicians Sue Blinks, George Williams and Kathy Connelly.

“We are glad to be able to provide financial support for these clinics, as these young riders will become the dressage instructors, competitors and judges of the future,” says John Boomer, president and CEO of The Dressage Foundation.

A total of nine clinics will be offered, one in each of the nine United States Dressage Federation regions. Clinics are restricted to riders between the ages of 14 – 21 who are currently riding at Third Level or higher. However, auditors of all ages and levels are encouraged to attend as all can benefit from observing the training methods of these respected clinicians.

About the Clinicians:

Sue Blinks qualified for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia aboard the  Hanoverian gelding Flim Flam, and helped the United States earn its third consecutive Olympic team bronze medal. Blinks was a member of the United States Equestrian Team (USET) silver medal team at the 2002 World Equestrian Games. She was also a member of the fourth place USET squad at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome, Italy,  where  Blinks rode to an individual twelfth place finish.  In 2002, Sue Blinks was named United States Olympic Committee Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year.

George Williams traveled to Germany at the age of 17 to study with Egon Von Neindorff. In 2001, he began his partnership with the charismatic and popular black Westfalen mare, Rocher, owned by Chuck and Joann Smith of Gypsy Woods Farm in Richwood, Ohio. In 2003, Williams and Rocher achieved fifth place in the World Cup in Sweden, USDF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle Horse of the Year Awards. After an injury forced withdrawal from the 2004 Olympic Selection Trials, Rocher returned to competition in 2005 earning the title of the 2005 USET/Collecting Gaits National Grand Prix Champion, as well as a team bronze at the CHIO Aachen. However, the crowning moment of 2005 was winning the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle at Dressage at Devon for an unprecedented third time. Williams has coached many Young Riders to Medal finishes.

Kathy Connelly is a USEF “S” judge and a popular clinician.  She has won National titles at all FEI levels, including United States Grand Prix Champion and United States World Cup Champion.  She has represented the United States at the World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden and was a member of the Grand Prix bronze medal team at the North American Championships.

For more information visit www.usdf.org.