The Detroit Equestrian Club

Detroit Equestrian Club trainer, Christopher Ewing,
featured in the November 2006 issue of

Magazine

About the article:

"When 'Equestrian Magazine' called a few months ago to interview me about being a minority who is successful in a predominately white sport, I said "I can think of other black riders you should want to interview, like Paige Johnson (who, in my opinion, is the best African-American rider showjumping has ever had). The reporter said "oh, yes, I plan on it." I don't know what happened to that interview, I would have enjoyed reading that one. Nevertheless, I applaud the magazine for even doing this article because it does kind of address the 'elephant in the room' and gives me a chance to personally say "thank you" to those of 'non-color' who are reading this now. I grew up a black kid in Detroit who came running in the door after 2 weeks at summer camp at 13 years old, yelling "Mom, I rode a horse, I rode a horse! Can I have a horse?" and her looking at me like I was crazy. Those 2 weeks at camp has turned into what is now nearly 30 years of love, not only a love for my horses, but also a love for my riders and the many, many friends that I have made along the way. From my very first riding lesson in Detroit to having trained with George Morris at Hunterdon in New Jersey, riding continues to be an incredible journey and a real joy in my life. So, while the subject matter of this magazine article may have come from a sensitive topic, racism, I would like to take this opportunity to say "thank you" to all of my riding friends who have accepted me in this sport. While there have been a couple of negative people that I have encountered along the way, like the ones I mention in the article, there have been hundreds of others over the years, both here and in Europe, who have welcomed me as their trainer and friend, and not just as a "black rider", but as a rider; not just as a "black man", but simply as a man. Thank you very much for your respect, and most of all, for your friendship.

To the kids who read these words and this article, if you come away with nothing else, I hope it is this: NEVER GIVE UP! This is a sport filled with 'judgment'. Some of it, obviously, is warranted, because that's what horse showing is about. But then, some of the judgment is not warranted. Pay zero attention to those who will try to convince you that you can't do something because you don't have enough money, or because you don't fit the "image" of a "pretty rider" because you are not skinny enough or not tall enough or whatever else. Forget about it, you don't have time to listen to that stuff. Get on the horse, keep your heels down and hands together, go out there and ride and be the winner! Enjoy the article." ~ Christopher

To read the article,
"CLICK HERE"

The Detroit Equestrian Club
&
Christopher Ewing
take great pride in congratulating
The Patterson Family
on the former DEC Sale Horse
"Renaissance"
being named the

2008
United States Equestrian Federation
Regular Working Hunter
"Horse of the Year"

Rider, David Q. Wright at 2008 Washington International Horse Show

Importer and trainer Christopher Ewing at the 2007 Hampton Classic

Former owner Jessica Grines-White at WEF in Palm Beach

Current owner Courtney Patterson in St. Louis

"Renaissance", the former Detroit Equestrian Club sale horse that was imported and trained as a four year old by DEC owner Christopher Ewing, until he was sold less than a year ago at the age of 10 to South Point Farms in Missouri, has been named the 2008 "Horse of the Year" by the United States Equestrian Federation for the Regular Working Hunter Division. Over 350 horses from throughout the United States competed in the Regular Working Hunter Division, the highest level of Hunter competitions with fences reaching 4'6" in height at some shows. South Point Farms purchased Renaissance in December 2007 from Christopher and "we took him to a show a week or so later and we started winning and he has just been the best", said David Wright, speaking to reporters following Renaissance earning the Regular Working Hunter Champion honor at the 2008 Washington International Horse Show in November. “He’s very simple. We keep him fit enough to jump big jumps and we don’t jump him very often. He’s a very easy, fun, nice-to-ride horse.”
Wright shows Renaissance for his new owners, The Pattersons of Missouri, and their trainer, Daphne Thornton.

"We are all very thrilled that Renaissance is 'Horse of the Year'''. says DEC owner and trainer Christopher Ewing. "When I first saw him in Europe, he was just this giant, gangly 4 year old that only had about 90 days of training under his belt. He was basically this giant horse that would just grab the bit and charge the jumps, so he was actually being sold as a dressage horse, but I asked the seller to free jump him for us and the jump got to well over 6 feet high and 5 feet wide! He jumped it like it was a crossrail, and while I wanted him for the Hunter Division because he is a great mover, I figured if he never chilled out enough to do the Hunters, I would at least have a super fancy jumper!"

But Renaissance did "chill out" and went on to become an outstanding hunter and equitation horse, winning numerous show and Year-End Championships with Christopher, as well as with his former owner, Jessica Grines-White. Renaissance has won numerous ribbons at the Kentucky Horse Park, Merrill Lynch/Chagrin Horse Show, Winter Equestrian Festival in Palm Beach and The Hampton Classic. At the 2007 Hampton Classic Horse Show, Renaissance won numerous placings in the Regulars with Christopher, as well as placings in the Large Junior Hunters with DEC junior rider, Gabrielle Foxa. In December 2007, Renaissance was purchased by the Patterson family of Village of Loch Lloyd, MO. He currently lives at South Point Farms in Belton, MO, is trained by Daphne Thornton and meets up with rider, David Q. Wright of Murfreesboro, Tennessee at horse shows.

