The riders competing in the World Dressage Masters at the 2013 CDI West Palm Beach on January 23-27 have been announced. The riders confirmed their participation and the European based horses are flown to Florida to compete head-to-head for their share of over 100,000 € in prize money.
"I think we have a fantastic line-up and we will really see top competition for this year's WDM Palm Beach," said show manager Noreen O'Sullivan. "For most of these riders, this will be the only appearance in Florida, so this is surely an event not to be missed."
U.S. Olympian Steffen Peters and Akiko Yamazali's Legolas are the U.S. top-ranked rider/horse team based in San Diego, CA. They will make the World Dressage Masters their only appearance in Florida. Fellow Olympians Adrienne Lyle and Wizard, trained by Debbie McDonald and based in Idaho, have already arrived in Florida and are training for the event. Olympic athlete Tina Konyot, based in Palm City, FL, will compete on Calecto V and Heather Blitz, who calls Wellington her winter home, will ride Paragon. James Koford and Rhett will round out the U.S. riders slated for the Masters.
"Riding at the WDM is a huge honor and is a uniquely exciting event," Blitz said. "It's a competition that draws our country's best plus the top contenders from Europe and that makes for some incredible competition. Wellington has been put on the global dressage map after hosting the WDM and it's such a boost for our community far and wide. Riding for last year's enthusiastic sell out crowd was something I'll never forget and can't wait to do again. It'll be the event of the year!"
Sweden's top two riders will also attend the event: 2012 London Olympians Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven riding Don Aurilio, ranked No. 1 in Sweden and No. 10 in the world, and Patrik Kittel on Scandic, ranked No. 2 in Sweden and No. 11 in the world. Kittel is on his way to the USA for WDM Palm Beach, his first time to compete in the U.S, since the 2010 World Equestrian Games.
The Netherland's Edward Gal and Next One, the duo that just won the Grand Prix Freestyle with a 77.35% at the 2013 CDI Drachten, Netherlands, will be competing along with fellow countryman Hans Peter Minderhoud on recently gelded Belgian warmblood Whitney van't Genthof.
Denmark will be represented by Lars Petersen riding Mariett and Lisbet Seierskilde riding Jonstrupgardens Raneur. "I am so looking forward to it," Seierskilde said of her first trip to Florida to compete.
Canada's David Marcus riding Chrevi's Capital and Jacqueline Brooks competing on D Niro, Italy's Silvia Rizzo on Donnerbube II and Australia's Nicholas Fyffe on Sentimiento I will round out the world-class line-up.
"I'm so looking forward to competing and enjoying the Florida sun and lifestyle," the German based Italian Rizzo commented. Silvia will be staying in Florida for an entire month and will be competing at two further shows at the 2013 Global Dressage Festival in Wellington.
Photo © Terri Miller
Related Link
World Dressage Masters Return to Florida in January 2013