Once again Mette has been selected to represent the United States in the FEI Nation's Cup, this time in the CDIO5* Falsterbo, Sweden.
On the Road
It's a long way to Tipperary but I'm on the journey and I am really enjoying this long trip!
I didn't have a clue in the early spring that I would fly my horse Marron from Los Angeles to Newark, NJ to ride in the Grand Prix National Finals!
But my trip and travel didn't end there..I was selected to represent America and be on the team in The Nations Cup in Denmark, so off I went!
Without my dear teammate and great friend Katherine Bateson and her funny cool husband Carl I still would have been sitting in Gladstone!!
They had it all organized….so I just followed like a puppy, traveling on trucks, airplanes and trucks again. But following your horse 24/7, you realize what a huge undertaking the whole journey is, and how much the horses has to go through!!
From Denmark I ended up in Sweden where I rode in a big National show last weekend and now I have one more big show in the middle of July, a 5* in Falsterbo, also in Sweden. It's another Nations Cup and I will come, together with my team mates at this show.
Unfortunately we are not together right now and it's sometimes a little lonely without my American friends!!! It's me and my lovely horse.
I stay at a beautiful barn owned by Charlotte Haid Bondegaard and her husband Rasmus. They have been the most amazing people and welcomed me to their home, stable and everything I need with open arms! I can not Thank them enough ,but I have also learned how lost you are without help and support from people who are on their home turf! We all have to remember that!!
Without them I would have been sitting in Denmark still, wondering where to go and how to get there!! I owe you forever!!!!
Tomorrow my Dear friend, judge and trainer Birgitta Bergsten will fly in to help me ride better! Her eyes from the judges point of view is so important !! I treasure her time and input tremendously, I am so looking forward to have her here !!
Cicci Rätz has also been a super good friend and helped me a lot to find things, go places and she also took care of Marron when I had to fly back home to LA.
Without good friends we are all sunk…So to al of you who came to the shows, helped me on my journey here and home..Cory, Mallory, Anna, I can't thank you enough! A blue ribbon is great, but Good friends are Better!
My sponsors…always behind me here or there! A huge Thank You! Triple Crown; Platinum Performance; Custom Saddles; Mastermind ,PS of Sweden; Goode Rider. K9, MDC Stirrups, Heritage Gloves!! I promise you that almost everyday someone is asking a question..where I have to mention your name, brand and my thoughts! Love you all!
As long as there is wind I will always Fly!!
Mette
Collage from Uggerhalne, Denmark, CDIO4* Nations Cup
It was a long and exciting trip to go all the way from Gladstone, NY, to Uggerhalne in Denmark. I was with my horse 24/7 and now I know how much the horses has to go through to get from A to B when you travel overseas to the big shows. Luckily my horse Marron traveled really well and despite the long hours on the road he came out safe, sound and happy.
The showground in Uggerhalne was great! The people were fantastic, greeting us every morning at 7 am when we arrived. It was the first time they used this brand new facility for a big competition like this, they did an amazing job!
During the same week as Nations Cup in dressage, the Nations Cup in jumping was held. This brought lots of riders, horses and spectators which made the show even more fun! I meet so many good riders from the 12 different countries that were competing. At one point we were 18 (!) horses in the schooling arena at the same time.
To ride under the American flag with my teammates was both inspiring and fun. I was both happy and proud of my horse who behaved really well in this electric atmosphere. Everyone did well, the dressage team ended up 4th with only a few points to 2nd, it was very close..!
Now I'm looking forward to the next one - Onward and upward!
Once again a big thanks to my sponsors: Triple Crown, Platinum Performance, Custom Saddlery, Goode Rider, PS of Sweden, Mastermind, K9Horse, MCD Stirrups and Heritage gloves. At every show, every warm-up, every minute, every day, I'm using something that represents you and everyone is aware of it!
Festival of the Champions - Gladstone
What an amazing week it has been! Not only did we qualify to ride in the Final at Gladstone but we had one of our best shows together so far! I'm so pleased with my beautiful horse Marron and how well he progressed throughout the week.
I can't thank everyone enough for all the support they gave me, my super and hardworking team that came with me, my staff at home; Mallory Schneider and Cajsa who makes it possible for me to be away and to everyone else - friends, family, clients who were watching and cheering me on!
My sponsors Triple Crown, Platinum Performance, Custom Saddlery, Mastermind, PSofSweden, Goode Rider, K9Horse, Heritage Gloves and MDC Stirrups; I'm more than thankful for your long time support and for making sure I have the very best products that's out there for me and my horse.
We had such a fun group of riders and horses traveling from California! I will miss you all and I hope you have a safe trip back home.
