Tag Archives: Kasey Perry-Glass

Dressage

Top Three at 80% Again in “Friday Night Stars” FEI World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle

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Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet. ©SusanStickle.com.

Wellington, FL – February 22, 2019 – The top three in the “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W, presented by Helgstrand Dressage at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), all earned scores above eighty percent, holding up the record set by riders in Week 5.

Leading a day full of FEI dressage competition on Friday, February 22, were Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) and Goerklintgaards Dublet, who performed a strong test to win the freestyle.

Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet, a 16-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Diamond Hit owned by Diane Perry, earned a score of 83.425% for the win. Their freestyle music from “Lord of the Rings” was composed by Tom Hunt, and the choreography was arranged by fellow FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 teammate, Adrienne Lyle.

“I can kind of tell already in the stables how he is going to be. I can feel his vibes. He was just as fussy and neurotic [today] as he was in Aachen,” said Perry-Glass of her partner. Together they placed second in the Freestyle CDIO5* at the 2018 World Equestrian Festival in Aachen. “I kind of already felt that vibe from him, that he was going to perform really well tonight. From beginning in the warm-up, he felt amazing, right with me, and he tends to do that towards the end of shows.

“I was really proud of him,” continued Perry-Glass. “I had him a little more put together than I did in the Grand Prix and I just tried to show off his highlights. His piaffe and passage felt really good tonight; his changes felt really good.”

Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven (SWE) and Don Auriello, a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Don Davidoff owned by Lovsta Stuteri, came in second place with a score of 80.950% with their “Good Vibrations” music and choreography by Cees Slings.

“My goal this winter has been to go to Gothenburg for the [FEI Dressage World Cup™] Final,” said Vilhelmson Silfven. “He felt really, really good tonight; he’s felt good all week. He’s been eager already in the stable, like, ‘I want to go! Hurry up!’ He’s really been on his toes. Coming out tonight with this atmosphere, already in the warm-up, he was like, ‘I’m ready! Can we go?’

“He [Don Auriello] knows exactly when it is, and he just loves it. It’s really fun to ride him in the test,” continued Vilhelmson Silfven. “This freestyle is so difficult. It comes so fast. You really have to be exactly on the spot that you should be with the music. When that comes together, it’s such a great feeling to ride because it’s like telling a story. You go through all this music, you know exactly what to do, and he does too. You have to hang on and try and enjoy it on the way.”

Third place went to Shelly Francis (USA) and Danilo, a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding by DeNiro owned by Patricia Stempel, who earned a score of 80.050%. The crowd especially loves Francis’s freestyle, and she had a strong round of applause following her test, which has a capella music and was created by Marlene Whitaker.

“I think it’s just very entertaining with the music for the audience, and I make the movements just click one right after the other,” said Francis of her freestyle test. “I knew that I was off of my music just a little bit here and there, but overall he felt quite good. I was trying to keep him just a little softer looking, not quite so active and sharp. I think we did smooth things a little bit, but then I was having to be careful to keep up with my music. The horse likes it, so I think he steps up to the plate. It’s fun and I enjoy it.”

Clive Halsall, the Judge at C, commented that, “I think we saw three very professional, skillful riders who were very good under pressure. They’re chasing the qualification for the World Cup and in a very atmospheric arena. They all proved themselves in this environment. They ride difficult tests and they make it look easy, and that is a great skill. It was wonderful to judge.”

Thomas Baur, Director of Sport of AGDF, concluded, “I think we will have another great night next Friday [at AGDF 8]. We have 14 entries, so it will really be a full night. A brief outlook to the CDIO in Week 10, we are expecting six countries to participate in the Nations Cup, which is quite a high number. I’m looking forward to that.”

For more information and a full list of results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Dressage

Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet Win FEI Grand Prix CDI-W at AGDF

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Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet. ©SusanStickle.com.

Wellington, FL – January 26, 2019 – Week 7 of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) kicked off on Thursday, February 21, with a win for Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) and Goerklintgaards Dublet in the FEI Grand Prix CDI-W, presented by Helgstrand Dressage at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL.

