Although Ashley Holzer’s young new mount is named after a Hollywood picture, Breaking Dawn aka “Edward” is far from a seasoned performer. In fact, tonight was his first ever CDI3* Freestyle to Music. But you’d never know it. The pair swept the two-day, $40,000 CDI3* competition, consisting of the Grand Prix yesterday afternoon and the Freestyle this evening in front of an enthusiastic and educated crowd at the 89th Royal Horse Show in Toronto, Canada.
“It’s such an incredible feeling to have a horse that you know hasn’t done this before - to come in and not only step up and do the job he did, in the atmosphere he was in - but to do it in a way that he was really working with me and happy to be trying his best instead of freaking out,” raved an excited Holzer following the awards. “We all know it’s a tough venue to work in! He just amazed me in so many ways. A - He showed me that he’s got what it takes. And B - Not only does he have what it takes, he LOVES doing it. No matter how loud the crowd cheered, he was soaking it in and feeding off it.”
For a horse that only learned flying changes six weeks ago, Holzer’s mount had a positive, consistent test which highlighted his superb, rhythmical, ‘marching’ trot work.
Ingrid MacAulay, President of the Ground Jury and Hilda Gurney, Judge at ‘C’ tonight, had nothing but good things to say about Holzer’s plans for Edward.
“I was delighted with Breaking Dawn and I think he’s really a horse of the future,” remarked Gurney. “His piaffe was fabulous and his passage is really on the right track. He’s really expressive, he is capable of everything. As a horse just starting the Grand Prix, I think he’s just a super horse for the future of Canada. I’m delighted to have judged him, it was quite an honour. He’s only going to get better.”
Victoria Winter finished in second tonight, equally pleased with the performance of her mount Proton, a seasoned campaigner having been previously competed by owner Cindy Ishoy.
“I was really thrilled with Proton tonight,” said Winter. Even though he’s been in that ring a number of times, both with myself and with Cindy, he always gets nervous in there and always gets backed off with the crowd. He was really listening to me tonight and he piaffed really well with no mistakes, he really pulled through for me.”
When asked to comment on the level of competition in the dressage arena at the Royal Horse Show, Ms. Gurney was effusive in her praise.
“I was thrilled with the Freestyles. I thought all the horses performed better tonight. I was so pleased with the music, and the huge audience - the stands were almost full. The horses performed beautifully - it was just a fabulous evening.” Gurney concluded.
Related Links
Scores 2011 CDI Toronto
Holzer and Breaking Dawn Top Grand Prix at 2011 CDI Toronto
