Wellington, Fla. – Six international teams took to the arena at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival today as day one of the CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm got underway. Team medals will be awarded based on the results of today’s FEI Prix St. Georges and Grand Prix tests and tomorrow’s FEI Intermediaire I and Grand Prix Special tests. The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team, led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, took a commanding lead following strong performances from Shelly Francis, Kasey Perry-Glass, Laura Graves, and Arlene “Tuny” Page. They lead on a total of 297.362. Canada is currently in second on 281.820 while Spain sits in third with 266.447.

This Nations Cup event allows for nations to formulate their teams with both Big and Small Tour combinations with Big Tour combinations receiving a 1.5% bonus to their scores. Two countries are being represented by Small Tour combinations: Spain and Costa Rica. Three countries are being represented by Big Tour combinations: Canada, the United States of America, and Australia. Denmark has entered a mixed team of two Small Tour and one Big Tour combination.

Anchoring the U.S. team was Graves (Geneva, Fla.) and her own Verdades, who produced the highest scoring Grand Prix test of the day, earning a 78.360%. The 2015 The Dutta Corp./USEF Dressage Grand Prix National Champions worked through several tense moments to produce a brilliant test, showcasing their signature expressive extensions.

Impressing in their Nations Cup debut at the Grand Prix level, Perry-Glass (Wellington, Fla.) and Diane Perry’s Goerklintgaard’s Dublet were third in the order for the U.S., scoring 74.500% in a test highlighted by fluid changes to place second behind Graves in the class.

The veteran pair of Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Patricia Stempel’s Doktor showcased an accurate and harmonious test to score 73.240%, good for fourth place in the Grand Prix. Pathfinding for the U.S. was Page (Wellington, Fla.) and her own Woodstock, setting a positive tone for the team with a score of 71.262%, placing sixth overall.

Team competition concludes tomorrow with medals being awarded following the FEI Intermediaire I for Small Tour combinations and FEI Grand Prix Special for Big Tour combinations.

Complete Grand Prix Results
Complete Prix St. Georges Results