American West Coast riders began their journeys towards qualification for the Pan American Games today in Burbank, CA as part of the Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI. Contesting the FEI Prix St. Georges Test, a very competitive field of fifteen U.S., Canadian, and German riders and horses thoroughly impressed FEI judges Jayne Ayers ("I" USA), Natalie Lamping ("I" USA), and Lorraine MacDonald ("I" CAN).
"Today's class was fun to judge," said Ayers. "We saw so many good horses, and they were very well ridden."
Emerging the victor was Steffen Peters riding Jen Hlavacek's nine-year-old Westfalen gelding Weltino's Magic (by Weltino) with an impressive score of 76.272%. Marisa Festerling and the Belgian warmblood gelding Big Tyme (by Saros van het Gestelhof) finished second on 72.719%, while San Diego based Rebecca Rigdon and Solei (by Aljano x Lorentin I) were third on 69.298%.
Earlier in the day, Peters rode his WEG Bronze Medal-winning partner Ravel (by Contango x Democraat) in the national Grand Prix test to a 75.532% as a final preparation for the World Dressage Masters next month.
In the CDI Young Rider division, Mackinzie Pooley rode 20-year old KWPN keur mare Jonkara (by Rubinstein x Meitheister) to a winning score of 70.877% in the Team Test, while Taylor Lindsten and Raoul claimed the blue ribbon in the Junior Team Test.
Related Links
Scores 2011 CDI Burbank
Tom Dvorak Leading Canadian at the 2011 CDI-W West Palm Beach