Update 2006: Pamela Doolittle and "Cobra" had a tremendous run at the FEI US Markel Finals in Lexington, Kentucky, with a third place. They crowned their season in Dressage at Devon by winning the FEI 6 year olds! This class counts as the North American Breeders Futurity Championship Final.

Their journey was full of suspense, as Pam and Cobra competed against the best in the US as underdog out of nowhere. What finally made their success was consistency and well rounded training in all gaits, with clean changes, rhythm and correct, light contact. Cobra showed no weakness according to his age and training scale. He and Pam demonstrated clockwork precision and perfect harmony on their road to complete a true amateur's success. It was an exciting experience, and a reinforcement of the classic principles of modern training that produce winners!

Pam Doolittle and her 5 year old Hanoverian gelding "Cobra", bred by Ron and Meg Williams of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, made a successful first level debut at Silverwood in Camp Lake, Wisconsin. This pair won their first Open qualifying class with a score of 70.56 against a large class of seasoned professionals. Pam and "Coby" have been working with Alex at regular clinics held at Touchstone Farm in Brooklyn, WI.

"Alex helps me to think. Every clinic begins by assessing our progress and training weaknesses. Then we work towards developing a training plan that I can take home and work with until his next visit. Alex helps me technically with exercises and honest, encouraging feedback on how my horse is going and what he is ready (or not ready) to do. He also keeps me on track mentally with how I think about riding: He notices when I take myself too seriously, am being too generous or too harsh with my aids, and works with me to improve as a thinking rider. With his help we are making good progress, and doing it with "sparkle".

Alex Gerding coached Joseph Sandven of Tantalus Farm in North Carolina and his 5 year old gelding "Rachmaninoff" at the World Championships for Young Horses in Dressage, held in Verden, Germany August 2003. Rachmaninoff had the highest U.S. qualifiying score for 5 year olds.

Alex comments, "Joe did a very professional job at Verden and got lots of compliments from well known German horsepeople on his performance. Rachmaninoff is an outstanding mover with a super mind and has everything to make his way to the top. With joe he found a focused, committed, and gifted rider that has a wonderful personality you do not find every day in the horse industry. Good things take a while but I know and am a firm believer: they're gonna make it!"

Alex Gerding is trainer and coach for Melissa Mulchahey's mare Donna Novella VA (DeNiro - SPS Walessa, Werther) and rider Meike Moeller in the 2003 World Young Horse Championships. They won the USAEq Young Horse Central Selection Trials at Paxton Farm to qualify for the Championships.

Alex is pictured here schooling Donna Novella, owned by Melissa Mulchahey of FAS Hanoverians.

Donna Novella was the Central States FEI Young Horse Champion at her first show in the USA under saddle with German rider Meike Moeller. Bob Tarr photo

Donna Novella's USDF year end awards:
Second Place USDF Horse Of the Year Training Level Adult Amateur (about 400 horses eligible)
6th place USDF Horse Of the Year Training Level Open Division (about 700 horses eligible)
3rd place USDF Horse Of the Year First Level Adult Amateur (Out of about 300 horses eligible)

American Hanoverian Society Rankings:
Champion - Training Level Adult Amateur
#2 (Second place) - Training Level Open Division
#3 (Third place) - First Level Adult Amateur

Melissa Mulchahey and Donna Novella en route to a 78% First Level Score at the Mid Ohio Dressage Association Show. Bob Tarr photo

Melissa Mulchahey and Donna Novella were Reserve Champion at First Level in the USDF Region 2 Championships held Sept 6-8, 2003 - CONGRATULATIONS!

"I have been working with Alex for almost a year, and have seen a tremendous improvement in both my horse and myself. Under his training program Donna Novella has developed into a talented and properly trained young horse. Donna Novella and I have been High Score First Level and Training Level at every show we have attended this summer (Greenstone Select, Mid Ohio Dressage Association, Ohio Dressage Festival, Dressage at Delaware) - with scores from 70% to 78.8%. I continue to work monthly with Alex and hope to achieve my goal of PSG within the next 3 years. I also look forward to bringing along the new 3 year old mare that Alex and I selected in Germany in August. Alex provides tremendous support to his dedicated students and offers a clear, progessive, classical training path." - Melissa Mulchahey, FAS Hanoverians