The pair earned a score of 77.217% to qualify for the “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W, also presented by Helgstrand Dressage, on February 22.

“Today was a really good ride. I felt like he was a little bit tighter and tenser than normal, but it’s our second show out for the season so we’re still getting our feet wet a little bit,” said Perry-Glass of the 16-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Diamond Hit owned by Diane Perry. “The highlights were the piaffe and the two [tempis]. I felt they were amazing. The passage got a little bit tense, but he always does it so well that it’s such a highlight for him.”

Perry-Glass is looking forward to her freestyle test. “I want to go out and have fun with him,” she said. “I love doing the freestyle, and it’s a chance to for us to kind of go out and dance together. I’m hoping to put in a solid test for a solid score, for hopefully another qualifying score for the World Cup, and just to have fun.

“The only [other] show I can do is [AGDF 8], so I’ll be doing these two [CDI-Ws] back to back. Which I think with him works perfect,” said Perry-Glass of her competition plans. “He’s a very solid horse and we focus a lot on physical health. I think it’s just going to make him even better for next week, doing it back to back.”

For more information and a full list of results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Dressage

Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet Kick Off AGDF Week 3 with Grand Prix Win

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Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet © SusanStickle.com.

Wellington, FL – January 24, 2019 – The Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) kicked off its third week of competition on Thursday, January 24, with a win for Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) and Goerklintgaards Dublet in the FEI Grand Prix CDI-W, presented by the U.S. P.R.E. Association.

Perry-Glass (USA) earned a score of 77.913% in the FEI Grand Prix CDI-W, presented by the U.S. P.R.E. Association. She rode Goerklintgaards Dublet, a 16-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Diamond Hit x La Costa owned by Diane Perry.

“I’m not surprised because I know that this horse has a lot of potential, but coming out for your first show you always want to do well and start where you left off last year,” Perry-Glass said about her win on Thursday. “I felt like that test was better than I’ve ever felt him. The rideability was there, and his mental game was there. It just showed that he’s ready for this year.”

“I just kind of had a few little lightbulb moments with our riding. Even after being on an Olympic team and a WEG team, you still have those moments,” commented Perry-Glass on her ride. “We’re just going to keep continuing to grow and get the scores up, even by 0.5%, and just keep chasing the higher scores.”

Perry-Glass said of her relationship with Goerklintgaards Dublet, “I’m very close to him. He’s my baby. I’m around him all day. His care, I look after the smallest little things with him, and sometimes my vet gets annoyed and he’s like, ‘Kasey, he’s fine.’ But you know, the earlier you catch things, the earlier you can fix it. I take his care very seriously.”

Perry-Glass’s FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 teammate Laura Graves (USA) and Verdades, her 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Florett AS, came in second with a score of 77.087%. Fellow 2018 teammate Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Salvino rounded out the top three with a score of 74.717%.

Earlier in the day Brittany Fraser (CAN) and All In, her 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Tango, earned a score of 72.761% to win the FEI Grand Prix CDI3*, presented by Adequan®.

Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA) and Alcazar, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Cantango and owned by Jane Forbes Clark, came in second with a score of 70.957%. Jill Irving (CAN) and Arthur, her 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Jazz, finished third with a score of 69.738%.

Betsy Steiner (USA) started the day off with a win in the FEI Prix St Georges CDI1*, presented by Discover Dressage. Steiner and Swiss W, a 12-year-old Wurttemberg mare owned by H. Whitney Bailey, earned a score of 71.618%.

Jennifer Baumert (USA) and Handsome, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Hochadel owned by Elizabeth Juliano, won the FEI Prix St Georges CDI3*, presented by Horseware Ireland with a score of 72.647%.

For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Competitions, Dressage, World Equestrian Games

US Equestrian Names Dressage Team for World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018

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Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian has named four athlete-and-horse combinations to The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team for the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018, which will take place September 11-23, in Mill Spring, N.C.

