NAJINSKA & SHANNON DAHMER, FEI Freestyle, Del Mar 2008

Najinska and Shannon Dahmer scored 67.00 and took first place in the FEI Freestyle Test of Choice Open at the 63rd Annual Del Mar National Horse Show Dressage "Evening of Musical Freestyles" in Del Mar, California on Saturday April 26th 2008. The Test was FEI Freestyle Intermediate 1 2006
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Shannon Dahmer, of Rifle Colorado may be best known for her free-spirited freestyle demonstrations. Her first off-beat Grand Prix Freestyle perhaps eight years ago was painting her Oldenberg Bingo like a zebra (it took her two hours) and Dahmer wore a sort of "Me Jane" African costume. The crowd loved it.

"I like to have fun," explained the flamboyant Dahmer. "I'm competitive, but even though everyone's so serious we do have fun. When I go to a horse show it's kind of my vacation, that's how I look at it, and I get to see all my friends on the Front Range (of Colorado)."

Dahmer has a musical background which she draws upon when she is creating the freestyle choreography. "I've danced all my life. I love music, I love to dance—jazz, ballet, whatever. I was a pom pom girl and a cheerleader, so I have that influence," she laughed. "I figure if I'm doing a freestyle, I want it to be something that makes me smile and have a good time."

Dahmer has worn a fluffy pink prom dress as Christine while she and her horse danced to music from Phantom of the Opera; she has been Elvis, wore a poodle skirt to the music from Grease, did a pas de deux with another rider as two Surfer Girls and two Biker Babes in leather jackets. As a result, other riders in the area started to think and act outside of the "dressage box" as well.

"Competition freestyle can be fun, too, she said. "I did one to Grease and the judges loved it because the music was familiar. I figure if we want our sport to have more spectators, you've got to play to the crowd a little bit."

But Dahmer is a serious rider and student of dressage. She trailers her horses from her home on the Western Slope of Colorado each spring to work with Hilda Gurney in California for six weeks. She clinics with Kathleen Raine when she comes to the area, as well as with Jessica Ransehousen and others when she gets the chance. She studied with Ransehousen. in 1999 for eight weeks, but found it too far to haul back east on a regular basis. Locally she works with Janet Hannon when she can get over the mountain pass to Denver.
Wesites:
http://www.delmarnational.com/
http://www.rmds.org/
http://aspendressage.com/

Category:

Sports

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• NAJINSKA
• SHANNON
• DAHMER
• FEI
• Freestyle
• Test
• of
• choice
• Del
• Mar
• National
• Horse
• Show
• Evening
• Musical
• Freestyles

[onelasssttime]

Hi shannon, I'm trying to find Heather H...

[shafski41444]

First time hearing the music; first time in this ring; the next showing she got a 71.

[Cadybabe122]

she's pretty good.