2006 Dressage at Devon

Deborah Smith and Donnervogel Sparkle at Devon

September 30, 2006

Deborah Smith and her chestnut Oldenburg gelding Donnervogel won the Saturday morning class - 1A Fourth Level Test 2 - at 2006 Dressage at Devon. The Vermont based duo scored 65.349% and stayed just ahead of Courtney King on Jubilant (65.233%).

Smith was very happy with her winning performance. "My ride was very steady and rhythmical. He stayed up and in front of me," Smith told Horsesdaily.

Smith's mount Donnervogel is a 7-year old Oldenburg branded gelding by Donnerhall out of Etoile (by Ex Libris) and is owned by Linda Wondrack. "He's an incredibly trainable horse. He tries really hard and even though he is only 7-years old, everything seems to come easy with him," Deborah explained.

Wondrack has owned Donnervogel since he was 2 1/2 years old and purchased him via Kitchell, who discovered him at the Vechta Elite Auction in Germany. Smith aims to bring Donnervogel up to Grand Prix level and afterwards Wondrack will ride him as a schoolmaster.

Donnervogel has a special character and is very attached to people. "He loves his people, loves them more than other horses, and he's happy to work every day," Smith said.

Deborah, who is the resident trainer at Ann Kitchell's Huntington Farm in South Stafford, Vermont, rides eight horses a day and is trained by Shelly Francis. In 1996 she was successful in eventing and was named to the 3-Day Eventing long list for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Donnervogel is not her only mount for Dressage at Devon; she also brought along her own State Premium Mare Lady Liberty (by Lord Liberty G x Sion) who she competes at Prix St. Georges-Intermediaire I level.

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