Ottawa, Ontario—Three-time Canadian Olympian Ashley Holzer of Toronto, ON, finished in second place in the Grand Prix today with her 2008 Olympic mount, Pop Art, at the $130,000 Exquis World Dressage Masters, held January 29–31 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, in Wellington, FL, USA.
Out of an accomplished international field of 20 top riders, Holzer and Pop Art (Amsterdam x Cabochon), a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Rusty Holzer and Ian and Moreen Nicoll, earned a top score of 71.319% in the Grand Prix test. This score bettered the one the duo earned a week ago at the Gold Coast Opener, where they were awarded a 70.298%.
“I was incredible to have the European competitors here,” remarked Holzer. “Since I drew third to go in the ring, and right after Anky van Grunsven, I had made a pact with myself to aim for a clean accurate test.”
Holzer’s top score easily placed her at the top of the competition, ahead of the reigning Olympic gold medalist Anky van Grunsven of the Netherlands, who earned a 66.936% on IPS Painted Black. First place went to American Olympian Steffen Peters and his Olympic mount Ravel with a score of 75.574%. The judges awarded 71.149%, which was good for third place, to Hans-Peter Minderhoud, also of the Netherlands, and Exquis Escapado.
The $130,000 Exquis World Dressage Masters will continue tomorrow with the highlight of the competition, the Grand Prix Fresstyle, under the lights at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Complete results for the Exquis World Dressage Masters may be found at http://www.palmbeachworlddressagemasters.com/scores.html.
The international judging panel including Stephen Clarke (FEI O—GBR), Wim Ernes (FEI O—NED), Evi Eisenhardt (FEI O—GER), Janet Foy (FEI I—US) Liselotte Fore (FEI I—USA), and Sarah Geikie (FEI C—USA).
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