Gabriella Stumpf and Finally Love (SusanJStickle.com)
Stumpf, who has been partnered with the eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding for four years, felt the test was very good considering Finally Love was a bit excited in the warm-up. "He was a bit tense at first because he was in a very good mood today when we first came out, I think due to the wind and the cooler weather," she said. "But, I was able to get him focused and he concentrated nicely during the test, which is what I was looking for."
The duo performed a very clean test, and Stumpf is only looking to improve in the coming weeks of the AGDF season. "It is really great here," she commented. "I love coming because the weather is always fantastic and you are able to do a lot of tests in many different rings. The horses are really exposed to a lot during the season."
Finally Love will compete again in two weeks at the Intermediare II level with Stumpf, and the pair will look to improve upon the scores they received in the first week of competition. "We started him at the lower levels, and we have slowly moved our way up. He is very easy and fun and has a super personality," she smiled.
Gabriela topped her sister Katharina in the class, who rode For My Love to a score of 67.750%, taking fourth in the class. "I love competing against my sister, we always enjoy riding together," said Gabriela. "It is always very nice to have her in the awards ceremony beside me."
Mary Bahniuk-Lauritsen (USA) performed a great freestyle with Wench De Jeu to a creative combination of acoustic Rihanna songs. Bahniuk-Lauritsen and Wench De Jeu, a relatively new partnership, are now coming into their own at the Intermediare 1 level. "She felt very confident in the canter work. We had a few bobbles throughout the test, but it is her first freestyle at this level and my first with her, so I'm glad we performed so well," she said. " Next time, when we come out in two weeks, I would really like to push for more and have that extra edge I was looking for today."
A native of Harvard, Massachusetts, Bahniuk-Lauritsen is looking forward to taking advantage of her time in South Florida. "We have our eyes on the Pan American Games and there is also the Nations Cup. A few pairs will be given grants to travel to Europe this summer so we're hoping to be considered for all of those opportunities based on our performances here at AGDF," she stated.
Sunday also concluded the first week of the competition for Para-Equestrian Dressage, as riders are looking to qualify for the coming 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The week was highlighted by some truly spectacular riding in the Van Kampen arena with some of the best Paralympic riders in North America competing. Sydney Collier (USA), winner of the 2014 Junior Equestrian of the Year Award presented by the United States Equestrian Federation, was competing two horses, including a new mount she hopes to qualify for Rio with, NTEC Roulette. Riders from Canada and the United States were represented during competition this week.
Final Scores for FEI Intermediare Freestyle presented by MTICA Farm
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E, Judge H, Judge C, Judge M, Judge B, Total
1. Gabriela Stumpf (AUT), Finally Love, 2006 Oldenburg gelding owned by Gabriela Stumpf, Farewell III x Winzerin: 70.000%, 71.000%, 69.635%, 69.250%, 69.750%, 69.927%
2. Mary Bahniuk-Lauritsen (USA), Wench De Jeu, 2003 Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Nicole Polaski, Jazz x Contango : 67.375%, 70.625%, 71.000%, 68.000%, 66.375%, 68.675%
3. Jill Irving (CAN), Dio Mio, 2003 Hanoverian gelding owned by Jill Irving, De Niro x Comtess: 66.375%, 69.375%, 65.875%, 69.500%, 72.000%, 68.625%
4. Katharina Stumpf (AUT), For My Love, 2001 Hanoverian gelding owned by Katharina Stumpf, For Feelibng x Escudine: 66.000%, 70.125%, 67.625%, 66.250%, 67.750%, 67.550%