U.S. dressage stars and currently ranked number two in the world, Laura Graves (USA) and Verdades performed a beautiful test and earned a score of 84.935% to win the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W, presented by the U.S. P.R.E. Association on Friday, January 25, at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. Week three of AGDF will conclude on Sunday, January 27, and AGDF continues through March 31.
“This freestyle was nice. This was the second time I’ve ridden to this music. I’m definitely feeling a little more comfortable with it,” commented Graves, who has captured medals at the Olympic Games and World Equestrian Games with Verdades, her 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Florett AS. “I’m glad to add another good score to qualifying [for the World Cup Finals]. In a normal year we’d be qualified by now, but we have one more show to do so we’ll be back at the end of February, I believe, to hopefully qualify.”
Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) and Goerklintgaards Dublet, a 16-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Diamond Hit owned by Diane Perry, came in second with a score of 82.425%.
“The weather was great for Dublet. He loves the cold weather, said Perry-Glass of her 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon (WEG) team silver medal-winning partner. “It really gets him a little bit more amped. I’m just very proud of him for this show, to come out and score a personal best in [yesterday’s] grand prix out of WEG. Unfortunately, I had a little bit of a spook coming in [the freestyle], so that kind of put me a little behind my music. I felt a little rushed throughout my choreography, but he nailed everything.”
Shelly Francis and Danilo (USA), a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding by De Niro x Annabella owned by Patricia Stempel, earned a score of 80.535% and came in third place in the freestyle.
“I just feel like my horse is really kind of liking this freestyle,” commented Francis about Danilo. “He kind of gets a little pumped up tonight with the cooler weather. It was good. He felt really fun and awesome though; he was just trying to do everything. The piaffe and passage and pirouettes are always getting better, and he’s always been pretty good about the changes. He’s kind of coming into himself.”
Judge at C Michael Osinski, pointed out – and it was confirmed – that for the first time in a dressage competition in the U.S., the top three earned above 80%. Osinski commented, “It just was an honor to watch all three of you, such elegant, harmonious, beautiful riders. It was just great, and I wish them all the best.”
AGDF Director of Sport Thomas Baur also pointed out that Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven (SWE) placed fourth and fifth with top scores above and near 79%.
“I think that we did not have many qualifiers in the Western European league this year or last year, that were that strong,” he noted. “I think we have come a long way here, and it’s pretty amazing.”
“It’s been a really exciting week for us,” said Jane Bistline of the U.S. P.R.E. Association. “We had the U.S. P.R.E. event on Wednesday night, where everyone brought their Spanish horses and we really had a nice time.
“We’re just really honored to have you here in America,” she said to the top three riders.
Earlier on Friday, Jennifer Baumert (USA) and Handsome, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Hochadel owned by Betsy Juliano LLC, won the FEI Intermediate I CDI3* presented by Horseware Ireland. The pair earned a score of 73.676%.
In the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3*, presented by Adequan®, Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA) and Alcazar, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Cantango owned by Jane Forbes Clark, won with a score of 72.319%.
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu (CAN) and All In, her 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Tango, came in second with a score of 69.936%. Yvonne Losos De Muniz (DOM) and Aquamarijn, her 14-year-old KWPN mare by United, earned a score of 68.936% for third place.
For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
Final Results: FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W, Presented by the U.S. P.R.E. Association
1. Laura Graves (USA), Verdades, 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Florett AS x Liwilards and owned by Laura Graves: 86.525%, 83.100%, 83.900%, 85.525%, 85.625%, 84. 935%
2. Kasey Perry-Glass (USA), Goerklintgaards Dublet, 16-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Diamond Hit x La Costa and owned by Diane Perry: 82.875%, 82.375%, 81.875%, 82.375%, 82.625%, 82.425%
3.Shelly Francis (USA), Danilo, 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding by De Niro x Annabella and owned by Patricia Stempel: 81.825%, 80.925%, 80.800%, 80.200%, 78.925%, 80.535%
4.Adrienne Lyle (USA), Salvino, 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Sandro Hit x Dynastie and owned by Betsy Juliano LLC: 79.925%, 78.775%, 78.125%, 80.375%, 79.475%, 79.335%
5.Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven (SWE), Don Auriello, 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Don Davidoff x Wey o Mey and owned by Lovsta Stuteri: 78.925%, 79.450%, 79.050%, 79.550%, 77.925%, 78.980%
6. Jill Irving (CAN), Degas 12, 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding by De Niro x Rosana M and owned by Jill Irving: 73.050%, 69.750%, 68.475%, 72.225%, 72.250%, 71.150%
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