Gambol

2006

World Equestrian Games - Aachen Germany
WEF Dressage Classic - Level GP 70.833%
Palm Beach Dressage Derby - Level GP 69.080%
Florida Dressage Classic - Level GP 74.875%
Wellington Dressage - Level GP 75.083%
Gold Coast Opener - Level GP 70.680%

2005

Dressage at Devon - Level GP 70.680%
Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 8 Dressage Championship Recognized by U.S. Equestrian Federation/New England Dressage Fall Festival - Level GP 69.240%
Dressage at Stone Tavern & CDI3*/CDIY Allentown
Level GP 71.000%
Dressage at Equestrian Estates - Level GP 69.375%
WEF Dressage Classic CDI***/Y - Level l2 67.805%
Florida Dressage Classic - Level l2 66.179%
Wellington Dressage - Level l2 67.967%
Gold Coast Dressage Opener CDI*/CDIY
Level l2 65.854%

2004

Dressage At Devon - Level l1 69.667%
Level PSG 70.250%
WEF Dressage Classic CDI***/Y - Level l1 70.300%
Level PSG 68.550%
Palm Beach Dressage Derby - Level l1 72.167%
Level PSG 71.350%
Florida Dressage Classic - Level l1 71.875%
Level PSG 69.875
Wellington Dressage - Level l1 68.500%
Level PSG 65.750%

2003

Pan-American Games Dressage team competition
Level PSG team silver for Canada
WEF Dressage Classic - Level l1 66.250%
Level PSG 66.000%
Palm Beach Dressage Derby - Level l1 66.125%
Level PSG 70.333%
Florida Dressage Classic - Level PSG 65.125%
Wellington Dressage - Level PSG 58.875%
4th Level 66.739

2001

ABIC/USDF Reg- 1/Labor Of Love - Level l164.000%
Level PSG 59.250
Dressage At Lexington - Sh - Level l1 64.000%
Level PSG 66.500%
Potomac Valley Dressage Spring -PSG 61.125%

2000

ABIC/USDF Region 1 & Pvda - 3rd Level 65.714%
BKK South Recognized Show - 4th Level 66.410%
Morven Park Summer Classic - 4th Level 69.231%
Dressage At Heavely Waters Mda - 3rd Level 68.000%
Dvcta Spring Dressage - 3rd Level 64.000%
Potomac Valley Spring Campet - 3rd Level 68.571%

2003

Pan American Games, Gambol qualified for the Canadian Pan American Team and was the highest scoring horse at the end of the first day in the Dominican Republic with a score for the Prix St. Georges of 67.65. He then went on the help the team secure the Silver Medal.

2004

Gold at Can-Am challenge at Devon,
USDF Horse of the Year Intermediate l Reseive Champion %71.088.
USDF/ Dutch Warmblood N.A. Intermediate l
Champion %71.088.
USDF/ Dutch Warmblood N.A. Prix St Georges Reseive Champion %70.063

2005

Washington International Horse Show Dressage Invitational Championship.
USDF/Oldenburg GOV N.A Intermediate ll Champion %66.992.
USDF/Oldenburg GOV N.A. Grand Prix Champion %69.240
USDF top five for Horse of the Year for Intermediate II

2006

Competing at the World Equestrian
Games in Aachen Germany.
USDF Musical Freestyle Challenge Grand Prix Reserve Champion %71.450.
USDF Musical Freestyle Grand Prix Reserve Champion %74.875.
USDF top five for Horse of the Year for Grand Prix

Mary Hilton for Phelps Media Group, Inc., International at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
WELLINGTON, FL - February 19, 2006 - The traditional "Musical Freestyle Sunday" at the Winter Equestrian Festival brought out the crowds and the dancing beats for the final day of the Zada Enterprises, LLC Florida Dressage Classic in Wellington, Florida. Freestyles were presented in five divisions. Topping the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle was two-time Canadian Olympic Team member Ashley Holzer of New York, New York, riding Gambol, the 11-year-old Dutch stallion she owns with Dr. Diane Fellows of Palm Beach. The duo earned a score of 74.875% to best a field of eight horses.

Claiming the second place slot was George Williams of Richwood, Ohio, aboard Marnix for owner Joann Smith, who was awarded 73. 917%. In third place, Canadian Cheryl Meisner Linssen riding Paganini, an eight-year-old Dutch stallion owned by John Risley, received a score of 70.333%.

