Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar (Carly Muma)

Odense, Denmark - The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team began the Nations Cup competition at the Odense Horse Festival sponsored by Ecco on Saturday. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, the team of Katherine Bateson-Chandler, Susan Dutta, Jennifer Hoffmann, and Beatrice Marienau performed the Grand Prix Test in front of the Ground Jury of Jo Graham (GBR), Maria Colliander (FIN), Francis Verbeek (NED), Elke Ebert (GER), and Hans-Christian Matthiesen (DEN) in the Helgstrand Arena. The team is in fifth place with a score of 201.94. Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar lead the way for the U.S. with a score of 69.000% in eighth place.

As the final combination to enter the arena for the CDIO3*, Bateson-Chandler (Wellington, Fla.) and Jane Clark’s Alcazar had a lovely test, painting a polished picture for the judges. The duo performed excellent half-passes at the trot and canter and great one-tempi changes. However, she and the 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding had a bobble in the two-tempi changes.

“He was last to go, so it was a long way on a cold and windy day. I was thrilled with him,” Bateson-Chandler said of Alcazar. “This is his first Nations Cup team experience. He was very genuine and I couldn’t ask for more.”

Marienau (Oak Creek, Colo.) had a wonderful start to her Nations Cup debut with her own Stefano 8. She and the 1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding had a smooth test with quality movements in their European debut as a combination. They finished in 12th place with a score of 67.160%.

Also making her Nations Cup debut, Hoffmann (Duisburg, Germany) also kicked off her Nations Cup debut with her own 2003 Westphalian stallion XXXL Rubinio NRW. The pair had a solid performance with the added pressure of being on a team to score 65.780%, finishing in 20th place.

Dutta (Wellington, Fla.) put forth a determined effort with Tim Dutta Inc’s Currency DC. They produced several nice movements, including great trot half-passes. However, the test lacked fluidity at times, and the 2000 Oldenburg gelding displayed some tension. They finished in 25th place with a score of 63.220%

Two combinations will compete in Sunday’s Grand Prix Special presented by Sport Event Denmark, while the other two combinations will compete in Monday’s ECCO Grand Prix Freestyle.

View more information about CDIO3* Odense and watch the live stream.

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