Achleiten, Austria - The U.S. Dressage Pan American Games European Squad was dominant in their final Observation Event at CDI Achleiten in Austria. With Squad combinations competing in both the big and small tours, the U.S. swept the top four placings in both small tour classes, won the Grand Prix for Freestyle and Grand Prix Freestyle, and took top placings in the Grand Prix for Special and Grand Prix Special.

Success for the U.S. began on Friday in the Grand Prix for Freestyle with Steffen Peters and Four Winds Farm’s Rosamunde executing a beautiful test, highlighted be expressive half-passes, to win on a score of 74.560%. Competing as an individual, Kasey Perry and Diane Perry’s Trøstruplund's Scarlet were fourth on 70.800%. Squad members Kathleen Raine and Jennifer Mason, David Wightman, and her own Breanna were fifth on 68.880%. In the Grand Prix for Special, Allison Brock and Claudine and Fritz Kundrun’s Rosevelt were second on a score of 73.180%. Taking place on Saturday, the Grand Prix Freestyle was won in impressive fashion by Peters and Rosamunde, marking their highest Freestyle score to date and winning by a near four-point margin on a score of 80.975%. Raine and Breanna were fourth on a 75.500% and Perry and Trøstruplund's Scarlet were sixth on 70.975%. Brock rounded out the weekend with a second-place finish in the Grand Prix Special, scoring 74.176%.

The U.S. combinations were a force in the small tour, sweeping the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I in duplicate fashion. Repeating her performance from the first Observation Event at CDI München-Riem, Kim Herslow rode Kiroli Enterprises’ Rosmarin to the win in both classes, topping the Prix St. Georges on 72.105% and putting in a masterful test in the Intermediaire I to score 75.500%. Perry and Goerklintgaards Dublet, owned by Diane Perry, were second in both classes with a 71.947% in the Prix St. Georges and a 73.632% in the Intermediaire I. Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo were third in both classes scoring a 71.737% in the Prix St. Georges and 72.526% in the Intermediaire I. Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and her own Rassing’s Lonoir were forth in both classes with a 71.474% in the Prix St. Georges and 71.211% in the Intermediaire I.

Complete CDI Achleiten Results

Following this last Observation Event, the USEF named the 2015 U.S. Pan American Dressage Team and Traveling Alternates.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.