September 13, 2005

Bogie Scores High in FEI Test for Five-Year Olds

Proud Meadows’ Friesian stallion, Bogart, by Jorrit and out of Xanadu, just turned five in July. Barely six weeks later he was entered by Sabine and Proud Meadows into the special FEI test for five-year olds that measure the horse’s potential for Grand Prix dressage. This test is held across the nation to identify the up-and-coming champions in dressage according to international standards. The FEI test combines Second Level movements with flying changes that are seen in Third Level tests, and is a challenge for any young horse.

photo: Bob Langrish

Competing this year at USDF Training Level, Bogart shared the arena with older five-year olds that have been competing at First and Second Levels. Sabine felt that Bogie had made so much progress in developing proper basic gaits over the past few months that he could make a good showing in the FEI test. And he did.

The well-respected “S” judge Anita Owen gave Bogie an overall score of 75.4, including an 8.0 in “General Impression for Potential and Scale of Training.” She observed that he was “definitely on the scale and going well!” Of his canter she remarked, “expressive… good self-carriage. Well-balanced and bent; obedient. Good counter-canter.”

Sabine has been equally impressed with Bogart. She says, “He has made a huge step in his development over this Spring and Summer. I feel certain that he has a future as a Grand Prix horse. It is very difficult to find a horse with three good gaits, and all of Bogie’s gaits are very good.”

“He has incredible uphill balance and an equally incredible work ethic in any condition- heat or cold, in a show or alone in training. From Jorrit he gets his expressive canter and great loft in the trot, but he is different from Jorrit. I truly think this is a special horse- not just a special Friesian- and I believe Bogie provides strong evidence for the logic behind Proud Meadows’ Performance Breeding Program.”

Performance Breeding Program