Suzan Pape and Harmony’s Fiorano. Photos: ©SusanJStickle.
Wellington, FL – February 18, 2017 – Week six of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) concluded competition on Saturday, February 18, with a win for Suzan Pape (GBR) and Harmony’s Fiorano in the FEI Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL.
Suzan Pape (GBR) and Harmony’s Fiorano, a 2005 Hanoverian gelding (Rousseau x Rousseau x Rotspon) owned by Harmony Sporthorses, topped the FEI Grand Prix on Saturdays with a score of 74.900%.
“I really enjoyed my ride today. He was totally focused and wanted to do his best,” said Pape. “Maybe his walk wasn’t so relaxed, but he had many highlights in the piaffe and passage work, canter pirouettes, and had totally straight tempi-changes. We scored a personal best which makes me very happy. I am very much looking forward to future challenges after I return to Europe in the beginning of March.”
Second place was awarded to Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Salvino, a 2007 Hanoverian stallion (Sandro Hit x Donnerhall) owned by Salvino Partners LLC, with a 72.900%. Third place went to Christilot Boylen (CAN) and Drenato, a 2003 Hanoverian gelding (De Niro x Brenda Lee x Brentono II) owned by Deborah Miculinic, with a score of 69.400%.
On Friday, February 17, victory went to Akiko Yamazaki (USA) and Chopin R, a 2007 gelding (Ferro) owned by Four Winds Farm, in the FEI Intermediate I* AA with a score of 66.447%. Yamazaki has been to ADGF in the past as a sponsor and owner for 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist Steffen Peters, but this is her first season competing here as a rider herself.
“Coming to Florida has been on my bucket list,” said Yamazaki. “I’ve been here as a sponsor for Steffen a few times, starting with Ravel, and then Legolas and Rosie, and now Bailarino. I felt that it would be so fun to be here as a rider myself. I have been able to compete at the Nationals in Kentucky twice now with Donovan, so I’ve had some experiences with putting a horse on a plane and competing, but coming to Florida and being in this environment is an entirely different story. I’m so glad that I realized that.”
Commenting on her ride, Yamazaki said, “I’m so smiley because this was my first ride, and it was decent so I’m really happy about that. My horse, he can be quite hot. He just got here on Tuesday so for him to just go in there and do what he did, I’m very happy with that. This was only his second I-1 test with me. I’ve had him since he was almost seven, so he’s really a horse that we all develop together. I know that the canter still needs quite a bit of work, but with the trot I knew that we could pretty much nail everything. We needed to get all of the points possible there, so we try to get that trot as good as possible.”
Placing second to Yamazaki in the FEI Intermediate I* AA was Amanda Arberman (CAN) and Santino Tyme, a 2005 Oldenburg gelding (Stedinger x Romantic Star x Rouletto) owned by Arberman, with a score of 64.868%. Third place went to Tyrelle Keslin (USA) and De Lainie, a 2006 Hanoverian gelding (De Laurentis x Em Delight x De Niro) owned by Keslin, with a score of 61.579%.
Earlier in the day, Kayla Kadlubek (USA) and Freewill, a 2004 Oldenburg gelding (Freestyle x Dunchelfuchs) owned by Kadlubek, won the FEI Junior Individual test with a score of 68.618%. Second place went to Antonia Arl (BEL) and Equestricons Belstaff W, a 2004 Westfalen gelding (Breitling W x Devisa x Diego xx) owned by Equestricon N.V., with a score of 68.026%. Third place was awarded to Amanda McAuliffe (USA) and Brahm, a 2006 DWB gelding owned by Donna McAuliffe, with a 66.579%.
Competition at AGDF will resume with a full schedule of classes, including CDI-W competition presented by The Axel Johnson Group, and FEI Small Tour classes, presented by Wellington Regional Medical Center, on February 23-26. For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.