Danish Lars Petersen and Spanish Jose Daniel Martin Dockx led the European whitewash of the big tour classes at the 2015 CDI-W Wellington on 22 - 25 January 2015. Petersen and Marcia Pepper's Mariett topped Grand Prix and World Cup qualifier kur to music, while Martin Dockx led the Grand Prix Special aboard Kimberly van Kampen's Grandioso.
Petersen In Front in Grand Prix and Kur
Lars Petersen and Mariett, a 1998 Danish Warmblood mare by Come Back II x Sydney, are proving form after being the winners of the big tour classes for the second weekend in a row. In the Grand Prix the duo scored a 73.220% to take the win, followed closely by Jose Daniel Martin Dockx (ESP) aboard the beautiful P.R.E. stallion Grandioso, scoring a 72.360%, and Shelly Francis (USA) and Doktor coming in third on a 72.200%.
Petersen and Mariett have formed an incredible partnership through the years and their efforts are paying off greatly in the beginning of the 2015 season. "She was very good (in the Grand Prix). There were a few bobbles, but I was still very pleased with the test overall," said Petersen. "She was great last week during the freestyle, and I just want to keep her as fit and supple as possible and not do more with her than I need to.
Age has never been a concern with Mariett according to Petersen, as the mare will turn 17 in the spring. "She feels amazing, and I am confident that she will come back next year the same way. I don't know what it is about her, but she continues to feel better with each ride," he expressed.
The duo preformed a lovely test, as they were in the latter half of the class, which boasted 33 competitors. A crowd favorite, Petersen plans to take Mariett out a few more times this season, aiming her towards the 2015 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas this April. "We will be doing a total of five shows throughout the season. I know what to do in-between the shows. I don't need to push her any harder just because she is competing. It actually works very well for her," commented Petersen. "I will be doing the CDI 5* in a few weeks and a couple more after that. My ultimate goal is to aim her for the World Cup Finals."
In the Grand Prix Kur to Music on Friday night 23 January Petersen scored 75.325% to take the class, with Shelly Francis (USA) placing second on a 74.500% aboard Doktor, and fellow Danish rider Mikala Gundersen (DEN) and My Lady coming in third with a 73.850%.
"I was very happy with her. She is feeling great and scored very well today," stated Petersen. "I thought her changes were very good and her piaffes as well. For me, it is not so much about the movements, but the rideability and the basics. She is really starting to get better there."
Martin Dockx and Grandioso Win the Special
Spanish Jose Daniel Martin Dockx (ESP) won the Special with Grandioso, a 1999 P.R.E. stallion. The duo scored a 72.864% to take home the win in the class that was held beneath the lights. Swedish Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Divertimento placed second on a score of 70.647% with German Christoph Koschel (GER) and Tiesto coming in third scoring a 69.471%
Dockx was very pleased with the way Grandioso handled the atmosphere under the lights, an unusual circumstance for the class. The large number of entries in the Intermediaire I class forced the Grand Prix Special to run later in the day than usual. "I have a horse with great character, and he didn't seem to care," commented Dockx on riding underneath the lights. "It was actually better because the day of the Grand Prix he was very warm which made me a little scared it could be too much for him. Tonight it was a little cooler, and he doesn't seem to care if it is day or night."
As for their test, Dockx was happy with the mostly mistake-free week the pair has had and saw improvement in their tempi changes in the Grand Prix Special. "I was very happy with the one-tempis because in the last two or three shows I always miss one or two changes and this weekend we didn't miss one. It is difficult for him to do the tempis on the centerline, and he did very well with it today," he continued.
Vilhelmson-Silvfen and Divertimento had a lovely test, placing them second in the large class. The pair, who has had a very successful beginning to their 2015 season, continues to improve with each outing. "I am quite happy with him after tonight. I was a bit worried about riding him in the dark under the lights, but he took it very well," she smiled. "He was very nice to ride today and we had a fault free test, so I am always very happy with that."
"I was very pleased with his pirouettes today and also that there were no mistakes in the tempis. He can get a bit nervous and they can be difficult and I'm happy we did them without any bobbles. We had a mistake in the Grand Prix so I was glad that we were able to go mistake-free there today," said Vilhelmson-Silvfen when describing her ride on the big Westphalian gelding.
Schut-Kery and Sanceo Lead Small Tour
German born American Sabine Schut-Kery topped the Prix St Georges and Intermediaire I aboard Sanceo, a 2006 Hanoverian stallion. In the PSG they posted a score of 71.184% and in the Intermediaire I one of 71.184%. Tina Konyot (USA) placed second in the Inter I on a 70.895% with Wyoming, followed by Kimberly Herslow and Rosmarin in third scoring a 70.763%.
Schut-Kery who has had a phenomenal beginning to her 2015 season with Sanceo, continued their success with another big win at the CDI W level. "He felt very energetic and was very with me. I was able to make adjustments, which is always so important. We did have a bobble, which was my mistake," she admitted. "I just lost him in all of that power!"
The duo, which also took home a win yesterday in the large FEI Prix St. Georges class, continued to impress the judges today. Schut-Kery is regularly based in California so the trip to Wellington each year is an investment she truly believes in making. "This is my second year (in Wellington) with this horse, but I have come in the past. The facility here and the entire show are just incredible, specifically the footing, but everything is just first-class," she said. "To have this kind of consistent footing makes you as a rider feel so comfortable going into the ring. I know I can trust the footing out here, and it allows me to be playful and push for more."
Sanceo's owners, Alice Womble-Heitman and Dr. Mike Heitman, made the trip from Texas to watch the stallion compete at AGDF this week and Schut-Kery couldn't more proud of how they performed. "I am so grateful for my owners. I wouldn't be having this interview without their incredible support. We have a great relationship, we make decisions together, and I am just so proud that she chose me to ride this horse," she commented. "It was just a phenomenal weekend, they won the Jill Irving Owner Award, which was presented last night. Everyone always wants to know what is going on with the horse and rider, but really the owners are the ones who make this possible."
Photos © Sue Stickle
Related Links
Scores 2015 CDI-W Wellington
Spanish Delegation to Attend 2015 USPRE Week, Lead Seminars for Breeders
Brock, Vilhelmson, Petersen Win First CDI of 2015 Dressage in Florida Season