Wellington, FL (April 4, 2012) – Dressage rider Caroline Roffman took home top honors at the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W at the Global Dressage Festival with her National Champion Pie, sweeping the small tour with wins in the FEI Intermediaire I with a score of 69.158% and the Prix St. Georges with a score of 68.737%. Roffman also rode away with the World Development Group Award for her small tour success, presented to her by the World Development Group, a premier developer responsible for building the Global Dressage Festival.
Roffman and Pie are no strangers to the winner’s circle, having finished 2011 by winning 3 Reserve Championships at the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. During the Global Dressage Festival, Roffman decided to step it up a notch with Pie, and the results proved to be positive. “We rode more forward and it paid off in the end. We had a few mistakes but Pie really stepped up to the task and showed me that he is brave, and that I can ride him more bravely,” Roffman said.
Roffman, who trains with Danish Olympian Lars Petersen, also works with Nick Tortora, the founder of Balanced Equestrian Strength Training (BEST). “Nick’s training is both mental and physical. He keeps me in top form to compete and train my horses.” Roffman also added that Pie, a Hanoverian by Worldly, has an amazing future ahead of him. “He was great at the Global Dressage Festival and really showed me that he is a world-class show horse,” she said. “The atmosphere was big and electric but he handled it like a pro. I am really proud of him. The new showgrounds for the Global Dressage Festival are phenomenal. The footing was great, the stalls were beautiful and the whole complex has a European flavor about it which I really enjoyed.”
As the recipient of the World Development Group Award during the show, Roffman took home a beautiful bridle bag and ribbon. “Caroline had a great ride on Pie and it was easy to see the harmony that exists between horse and rider during their trip,” said David Zinaman, Director of Real Estate Sales and Marketing for the World Development Group. “We are excited about her reaction to the show grounds as well as the positive reaction from so many riders, owners, trainers and spectators. We have completed four outdoor arenas all featuring world-class footing, 200 permanent stalls and a Patrons Club. With the flags from the different countries, the stately palm trees and a host of international exhibitors, it truly was a fantastic weekend in Wellington, with a very European flair.”
In addition to building the Global Dressage Festival complex in Wellington, the World Development Group has created show venues, farms, homes, barns, equestrian communities and high-rise hotels around the world. “We are committed to building the equestrian lifestyle and thanks to a wide expertise within our team, we can walk clients through the entire building process, giving them confidence throughout the entire venture,” Zinaman said.
The World Development Group is a strong supporter of the equestrian community, and in addition to presenting the World Development Group Award they are also sponsoring the Tack Room Award at the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival as well as presenting awards to the winners of the 1.35M jumpers. They are also sponsoring a variety of dressage shows, from being inaugural sponsors of the Global Dressage Festival to sponsoring classes at the Wellington Classic Dressage Association and the Gold Coast Dressage Association.
“While building the Global Dressage Festival we have had the opportunity to meet riders of all disciplines and talk to them about projects. Most horse owners have a dream barn or dream home in mind, and we are here to help their dreams come true,” Zinaman said. “The World Development Group is based in Wellington and we are pleased to be part of this vibrant equestrian community.”
The Global Dressage Festival will feature five international competitions with more than $275,000 in prize money, as well as four separate national shows. The Global Dressage Festival encompasses almost 60 acres of the former Palm Beach Polo Grounds. Future plans on the grounds include a covered arena, permanent spectator seating for the central outdoor arena, a permanent Global Pavilion and 100 additional permanent stalls, all which will be constructed by World Development Group.
For more information contact:
David Zinaman, Director of Real Estate Sales and Marketing
World Development Group
1-800-583-4190
dzinaman@wdgintl.com
www.wdgintl.com