Wellington, Fla.- The 2015 Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup began on  Wednesday at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival with Small Tour combinations performing the FEI Prix St. Georges Test and Big Tour pairs riding the FEI Grand Prix Test. A total of 28 Small Tour combinations went down the centerline and an additional seven Big Tour competitors closed out the evening session, with the latter earning a 1.5% bonus to contribute to their team scores. After the first day of the Nations Cup, the USA I Team, led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, leads on a score of 223.304, followed by Canada I in second on 216.664. USA II, led by Chef d’Equipe Debbie McDonald are currently placed third on a score of 209.980.

“I’m thrilled about all of our USA riders today,” said Dover. “I just couldn’t be more proud, Deb and I couldn’t be happier, all these riders and horses are phenomenal.”

USA I Team

First down the centerline for the USA I Team on Wednesday afternoon was Olivia LaGoy-Weltz with her own Rassing Lonoir. In her U.S. team debut LaGoy-Weltz (Reston, Va.) and the 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding finished on a score of 71.605% in the FEI Prix St. Georges Test.

The 2013 Intermediaire I National Champions, Kim Herslow (Stockton, N.J.) and Kiroli Enterprises LLC’s Rosmarin, rounded out the Small Tour effort for USA I scoring 73.684% with  the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding producing a consistent test.

Allison Brock (Loxahatchee, Fla.) impressed in her U.S. team debut scoring 72.200% in the FEI Grand Prix Test on Claudine and Fritz Kundrun’s 13-year-old Hanoverian stallion, Rosevelt. With the point bonus awarded to Big Tour combinations, they contributed a score of 73.700% to USA I.

As the final combination of the day, Laura Graves (Plymouth, Fla.) and her own Verdades did not disappoint, scoring a 74.420%. The 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games veterans scored the highest mark of the day in the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup and contributed 75.920% to the USA I Team.

“It does usually put pressure on you to go as the anchor, but all three of my teammates were great before me, so there was no pressure,” joked Graves. “It is an honor to be part of this team.”

USA II Team

Chris Hickey (Wellington, Fla.) and Cecelia Stewart’s nine-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Ronaldo led-off for the USA II Team earning a score of 69.184% in Small Tour competition, with the highlight of their FEI Prix St. Georges Test coming in the trot tour.

As the final U.S. Small Tour competitors of the day, Kasey Perry (Orangevale, Calif.) and Diane Perry’s 12-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Goerklingtgaards Dublet posted the top Small Tour score of the day, a 73.816%. Perry was able to harness the gelding’s exuberance to produce a powerful, expressive effort. 

“He was really hot in the warm-up and a little bit around the ring. But, having the team support behind me was wonderful,” said Perry. “Once I went down centerline he just checked in, settled  down, and was great.”

The final combination for USA II on Wednesday was Big Tour combination, Catherine Haddad Staller (Wellington, Fla.) and Rowan O’Riley’s Mane Stream Hotmail. The 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding became unsettled in the canter tour to finish on 65.480% and contributed a score of 66.980% to USA II.

The Stilllpoint Farm FEI Nations Cup finishes Thursday afternoon with Small Tour competitors performing the Intermediaire I and Big Tour combinations heading down the centerline in the Grand Prix Special.