Paired with her 2012 Olympic mount, D Niro (D-Day x Napoleon 625), a 15-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, Jacqueline Brooks won the Grand Prix Freestyle test at the Royal Invitational, presented by Butternut Ridge, during the evening performance at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, on November 13, 2014.
Riding to a custom classical freestyle designed by Kurboom, Brooks of Cedar Valley, Ont., had the crowd entranced with the unison of her horse with her dramatic music selection. For their fantastic test, which highlighted their strong piaffe and passage, Brooks earned a score of 73.750%.
“What a great way to end the season,” said Brooks, who has been working with D Niro, owned by Mary Brooks of Brookhaven Dressage Inc., for just over three years. “We made this freestyle last fall and debuted it the second month we were in Florida this year. I can really let him show himself off, which he enjoys.”
Karen Pavicic of Surrey, B.C., finished in second place in the Grand Prix Freestyle riding her 2014 World Equestrian Games partner, Don Daiquiri, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding sired by Don Cardinale. Using very modern music featuring One Republic, American Authors and Avicii, Pavicic received a score of 73.167%.
“It was such an amazing atmosphere tonight. It was super exciting, and the crowd was great” said Pavicic, who co-owns Don Daiquiri with Jayne Essig. “I am really proud of my horse. This was his first time in an indoor ring like The Royal. He is still a young horse at only 12-years-old, and we have had an amazing year and an amazing finish to my year.”
Riding Pop Art (Amsterdam X Cabochon), a 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Moreen Nicoll and Rusty Holzer, Jill Irving of Moncton, N.B., finished in third spot with a score of 70.458%. In fourth was Brittany Fraser of New Glasgow, N.S., riding Countess (Don X Solos), her 12-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, earning a final score of 69.625%.
The officiating judges for the Grand Prix Freestyle test at the Royal Invitational, presented by Butternut Ridge, were Lorraine MacDonald (CAN) at M, Joan Macartney (CAN) at E and Peter Holler (GER) at C.
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