There’s more talent in the dressage court than you might expect, both behind the scenes as well as in the arena. This month we bring you fact and fiction, from inside the judge’s box as well as within the arena.
Dressage facts come alive in the 2-DVD set The Winning Edge: 2007 Tests, Volumes 1 & 2, from “S” dressage judge and L Program faculty member Betsy Berrey and Christopher Hickey, Hilltop Farm’s director of training and Pan Am Games team member.
Fiction has its place on the bookshelf, too, and our dressage issue wouldn’t be complete without a review of best-selling author (and champion amateur dressage rider) Tami Hoag’s latest novel, The Alibi Man, reviewed by our own Mimie Nordenstrom, general manager of Riding’s Publications.

The Winning Edge
First, the facts! While scribing at a recent California dressage show for “S” judge Betsy Berrey, I discovered that she had just produced a 2-DVD set called The Winning Edge, which demonstrates the new 2007 national dressage tests. National dressage tests include Training through Fourth Level, while “FEI” tests include Prix St. Georges, Intermediaire I and II and Grand Prix.

“In creating Dressage Dimensions and The Winning Edge series of DVDs my goal is to educate riders, trainers and judges about our sport and the wonderful partnership that can exist between horse and rider,” said Betsy. “With greater understanding of how the basics and correct training play a critical role in competing successfully, everyone benefits and performance will improve. Insight into the methodology of judging, and the realization that our job is to evaluate the horse’s training at a particular moment in time, will help riders make better use of our scores and comments in the future.”
The Winning Edge was beautifully produced by Betsy’s team, which included her sons, Adam, a software marketing executive, and Kevin, an aspiring independent film maker at Xenophon Farm in Montague, MA. Betsy explained, “When I thought about who could do the riding for The Winning Edge, Chris came to mind at once, and when I asked him he was immediately interested and enthusiastic.”
Christopher Hickey recently won the 2007 USEF Intermediaire I National Championship on Brenna Kucinski’s 1999 Dutch gelding, Regent, and earned the highest overall score at the Pan-American Games Selection Trials. As I write this Chris and Regent are on their way to Brazil to represent the U.S.

Christopher Hickey, Director of Training at Hilltop Farm in Colora, MD, demonstrated Fourth Level tests on The Winning Edge DVD riding Brenna Kucinski’s Regent. As we go to press, Chris and Regent are representing the U.S. at the Pan Am Games in Brazil. Photo: Richard Malmgren

Viewers will see Regent as the Fourth Level “demo” horse on The Winning Edge. Chris demonstrates Training Level on the black Hanoverian stallion Donarweiss GGF, First Level on the Friesian stallion Simon, Second Level on the Warmblood gelding Solo, and Third Level on Melvin, also a Warmblood gelding.
Why detail all the demo horses? I think it’s important to show that different types of horses – whether they differ by breed, age or conformation – can all make very competitive dressage horses. Chris aptly demonstrates that good training and presentation is universal.
At each level from Training through Fourth Level, Betsy introduces the level by reviewing the directives which establish what the judge is looking for in terms of the horse’s training and presentation … a valuable guideline often overlooked by riders.
Next, Chris explains from a training perspective what the horse should know and how the rider can best ride the horse for highest marks. He demonstrates some of the movements as he warms up for the test, explaining as he rides, commenting on what the horse does well and what needs improvement.
Then Chris rides each test just as if he is in a show, from “enter at A” to “halt, salute.” Throughout each test, Betsy gives the judge’s score and the comments for each movement as if she were judging the test at a show.
Watching the tests, well-ridden by a top professional on great horses, and listening to a highly respected judge’s scores and comments in “real time” is a great education! Not only do viewers have the opportunity to learn the tests by good example, we benefit from tips that Chris generously shares. He breaks down the use of arena geometry for some movements, and details when and where to use half halts for better transitions between movements, among many examples.
Betsy explained her objective, “Dressage is always a team effort and I wanted to show how riders, trainers and judges can work together for the benefit of our horses, those amazing animals that enrich our lives and ignite our passions day after day.”
Objective accomplished! The Winning Edge belongs in the library of any dedicated student of dressage. It’s available from Betsy’s web site, www.dressagedimensions.com, as well as in tack shops and equestrian catalogs.

The Alibi Man
I will start this review with a caveat: I am not a writer and I was coerced into writing this review by our editor Kim Miller and her cohort, “assistant” editor Rebecca Sparenberg. 

I was minding my own business (some who know me would say “yeah, right”) at the American Horse Publications conference in Albuquerque, NM. They have a silent auction every year to fund the Student Award Program and one of the items up for bid was a signed copy of Tami Hoag’s new book, The Alibi Man, with a reading light and leather book cover. I was in a quandary: Do I bid on the book and take it out of my “casino fun money” or do I keep my fun money for its intended purpose? 
Well, I’m not proud to say, I bought a couple of raffle tickets instead and had plenty of money left for the casino. Which, by the way, was a fun and successful venture … but back to the review. After Kim bid on the book and won, I opened my big mouth and told her how I loved Tami Hoag’s books, and that’s what landed me in this position. Will I never learn to be quiet!
I am an avid reader and have read many of Tami Hoag’s books. I’m the kind of reader who will remember an author but not the book title. I’ve belonged to book clubs, have library cards and take all my paperbacks to used book stores for more books. You know, someone who doesn’t have a life! 
I didn’t realize until I read Tami Hoag’s Dark Horse book that she was also an equestrian. Dark Horse, by the way, was a great read. 
The Alibi Man is fast paced and an easy read. It is a great murder mystery with plenty of characters and twists to keep you guessing until the very end. The variety of possible suspects runs from the Russian Mafia, horse grooms, several rich upper class men and a polo player. She touches lightly on the horse industry (dressage and polo) and the main character Elena Estes’ equine relationships. (There was much more of the equestrian interaction in Dark Horse and I was a little disappointed in the lack of equestrian interaction in this story … spoken like a true horse person!)
The story takes place in Wellington and Palm Beach, FL. I have never been to Florida, but Tami Hoag paints a picture with words to make you feel like you’ve been there. I could have done without reading the alligator swamp part: Let’s just say it was a part where the alligator had a human buffet. The story also brings back some characters from Dark Horse: Detective James Laundry, Estes’ on-again, off-again boyfriend and her friend and boss, Sean.
This book was the kind that once you start reading it, you lose track of time and place. I highly recommend you give it a read. The Alibi Man is widely available in book stores and online.
(Editor’s note: Tami Hoag lives in Los Angeles most of the year and competes successfully at FEI level dressage. Sadly, her star mount Coco Chanel had to be euthanized in June when the Grand Prix star was unable to recover from a freak accident. California Riding Magazine, July 2007)

Riding Wishes
Wishing you the best of summer, wherever you find yourself this August … showing in a dressage court, reading a book on the beach or simply treasuring the time spent with our best friends, our horses.

When not writing this column, Nan is an advertising consultant for Riding’s Publications and studies dressage with her Lipizzan gelding, Andy, aka Maestoso II Athena II-I. Your ideas for reviews are welcome – email nanmeek@sbcglobal.net and type “Views & Reviews” in the subject line!