Canadians Holzer and Ziegler Sweep 2014 Dressage at Devon CDI-W

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2014 CDI-W Devon

Toronto native Ashley Holzer took top spot in the Grand Prix at the renowned CDI-W Dressage at Devon, held September 24–28, 2014, in Devon, Pa. Canadians swept the majority of the classes at Devon with Young Rider David Ziegler scoring a hattrick to boot.

Holzer, who currently resides in New York, opened the competition in a big way capturing first place in the Grand Prix for Freestyle with a score of 69.680% on Tiva Nana (by Metall x Cabochon), P.J. Rizvi’s 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare. The pair also handily won the Grand Prix Freestyle with 76.125%. The average of their scores from Devon and the previous CDI at Saugerties, NY has them sitting in first place in the World Cup North American League standings. They have not lost a Grand Prix class since the end of March, with wins at Wellington, Saugerties and now Devon.

“It was thrilling to ride PJ Rizvi's Tiva Nana at Devon this weekend. She gave it her all,” said Holzer. “I was so proud of her. The music for my freestyle by Kurboom, was a huge hit. The crowd loved it. To win Devon is such a thrill.”

Taking second place (69.180%) in the Grand Prix for Freestyle was 2014 World Equestrian Games team member Karen Pavicic of Surrey, BC and Don Daiquiri, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding sired by Don Cardinale. Pavicic, who co-owns Don Daiquiri with Jayne Essig, was also second in the Grand Prix Freestyle, scoring 73.575%. Canadian Olympian Jacqueline Brooks and her 2012 Olympic partner D Niro, (by D-Day x Napoleon 625), Mary Brooks and Brookhaven Dressage Inc’s 15-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, were fourth in both the Grand Prix test (67.420%) and the Grand Prix Freestyle (71.725%). Jill Irving of Moncton, NB, rode Pop Art (by Amsterdam x Cabochon), Moreen Nicoll and Rusty Holzer’s 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, to a fifth place finish in the Grand Prix test (67.220%) and seventh place in the Grand Prix Freestyle with 71.475%. Finishing in seventh in the Grand Prix test was Brittany Fraser of New Glasgow, NS and Countess, her own 11-year-old Danish Warmblood (by Donnerhall) earning a score of 66.360%. Stephanie Jensen of Blackstock, ON, was ninth in the Grand Prix Freestyle riding her 15-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, Addiction (by Amiral x Head of River). Fraser and Countess rounded out the Canadians in the Freestyle scoring 66.525% for 11th place.

“I was also so proud of all of my students. Jill Irving and Poppy won the top amateur award in the Grand Prix and scored over 70 in the freestyle,” continued Holzer. “Jacqueline Brooks had two great rides on D Niro, and was a huge crowd favorite placing fourth. Brittany Fraser received her highest Grand Prix score to date with Countess, and Jill was also third in the Intermediate I with Dio Mio. It was a super weekend.”

In the Grand Prix Special, Leah Wilson of Palgrave, ON rode Fabian J.S. (by Feiner Graf x Denberg), Maria Simpson’s 15-year-old Hanoverian to third place (69.235%). Riding Fling (by Florestan I x Montmartre), Tom Dvorak’s 14-year-old Westphalian gelding, Alexandra Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON won the Under 25 Freestyle with a score of 67.950%.

Trussell and Tattoo Working their Way to the Top

In the CDI3* classes, Pavicic’s WEG teammate, Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, ON rode Tattoo (by Tuareg x Ramiro’s Son), her 11-year-old Westphalian gelding, to second place in Intermediate I (70.316%). Irving and Dio Mio (by De Niro x Charmeur), an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Irving and Windhaven, were third, with 70.053%. Megan Lane, who was also a member of the CET at the 2014 WEG, of Loretto, ON finished in sixth place with San D’or (by Sandro Hit x Cocktail), Deer Ridge Equestrian’s eight-year-old Westphalian gelding, on a score of 69.211%, while Rebecca Cowden, who resides in Califon, NJ, was eighth (69.000%) aboard Arami (Akinos x Fanal Prydsholm), Pam Wildman’s 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding. With Cantaris (by Compliment x Eiger I), Elizabeth Ferber’s 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Shannon Dueck, who is currently based in Florida, finished in 10th place with 68.289%.

Dueck and Cantaris were the top Canadians, in fourth, in the Intermediate I Freestyle with 70.725%, while Tom Dvorak was fifth riding Ribot with 70.150%. Denielle Gallagher-Legriffon and Evi Strasser’s Argo-Conti Tyme (Agentinus x Continue), a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding, were seventh, scoring 69.725%. Canadian Olympian Evi Strasser of Sainte Adele, QC rode her 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Rigaudon Tyme (Rosario x Calypso II), to ninth place, scoring 68.000%.

Lane was the highest scoring Canadian, in fourth with 69.605%, in the Prix St. Georges test riding San D’or. Riding Allegro II (Negretto x Grannex), Sally N. Alksnis’ eight-year-old British Sport Horse gelding, Dueck was fifth with 69.430%. Tina Irwin of Stouffville, ON, with Fancy That (Donnerschweg x Frelherr), an eight-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Christine Faux, was seventh with 68.772%. Dueck, riding Cantaris, was 10th, scoring 68.158%.

Hattrick for David Ziegler

Sweeping the Young Rider division was David Ziegler of Beiseker, AB, riding Peninsula Top Man, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse sired by Kings Master. The pair scored 67.263% for first in the Team Test, 71.272% for the win in the Individual Test and secured the hat-trick with 71.700% in the Freestyle Test.

David Ziegler on Peninsula Top Man “I’m on cloud nine after our weekend at Devon,” said Ziegler, who also won individual silver in the Young Riders division at the 2014 North American Junior Young Riders Championships with Peninsula Top Man. “I couldn’t be happier with my horse. He handled the atmosphere like a champ and gave me everything he had. It was encouraging seeing my scores get better and better each day.

“I have an all-star team producing me and my horse, and it was great to see the fruits of their labour come out over the weekend,” added Ziegler, who is also an international eventing rider.

Tanya Strasser-Shostak of Ste. Adele, QC rode Action Tyme, Evi Strasser’s 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding sired by Aktuell, to second place across all her tests this weekend earning 68.509% in the Individual Test and a Freestyle score of 70.975%.

In the Junior Rider division, Alexandra Meghji of Toronto, ON rode Iliado II (Idilio II x Ibiza), a nine-year-old Andalusian gelding, to second place in all three tests, scoring 67.027% in the Team, 67.105% in the Individual and 68.825% in the Freestyle. Liza Wilson of Collingwood, ON won the Freestyle test with a score of 69.225% riding Fleurina (Florestan x Nouveau Roi) her 16-year-old Westphalian mare.