Following a strong start to the competition season in Florida, Karl decided it was time for VDL Ulando H to make the move up to the Advanced level and through the help of Canadian Team Coach, David O’Connor as well as FEI dressage rider Jackie Brooks they began the weekend with a beautiful dressage test that put them in good standing for the rest of the competition. “Ulando is just unreal. He tries so hard to please both during training sessions and at each competition. His dressage has definitely improved through the coaching I’ve received from Jackie and David. It has helped us put in a smoother test and knocked a few points off of our score. It’s always nice to move into the show jumping sitting in one of the top placings”, says Karl.

While VDL Ulando H’s dressage test turned heads this weekend with a 33.10 from the judges, he always seems to save his best for the show jumping laughs Karl, “This is where Ulando gets to play. This is a horse that literally jumps for fun. Giving every fence two feet of extra air is just something that he does. That being said, it’s taken me time to get used to a horse with so much jump! I think this round was one of our best. It flowed really well and Ulando didn’t touch a thing.”

Karl and VDL Ulando H went into Saturday’s cross country sitting in second place behind Olympian Karen O’Connor and her mount Veronica. “My goal for Ulando’s first Advanced cross country run was to set a steady pace and really focus on a confident, smooth and safe round. I feel as though that’s exactly what we did.  He skipped around the course and was always ready for my instructions heading into some challenging questions. He is so good at jumping out of stride that I didn’t need to push him at all to come close to the time which gave us the win.”

With a start like this to his advanced career Karl and owner Ruth Armstrong couldn’t be more thrilled for what’s in store in the months and years to come. ” While I’m thrilled with the win, my focus is always on building confidence, following a plan and using these horse trials as preparations for the larger FEI events to follow. I’m beyond thrilled with his performance this weekend and am so grateful to Ruth for giving me the ride on VDL Ulando H. I also want to thank all of my sponsors as well as Team Slezak for their support and enthusiasm along the way”.

Next up for this pair will be Poplar Place from March 23-25th as preparation for their first CIC*** at The Fork from April 5-8, 2012.

Photography by XpressFoto

Katlyn and Jacks Irish Z at Midsouth CCI*

We are extremely saddened by the loss of Jacks Irish Z.  Irish broke his leg on the landing side at the second last fence on the Intermediate course at Florida Horse Park late Saturday February 11^th and was humanely euthanized on site.

Jacks Irish Z was owned and ridden by Katlyn Hewson who has worked to develop him since he was first imported to Canada in 2008.  His incredible talent and loving personality were cherished by Katlyn who brought him up very successfully through the ranks of the sport. Together this pair shared many victories and were well loved both on the winter circuit in Ocala, Florida and on the Ontario Eventing circuit in Canada.

Irish had the heart, talent and athleticism to compete among the best. He will be greatly missed by Katlyn, her family and the entire Slezak Eventing Team.

Offered for Sale: Heartbreaker is a 9 year old, 16.1hh, Canadian Sport Horse gelding. Flashy with lots of chrome and a big white blaze!

• He was 7th out of 58 horse-rider combinations at his first FEI event at the Kentucky Midsouth CCI*
• He won the preliminary horse division at Richland Park Horse Trials in 2011
• He has placed very well in Canada this year at his first season competing at the Preliminary level

Known around the barn as “Jerry”  he is a pleasure to be around with a kind personality, solid work ethic and lovely ground-manners. Jerry is currently located in Ocala, FL where he will be competing this winter. He would be a perfect young rider or adult amateur horse!

Please contact Katlyn Hewson at (352) 484-7331 or withoutatrace_1@hotmail.com for more information.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman

VDL Ulando H (Corland x Fanieta) is Dutch bred Canadian Warmblood Stallion owned by Ruth Armstrong of Orangeville Ontario who is currently competing with Karl Slezak very successfully at the CCI** level. In his most recent event he finished 10th out of 64 starters at the Fair Hill International CCI**/*** and is now long-listed for the 2012 Olympic Canadian Eventing Team. VDL Ulando H is a true athlete. He adores the spotlight and yet has impeccable ground manners as well as composure making him the ideal breeding stallion.

VDL Ulando H is a 16.1h bright chestnut stallion. His breeding represents the very best of Holstein and Dutch Warmblood breeding. He has no less than eight International Grand Prix jumpers in the first three generations of his pedigree and in 2004 he was the Ontario Stallion Licensing Champion and Vice-Champion of the Stallion Performance Test, achieving the highest jumping index and 2nd highest dressage index. In addition to these results, VDL Ulando H placed 3rd in the very prestigious Lt. Governor’s Cup at the 2004 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and has also been named the Hanoverian Free Jumping Grand Champion.

