Infinity Farm dressage group competes at D4K Youth Festival

    SAUGERTIES, N.Y. — Emily Taylor of St. Albans, Keri Giles of Garland, Jordan Belanger of Bingham, Sydney Marden of Parkman, Shyla Raymond of Dover-Foxcroft, Chelsea Oldfield of Dover-Foxcroft and Olivia Smith, all representing Infinity Farm in Dover-Foxcroft, competed in the Lendon Gray D4K (Dressage for Kids) Youth Festival in Saugerties N.Y. from Aug. 8-10 under the instruction of their trainer Gail McCormack. 

Photo courtesy of Sally Giles

DRESSAGE FOR KIDS — Seven riders from Infinity Farm in Dover-Foxcroft took part in the Lendon Gray D4K Youth Festival in Saugerties N.Y. from Aug. 8-10. Traveling to New York was, from left, Chelsea Oldfield, Jordan Belanger, Emily Taylor, Sydney Marden, Infinity Farm trainer Gail McCormack, Olivia Smith, Shyla Raymond and Keri Giles.

    Lendon Gray is a former Olympian who instituted D4K in 1999, and the festival offers individual and team competition for riders from ages 4-21. Division championships feature a three-phased competition: a written test, an individual dressage test and dressage seat equitation. Divisions levels are Introductory through Fourth, FEI Pony, Junior and Young Rider and Para Equestrian. Riders may also assemble teams and vie for the USDF Region 8 Youth Team Competition.
    The girls competed against other kids from as far away as Canada and Tennessee in their respective divisions. Riders received a score from each component and then the scores were combined for a final score.
    They returned to Maine with the following results: Giles, third place and the Bronze Medal with a 64.324 percent in Dressage, 96 percent in Dressage Seat Equitation and 86 percent on the written exam with a final score of 82.108 percent in First Level.
    Oldfield, fourth place with a 63.919 percent in Dressage, 90 percent in Dressage Seat Equitation and 85 percent on the written exam with a final score of 79.640 percent in First Level
    Taylor, fifth place with a 64.595 percent in Dressage, 87 percent in Dressage Seat Equitation and 86 percent on the written exam with a final score of 79.198 percent in First Level
    Smith, ninth place with a 61.800 percent in Dressage, 85 in Dressage Seat Equitation and 92 percent on the written exam with a final score of 79.600 percent in Training Level
    Raymond, ninth place with a 65.600 percent in Dressage, 84 in Dressage Seat Equitation and 83 percent on the written exam with a final score of 77.533 percent in Training Level
    Belanger,10th place with a 71 percent in Dressage, 83 percent in Dressage Seat Equitation and 88 percent on the written exam with a final score of 80.667 percent in Training Level
    Team “Incognito” — Taylor, Giles, Oldfield and Belanger — finished in sixth place in the team competition.
    The girls raised money to pay for the entire trip through several fundraisers, sponsorships from J. D. Logging, Katahdin Trail Saddlery, The Sticker Factory, Dr. Daniel Steinke, Pine Tree Storage and the Taylor Dairy Farm as well as donations of lessons from riding instructors, and a sponsorship from The Maine Dressage Society. The girls would like to thank all those who supported them in one way or another with their journey to New York and invite everyone to visit their Facebook page “Our Journey to New York” for pictures of their experience.