Dressage

FAIR HILL - The U.S. equestrian team took the early lead in the Pan American Eventing Championship at the Fair Hill International Festival in the Country. The four-rider U.S. team scored 170.0 in dressage to stand first ahead of Canada (186.2) and Brazil (196.2). Individually, U.S. rider Darren Chiacchia (43.60) of Springville, N.Y., leads on Windfall 2. He is followed by Tim Collins (44.40) of Bermuda, on Delton Magna, and by Nathalie Bouckaert (47.0) of Chatsworth, Ga., on West Farthing.

William J. "Bill" Obrigkeit, a banker and noted dressage rider, died Sept. 10 of a massive heart attack at Inova Loudoun Hospital in Leesburg, Va. He was 54. The Phoenix, Baltimore County, resident had just completed two dressage competitions in Leesburg when he was stricken. Born in Baltimore and raised in Carney, Mr. Obrigkeit was a 1974 graduate of Parkville High School. Mr. Obrigkeit, who began riding at 14 when he purchased his first horse, was a 1975 graduate of Meredith Manor, an equestrian school in Waverly, W.Va., where he had earned a master's certificate.

In the spring, 16-year-old Emily Andon of Bel Air battled everything from mononucleosis to the pouring rain on almost every day of the qualifying competition for a chance to compete in the North American Young Riders Championship. Emily, who was just old enough be in the equestrian event, was chosen as an alternate for her region, just missing a spot to compete in the championship in Quebec this month. She was one of the youngest competitors and the only representative from Maryland. The NAYRC is competition for riders ages 16 to 21, and features equestrians from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

In 1992, Abingdon resident Fred Brundick was 36 years old, married and working 40-plus hours a week in a government office, writing computer code and rarely seeing the light of day. That year, at a friend's suggestion, Brundick bought his first horse. The 3-year-old Arabian filly would, along with the sport of dressage, alter the course of Brundick's life. Still a computer scientist for the federal government, Brundick is also an accomplished equestrian. Last year he was named Introductory Senior Rider Reserve Champion by the Maryland Dressage Association and received another of the association's top honors, the introductory rider gold medal.

Dressage, a disciplined style of horseback riding that can become a lifetime sport, grew out of a cavalry tradition, but riders now test themselves in the show ring rather than on the battlefield. This equestrian competition, most often seen by the public in the Olympic Games, is growing in popularity nationwide, and young Howard County riders are no exception. "It's the fastest-growing horse sport in the nation," said Clarksville's Linda Speer, a dressage instructor as well as director of the 1,200-member Potomac Valley Dressage Association.

Kathleen `Kate' Farris urges her horse Image through the streets of her Glenelg neighborhood. He briefly startles at a bunch of pink balloons tied to a mailbox, but the movement barely disrupts the little Morgan's trot as he pulls Farris in a two-wheel cart. At stop signs, Image halts perfectly - vital obedience, because creeping or jigging forward could mean being struck by a car. It's all part of training for combined driving events, an equine sport that Kate Farris - and Image - love.

FAIR HILL - Darren Chicchia of Springville, N.Y., moved into the lead of the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) Fall Eventing Championship after the completion of the dressage phase at the Fair Hill International yesterday. In the USA National Single Horse Driving Championship, Fred Merriam of Newfane, Vt., individual bronze medalist at the 2002 World Singles Driving Championship, completed the dressage phase in first place. Chiacchia moved ahead of Sydney Olympic gold medalist David O'Connor of The Plains, Va., when he received a dressage score of 36.80 penalties on Windfall, a 10-year-old, black stallion.

FAIR HILL - The U.S. Equestrian Team increased its lead yesterday in the Pan American Eventing Championship at the 2003 Fair Hill International Festival in the Country. World-class riders and drivers are competing in a variety of equestrian events at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Area through today. The U.S. turned in a perfect performance over the cross country course to finish the second of the three phases with its first-phase dressage score of 170.0 penalties. Canada, who scored 186.2 in dressage, is second after cross country with 301.0, and Brazil is third with a score of 1372.

The Maryland Combined Training Association had the last of three annual competitions last weekend.Known as "Jenny Camp" to combined training enthusiasts in several states, the event's venue for the second year in a row was St. Timothy's School in Baltimore County.As usual, Jenny Camp drew a strong contingent from Carroll County.Jim and Edna McNemar competed on Rocky and Sable, respectively, with Edna bringing home a ribbon for fifth-place overall in the Novice Rider B division. Krissy Kirk and her inimitable Mr. Shadowberry won their division and a special trophy.