"I have been blessed enough to have had several horses that I have imported and trained go on and do well at Indoors and Florida, and now to have one go all the way to the top is really cool! Renaissance is very special to all of us. To me, because I raised him and trained him and showed him through the ranks for nearly 7 years, and he is very special to many of my students because they all have really wonderful memories of riding him at home and even showing him from time to time. The "Horse of the Year" title is awesome and, while many times a title like that goes to horses from out East, now all of us from Michigan can at least share in it a little bit, because Renaissance was imported, raised and trained right here in Michigan for so many years.

"I would like to thank The Grines Family and Jessica for purchasing Renaissance after I imported him from Europe and for allowing me to train and show him for so many years. I would like to thank The Patterson Family and their trainer, Daphne Thornton, for trusting me when I said "hey, you need to buy Renaissance, I'm telling you, he will be one of the top horses in the country". Congrats, Daphne, on a great job with Ren, and my other baby, Paris, too!

"I also want to extend a HUGE congratulations to David Q. Wright for his very kind words and for doing such a EXCELLENT job with Ren in the show ring. It takes a really great catch rider to be delivered a horse at a horse show every couple of weeks and be able to just swing a leg over and make him go around and be the winner we after week. You are truly one of the great ones! Whenever I make my horses and sell them, I always hope that they wind up in great hands like yours. Great job, David!!

"And, of course, a huge pat on the neck goes to Renaissance. Way to go, Bud!
You have made all of us very, very proud!"

Renaissance Wins Regular Working Hunter Championship
at 2008 Washington International Horse Show

Renaissance can be seen in the October issue of In Stride Magazine in an ad for the ASG/USHJA Hunter Derby.

Protocol Wins Reserve Champion Honors at WIHS

The gorgeous Westphalian gelding "Protocol" placed 2nd in the Washington International Horse Show Children's Hunter Championship class. Owned & shown by Kelsey Jefferies of Virginia, Protocol was imported from Europe by Christopher as a 4 year old. Approximately 2 years later, Protocol was sold and has continued to be a star in the Hunter ring. Kelsey & Protocol have earned numerous Championships and is listed at the top of nearly every high point standings list in the divisions they have competed in.

Reserve Champion
WIHS Children's Hunter Championships

Snapshot

Her Royal Highness Princess Haya of Jordan, President of the FEI, & Christopher in Germany

Congratulates
The Patterson Family
on their continued success with the former DEC sale horse

"Renaissance"
currently ranked
1st in the Nation
in the
Regular Working Hunter Division!
USEF

("Renaissance" & David Wright winning the $10,000 USHJA Hunter Derby)

Congrats on the full page photo in the June 2008 issue of
Practical Horseman, too!!!

Winner
$10,000 USHJA
International Hunter Derby
Ren scored a 99 in the final round!

"Renaissance", the former Detroit Equestrian Club sale horse, now owned by the Patterson family of Belton, MO and shown by David Wright of Murfreesboro, TN (pictured above), recently won the $10,000 USHJA 2008-2009 ASG Software Solutions International Hunter Derby. Held for the first time at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic show series, Renaissance won both rounds of the 2-round class, earning an incredible score of 99 in the second round!

The 17.3 Hanoverian gelding, was imported, trained and shown for 5 years by DEC trainer Christopher Ewing until he was sold to the Pattersons at Christmastime 2007. "When I first saw Renaissance in Europe, he was this giant, gangly 4 year old that only had about 90 days of training under his belt," says DEC owner and trainer Christopher Ewing. "He was actually being sold as a dressage horse but the seller in Europe free jumped him for us and the jump got to well over 6 feet high and 5 feet wide. He jumped it like it was a crossrail, and while I wanted him for the Hunter Division because he is a great mover who jumps in perfect form, I figured if he never chilled out enough to do the Hunters, I would at least have a super fancy jumper!"

But Renaissance did "chill out" and he went on to become an outstanding hunter and equitation horse, wining numerous show and Year-End Championships with Christopher, as well as with his owner, Jessica Grines-White. In 2007, Renaissance began showing in the Regular Working Hunters for the first time, earning numerous placings in the Regulars with Christopher at shows such as the Merrill Lynch Horse Show, The Hampton Classic Horse Show and others. Ren also won excellent ribbons in the Large Junior Hunters at The 2007 Hampton Classic with DEC junior rider Gabrielle Foxa.

