Chris Von Martels Wins th eFEI CDI 1* Intermediaire 1 Freestyle at the AGDF

Chris Von Martels (CAN) and Zilverstar finished the last day of competition at Week 5 of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) with a win in the FEI CDI 1* Intermediaire 1 Freestyle presented by Mission Control. Von Martels and Zilverstar finished the afternoon on a 75.650% followed by Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (USA) and Rassing’s Lonoir scoring a 71.184% and Dawn White-O’Connor (USA) and Aristo coming in third with a 71.400%.

Von Martels was very happy with his test today and felt Zilverstar got better with each test in Week 5. The pair placed 5th in the Prix St. Georges on Thursday, 7th in the Intermediaire 1 on Friday, and finished the week off with a win in the Freestyle.

“I was thrilled with Zilver. He was totally on his game and he was able to show a lot of his strengths and highlights throughout the tests, which is always a really nice thing to accomplish,” he said. “He was fantastic throughout the whole week, so I’m really pleased with everything.”

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As the pair looks to qualify for the Pan American Games, Von Martels feels like he has a good idea of where he needs to put in work to prepare.

“With every show you go home with a little bit of homework. For instance, I rode quite early in the class and the morning in the Intermediaire, it was cold and windy and I could have used 5 to 10 more minutes in the warm-up to get that focus,” he explained. “Those are the little details you always need to pay attention to and use to your advantage the next time.”

The extremely talented gelding continues to grow stronger and Von Martels expects big things to come from Zilverstar in the future.

“I’ve been riding him for three years now and he just has so much quality. He’s very sensitive and intelligent. It’s actually quite fun because when you have a horse like that and you do build a relationship, in the long term it gives you a lot more,” Von Martels expressed. “He does have quite a few highlights and strengths. His extended trot and his half-passes and his pirouettes and flying changes can be brilliant when he is in his best form.”

The Adequan® Global Dressage Festival will continue on February 19-22, 2015 with CDI 3*/4* competition, sponsored by Havensafe Farm and the Dutta Corp. respectively. To learn more about the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival and for schedules and ride times, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com for more information.

FEI CDI 1* Intermediaire 1 Freestyle presented by Mission Control
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total%

1. Chris Von Martels (CAN), Zilverstar, 2004 Dutch Warmblood gelding, Rosseau x Hutricia x Rossini: 76.125%, 76.000%, 76.250%, 74.000%, 75.875%, 75.650%

2. Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (USA), Rassing’s Lonoir, 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding, De Noir x Lorani x Loran: 75.125%, 73.625%, 73.750%, 74.625%, 73.875%, 74.200%,

3. Dawn White-O’Connor (USA), Aristo, 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding, Olivi x Selina x Krack C: 73.750%, 68.875%, 71.500%, 72.250%, 70.625%, 71.400%

4. Christopher Hickey (USA), Ronaldo, 2006 Danish Warmblood gelding, Blue Hors Romanov x Trostruplunds Scarlet x Blue Hors Don Schufro: 70.875%, 68.125%, 70.625%, 71.375%, 71.625%, 70.525%

5. Denielle Gallagher-Legriffon (CAN), Argo Conti Time, 2002 Oldenburg stallion, Argentinus x Alina x Continue: 72.250%, 67.000%, 69.875%, 69.625%, 73.000%, 70.350%

6. Jill Irving (CAN), Dio Mio, 2003 Hanoverian gelding, De Niro x Comtess x Charmer: 70.750%, 70.875%, 70.750%, 71.625%, 67.625%, 70.325%

7. Tina Irwin (CAN), Fancy That, 2006 Oldenburg mare, Donerschwee x Feiherr x Falaise: 70.875%, 70.375%, 67.375%, 71.625%, 68.625%, 69.775%

8. Silva Martin (USA), Rosa Cha W, 2006 Australian Warmblood mare, Redardez Moi x Jasmine W x Richmeed Medallion: 70.375%, 67.875%, 68.250%, 70.375%, 71.250%, 69.625%