Weekly Updates from the USEF High Performance Programs:

Dressage:
In the dressage world, sweeps were the order of the weekend. American Tina Konyot rode her own Calecto V to a determined performance in the Grand Prix for the Freestyle on Saturday; they were the only pair to break the 70% barrier – scoring 70.596%. Pierre St. Jacques was second with Lucky Tiger. Konyot then won the Grand Prix Freestyle on a 72.15% this time beating Melissa Taylor and Schumacker Solyst. Canadian Ashley Holzer won both the Grand Prix for the Special and the Grand Prix Special. Complete results from the Wellington Classic CDI-W are available here: http://www.wellingtonclassicdressage.com/index.htm

On the opposite coast, 25-year-old Adrienne Lyle dominated at the Dressage Getaway CDI3* in Thermal, CA. With Felix, she scored 69.617% in the Grand Prix which gave her a narrow victory over Sue Blinks and Robin Hood. Felix and Lyle also won the Grand Prix Special on a score of 69.375%. Proving the depth of her string, Lyle also won the Grand Prix Freestyle with a convincing score of 74.5% over 2009 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Dressage Champions Leslie Morse and Tip Top 962. Both of Lyle’s horses are owned by River Grove Farm. Results are available here: http://www.dressagegetaway.com/.

Jumping:
In the same locations (Wellington, FL and Thermal, CA) the show jumping riders were plenty busy as well. In Florida, top honors in both the big classes went to foreign riders, but the US was well represented with Mario Deslauriers and Urico (owned by Jane Clark) jumping up to second in the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup – Round V. Everyone was happy to see Armani (owned by Abigail Wexner and Triton Ventures) back in top form after an easy 2009 for Jeffrey Welles. The pair was second in the $150,000 Spy Coast Farm World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix behind red-hot Venezuelan rider Pablo Barrios on G&C Lagran. Welles indicated he and Armani are on track for the USEF Selection Trials for the US Show Jumping Team for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The Trials run February 25-March 7 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. For full results and more information about the Winter Equestrian Festival, please visit www.shownet.biz or www.equestriansport.com.

Three hours north, the diminutive Up Chiqui was winning for fun in Ocala, FL. The spunky chestnut flew to the win in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix for rider Kent Farrington. Owned by Alex Boone, William Dobbs and Farrington, Up Chiqui is one of the winningest horses on the Grand Prix circuit today. Results from HITS Ocala are available here: http://www.hitsshows.com.

At the HITS show in Thermal, East Coast rider (and two-time Olympic Gold medalist) McLain Ward jumped to the win in Thursday’s $30,000 HITS Grand Prix presented by Pfizer Animal Health with Goldika (owned by Ward and Blue Chip Bloodstock). The 18-year-old Holsteiner mare defied her years and won handily. Other top performers in California included New Jersey- based Michele Spadone and Melisimo (owned by Morgan Hill Partners) who were fourth in the $50,000 HITS World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix presented by Pfizer Animal Health and Rich Fellers and McGuinness (owned by Mollie and Harry Chapman) who were second in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix to close out the weekend on Sunday. Results and information about HITS Thermal are available here: http://www.hitsshows.com.

Eventing:
Pine Top Farm Horse trials survived despite snow in Georgia (!) and many of the top horses in the country stretched their legs at the Intermediate and Preliminary levels to prepare for the season. Results are available here: www.pinetopfarm.com, the organizing committee pulled off an amazing feat to be able to run the competition. At the Florida Horse Trials at the Florida Horse Park, far more civilized weather conditions meant a lovely weekend for those that winter in Ocala. Visit www.equiventures.com for complete information and results. 2008 Olympic veterans Karen O’Connor and Mandiba (owned by Joan Goswell) and Becky Holder and her own (and husband Tom’s) Courageous Comet were among those out for their first run of the season.

ENDS

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