From dressage diehards to neophytes, everyone is welcome at Dressage in the Wine Country. That’s the way it’s always been and that’s the way it will be Sept. 15, when “DWC” celebrates its 25th year.
Created as a fundraiser for the Sonoma Chapter of the California Dressage Society, DWC has become a destination entertainment event. Highlights include wine tasting, an equine trade fair and an art auction with an evening of dressage in its various forms under the lights of the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

Tanya Vik on Divinity 3.

Dressage in the Wine Country is a three-part event. From 3 to 7 p.m., attendees can meander through a trade fair of horse-related items ranging from tack, gift ideas and even furniture with a horsey flair. From 4 to 6 p.m. the gates open for a wine tasting event featuring 20 local wineries and breweries. To facilitate tastings, a souvenir wine glass is included in the price of admission.
Come 7 p.m., grandstand picnickers will be settled in for an evening of wonderful performances. Sue Reinecke, in charge of the entertainment lineup this year, has been involved with DWC for all of its 25 years. “I’ve ridden in it as a side saddle rider and am looking forward to rejuvenating it,” she says. “This year we’re going back to basics with even more dressage. In the past we’ve played with including western riding, vaulting and other disciplines.”

Showcase of Local Stars
National champion dressage competitors will perform international level musical freestyles, alternating from formal attire to costumes and styles of music from rock to popular to classical music.
Christine Rivlin-Henke will perform a freestyle on Lyra, an 11 year old imported Hessen mare owned by Stacey Hart McCarthy. Christine has trained eight horses to the FEI levels, including her own previous mount, Bravo, to the Grand Prix level. She has earned her USDF bronze, silver and gold medals and is on the USET developing rider list.
Tanya Vik and her Hanoverian gelding Divinity 3 (Vinnie) will also perform a freestyle. They recently competed at Gladstone in the Intermediaire I Championships at Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, a qualifier for last month’s 2007 Pan Am Games in Brazil. Tanya is also a USET developing rider.
Other riders include Fieldstone Farm dressage instructor Louise Labrucherie, who successfully competed in the Grand Prix arena on Picone. She considers it her greatest accomplishment to have brought Picone up to the Grand Prix level herself. During this season Louise earned the scores needed to add a USDF gold medal to her previously earned bronze and silver.
In addition, Michael Etherly of Starr Vaughn Equestrian Center will perform. Michael is a USDF silver and bronze medalist. While he has successfully competed in jumping and eventing, dressage is his first love.
Top dressage trainer Susan Halasz will ride a pas de deux with her former student Kristen Aggers, a trainer at Fairwind Farm. A pas de deux is a routine in which two horse and rider pairs perform dressage movements, usually mirroring each other. It is seen in dressage displays and musical freestyles, and in performances by the Spanish Riding School.
Event publicist Patti Schofler says, “This isn’t going to be all shadbellys. It’s the variety of costumes that makes it exciting and provides variations on the theme.”

The Show Goes On
The European Pony School from Santa Rosa Equestrian Center will perform a quadrille. Darren Taplin, another stellar Sonoma Country horseman and trainer with more than 20 years of experience, will perform an educational segment showing dressage through the levels.
A popular event in past shows, East Meets West returns with Art Grunig playing the part of a cowboy who “meets” Carol Hill, who represents the dressage aspect of riding. Show jumper Michaela O’Neill will demonstrate her exciting sport. And, the Petaluma Riding and Driving Club Junior Drill Team will open the show with a fabulous routine that is likely to feature an assortment of difficult maneuvers at breathtaking speed. These 15 to 17-year-olds in the past have performed a series of hard rollbacks that had the crowd gasping in awe.
Becky Duckles, one of DWC’s co-founders, recalls that in the early days the show shared the weekend with the Sporthorse Breeders Show. “I have a flier from 1983 and the ticket price was $10/$8.50 in advance. We were doing wine tasting even in those early days,” she quips.
She recalls watching a full moon rise over the horizon while the sun was setting behind the stadium, drinking fine California wine and watching elegant dressage riders. “At that point we were trying to get everything donated and we paid very little to riders and announcers,” Becky recalls. “Karen Hutton used to be the announcer – she was both a dressage rider and had TV experience. She had a great presence and could fill up those funny moments when there was a hiccup.” One year, just as the driving presentation started, the shaft broke on the cart and had to be duct-taped back together. Karen kept the audience engaged while repairs were made.
As the budgets got bigger the group tried to mix up the show to keep people interested, Becky relays. She’s excited about this year’s program. “What they’re doing this year is good, going back to the idea of good demonstrations of upper level dressage riders. Not everybody knows about dressage,” she explains. “It’s a lot of people who enjoy wine, want to see good riding. Different levels with different riders.”
Dressage in the Wine Country admission is $35 for reserved grandstand; $25 for general admission bleacher seating; and $575.00 for box seats. For tickets or more information, call 707-523-9100 or visit www.winecountrydressage.org.