Ashley Holzer (USA) and Havanna 145 strutted to victory in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 3* at Tryon Spring Dressage 1 CDI 3* presented by Adequan® at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), dancing in tandem to music compiled by Tom Hunt and earning a total score of 77.225%. Jill Irving (CAN) and Arthur, her own 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Jazz x Contango), grabbed reserve honors on a score of 74.075%, while Jessica Jo Tate (USA) and Kynynmont Gunsmoke’s Gideon, 2008 Connemara Cross gelding (Gun Smoke x Kynynmont Tara) owned by Pam Liddell, combined to receive a score of 67.925% and third place.

“I’m thrilled. I’m really over the moon with her,” emphasized Holzer of the 2007 Hanoverian mare (Hochadel x Rodgau) owned by Diane Fellows. “We had a bit of a setback last year, so this is her just sort of coming out of it, and she is really exceeding my expectations. The one little mistake she made was completely my mistake and she was just phenomenal. She kept answering the call and I had some moments even in the warm-up where she’s just bringing it to another level.”

Holzer and Havanna danced to “Havana,” bringing some sauce with the new floor plan. There were several aspects of their performance that Holzer was particularly excited about, she detailed: “I was really hoping in the beginning to just flow with her. Sometimes I get a little aggressive in my forward and it ends up looking a little rushed and hectic, and think she flowed really well through the first half pass and then coming up to the first passage, and I was really thrilled with the way that flowed to the music.”

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