Some of California’s top FEI riders participated in Dressage Getaway's second in a series of three shows that mark the beginning of the California 2011 show season. Blessed with excellent weather, the competition was superb with several high class rides and top scores, which raises hope for the future with the 2012 Olympic Games in sight.
Former Olympian Kathleen Raine reigned supreme riding her Hanoverian mare Breanna (by Brentano II) in just the mare’s second Grand Prix show. The pair won the Open Grand Prix classes on Friday and Saturday with scores of 71.7% and 73.4%. Both rides were impressive and it will be fun to watch as Breanna matures throughout the show season. Shannon Peters and Odyssey also put in two very nice rides in the Open Grand Prix, placing 3rd on Friday with a score of 64.8% and 2nd on Saturday with 70.3%.
David Blake saddled two horses: his 2007 World Young Horse Championship mount Lord Albert (by Londonderry x Brentano) and his newest horse, the rising 13-year old Hanoverian stallion Flasterbo (by Fidermark x Brentano II), who is growing stronger with each class. David placed 2nd on Lord Albert with a score of 72.1% and 3rd on Flasterbo with 69.7% in the Open Prix St. George on Friday – a class won by Steffen Peters on Pallas with a score of 72.3%. David and Lord Albert won 1st in the Open Intermediaire I with 73.1% and 3rd on Flasterbo 71.3% on Saturday.
Aboard her grey Strauss, Cyndi Jackson from Arizona won the Open Intermediaire II on Friday with a score 70.78% and placed 4th with 64.0% in the Open Grand Prix test of choice on Saturday, and placed 1st with a score of 69.3% in the Open Grand Prix on Sunday.
Sue Blinks riding Robin Hood looked very strong in the Open FEI Test of Choice with a score of 77.5% on Saturday and 76.5% on Sunday. Steffen Peters and Weltino's Magic were the FEI High Point winners of the show, winning the $1,000 Open FEI Test of Choice with a fantastic and well deserved score of 79.3%.
On the FEI amateur side, Akiko Yamazaki on her new mare De La Noche won the Prix St. George both Friday and Saturday with scores of 61.8% and 67.1%, respectively. Sheryl Ross riding Lancaster at the pair’s first show after sweeping the Region 7 Prix St. George Championships in 2010 had a strong outing in the Amateur Intermediaire I, placing 2nd both Friday and Saturday with a score of 66.3% both days behind Tessa Rae Dick, riding Wahall with scores of 67.8% and 71.8% respectively.
Text and Photos © Sheryl Ross
Related Links
Scores 2011 CDN Thermal
Breanna, A New Hope for Kathleen Raine