Wellington, FL – January 21, 2013 – As World Dressage Masters (WDM) CDI5* Palm Beach approaches, the top names in international dressage are gathering. On Saturday evening, Jim Brandon Equestrian Center welcomed two horses that will certainly catch the eye of spectators at the Jan. 24-26 competition.
Withney van ‘t Genthof, who will be ridden by Hans Peter Minderhoud, and Inter Floor Next One, Edward Gal’s mount, stepped off the trailer around 6 p.m. A veterinarian representing the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was present to supervise the horses’ unloading from the sealed trailer.
Minderhoud arrived not long after the horses, while Gal, who was feeling under the weather, was resting after the trip and did not come out to Jim Brandon. Minderhoud hoped that Wellington’s warm climate would help Gal recover, saying, “We’ll put him in the sun tomorrow!”
Minderhoud took Withney and Next One out for brief rides to “show them the place a little bit” and give them a chance to stretch their legs after the long journey. Although Next One especially was keen to check out his surroundings, both horses quickly relaxed as Minderhoud put them through their paces. Under lights in the equestrian center’s schooling ring, Withney and Next One stayed calm and focused through simple schooling exercises.
Minderhoud enjoyed riding outside in the warm Florida weather after a hectic trip from Amsterdam, where he and Gal competed in the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League on Saturday. “It was really like, go home, throw all the winter clothes out, put all the summer clothes in,” Minderhoud said. “We left really early this morning.”
Withney van ‘t Genthof, winner of the 2008 Belgian Dressage Championships and competitor at the 2009 World Dressage Masters in Palm Beach with previous rider Stefan van Ingelgem, has already been successful with Minderhoud, who took over the ride in the spring of 2011. The pair won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special CDI3* at the 2012 CDI Villach in Austria. Withney (Ferro x Princesse, Balzflug) is a black Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Bart van Malderen.
Inter Floor Next One’s recent achievements with Gal include victories in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle at the 2012 Drachten CDI3* in the Netherlands. Gal and Next One also competed together at WDM in 2009. Next One (Jazz x Butopia, Le Mexico) is a bay KWPN gelding owned by Gal’s sponsor Inter Floor.
According to Minderhoud, both horses looked in good condition after their arrival. “I’ll start training a bit tomorrow,” Minderhoud explained. “We’ll be in form on Thursday.”
Tickets are still available to see the spectacular line-up in store for the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach January 24-26, 2013.
For more Wellington Classic Dressage/World Dressage Masters show information, visit www.WellingtonClassicDressage.com.
For more Gold Coast Dressage Show information, visit http://www.gcdafl.org/shows-reslts.htm.
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5* Fast Facts
What:
North America’s only World Dressage Masters event, part of the richest dressage series in the world. Up to 20 of the world’s top dressage stars will compete for €100,000 EUR (about $130,000 USD) in prize money at the WDM Palm Beach.
When:
January 23-27, 2013
Where:
Palm Beach County Jim Brandon Equestrian Center
Okeeheelee Park South
7500 Forest Hill Blvd
West Palm Beach, FL 33413
www.pbcgov.com/parks/equestrian/jimbrandon
Official Show Organizer:
Wellington Classic Dressage
www.WellingtonClassicDressage.com
Noreen O’Sullivan 561-227-1570 or John Flanagan 561-714-9058
Social media links:
Website: www.WorldDressageMasters.com and www.wellingtonclassicdressage.com/world_dressage_masters.htm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worlddressagemasterspalmbeach
Twitter: twitter.com/WldDrsgMstrPB
Ticket sales and information:
www.internationalpoloclub.com
Maria Feola: 561-282-5334 and 561-282-5301
mfeola@internationalpoloclub.com or Debbie@internationalpoloclub.com
http://wcd.ticketleap.com/2013/
Competition schedule:
*Gates open at 11:00 a.m. each day for WDM Palm Beach ticket holders only. Tickets will not be available for purchase at the gate. Ticket holders are encouraged to arrive for Saturday evening’s Grand Prix Freestyle at 5:30 p.m.
* Friday, Jan. 26:
2 p.m. to 5 p.m. – WDM Nürnberger Grand Prix
* Saturday, Jan. 27:
2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – WDM Grand Prix Special
7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. – WDM Grand Prix Freestyle
WDM Presenting Partner:
Axel Johnson Group
WDM Official partners:
Team EXQUIS, Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe
WDM Official supplier:
Jerich International
WDM Global Media Partner:
Eurosport
Media inquiries:
Phelps Media Group International
12012 South Shore Blvd., Suite 105
Wellington, FL 33414
Mason Phelps or Sue Weakley
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
skw@phelpsmediagroup.com
Media Credentials:
Phelps Media Group International
12012 South Shore Blvd., Suite 105
Wellington, FL 33414
Carrie Wirth
508-698-6810 (phone)
508-698-6811 (fax)
cw@phelpsmediagroup.com
Past WDM results, as well as complete WDM Rider Rankings, can be found on the WDM website: www.WorldDressageMasters.com.
For more information about Wellington Classic Dressage, visit www.WellingtonClassicDressage.com or check out the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Wellington-Classic-Dressage.
To learn more about World Dressage Masters, visit www.WorldDressageMasters.com.
Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com