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Rebecca Knollman and Solaris Hit Score Big in Markel/USEF Young Horse Selection Trials at Lamplight
Written by Lynndee Kemmet for DressageDaily.com
Sunday, 20 May 2007
Wayne, Illinois – Solaris Hit, ridden and owned by Rebecca Knollman, of Maineville, Ohio, was the winning horse in the Five-Year-Old Markel/USEF Young Horse Central States Selection Trials at Lamplight Dressage. The pair finished the two days of competition with a total score of 78.08.
“I am just so happy. It was a real dream to come here and do well,” Knollman said of her win. “I’m just so lucky to have this horse. This is the best horse I’ve ever had. I’m also very thankful to Markel for supporting this program and that I had Scott Hassler here helping me and had the support of family and friends.” Hassler was on hand to help all the riders and horses competing in the young horse program.
Knollman, who owns and operates Knollwood Dressage in Waynesville, Ohio, found Solaris Hit at the Verden Elite Auction in Europe and called home to her husband to warn him of her plan to buy. He approved and the she brought the then four-year-old home from Europe. “She has a super temperament and is very rideable,” Knollman said of the mare. The pair showed last year in the four-year-old classes but Knollman feels 2007 will be an even better showing season. “I’ve worked very hard since last year to improve and strengthen her. And I feel that this year she’s much stronger and will be more ready as a five-year-old.”
Because she has a two-year-old daughter who keeps her “very busy,” Knollman doesn’t travel to Florida for the winter like many other northern riders and trainers. Hence, she brings clinicians in to her barn to help with her riding and training. She spends her time teaching and training and is particularly focused on the development of young horses. “I really like the Markel/USEF Young Horse program. I think it’s a great program and my focus is to bring more young horses up through it. Some to sell and some to keep that will hopefully be FEI horses one day.”
Judges Really Enjoyed Solaris Hit
The three judges for the competition – Jane Ayers, Janet Foy and Mariel Barnett had many good things to say about Solaris Hit, a Hannoverian mare by Sandro Hit out of Great Rubina. In the Markel/USEFYoung Horse competition, the panel of judges gives comments on the ride immediately afterward, which provides riders with immediate feedback.
The judges called Solaris Hit, bred by H. Gisselmann, a “light, elegant, elastic type of horse that has a lot of natural talent.” They liked her trot for its natural cadence and expression, but noted that the mare needed “a bit more self-carriage.” Those moments when Solaris Hit was in self-carriage the judges called “absolutely wonderful.” Hence, they encouraged Knollman to allow the mare to carry herself and to avoid helping her.
The canter was praised for “being a lovely, uphill gait with a lot of natural balance and scope.” The judges praised the medium canter for being very straight and being “nicely uphill for a five-year-old.” They also felt the mare showed the ability to collect well in her downward transitions and in the simple changes.
It was in the walk that judges noticed the most tension in Solaris Hit, telling Knollman that in their view the mare appears rather tense in the walk when on the bit and needed more activity and reach from behind. There was a difference, however, when the reins were lengthened and the judges commented that “once the reins lengthened, she was quite good in her rhythm. And she had much more ground cover.”
Overall, Knollman was told that Solaris Hit “has a wonderful work ethic and a very correct start with her training.”
Second in the Five-Year-Old Markel/USEF Young Horse competition was Roccoca WF, a Hannoverian mare by Rienzi out of Turtletaubchen. The mare was ridden by Verena Stock and is owned and bred by Vanessa Carlson of Claremore, Oklahoma. The pair’s final score was 73.20 percent. In third was Anna Burtell with her Dutch gelding Valentino, by Kennedy out of Funera, with a score of 71.60 percent.
*http://www.dressagedaily.com/article/rebecca-knollman-and-solaris-hit-score-big-markelusef-young-horse-selection-trials-lamplight
News
January 2012
We are so excited for our upcoming year! We have some talented Riders and Horses that will be hitting the shows. Look for Rocky Lane that will be competing in the FEI 6yr olds and Whitny proudly owned by Betsy Kang riding in the 4 yr olds. Both are hoping to earn a spot at the National Young Horse Championships. Shannon Schwartz on Vader, Jayne Franklin on Fiala, and Amailia Vanmatre on Solero will be competing at Second Level. Elysha Bacca and Solaris Hit will be back out after recovering from injury. Annie Campbell and Solar Eclipse at PSG. We will be attending Majestic Farm, KDA, Lamplight. Coaching always available at home or away.
Melissa Miller and her clients have been a fun addition to Windswept. Best of luck to Melissa while in Florida. We will miss you being gone. She will return in April fit and ready to compete at Rolex!
Rhinestone (by Rosenthal) owned by Mary Jo Kubicki will be started under saddle in March. Bred by Knollman Dressage. We are excited for this duo.
Fritz Fleischmann will be here April 7-8. Always so much fun when he comes.
2010 News
2009 News
Annie Campbell & Solar Eclipse Reserve Champion 4th Level