FAIR HILL -- Mark Weissbecker of Richmond, Mass., moved to the lead at the completion of the second phase of the Fair Hill International Three-Day Event yesterday at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Center in Cecil County.The 40-year-old horseman, aboard the 8-year-old California-bred thoroughbred gelding, Best Seller, moved up to the top spot after placing fifth of the 63 competitors in dressage on Friday.Weissbecker, who finished 20th at Fair Hill last year, said he and Best Seller "raced around like gangbusters" during the steeplechase and cross country phases of yesterday's 14- to 15-mile speed and endurance test.

FAIR HILL - The U.S. Equestrian Team increased its lead yesterday in the Pan American Eventing Championship at the 2003 Fair Hill International Festival in the Country. World-class riders and drivers are competing in a variety of equestrian events at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Area through today. The U.S. turned in a perfect performance over the cross country course to finish the second of the three phases with its first-phase dressage score of 170.0 penalties. Canada, who scored 186.2 in dressage, is second after cross country with 301.0, and Brazil is third with a score of 1372.

FAIR HILL - The U.S. equestrian team took the early lead in the Pan American Eventing Championship at the Fair Hill International Festival in the Country. The four-rider U.S. team scored 170.0 in dressage to stand first ahead of Canada (186.2) and Brazil (196.2). Individually, U.S. rider Darren Chiacchia (43.60) of Springville, N.Y., leads on Windfall 2. He is followed by Tim Collins (44.40) of Bermuda, on Delton Magna, and by Nathalie Bouckaert (47.0) of Chatsworth, Ga., on West Farthing.

In the spring, 16-year-old Emily Andon of Bel Air battled everything from mononucleosis to the pouring rain on almost every day of the qualifying competition for a chance to compete in the North American Young Riders Championship. Emily, who was just old enough be in the equestrian event, was chosen as an alternate for her region, just missing a spot to compete in the championship in Quebec this month. She was one of the youngest competitors and the only representative from Maryland. The NAYRC is competition for riders ages 16 to 21, and features equestrians from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

FAIR HILL - Darren Chicchia of Springville, N.Y., moved into the lead of the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) Fall Eventing Championship after the completion of the dressage phase at the Fair Hill International yesterday. In the USA National Single Horse Driving Championship, Fred Merriam of Newfane, Vt., individual bronze medalist at the 2002 World Singles Driving Championship, completed the dressage phase in first place. Chiacchia moved ahead of Sydney Olympic gold medalist David O'Connor of The Plains, Va., when he received a dressage score of 36.80 penalties on Windfall, a 10-year-old, black stallion.

Kathleen `Kate' Farris urges her horse Image through the streets of her Glenelg neighborhood. He briefly startles at a bunch of pink balloons tied to a mailbox, but the movement barely disrupts the little Morgan's trot as he pulls Farris in a two-wheel cart. At stop signs, Image halts perfectly - vital obedience, because creeping or jigging forward could mean being struck by a car. It's all part of training for combined driving events, an equine sport that Kate Farris - and Image - love.

HOWARD COUNTY Fair Queen Kate Burgy took it all in stride. "I had no idea I would be the fair queen," she said last week during a break between queenly functions. Kate handed out awards at the fair. The Clarksville teen-ager has been in 4-H for years. She recently became eligible to run for fair queen when she turned 16. "It's a lot of fun," she said of her duties at the fair. "It's a big responsibility, but I look forward to it." Horses are a big part of the well-spoken young woman's life.

Four pairs of Carroll County horses and riders traveled to the Howard County Pony Club Harvest Bowl Horse Trials last Sunday and returnedwearing plenty of top ribbons.A horse trials is a three-phase event held on a single day. The horses and riders compete first in dressage, then ride over a cross-country course of jumps and finally negotiate a course of stadium jumps.Horses and riders compete in various divisions based on their experience. The 10 divisions at Sunday's event ranged from Baby BeginnerNovice Level (for the least experienced)

June 8: Annual Champagne Open House for Membership. Sponsored by the Engineering Society of Baltimore Inc. Ravens beer, champagne, cash bar, hors d'oeuvres, meet Baltimore Ravens Coach Brian Billick. The Garrett-Jacobs Mansion, 11 W. Mount Vernon Place. 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free. Call 410-539-6914. June 10: Charity Dressage Freestyle Gala, presented by Maryland Dressage Association. Benefits Johns Hopkins University spinal injury research. Dressage performances, silent auction, dinner buffet, cash bar. Sagamore Farm, 35012 Belmont Ave., Glyndon.

Zane Jackson II is athletic, but he never thought he'd be a champion. The 22-year-old Glen Burnie resident took home three gold medals and one silver medal, and tied for grand champion of his division in horseback riding this summer at the state's Special Olympics at Prince George's Equestrian Center. He also won the Maryland Special Olympics' Ernest Sampson Memorial Award, which is given to the athlete of the year, based on character and athleticism. Jackson was a beginner when he started equestrian training this year at Crownsville-based Maryland Therapeutic Riding (MTR)