After competing in designated Observation Events throughout the summer, the following athlete-and-horse combinations have been selected to represent U.S. dressage at the WEG under the leadership of Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover (in alphabetical order):

Laura Graves (Geneva, Fla.) and Verdades, a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding she owns with Curt Maes

Adrienne Lyle (Ketchum, Idaho) and Salvino, Betsy Juliano LLC’s 11-year-old Hanoverian stallion

Kasey Perry-Glass (Wellington, Fla.) and Goerklintgaards Dublet, Diane Perry’s 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding

Steffen Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Rosamunde, Four Winds Farm’s 11-year-old Rheinlander mare

The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team will compete beginning September 12 and 13, with the Grand Prix Team competition and Individual Qualifier. On September 14, teams will contest the Grand Prix Special, and the Grand Prix Freestyle on September 16.

From the US Equestrian Communications Department

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, FEI

US Dressage Team Wins Silver at FEI Nations Cup CDIO5* Aachen

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Shannon Brinkman Photo (Left to right: Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, Kasey Perry-Glass, Laura Graves, and Adrienne Lyle)

Graves and Verdades Win Grand Prix Special

Aachen, Germany – The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team won the silver medal at the FEI Nations Cup at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen in Aachen, Germany on Saturday with a final score of 450.392. Rio Olympic team bronze medalist Laura Graves and Verdades were foot perfect as they bested the field of competitors, unseating Germany’s Isabell Werth in the Grand Prix Special to win with a final a score of 81.824%.

“These incredible young ladies are just super athletes along with super wonderful horses, some of which are brand new to arenas such as this,” said Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover. “I was over-wrought with emotion about them landing in second place halfway through this Nations Cup. On the one hand, a part of me expects that; I expect excellence. Still, it is an extra thrill to have this youthful look of new faces coming along with our seasoned veterans. I’m very happy and very excited about this group.”

Maintaining their silver status from Thursday’s Grand Prix, the U.S. had little to no room for error as they entered the arena. The 2016 Olympic duo of Graves (Geneva, Fla.) and Verdades, Graves’ and Curt Maes’ 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding, kept the momentum going fresh off their Grand Prix test, where they placed second with a 79.514%. They were determined to keep the team on the podium by producing a showstopping performance in the Grand Prix Special.

“Today was just our day. My horse gave me a great birthday present,” said Graves. “It was actually the first time this year that we have shown in the [Grand Prix] Special. I could not be more pleased with him. Aachen brings out the top riders, and that’s what keeps me motivated.”

Graves is the fifth U.S. dressage rider to win at Aachen, behind Patricia Galvin and Jessica Ransehousen (1960), Robert Dover (1987 CHIO Freestyle) and Steffen Peters (2009).

“A win in Aachen is tantamount to a win at the Olympics,” said Dover. “She was against the very best rider from the Olympic Games, the very best rider from the World Cup and when you beat that rider and horse, it’s just everything. When you go into the stadium and have our national anthem played and our flag go up, it is something she will never forget in her life. Nothing can make me more proud or happier for her.”

London Olympic veteran Adrienne Lyle (Ketchum, Idaho) aboard Salvino, the 2007 Hanoverian stallion owned by Salvino Partners, LLC, entered the ring confident and composed, demonstrating brilliant movements to finish on a final score of 71.814% and 73.608% in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, respectively.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Dover. “She rode magnificently both days. Today, the marks reflected a super talented horse and a fantastic rider piloting this young horse.”

Relatively new to international competitions, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (Haymarket, Va.) and Lonoir, LaGoy-Weltz and Mary Anne McPhail’s 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding, competed with poise riding two technically outstanding tests, finishing the Grand Prix with a 71.514% and 72.118% in the Grand Prix Special.

“Olivia is another incredibly gifted rider. She is as tough about wanting perfect and being determined,” said Dover. “Right before she went in I said rack up as many points as you possibly can in the first half of the test because his greenness is in the second half and that’s exactly what she did. That’s what you want in a team rider; it shows another great talent for the future.”

