Back by popular demand, the National Dressage Pony Cup (NDPC) is proud to announce that its upcoming Championship Show being held July 7-9, 2017 in Lexington, Ky. will once again be available to thousands of dressage fans around the world via free live video streaming on the USEF Network and will feature expert commentary by renowned FEI 5* (ret) judge Axel Steiner.
“We had such an overwhelming positive response to our broadcast last year and viewers had so much fun interacting with Axel that we just had to do it again!” said NDPC founder Jenny Carol. “Not only is it an incredible opportunity for additional exposure for our competitors, owners, and sponsors, but also it allows all those friends and family members back home to watch the action and cheer on their favorite riders and ponies. Thank you to the USEF Network and Axel for once again being a part of this event so that viewers will be able to see the enthusiasm that makes dressage such a wonderful sport, the many talents of ponies and small horses, and why they are the perfect fit for so many competitors.”
Beginning this Friday, July 7th at 8am ET, the USEF Network will feature all-day coverage of National Dressage Pony Cup Championship Show classes highlighting all levels from Intro to FEI as well as evening awards ceremonies. Steiner will not only share his expertise with the online audience during live classes, but will also interview competitors who have come to Kentucky from across the country and host a new “Ask Axel” feature whereby viewers can interact with Steiner by emailing questions for discussion during the broadcast.
“The feedback from last year’s initial streaming video of the Pony Cup was very positive from all around the country, so I am happy to have been asked to do it again this year,” said Steiner. “I am so happy that Pony Cup has finally gained the recognition it deserves, and my hat is off to Jenny Carol for her tireless efforts to make it all happen so that more people will learn that there is such an important place for ponies and small horses in our sport.
“I hope to share a general education about what a judge looks for in each test and at each level of competition as well as the many different breeds of ponies we’ll see,” Steiner continued. “But I also hope that viewers will learn that I am very serious about getting more children to start their riding experience on ponies, to eventually populate our national or FEI pony classes, and using that experience to move on to junior, young rider, under-25, and then to Grand Prix level to fill our ranks in the top level of sport. In addition, I am hoping to encourage adults, both amateurs and professionals, to compete in dressage on smaller horses and ponies which have a plethora of talent yet for a multitude of factors may be much more suitable for those riders to enjoy than larger equine counterparts.”
Remember to tune in to the USEF Network to watch the National Dressage Pony Cup LIVE beginning this Friday, July 7th on www.usefnetwork.com. To find out more information about the National Dressage Pony Cup programs, visit the NDPC website at www.dressageponycup.com and visit their Facebook page.
