An Affaire To Remember

In French, Dressage means the art of horse training. This sport takes extreme elegance, grace--and patience. One could say that it resembles ball room dancing or even ballet, only with a horse as your partner. And, coming from personal experience, it is much harder than it looks!

This skill was expertly demonstrated by 200 former and potential Olympians from the U.S. and Canada, who competed at the 2009 Dressage Affaire at the Del Mar Horsepark.

Among the competitors were Olympic riders Debbie McDonald, Guenter Seidel, Steffen Peters, Sue Blinks, and World Games rider Leslie Morse.

Rider Brian Hafner, 20, of San Marcos won in his categories both Friday and Saturday and told the North County Times that he's spent 10 years competing in dressage events.

"It's nice to come here and do well," said Hafner. A future place on the Olympic team, he said, "is always in the back of my mind."

The competition has succeeded in gaining a reputation as a favored venue among Dressage competitors.

"Dressage Affaire has helped put San Diego on the map for world-class Dressage competition," said event founder Kim Keenan. "Our annual event draws some of the top dressage riders in the North America and it remains a very affordable way for southern Californians to learn about dressage and get a very close-up view of some of the most beautiful horses and talented riders in dressage today." 

The three-day event lasts through Sunday and concludes with a fan favorite, the International Freestyle competition to music. Tickets are $10 per day, or $25 for the entire weekend.

For more information about the Dressage Affaire 2009 competition, visit our media partner, North County TimesDressage Events, or call (866) 933-SHOW.

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