Florida Dressage Classic
Amber Heintzberger for horsesdaily.com
Wellington Florida; In four days of exciting
competition, the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival, February 15-18, continued
to excite spectators and competitors in Wellington, Florida. With over 3500
horses on the grounds of the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club competing in
dressage, hunters and jumpers, not to mention the golf carts, jack russell
terriers and alligators to contend with, there was plenty of action.
The Zada Enterprises LLC Florida Dressage Classic offered qualifying classes
for the USET Grand Prix and Intermediaire championships. The Grand Prix was won
by Lynda Alicki riding Impressario, with a 64.3%. "He was spooky going
around the outside of the ring, and I could see Natalie Lamping, the judge at
H, look nervous," said Alicki. "He has been known to take off with me
as a young horse. But when the bell rang and we went into the ring he was fine.
It was his second Grand Prix ever, and it was mistake-free; now he just needs
more strength."
Karen Lipp had a smashing success on Douwe, her NRPS gelding. They won the USET
Intermediaire 1 Qualifier, the Prix Saint Georges, and the Intermediaire
Freestyle. Lipp, of Alpharetta, Georgia, trains with 1996 Olympic medalist
Michelle Gibson, who she describes as "inspiring, elegant and
focused," and to whom she feels she owes her competitive success. Lipp's
own student, Courtney Rasier, also did an outstanding job, winning a high-score
award with 73%.
Ashley Holzer on Imperioso, a Dutch gelding by Cocktail, won the Grand Prix de
Dressage with 67.132%. Sponsored by Coastriders, Holzer spent part of last year
training with Anky van Grunsven and Sjef Jenssen and competing at major horse
shows in Europe. Though her horse was green at Grand Prix when she bought him,
she says, "He's a sweet, nice horse," and their training has paid off
in polished performances and high scores. She also trains with Robert Dover.
Tom Dvorak, riding for Canada, rode an astonishing eight horses to success. The
most notable was his wins on Kadans in the Intermediaire 1 with a 67%, and in
the Prix St.Georges with 65.9%. "He's a stallion, so the biggest challenge
is tension. He forgets I'm up there. But he's coming into his own now,"
said Dvorak of the 9-year-old KWPN stallion. He also took first place on
Domingo in third level, test three with 69%. On Fortissimo he won First level,
2 with 69.355%
Olympian Carol Lavell rode her young horse Much Ado to wins at second and third
levels, with a score in second level, test 2 of 78.6% and in third, 3 of 74.4%.
"We're working on throughness," said Lavell of the seven-year-old,
17.3h gelding. "I have no agenda with this horse. I just love to ride him.
He has a wonderful brain and lots of ambition."
Jason Canton and the Dutch mare Joline have been impressing judges at every
show they compete in, blowing away the competition in second level. The mare is
for sale and getting lots of attention, so Canton may not be riding her much
longer. Owned by Lisa Frohlich, she is delicate and athletic, and a little on
the hot side. Canton says that he feels a rapport with the mare, and it shows
in their textbook performances. They won Second level, test 2 with 68.605% and
test 1 with 68.947%.
Executive director Gene Miche, who has been directing the shows for about
thirty years, said that having all the disciplines together "gives the
spectators more to watch, and a totally different discipline to learn about.
The hunters come out and watch the dressage and the dressage riders watch the
hunters. It brings people together and whets everyone's appetite."
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