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A Big Win for Karl and VDL Ulando H at Rocking Horse Winter II
It was an incredible weekend for Karl and VDL Ulando H at Rocking Horse Stables in Altoona, FL with a win at their very first advanced horse trial together. VDL Ulando H is owned by Ruth Armstrong and his partnership with Karl began in the spring of 2011 and since then they have been steadily progressing through the ranks. This was an even more meaningful weekend for the Slezak team following the devastating loss of Katlyn Hewson’s Jacks Irish Z one week ago at the Florida Horse Park. “We’re a close knit team and this weekend’s turnaround with Ulando is helping us push through some very tough times. I have no doubts that Irish was keeping an eye on us this weekend at Rocking Horse.”
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
Jacks Irish Z (2003-2012)
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 11th 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.
Talented CCI* Horse For Sale
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.
VDL Ulando H: Breed to a rising star of the Canadian Eventing Team
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 (http://www NULL.armstrongfarm NULL.com/)
Facebook Armstrong Farm
E-mail: Armstrong.farm@sympatico.ca
Karl and VDL Ulando H turn heads at Fair Hill CCI**
Not even a few days of rainy weather early in the competition could stop this pair from putting in a personal best and top 10 finish in the CCI** at Fair Hill International in Elkton, MD. Karl and VDL Ulando H who is owned by Ruth Armstrong began their partnership in spring 2011 and clicked right from the start. Ulando’s willingness to step up to each and every challenge that comes his way makes him an incredible event horse and honest partner in each phase of the competition.
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
