2003 Dressage at Devon

Tamika DG Takes Highest Honors in 2003 Devon Young Horse Championship

DG Bar's pride mare Tamika DG took highest honors in the Young Horse Championship on the first day of the 2003 Dressage at Devon Breed Show. The Dutch bred mare outclassed Young Horse Championship participants Dudel Dandy, Santa Fee and Rill Song.

Owned by Oakwood stables, Tamika DG is by Wanroy out of Wow (by Werther). She is a three-year old NAWPN registered mare with three superb basic gaits. Besides her delightful topline and correct conformation, the mare has a large walk, a very active trot showing excellent flexion of the hocks and great suspension.

Tamika DG already became the 2003 Cosequin Champion on the West coast and was the USDF Horse of the Year as a yearling and as a two-year old. Bred by Willy Arts of DG Bar Ranch in California, Tamika DG is currently owned by Mr and Mrs Bosma of Winnipeg, Canada.

Although DG Bar Ranch is KWPN oriented, it does not restrict its breeding program to Dutch lines. Tamika DG's dam Wow, a Hanoverian Werther offspring, proves this. "We like good horses," Arts stated, "if it's a different breed, than that's only better for us, because you get fresh bloodlines into your lines."

Tamika DG beat Devon Colt Champion Dudel Dandy, a 2003 Oldenburg colt by Davignport out of Weitara (by World Star). Dudel Dandy made a big impression on the judges, who placed him first in the Colt Championship Class with 77.4 points. In the latter class, two-year olds Rill Song (by Riverman) and Rapture R (by Rotspon) finished third and second. Dudel Dandy is owned and bred by Ginny Friedhoff.

Finishing third in the Young Horse Championship was the Holsteiner yearling Santa Fee. Owned by Harmony Sporthorses and handled by the Hilltop farm crew, Santa Fee won the yearling filly class with 77.7 points. Suellen Myers' bay Oldenburg gelding Rill Song (by Riverman x Landadel) finished fourth.

The first day of the breed show at Devon turned out to be a "battle of the bulge". America's three largest breeding farms -- Iron Spring Farm, Hilltop Farm and DG Bar Ranch -- were represented in the show with an exclusive selection from their crop of foals and young horses, which challenged for trophies. DG Bar's Willy Arts denies that there is any rivalry between the three barns. "There is such a big distance between the East and the West, because we hardly get the chance to meet as breeders."

Hilltop Farm, located in Colora, Maryland, cashed in four blue ribbons and three red ones on the first day. "We had a good day," Scott Hassler commented smiling. DG Bar Ranch collected five first places out of the 14 Tuesday classes. "I just come here with my best horses, and see how it goes. You have to realize that it's just a momentary performance," Arts rationalized.

Text by Astrid Appels
Image copyrighted: Terri Miller

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Scores of the 2003 Devon Breed Show