About CADI

PLANS ARE NOW UNDERWAY FOR CADI 2009!

In May 2007, the organizers of Freestyle 2007 (an annual fundraising event for the benefit of The Bear Spot Foundation for Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy) were approached by Maggie Batievsky of the Peruvian Equestrian Federation. It was Ms. Batievsky’s hope that we would coordinate and host a dressage event for 12- to 14-year-old children from Latin America, the United States and Canada.

A girl and her horse.

Our objective would be to create a cultural exchange among the children and their families using their love of horses as a common bond. Because the Bear Spot Foundation is devoted to helping children fulfill their dreams using horses as a catalyst, we felt that this type of event would fit well within the scope of the foundation’s mission. We agreed to organize the event, and the Children of the Americas Dressage Invitational (CADI) was born.

How It Happened

We contacted the Latin American Federations and were thrilled to receive 13 responses, all promising to recommend a young rider. We decided to hold CADI October 3-6, the week preceding Freestyle 2007. We spent the summer working out the logistics: everything from where the riders and their families/chaperones would stay, to what horses they would ride and who the judges and trainers would be.

The excitement surrounding CADI 2007 was contagious. We were extremely fortunate to have trainers and judges volunteer their time and donate their fees in order to make CADI a reality. In addition, the USEF and USDF as well as the New England Dressage Association were very helpful in accommodating our short time schedule.

Without exception, people were eager to be a part of what was shaping up to be a unique and exciting event, and our volunteers were more than willing to do whatever it took to “make it happen.”

A Strong Sense of Community

Two new friends.

Several social events during the week that further enhanced this sense of community. On Thursday evening, we had a pizza party at the barn, where the children exchanged small gifts and played music from their respective countries. On Friday evening, we arranged transportation into Boston for a “Duck Tour” of the city, followed by dinner.

The week culminated in a beautiful dinner party on Saturday at the home of Jane Karol, the Bear Spot Foundation’s executive and program director. The riders and their families truly enjoyed this aspect of the competition, and all of them commented that CADI was not just a competition – it was an experience.

The Success of Competition

But of course, the competition was at the center of CADI. As you may have seen from the videos and photos on DressageClinic.com, our event was a great success.

Riders, trainers and judges alike all said that the competition was unique, professional, well-planned and superbly organized!