The first of three days of 2015 U.S. Dressage Championship competition got underway on Wednesday 9 December 2015 in Wellington, FL, as competitors performed their first tests out of three for the national title. Taking an early lead in Intermediaire I Championship were Christina Vinios and Folkestone.
A small, but highly competitive field of eight combinations took to the international ring on Wednesday morning to contest the Prix St. Georges Test, earning the first 40% of their overall championship score. Leading narrowly after a solid test is Vinios (Wellington, Fla.) and her own Folkestone by Fidertanz x Rubinstein), scoring a 70.632% from the ground jury of Linda Zang, Peter Holler, Christof Umbach, Gary Rockwell, and Hans-Christian Matthiesen.
Having won the 2015 U.S. Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Championship and all CDI Small Tour classes at Dressage at Devon, the pair has now moved on to the mature small tour division the same year, displaying great rhythm and balance in their Prix St Feorges test highlighted by a confident trot tour.
“We have been working on a lot of little details [since Devon] and getting a really good connection,” said Vinios. “I liked the changes; they were fun and straight-forward. He’s a really good boy and will do everything I ask – he tries so hard.”
Sitting closely behind in second is Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Patricia Stempel’s 9-year old Rubinio (by Roh Magic x Philipo). Performing one of the most consistent tests of the morning, the pair elevated their performance with clear, expressive gaits and beautiful pirouettes, earning a score of 69.868%.
“This horse has only really been working for about three and half weeks, so he’s not all the way fit. He tried really hard though, he is an overachiever,” said Francis, who also finished fourth and fifth in the Grand Prix division with Doktor and Danilo, respectively.
Jane Karol and the 8-year old Oldenburg bred Sunshine Tour (by Sir Donnerhall x Alabaster) rounded out the top three, earning a 69.868%. Karol has owned the mare for four years and the strength of partnership was obvious throughout the test, showcasing excellent quality in all three gaits.
“I have to thank Robert Dover, who helped me in the warm-up. Overall the feeling over the back and getting the hind legs engaged because of the way [Dover] set me up was the highlight for me,” said Karol.
Photos © Sue Stickle
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