FEI Rising Dressage Star Caroline Roffman First American to Compete in the Under 25 Grand Prix at Aachen
Wellington, FL (May 23, 2013) – Caroline Roffman of Lionshare Dressage is looking forward to officially adding the word “international” to her title of FEI Dressage Rider. After winning many prestigious US awards and titles in her young professional riding career, Roffman has earned the honor of being invited to compete at Aachen this summer. She is the first American dressage rider to be invited to compete in the Under 25 Grand Prix division at Aachen, and will make history in that class with Sagacious HF. She is excited about her plans to travel to Europe with Sagacious and her own mare, Her Highness O to train and compete in the prestigious European tours. “I am proud and excited to test my mettle in the European arena, and to be the first American to compete in the Under 25 Grand Prix,” said Roffman. “I will also compete Her Highness O in the small tour at various European CDI competitions including Aachen,” Roffman announced.
Roffman has clearly demonstrated the caliber of dressage riding found in the US. With titles to her name such as 2011 Young Adult “Brentina Cup” winner, 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions National Intermediaire I title, and winner of the US Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage Championship last summer at Lamplight, she is able to travel abroad with the experience of a seasoned rider well beyond her years. The two horses she is taking on the journey are equally impressive.
Sagacious HF, a 1999 KWPN (Welt Hit II x Judith x Cocktail) gelding owned by Hyperion Farm, Inc., came to Roffman in 2012, and these stars have been soaring ever since. Most recently, the pair scored above a 78% during of the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival at the Dressage National 3 in the Young Rider Grand Prix. “I am completely smitten with this horse,” Roffman describes, “I am thankful to my team, and everyone who has helped us including Lars Petersen and Juan Matute.”
Roffman is also planning to take her small tour mare, Her Highness O, on the journey. Roffman and this beautiful black mare totally ruled many of the shows during the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, including winning a Team Gold and Individual Bronze at the CDIO Nations Cup 3* in Wellington. Roffman explains that last summer, after several years of partial ownership, she acquired full ownership of Her Highness, and they went on to win the USEF National Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage Championship in 2012. “She came to me to be sold as a brood mare with only 30 days under saddle,” Roffman says about the now 9-year-old Hanoverian. “I soon realized what a special horse she is, and since then have worked to cultivate her talent in the show arena. To have the chance to compete her in Europe is a dream come true.” Roffman describes the 16.2 mare by Hohenstein and out of Weltmeyer, as a great talent, but explains it’s her character that sets her regally above other horses. Roffman plans to take Her Highness to even higher levels, and she is excited to continue developing this amazing horse to the Grand Prix level.
At only 24-years-old, Roffman has accomplished more than most dressage riders ever dream of. Most recently, she was awarded the Judy Guden Memorial Trophy at the 30th Anniversary of the Palm Beach Dressage Derby show, and also helped claim a second Team Gold Medal at the 2013 Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm in Wellington. She has won multiple titles in the Young Horse divisions, including championships in the Four-, Five- and 6-Year-Old divisions, and in 2012 won the Developing Horse Prix St. Georges with Her Highness O. Roffman also was the 2012 Intermediare I Champion on her own Hanoverian gelding, Pie.
Caroline Roffman owns Lionshare Dressage in Wellington, FL and partners with US Pan Am Team alternate and 2012 Developing Horse Grand Prix Reserve Champion, Endel Ots. For more information about these two rising dressage stars, visit www.lionsharedressage.com
Photo: Caroline Roffman is the first American dressage rider to be invited to compete at in the Under 25 Grand Prix division at Aachen. (Photo courtesy of Al Guden)
Caroline Roffman Lionshare Dressage 1-617-633-1003 lionsharedressage@gmail.com
