Uncharacteristically strong, cold winds presented an extra challenge to competitors during the dressage phase of competition at the Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida, the first event of the 2011 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series.
Phillip Dutton and Susie Beale’s 14-year-old Oldenburg mare Isabella II performed a quiet, accurate test to beat out several other experienced pairs in the Adequan Gold Cup CIC3* division. Heading into cross-country, Dutton will strive to maintain the pair’s dressage score of 43.9 to stay ahead of Karen O’Connor and Joan Goswell’s Mandiba, just two-tenths of a point behind. Allison Springer and her own Arthur also put in a solid score of 45.3, putting them in a close third place after dressage.
The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series, now in its eighth year, includes seven events from across the country, giving top horse and rider combinations the chance to win prizes and cash throughout the season, as well as picking up leaderboard points. The top pair at the end of the Series takes home a check for $20,000. Learn more about the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series.
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