Falsterbo, Sweden - Continuing to field strong teams at 2015 international competitions, the United States will be represented by four accomplished athlete-and-horse combinations at CDIO5* Falsterbo in Sweden. Running concurrently with CDIO5* Hagen in Hagen, Germany, at which the U.S. has sent another team, this venue will also host an accomplished team, indicating the increasing depth of American dressage.
Competing for the U.S. at Falsterbo are Susan Dutta (Wellington, Fla.) and Tim Dutta Inc.’s Currency DC, Catherine Haddad Staller (Wellington, Fla.) and Rowan O’Riley’s Mane Stream Hotmail, Brian Hafner (Penngrove, Calif.) and Rebecca Hafner and his own Lombardo LHF, and Devon Kane (Wellington, Fla.) and Diamante Farms’ Destiny under the direction of Chef d’Equipe Betsy Steiner.
“I am so proud to be Chef d’Equipe for this talented group of horses and riders,” said Steiner. “They are doing remarkably well in very trying circumstances of unseasonably cold, windy, and rainy conditions in Falsterbo. The horses are all looking strong, beautiful, and ready to compete in the Grand Prix tomorrow.”
Falsterbo, on the southern tip of Sweden, is known for its pristine white beaches and top international equestrian competition. From July 9-12, the venue will host superior dressage and show jumping events. In dressage, the United States is well represented. Dutta will compete Currency DC, a 15-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding. With this horse, Dutta has forged a successful partnership, winning at shows both at home and abroad. In 2015, she received top placings at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in CDI5* and CDI3* Grand Prix Special classes. Contesting the Europeans, she was within the top ten in the CDI4* Villach, Treffen Grand Prix in Austria.
Haddad Staller will pair with the 13-year-old chestnut Oldenburg gelding, Mane Stream Hotmail. Competing successfully together since 2013, they are veterans of Falsterbo competition. In 2014, they placed in the top ten in the CDI5* Grand Prix and second in the Grand Prix Special, results which hold promise for this year’s event. Haddad Staller and Mane Stream Hotmail began 2015 in Wellington, Fla., at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival with strong finishes in CDI3* Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special competition.
Hafner arrives at Falsterbo off of a successful competition with Lombardo LHF at CDI3* Rotterdam in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, where they were sixth in the Grand Prix Freestyle. Earlier in 2015, Hafner competed the 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding in his native California, where they scored wins at the Golden State Dressage Festival CDI3* in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle.
Kane competes at Falsterbo on the 12-year-old Danish warmblood gelding, Destiny. In 2014, Kane and Destiny earned the title of US Dressage Finals Grand Prix Champion in Lexington, Ky. In 2015, they completed at successful winter show season at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, earning top placings in CDI3* Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special competition.
Competition gets underway with the Grand Prix on Friday at 10:30 a.m. CET, followed by the Grand Prix Special on Saturday, and the Grand Prix Freestyle on Sunday.
Find out more about CDIO5* Falsterbo.