Pia Fortmuller of Priddis, AB, currently residing and training in Germany, earned impressive results at the CDI3* Radzionkow, Poland May 3-5.
Fortmuller and Orion, her 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by Jazz, took on a highly competitive field in Sunday’s FEI Grand Prix Freestyle where the duo’s impressive performance earned them the second place ribbon with a final score of 71.375%; only one of two 70.0% scores awarded by the judges in that class.
In their FEI Grand Prix test, Fortmuller and Orion took home the third place ribbon on a final score of 68.872%. The pair bested Eleana Sidneva (RUS, 66.851%) on Romero-Star by 2.02%, narrowly missing second place by just 1.06%.
“I was very proud of both Fabella B and Orion, especially because of their performances in their respective Freestyles on Sunday,” commented Fortmuller, the second reserve for the Canadian team at the London 2012 Olympic Games. “Orion has a new Freestyle that we tried out for the first time this weekend. It’s much more difficult than our previous Freestyle and he stepped up to the challenge. We truly had a blast dancing together.”
On day one of the competition, Fortmuller, aboard Fabella B, her 11-year-old Rheinlander mare sired by Fidermark, took fourth place in the FEI Prix St. George on a final score of 65.079% moving Fabrizio Sigismondi (CZE, 64.921%) on Apropos into fifth place by a mere .155% difference between their respective final scores, and barely missed taking second place by 1.39%. In the Intermediaire I, they took another fourth with a final score of 64.553%. The pair then went on to compete in Sunday’s FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle placing second with a final score of 66.625%, ahead of Poland’s Izabela Dyrek on Kolibri’s AS II (66.250%) besting their score by .374%, impressive results for Fabella B for her maiden appearance at a CDI event.
“I was delighted with Fabella’s performance this past weekend. This was her first ever CDI event and she improved every day of the competition. I’ve only had Fabella for 7 months now and in that short time we have really become a team. I am really optimistic about this mare’s potential,” said Fortmuller.
The FEI Officials for the event included Wacław Pruchniewicz (POL), Wojciech Markowski (POL), Mariette Withages (BEL), Orsolya Hillier (HUN), Irina Maknami (RUS), Barbara Ardu (ITA), and Carlos Lopez (POR).
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