The Coastal Classic Dressage Show Delights Santa Cruz Dressage Enthusiasts

Dancing and Prancing Horses -Treats for All Ages Makes for A Great Family Weekend on the Central Coast.

WATSONVILLE, California — The 11th Annual California Coastal Classic Dressage Show will take place the weekend of July 24-26 at American Sporthorse Stables in Watsonville. Over a hundred rides with competitors from cities throughout Northern and Central California, and many of our local talented riders and their fabulous “dancing” horses will compete and show – some to music, some in top hat and tails or fun costumes – for prizes, special awards and beautiful trophies in compulsory and musical freestyle tests ranging from beginner to the most advanced levels.

Dressage has a long and rich history, dating back to the classical Greeks and elevated to a fine art in the courts of Europe, where Royalty demanded mounts as spectacular as the jewels in their crowns. To achieve this involves training the horse to its highest level of physical and mental development, where it moves powerfully yet in total lightness and harmony with its rider. This high standard continues to be the goal of every aspiring dressage rider to this day.

The U.S. has become a major powerhouse in the sport of dressage, with American riders ranked in the top 5 worldwide in the sport today and winning the 2009 World Cup in Dressage this April. If you missed going the Olympics or the World Cup in Las Vegas, here is your chance to see world class riding right here in your own back yard. We have all levels of dressage represented at this show, from the Training Levels on up to the Olympic level Grand Prix de Dressage.

The Coastal Classic offers spectators a taste of everything that you would have seen at the Olympics, including the newest aspect of dressage, the musical freestyle, where competitors perform intricate and personalized riding patterns set to music. On Sunday afternoon, our ever-popular Costume Freestyle is back, with riders and their horses get to let their hair down, performing fun musical routines all decked out to the limits that their imaginations (and horses!) will allow. Quadrille rides, where teams of four riders weave intricate patterns with precision riding, are also invited for the weekend.

This is a rare opportunity to see and enjoy top level horses and riders perform some amazing routines. In recent years the costume classes were very exciting and the costumes and performances were lavish and elaborate. Helen of Troy appeared wearing a fabulous flowing gown with her prancing robed horse. They were fit for a royal procession. We enjoyed the whimsical performance of the little mermaid mounted on her horse magically and artfully transformed into a fish complete with scales fins and tail, dancing to the music of “Somewhere under the Sea” The lion king was represented by two riders dressed as a lion and a zebra performing to the score from the movie. 

A mobile organic cafe, Ilona's Agape Feast Organic Cafe, will offer high quality foods throughout the day and afternoon wine tasting from local vintners offer something for the whole family to enjoy as they experience the show and learn more about one of the fastest growing equestrian sports in the country.

The press and public are invited to enjoy every aspect of the show! Featured classes are scheduled from mid-morning to mid-afternoon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Key Facts:

WHAT: California Coastal Classic Dressage (pronounced “Dress-SAJZE”) Show.
WHERE: American Sporthorse, 1177 Buena Vista Drive, Watsonville (Take Buena Vista Exit off Hwy. 1 – stable is 0.7 mi. west on the left)
WHEN: Friday, Saturday, Sunday July 24-26, 2009 – Show runs approximately 8:00 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, ends at 5pm Sunday
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Local California Dressage Society chapter members are available to assist the press with feature stories and interviews about the show and sport of dressage.

Wine tastings from 12-5 p.m.  $10 cost to purchase commemorative wine glass with 3 complimentary pours. (Proof of legal age required.) 

Press Contact: Robert Rogers 408-421-7701