Wellington, FL - Christopher Hickey of Colora, MD rode Balissa HTF to the highest score of the day at the Global Dressage Festival National 2 Horse Show on Wednesday. The pair scored 75.323% in the USEF First Level Test 3-Open at the Stadium show grounds of the Global Dressage Festival (GDF). Mary Ambrose of Canada and Ming Dynasty were reserve high score receiving 71.757% in the USEF Fourth Level Test 2- Open.

Balissa HTF is a Hanoverian owned and bred by Jane MacElree of Hilltop Farm in Colora, MD. MacElree and Hickey were pleased with the five-year-old mare's performance.

"Jane and I are really excited that Balissa is doing so well," said Hickey. "Morten Thomsen, my trainer from Denmark, was here for nine days and he helped me with my all my horses including Balissa. I think it really made a difference in her performance. Morten knows her so well because I spent four months training in Denmark prior to my arrival in Florida. I am really happy that she showed so well today."

Thomsen also helped Hickey with Witness Hilltop, the horse he will be riding in the $35,000 WEF Wellington Dressage Nations Cup CDIO3*, presented by Stillpoint Farm, which will be held April 13-14 at the GDF.
 
In the Para-Equestrian event, Jody Schloss, 39, of Toronto, Canada scored an 80.250% on Inspector Rebus in the FEI Para Freestyle Test of Choice.

Dressage competition at the Global Dressage Festival National 2 Show continues on Thursday, April 5 at 8:00 am.