Tag Archives: Olivia Lagoy-Weltz

Top Riders LaGoy-Weltz, Matute, and Witte-Vrees Excel at 2017 FEI Nations Cup in Rotterdam

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz. (Photo courtesy of www.socialcircuitequine.com)

Rotterdam, The Netherlands (June 30, 2017) — Custom Saddlery, crafter of tailor-made saddles for riders and horses of all levels, congratulates three elite competitors who had outstanding performances and top placings at the 2017 FEI Nations Cup CDIO 5* dressage competition in Rotterdam, South Holland. Each of Custom Saddlery’s “Most Valuable Riders (MVRs),” Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, Juan Matute Guimon, and Madeleine Witte-Vrees, demonstrated how important a personalized saddle is to each horse’s performance.

Custom Saddlery MVR LaGoy-Weltz and her 17.1-hand, 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding, Rassing’s Lonoir (De Noir x Loran) competed for the United States team that won the Nations Cup Competition at Rotterdam with a final score of 446.442.

LaGoy-Weltz, an experienced rider and trainer who works out of Mountain Crest Farm in Haymarket, Virginia and Wellington, Florida, scored a personal best on Lonoir in the Grand Prix and finished third with 74.580 percent. “He is an exceptionally sensitive, athletic, and sweet horse,” says LaGoy-Weltz. “He loves his time in the field as much as he loves his work. In 2014, I started riding Lono in a Custom Wolfgang model with a long block. I love the fit of that saddle. It’s still one of my favorite models. I also ride in the Omni, the Advantage Mono Flap, and the Wolfgang Solo.”

LaGoy-Weltz is sure to keep Custom Saddlery a part of her winning strategy. “Custom has an extensive network of saddlers all over the country,” she says, “and now in Europe, too. So I have a great saddle support system no matter where I go.” This MVR will waste no time in putting this support system to use this summer. “We’re on to Aachen!” she said.

Dutch Custom Saddlery MVR and Olympian Madeleine Witte-Vrees claimed reserve title in the Nations Cup Grand Prix with 75.660 percent, riding Cennin, a 10-year-old KWPN/Oldenburg stallion by Vivaldi. No strangers to success down the centerline, Witte-Vrees and Cennin were the Dutch reserve combination at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and they currently stand 22nd on the FEI World Individual Dressage Rankings.

Also successful at Rotterdam was Custom Saddlery MVR Juan Matute Guimon, a 19-year-old dressage prodigy who rides for Spain. His father is three-time Spanish Olympian Juan Matute, and the family lives in Florida. At Rotterdam, the young Matute won the CDI Under 25 Musical Freestyle on 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding Don Diego Ymas with a score of 76.015 percent – a personal best. The pair also took reserve in the CDI Under 25 Intermediaire II.

Before entering an arena for what has become a must-watch ride, Matute Guimon saddles up with the Custom Saddlery’s Advantage R model. “I love the Custom Saddlery saddles,” the young man said. “I ride with the Advantage R because it’s comfortable and precise. It fits perfectly to my horses’ backs and I feel as if my seat aid is uninterrupted. Nice leather, great seat, and comfortable for the rider and the horse. Custom has a huge variety of trees so they really make the saddle customized.

“Don Diego Ymas and I entered the arena with the attitude of a champion. We knew that if we wanted to win we had to give it our absolute best. We had a totally mistake free test and there was lots of harmony and power!” said Matute Guimon. The young Spaniard is looking forward to saddling up next at CHIO Aachen with an eye trained on competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Custom Saddlery MVRs know that quality tack and equipment are integral to bringing out the best in their horses. Other top dressage riders who agree include MVRs Heather Blitz, Patrik Kittel, and Steffen Peters. Custom Saddlery offers professional saddle fitting services with expert saddle fitters across the United States and internationally, and manufactures high quality accessories including stirrup leathers, girths, and saddle pads. Find a catalog of Custom saddles and an expert saddle fitter near you at www.mysaddle.com or call 1-800-235-3865.

For more information, contact:
Custom Saddlery, Cary Wallace
www.mysaddle.com
cary@mysaddle.com
1-800-235-3865

US Dressage Team Prepares for FEI Nations Cup CDIO5* Rotterdam

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

Victory for Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Lonoir in the AGDF 8 Grand Prix Special CDI-W

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Lonoir. Photo: ©SusanJStickle.

Wellington, FL – March 3, 2017 – Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (USA) and Lonoir climbed to the top of the leaderboard in Friday’s FEI Grand Prix Special CDI-W, presented by Peacock Ridge, at the 2017 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF).

It was a successful day for LaGoy-Weltz and her own Lonoir, a 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding (De Noir x Lorani x Loran), as they captured the title in the FEI Grand Prix Special, presented by Peacock Ridge, with a score of 71.608%.

The pair has had a successful week after Friday’s win and Thursday’s second place finish in the FEI Grand Prix CDI-W.

Of her ride, LaGoy-Weltz said, “He was definitely very hot in the warm-up today. He came out really cool, but then we got under the big American Flag flying and it cracked a few times, and after that we were off to the races. I was really pleased with how he settled, because he did get lit up right before we went in but he got his focus back once we were in the ring.

“We haven’t done the Grand Prix Special much,” she continued. “We haven’t ridden it since last year really, when we were down here. I think he and I need to run through it a few times just so we know where we can add the power in.”

Arlene Page (USA) and Woodstock, a 2003 KWPN gelding (Havel x Mirania x Contango) owned by Page, were awarded second place in the FEI Grand Prix Special with a score of 70.922%. Third place went to Shelly Francis (USA) and Danilo, a 2004 Hanoverian gelding (De Niro x Annabella x Andiamo) owned by Patricia Stempel, with a 68.980%.

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

US Team 1 Holds Strong Lead in First Day of Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* Competition

Laura Graves and Verdades. Photos copyright SusanJStickle.com.

Lisa Wilcox and Galant Capture PSG CDI1* Win

Wellington, FL – March 25, 2015 – The first half of the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* competition began today at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) with Team 1 of the USA leading the way after their overall performance in the FEI Prix St. Georges and the FEI Grand Prix classes. The team composed of Allison Brock, Kimberly Herslow, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, and Laura Graves reached a total score of 223.304 for the first portion of the competition. The Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* will continue tomorrow with competition in the FEI Grand Prix Special for Large Tour pairs and the FEI Intermediaire-1 for Small Tour entries, after which the team medals will be awarded. Canada Team 1 currently sits in second place, while USA Team 2 is in third. The final week of AGDF, sponsored by Stillpoint Farm, Martha Jolicoeur and Maria Mendelsohn of Illustrated Properties, and Regal Horse Products, continues through Saturday, March 28.

Watch the test for Laura Graves and Verdades! Video courtesy of Campfield Videos.

USA Team 1 put in a dominant performance to handily take the lead in the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* after the FEI Prix St. Georges and FEI Grand Prix classes. The team, which is composed of two Large Tour combinations and two Small Tour pairs, performed spectacularly. Not a single member of Team 1 scored below a 70.000% overall. Chef d’Equipe for Team 1, Robert Dover, was thrilled with the performance of the team as a unit and the statement they made about the resurgence of dressage in the United States. “First of all I’m so proud of all of our American riders. They have made everyone so proud,” he said. “The riders themselves came to this arena to do a job, and they will continue to go on doing that job until the end of the competition. They showed why we are ready to be ranked among the best nations in the world.”

Laura Graves and Verdades put in another solid performance, giving them another great prep test for their FEI World Cup Finals debut in April. Verdades is becoming incredibly consistent at the Grand Prix level. Graves, who went last in the class as the team’s anchor rider, felt that their late ride time was to their advantage. “I like going last, especially when it’s hot like this and the class is at this point in the day I think it’s an advantage for us,” she remarked. “I’m so lucky to be on a team with three other women who are equals and incredible competitors. I’m really very proud to be a part of this team.”

As the pair has major international plans ahead of them, Graves hopes to remove all of the kinks from their routine now so that they can get the most out their performances. “We’re still green at this. Hopefully by the end of this year, which will be our second full year riding Grand Prix, I think we will be able to ride a bit more confidently,” she noted.

Allison Brock and Rosevelt
Allison Brock and Rosevelt

Allison Brock and Rosevelt had the second-highest score, just behind Graves in the Grand Prix, with another very stellar test from the young stallion. Brock has taken her time with Rosevelt, as he is very sensitive and reactive. “He got a little hot in the warm-up with some of the commotion, but he came back to me and I was just trying to gauge with the heat how much time I needed. I wanted to take a horse in that still had gas, but wasn’t too reactive. I think we did a good job feeling that out,” said Brock. “My goal was to go and have a really clean test and for the most part he was very honest, and he went for it. He was with me, and I’m really pleased with him.”

The first to go for Team USA, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz felt some pressure before leading off, but said that “Lono” made some great improvements and it was the most extravagant test, movement-wise, he has shown so far this season. “We did have a few uncharacteristic bobbles in the test, but he was still fabulous and continued to settle as the test went on, which is great to know that he is progressing to where he can do that,” she remarked.

Kimberly Herslow, who continues to search for the perfect warm-up routine with Rosmarin when the weather is hot, felt that considering the time the pair had to warm-up today, their test went very well. “We both tend to lose a little bit of focus in the heat because it’s hard to push for the max in that, but I’m really happy with how he went considering last time it was this hot, I couldn’t create power,” she remarked. “I don’t feel like we’re maxed out at all, and I am really happy with where we are. I know he has a lot more to give still and we’ll keep building off that.”

Kasey Perry and Goerklintgaards Dublet, members of USA Team 2 in Perry’s debut international team competition, impressed in the Prix St. Georges class scoring a 73.816% to lead that class. “Dublet” came in very hot to the test, but Perry rode beautifully to keep the talented gelding composed. “It is so comforting to be on a team when something like that happens because there are so many people around you, and it really calms your nerves,” she said. “Right when I went down the centerline though, I felt him check in with me, and I knew that I had his attention and we were good to go. He never missed a beat, and he was with me the entire time.”

For LaGoy-Weltz, Brock, and Perry, this is their first international team competition, and all three felt that the team environment changed not only their attitudes about the competition, but their mentality and focus. “You feel the pressure. You’re learning the process and wanting to do well for everyone else; that’s what makes it a team thing,” said LaGoy-Weltz. Graves, who has participated in team competition before, was quick to express her pride in being named to this specific team with her fellow competitors. She expressed, “(It’s great) being with my teammates in the barn all day and feeling like we’re all in this for the same reason, and we love our horses. Having such a strong team has shown what everyone is working towards and that we are growing the depth in our sport.”

Lisa Wilcox (USA) and Galant, a 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding, topped the FEI Prix St. Georges CDI 1* class, presented by Regal Horse Products, with a score of 69.868%. Diane Creech (CAN) and Diana C followed in second receiving a 69.368%, and Mary Rollins (USA) aboard Royal Prinz was third with 68.553%.

Lisa Wilcox and Galant
Lisa Wilcox and Galant

Wilcox, who has been steadily improving aboard the fiery chestnut gelding all season, was thrilled with their performance in the first class of Small Tour competition this week. They were the first to go in the large class, meaning they led from start to finish. “The early bird gets the worm, as they say. It’s cooler and when you feel the temperature now, during the day, there are advantages to going early. It was helpful for us this morning,” she remarked. “I was really happy with him. We’ve been going through a phase where he’s almost too light. He was wonderful, and we’re at a great point in our development.”

Wilcox and Galant have had success at AGDF before as they took home wins in the FEI Prix St. Georges and FEI Intermediaire-1 last year, but this was their first CDI win so far in 2015. “We’ve had him since he was four, and he’s nine now so it has been a real journey. The development between him and me and the amount of trust we have in our relationship is immense. He’s very horse shy, and things that we would find difficult in the past have greatly improved this season,” said Wilcox. “I’ve seen so much growth in him this year alone, and I have noticed that I can keep his focus and the relationship between the two of us has really been built upon.”

Galant, who is a typically nervous horse, has truly settled for Wilcox in the warm-up and as a result, in the ring, which is why she feels their improvement has been so consistent this season. “I always felt like I had to choreograph my warm-up to what other horses in the ring were doing because he would get nervous when he felt his space was being invaded,” she explained. “The best thing for him and for us was to get out and do it this season and constantly feel surrounded by it. He finally, at some point, just let go and even though it’s still there, it’s manageable and that’s been a huge turning point for us.”

Competition at AGDF continues through Saturday March 28. Team medals will be awarded on Thursday evening, and the finale of the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* will be individual medals following the freestyle classes on Friday evening. FEI CDI3* and CDI1* competition continue through the week for the conclusion of the 2015 AGDF circuit. For more information and full results from the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival, 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.equestriansport.com
or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Adequan Global Dressage Festival is located at
13500 South Shore Blvd, Wellington, Florida 33414

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz Clinches Another Blue Ribbon Finish in FEI Intermediaire-1 at AGDF 12

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Rassing’s Lonoir. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.

Wellington, FL – March 29, 2014 – American Olivia LaGoy-Weltz picked up her third first place prize in the FEI Intermediaire-1 presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty during the CDI 5*/3* at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) 12, hosted at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Tomorrow’s competition will conclude an incredibly successful circuit for the third annual AGDF.

LaGoy-Weltz rode Rassing’s Lonoir, her 10-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Lorani x De Noir), to the top of the class with a 73.421%. Second place went to Canadian Chris Von Martels and Zilverstar, who scored a 70.833%. Christopher Hickey, also of the United States, took home the third place prize for a score of 70.789% with Ronaldo.

LaGoy-Weltz was pleased to see “Lono” improve from Friday’s FEI Prix St Georges class and stay with her during the test on Saturday morning.

“I guess the I-1 is our lucky charm! He was good today. He was still hot, but we managed the warm-up a little bit differently,” LaGoy-Weltz shared. “The last few minutes before we go in is really tricky with him. [It’s important to make sure you’re] not getting him over the top before you go in, because when we go in, he kicks it up another ten notches all on his own.”

She continued, “Today, after we took the boots off and I did a canter and a halt and a trot off, he wanted to get hotter. I just kind of put him in a passage and let him passage and piaffe and let him do that until [he quieted down]. It made him have to slow down, but still have some place to put the energy. It was great, considering that I don’t actually train that [movement] that much!”

LaGoy-Weltz was also grateful for the advice offered to her by many of the world’s top dressage professionals that are in attendance at the AGDF. The supportive atmosphere has been one of the biggest benefits for LaGoy-Weltz over the last several months.

“That was really great, yesterday, when I came out. Everyone was just giving me advice. Try this, put an ear bonnet on, do that. Everyone’s really supportive, which is really nice. It takes a village,” LaGoy-Weltz remarked.

Of her test on Saturday, she smiled, “It’s pretty fun to improve your score by 10%! And the 76% from one judge was really exciting. It’s like, ‘All right, we are heading in the right direction,’ even if it’s just from one judge.”

In the short term, continuing in that direction means qualifying for the Festival of Champions in Gladstone, NJ. LaGoy-Weltz acknowledged that Lono had matured significantly over the course of the AGDF, but he still has a lot of work to do.

“The fitter he gets and the more correct he gets in his body, the hotter he gets in some ways. Just because he has a much bigger range of motion,” LaGoy-Weltz explained. “We have a lot of work to do on collection and straightness and consistency this summer.”

Collection will be the biggest focus for LaGoy-Weltz, who joked that Lono “does the hula” in his lead changes. “He likes to do everything big, so teaching him to do everything small [and collected] and be comfortable in that [is a priority]. Now he has to learn to be in the canter where is he is in the trot [mentally and physically]. Where he can put that heat into collection,” she described.

Lono’s long-term plans are less well-known, but as he begins to offer high level movements on his own, LaGoy-Weltz has started to lean towards allowing him to continue advancing.

“I’m definitely looking to the upper level people for advice whether to hang out and perfect small tour or go on. I think the consensus is to go on and keep going, because he’ll be better at that anyways,” LaGoy-Weltz said.

“He’s offering it. I think that’s the most telling point for me. I might as well put him in a position where he’s a good boy for doing that, instead of piaffe-ing at G when I’m not supposed to be!” she concluded with a laugh.

Competition for the AGDF 12 CDI 5*/3* will continue on Sunday morning at approximately 8:00 a.m. with the FEI Grand Prix Special 3*, presented by Diamante Farms. The FEI Intermediare-1 Freestyle, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will follow at approximately 2:00 p.m. at The Stadium at PBIEC. 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

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Rassing’s Lonoir Earn Second FEI Intermediaire-1 Win at AGDF CDI W and CPEDI 3*

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Rassing’s Lonoir. Photo © SusanJStickle.com.

Canadian and U.S. Riders Excel in FEI Para-Dressage

Wellington, FL – March 15, 2014 – Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (USA) and Rassing’s Lonoir topped Saturday’s FEI Intermediaire-1, presented by Mike and Roz Collins, during the tenth week of competition for the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), presented by Today’s Equestrian, GF Enterprise, LLC, and Mike and Roz Collins. LaGoy-Weltz bested a field of 23 riders representing 10 different countries aboard “Lono,” her 10-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding out of Lorani by De Noir.

LaGoy-Weltz and Lono earned a score of 71.754% for first place, with second and third place riders finishing just shy of her score. Neve Myburgh (GER) and Lexington Star earned a 71.667% and fellow German Marcus Orlob and Shakespeare RSF finished third with a score of 71.623%.

LaGoy-Weltz was happy to see her horse continue to do well at the CDI level; this is only the horse’s second internationally ranked competition after picking up another FEI Intermediaire-1 win during the AGDF 8 Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI W. Even with another win under the belts, LaGoy-Weltz reviewed her test with a critical eye.

“He was good, but there was quite a bit of room for improvement. The first extension was good but very on the edge, so I brought him back and rode the rest of the trot work more conservatively then you’d like to at the end of the day. You have to ride each test as it comes. Today, if I had gone for more, it would have been flat and runny,” she noted.

She continued, “The whole thing would have been just a little more solid had I gone ten minutes earlier, but that’s learning what the horse likes. It’s the second CDI, so I’m pretty happy.”

Figuring out exactly what kind of warm-up Lono needs has presented LaGoy-Weltz with a fairly significant learning curve. She acknowledged she isn’t used to a horse that needs such a short warm-up and that she’s continuing to tweak their warm-up.

“Yesterday, I got kind of lucky. The person in front of me scratched and I was ready, so I just went. Today, I cut the warm-up down to thirty minutes, and I still felt like I needed to shave another ten minutes off. I haven’t had a horse that needs that little amount of warm-up, so it’s kind of like playing Russian Roulette trying to figure exactly the right formula!” she laughed.

LaGoy-Weltz was also pleased with Lono’s progress in the FEI Prix St. Georges, where he gained a percentage point in his score on Friday. She described the FEI Intermediaire-1 test as better suited to the horse, with the increased movements and opportunity to get the horse forward early on.

“The St. Georges is such a lovely test, but there’s not enough ‘turn here and go.’ [The I-1] is nice because the extended canter comes early and I can get him forward and get some of that energy out and then bring it back. It’s hard because he picks up the canter and he’s like, ‘I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready!’ So when I can send him forward and then bring him back, that really helps,” LaGoy-Weltz explained.

LaGoy-Weltz and Lono will return to the final week of the AGDF with a new freestyle in hand, which LaGoy-Weltz is currently re-working to adjust to Lono. The music was originally choreographed for a different horse, but LaGoy-Weltz felt it will still be a good fit and looks forward to seeing how it turns out.

“They did sound checks the other day [at AGDF], and I was really happy that [he handled it well] because he can be very noise-sensitive. So we’ll see! The trot music is from ‘A Bug’s Life,’ so it’s fun music. I’ve watched a video of him and played the music and was like ‘This will work.’ So it will be cute,” LaGoy-Weltz smiled.

CPEDI 3* competition was in its second day of competition on Saturday, with FEI Para-Dressage Individual Tests awarded top honors. Roxanne Trunnell (USA) won the Grade Ia class aboard Nice Touch. The pair earned a high score of 70.507% to ride away with the blue ribbon. Fellow American Sydney Collier emerged victorious from the Grade Ib Individual test with Willi Wesley and a score of 70.172%.

Lauren Barwick of Canada and Ferdonia 2 earned top call in the Grade II class with a score of 71.238%. In the Grade III class, it was Angela Peavy (USA) on top again, this time with Lancelot Warrior. Peavy rode Lancelot Warrior to a 68.984% to finish first. Grade IV crowned Mary R. Jordan (USA) its winner with Sebastian and a score of 67.659%.

Canada finished first in the team standings for CPEDI 3* competition with a total score of 418.803. Team USA was second with a cumulative score of 410.536.

The FEI Young Rider and Junior classes enjoyed another day of big entries. Juan Matute Jr. (ESP) took home another first place prize in the Young Rider class with Quantico, who he piloted to a 69.430%. Second place went to Canadian Laurence Tetrault and Michelangelo for their score of 66.316%, while Taylor Yamamoto (USA) rounded out the top three with Domino with a score of 65.614%.

In the FEI Junior class, it was Bebe Davis that dominated. Davis took first place with Fievel Mousekewitz with a 68.202% as well as second place with Rotano and a 67.807%, while Paula Matute earned third place with Firmamento Ymas on a score of 67.193%.

Competition for the AGDF 10 CDI W and CPEDI 3* will continue on Sunday with the FEI Grand Prix Special, beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m. The FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle and FEI Para-Dressage Freestyle classes will wrap up competition for the week on Sunday afternoon. The class begins at approximately 12:30 p.m. For more information and full results, 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

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Olivia Lagoy-Weltz Proudly Introduces New Venture

Olivia Lagoy-Weltz and Pikardi. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

LivDressage Makes Grand Entrance onto Dressage Scene in Virginia

Upperville, VA (July 22, 2013) – Olivia Lagoy-Weltz certainly knows how to make a grand entrance and debut a new location in the dressage world.  As a USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist and FEI competitor, she knows, first hand, that the best way to get people’s attention is to win shows and “get the blues” by riding into the blue ribbons.  And, after a hugely successful winter season in Wellington, Florida, she continues to do just that. Lagoy-Weltz is proud to announce that in addition to serving her clients in Wellington during the winter, she has moved her training business LivDressage to Tempi Creek Farm in Upperville, Virginia, and now provides high quality, focused dressage training in the greater Washington, DC area, as well.

LivDressage officially debuted with the blues in Virginia during the VADA/Nova Summer Dressage Competition held at Morven Park Equestrian Center in Leesburg.  Riding her own 9-year-old Danish Warmblood, Rassing’s Lonoir (by De Noir out of Lorani), Lagoy-Weltz took first place in the Open Prix St. Georges with a 70.00%, which also earned the pair the High Point Award for PSG.  “There were a few highlights of this show,” she explained. “Number one was the people.  Everyone at the show was very nice and welcoming, which is huge since breaking into a new area is always challenging when you don’t know anyone!”  She continued, “Second was Lono (Rassing’s Lonoir) himself.  Particularly on Sunday, he was very focused and very settled.  And then, last but not least was having super-star rider and friend Heather Blitz be at the show.  I wasn’t expecting her to be there, but she came down from her new Massachusetts base at Cutler Farm for the young horse classes.”

Lagoy-Weltz explained that she enjoys bringing up young horses through the levels and is excited to continue to work with Lono on qualifying for the Developing Horse Championships. “As soon as the Developing Horse Championships are over, the attention will turn to being ready for the Small Tour at the CDI level and the 2014 Intermediaire 1 Championships,” she describes. “By the end of 2014, the hope is to be working the Grand Prix.”  She also hopes to be bringing many more clients’ young horses up to these levels as well by providing insightful, creative and proven dressage instruction.

Lagoy-Weltz grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and began riding when she was 5 years old.  She started in hunters, but had discovered dressage by age 7.  A dedicated rider, she was an active and successful competitor throughout her Junior years on both the Bay Area Dressage and Eventing circuits.  In 2002, she moved to Europe to ride at Egbert Kraak’s Stal de Craecken.  After five years in Europe, split between Holland and Germany, Lagoy-Weltz returned to the Bay Area to become Head Dressage Trainer at Denville Kanani Equestrian Facility in Danville, CA.  There she trained horses and riders of all levels while developing her own FEI mounts.  In 2009, she was recruited to Woodspring Farm in Versailles, KY to train horses imported from Europe.  During her time there, she actively competed on the FEI circuit in Wellington, FL through the Grand Pix level and was featured widely in the dressage press.  She also was regularly invited to compete at the USEF Festival of Champions in Gladstone, NJ.

During her young career, Lagoy-Weltz has had many accomplishments.  In addition to becoming an international competitor at age 21, she was also 2010 USEF National Intermediaire Championship Competitor, 2011 USEF National Championships FEI Young Rider Grand Prix winner and Brentina Cup Reserve Champion, and 2012 USEF Region 2 Open GP Champion, and Open I-2 Reserve Champion.  She has proven herself a well-educated and talented competitor by any measures. Using these skills, she focuses on bringing talented horses to the FEI levels in a way that produces not only top performing competition horses, but happy, healthy horses as well.  Lagoy-Weltz is proud to leverage her proven techniques from years of international competition toward the success of LivDressage.  Also, by drawing from a background in biomechanics, LivDressage’s holistic approach is designed to ensure both short term success and long term understanding to ensure all horses and riders reach their dressage goals.

Contact: Olivia Lagoy-Weltz
703-688-2656 or 510-334-2721
Olivia@LivDressage.com
www.livdressage.com