Fredriksson  (AKA - Dickie) is a 10 year old Hanoverian gelding owned by The University of Findlay.  He was imported into the United States at the age of four.  Fredriksson’s sire is Fabriano, and his dam is Davina.  Davina’s maternal grand sire is Donnerhall.  Kaaren Powell of Ballston Spa, NY donated Fredriksson to The University of Findlay in the summer of 2008.  

Dickie is a very playful horse.  He has performed Musical Freestyle here at UF.  Dickie loved the music from “The Pirates of the Caribbean”.  In September of 2008, at our Mini Prix – Family Festival Day, Dickie performed in a Quadrille (a choreographed Dressage ride, commonly performed to music) with five other horses.  The students and horses had a wonderful time performing their drill to “The Hamster Dance”.   



Students have stated that “Riding Dickie is like driving a fine sports car.”  Dickie has competed through 4th Level and Prix St. George. 
He has great lateral and extended movements in the trot.  Fredriksson performed extremely well during the 2009 Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) National Championships that were held here at The University of Findlay in April.  The "High Point Rider" - Gred Schmid of Otterbein College rode Fredriksson.







Nikki Berkheiser (’09) had the privilege of riding and taking care of Dickie during the 2008-2009 school year.  Apples and carrots are Dickie’s favorite healthy treats.  Peppermint candies are his favorite not-so-healthy treats.  Dickie enjoys playing “guess which fist holds the peppermint” game.  Of course, he is very good at it.  Fredriksson has another favorite pastime.  When Nikki wanted to bring him in from his turnout, she would call out his name.  The race was then ON!  Who would get to the gate first?  Nikki or Dickie?   





Summer 2009 Update

Fredriksson is spending the summer of 2009 with UF graduate – Kate Marsi (’08).  Kate is working towards her USDF Bronze and Silver medals.  Kate and Fredriksson competed at the Spring Classic Dressage Show at Waterloo Hunt Club in Grass Lake, Michigan on June 5 & 6, 2009.  On June 5th, they won 1st Place in the First Level Adult Amateur with a 75.526%.  The pair took 2nd Place in the Second Level Adult Amateur with a 70.263%.  On June 6th, Kate and Dickie won 1st Place in the Second Level Adult Amateur with a 67.027%.    


Fall 2009 Update

Fredriksson is currently in Columbus, North Carolina with UF graduate - Ashley Parsons ('09).  Ashley and Dickie will be heading down to Loxahatchee, Florida in December.  Ashley is working for Jennifer Baumert of Cloverlea Dressage.  They will be competing on the Florida show circuit this winter.  Ashley and Dickie recently participated in a clinic with Conrad Schumacher.  Ashley sent the following report:

"He (Conrad) started us out with cantering over four poles on the ground on a twenty meter circle.  He wanted me to try to get Dickie to really jump the pole and lift his back.  Then from there, we went into medium canter down the long side, to a walk pirouette, then medium up the long side again.  Then, we did some changes on the diagonal.  The trot work was pretty intense.  We did a lot of trot halt reinback trot work.  He really wanted Dickie jumping off my leg.  Then we did shoulder in to medium trot and back.  Then, halfpass to the center, straight and either a medium trot or collected trot.  It was pretty cool!  We ended with some changes in the canter that were really powerful.  Conrad said I was a very good rider and Dickie and I had a shot at FEI, down the road.  He said when he watched us warm up, he thought that Dickie wouldn't be able to really sit down on his haunches and it would be a hard lesson because he was so downhill and hollow in the back.  Conrad said that we accomplished in half an hour what it takes most people three days of the clinic to accomplish, which is getting the back and shoulders lifted and active hind legs.  I was pretty darn happy with that!  Conrad told me that I needed a warmup more specific to Dickie's needs and to work on that."

                                

Dickie and his new friend

        

Ashley and Dickie

            

Dickie and Ashley - hard at work