Canada Off to Strong Start at WEC May Dressage CDI3*

The Hampton Green Farms World Equestrian Center (WEC) May Dressage CDI3* presented by Lugano Diamonds began on Thursday, May 23, at WEC – Ocala, and Canadian riders swept top honors. Ariana Chia and Guateque IV won the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3*, while Jill Irving and Knight were best in the Prix St. Georges CDI1*. The Hampton Green Farms WEC May Dressage CDI3* presented by Lugano Diamonds, which includes international- and national-level classes, continues through Sunday, May 26.

Chia and Guateque IV have been partnered for a year. The pair started competing at the national grand prix level in October 2023 and moved up to the CDIs in January 2024. Chia took over the ride after riding sales and young horses for the owners of Coves Darden Farm in South Carolina.

“They have a phenomenal string of PRE horses and a breeding farm,” said Chia. “We had the goal in mind to qualify for Paris for Canada. We went down that path and here we are.

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“His strong point was the piaffe work; that is always a highlight for him,” described Chia of their grand prix test, which scored 68.869%. “It had an overall flow, good harmony and felt quite confident. His changes were great, and that’s been a part we’ve been working to improve. He was really steady and expressive, so that was awesome.”

Guateque IV is a 14-year-old PRE stallion by Layco x Salinero XIII and “the least stallionish stallion I’ve ever been around,” remarked Chia. “Anybody could handle him or take him on a hack. He’s the ultimate sweetheart. He wants to do it, and that makes him so special.

“He is a typical PRE in the sense that his mind is phenomenal,” she continued. “That’s one of the things I like the most about PREs. They’re very logical and straightforward in many ways, but also sensitive, which makes a good grand prix horse. He’s wonderful and been a fantastic partner. It doesn’t matter what venue we’re at, he takes it all in stride like he’s been there a million times, which is a fantastic quality. He’s a great teammate.”

Chia, who is originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and now based in Wellington, FL, will compete with Guateque IV in Friday night’s Hampton Green Farms May Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* presented by Lugano Diamonds, only their second freestyle together. Spectators will be clapping their hands through Guateque’s test, which includes music from Kygo, Gryffin and Coldplay.

Naima Moreira Laliberte (CAN) and Inspire, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Vitalis x Glock’s Johnson TN owned by KML Inc. scored 67.109% for second place in the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3*. Third place went to Chase Shipka (USA) and her own 13-year-old KWPN gelding Gladstone Zee T (Apache x Jazz) with 65.171%.

Jill Irving and Knight Win PSG

Fellow Canadian Jill Irving topped the Prix St. Georges CDI1* with Knight. They scored 67.647% for their second Prix St. Georges victory in a row in Knight’s fourth-ever CDI class.

A woman riding a bay horse in a dressage arena.

Jill Irving bought Knight as a four-year-old, and they have won two Prix St. Georges classes in a row. (Andrew Ryback Photography)

“Knight has a fabulous walk,” said Irving. “That really helps your mark when you can add points there.”

Indeed, the judging panel of Kerrie Swan-Bates (AUS), Agnieszka Majewska (POL), Peter Storr (GBR), Kari McClain (USA) and Sandra Andrea Smith (ARG) gave Knight three scores of 7.0 as well as two 7.5s in the collected walk, while the extended walk scored an 8.0 from the judge at E.

Irving purchased Knight as a four-year-old during the pandemic having only seen him on video, but she trusted her friend Chantal van Lanen in the Netherlands, who rode the young horse multiple times and reported on his qualities.

Irving has focused on her grand prix horses in recent years, so Knight did not compete at the FEI level until 2024. Despite the lack in international competition experience, Knight entered the atmospheric WEC Grand Arena like a seasoned campaigner.

“He just walked in there and lit up, performed, and was totally relaxed,” she said of the nine-year-old KWPN gelding by Blue Hors Zack x IPS Krack C. “He’s a true show horse, and he does his job. It’s quite remarkable, so we will see where he goes in the future.”

Irving was pleased with Thursday’s small tour test, and she does not plan to compete Knight further this week while she focuses on the grand prix with her top horse Genesis. Irving trains with Olympian Ashley Holzer, and she has entrusted some of Knight’s education and growth to Canadian Olympian, Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, who rode Knight while Irving competed in Europe during the summers.

Irving expressed, “It’s no stress with this horse, and I just enjoy him. I want to do well, pat him and have him go home. He thinks it’s a great life!”

Charlotte Osborne (GBR) rode Escada RB, a 10-year-old Rheinlander mare by Escolar x Fidertanz to 65.912% for owner Chantelle Noble. With 65.647%, Shelly Francis (USA) and Dante, her 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Danone II x Andiamo 28, placed third.

The Hampton Green Farms WEC May Dressage CDI3* presented by Lugano Diamonds continues on Friday, May 24, with the Grand Prix for Special CDI3* opening up the day at 8am, followed by the Intermediate I CDI1* and the Junior Team Competition CDIJ. The highlight class, the Hampton Green Farms May Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* presented by Lugano Diamonds, begins at 7:10pm under the lights in the WEC Grand Arena. For more information, visit www.wec.net.

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