US Para-Equestrian Dressage Athletes Close Out Team Tests at WEG

Susan Treabess and Kamiakin (SusanJStickle.com)

Caen, France – The United States closed out the Team Tests, the first portion of the Para-Dressage Team Championship, at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Tuesday standing in 15th place at the half-way mark. Susan Treabess, Rebecca Hart, and Roxanne Trunnell headed down centerline at the La Prairie Racecourse for the U.S. in Grade IV, II, and 1a competition, respectively.

Treabess (Winters, Calif.) and Kamiakin were first up for the U.S. in the morning session, performing their Grade IV Team Test before the Ground Jury of Kjell Mmyhre, Sarah Leitch, Alison, King, Marco Orsini, and Hanneke Gerritsen. Treabess, a 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games veteran, used her experience to produce the best from the nine-year-old PRE stallion and work through some of his nervousness to finish on a score of 65.833%.

“It’s nice to have one under the belt; this is his (Kamiakin’s) first time competing overseas. There were a couple mistakes, but I’m still happy,” said Treabess. “I was going for a clean test, and I got fairly close to that, and I can’t complain.”

The pair finished the Grade IV Team Test in 10th place.

The winner of Tuesday’s Grade IV Team Test was Great Britain’s Sophie Wells and Valerius on a score of 74.595%.

Next up for the U.S. on Tuesday was Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and Paralympic veteran Hart (Unionville, Pa.) and her own Schroeter’s Romani. The six-time National Champion utilized her experience to ride the 11-year-Danish Warmblood mare through tension and nerves at the beginning of the test to finish with solid work to earn a mark of 67.971% from the Ground Jury of Eva Bachinger, Freddy Leyman, Anne Prain, Alison King, and Kjell Myhre.

“I was really happy with her. She got a little nervous in there, but tried hard,” said Hart of her partner of less than a year. “She’s a young horse, a talented horse. So I’m really excited.”

The combination finished the Grade II Team Test in seventh place.

Great Britain’s Natasha Baker and Cabral were victors of the Grade II Team Test on a score of 73.647%.

Trunnell (Rowlett, Texas) and Sidney Trunnell’s 19-year-old KWPN mare, Nice Touch, rounded out the U.S. effort on Tuesday with a consistent effort in Grade 1a competition and a score of 68.087. Trunnell gained valuable experience on Tuesday as she looks to produce an improved effort in Thursday’s Individual Test.

“It felt good; she was a good girl. It was the test I wanted. We have been working on squaring up the halts. I have been paired with her since I was 13; I know her well. This is her first international competition. She has always been good; she has been there and done that. I want to be consistent and have my next test be the same,” said Trunnell. “It feels really good to be here, and this was definitely my goal. It felt amazing to be selected, and this is my first team experience.”

Trunnell and Nice Touch finished the day in eighth place in the Grade 1a Test, with the top finisher of the day being Italy’s Sara Morganti and Royal Delight on a score of 75.783%.

By Helen Murray

To learn more about the Para-Dressage Championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, visit: http://www.normandy2014.com/2014-games/the-disciplines/8/para-dressage.

Learn more about the Para-Equestrian Team: click here.