Susan Dutta Dominates FEI Freestyles at Wellington Dressage At Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival

WELLINGTON, FL—February 6, 2002—Dressage competition at the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival kicked off with the Wellington Dressage Show January 31- February 3 at Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Florida. Held over four days, the four-ring show hosted more than 200 exhibitors and over 400 rides were judged.

Susan Dutta of Bedford Hills, NY, and Wellington, FL, dominated the FEI freestyle classes. On Sunday, February 3, Dutta won the Intermediaire 1 Freestyle with her West Side Lady, scoring 70.458%. Dutta also won the Grand Prix Freestyle riding her Gumshoes-DC, earning a 68.833%. "I like the freestyle," said Dutta. "It’s a lot of fun and I look forward to it, but it’s also nerve-wracking because you have to stay with the music."

Yvonne Barteau of Wellington, riding San Remo owned by Elite European Sport Horses, earned the show’s high score with a 76.471% in First Level, Test 4.

Noting that the Grand Prix classes at this show had featured several rides in the 70 percentile, Dutta said of her Grand Prix freestyle, "I’m well aware that 68% in the freestyle is not high enough. That’s why we’re going to figure out how I can get more points." After the Freestyle Championship in California, Dutta plans to return to the Florida circuit to qualify both horses for the Intermediaire I Championship at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions, Presented by State Line Tack, at Gladstone in June.

Betsy Steiner and Ranier also drew crowds to the FEI ring for both of their rides during the show. Ranier was Robert Dover’s mount at the Sydney Olympics, and Dover is currently coaching Steiner on the big gray.

Spectators witnessed four rides in the 70 percentile in the Grand Prix class -- Patrick Burssens, Steiner, Tina Konyot and Lynda Alicki placed first through fourth respectively. Burssens, of Wellington, rode Marfil in place of owner Mary Ann McPhail and won the class with a 70.333%. Steiner of New York City and Wellington, was a close second, scoring 70.267% with Jane Forbes Clark’s Ranier. Konyot on Abrikos earned a 70.067 for third place, and Alicki of Wellington, riding her Impressario, turned in a 70.00% score for fourth place.

High scores in the FEI ring continued when Steiner, Konyot, and Burssens again scored in the 70s, in the Grand Prix Special. Steiner and Ranier won with a 73.933%, followed by Konyot and Abrikos with a 71.533, and Burssens and Marfil earned a 70.067%.

Another highlight was Michelle Gibson’s rides on her stallion, World of Dreams. The pair took the blue in the Prix St. Georges with a score of 71.750%. The following day, Gibson and World of Dreams won the Intermediaire 1 class with a 71.125%.

Following are the remaining competitions in the 2002 Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival show jumping and dressage schedule at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club:

Jaguar/Land Rover Florida Classic & WCHRA Spectacular on February 13 – 17
Zada Enterprises, LLC Florida Dressage Classic on February 14-17
Zada Enterprises, LLC Wellington Masters on February 20 - 24
Tommy Bahama Palm Beach Open on February 27 - March 3
Cosequin Wellington Finale on March 6 – 10
Zada Enterprises, LLC WEF Dressage Classic on March 14-17
The Zada Enterprises, LLC Wellington Masters, Tommy Bahama Palm Beach Open and the Cosequin Wellington Finale also host events on the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series.

Jumper riders at all levels will have ample opportunity to shine in the:

The $430,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Series
Seniors Jumper Series
The $175,000 BET On Jazz Junior Jumper Series
The $105,000 Adult Jumper Series sponsored by RV Sales of Broward
The $36,000 Children’s Jumper Series
The $16,000 Pony Jumper Series
For More Information
For more information on the Cosequin Winter Equestrian Festival and all the exciting events and activities, please call Stadium Jumping, Inc. in Wellington at (561) 793-JUMP or visit www.stadiumjumping.com.