The California Dressage Society will be well represented Aug. 24-26 when the horses and riders from the Golden State invade the 2012 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships in Wayne, Ill.

Since the national young horse program’s inception more than a decade ago, California horses have successfully represented the West Coast on the national and international stage, and this year is no exception with eight horses ranking in the top 15 of their age divisions to earn championship invitations, as well as three designated alternates. One program in particular can boast of a proven track record for identifying and rewarding talented youngsters, helping build the foundation for future success: the CDS’s Young Horse Futurity.

Alice Womble’s brown Hanoverian stallion Sanceo (San Remo x Rivera by Ramiro’s Son II) is a resounding example of the talent showcased by the CDS Young Horse Futurity. Bred in Germany by Gerhard Dustmann and trained through the levels by Sabine Schut-Kery of Thousand Oaks, Sanceo recently represented the U.S. at the FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships in Verden, Germany, competing with the best young horse talent the world has to offer. Earning both the 4-year-old and 5-year-old CDS Futurity crowns in 2010 and 2011, Sanceo and Schut-Kery are now the top-ranked combination in the country for the 6-year-old division Markel/USEF National Young Horse Ranking List. Also qualifying as a six-year-old is Bakara, ridden by Gundi Younger of Walnut Creek for owner Peter Younger.

The top two 5-year-old finishers in May’s Markel/USEF Young Horse Western Selection Trial at Flintridge have also punched their tickets for Illinois. The lovely U.S.-bred Dutch Warmblood mare Caliente DG (OO Seven x Satina by Contango, bred by DG Bar Breeders Inc., owned by Brenda Linman) was ridden by Craig Stanley of Madera to win both the 2011 CDS 4-Year-Old Futurity and Cal-Bred Championship. This pair finished sixth at last year’s National Championships before returning this spring to claim the Selection Trial Reserve Championship as a 5-year-old. Finishing third in the nation at Lamplight in 2011, Oldenburg gelding Regalo (Rosario x Dandielle by Nandino, bred in Germany by Ulrich Henschke) returned to California with rider Lientje Schueller of San Diego to finish right behind Caliente DG at last year’s Futurity, before turning the tables at Flintridge this year to earn the overall 5-year-old Selection Trial title for owner Pinky Roberts. These two up-and-coming stars may be joined at this year’s National Championship by Hanoverian gelding Daumling (De Niro x Lady by Likoto), ridden by Sara Sasso for Pamela Nelson of Hollister, as well as Heidi Gaian’s Fynnemann (German-bred Rhinelander gelding Fidertanz x Royal Tough by Royal Angelo), ridden by Jaclyn Meinen.

In the 4-year-old division, two California horses are ranked among the top four qualifiers in the nation. Sabine Schut-Kery has earned a second national championship invitation with the dynamic Westfalen stallion Rohan (Rock Forever x Florin by Fidermark, bred in Germany by Stefan Kupitz) owned by Alice Womble. Also qualifying for a chance to earn championship honors is veteran young horse rider and trainer Willy Arts of Hanford, riding Debra Pulver’s Dutch Warmblood mare Dalina DG (Jazz x Satina by Contango, bred in the United States by DG Bar Ranch Breeders, Inc.) which is a half-sister to 2011 Futurity Champion Caliente DG.

This year, the CDS Young Horse Futurity will once again be offered in 4-, 5-, and 6–year-old divisions during the 45th Anniversary CDS Championship Show Presented By HorseShow.com at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, CA, Oct. 4-7, held in conjunction with the Great American/USDF Region 7 Championships and Breeders Championships West Coast Series Final.

More online: See website: http:\\bit.ly\28B_Dres