Nations Cup Competitors and Chefs d'Equipe at the Global Dressage Festival (Susuan J. Stickle)

Wellington, FL - All the horses passed the veterinary inspection for the $35,000 WEF Wellington Dressage Nations Cup CDIO3*, presented by Stillpoint Farm, on Thursday afternoon. Team spirit overflowed as the dressage riders representing eight teams from thirteen nations presented their horses for the prestigious competition that takes place April 13-14 at the Stadium show grounds of the Global Dressage Festival (GDF).

The Veterinary Commission, which consisted of three international veterinarians, inspected the horses in the stable and in the "trot-up" to ensure the welfare and health of all the horses competing in the CDIO. Dr. Shana Chase of the Veterinary Commission said, "The Horse inspection went quite well, as planned."

The WEF Wellington Nations Cup is the first non-championship CDIO Nations Cup in the Western Hemisphere. All of the CDIO competitors will participate in the FEI Prix St. Georges on Friday morning at 9:00 AM in GDF International Arena. The top five placed teams will move forward to the FEI Intermediare Freestyle in two sessions on Saturday. The first session takes place in the afternoon, at 4:00 PM. The second session, which includes the GDF Parade of Champions for National High Score Circuit Winners, will be in the evening at 7:00 PM. The remaining riders will compete in the FEI Intermediare I on Saturday morning at 10:00 AM.

Two awards were presented at the horse inspection. The Turn Out Award, sponsored by ShowChic, went to Nicholas Fyffe from Australia who will be riding Wasmut, owned by Mary Evangelista. Fyffe was awarded a $100 gift certificate from ShowChic, formerly Sho Clothes.

The Equine Turnout Award, sponsored by Dressage Connection, went to the best turned out horse and was won by Witness Hilltop, owned by Hilltop Farm. Christopher Hickey, who will be riding Witness Hilltop, received a halter from the Dressage Connection.