Local Ana Digironimo won the first class of the day, the FEI Young Rider Prix St. Georges Test with a score of 56.15%. Digironimo, of Turnersville, NJ, rode her horse Cadanz, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, to the blue ribbon. “Today we changed it up a little bit,” said Digironimo, “we only warmed up 15 minutes which isn’t practical, but it worked. He went in and did his job, he didn’t have any mistakes, he was really responsive. He was just a good boy today.”
Julie McKean brought home the next win in the FEI Junior Team Test with a score of 63.9%. McKean, of Camden, ME, rode her horse Stavinsky, an 8-year-old Trakehner gelding. “I felt really good about our ride today, because he hasn’t shown since March,” said McKean, “and he can get a little crazy in the ring sometimes, he’s young still and he hadn’t had much show experience before I got him…He was really attentive, and I was really happy with his trot work.” Although Stavinsky did get very excited when leaving the arena during his victory gallop, McKean’s response,” we need to work on our gallop etiquette.”
Next up was the USEF Para-Equestrian Individual Championship Test, and Rebecca Hart and Nordkap stayed consistent with their deservedly high marks. Hart, of Erie, PA, and her 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding, looked again today as if they were on the same page when it came to this competition, earning them a score of 70.0%. “He was really good today, we could have had a little more power, but he still did a good job and was really really listening,” said Hart. “Yesterday he was a little more jazzy, today he was just kind of soft, but he was really good.” When asked what her favorite part of today’s test was, Hart responded, “he was just so soft and so giving today. If I asked him to extend a bit he went out and did it…He really likes his job.”
Bethany Peslar put in the next winning ride in the inaugural Brentina Cup, FEI Intermediaire I “warm-up”. “I felt like the whole ride was very accurate,” said Peslar. “He’s a real professional. He’s very kind and very intelligent. He really knows his job and is really well trained. Peslar was one of the six lucky riders, vying for the new title, who was able to take advantage of a dinner with Klaus Balkenhol the night before their first ride. “He told us he’d been watching us and was really impressed with all of us, horses and riders, and told us not to be upset if our scores weren’t what we wanted the first day, that they’d get up there.”
Peslar mentioned that she was honored to be a part of this select group vying for the first-ever Brentina Cup. “It’s a great opportunity. We’re really thankful to Brentina’s owners for sponsoring the class. We’re all really grateful to the Thomas’s.”
Last but not least was Michelle Gibson who again stole the show along with her flashy partner, Lex Barker. The group of 12 riders vying for the 2006 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship rode their Intermediaire I test today after yesterday’s Prix St. Georges. Today’s top three finishers agreed that even though the classes are weighted, they don’t strategize around that. They just try to give 100% each day and try to improve upon something they may not have done well the previous day.
Gibson, of Wellington, FL, and her leggy mount, Lex Barker, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding ended the day with a score of 72.55%, enough to keep her on top of the leader board. “He’s the same every day,” Gibson said of Lex. “He makes it easy for me. In a lot of ways he was even better today than yesterday.”
Following Gibson today with a score of 70.90% was Guenter Seidel, of Cardiff, CA, and Princeton, an 8-year-old Westphalian gelding. Seidel’s second place finish today took him from seventh overall to second at the conclusion of today’s competition. “I think a young or inexperienced horse made the difference. I rode him a little less today. I left him a little more alone, and he liked it better.” Princeton is keeping up with the competition well even though Seidel says he is very green in the show ring.
In third place today with a score of 69.380% was Jan Ebeling of Moorpark, CA, riding Rafalca, a nine-year-old Oldenburg mare. Ebeling fell into some misfortune when he lost one of his right reins. When asked what happened, he responded, “that is a good question. I asked myself the same question. By that time I am half way to X, I am thinking, I wonder what they (the judges) are giving me for this.
All three of today’s Intermediaire I top placed riders said they prefer this test to the Prix St. Georges because it shows off the lines of the horse better. They agreed that it flows much better, especially for larger horses. The riders will not ride again until Sunday at which point they will ride their freestyle.
The competition resumes tomorrow with the USEF Para-Equestrian Freestyle, the conclusion of the USEF National Para-Equestrian Championship, with the presentation of the Margo O’Callaghan Memorial Trophy; the conclusion of the 2006 Brentina Cup with the FEI Intermediaire II test; USEF Grand Prix Special; FEI Young Rider Prix St. Georges Freestyle, and FEI Junior Individual Test with the presentation of the USET Foundation Terry Koenig Memorial Trophy.