 Wellington, FL- A Hanoverian bedecked in a red bandana, a dressage rider performing passage in fishnets and another rider doing one tempis in some serious bling were just some of the sparkle and fun at the third night of Dressage Under the Stars at the Palm Beach Hunt and Polo Club Wednesday night.
Jennifer Baumert, the winner of the fun freestyle event and a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medalist, wowed the crowd as well as the panel of judges with beautiful extensions across the diagonal decked out in a straw hat and red plaid. Her horse, DeWert, a 10-year-old Hanoverian sporting a red bandana neckerchief and a red and white-checked tablecloth saddle pad, performed three tempis to Johnny River's Dang Me and canter pirouettes to Roger Miller's England Swings. When the pair finished their musical freestyle, a shout of "Yee-Haw" came from the crowd.
Judges Betsy Steiner, Kim Stewart and Max Tucci rewarded the pair with high scores and praise. Steiner, an American Championship Team Member, praised their extensions and gave them a score of 8, while renowned hunter trainer Kim Stewart noted that DeWert became more expressive as he enjoyed the music and scored them with a 9. Max Tucci, owner of Oscar's Delmonico Vodka, enjoyed Baumert's costume choice and gave them a perfect 10. "You're the Dolly Parton of dressage," Tucci said.
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| Steve Williams, Betsy Steiner, Kim Stewart, Max Tucci, Jennifer Baumert and Tara Lordi |
Baumert was pleased with DeWert's performance. "He's
a fabulous horse," she said. "He's never been under the lights and he was incredible." It was a bittersweet night
for Baumert, as DeWert was sold earlier that day and Dressage Under the Stars was their swan song. Still, Baumert was bubbly as she declared the evening a success. "This was so much fun," she said. "It's just a fabulous, fun event."
The other freestyle riders joined in the spirit of the event. Haley Patterson dressed to impress with fishnets, a pink tutu and neon green boots for her Rock and Roll themed freestyle. They performed half-pass to Heart's Barracuda and executed a smoking walk, literally, when Patterson pretended to puff on a cigarette to The Pretty Reckless' My Medicine. Steiner told the crowd that the cooler the music got the better the horse got and Stewart called the duo "sexy."
Jessica Kissell, a Grand Prix rider from Sheboygan, WI, rode blinged-out in gold and neon party lights on Liberty, a Dutch warmblood. Flo Rida's Right Round blasted while the duo performed canter pirouettes and one tempis. Steiner said she was really impressed with their passage to zigzags, Stewart said she was awed with the difficult choreography and Tucci said the music was great but she needed to add even more bling to her costume.
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| President of Phelps Media Group Mason Phelps, owner of the PB Polo and Hunt Club Glen Straub, and media personality Steve William |
While the judges did their final tabulations, Cappy
Peterson, champion hunter jumper turned reiner, did a bridleless reining exhibition on Wes
t Coast Smarty, an American Paint Horse. The duo trains with Tom McCutcheon, 2011 FEI World Reining Finals Champion. McCucheon's daughter Mandy introduced Peterson to reining. "I'm hooked," she said. They were wildly popular with the crowd and more than one dressage aficionado said it looke
d like they were having fun.
Fun, food, friends and fabulous riding are all a part of Dressage Under the Stars. To be a part of the fourth
season of Dressage Under the Stars, please call (917) 907-0053. Dinner reservations are strongly encouraged, and can be made by calling The Hunt Club at (561) 389-4951. Dressage Under the Stars will be held each consecutive Wednesday through April 4. To stay updated with all of the recent happenings involving Dressage Under the Stars, please visit their Facebook page.
Photo Credit: Cappy Petersen completed a bridleless demonstration aboard West Coast Smarty during Wednesday night's Dressage Under the Stars at the Palm Beach Polo and Hunt Club. All Photo By: Phelps Media Group, Inc.
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