Wellington, FL – March 26, 2010 – Pony Hunters kicked off their weekend of competition today with the WIHS Pony Equitation. McKayla Langmeier topped a field of 23 riders when she claimed the win in the WIHS Pony Equitation on Friday afternoon at the South Grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Langmeier, a nine-year-old Connecticut resident, is a veteran of the Winter Equestrian Festival, having competed here for three years. She rode Victoria Press’ small pony, Blackberry, to the win in the WIHS Pony Equitation today. “She’s very fun and smooth,” Langmeier said of Blackberry.
Langmeier received a high score of 86 to secure the win over Porter Allen, who was awarded an 85 for second place. The third place was presented to Sabrina Slagowitz, who received a score of 83.
Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas lived up to expectations when claiming the honours at the 25th anniversary FEI World Cup Dressage Final in s'Hertogenbosch this afternoon. Photo: Kit Houghton.
s’Hertogenbosch (Ned), 28 March 2010 – The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and the super-stallion Moorlands Totilas overcame all the pressure and tension to claim the 25th anniversary FEI World Cup Dressage title in s’Hertogenbosch this afternoon. Gal’s stallion was tipped to take the honours throughout the entire 2009/2010 FEI World Cup Dressage season during which he secured his third record-breaking score of 2009 at London Olympia last December. But two days ago fellow Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen took advantage of an edgy test from her team-mate to win the preliminary Grand Prix with a great performance from Jerich Parzival, and for the first time in a long while, Gal’s stallion began to look vulnerable. Today however he was considerably more composed as he strutted his way to victory by a margin of almost seven percentage points – “when I came into the arena I thought it could be better – and it was!” said the relieved 40 year old rider who clinched the trophy for The Netherlands for the tenth time.
WORTHWHILE
Brett Parbery made his trip all the way from New South Wales in Australia worthwhile when opening the Freestyle to Music finale with a great rhythmic test from the 14 year old Victory Salute which earned a mark of 70.55%, but, second-last to go before the half-way break, Germany’s Carola Koppelmann and her veteran 17 year old Le Bo put 73.20% on the board. However it was Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein who was in the lead going into the second-half of the competition after producing a relaxed, pleasing performance from Digby that achieved a score of 75.15%.
Claire Khuen led her pony “Thank Heavens” into the Grand Prix ring at HITS Ocala to receive the Circuit Champion award in the Large Pony Hunter division accompanied by his rider Ashton Alexander and her mother Lisa Alexander. Even the pouring rain couldn’t dampen Khuen’s spirits as she celebrated afterwards, especially when she realized her pony had also taken the lead in the USEF national point standings.
“It’s always exciting to win, but this is especially nice to be number in the country on the same day!” exclaimed Khuen. But “Willie” wasn’t the first good pony bred by Claire and Carl Khuen at Liberty Farm, in Reddick, Florida.
If you had asked Claire Khuen 10 years ago what she could see herself doing now, it would not have been standing at the pony ring! She was a successful amateur jumper rider with many wins in the hunter and jumper rings to her credit. But when the first pony she bred, “Good Heavens” who was a granddaughter of her good jumper “Heaven Sent” was named Large Green Pony Hunter Circuit Champion at WEF and was 3rd overall at the USEF Pony Finals in the Large Pony division, Khuen was hooked.
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