Matthew Johnson and Petersborg’s Qasanova (Karl-Heinz Frieler)

Verden, Germany – The Five-year-old Championship of the 2014 FEI World Breeding Championships for Dressage Young Horses kicked off on Wednesday in the WM Arena. The United States’ Matthew Johnson and Petersborg’s Qasanova are the sole American entry, and finished the first qualifying competition in 24th place.

Johnson (Lake Worth, Fla.) and the Dutch Warmblood stallion (Quaterback x Kajana I/Calypso II) earned an overall mark of 7.42 from the Ground Jury of Ghislain Fourage, Andrew-Ralph Gardner, Kurt Christensen, and Dr. Dietrich Plew. Petersborg’s Qasanova was rewarded with high scores for the trot and canter earning scores of 8.8 and 8.5, respectively, and a 7.2 for final impression. However, scores of 5.8 for the walk and 6.8 for rideability kept the pair from earning a higher overall placing.

Johnson and Petersborg’s Qasanova return to the WM Arena on Friday for a second opportunity to gain a place in Saturday’s Prize of Frau Madeleine Winter-Schulze, Wedemark.

Germany’s Dorothee Schneider and Sezuan 2 were the winners of Thursday’s Five-year-old Test with a score of 96.8.

To learn more about the 2014 FEI World Breeding Championships for Dressage Young Horses, visit http://www.wbfsh.org/GB/WBYHC.aspx.