Lars Petersen and Mariett. Photos © SusanJStickle.com.
Spain’s Juan Matute, Jr., Earns Second CDI Win with Don Diego Ymas in the FEI Prix St. Georges
Wellington, FL – January 24, 2014 – Danish rider Lars Petersen and his grand prix mount Mariett won the FEI World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix Freestyle presented by US P.R.E. Association during the third week of competition at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Petersen rode Marcia Pepper’s 16-year-old Danish Warmblood mare to first place with 77.450%.
Second place went to Canada’s Diane Creech and Devon L. The pair finished on a 73.175%. Mikala Munter Gundersen (DEN) rounded out the top three with My Lady after receiving a score of 72.075%.
The third week of the AGDF, sponsored by the US P.R.E. Association and Chesapeake Dressage Institute, runs through Sunday, January 26. The AGDF hosts nine more weeks of world-class dressage through March 30. The FEI World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix Freestyle was the feature event of the week, and chilly weather and a schedule adjustment didn’t detract from a phenomenal evening of dressage competition.
“Competition was stellar, the horses were beautiful, (and) the riding was exquisite,” commented Allyn Mann of Adequan.
Mann was excited to see the AGDF continuing to flourish, especially under new Sports Director Thomas Baur’s expertise. “As far as this year versus previous years, I think we’ve already exceeded expectations. Thomas is just continuing to do wonderful things to make each of these events a special evening. I would expect that it’s only going to get better and the competition more fierce because I think that’s what keeps each [rider] going, right? You want to get to the top rung on the ladder,” Mann remarked.
The rider at the top of that ladder has often been Petersen with Mariett, and after finishing second with the mare during AGDF 1, Petersen was pleased to see her getting back in the swing of things.
“That was the first show since [Dressage at] Devon [in September]. Now we have one show with a little bit to practice. When you’re on a roll it always gets a bit easier. I think that’s the biggest thing. Also for her, she was in [this ring] before and she was more tense the first show. I think it’s a combination of a lot of things, [but] the main thing is that we showed two weeks ago and now we do it again,” Petersen explained.
Of Mariett’s performance on Friday evening, Petersen said, “I thought she was really good today. I had a very difficult test: high difficulty with my changes and all my transitions from trot to passage. She was with me today.”
Second place finisher Creech debuted a new freestyle routine featuring Capital City’s hit song “Safe and Sound.” Creech’s music was produced by Karen Robinson, who Creech has worked with before.
“We’ve always liked working with each other. It’s not so easy to find the right music for your horse,” she acknowledged. “It needs to suit the temperament and the movement, and I need to like it and he needs to like it. Those are a lot of things to mix into it. It needs to be happy music, and I like it to be a little bit familiar to people.”
The most important thing to Creech is that Devon L takes to the music, which he appears to be doing.
“I just have ridden [the new freestyle] for the second time now, so we’re just getting into the routine, but he seems to like the routine and he seems to like the music,” she described.
Mikala Munter Gundersen and My Lady put on another good show, placing third for the second time in the FEI World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix Freestyle. Munter Gundersen was very happy with her horse’s performance, but admitted she committed a few errors that kept them from the top prize.
“She has had some nice consistency in her test. Tonight, she got a little bit hot for me and I got a little behind the music, so I was chasing to catch up with the music a bit, and I got some mistakes because of that. Those were all mine. She really paid attention to me even though she was hot,” Munter Gundersen recounted.
As for giving Petersen a run for his money, Munter Gundersen says it will all come together in a few weeks at the AGDF 5 Dressage CDI 4*.
“I think in two weeks, we’re going to get Lars. At least we’ll try!” she laughed.
Cesar Parra was the top American finisher for the class, riding Van the Man to a 71.975%. He too sees his routine coming along as the horse continues to mature.
“I’m very, very happy with him. He’s a very hot horse. A very special horse; he’s my special child,” he smiled.
Parra continued, “I think he’s a wonderful horse that is maturing a lot, and I really have big expectations for him. I think very soon everything will come together, and everyone will see his greatness in the ring. I’m very proud to be representing the United States with him.”
Spain’s Juan Matute, Jr., Earns Second CDI Win with Don Diego Ymas in the FEI Prix St. Georges
In only his second CDI outing with Don Diego Ymas, 16-year-old Juan Matute, Jr., conquered the FEI Prix St. Georges presented by Chesapeake Dressage Institute at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Matute, Jr., and Don Diego Ymas won the class with a score of 71.421%.
Canadian Britney Fraser took second with All In with a final score of 70.684%, while Heather Mason (USA) and Zar were third with 70.421%.
Matute, Jr. won the Intermediaire-I during the first week of competition for the AGDF and was thrilled to pick up another small tour victory with Don Diego Ymas.
“It feels amazing. We were not expecting it!” Matute, Jr., grinned. “We were just expecting to perform well, and of course getting a good score is always part of that, but our first goal was just to be good and to enjoy [the test] and create a stronger bond with each other.
“We had some mistakes in the threes, so a few parts of the canter were a bit messy, but I think the overall picture was great,” he continued. “The contact was great; the frame was great.”
Matute, Jr. also picked up a blue ribbon earlier in the morning with Dhannie Ymas in the FEI Junior Team Class. Matute, Jr., admitted that both horses enjoy taking in the sights of the winner circle.
“They like it. They like to win! They like the people clapping and the whole atmosphere of victory,” Matute, Jr., commented.
With the season in Wellington off to an exciting start, Matute, Jr. now looks forward to the FEI Nations Cup during the AGDF 7 CDIO, presented by Stillpoint Farm and Peacock Ridge.
“My goal is to do well in the small tour this season in Wellington, and my goal by the end of the year is to move up to the Under 25 [classes]. We’re going to do the Nations Cup, so that’s one of the biggest goals for the small tour this season,” Matute, Jr. outlined.
Matute, Jr. spent two months in Germany training with Oliver Oelrich before returning home to Wellington to resume training with his father, Juan Matute, Sr. Matute, Jr. enjoys having a trainer-student relationship that runs deeper than most.
“I love it. I get to ask questions 24/7. My dad sometimes wants to kill me at the dinner table because I keep asking questions and asking questions,” Matute, Jr. laughed. “But I think it’s great because besides having that relationship as father and son, we keep that relationship in the ring.”
Competition for the AGDF 3 CDI W continues Saturday morning with the FEI Intermediaire-I at 11:00 a.m. followed by the FEI Grand Prix Special at 3:20 p.m. For full results and 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 8 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $400,000 in prize money for the six 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 for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
Please visit
www.globaldressagefestival.com
www.equestriansport.com
or call 561-793-5867 for more information.
Adequan Global Dressage Festival is located at
13500 South Shore Blvd, Wellington, Florida 33414
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