Beatrice Marienau and Stefano 8 (Ridehesten.com)

Odense, Denmark - Beatrice Marienau and Stefano 8 and Susan Dutta and Currency DC had solid performances as they represented The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team on the second day of the Nations Cup competition at the Odense Horse Festival sponsored by Ecco on Sunday. Two combinations from each of the seven nations performed the Grand Prix Special in front of the Ground Jury of Lars Andersson (SWE), Magnus Ringmark (SWE), Hans-Christian Matthiesen (DEN), Francis Verbeek (NED), and Lone Dichmann (DEN) in the Helgstrand Arena. The U.S. team stayed in fifth place with a score of 335.724.

Marienau (Oak Creek, Colo.) had a lovely test with her own Stefano 8, riding well in the cool, blustery conditions. She and the 1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding had great half-passes at the trot and canter and made the tempi changes look easy. However, they struggled with the extended trot movements early in the test when Stefano 8 broke to the canter. Overall, they produced a strong effort to score 67.294% and finish in ninth place.

“Even though we all are trying to cope with the weather, Stefano 8 has been very relaxed and is in super form. He was super responsive at all times,” Marienau said. “My coach, Arnd Erben, and I have been working on putting more expression into my test and taking a bit more risk; therefore, with more risk sometimes there are little bobbles. Otherwise, ‘Fino’ had amazing changes and super parts in the piaffe and passage.”

Marienau had high praise for her first Nations Cup experience explaining, “Besides another great learning experience, being at an amazing European competition, getting the team experience with a wonderful, supportive, and fun team, and Robert [Dover] never getting tired of helping us anywhere and everywhere, it was one of the most fun rides I had. A great thanks goes to my super groom, Alex Luber, who always makes sure that ‘Fino’ looks so amazing!”

Dutta (Wellington, Fla.) and Tim Dutta’s Currency DC had an improved performance from yesterday’s Grand Prix Test. They had nice trot work and good tempi-changes, with only occasional tension. Dutta and the 2000 Oldenburg received a score of 66.490% to finish in 12th place.

Host country Denmark is at the top of the Nations Cup leaderboard with 362.546, followed by Sweden in second with 360.779 and Germany in third with 340.513. In the Grand Prix Special, Cathrine Dufor (DEN) and Atterupgaards Cassidy won on a score of 75.961%. Juliette Ramel (SWE) and Buriel K.H. placed second with a 72.137% followed by Rose Mathisen (SWE) and Zuidenwind 1187 with a 71.922%.

The Nations Cup competition comes to a close on Monday with Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar and Jennifer Hoffmann and XXXL Rubinio NRW competing in the ECCO Grand Prix Freestyle. The Team results are determined by adding up the three best results per team in the Grand Prix Test, the two best results in the Grand Prix Special, and the best result in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

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