Graves’ Rio Olympic teammate, Kasey Perry-Glass (Wellington, Fla.), and Goerklintgaards Dublet, Diane Perry’s 2003 Warmblood gelding, had an unexpected miscommunication in their first pirouette during Thursday’s Grand Prix, resulting in a score of 68.929% which was the drop score for the team. However, the pair’s performance on Saturday set the tone for the U.S. with a score of 71.608%.

“We wanted Kasey to keep showing the continued evolution of how this horse is coming on,” said Dover. “It [Grand Prix Special] was so amazing and so lovely. The 74-75% is right there. I’m thrilled with her.”

Germany took home top honors with a final collective team score of 471.046, and placed three of their riders in the top ten in the Grand Prix Special. Sweden, who was in fourth after the Grand Prix, surpassed Denmark to round out the top three with a final score of 437.635.

Graves and Verdades placed third with a score of 82.550% in the Grand Prix Freestyle Sunday morning.

From Classic Communications/US Equestrian Communications Department

Competitions, Dressage

US Dressage Team Ready to Compete in Aachen

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Adrienne Lyle and Salvino (SusanJSticklePhoto.com)

Aachen, Germany – All four horses on The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team, as well as two additional U.S. athlete-and-horse combinations competing in the Aachen CDI4*, have passed the horse inspection and are ready to compete at the 2017 World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen, in Aachen, Germany, July 19-23.

The U.S. team, led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, includes the 2016 Olympic combinations of Laura Graves and Verdades and Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet, in addition to the exciting combinations of Olympic veteran Adrienne Lyle with Salvino and Olivia LaGoy-Weltz with Lonoir. Featuring a combination of new talent and international experience, the U.S. team will vie for top honors in Aachen while gaining experience and building momentum towards the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, N.C.

The competition begins with the CDIO5* Grand Prix on Thursday followed by the CDIO5* Grand Prix Special, the second half of the team competition, on Saturday morning. The U.S. has drawn the eighth and final position in the starting order among the eight countries competing and will compete in the following order:

Adrienne Lyle and Salvino:
Lyle (Ketchum, Idaho), a 2012 London Olympian, rides Salvino Partners, LLC’s Salvino, a 2007 Hanoverian stallion.  She and Salvino continue to progress in their partnership. The exciting, developing combination recently placed third in the Grand Prix CDI3* in Rotterdam last month.

Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet:
Perry-Glass (Wellington, Fla.) will compete with Diane Perry’s Goerklintgaards Dublet, a 2003 Warmblood gelding. Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet earned a team bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games and placed seventh in the 2017 FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha. In May, they won the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship and was part of the gold medal winning team at CDIO5* Rotterdam in June.

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Lonoir:
LaGoy-Weltz (Haymarket, Va.) will compete her own and Mary Anne McPhail’s Lonoir, a 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding. LaGoy-Weltz and Lonoir continue to grow their partnership after exhibiting strong performances including a team gold in CDIO5* Rotterdam and first-place finishes in both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special in CDIO3* Wellington, Fla. earlier this year.

Laura Graves and Verdades:
Graves (Geneva, Fla.) will ride her own and Curt Maes’ Verdades, a 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding. Graves and her 2016 Olympic team bronze medal mount, Verdades placed second at the FEI World Cup ™ Dressage Final in Omaha. Most recently, they were part of the gold medal winning team at FEI Nations Cup ™ CDIO5* Rotterdam.

The following athlete-horse combinations will compete as individuals in the CDI4*:

Shelly Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) with Patricia Stempel’s Danilo, a 2004 Hanoverian gelding.

Kathleen Raine (Murrieta, Calif.) with her own, Jennifer Mason, and David Wightman’s Breanna, a 2000 Hanoverian mare.

Further information on the 2017 World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen, including a schedule of events and results, is available at chioaachen.de.

From Classic Communications/ U.S. Equestrian Communications Department

Dressage, FEI, FEI

US Dressage Team Prepares for FEI Nations Cup CDIO5* Rotterdam

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Dawn White-O’Connor and Legolas 92. Photo: SusanJStickle.com.

Rotterdam, Netherlands – Continuing their European Nations Cup tour, The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team will compete at FEI Nations Cup CDIO5* Rotterdam, June 22-25. The U.S. team, led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, includes Dawn White O’Connor, Kasey Perry-Glass, Laura Graves, and Olivia LaGoy-Weltz. Additionally, U.S. combinations Charlotte Jorst with Kastel’s Nintendo, Adrienne Lyle with Salvino, and Shelly Francis with Doktor will compete individually in the CDI3* competition. The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team will ride in the following order.

Dawn White-O’Connor with Legolas 92: White-O’Connor (Cardiff, Calif.) and Legolas 92 make their first Nations Cup appearance together. White-O’Connor and Four Winds Farm’s 2002 Westphalian gelding posted back-to-back victories in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special at the Dressage Affaire CDI3* in San Juan Capistrano in March. The combination then went on to win the $2,000 FEI Grand Prix Special at the Del Mar National Horse Show.

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz with Lonoir:  In 2016 and 2017, LaGoy-Weltz (Haymarket, Va.) and her own 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding placed inside the top ten at every major competition. Already in 2017, LaGoy-Weltz and Lonoir accomplished eight top-ten finishes, including first place titles in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special during the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* at the 2017 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, Fla.

Kasey Perry-Glass with Goerklintgaards Dublet: Perry-Glass (Wellington, Fla.) and Goerklintgaards Dublet, Diane Perry’s 2003 Danish Warmblood gelding contributed to the team bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. They then went on to achieve a top-ten finish at the 2017 FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in Omaha, Neb. and recently won the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship at The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions.

Laura Graves with Verdades: Graves (Geneva, Fla.) is a well-known face on the U.S. dressage landscape. She and Verdades, her own and Curt Maes’s 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding, placed second at the 2017 FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Omaha, Neb., in April. The duo also contributed to a team bronze medal in Rio and were part of the team silver medal efforts at 2016 CDIO5* Rotterdam.

Find out more about FEI Nations Cup CDIO5* Rotterdam and watch it live on FEI TV.

By US Equestrian Communications Department

Championships, Dressage, JRPR

Kasey Perry-Glass Wins US Dressage National Grand Prix Championship

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Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Gladstone, NJ (May 25, 2017) — Triple Crown® Nutrition, Inc., is proud to congratulate U.S. Olympic Dressage Team Bronze Medalist Kasey Perry-Glass for her most recent accomplishment – claiming the overall U.S. Dressage National Grand Prix Championship title at The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions in Gladstone, New Jersey this past weekend. As the official feed sponsor of the U.S. Dressage Team, Triple Crown is a longtime supporter of equestrian sports and the advancement of U.S. dressage. Dedicated to providing the utmost superiority in nutrition, Triple Crown continually fuels top-level equine athletes.

At the Festival of Champions at Gladstone’s historically beautiful Hamilton Farm, Perry-Glass and her Olympic partner Goerklintgaards Dublet kicked off the weekend by earning first place in the FEI Grand Prix with 73.7% on Thursday, May 18. After a challenging Grand Prix Special on Friday, they rose to the occasion, finishing second in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle on Sunday, May 21 with 73.325%. It was just what they needed to push their cumulative score to the top to earn them the title of the 2017 U.S. Dressage National Grand Prix Champion.

“I’m proud of him,” Perry-Glass said of the 2003 Danish Warmblood gelding (Diamond Hit x La Costa, Olympic Ferro), owned by her mother Diane Perry. Perry-Glass acknowledged that the weekend didn’t showcase their best personal performances, although they still outscored all of their talented competitors and led the victory pass round with Dublet sporting the blue blanket and tri-colored ribbon. “This was only our second year at Grand Prix. Our first year was kind of a whirlwind.”

Their first two years at the Grand Prix level have certainly included more than a typical horse and rider’s – Perry-Glass and Dublet’s accomplishments include winning the Grand Prix at the 2015 Palm Beach Dressage Derby, coming in second at the 2016 CDI-W Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida and, most notably, helping the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team to the Bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

As a competitor at the top of her sport, Perry-Glass knows the importance of proper nutrition for her equine partners. She has been using Triple Crown products for the past four years. “I was working with a nutritionist who highly recommended Triple Crown because of their reputation, the quality of feed, and the science behind it. I began feeding it, and immediately noticed a big difference in my horses’ performance, weight, coats, and their overall health, so that’s why I stuck with it,” says Perry-Glass. She is currently feeding Dublet the Triple Crown Training feed, the 30% Ration Balancer, and the Alfa-Lox® Forage and will take her Triple Crown feed with her to Europe this summer to assure continuity in Dublet’s diet.

Perry-Glass understands the impact that nutrition has on performance perhaps even better than most, as she is not only an equine professional, but also an avid athlete in her spare time – particularly as a runner. “As a professional and also as an athlete myself, I feel that nutrition plays a huge part in performance and training. If you don’t fuel your body or the horse’s body correctly, it can affect everything – mood, stamina, and energy. I really believe that having a quality feed is just so important.”

Contact: Kelly Payne
kpayne@triplecrownfeed.com
800-451-9916
www.triplecrownfeed.com

Championships, Dressage, USEF, USEF

Perry-Glass, Lyle, and Blythe Win Big at US Dressage Festival of Champions

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Kasey-Perry Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet. (SusanJStickle.com)

Gladstone, N.J. – The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions came to its conclusion on Sunday with three national champions being crowned. All competitors in the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship, and USEF Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today performed their freestyle tests in order to earn the remainder of their overall championship score. Kasey Perry-Glass, Adrienne Lyle, and Kaitlin Blythe were crowned national champions.

Quality work was displayed by the combinations throughout The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. “It was fun because it was up and down a little bit from one class to the next so I really didn’t know who was in the lead coming into today. I think clearly everybody made their best effort today,” commented Gary Rockwell, President of the Ground Jury. “We had some really good rides today. We need depth in this country. We can see some good young horses and young riders coming up, so that is our future; we need to support and encourage them and give them a chance.”

USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship

A talented field of seven combinations competed for top honors in the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship with 45%, 40%, and 15% of their overall championship score coming from the Thursday’s FEI Grand Prix Test, Friday’s FEI Grand Prix Special, and Sunday’s FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, respectively.

Perry-Glass (Orangevale, Calif.) and Goerklintgaards Dublet added a USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship title to their resume by winning with an overall score of 71.575%. They put in a lovely test to win the FEI Grand Prix Test with a score of 73.700%, and had a few bobbles in the trot work of the FEI Grand Prix Special to finish fifth with a score of 68.529%. The duo did not have a completely clean performance in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle but high degree of difficulty movements and a great artistic flow allowed them to finish second in the class with a score of 73.325%.

Watch Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet’s freestyle

“The whole entire show was really not our best show, but you kind of need those, especially since it is our second year at Grand Prix; our first year was kind of a whirlwind. We have been picking on the small stuff and sometimes it all gets little bit dysfunctional when you are picking on the small stuff,” Perry-Glass explained. “I am proud of us for fighting through it and keeping our heads up and going. Having the support of [Adrienne Lyle and Olivia LaGoy-Weltz] and my other teammates has been great, and it is fun to compete here. I feel pretty lucky.”

Adrienne Lyle (Ketchum, Idaho) and Salvino received the Reserve Champion title after finishing on an overall score of 71.344%. They had a flowing performance in the FEI Grand Prix Test to finish second with a score of 70.600%, and were second again in the FEI Grand Prix Special, despite bobbles in the first piaffe and the one tempi changes, with a score of 70.314%. Lyle and the Salvino Partners, LLC’s 2007 Hanoverian stallion finished the championship on a high note by winning the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 76.325%. Lyle used the music from her freestyle with Wizard, her longtime partner and 2012 Olympic Games mount, and changed the timing to match Salvino’s movement.

