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Fiona and Anne get ready for warm up.

Kathy Johnston, Anne Salter and Darrah Fay celebrate Fiona's win.

Fiona Places Third in Georgia Dressage Event

Fiona, owned by Darrah Fay and ridden by Anne Salter, was the first Gypsy Vanner horse to be shown at a dressage show (in Georgia, April 2004). Only 2.5 years old, Fiona is not yet old enough to qualify for recognized shows. She will be 3 in July and ready for the big time. Schooling shows offer a great opportunity to get the green horse ready for the "bigger" recognized ones.

Out of a class of 10 horses, Fiona pulled a third place with a 58.2 score. Not bad for the first time out! Fiona performed the USDF Into A  B at a schooling show sponsored by the Athens Area Sports Horse Association held at Diamond M Farms in Bishop, Georgia.

Trainer Kathy Johnson was pleased with the performance. Spectators and participants were charmed by the Gypsy Vanner. Many had heard of these horses but had never seen them in the flesh. As one spectator put it, "That is the cutest horse I have ever seen." We think so too. Fiona was bred by Jan Anderson of Bayhaven Farm in Minnesota and trained by Lise McNamara of Blarney Stone Acres, in New Jersey. She is a full-blooded Gypsy Vanner and registered with the GVH Society. Her dam is Tir na nóg and her sire is Smokey. Good luck, Fiona, in your upcoming show season!