Wellington, FL – February 15, 2013 – The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued today with two top classes for the Small Tour and Large Tour in the Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W presented by the USPRE Association. The $3,000 FEI Prix St. Georges, sponsored by Havensafe Farm, saw the top two spots going to Christilot Boylen (CAN) riding Hudson 18 and Dio Mio, both owned by Windhaven Farm and Jill Irving. Tina Konyot (USA) was the winner of the $20,000 FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, sponsored by USPRE Association, on Calecto V, with Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) and Divertimento second and Jacquline M. Brooks (CAN) on D Niro in third.

Today’s judges in both the FEI Prix St. Georges and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle were Jane Weatherwax (USA) at E, Victoire Mandl (AUT) at H, Gary Rockwell (USA) at C, Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA) at M, and Jacques Van Daele (BEL) at B.

This morning’s FEI Prix St. Georges had an outstanding 19 entries. Winning first and second place, with scores of 69.921% and 67.868% respectively, Boylen was content with the performance of the 9-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding, Hudson 18 (Hohenstein x Democraat) , and the 10-year-old black Hanoverian gelding, Dio Mio (De Niro x Charmeur). “Dio is usually a horse that makes few mistakes, if any at all, so today’s couple mistakes were flighty. He was a little nervous in the ring this morning. He should be getting better since he’s seen this arena before. Hudson is very green, but did a super job today and I’m very thrilled with him. That’s his third Prix St. Georges. He rode in the National in January and then went international at the CDI-W two weeks ago. He’s gone from a 66 to a 69 in such a short span of time that I can’t ask for anything more. I always knew it was in him. He’s a brilliant horse. Now we just have to continue to get him experience in the ring,” remarked Boylen.

Jill Irving, part owner of both horses, won both today’s Adult Amateur FEI Intermediaire I and FEI Grand Prix-Open in the Wellington Equestrian Realty Ring 1. Riding Delavaux in the Intermediaire I, she scored a 67.500% and in the Grand Prix-Open, she rode Degas 12 (De Niro x Regazzoni) to a score of 70.213%.

With 12 entries in tonight’s FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, Konyot won with a score of 76.775%. Under the lights, she and Calecto V (Come Back II x Rastell), owned by Konyot and John Byrialsen, danced to the music. In reflecting on her freestyle, she commented that the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion felt wonderful. “I was looking to improve from yesterday so it was just great. When you are on your own, doing your own thing with your horse, you feel personally responsible. He’s been feeling fantastic. Yesterday’s warm-up and today’s was fantastic. I rode just to be happy. Because of issues in my personal life, I almost scratched today, but my boyfriend convinced me to go in and just enjoy myself and do the best I can. My horse is a good boy. I love him so much!” Konyot said.

Vilhelmson-Silfven and Antonia Ax:son Johnson’s Divertimento (Di Versace x Ferragamo) rode a brand-new freestyle this evening. Receiving a score of 74.700%, no one could tell she had only one run through this morning. “I thought it was great fun. I really enjoyed the music and I think it fits him well. It was a challenge to ride a new test since I haven’t had it a long time to practice with, but it felt good,” observed Vilhelmson-Silfven. In thinking about the 11-year-old bay Westfalen gelding, she felt he was a bit tense, but better than the last CDI here two weeks ago. “I had a little mistake in the last piaffe due to camera flashes, but otherwise I’m happy. Some more practice is necessary, but overall I like my new freestyle. He was comfortable riding it,” she noted.

Brooks and D Niro (D-Day x Napoleon 625) were awarded third place with a score of 70.900%. The 14-year-old grey Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Mary Brooks is finally being able to really feel the test. “Last year was making him happy with and practicing the test at these shows for the Olympics, which he was amazing at. This year it is about adjusting how he goes. The first few shows there was some miscommunication between us as he was confused as to why I was changing things. But today he was full-on in. He was committed and it’s a great feeling to know that he is content while riding the test. You know they’re happy when they get those floppy ears and that makes me really happy,” praised Brooks.

Konyot said, “He’s completed my bucket list. But he’s a strong horse and that’s so important. He’s been feeling great training, so I needed to have a good feeling in the arena, to confirm my feeling. I am certainly aiming for another World Cup qualifier and then we’ll take it from there.” Brooks is focusing on the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, but the World Cup Finals could be on the horizon if things fall into place. Vilhelmson-Silfven has already qualified for the World Cup Finals with her top mount Don Auriello, but is concentrating on taking everything one step at a time.

Other CDI-W classes took place today in the International Arena as well. The winner in the FEI Pony Team was Barbara Davis (USA) riding Poldy 10 (Platello), owned by Michael Davis, with a score of 66.885%. In the FEI Young Rider Team, the blue ribbon went to Mathilde Tetreault (CAN) with Michelangelo (Admiral) with a score of 65.526%. The FEI Junior Team saw Naima Moreira-Laliberte and Diamond (Donnerhall x Werther), owned by Moreira-Laliberte, as the winners with a score of 65.649%.

Dressage continues tomorrow with the $5,000 FEI Intermediaire I beginning at 8:30 a.m and the $10,000 FEI Grand Prix Special beginning at 2:40 p.m.

For full results and more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Jessica Parlon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

About the Adequan Global Dressage Festival:

The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (GDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring five CDIs, including a 5*, the first non-championship CDIO Nations’ Cup in the Western Hemisphere, and nine U.S. national events. The Adequan GDF is offering more than $275,000 in prize money for the five international competitions making it one of the richest circuits in the world. In addition to the CDIs with national competitions, the Adequan GDF will feature six separate national shows to be held at the Stadium section of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) show grounds.  The Adequan GDF encompasses almost 60 acres of the former Palm Beach Polo Grounds. The 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.

First Founding Sponsors: Matt Varney, Chris and Rob Desino, Wellington Equestrian Realty; Janet and William Richardson Pearson, Chesapeake Dressage Institute of Annapolis, MD; Devon and Terri Kane, Diamante Farm; Joe and Gaye Scarpa, Magnolia Farm; Tuny Page and Family, Stillpoint Farm; and Kimberly and Frederic Boyer, United States P.R.E. Association

Founding Sponsors: Ashley Holzer and Diane Fellows, Today’s Equestrian; Bethany Peslar, Everglades Dressage; Betsy Juliano, Havensafe Farm; Carol and Rebecca Cohen, Two Swans Farm LLC; Janne Rumbough, MTICA Farm; Mike & Roz Collins; Suhail and PJ Rizvi, Peacock Ridge; and Tim and Susie Dutta, The Dutta Corp.

Corporate Sponsors: Brown Distributing, Champion Equine Insurance, Charles Owen, Chronicle of the Horse, Custom Saddlery, Der Dau, Dever Golf Carts, Equestrian Services International (ESI), Elite Equestrian Magazine, European Dressage Connection, Gold Coast Feed & Supply, Horse Of Course, Horseware Ireland, Interagro Lusitanos, Moet Hennessy USA, Nespresso USA, Paddock Cakes, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Pennfield, Piaffe Performance, Premier Equestrian, Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, Rolex, Sanctuary at PBIEC, Show Chic, Sidelines Magazine, World Equestrian Brands

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