Global Dressage Festival Wrap-up of $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the United States P.R.E. Association and Upcoming Dressage National Horse Show

Wellington, FL - February 20, 2012- The second event of the 2012 Global Dressage Festival (GDF), the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the United States P.R.E. Association, took place February 16-19 at the Stadium. The event was truly exciting with capacity-filled international classes and the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle that was held under the lights on Saturday.

Upcoming Event: Global Dressage Festival National Horse Show 1 Begins Tuesday, February 21
Join us for more dressage action at the Global Dressage Festival on Tuesday, February 21, with the Global Dressage Festival 1 National Horse Show. The show runs through Thursday, February 23. Free general admission and free parking. Please enter at the South Shore Rd. entrance. For more information, please visit: www.globaldressagefestival.com or call 561-793-5867.

The National Show Featured Thursday, February 16

The Global Dressage Festival National Show began Thursday with six levels of dressage competition at the Stadium. Christopher Hickey had the high score of the day on Balissa HTF with a 77.500% in the USEF First Level Test II - Open class.

Ilse Schwarz of Australia had the second highest score of the day and took home two blue ribbons winning the USEF First Level Test I -Open on Don Joseph with 73.793% and the FEI Intermediare II-Open on Cadenza with a score of 67.500%. John Amber also won two classes taking the FEI Prix St. George-Open on Shakespeare RSF with a 63.882% and the USEF Training Level 3 - Open on World Games TFH scoring 64.800%. The third double winner went to Laurie Moore winning the USEF Second Level Test I -Open scoring 68.500% on Rolero. The pair improved on their win in the USEF Second Level Test II scoring 73.158%.

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven Wins FEI Grand Prix and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle at Global Dressage Festival.

On Friday, Vilhelmson-Silfven scored a 72.681% on Don Auriello, which was impressive since this is his first show in Florida this season. The pair performed the test in a relaxed steady tempo, as if on air, with steadiness and ease.

"There is lots of atmosphere here. It's like a really, really big show," said Vilhelmson-Silfven of the newly built Stadium section of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC.)

Holzer was pleased with her performance on Breaking Dawn scoring 70.596%. Holzer also spoke of the atmosphere at the show.

"It was a great test for him. He was so well behaved to go into such a big ring. His canter was so relaxed," said Holzer. "These horses have to focus and do their jobs. There has to be that trust. I think this is a great atmosphere to prepare them."

Flettrich actually tied with Holzer also scoring 70.596% on Otto. The tie was broken by the collective marks, but Flettrich joked as he stood next to Ashley, "I guess they thought you were prettier." Holzer shot back, "I guess you have to work on that."

Flettrich continued, "Otto is such a worker, he has such a great heart. I am really looking forward to the Trials. This was such a great experience."
Earlier in the day at the Global Dressage Festival Caroline Roffman scored a 68.737% to win the FEI Prix St Georges class with her horse Pie. Roffman was pleased with the result.

"This was the first show of the season for Pie, a great start. Our last Prix St Georges was last August in the Developing Horse Test (for horses under 9-years-old.) He was very workman-like today. The couple of mistakes were mine," said Roffman. "This is a great facility that is 5 minutes from my barn. It is great to see dressage back in Wellington."

Devon Kane was second in the Prix St. Georges aboard Destiny with a score of 67.579%. Third place went to Sonia Zugel from Ireland riding Ungaro with 64.7989%.

Arlene "Tuny" Page won the National Show Grand Prix with a 68.777% riding Wild One. Tuny spoke about her ride.

"This is Wild One's first time out since Gladstone. My goal for this class was to knock the dust off and get back into the ring, and my program," said Page. "I love the facility. It has been a long time coming, but it has been worth the wait because this is finally what international dressage is all about."

Louisa Marcelle-Eadie, competing in only her second show in the national Grand Prix scored a 64.468% for second place on Welt Cup.

On Saturday, February 18, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven of Sweden captured her second victory on Don Auriello at the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the United States P.R.E. Association this time she won the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle under the lights. The nighttime atmosphere at the GDF was filled with excitement for the world cup event that featured twelve entries from five different nations.

The electric atmosphere was great for the crowd, but it made things a little more difficult for Vilhelmson-Silfven who scored 76.350%. "I am super pleased," said Vilhelmson-Silfven. "He was a bit more tense here in the dark, but it was good practice for me. I had a better feeling with him today than yesterday. The facility has made a huge difference. It's very nice."

James Koford of Wellington, FL rode Pharaoh to second place with a score of 73.450%. Koford was thrilled with his finish because he hopes to use the prize money from this competition and his victory in the freestyle at the first GDF to pay for World Cup Final expenses, should he receive an invitation.

"The prize money here and at the last show makes it possible to go to the World Cup in Holland. It's like it fell out of the sky," said Koford. "My horse was not spooky, but I did feel him a little insecure in the ring, which is an unusual feeling. It was great practice because I haven't ridden him in conditions like this. I am really pleased with the ride."

The International arena featured the FEI Intermediare I earlier in the day and Caroline Roffman took top honors scoring 69.158% with her horse Pie. Devon Kane was second on Destiny with a score of 68.947%. Roffman spoke of her strategy for the test.

"Today I rode with a little more pedal to the medal, which paid off I think in some ways and in other ways we had more mistakes," said Roffman. "This shows me that I need to ride a little more bravely. He's ready and knows everything. He was a very good boy. He showed me that he wants to be a show horse."

Todd Flettrich and Otto win FEI Olympic Grand Prix Speical on Final Day of GDF2

Todd Flettrich of Wellington, FL won the FEI Olympic Grand Prix Special on Sunday, the final day of the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the United States P.R.E. Association. Riding Otto, his 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) partner, Flettrich scored 71.422%. Ashley Holzer of Canada finished second on Breaking Dawn with 70.800% and Heather Blitz came in third on Paragon by a fraction of a percent less scoring 70.756%.

Flettrich was thrilled with the peformance of the 16-year-old gelding and the score, it was their second highest in the Olympic Grand Prix Special.

"I am happy," said Flettrich. "I can take risks. Before the WEG we were still getting to know each other. Now, I'm willing to take a chance. I could not have done it before. He's become my horse now."

Flettrich owes the great score to a change in attitude. "Otto is arrogant and I used to feel I had to control him, but now I just encourage him to be arrogant."

This tactic is working as the pair now has the necessary scores in the Olympic Grand Prix Special to qualify for the US Olympic Selection Trials.

Katharina Stumpf of Austria won the final international class of the show at the Global Dressage Festival taking top honors in the FEI Intermediare Freestyle with a score of 68.500% riding For My Love. Maria Florencia Manfredi of Argentina finished second on her Argentine-bred palomino LM Chey-Chey scoring 64.950%. US rider Sasha Newman was third on Rossini 234 with a score of 56.925%.

Dressage competition continues at the Stadium on Tuesday with the Global Dressage Festival National 1, which takes place February 21 through Thursday, February 23.

For ride times and results, please visit: www.globaldressagefestival.com under the link of dressage show information on the main homepage.