World Equestrian Center – Ocala opened its doors to international dressage competitors on Thursday, April 15, and will host the World Equestrian Center Dressage III CDI3*, through Sunday, April 18, 2021.
The World Equestrian Center Dressage III CDI3* is the first international competition sanctioned by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) to be held at the new World Equestrian Center – Ocala venue. The competition serves as an Olympic qualifying event with class offerings including the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle as well as Prix St. Georges, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 1 Freestyle and more.
Horses were presented to the ground jury on Thursday afternoon with CDI competition beginning on Friday at 8 a.m. with the FEI Prix St. Georges CDI3*. The FEI Grand Prix CDI3* will be on Friday at 1 p.m., while the fan-favorite FEI Grand Prix Freestyle is on Saturday at 6 p.m. The FEI Grand Prix Special takes place on Sunday at 10 a.m.
Riders such as Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Holzer (USA); Pan American Games individual and team gold medalist Sarah Lockman (USA); fellow American dressage riders Shelly Francis, Catherine Haddad-Staller, Anna Marek, Mikala Munter, and Melissa Taylor; as well as Canadian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, who earned double silver medals at the 2015 Pan American Games; highlight a contingent of more than 70 entries in the CDI.
Friday Ride Times here.
Jill Irving, who won a team gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games and also competed at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games for Canada, was thrilled with her first impressions of World Equestrian Center – Ocala.
“It’s fantastic, and I specifically love that they invested in the landscaping,” said Irving. “It’s very horse friendly. As a horse person, it’s great for all horse people and all sports. The people are so friendly. It’s made for horses.”
Irving brought her top horses, Degas 12 and Arthur, to compete in the CDI.
“It’s great to ride at a new venue and to ride new indoors; we haven’t done that in a while due to COVID,” she explained. “The last time I was at a new venue was the Pan Am Games in 2019 in Lima, Peru. It’s super important going into the Olympic Games for everybody to experience competing in a new setting. We are lucky to have this. I’m really happy to be here.”
Irving and Fraser-Beaulieu will be joined in the Grand Prix division by fellow Canadians Evi Strasser (Deja Vu Tyme, Disney Tyme), Naima Moreira Laliberte (Statesman), Lindsay Kellock (Sebastien), Chris von Martels (Eclips), and Krystalann Shingler (Fidelio).
Along with CDI3* competition, a Level V-rated United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) national dressage show is running concurrently, which will qualify horses and riders for the USEF Dressage National Championships, GAIG/USDF regional championships, as well as dressage scores for year-end awards and rider awards.
Dressage fans can enjoy wall-to-wall livestreaming of the event courtesy of ClipMyHorse.tv.
An equestrian lifestyle destination unlike anywhere in the world, World Equestrian Center – Ocala offers exhibitors, trainers, owners and guests an endless list of Florida horse show amenities and superior customer service.
For more information on World Equestrian Center – Ocala, visit www.wec.net.
More from News:
