Bebe Davis Takes Reserve National Champion in Junior Division, Donated Ponies Find Success With New Riders
Gladstone, NJ (June 20, 2014) – Barbara “Bebe” Davis is no stranger to the winner’s circle at the United States Equestrian Team Headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey. She has won a number of national titles in the prestigious arena, and at this year’s US Dressage Festival of Champions in June, she not only entered the arena on her own horses but also contributed to the success of two Pony riders, one of which took the USEF Pony Dressage Rider National Championship.
Davis rode in the Junior Division on Fievel Mousekewitz and Rotano; she and Rotano, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Rotspon x Bona Dea) finished second in the Junior Team test with a 68.135% and fourth in the Junior Individual Test with a 68.184. She then put in an impressive ride in the Junior Individual test with Fievel Mousekewitz, a 13-year-old chestnut Hanoverian gelding, to finish first with a 71.237%, which also secured her the Reserve National Championship title.
Having just completed a successful season on Florida’s winter dressage circuit, Davis and her horses have been preparing for the Festival of Champions since the Global Dressage Festival wrapped up in April. Davis, 16, lives in Wellington, Florida during the winter, and Bedminster, New Jersey, during the spring and summer. During the winter she won the Florida Youth Dressage Championships aboard Fievel Mousekewitz, and placed second on Rotano. During week 10 of the Global Dressage Festival she and Mouse won the FEI Junior Freestyle on a score of 73.333%, the FEI Junior Individual test on a score of 68.202% and the FEI Junior Freestyle during week 12 with Rotano on a score of 72.124%. Last year she and Rotano were crowned the Junior National Champions during the Festival of Champions, and also has won both Reserve Champion and National Champion with her two ponies, Poldy 10 and Bohdjan.
This year, those same two ponies were able to continue their winning legacy with two new riders. Davis donated the ponies to Dressage4Kids, Inc., and her philanthropic efforts paid large dividends for Katrina Sadis and Katelyn Mosle. Sadis, who hails from Ann Arbor Michigan, rode Poldy 10 to a score of 73.561 in the FEI Pony Rider Individual Test. She and the 18-year-old German Riding Pony delivered a fluid test to top a field of 11, and were awarded the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship title with an over all score of 71.973. “This has been an amazing opportunity,” said Sadis, who was able to lease Poldy 10 thanks to the Davis’s generous donation. Katelyn Mosle also showed Bohdjan in the Pony division, and finished with respectable scores and the experience of having shown at the Festival of Champions.
“I knew it was important to donate the ponies because I have been so lucky, and I think it is important for the future of the sport to give other young riders a chance to ride and show at a high level,” said Davis. “I am so happy for Katelyn and Katrina; showing at Gladstone and in the Festival of Champions is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am happy that I could help them achieve those goals.”
Davis is now concentrating on preparing for the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships, which will be held July 15-20. “I have been so thrilled with my horses this year,” said Davis. “and am so thankful for all of the support from my trainer and coach, Dr. Cesar Parra and Katie Riley of Piaffe Performance Farm, my parents, Michael and Sarah Davis, and my sponsors, Trilogy Saddles, Pana Cavallo, KEP Italia helmets, Cavalleria Toscana, and Oglivy Equestrian.”
To follow Bebe Davis’ continued success and learn more about dressage training, please visit www.bebedavisdressage.com.
Photo: Bebe Davis and Fievel Mousekewitz. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)
Photo 2: Bebe Davis with Katrina Sadis and Katelyn Mosle and the two ponies Bohdjan and Poldy 10. (Photo courtesy of Michael Davis)