Wellington, FL (April 8, 2016) – As the Adequan Global Dressage Festival drew to an end in Wellington, Florida, Danish Adult Amateur dressage rider Signe Kirk Kristiansen was honored for her accomplishments and commitment to dressage with the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award. Every week during the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, internationally renowned Dr. Cesar Parra, who was an Olympian for his home country of Colombia and has represented the U.S. in the 2011 Pan American Games and the 2014 World Cup Final, awarded standout Adult Amateur competitors. Parra and his Piaffe Performance Farm proudly presented Kristiansen with the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award as she represented her home country of Denmark in the CDIO 3* Nations Cup presented by Stillpoint Farm during the last week of the winter show series.

Kristiansen competed her 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding Roberto (Walt Disney x Rubina Langkiaergaard, by Rubinstein I) in the CDI Prix St. Georges in the Nations Cup competition. It was only the pair’s first CDI class and second season competing at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Kristiansen was one of the only Adult Amateur riders on the roster in the CDI Prix St. Georges, and represented Denmark with her Nations Cup teammates Mikala Gundersen, Rikke Poulsen, and Lars Petersen.

As she competed beside some of the world’s top dressage riders, Kristiansen said, “I don’t even think about being an Adult Amateur. I just enjoy it.” Piaffe Performance was happy to recognize Kristiansen’s accomplishments and efforts throughout the Nations Cup and the entire 2016 show season.

In addition to being a competitive dressage rider, Kristiansen is a qualified veterinary nurse and has owned her own horses since she was six years old. She has been a fan of the Arabian breed since she was a teenager. Kristiansen currently owns Kirk Arabians with her husband in Denmark, and stated, “I’ve trained my Arabians myself since they were three years old. One advanced to Intermediare I this year, and the other one started in Prix St. Georges.” 

Kristiansen travelled to Wellington, Florida for the Adequan Global Dressage Festival this season with three competition horses— Roberto and two of her nine-year-old purebred Arabians.

Piaffe Performance, a successful trainer of both horses and riders alike, praised Kristiansen for her work in developing her own horses. Kristiansen said, “It takes a long time to develop the horses from a young age up through the levels. I do love it because you know where you put the buttons, and you know how to use those buttons. I like to breed and develop my own horses. For me, its very difficult to get an educated horse— I have tried and not had a lot of success. I like breeding horses and having my own youngsters for those reasons.” 

Piaffe Performance commends Adult Amateur riders like Kristiansen who work hard to accomplish their goals and to succeed in the sport of dressage. As an Official Partner and Sponsor of the 2016 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Piaffe Performance proudly presented the Adult Amateur Achievement Award throughout the twelve-week show series. Piaffe Performance also sponsored the International Arena Rider Lounge and the Hospitality Tent by the National Arenas at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival show grounds to provide drinks and snacks for all levels of riders to enjoy before or after their tests. 

Piaffe Performance is located in Jupiter, Florida, and Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Piaffe Performance specializes in selecting, training, and showing, and facilitates the sales of top dressage prospects for riders at every level. For more information on Piaffe Performance, visit www.GKHorsesatPerformanceFarms.com.

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Photo 1: Signe Kirk Kristiansen was honored with the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award presented by Dr. Cesar Parra (middle) at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (Photo courtesy of JRPR- No photo credit necessary).