“I had a blast in my test today. We have never done the freestyle, so we pulled it together quickly. It was Wizard’s freestyle and we edited it time-wise to match his big stride. Terry Gallo did a great job with me calling last minute,” Lyle said. “I was thrilled with how Salvino handled it. I wasn’t sure what he was going to be like with the music and the crowd, there was a lot of stuff happening. I couldn’t be happier with what he gave me.”

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (Haymarket, Va.) and Lonoir finished third in the championship with an overall score of 70.927%. They performed a smooth test to finish third in the FEI Grand Prix Test with a score of 70.400% and won the FEI Grand Prix Special with a score of 70.686%. LaGoy-Weltz and her own 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding gave another solid effort in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, highlighted by passage half-passes and quarter turns in the piaffe, to finish third with a score of 73.150%.

USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship

Sixteen combinations rode for the title in the USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship with 40%, 45%, and 15% of their overall championship score coming from the Thursday’s FEI Prix St. Georges Test, Saturday’s FEI Intermediate I Test, and Sunday’s FEI Intermediate I Freestyle, respectively.

Lyle and Horizon performed well and showed much promise for the future on their way to winning the USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship with a score of 70.967%. They had an unfortunate bobble in their changes in the FEI Prix St. Georges Test but recovered well to finish in fifth place with a score of 69.763%. The duo had a fantastic performance in the FEI Intermediate I Test to win with a score of 70.526%. Lyle rode Betsy Juliano’s 2007 Oldenburg mare to flashy music, including “It’s Raining Men.” They wowed the judges with difficult movements, such as canter pirouettes into tempi changes, to win the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle with a score of 75.500%.

Watch Lyle and Horizon’s freestyle

“That mare is so fun in the ring. She loves to get out there and perform. When she is on, you just have to sit there and pilot her through it,” Lyle said. “I borrowed that music from Katherine Bateson-Chandler, so thank you to everyone who helped me get to the championships.”

Jane Cleveland (Wellington, Fla.) and Monique earned the Reserve Champion title with a score of 70.768%. They painted a lovely picture, aside from one bobble in the change after the medium canter, to win the FEI Prix St. Georges Test with a score of 70.789%, then had a solid test to finish fourth in the FEI Intermediate I Test with a score of 69.947%. Cleveland and her own 2009 Danish Warmblood mare had an impressive freestyle performance with upbeat music coming from Cleveland’s barre class, finishing second in the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle with a score of 73.175%.

“[My ride] was so much fun. We did better today than before. She was better today than she has been all week,” Cleveland said. Elaborating on what it is like to ride at the USET Foundation headquarters, Cleveland said, “It is special for a few reasons. The barns are exquisite and they have so much history. There is a plaque of famous horses on each stall…I had the opportunity to ride here five years ago, and I learned that if you get the opportunity to ride here, you get here.”

Lyle also finished third in the championship with Harmony’s Duval on a score of 70.466%. She finished second with Harmony’s Duval in the FEI Prix St. Georges Test with a score of 70.605% and finished in third in the FEI Intermediate I Test with a score of 70.132%. Lyle and Duval Partners LLC’s 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding performed their freestyle to dramatic music that complemented the gelding’s movement to place fourth with a score of 71.100%.

USEF Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today

A field comprised of seven rising stars competed for the title in the USEF Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today with 40%, 45%, and 15% of their overall championship score coming from the Thursday’s FEI Intermediate II Test, Friday’s FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Test, and Sunday’s FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Freestyle, respectively.

Kaitlin Blythe (Rougemont, N.C.) and Don Principe won the USEF Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Dressage National Championship presented by Dressage Today with an overall score of 66.769%. They performed a fluid test, aside from an error of course, to finish second in the FEI Intermediate II Test with a score of 66.684%. Blythe and Maryanna Haymon’s 1999 Hanoverian stallion displayed quality movements in the FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Test to finish second with a score of 66.000%. The duo had great canter work in the FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Freestyle to win with a score of 69.300%.

