Leila Collins-Strijk and Don Tignanello. Photo: ©SusanJStickle.
Wellington, FL – January 31, 2016 – Leida Collins-Strijk (NED) and Don Tignanello took a clean sweep of Small Tour competition at the third week of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), earning wins in all three classes presented by Chesapeake Dressage Institute. Collins-Strijk and Don Tignanello completed their dominating week this afternoon, earning a 75.792% in the FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle to take top honors. Michael Klimke (GER) and Djamba Djokiba followed in second place with 73.333%, while Katharina Stumpf (AUT) and For My Love were third with 71.417%. Competition at AGDF will continue with the AGDF 5 CDI 5*, presented by Diamante Farms, CDI 3*, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, and CDI 1*, presented by Kirk Arabians, on February 10-14.
Collins-Strijk showcased the fluidity and suppleness of the 2005 Hanoverian gelding (Don Vino x Atlantica) in all three classes this week, which included the FEI Prix St. Georges, FEI Intermediaire I, and FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle all presented by Chesapeake Dressage Institute.
“I’ve been working a lot on the canter work. He’s such a big horse and the balance for him is really hard. I think it will be the focus again for the next few weeks too,” explained Collins-Strijk, when asked what she believes the pair has improved on over the course of the week. “In the freestyle, I was definitely better with the music. Last week I wasn’t really sure where I was going because we had not done it together many times, but I practiced it this morning and was much better on track.”
The pair, who has started to work on the basics of the Grand Prix movements, will continue their course at the Small Tour level over the next few weeks, as Collins-Strijk believes they will gain valuable experience for their anticipated transition to Grand Prix at some point during the year.
“We won’t move up until I’m confident that we can do really well. We’re not 100% there and even when I feel like we are ready to move up, we will do some of the National shows first to get more experience there too,” she noted.
Zantros (Krack C x Hinde-Utopia), another mount for Collins-Strijk, made his debut at AGDF this week in the Small Tour alongside his stablemate. The pair also earned top finishes including a fourth place in the FEI Prix St Georges and a third in the FEI Intermediaire I, but with only one horse allowed to compete in the freestyle per rider, Collins-Strijk chose Don Tignanello for the class.
“I love Zantros. He’s by Krack C and you can just sit there and look pretty because he does it and knows his job. I quite like that, but you can’t take two horses in the freestyle, (so) I’m hoping to also do the freestyle with him at some point as well,” commented Collins-Strijk.
“We’ll definitely focus on getting that bigger step, but he’ll get off this week with hacking and taking it easy before we begin to prepare again. After the next CDI there is a bit of a long break for him and that’s when we’ll start to working on that,” she continued.
The Consolation Grand Prix concluded the final day of FEI competition at AGDF 3 presented by the U.S. P.R.E. Association, as Evi Strasser (CAN) and Renaissance Tyme took the win with a 65.767%. Joanne Vaughan (GEO) and Elmegarden’s Marquis followed in second with a 64.033%, while Maria Florencia Manfredi (ARG) and Bandurria Kacero earned third place with a 63.633%.
Competition at AGDF will begin on Wednesday, February 10, with the highly anticipated FEI CDI5* competition, presented by Diamante Farms. The venue will also prepare to host the Asheville Regional Airport Wellington Eventing Showcase, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, on Friday, February 5, and continuing through Saturday, February 6, and the AGDF 4 National Show on February 6-7. For more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.
About the Adequan Global Dressage Festival:
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring 7 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $650,000 in prize money for the seven international competitions, making it one of the richest circuits in the world. The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world-class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area.
Please visit
www.globaldressagefestival.com
www.pbiec.com
or call 561-793-5867 for more information.
Adequan Global Dressage Festival is located at
The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center
13500 South Shore Blvd, Wellington, Florida 33414
Carly Weilminster
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com