Canadian Paralympian, Jody Schloss of Toronto, ON earned back-to-back victories in the Grade I division at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) CPEDI 3*, held Mar. 10-12 in Wellington, FL. It marked the final CPEDI held at the acclaimed Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) of the season.
Eleven horse and rider combinations from Canada and the United States competed in classes from Grade I through Grade V over the course of the weekend, including multiple World Equestrian Games’ riders and Paralympians.
Partnered with her newest mount, Lieutenant Lobin (Lobster x Fanal Prydsholm), Schloss’s first victory came on opening day with a win in the Grade I Team Test on Mar. 10. She and Lieutenant Lobin, her 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding earned a score of 69.524%.
The following day, Schloss and her mount, known affectionately around the stables as Lobin, returned to the stadium for the Individual Test. Topping their earlier score, the pair finished with a mark of 71.250%. The pair also claimed second in the Freestyle on Mar. 12, with a 70.333%.
Schloss, who made her Paralympic debut at the 2012 London Olympics, only began competing with Lobin last season. Since then the pair have enjoyed a string of successes, including a number of second and third place finishes at Wellington earlier this season and in 2016.
“I’m really happy with my performance, Lobin and I did so well,” exclaimed Schloss, who trains with Canadian dressage competitor Jessica Rhinelander. “The experience here in Wellington has been really good. I had a great time with the whole team. Every one was very supportive.”
With Wellington now behind them, Schloss is already looking forward to a bright future with Lobin.
“I’m really excited about the future for Lobin and I,” she said. “I intend to keep competing internationally with him.”
Also competing for Canada in the Grade I division was 2016 Paralympian Robyn Andrews of St. John’s NL, aboard Fancianna, her 16-year-old Friesian/Andalusian mare. The duo claimed second place in the Team and Individual Tests, receiving scores of 68.274% and 69.286%, respectively. But it was during the Freestyle that once again proved this exciting pair is one to watch.
They scored an impressive 73.222% to top the leaderboard and close out the CPEDI 3* on a high note, setting a new personal best at CPEDI-level competition. Her previous personal best was a 73.056% in the Freestyle, which came as part of a trio of wins during the CPEDI 3* held Jan. 19-22 in Wellington.
“I was very pleased with all of my performances,” said Andrews. “Fancy was very good in the warm-up and it really showed through in my Freestyle. Wellington really is my winter home.”
Looking ahead, Andrews hopes to once again represent Canada at the World Equestrian Games (WEG), happening in 2018 in Tyron, NC. She previously represented her home nation during WEG 2014 in Normandy, FRA.
Making her CPEDI debut was Canadian para-equestrian athlete Laura Hall of Ladysmith, BC. Riding Boo Sinclair (Sir Sinclair x Noble Nashua), an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by American Dr. Heather Boo, Hall captured two third-place finishes in the Grade IV division. On Mar. 10, she and Boo Sinclair scored 65.750% in the Team Test, following it up a day later with a 65.203% in the Individual Test.
“It was fantastic,” Hall exclaimed of her debut. “I had a great time and learned so much. It was such a memorable experience. Meeting all the riders and talking to them about their experiences was a definite highlight. The best part was going down that centreline for the first time in the stadium, such an amazing feeling! It was also an honour to ride for Team Canada, which has always been a dream of mine, and to be on that team with two great Paralympians.”
Adding to the excitement for Hall was testing the waters with a new equine partner.
“Boo Sinclair is an amazing horse, he is so willing and gives such a great feeling in those moments when I get it right,” she said. “We had only been together for five days prior to this show. My coach, Karen Pavicic, knew his owner, Heather Boo, who was excited to see Boo Sinclair strut his stuff in the stadium and agreed to let me ride him in this CPEDI. He performed so well and handled everything with a great attitude. I think he’ll be fantastic as part of the para world!” The Canadian team at the CPEDI 3* was supported by Team Massage Therapist Caroline Archambault, Equestrian Canada (EC) Head of Sport Science Jessica Dilliott and the recently appointed Para-Dressage High Performance Program Technical Leader, Clive Milkins, who has been involved in para-dressage for over 25 years.
“It is very exciting to be a part of a young dynamic team with lots of potential for future,” said Milikins, who was appointed earlier this month and will report directly to Jon Garner, EC Director of Sport. “In amongst our experienced athletes Robyn and Jody we welcomed Laura hall on Dr. Heather Boo’s horse Boo Sinclair. Although a relatively new combination with Laura only riding the horse a handful of times, they are an exciting combination for the future. A special thank you to Heather Boo for loaning Boo Sinclair to the team. This competition has been a valuable experience in both riding and team bonding. The future looks bright for Canadian para-dressage.”
For more information and complete results from the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, click here.
Top Canadian Results – CPEDI 3* Wellington
FEI Para Team Test – Grade I
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Jody Schloss / Lieutenant Lobin / Jody Schloss / 69.524%
2nd / Robyn Andrews / Fancianna / Robyn Andrews / 68.274%
FEI Para Individual Test – Grade I
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Jody Schloss / Lieutenant Lobin / Jody Schloss / 71.250%
2nd / Robyn Andrews / Fancianna / Robyn Andrews / 69.286%
FEI Para Freestyle – Grade I
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
1st / Robyn Andrews / Fancianna / Robyn Andrews / 73.222%
2nd / Jody Schloss / Lieutenant Lobin / Jody Schloss / 70.333%
FEI Para Team Test – Grade IV
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
3rd / Laura Hall / Boo Sinclair / Heather Boo / 65.750%
FEI Para Individual Test – Grade IV
Placing / Rider / Horse / Owner / Score
3rd / Laura Hall / Boo Sinclair / Heather Boo / 65.203%
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