Emerging as the big winner on Friday 20 March 2015 at the 2015 CDI-W San Juan Capistrano was Olympian and long-time U.S. Dressage Team member Steffen Peters, who earned both first and second place in the Grand Prix test aboard Legolas and superstar-in-the-making Rosamunde with scores of 76.780% and 74.960%, respectively.
"One score above 74% in a day is great, but to have two in one day is just wonderful," said Peters. "Both horses did a clean test and a wonderful job. It's an awesome feeling." Despite some fleeting moments of tension, ultimately Four Winds Farm's veteran Westfalen gelding Legolas (by Laomedon x Florestan II) maintained his composure to earn the winning score over talented young stablemate Rosamunde (Rhinelander mare by Rock Forever x Fidermark]). "Legolas is still a firecracker, kind of like the Energizer bunny," laughed Peters. "But the overall feeling today was great, there was just a little bit of anticipation before the transition to passage. He used to be quite tight but he's gotten so much better, and even though it takes great concentration to ride him, he's a great challenge."
With an invitation to next month's World Cup Dressage Final on the line going into Sunday's Grand Prix Freestyle, Peters refuse to let the pressure of performance affect him. "I don't really think about it," he said. "The pressure is always there, and it's not the first time I've had to deal with it. Over the years, you learn to stick with your routine and what works. So actually I'm looking forward to the freestyle on Sunday."
Rosamunde Takes Grand Prix Special
The poise and talent of Four Winds Farm's Rhinelander mare Rosamunde belies her young age of only eight years as she dominated Saturday morning's Grand Prix Special with 75.863% in the experienced hands of Steffen Peters.
"She's so rideable, and the connection and sensitivity to the aids is so good that even though it's only her second Grand Prix Special test, we're not just riding the movements - the fascinating part is that I can actually start polishing the test now," said Peters of his mount, who is affectionately known as Rosie. "I've never had a horse this young be so confident in her work. This test can be tricky for a young Grand Prix horse but it worked out beautifully - the movements are almost easy for her. The way she does all this with such an amazing attitude is astounding, and it's an honor to ride her."
FEI judge Michael Osinski (3* USA) was equally impressed. "It's exciting for our country to have such a phenomenal horse, and she's so young yet so good already," he explained. "Personally I have never seen a horse at this age make such a successful jump to Grand Prix. How lucky Steffen is to now have two top horses going at the same time."
Rosencrantz Earns Hard-Fought Prix St. Georges Win
The Prix St. Georges test became an all out knock-down drag-out fight to the finish for championship honors. Guenter Seidel and his Westfalian gelding Rey del Mundo (by Rock Forever x Ferragamo) were the first to break the 70% barrier, but they were immediately followed by Charlotte Jorst with Fraktura, a Hanoverian mare by Ferro x Grannus, who narrowly overtook the lead with 70.316%. Not to be outdone, Mette Rosencrantz then threw down the gauntlet with Anne Solbraekke's elegant black Hanoverian gelding De Noir (by De Niro x Matcho AA). Their harmonious test earned 71.974%, a score which remained atop the leader board for the duration of the class.
The ground jury was quite impressed with what they saw throughout the morning from almost 30 horse/rider combinations. "I thought we had a very strong group with lots of quality and depth and very well-ridden horses," said judge Sandra Hotz (3* USA). "But the winner's ride today was very active and expressive with lovely fluency, and a lot of confidence."
"I really like to compete when I have a lot of pressure - the more pressure I have, the calmer I am," said Rosencrantz after the win. "And today I knew what I had to do: with so many good riders and horses in the class, the only way to beat anyone was to really go for it, and it paid off for me today. But when you're bold, it can make it or break it, and when everyone is so close you're only one mistake away from being knocked out of the placings. I think it's fantastic that we have so many good riders and horses here right now - you never know who's going to rise to the top on any given day."
Seidel Rises to the Top in Tough Intermediaire I Field
Competition in the Intermediaire I was once again ferocious as Pan American Games hopefuls from both the U.S. and Canada fought for top marks. As a result, the top four combinations all scored over 70%, and adding to excitement they finished within less than half a point of each other.
In a fitting climax, Olympian Guenter Seidel won a tiebreaker at 70.500% to take the win with his own Rey del Mundo (by Rock Forever x Ferragamo) over Canada's Leslie Reid with Juliet Sears LeDorze's Westphalian gelding Fine and Smart (by Furst Piccolo x Worldman).
"I'm very pleased, especially because he's so green and I had no expectations when going in the ring," said Seidel of his leggy bay Westphalian gelding, who in addition to leading the victory lap also notched his first CDI victory. "At this point I'm really just trying to give him confidence. I think his trot work in particular was very good today, and I'm really happy with him."
Chamberlain, West Continue Winning Ways
Due to a record-setting number of entries for the CDI-W San Juan Capistrano, several CDI classes were held a day early on Thursday afternoon including the Junior, Young Rider, and Under 25 Grand Prix divisions.
Coming off two CDI Junior division wins at the Mid-Winter Dressage CDI in Burbank last month, Veronica West and her own black Hanoverian gelding Nobleman (by Natiello xx x Wenzel II) once again impressed the judges to earn the blue ribbon in the Junior Team Test with 68.153%.
Veronica West and Nobleman were also undefeated in the Individual Test, which they won with 69.053%.
Catherine Chamberlain also continued her winning ways by piloting Kimberly Pribble's Dutch gelding Avesto Van Weltevreden (by Gribaldi x Krack C) to victory in the Young Rider Team Prix St. Georges test with 69.123%, as well as with her former NAJYRC gold medal-winning partner Verdicci (KWPN gelding by Krack C x Jackson) in the 16-25 Intermediaire II test with 66.579%.
After winning the Young Rider Team Test, Chamberlain once again found success with Avesto Van Weltevreden by earning a top score of 67.553% in the Young Rider Individual Test to barely edge out 2014 NAJYRC Region 7 team mate Cassidy Gallman and her Hanoverian gelding Grand Makana (by Goodman) with 67.526%
Photos © Terri Miller
Related Link
Scores 2015 CDI-W San Juan Capistrano