Officiating were judges Brenda Minor at E, Jessica Ransehousen at C, and Jeanne McDonald at M.

The biggest crowd of the season surrounded the ring for this competition, adding to the excitement level of the arena, which is located close to the bermed seating. "I loved the fact that given any circumstance, once he gets into his test he really settles down," said Holzer of the impressive-looking 11-year-old black stallion Gambol by Gabor out of Arella.

Holzer choreographed the dynamic freestyle ride herself and described it as "technically very difficult." She named some of the movements she considers particularly hard to exhibit, "I do a collected canter to piaffe to piaffe pirouette. I do ones and twos on a bending line into double pirouettes in both directions. I do a trot zigzag into a piaffe pirouette into an extended trot."

Holzer describes Gambol as a "handy horse" that's easy to navigate, but needs "lots to do" in order to keep him concentrating. Working with that element, Holzer said that the choreography she developed was originally a bit "over his head in the beginning" but it now "shows the judges what he can do."

Karen Robinson of Applause Dressage worked with Holzer to select the music. They discovered that Gambol became nervous if the music was too loud or the beat too strong. Holzer also insisted that the music be complementary to the horse and not distract from him. "I wanted the technical difficulty and the horse himself to be what stands out," she explained. Holzer's final track is comprised of beautiful piano music by Ronan Hardinan, the Irish composer who wrote the music for "Lord of the Dance."

"The most important thing to me about this freestyle is that the audience remembers the pattern, not the music," Holzer stated.

Ashley Holzer Gambols Her Way to First Place at the Washington International Horse Show $10,000 Dressage Invitational Championship
Equestrian News Release

Washington, D.C.- October 28- The Washington International Horse Show started a new tradition last night when three of North America?s top dressage riders competed at the MCI Center in the $10,000 Washington International Invitational Dressage Championship. Ashley Holzer, Cathy Morelli, and Heather Blitz competed for a purse of $10,000. Last night?s Grand Prix Competition was the first half of the Invitational Championship. Tonight riders returned for the Musical Freestyle portion. Ashley Holzer performed a stunning routine for the win with her mount Gambol, an eleven year old Dutch Warmblood stallion.

In the Grand Prix Competition, Holzer, who represents the country of Canada, was the first to perform in the indoor arena. Her performance was met with thunderous applause from the crowd, and this reaction set the pace for the entire dressage competition.

Cathy Morelli and BeSe of Bedminster, NJ, competed next in the arena, and their moving performance left Morelli smiling and BeSe whinnying with excitement. BeSe, a twelve year old Dutch Warmblood gelding, did not seem to mind the indoor atmosphere. ?I think he really enjoyed himself out there,? commented Morelli. ?He?s never shown indoors before, so I wasn?t sure how he would like it. But, he was great!? Heather Blitz of Mandeville, LA then elegantly exhibited her routine to a graceful finish with her chestnut Arabella. The nine year old Arabella is owned by Denise Arroyo.

Riders returned this evening for the Musical Freestyle portion, and Heather Blitz was the first of the three to dazzle the audience. Morelli and BeSe participated second in the order, and Holzer and Gambol concluded the dressage championship with a spectacular presentation. Holzer and her stallion earned the blue ribbon in the Grand Prix Competition, and she was congratulated amiably by the other two riders.

?I wanted to put him in situations that would scare him a little bit,? commented Holzer about her horse?s first performance indoors. ?I had no idea that there would be a huge, screaming crowd here, and I am so pleased with his response. I think he was thinking, ?Oh my gosh, what is happening?? I don?t think he wanted to leave the ring!?

Holzer added, ?This is a great experience for our horses. The next time I have to go to a major competition with a big crowd, I know it?s not going to bother Gambol. I know how he?ll deal with it. In the beginning, he was looking around a little bit, but he rode nicely here. He?s still a green horse, and he?s been very successful so far. I don?t want to put too much pressure on him.?

When asked how Holzer felt about the WIHS hosting a dressage competition, Holzer reported, ?If you don?t have indoor shows here in America, it?s hard for these horses to deal with the public during international shows. I think this show is great preparation for us for future competitions in Europe.?

These international dressage riders demonstrated pristine talent and were well received by an appreciative crowd. The $10,000 Washington International Invitational Dressage Championship successfully set the stage for next year?s WIHS challenge, and the future looks bright for the sport of dressage at Washington International.