VDL Ulando began his career in the show jump ring where he did the 2005 and 2006 Jumper Development Series and the HITS Ocala circuit. In 2008 he began his Eventing career with owner Ruth Armstrong who competed him through training level very successfully in both Ontario and Florida. Having schooled him through intermediate cross-country questions and show-jumped him up to 1.45m, Ruth realized he had the power, scope and most importantly heart to compete at the top of the sport. Ruth handed the ride over to friend Karl Slezak and together Karl and Ulando have the grit and determination to dominate. “Their Boys Just Want To Have Fun attitude and the huge smiles seen throughout the crowd and on Karl’s face as they compete together epitomize the dynamic nature of their partnership and of course after many shows Ulando’s number one fan, twelve year old Tiffany Armstrong can be seen cooling him out and swapping many kisses with this truly lovable stallion”, says Ruth Armstrong

VDL Ulando H’s current success with Canadian event rider Karl Slezak has proven that he has it all. Scope to burn, gaits to die for, and a fast light gallop that has him aimed that the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, UK.

VDL Ulando H offspring have proven to inherit his tractability and his genuine desire to please. VDL Ulando H foals are proving exceptional, with lofty movement, athleticism, and correctness of gaits. They have won the Canadian Hanoverian free jumping, the Top Canadian Warmblood Young event horse and many other accolades. We look forward to see what they can do as they mature and move into the spotlight alongside VDL Ulando H

Photo by Ruth Armstrong

Please contact Ruth Armstrong for more information on breeding to this phenomenal stallion. His stud fee for 2012 is $2000 with a 3 year LFG

Contact Information

Ruth Armstrong

Phone: (519) 942-6085

Fax: (519) 942-8444

www.armstrongfarm.com

Facebook Armstrong Farm

E-mail: Armstrong.farm@sympatico.ca

While this pair has had much success throughout the season at the Intermediate level with strong finishes at both Richland Park Horse Trials and the CIC** at Plantation Field this fall, Fair Hill is a substantially tougher course with more questions and gruelling terrain making it the biggest test yet for this fairly new partnership.

Karl and VDL Ulando turned heads right from the start with a stellar dressage test that put them in 2nd after the first day of dressage on a score of 48.90. “Ulando was the best he has ever been in the dressage ring. We’ve been working with Jacquie Brooks on the flat and I’m very excited about the progress we’ve made and will continue to make in the future”, says Karl. This combination followed up their dressage with a clear-cross country round and had just a few time penalties following several days of rain and some sticky sections out on course. Again, Karl was quick to give Ulando the credit, “He was amazing. This horse is so smart and so willing to please. He hasn’t had as much experience as many of his competitors today but he was confident as any two star horse I’ve ever ridden. I’m so proud of him”

VDL Ulando H tried his heart out on the cross-country course Saturday. “On Sunday Ulando was a bit tired from his first CCI** effort but, in typical Ulando style he bounced back for his favourite phase of the event and put in his usual spectacular show jump round. I couldn’t be more thankful to Ruth Armstrong for the ride on this spectacular horse and to Ulando for showing so much talent and heart at his first major international event.” For the remainder of the fall, Ulando will have some time to relax after a very busy season and will return to competition this winter in Ocala, Florida.

Karl, VDL Ulando H and owner Ruth Armstrong after a rock solid dressage in the CCI** at Fair Hill

Rider’s Regalia is located in Newtonville, Ontario and is a supplier of KEP riding helmets, BR, Horsenut, USG, Ken-Taur and Fits Breeches amongst other things.

“Here you can find all of the products that you and your equine friends will ever need. All the products offered are of the higest quality, in a variety of price ranges to suit every budget. We offer a wide variety of products, from saddles and bridles, to clothes for both horse and rider, and well as those everyday stable items that you may need!” -Rider’s Regalia

Karl and VDL Ulando H receiving their 6th place ribbon at Plantation Field

Karl and Ruth Armstrong’s VDL Ulando H completed their first CIC** together this weekend at Plantation Field International Horse Trials with a very strong 6th place finish in a competitive field of 28 horse and rider combinations.

They were 10th after dressage on a score of 61.40. “Scores were high all around on dressage day but I was thrilled with his placing especially in such a talented field. There’s room for improvement, especially with 3 major bobbles in 3 different movements during the test but now that we’re getting to know each other we’ll work on improving those finer details”, says Karl.

It was cross-country day that proved to be the most exciting for this pair. VDL Ulando H jumped around a very challenging course filled with complex CIC** questions full of confidence and felt incredible as he crossed the finish line. He proved himself at this event as a a true cross-country competitor ready to take on the upper levels.  His performance on Sunday was just as impressive as he jumped around double clear to move into 6th place.

Karl has high hopes for this new mount and has him aimed for Fair Hill CCI** this fall. ”  VDL Ulando H is an incredible horse who shows unbelievable potential to compete among the best. I am very grateful to Ruth Armstrong for the ride on Ulando who is quickly becoming recognized by fellow professionals as a future eventing star”

Karl and VDL Ulando H show jumping their way to a 6th place finish in the Plantation Field CIC**

Finishing in 7th place after dressage in the Open Training division this pair climbed the ranks with a flawless cross-country performance to move into 3rd. Show Jumping day proved to be an even greater success for Janelle and Braveheart who jumped around clear and within the time to move into the winning position. Congratulations also go to Janelle and Braveheart for winning the Eventing Canada Cross-Country Safety and Style award this year.

