The Global Dressage Fall Festival II brought back international dressage competition to Equestrian Village once again from December 10-13. The competition featured CDIW, CDI3*, and CDI1* classes as the final competition ahead of the 2021 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival that begins on January 13, 2021 and concludes April 4, 2021.
Riding longtime partner Aquamarijn, Yvonne Losos De Muñiz (DOM) claimed back-to-back spots at the head of the victory laps on Friday and Saturday, adding two blue ribbons to the pair’s already lengthy career list. In the Grand Prix CDIW, which offered valuable qualifying points for the 2021 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Finals, Losos De Muñiz and Aquamarijn, a 2005 Dutch Warmblood mare by United x Gribaldi, found their rhythm to earn a score of 69.261% and claim victory.
“She feels amazing, but I’m a bit rusty!” commented Losos De Muñiz of her equine partner and their performance. “I thought I was a little better prepared than I actually was, but it was our first time out, which always feels a bit that way. It feels really good to start so well, though. All the mistakes I have to say were 100 percent mine. She feels the best she probably has been for me. It’s just getting back in there and feeling what I’ve got, and it’s exciting!”
Losos De Muñiz and Aquamarijn returned to the ring the next day with momentum and turned in a quality performance that resulted in a score of 79.625% in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDIW, securing them the top spot by more than five percent.
“She got four months pretty much off, going on the track and just hacking because I got stuck in Canada, so then when I came back in July I sort of pretended I started with a new horse,” reflected Losos De Muñiz. “I went through all the past stuff I was having trouble with, and it was actually kind of cool, and I was able to improve. I took advantage of not being able to show, and I did that with all of my clients and all the horses, and I have to say they’re doing really well.”
Losos De Muñiz and Aquamarijn are already qualified for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo and will train and compete accordingly ahead of the global championship that begins in July. Additionally, they have their sights set on possibly competing in the 2021 FEI Dressage World Cup Finals, which are set to take place March 31 – April 5, 2021, in Gothenburg, Sweden.
“I’ll keep her sound and happy until the Olympics. I’d like to go again for the World Cup Final in Gothenburg, too. She doesn’t need to be trained; she just needs to be kept in good condition,” noted Loses De Muñiz of Aquamarijn. “Mainly, it’s being smart about how much I show or how much she does. It’s easy with her to keep going and going because she’s a really awesome athlete, but I’ve got to be a little more selective. She’s not old, but we’re maturing. She and I are the same finally.”
In the CDI3* classes at the Grand Prix level, Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Harmony’s Duval, owned by Duval Partners LLC, separated themselves from the pack as the frontrunners. On Friday, the duo claimed first prize in the Grand Prix CDI3* with a score of 70.435% as the only exhibitor to break the 70% threshold.
“I wanted to get a little more power from him today in the Grand Prix. The piaffes in the dressage tour can really be a highlight for him,” Lyle commented of the 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Rousseau x Riverman. “He’s got a lot of power to do the extended work, and a very good ability to collect for the piaffe in dressage and pirouettes.”
Lyle and Harmony’s Duval maintained their winning streak on Sunday with a blue-ribbon ride in the Grand Prix Special CDI3* thanks to a score of 72.383%, which was just enough to edge out second-place finishers Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA) on Alcazar, who finished on a score of 71.979%.
“It feels really good [to be back]. We’re sad the owners can’t be here with us because of COVID, but they’re supporting us from long distance, and I really appreciate them,” noted Lyle, concluding, “I feel really fortunate for everybody who is making this possible for us. I love having the CDI here in December, and I hope it continues. I think it’s great to be able to get out and to get one done before the regular season starts in January.”
Kelly Layne (AUS) also had a good weekend aboard Hilfiger 3, owned by Elm Creek Holdings LLC, thanks to Small Tour victories on Friday and Sunday. The pair started strong on Friday with a score of 69.147% to claim the top spot in the Prix St. Georges CDI3*, then continued their success on Sunday as they rode to the top of the leaderboard in the Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3* with a score of 71.255%. Layne and Hilfiger 3, a 2006 Oldenburg Warmblood gelding by Hotline x Argentinus, made their competitive debut together this past November at the Global Dressage Fall Fest I in Wellington, and the partnership seems to be blossoming already as the duo continues to earn top ribbons.
Top-5 Canadian results at Global Fall Festival II include:
FEI Grand Prix CDI3* – 2. Chris Von Martels & Eclips (68.543%); 3. Jill Irving & Arthur 68.218%
FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3* – 3. Jill Irving & Arthur 69.787%; 5. Chris Von Martels & Eclips 64.830%
FEI Intermed. A CDI3* – 2. Pia Fortmuller & Kartsevo Goldfinch 68.882%
FEI Intermed.1 CDI1* – 2. Shannon Dueck & As You Wish 68.206%
FEI Intermed. A CDI3* – 4. Pia Fortmuller & Kartsevo Goldfinch 67.441%
FEI PSG for Am – 1. Chloe Gasiorowsky & Floratina
FEI PSG CDI1* – 2. Shannon Dueck & As You Wish 69.823&
For a full list of results for the Global Fall Festival II, please click HERE.
More from News:
