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Paris and Countess Impress in Their First FEI CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle Competition at TIEC

Molly Paris and Countess.

Mill Spring, NC – September 16, 2017 – Day two of the Tryon Fall Dressage FEI CDI-W continued at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), featuring both Small Tour and Large Tour competition in the George H. Morris Arena. Molly Paris (USA) and her own Countess, a 2002 Danish Warmblood mare (Don x Compeed x Solos), rose to the occasion in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Adequan®, earning a 68.375% to achieve the victory.

“This is our first CDI-W Grand Prix together and it’s been so amazing!” said an exuberant Paris. “She’s an amazing horse. She’s been great all week. It was a great place to win. We are from Charlotte, so we absolutely love competing in Tryon!”

She continued, “I’ve had Countess for about two years, and we bought her simply because I needed a horse to move up on. We’ve done the U-25 together and Chris Hickey said, ‘You have the horse, now go do the Grand Prix,’ so here we are!”

Paris, currently ranked at number 29 with Countess on the FEI Youth Dressage U25 list, is well known for her unique freestyle music, in which this edition features an alternative tune called ‘Move’ by Saint Raymond.

Moving forward the 21-year-old plans to continue competing in the Under 25 division. Paris concluded, “I eventually want to come back to the Grand Prix, but we want to end up back at the U25 Championships first.”

Second place in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W presented by Adequan® was awarded to Elizabeth Austin and Steeped In Luck, a 2003 Irish Draught stallion (Mount Diamond Flag x Steeple View) owned by Keith Douglas, with 67.350%. Third place went to Debbie Hill (USA) and Zarcita, a 2004 Dutch Warmblood mare (Parcival x Sarita x Ahoy) owned Leslie Waterman, with a score of 66.525%.

Jessica Jo Tate (USA) and Summersby, a 2007 Hanoverian mare (Sir Donnerhall x St. Pr. Hauptsutbuch Roxanne) owned by Joseph Tate, bested the competition in the FEI Intermediaire I presented by Adequan® with a 68.526%.

Second place went to Kelly Layne (AUS) and her own Fürst Amante, a 2006 Rhinelander gelding by Fürst Piccolo, on a score of 65.763%. Capturing third place in the FEI Intermediaire I, was Emily Miles (USA) aboard Sir Sherlock, a 2007 Hanoverian gelding owned by Leslie Waterman, earning 64.342%.

Competition at TIEC also welcomed the FEI CPEDI 3* presented by Adequan®, featuring riders from around North America and running in conjunction with the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships sponsored by Deloitte.

Top honors in the Grade V Para-Individual Test were earned by Katie Jackson (USA) and Royal Dancer, a 2005 Westphalian gelding owned by Kai Handt, on a score of 66.746%. Second place was awarded to Mary Jordan (USA) on her own Rubicon 75, a 2005 Oldenburg gelding (Royal Hit x Edelkarin x Absinthe) scoring 65.714%.

The Grade IV Para-Individual Test was won by Angela Peavy (USA) aboard her own Royal Dark Chocolate, a 2008 Oldenberg mare, owned by Rebecca Reno, with a 70.122%. Peavy was also third place aboard Lancelot Warrior, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding (Londonderry x Waroness x Warkant) owned by Rebecca Reno, with a score of 67.480%.

Commenting on her successful rides thus far, Peavy said, “I’ve been very happy with both horses these past two days. The first day Lancelot Warrior felt so focused. He really listened to me and was so supple. He’s fifteen years old this year, so I thought that the Paralympic Games in Rio would be it for him, but he had some time off and now he’s just come back even better.”

Peavy continued, “With Cocoa, we are still getting to know each other so every experience is a learning opportunity. I can really feel our relationship getting stronger. She goes into the arena and trusts me, and today that really showed. She went from an amazing warm-up and kept that momentum up the whole time, and that’s all I can ask of her.”

This is Peavy’s first time competing at the venue and commented, “I absolutely love it here. I always thought that Global Dressage Festival was amazing, and it is, but this is just incredible. All of the shops, the restaurants, it’s all so good for the horses too because it all has such an international feel.

“The arena is wonderful and the footing is perfect. I want Cocoa to be my next FEI World Equestrian Games™ horse, so this is incredible experience for her,” concluded Peavy.

Katie Shoemaker (USA) captured second place with a 69.350% aboard her own Solitaer 40, a 2007 Hanoverian gelding (Sandro Hit x Dynastie x De Niro).

Rebecca Hart (USA) clinched yet another win, this time in the Grade III Para-Individual Test, riding Rowan O’Riley’s El Corona Texel, a 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Wynton x Urieta Texel), as the pair finished on a 68.275% for their second winning score of the week. Riley Garrett (USA) took second place with Piston, a 2003 Canadian Warmblood owned by Garrett, on a score of 66.716%. Third place was collected by Meghan Benge (USA) and Zoey, a 2007 Welsh mare (The Key x Kurbaums Future), on a 62.108%.

First place in the Grade II Para-Individual Test was Laurietta Oakleaf (USA) aboard Niekele Fan Busenitz, a 2004 Friesian stallion (Sape 381 x Wemke H x Fetse 349), earning a 68.529%. Coming in second to Oakleaf was Sharon Buffitt (CAN) and Elektra II, a 2005 Canadian Warmblood gelding (Radjah z x Nikita x Rastar) owned by Buffitt, with a score of 66.225%. Third place was awarded to Jason Surnoski (CAN) aboard Bella de la Noche, a Warmblood mare, receiving a score of 64.755%.

The Grade I Para-Individual Test was won by Margaret McIntosh (USA), aboard her own Heros, a 2004 Danish Warmblood mare (Blue Hors Hertug x Lotus x Lucky Light), with a score of 70.476%. Second place went to Roxanne Trunnell and NTEC Daytona Beach, a 2002 Westphalian mare (Don Bedo x Weindame) with a score of 70.476%. Third place was captured by Winona Hartvikson (CAN), and Ultimo, a 2007 PRE gelding (Invasor iii x Gala xxi x Teodoro), receiving a score of 69.286%.

To learn more about Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), please visit www.tryon.com.

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