Now, after only owning him since December 2007, Renaissance's new owners have already been in the winner's circle several times. Renaissance lives with his owners in Missouri and meets up with David, who lives in Tennessee, only at horse shows. Besides his win in the Hunter Derby, Renaissance earned the Circuit Champion Tri-color in the Regular Working Hunter Division at Gulfport, was Champion in the Regulars and Reserve Champion in the Large Junior Hunter Division at the St. Louis Festival 2 Horse Show, and more. Renaissance recently earned the Regular Working Hunter Champion title at the 2008 Washington International Horse Show, following in the footsteps of other outstanding horses that Christopher has imported, trained and sold that went on to major tri-color victories, including "Protocol" the 2008 Reserve Champion in the WIHS Children's Hunter Championships; "Debonair", the Reserve Champion Regular Working Hunter at the 2004 Washington International Horse Show, and "Renoir", the gorgeous Hanoverian gelding that has won numerous tri-colors in the Hunter Ring at many top horse shows, including the Washington Int. Horse Show, The National Horse Show and many others.

"Renaissance"

Photo: Cortney Patterson on "Renaissance" in the Large Junior Hunter Division

Champion
Regular Working Hunter
(Shown by David Wright)

Reserve Champion
Large Junior Hunter

St. Louis Festival II Horse Show
St. Louis, Missouri

Congratulations to Sarah Wallace & "Sir Rabbit"! 2007 Michigan Horse Show Association Large Pony Hunter Champion

Congratulations to
"Marselles"

Winner
$3,000 2007 GPHC Mini-Prix
Owned by Doug & Mary McNabb
Shown by Christopher Ewing
(pictured above: Mary McNabb, owner; Fred Satterlund, President of the Grosse Pointe Hunt Club;
Christopher Ewing on "Marselles")

Children's Pony Hunter Series Champion
"Getter Dun"
Owned and shown by
Emily Groesbeck

Way to go, Gabi, on placing in all of the
Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under jumping classes!

"Renaissance"

Shown by Gabrielle Foxa
4th Place HBO/Marshall & Sterling Junior Equitation O/F (3'6")
8th Place & Reserve (twice) Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under O/F

Video 2007 Hampton Classic
(Gabi & Renaissance placing 8th in the Junior Working Hunter 15 & Under O/F)

"Chagall"

7th Place
Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under O/F
Shown by Gabrielle Foxa

"Renaissance"

6th Place & More
Regular Working Hunter Division
Shown by Christopher Ewing

Detroit Equestrian Club trainer, Christopher Ewing,
featured in the November 2006 issue of

Magazine

About the article:

To read the article,
"CLICK HERE"

Congratulates

2007 IHSA National Championship Finalist

Cortney Glass
on her WIN
at the
2007 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association
Zone Finals
and for qualifying for the
2007 IHSA National Championships!

Cortney is the only rider from Michigan to qualify to compete
over fences at the Nationals!

Equestrian Team,
Christopher Ewing
&
The Detroit Equestrian Club

Congratulates

2007 IHSA National Championship Finalist

Cortney Glass
on her 5th place finish
at the
2007 IHSA National Championships!

You've come a long way in just 2 years, Cort!
Way to go!

(Above photo: Cortney with IHSA founder Bob Cacchione
at the 2007 IHSA National Championships in Springfield, Massachusetts)

Christopher's "Hang On to the Dream Foundation"
Helps Courageous Teen With No Arm
Reach For Her Dreams

"Click Here"

is proud to congratulate our boarder
Dr. Cindy Grines
(mother of Jessica Grines and owner of "Renaissance")
on her breakthrough procedure
in the field of stem cell transplantation.

Cindy was recently featured "Live" on "Good Morning America"

and many other news programs when she recently made medical history after participating in the first ever stem cell transplantation to the human heart.

A 16 year old boy was brought into the hospital after being shot in the heart with a nail gun.

Stem cell transplantation has been highly
controversial when using embryos to harvest the cells, however, at the time, Cindy had already been doing research into the possibility of harvesting and then transplanting ones own stem cells back into their body in an effort to repair organ damage.

When this young man came into the hospital, he had already suffered a heart attack as a result of his injury and was initially diagnosed as needing a heart transplant.

Cindy and her team immediately applied for emergency "Compassionate Use" permission with the FDA to precede with the experiment that they had been working on, in an effort to save this young man's heart, and his life.

Today this young man is practically back to normal, thanks to the outstanding efforts of Cindy and her medical team.

Not only is Cindy responsible for saving this young man's heart and life, but Cindy's work is being hailed as a medical breakthrough and she is now being recognized as a "pioneer in the field of medicine".

Way to go, Cindy!

We have always been proud of Jessica and now
we are especially proud of you!

You are changing the world!!!

Christopher's "Hang On to the Dream Foundation" Helps Courageous Teen With No Arm Reach For Her Dreams

"Click Here"

Christopher's "Hang On to the Dream Foundation"
Helps Courageous Teen With No Arm
Reach For Her Dreams