Just 0.5 points behind Janelle and Braveheart were Karl and Yoshi who finished in 2nd place as reserve champions at this event in the Open Training! Congrats also go to Emily and Phatima who finished in 8th place on their dressage score this weekend in the Sr. Pre-Training division.

Notably- all three horse and rider combinations had clear cross-country and show jump rounds at this event.

Thank you to our sponsors, supporters and owners who come out to cheer us on at each and every event!!

NEXT STOP: Plantation Field Horse Trials.

Janelle Caldwell, Braveheart and owner Pat Fitzerald at Wits End after an exciting win in the Open Training division at the OHTA Championships

Karl and VDL Ulando completed their 2nd intermediate horse trials together finishing in 7th place amongst a very competitive field. Janelle Caldwell and Braveheart finished 7th in the Open Training, Sean Mitchell finished 5th in the Training Horse division with Alana Lee and Emily Gilbert and Phatima finished 5th in the Novice division.

Special congrats to Katlyn Hewson who had an incredible weekend on her two horses in the Preliminary division. Katlyn and Heartbreaker won the Preliminary Horse-A division and Katlyn also finished 2nd on her Irish Sport Horse, Jacks Irish Z in the Preliminary Horse-B division.

Thank you to all of the owners, supporters and family members who came out to support and cheer us along!!!

Phenomenal weekend for Katlyn Hewson and Jacks Irish Z and Heartbreaker at Richland Park 2011

Quick note to touch base and say “Hi” from here in Ocala. Zeus and I returned to the Advanced level of competition this weekend with a very successful run at Pine Top Equestrian Centre in Georgia. Zeus (Kachemak Bay) performed brilliantly in the dressage and while our score was lower than I had hoped, his consistency and suppleness has improved tremendously in the last year. Check out the picture of us below.

Zeus and I return to the Advanced level at Pine Top

Karl and Diamond Jim make their debut together at Woodwinds in October

Karl Slezak Eventing is proud to introduce its newest Team Member: Diamond Jim. “Jimmy” as he is known around the barn is a 2005 Hanoverian gelding who began his training with dressage rider Rebecca Schoenhardt. He has shown great promise both on the flat and over fences and will no doubt be an exceptional new prospect for Karl in the years to come!

This edition of the newsletter includes…

1) Highlights from the Ontario competition season.

2) A column on cross-country schooling featuring ditch issues

3) A Blog entry from Working Student, Janelle Caldwell and much much more.

Check out the newsletter: Karl Slezak Eventing: Fall 2010 Newsletter

Be sure to check back often for updates and news this winter from Ocala, Florida.

While this summer has been different than most, it has been an exciting and very successful one for Team Slezak. While minor injuries have kept my upper level horses out of competition I have had some extra time to support my many talented students as well as participate in a fantastic fundraiser event, “EQUI-CHALLENGE” which benefits the OVC Equine Sports Medicine & Reproduction Centre.

Stay posted for the Fall 2010 Karl Slezak Eventing newsletter which is set for release next week. Articles include

• Summer Highlights including top finishes for several Team Slezak students at Richland Park Horse Trials
• A summer synopsis from working student Janelle Caldwell
• Pictures and anecdotes from my short-lived career as a Barrel Racer
• New horses for Sale
• 2010-2011 Show Schedule…and much much more.

Until next time,

Karl

Photo by Karl Slezak Eventing

Updates Include…

- Florida Wrap-Up

- Summer 2010 Competition Schedule

- Information on KSE apparel

- Updates from my working student Janelle Caldwell

and much, much more!

• Official Website Release
• May 2010 Karl Slezak Eventing Newsletter
• Show Results from Virginia Horse Trials, Bromont CCI***  and Several other Ontario Horse Trials
• Young Event Horse Trial Results
• Availability of Team Slezak Apparel
• Details on a Fundraiser Event for Karl and his Upper Level Horses.

For Now,

Here is a picture my new horse “Mick”, who will be competing in Ontario this summer.

Photo by Karl Slezak Eventing

Until Then,

Karl

Winter 2010 Newsletter

Karl and Charley at Poplar Place. Photo by Lisa Threlkeld

This weekend was Charley’s first Advanced run of the season and we are off to a great start. Charley was quite exuberant in the dressage ring and although we put in a solid test we ended up in 14th place within a very competitive field. As always, anything can happen come cross country day. Charley and I were on our game today with a clear run and the second fastest posted time of the day. We ended up in 3rd place after cross country and with just one rail in a very technical show jumping course we finished the event in second place only 0.8 behind the first place team of Colin Davidson and Draco. I’m looking forward to our next event which will be in two weeks at The Fork CIC***.

I also placed second in the Intermediate division on “As Time Goes By” and Janelle Caldwell who is my 2010 Working Student placed 7th in the Young Riders Preliminary Division.  Overall, the weekend was a huge success.