Wellington, FL – December 4, 2014 – The Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is pleased to announce that the 2015 Florida Youth Dressage Championships will once again be held during its competition this winter at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. The event will take place March 11–15, 2015, during AGDF’s week 10 CDI-W competition.

Tanya Strasser

Tanya Strasser-Shostak and Action Tyme were the 2014 Overall Florida International Youth Dressage Champions. Photo copyright Susan J. Stickle

The Florida Youth Dressage Championships are proudly presented this year by Dressage4Kids, PanaCavallo and Cavalleria Toscana, and Hampton Green Farm. The championships are open to all nationalities.Riders under 25, no matter what country they are from, are encouraged to sign up and participate! Competition includes four FEI Divisions: a Pony Division, a Junior Division, a Young Rider Division and an Under 25 Grand Prix.

“We are very excited to once again host the Florida Youth Dressage Championships,” said AGDF Director of Dressage Thomas Baur. “We want to see the youth riders engage in the international spirit of the AGDF, and this is a wonderful way for them to experience exciting competition against their peers.”

Bebe Davis and Fievel Mousekewitz won the 2014 FEI Junior Division. Photo copyright Susan J. Stickle

Melanie Montagano and Ga Deva topped the 2014 Brentina Cup Under 25. Photo copyright Susan J. Stickle

Newly appointed USEF Dressage Youth Coach George Williams looks forward to the competition and is happy to see the championships return to Wellington in 2015 as AGDF gears up for a winter of top international sport.

“I am definitely looking forward to the youth championships again this year,” Williams stated. “I think each year it gets bigger and more important as a competition. It is an international competition that is open to riders from all countries. It is not limited to just North America, so it allows our U.S. riders an opportunity to compete against riders from other countries. That is a valuable experience and obviously a wonderful learning opportunity for our riders. I think that by having these opportunities, we really encourage and give our riders incentive to compete on a higher level.”

Katrina Sadis and Poldy 10 won the 2014 FEI Pony Division. Photo copyright Susan J. Stickle

Youth under the age of 25 interested in competing must apply in writing by submitting a letter of intent by midnight EST on February 15, 2015 to [email protected]. The qualifying process will be that the top 15 ranked pairs in each division that have submitted a letter of intent will be invited. Lendon Gray will identify the 15 top ranked riders for each division and notify them for their participation.

Special youth activities are scheduled for the week as well as the CDI competition during week 10 of AGDF. Please don’t get left out, sign up now for this amazing experience! For more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

APPLICATIONS: A letter of intent stating your name, the name of your horse, the division you wish to compete in and your contact information must be submitted to Dressage4Kids at[email protected] by February 15, 2015.

ENTRIES: Riders must make their entries through their National Federation as well as with Adequan Global Dressage Festival as they normally do for the CDI competition by the published closing date of February 24, 2015. In addition, they must submit their qualifying scores to the competition secretary by midnight EST on February 2, 2015.