A small contingent of dressage riders arrived at the Tryon International Equestrian Center for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) Tryon 2018 Dressage Test Event CDI3* from April 19-22. Kasey Perry-Glass won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special on Friday and Sunday, while Karen Lipp grabbed the victory in the Kur to Music on Saturday.
Just twelve riders drove to Tryon to compete at the test event and Kasey Perry-Glass aboard her 15-year old Danish warmblood Gorklintgaards Dublet (by Diamond Hit x Ferro) won the Grand Prix with 73.935% and the Special with a personal best score of 75.957%. She twice stayed ahead of Adrienne Lyle who has been premiering her second GP ride, Horizon (by Hotline) at the highest level. Lyle earned 71.957% in the Grand Prix and 71.660% in the Special.
Karen Lipp and Kathleen Oldford's 13-year old Hanoverian Whitney (by White Star x Grand Cru) were fifth in the Grand Prix with 66.239% but went on to win the freestyle with 69.765%.
Test Event for WEG
The test event provides athletes and team leaders an opportunity to become better acquainted with the venue and various facilities on the grounds ahead of the WEG. Dressage is scheduled for the first week of the WEG from September 12-16. Competition will be held in a brand-new arena, adjacent to the George Morris Arena, which will seat nearly 20,000 spectators. The arena will be completed this summer.
Robert Dover, U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor, elaborated, “The venue is magnificent. It is still in the process of becoming what it will be for the World Equestrian Games, so we have to use some imagination, but driving around and seeing everything, it is going to be, bar none, the finest venue for equestrian sport.”
U.S. WEG Team Short List After Del Mar
Looking ahead to the WEG, there is one more qualifier in Del Mar, Calif., from April 26-29, for combinations looking to be eligible for the WEG team selection process. Following this competition, the selectors meet to determine a short list of up to eight athletes who will go on to Europe.
“This [short-listed] group has the ability to choose from several shows that we have as observation events. One, though, is mandatory, and that’s Aachen,” said Dover. Combinations selected to the short list will be required to compete at a minimum of two observation events.
In regards to preparations for WEG, Dover said, “Not a stone will be left unturned. I am optimistic that by the time we are selecting our team, we will have a top team that will be able to rival [other] top teams.”
American Camaraderie
Additionally, Lyle and Perry-Glass spoke to what being a part of U.S. dressage has meant to them and their careers. “We have an incredible support staff from all the USEF people. It really helps to have such great backing,” said Lyle. “And, beyond that, we have an incredible camaraderie between us as teammates. It’s really exciting to see everyone successful. It only elevates your own riding and your own training when you can be around people like that.”
Perry-Glass added, “In team sports, you have to have that camaraderie and be a team player. You can lean on them when you have questions, concerns, and suggestions. And especially when things get stressful.”
Related Links
Scores: 2018 CDI Tryon
Top Eight U.S. Pairs Invited on Euro-Tour before WEG Team Selection
USEF Announces Updated Dressage Squads for 2018