March/April 2024 Issue

Page 10 March/April 2024 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Australianeventing rider, DominicSchramm, has international ridingexperience that setshimapart frommanyof hispeers. Adedicatedanddeterminedathlete, Schramm has demonstrated he is prepared to do what it takes to improve his skills and fulfill his desire to reach the top of his sport. Hailing from the small outback townofCharleville,Australia,Domdevelopedanaffinitywithhorsesfromaveryearlyage.This‘country’influenceisevidentinhistrainingapproachandhorsemanship today. Building on this background, Dom’s passion for eventing has taken him all over Australia as well as to equestrian hubs around the globe, including the United States, England and Germany. He has been recognized by national selectors andwas amember of the 2006 Australian Young Rider Eventing Squad as well as having experience at the three-star level. Domdeveloped as a rider under the guidance of WEG competitor Christopher Burton for whomhe worked as a working student for 2 years. A brave and hungry competitor, Schrammalso possesses the patience, experience and knowledge to very competently start horses from the ground up. Seeking a more internationally competitive atmosphere, Dom made the decision to relocate to the US in late 2010. Since then, he has been making an impression in US eventing circles for his riding ability as well as his enthusiastic and fresh teaching style. Aboard his ride, experienced eventer Cold Harbor, Dom successfully campaigned him through 2013 and achieved a noteworthy result at the Fair Hill CCI** in the fall. 2014 saw Dom return to the 3-star level and his main priority was to navigate Cold Harbor to Rolex 2015 and strengthen his string of competition horses. Currently, Dom is a 5* International Event Rider, Young Horse producer and a highly sought after clinician. His competition resume includes complet- ing the Land Rover Kentucky 3 Day Event and the prestigious Burghley Horse Trials as well as multiple top placings at Bromont, Fair Hill and Jersey Fresh. Year after year, Schramm sources and produces some of the most successful young horses to compete through the YEH program and up the levels. He is invested in his students and enjoys helping riders of all levels improve their skills to better train their horses in a fresh and positive way. Dom and his wife Jimmie are favorites of many eventing enthusiasts—and for good reason. They are passionate about the sport and their horses, and their tenacious, hardworking mindsets are inspirational. Both are well-known for their positive teaching styles and Dom is a popular clinician, traveling all around the country sharing his knowledge with fellow eventers. They’ve developed a bit of a fan club over the past few years, beginning perhaps with their popular YouTube channel Evention TV, which covers an array of horsemanship topics, among other things— we definitely recommend checking it out because it’s informative…and hilarious. Show Jumping Mastery; Key Skills for Success (Fri., 11 am, Equine Arena) Eventing Mindset; Explore the Mental Aspects of Eventing (Fri. 1 pm, Seminar Hall A) Cross-Country Course Design; Breakdown of the Elements (Sat., 10 am, Seminar Hall A) Grid Work for Jumping; Teach Stride & Technique (Sat., noon, Equine Arena) Tom Seay is the Host and Executive Producer of Best of America by Horseback, which has aired on RFD-TV since 2005. Tom was the first commercial outfitter to traverse the country in “The American Transcontinental Trail Ride” in 1995 and considers this ride one of his largest accomplishments. More recently, he led “The Mexico to Canada Trail Ride’ that crossed the continent every stop of the way from Mexico to Canada. Tom has had horses since he was five years old. He has traveled America, taking people on overnight horse-back vacations for nineteen years as a professional outfitter. Pursuing a longtime dream, and after a year of logistical planning, Tom successfully led a group of horseback riders and wagons from Savannah, GA on the Atlantic Ocean to San Diego, CA on the Pacific Ocean. Every step of the ride was on horseback, totaling over 3,000 miles. The trip took four and a half months. Tom was hosted by 83 towns with 256 riders participating in parts of the trip – including Mayors, Chiefs of Police and the Texas Rangers. Former President Jimmy Carter taught the group Sunday School as the trail ride passed through Plains, GA. “The American Transcon- tinental Trail Ride” was featured on CNN and in a French TV Documentary. “The America West.” Subsequently, Tom led a group of riders to traverse the United States from the Mexican to the Canadian border. “The Mexico to Canada Ride” host- ed hundreds of riders from eight countries in addition to a representation from 42 of the U.S. States. They were welcomed in towns along the ride and participated in eight parades, numerous rodeo opening ceremonies and were celebrated guests of many cities and towns along the route. Tom has a collection of “Keys to the City” from numerous towns