Marron and I are now off to Europe and will be competing at the Uggerhalne CDIO4* next week in the Nations Cup. We have a long trip ahead of us but I'm so excited for this next adventure that's ahead of me!!
Festival of the Champions - Gladstone
Tomorrow is the final day at the US Dressage National Championships! Tune in on www.usefnetwork.com to watch the Freestyle. GP starts at 11.20am ET, Mette is second to last at 12.10pm. The I-1 freestyle starts at 8.00am.
Looking forward to a fun day!!
Festival of the Champions - Gladstone
Today's GP Special was one of my best rides in a long time!
The two judges from Europe, one had me first and the other one second(!), I ended up 4th. This gives me a lot of confidence now when I'm on my way to Europe to ride in the Nations Cup.
The last leg for the National Final here in Gladstone will be the freestyle on Sunday. Not only has Marron stepped up to the plate but it's also been so fun to be with the rest of the California riders. What an incredible group of super fun girls!! Also a big thanks to Tom Meyers that has helped me a lot this season and to my Anna that brought little Oliver with her and came out to help and support me together with my long time friend Cory :) What a great team!!
USA Dressage Team Named for Uggerhalne, Denmark Nations Cup
LEXINGTON, Kentucky, May 15, 2017–The Dutta Corp. United States dressage team was named by U.S. Equestrian Monday for the CDIO4* Nations Cup in Uggerhalne, Denmark June 1-5.
Uggerhalne is the second of six European Nations Cups in the second year of the Interntional Equestrian Federation (FEI) series. The first European event is being staged at Compiègne, France this weekend. The U.S. won Compiègne in 2016 and went on to take the title in the inaugural year of the series.
Mette Rosencrantz will compete with Marron her 17-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding.
USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championships
Once again, Mette has qualified for and will be competing in the prestigious Grand Prix National Championships at the Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions!
The Championships will be held May 17-21, in Gladstone, New Jersey.
Mette is a five time National Championship competitor and this will be her six time competing in the Final. For the first time at the National Final she will be riding her own Grand Prix horse Marron who has been doing really well this season and is now one out of ten Grand Prix horses that has qualified to be in the final.
The competition will be showcased at the historic Hamilton Farm, home of the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. A beautiful venue in the heart of Gladstone, New Jersey.
Alongside the USEF Grand Prix National Championship, the Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship and the USEF Young Adult Brentina Cup Dressage National Championship will take place.
The top horse and rider combinations in the US will be competing for the US National Championship title.
This will be an extremely exciting week and well worth a visit if you would like to watch world class dressage with our best horses and riders in the country!
I wish all my fellow competitors that made it, all the best of luck. Looking forward to see you all…its showtime!!!!
CDI-3* Golden State Dressage
Cold, strong wind and rain - that was the circumstances to this last CDI show for me, trying out for the National finals in Gladstone in May. The weather was NOT in my favor!!
Marron was better then ever in his GP. Just great!! With that said, when I came into the corner after a great strong extended canter, the wind brought a big dust-tornado-dance right in his face -he stopped dead. No wonder...
I just picked up the canter again, but I never did the flying change: so 0 score. Lost 35 points. Then the one tempies going on the same line, close to the end, he though will that attack me again???? - so I lost the last one tempi. Expensive!!!
The ride was great and so was Marron, but what to do?? One day I might have the luck on my side??? I won - but I wanted the score, that the ride deserved!!!
Chrevi's Ramour, owned by Mette Rosencrantz and Cory Walkey got 76% in his third level test 3. In pouring rain, he once again just stayed with me and pulled of a super test! This horse is so cool. I'm so happy to have this special horse!!! Thank's Cory!!
Connie Davenport and her staff did a great job to keep this show together!! Well done! Everyone here are so helpful! Great footing and with all this rain, a covered arena is the answer! We have to support this CDI show! It's a good one, even if this year was a cold, windy and rainy one! I will be back! Thanks to all of you!
A winter jacket and a rain jacket from Goode Rider for me and my great groom Mallory Schneider, was a blessing!! Thanks for making the best jackets on the planet!!
Also, Tom Mayer is the one that I can count on! Tom is helping me so much and puts his heart and soul into trying to help us all! I'm so Thankful for all the work he does to make my horses feel and be their best! You are truly there for me and my boys!! Thanks! You helped me make it work!
Markel/Cornerstone High Score Amateur
Big congratulations to Brit and Dobbin, the Markel/Cornerstone High Score Amateur at the Festival of the Horse in Burbank!!
Very proud of Brit Schneeman! Not only is she a great Adult Amateur rider but also a lovely team player! We love having you on our Team! Go Team Mette!!