California’s Masterclass With Ingrid Klimke Draws Sold Out Crowd - “True Horsemanship is Alive and Well!”

On 1 - 3 December 2023 Entrigue Consulting’s debut event, Ingrid Klimke’s Masterclass at Galway Downs in Temecula, CA, brought together over 700 spectators. Top athletes and enthusiasts from two equestrian disciplines came together for a unique two-day masterclass with German Olympian, Ingrid Klimke.

California’s equestrian event of the season presented a unique program showcasing Ingrid’s Classical Approach, training through the levels, from young horse to Grand Prix with foundations for both dressage and eventing, while incorporating the cavelletti.

Notable Guests

Notable guests included Johan Hinnemann, Team USA medalists Hilda Gurney, Tamie Smith, and Sabine Schut-Kery who rode Mr. Spielberg,  her and Adriana Popovich’s 6-year-old KWPN gelding by Spielberg x Sir Donnerhall.

“I was really excited about this opportunity to ride with Ingrid; I have deep respect for her and all that she has accomplished with her unique ability to develop so many horses successfully for different disciplines. I believe in the value of continuing to grow as a rider and a horsewoman,” says Schut-Kery.

Educational Community Social Event 

The Masterclass, presented by Lisa Seger Insurance and the first masterclass to be organized by Kelly Artz of Entrigue Consulting, was considered a huge success by the US dressage community, with guests from New York, Utah and Montana making the commute. The holiday themed VIP and vendor village garnered the sale of hundreds of copies of Ingrid’s books with sentimental guests even bringing mementos from Klimke’s late father, Reiner Klimke’s visits to USA for Ingrid’s autograph. Happy people and happy horses were the theme—with all participating horses even attending a veterinary inspection sponsored by Temeku Equine before the program’s start.

“It was my goal to create a community social event that made equestrian education enjoyable for everyone, on every level and brought riders together. Top notch presentation from Ingrid, with a program unique to her and her system, along with food, drinks, shopping and more to wrap up the show season before the holidays was what I had in mind on every level. I think we really pulled it off and am grateful to our sponsors and the California dressage and eventing communities’ support and enthusiasm.  I look forward to creating these educational events for our sport in the future," said organizer Kelly Artz. 

“True Horsemanship is Alive and Well!” 

Ingrid Klimke needs little introduction to the high performance equestrian world. She has competed in five Olympics and six World Equestrian Games, winning medals in the Summer Olympics of 2008, 2012 and 2016. Most recently she competed in the FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Omaha 2023, finishing 4th in the Grand Prix. 

Horse and rider combinations in the program included Ellie Hardesty and Barrington, a 5-year old gelding (by Benetton Dream x Heinrich Heine), Joey Emmert Evans on Khaleesi, an 8 year old KWPN mare (by Fairytale x Wynton), Marie Medosi and 3-year old stallion Favorite Song (by Fynch Hatton x Diamond Hit), Joseph Newcomb and the 5-year old stallion Free Solo EDI (by Franziskus x Sandro Hit), Sabine Schut-Kery and Mr Spielberg, Kelly Artz and the 9-year old JoJo (by Netto x Lancet), Josephine Hinnemann and 14-year old Copa Cabana (by Contucci x Bordeaux), Caroline Hoffman and the 10-year old PRE Bugei VDOS (by Rumex x Hermanos Camacho Benitez), Kristina Vahe and the 11-year old Lusitano Habanero,  Lewis Azar and the 11-year old gelding Hannassie (by Houston x Didando), Amelia Newcomb and the 11-year old gelding Harvard (by Charmeur x Tuschinski), and Mckenzie Milburn and the 11-year old Oldenburg gelding Zero Branco (by Zack x Diamond Hit).

Eventers Grace Walker, Taren Hoffos and Chloe Smyth also presented the final Advanced eventing group for a mix of cavalleti and jumping to end the program.

Rave Reviews

Guests rave about the presentation, praising the “wonderfully decorated and presented clinic." Lisa Bradley of San Diego, CA, said, "so many wonderful features. Ingrid was amazing and everyone was so cheerful and encouraging. A wonderful weekend."

Michael Akers of Washington added that, “true Horsemanship is alive and well. The genuine spirit of all riding being shared with hundreds of horse lovers, fantastic weekend."

Ingrid Klimke looks back on a successful weekend. "I loved my trip to California, especially the very well organised masterclass was so much fun! The team behind Kelly did a great Job to make everybody happy," she said. "The venue is just perfect for visitors, riders and horses! To teach the riders for 2 days and see the horses developing was a great pleasure! On top a little break along the beautiful Californian beaches made this trip very special!"

About Entrigue:

Entrigue Consulting, LLC. is a dedicated full-service equestrian digital marketing and creative agency. Entrigue customizes your businesses' marketing plan from start to finish: campaign messaging to customer interaction, while utilizing a talented team of project managers to handle each campaign on multiple platforms. 

About Galway Downs:

Galway Downs is a center for Equestrian sports in California and following recent renovations, aims to provide top end facilities to support a range of Equestrian disciplines, making it a top international venue located in the heart of California's Temecula Wine Country.