Watch Blythe and Don Principe’s freestyle

“I’m thrilled with my horse. He loves the freestyle. It is his favorite thing; he just lights up in the arena. I cannot believe this is real life, actually; it is so surreal. I’m so thankful for everyone who helped me get here,” Blythe said.

Natalie Pai (Wellington, Fla.) and Unlimited were the Reserve Champions, ending on an overall score of 66.444%. They had a few moments of tension in the FEI Intermediate Test to finish third with a score of 66.447% but an improved performance in the FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Test to win the class with a score of 66.605%. Pai and Peacock Ridge, LLC’s 2001 KWPN gelding showcased clean changes and half turns in the piaffe in the FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Freestyle to place third with a score of 65.950%.

“He was awesome today. He really likes the freestyle; he gets way more active and energetic. I was really happy with a completely clean test,” Pai explained. “This whole weekend I can’t believe I was able to really step it up and make every single set of changes clean. He was so good this weekend and today really tried his best.”

Molly Paris (Charlotte, N.C.) and Countess finished third in the championship with an overall score of 65.992%. They had a great performance to win the FEI Intermediate II Test with a score of 67.079% and put forth a solid effort in the FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Test to place third with a score of 64.698%. Paris and her own 2002 Danish Warmblood mare performed their FEI Grand Prix 16-25 Freestyle with a high degree of difficulty which included passage half-passes and extended canter to canter pirouettes. However, they had some miscommunications, but finished second with a score of 66.975%.

By Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department

Competitions, Dressage, FEI

Graves Finishes Second, Perry-Glass and Peters in Top 10 in FEI World Cup Dressage Final

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Laura Graves & Verdades (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Omaha, Neb. – Laura Graves and Verdades scored a personal best Grand Prix Freestyle of 85.307% to place second in the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final on Saturday. Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet and Steffen Peters and Rosamunde closed out the competition in the top 10. Isabell Werth (GER) and Weihegold OLD were the 2017 champions with a score of 90.704%, while Carl Hester (GBR) and Nip Tuck finished third with a score of 93.757%.

Graves (Geneva, Fla.) and her own Verdades, a 2002 KWPN gelding, wowed the crowd with a fantastic freestyle full of artistic beauty and technically difficult elements. Two tempi changes on a curve followed by one tempi changes and lovely canter pirouettes mesmerized the home crowd.

“I was really looking forward to putting in a solid test today in the Final, knowing that we didn’t have the best of draws with all the big guns still to come in the class,” Graves said. “I’m super happy with my horse. He was awesome in that environment. He is known to be spooky, and he was just as steady as could be. It is a personal best score, and to do it here in Omaha, it feels great to have the crowd on their feet.”

Despite Verdades’ spooky nature, Graves felt that he was in his element in front of the home crowd. “They were cheering in parts of our test, and my horse was really enjoying it. Two years ago in Las Vegas, the crowd would cheer and he would spooky and get a little fast, and this year he was like, ‘Yeah, thanks guys!’ So it is awesome to be back with the same horse.”

Perry-Glass (Orangevale, Calif.) had a strong performance in her debut at the Final with Diane Perry’s Goerklintgaards Dublet. She and the 2003 Danish Warmblood gelding finished on a high note despite bobbles in an extended trot movement and in the one-tempi changes. The pair received a score of 77.068% to finish in seventh place.

“I am very happy [with our score]. This is his first time in the indoor; there is a huge crowd. I couldn’t ask for a better ride from him,” Perry-Glass said.

Steffen Peters & Rosamunde (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Peters (San Diego, Calif.) had a solid performance with Four Winds Farm’s Rosamunde in the one of the biggest tests of the mare’s career. The 2007 Rheinlander mare handled the electric atmosphere well thanks to Peters’ guidance. They executed wonderful pirouettes and half-passes. Peters and Rosamunde collected a score of 75.879% to finish ninth.

“She did great,” Peters said of “Rosie”. “It was a very difficult freestyle not just for an experienced Grand Prix horse but for a young one, so that she did as well as she did, I am super pleased with her.”

View final results for the 2017 FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final.

By Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department