Potomac Valley Dressage Association

The 5th Annual Ride for Life was a great success   and moved this PVDA event up another notch.  It was a competition that encompassed both the greats of the dressage world and the rank and file members who share a passion for dressage and high hope for their horses.  It's a chance for so many people to show their belief in the cause to which this event is dedicated which is support for the Johns Hopkins Breast Center’s research to improve treatment and eventually a cure for breast cancer.   The Dancing Horse Challenge, ably chaired and planned by Barbara Strawson, featured exhibition rides by Olympian and world class competitors such as Dr. Cesar Parra on Ecu 8 , Christopher Hickey and Regent, Jane Hannigan and Maxymilian, two rides by Jules Anderson, as well as a popular vaulting demonstration by Katie Gieschen and a demonstration by the Maryland State Mounted Police.  In parallel, the Gala, chaired by Jeannette Bair,  was a great success and completely sold out.  Guests came to enjoy the Las Vegas theme, "Beating the Odds,” to hear  4 time Olympic gold medalist Nicole Uphoff-Selke speak on overcoming life’s challenges, and hobnob with Elvis – who was In the building all night and a “celebrity judge” to boot!  Supported by the generous sponsorship of Platinum Sponsors Dover Saddlery, Homeport Farms, DressageClinic.com (which filmed the event and will display it on their website), Dressage Today, El Paso Corporation, Lee Industries and many others that we will thank in a full page ad in a future issue, we were able to put on a very nice event and support the fundraising efforts of the riders.

Photo courtesy of BHS Photography

Memorable Moments of the Evening   Where do you begin and where can you end with an evening so packed in beautiful moments in our sport?  In addition there were many moving tributes so that I still have not digested it all.  It would take too long to include them all and I am sure others will do it more ably but I will try.      I will remember the showmanship of Dr. Cesar Parra as he answered the audience’s and announcer’s request for more piaffe of a quality that is not often seen,  and presented it as a spontaneous tour de force to the rhythm of the crowd’s clapping.  It should be noted that in the spirit of the night, Dr. Parra offered to donate $1000 personally to Johns Hopkins UBreast Cancer Center if he were the “People’s Choice” that evening.           All of the upper level riders in the Dancing Horse Challenge were absolutely impressive:  the classic performance of Chris Hickey and Regent; the innovative freestyles of Jules Anderson (as the Terminator in one, no less!); the grace of the Ladies of Wyndham Oaks who again presented their lovely Quadrille; Barbara’s Strawson’s tribute to Jill Hassler-Scoop to the stains of Josh Groban’s "Remember Me."  Barbara wore a flowing black and white costumer on the black and white stallion Socrates and provided an interpretive freestyle of emotional power.         Jane Hannigan’s flights– no other word will serve to describe it – of extended trot was also a crowd pleaser. And finally the moving tributes choreographed by Barbara, Frank and Cece Maddlone and the Dancing Horse Challenge committee.

The rider donations – riding for a cure – are the core of the event and will always be closest to my heart. This was my original idea for raising money for Johns Hopkins and I think it has many dimensions in terms of healing and empowering riders.  They remember the ones they ride for and feel they are making a difference in the fight against breast cancer.  Liz Erwin did a wonderful job in encouraging and increasing rider participation this year.  She also made this a special experience for the riders, who are often riding in memory of, or encouragement for, a loved one touched by the disease, or in celebration of their own survivorship.  Besides raising a good deal of money, riders came together to support those undergoing treatment, share stories and encouragement.  There were many hugs, tears and memories to last a lifetime.  Liz will be highlighting some of these stories in future vignettes on the website, I hope.  The participation of a group of North Carolina riders , the “North Carolina Caravan for the Cure,” was a wonderful addition to this year’s show and owes a lot to Liz’ encouragement.

The Showplace Arena and grounds were beautiful with flowering crape myrtle, shrubs and flowers donated by Patuxent Nurseries under the leadership of our landscaping chair for the past two years, JoEllen Hayden. The Prince Georges’ Equestrian Center, competitors agreed, was a great setting, justifying my firm belief that such a venue had the potential to become a major equestrian event befitting the rich tradition of the PVDA, one of the country’s oldest Group Member Organizations.

The final financial outcome of the Ride for Life in terms of the benefit to Hopkins will be announced when all of the income is in and a final accounting to Johns Hopkins is made, but early receipts looked very promising. Karen and Lance Jacobs undertook this daunting task.

Since its inception in 2003, the Ride for Life has grown from a one-day recognized show, to the full-scale venue we see today.  I cannot express how moving it was for me to see my dream realized.  It seemed impossible to me at the time and yet I always knew somehow that this is what this event could become.  I truly thought it would take 10 years at least for it to get where it was this year. I am grateful for the efforts of, and the opportunity to have worked with, the 2008 Ride for Life chairs, Marne Martin-Tucker and Carolyn Del Grosso., who, by the way, was also show secretary and a performer in the evening event! The success of this worthwhile endeavor is due entirely to the strength and support of PVDA’s members. I am humbly grateful to be a part of such a wonderful organization. 

All of you – you worked miracles that weekend.

Pat Artimovich