that hosted them. Prior to creating Best of America by Horseback, Tom had owned three cable TV stations during the infancy of the cable industry, and had hosted, directed and produced television programs for twelve years, specializing in outdoor programs. Combining his love for traveling with horses, and his experience in television, “The AmericanTranscontinental Trail Ride”became the inspiration for his current television serieswithRFD-TV. Best of AmericabyHorsebackpromotes rural living, horses, history and the cowboyway of life.What Tomenjoysmost ismeeting people and speaking to groups across the country. Tomgrewup on a dairy farm in rural Virginia and continues to be an avid farmer, doingmost of the work himself. When he does get time off, he enjoys fishing, collecting books as well as being an accomplished campfire cook andoutdoorsman. Tom is alsoa graduateof theUniversityof Richmondwithadegree inEnglish. Healso continued studies at theUniversityof Virginia. Tips for Traveling with Horses; Be Ready for Anything (Thurs., 3 pm, Seminar Hall A) Plan a Once-In-A-Lifetime Horseback Vacation (Fri., 6 pm, Seminar Hall A) Riding Mexico to Canada on Horseback (Sat., 5 pm, Seminar Hall A) Take Your Horse on a Cattle Drive (Sun., noon, Seminar Hall A) Welcome to the hottest event at Horse World Expo, the Trail Champions Challenge. In the Challenge, riders and their horses compete for cash and prizes by negotiating an exciting course of obstacles while being timed and scored by a panel of judges. The event will be a challenging course open to any riders and trainers. The professionally designed course will challenge the communication and trust riders have with their horse. Watch as Horse World Expo crowns the next Trail Champion! Trail Champions Challenge (Sat., 9:05 am, Equine Arena) Brendan Wise has been playing with horses ever since he was old enough to pull his boots on and has always had a love for the horse greater than anything else in this world. He has devoted his life to the study and teaching of Horsemanship in the Classical Tradition. Brendan has spent his entire life learning frommany disciplines including Natural Horsemanship, Dressage, Reining, Show Jumping and Racing. He has combined his experiences and successes in all of these disciplines, as well as a constant intense study of the Classical Masters, in order to develop his skills as a horseman and teacher. Brendan has had the honor of studying under many of the greatest mentors and teachers of our time; including having two of America’s greatest horsemen, John and Josh Lyons, give him his start as a young clinician. Brendan always says that he owes much of his ability as a teacher and communicator to spending years with John and Josh Lyons. His desire is to share the knowledge that he has gained from his personal experiences, and the wisdom of other great masters that he studies under (including Jean-Claude Barry of Le Cadre Noir de Saumar), in the hopes that he may make an impact on the lives of many horses and riders. Brendan seeks to follow the wisdom and principles of the Classical Masters, handed down from teachers like NunoOlivera, Xenophon, Baucher, La Gueriniere, Dr. Klimke, Steinbrecht, Podhajski, Anja Beran, and Phillipe Karl. Natural Horsemanship and French Classical Dressage are at the very core of Brendan’s personal horsemanship. Brendan has a passion for the proper training, conditioning, and maintaining the integrity of the horse’s mind and body from beginning to end. A great reverence, respect and admiration for the horse guides every thought that Brendan has in regard to the horse. It is his hope that he may bring a refreshing and much needed breath of air to the training of high-level horses, with a commitment to putting the horse first. Engaged in modern competitions and teaching modern horses, it is the proven work of the Classical masters that guides what Brendan teaches from beginning to end, always striving to learn more with each ride. Also joining him at the Expo will be his wife, Melanie Ferrio-Wise, who made history and has gained international recognition by being the first rider to compete bridleless in Show Jumping at the 2017 Washington International Horse Show. Melanie and her horse, Wings (Vlad around the barn), are now com- peting exclusively bridleless in all competition, breaking down the barriers of what is “normal,” andmaking history as they go. Comewatch this incredible pair! Starting Bridleless (Thurs., 5 pm, Equine Arena) Bridleless Dressage & Flatwork (Fri., 4 pm, Equine Arena) Dressage In-Hand (Sat., 2 pm, Round Pen Arena) Developing Posture & Balance Bridleless (Sat., 4 pm, Large Arena) Bridleless Jumping (Sun., noon, Equine Arena) Long Lining & Long Reining (Sun., 3 pm, Round Pen Arena) Theatre Equus Performer (Fri. & Sat., 8:30 pm, Large Arena) – separate ticket required Dom Schramm Trail Champions Challenge Brendan Wise Visit Brendan and Melanie Ferrio-Wise at the Brendan Wise & Unbridled Wings booth 408, 409 Tom Seay Visit Tom Seay at the Best of America by Horseback booth 414