Pia Fortmuller Preps from Aachen

Pia Fortmuller of Priddis, AB, currently living and training in Germany with Olympic medalist, Heike Kemmer, contested the CDI3* Arnhem, May 30 to June 2nd, at the National Sport Centrum Papendal, in the Netherlands.

Fortmuller and Orion, her 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by Jazz, took on a highly seasoned international field in Saturday’s FEI Grand Prix Freestyle where the duo’s splendid performance under the lights earned them a seventh place finish on a final score of 71.800%, sending Great Britain’s duo of Amy Stovold (70.775%)and Dubonnet into eighth place.

In Friday’s FEI Grand Prix test, Fortmuller and Orion took home sixth with final score of 67.915%. The pair bested Coach Heike Kemmer of Germany (67.191%), on Quantico, by 0.724%, and just missed the ribbons by 1.064%.

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“I was very proud of Orion’s clean Grand Prix and Freestyle Tests this past weekend, he’s really steady and going so well. We’ve been a team now for three and a half years and it has been incredibly rewarding. We know each other so well now that I can support his needs,” commented Fortmuller, the second reserve for the Canadian team at the London 2012 Olympic Games. “This event was very important to us in prep for Aachen at the end of the month. The atmosphere there is huge and very similar to Arnhem. Like Aachen, this event was at night under huge flood lights so it gave us a chance to experience a similar environment, and more importantly, a second opportunity to perform the new Freestyle that we débuted last month in Poland. We’re super excited to be going to Aachen again.”

On day one of the competition, and in only their second international appearance since their debut at the CDI3* Radzionkow, Fortmuller, and her partner Fabella B, an 11-year-old Rheinlander mare sired by Fidermark, took 10th place in the FEI Prix St. George on a final score of 64.816%. In the Intermediaire I, they won fourth on a final score of 64.158%, a result that edged Shelly Francis of the US (63.500%), riding Danilo, into fifth by 0.658%.

“I was pleased with Fabella’s performance overall. I’ve only had her for 7 months and no matter what I ask of her, she continually steps up to the plate. She did super well performing under the lights which can be a huge challenge. I am really optimistic about this mare’s potential,” said Fortmuller. “For now we’ll focus on building her strength and consistency for future competitions.”

The FEI Officials for the event included Eddy deWolff, President Ground Jury (NED), Christophe Umbach (LUX), Kirsten Soegaard (DEN), Adriann Homoen (NED), and Peter Holler (GER).

For complete results go to: http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2013/05/30/scores-2013-cdi-arnhem