Murrieta, CA 

Seventeen top west coast trainers are donating their time and top young horses, age three to six, to help Katrin Berger of the German Oldenburg Verband demonstrate the systematic methods used to develop young sport horses.

The event will take place at Red Hawk Ranch in Murrieta on November 3 and 4.

Volunteer demo riders include former U.S. Olympian Kathleen Raine, 5 time European Young Horse Championship qualifier David Wightman, former Canadian Equestrian Team member Liz Hopps, Brentina Cup qualifier (and 2^nd place finisher) Niki Hall Zamora, USEF long-listed riders Jennifer Hoffman and Jo Moran, 1996 USET team member Merrie Veldon and Intenational riders Jaye Cherry and Sheryl Kunkle, as well as up and coming young horse specialists Nacho Moran, Robin Garrett, Kim Kulesa, Sandra Hansen, Timothy Mellot and Gayle Smith.

Berger is well known throughout Germany for her expertise in developing young horses of international caliber.  She holds numerous State, National and International titles for riding and training young horses and has recently been named Deputy Director of the German Oldenburg Verband in Vechta, Germany.

This is the 2^nd time that Red Hawk Ranch owners Bob DeGour and Lynn Randle-DeGour have hosted this event.  The DeGour’s Oldenburg Horse breeding operation has reached International notice with young dressage and jumping horses they put on the ground at Red Hawk Ranch as well as from their operation in Germany.

The first event was held in frigid January weather last Winter at Red Hawk Ranch to strong, positive reactions from the 120 trainers and enthusiasts who attended.

November’s two day program will follow a similar format by progressing thru the day on the needs and expectations of young horses as they develop from their first year under saddle thru their third year.  Demo horses are all between the ages of three and six.  

Each demonstration period will have two horse/rider combinations for Berger to use as she helps auditors follow the German “pyramid of training” with concrete examples of common problems and their solutions.  Berger’s instruction is targeted to trainers, but young horse owners and riders will find the program equally as instructive.

“Our goal is to provide trainers with a strong sense of what to expect at each level,”  describes Randle-DeGour, “and to really hammer home the concept that building a young horse is a progressive, systematic effort over time.”

Event coordinator, Bob DeGour, has lined up sponsorships from KAM Animal Nutritionals, Nutro Pet Food, Kelly Shaw Financial Advisors, Dressage Daily, Markel Equine Insurance, Custom Saddlery, Figaro’s Pizza, Chapin Family Winery, German Dressage LLC, Wonderful Sporthorses, Santa Rosa Wellness Spa, Riding Magazine, Barenbrug Pasture Grass, Waddel Videography, Cookie Lee and Blue Ribbon Barns to help fund the event.

The Temecula Valley Chapter of the California Dressage Society is providing event volunteers.

DVD video coverage will be available for $65 at the event.

With a primary purpose of educating sport horse enthusiasts, the DeGours have kept auditing costs to a minimum.  The two day event has an advance registration auditing fee of only $50 for German Oldenburg Verband members and $75 for non-members.  Day of event pricing is $100 and $150.   Further information and event registration is available at www.redhawkranch.tv.