Lars Petersen and Marcia Pepper's Mariett clinched yet another first place prize in the Grand Prix kur to music at the CDI World Cup qualifier in Wellington, Florida, on Friday night 14 March 2014. Petersen rode a personal best score in the freestyle, posting a whopping 79.950% on the score board.
Petersen (DEN) and Mariett, a 16-year-old Danish Warmblood mare by Comeback II, handily won the Grand Prix kur with 79.950%. Second place went to American Tina Konyot and Olympic partner Calecto V for their score of 77.975% and Mikala Gundersen of Denmark finished third with My Lady on a score of 76.500%.
Judge Janet Foy (USA) described the class as a joy to watch and score. "The judges were talking at the first break, and I think when the first half is already getting 73 and 74, it's pretty exciting because...the depth and the quality has just increased an amazing amount. As a judge, it's always fun to give high scores and have clean tests and be hugely entertained and get the little goosebump feelings," Foy described.
On Thursday, Petersen described Mariett as a little rusty after several weeks away from the show ring, but she made it clear on Friday evening that she is never one to sleep on. The pair were just shy of an overall score of 80, earning marks of 81.125% and 82.125% from the judges at E and H respectively, which Petersen said were their highest yet.
"She was really good to ride today. She was with me and she stayed through. If I have to be able to do it without mistakes, she has to be like that because I have so many transitions in it. I was very happy with her today," Petersen explained.
Of his test, Petersen joked that every element of their test was the highlight before adding that Mariett's best movements were the piaffe-passage tour and the difficult lines of transitions that make up their choreography.
Petersen also revealed that he had a very good feeling going into the test after the mare warmed up exceptionally well. "It's funny, I said to [my wife] Melissa before I rode in, 'If I can keep this in there, it will be good today!' It's fun when it works," Petersen shared.
After a disappointing grand prix test on Thursday, second place finisher Konyot was happy to see Calecto V back in top form on Friday evening.
"He felt very good this evening. I was terribly disappointed in my grand prix. I thought about retiring him, at the age of sixteen, but he's so strong and healthy and sound that I kind of re-evaluated everything, and I'll continue moving forward," Konyot revealed. "Calecto was great today. He was wonderful this evening. He felt grand. It's always a pleasure to come back."
Gundersen enjoyed the winner's circle after a victory in Thursday's Grand Prix, but settled for third place in the freestyle with My Lady. "She felt great in the ring. I think consistency is the main word here for this horse. I really wanted to do a lot of shows this season to get her more mature. She's 14, but she really hasn't done that many shows in her life. She's just gotten better and better and better," Gundersen described.
She continued, "When I came into the ring, it was almost like auto-pilot. She went on. She knows her job and if I make a mistake, she tries to fix it. She's such an amazing horse and really tries hard for me."
Myburgh Wins the Prix St Georges
Neve Myburgh (GER) topped Friday morning's Prix St. Georges with Lexington Star, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Londonderry. The pair bested a field of 24 horse and rider pairs from 11 different countries with a high score of 70.482%. Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (USA) finished second aboard Rassing's Lonoir on a score of 69.342%, and Canadian Shannon Dueck and Cantaris were third with a 67.939%.
Myburgh was pleased to see her partnership with Lexington Star continue to develop, noting that the gelding seems to be finally growing up.
"He seems to be getting better and better. He feels more and more secure in the arena. That's the advantage of riding in the same ring every time. He felt really good today," she commented. "[He feels] steadier and more consistent in the work, and more confident in himself. He gets the job, and he's doing it. I think he's having fun."
While Myburgh felt their pirouettes had improved from their last Prix St. Georges in Wellington, she was happier with the overall feeling and consistency of the test, remarking that Lexington Star's rideability has continued to improve.
Myburgh was especially impressed that Lexington Star held it together between a shortened warm-up time and an especially windy morning.
"My warm-up was not so good because I was running way late! That was actually one thing, I must say, he really took the pressure well. I had to put the screws in quite early and say 'C'mon, we don't have so much warm-up time today.' He was good. Normally he gets a little rattled if I don't take the time that he needs, so he's definitely growing up in that sense," Myburgh remarked. "We're getting more of a partnership and he understands his job, and I think he enjoys it because I think he knows what's expected of him."
Overall, Lexington Star is quite laid-back, dozing off in the awards ceremony and alternating which hind leg to rest while being adorned with his winning cooler and ribbons. He did wake up in time to thank the judges, however.
"When the judge came up to shake my hand, he wrapped himself around the judge. He's very affectionate, but it was not the right time!" Myburgh laughed.
The Young Rider Team class also enjoyed an unusually high amount of entries, with 11 riders taking part. Juan Matute Jr. (ESP) achieved the high score for the class, a 69.158%, aboard Quantico. Second place went to Taylor Yamamato of the United States with Domino; the pair earned a 67.939%. Canadian rider Laurence Tetrault rounded out the top three aboard Michelangelo with a score of 65.307%.
by Laura Cardon - Photos © Sue Stickle
Related Links
Scores 2014 CDI-W Wellington
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2014 World Cup Finals