The United States PRE Association High Point contenders dominated the national Prix St. George and Intermediare I classes at the 5* West Palm Beach Dressage show at the Global Dressage Festival last weekend. The USPRE High Point contest is held at every show in the GDF series, but was never as competitive or successful as this past weekend in Wellington.
As the CDI 5* was a Grand Prix competition only and did not field a Small Tour, the national classes contained many of the participants in the upcoming Nation’s Cup CDIO in two weeks--a Small Tour competition featuring teams from more than 10 countries.
On Friday, Endel Ots (US Team Reserve for the Pan American Games) won the Intermediare I with over 66% on Alexander Zilo’s Gorrion Penatoro. Later in the day, avid Adult Amateur competitor Lily Zilo won the Intermediare I AA with her own Esmaltado IV with 64.079%.
In Saturday’s lineup, Argentine rider Mica Mabragana, on Hampton Green Farm’s Cuatrero IV, won the Open Prix St George with 71.4%, followed later in the day by Endel Ots who again won the Intermediare I with 67.5 on Gorrion.
On Sunday, Mica took Second in the Intermediare I with Cuatrero with 68.026%, while seasoned AA rider Janne Rumbaugh won the Intermediare I AA level with 68.224% with Junior, a ten year old PRE gelding by Gaucho III.
The United States PRE Association has held the High Point contests across the United States since it was founded in 2008, to encourage owners of PRE Horses (Pura Raza Espanol) to train and compete their horses in dressage.
“We have seen a marked increase in the number of professionals riding and competing PRE horses in the past two years,” says USPRE President Kimberly Boyer. “Perhaps the achievements of Fuego and other good horses coming out of Spain have impressed on American riders the potential for success at the higher levels that these horses can offer. The fact that a group of young horses is now moving very successfully into the FEI levels with top riders is very exciting for us as an organization. It is the trajectory we have hoped for.”
The PRE explosion on the Small Tour scene is not limited to Florida. At last weekend’s Dressage in Santa Barbara, USPRE-sponsored rider Sabine Schut-Kery received a 70.526% and a 71.842% from Judge Hilda Gurney at the Prix St. Georges both days with Rhea Scott’s Marques. Sabine is preparing to bring 7-year old Marques up to the international ring in the near future.
Gliobal Dressage Festival 5* West Palm Beach High Point Winners were:
- Janne Rumbaugh—High Point AA FEI
- Mica Mabragana—High Point Open FEI
- Lily Zilo—High Point AA FEI Honorable Mention
Photos © Sue Stickle
Related Links
USPRE Celebrates Spanish Breed as Sponsor of $50,000 CDI-W at 2012 Global Dressage Festival
USPRE is ANCCE PRE Studbook Collaborating Organization in USA and Canada as of 1 February 2012
USPRE Featured Equestrian Fiesta at 2012 Global Dressage Festival
USPRE Scholarship to Support the Training and Competing of PRE Horses