Devon, PA – The competition continued today with classes including the FEI Intermediaire I, the FEI Young Rider Individual Text, Fourth Level tests, FEI Team Test Ponies and the highly anticipated FEI Grand Prix Freestyle.

The Riders

“This night is my favorite. I’m thrilled to have won,” said Jacqueline Brooks, winner of the Grand Prix Freestyle. She’s only been riding D-Niro since February of 2011 but has already shown him at almost every CDI in Florida where he learned on the job – all in preparation for the Olympics. “He came back from London a different horse,” she said. “I barely had to ride him. I just had to sit there and thank him.” What’s next?  She’s set her sights on the World Equestrian Games in Normandy in 2014. 

“I love coming to Devon,” said Pierre St. Jacques, second place winner. “It’s the biggest crowd we get in the US. Lucky Tiger is 17 years old and is a pro at what he does. He’s been at Grand Prix level for about eight years.  All he has to do, according to St. Jacques, is keep him fit and, for the most part, he does it by riding in a field – “because he’s happier there. He knows his job.”

As reported yesterday, David Marcus won the qualifier for the Freestyle FEI Grand Prix riding 12-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Chrevi's Capital. Their 71.213 score is impressive, especially because both horse and rider are in their first year of Grand Prix competition. And tonight, he captured third in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

Chevri’s Capital was just starting to learn Grand Prix movements when Marcus found him in Denmark.  The plan was to develop and sell him. Then, when Marcus declared himself a candidate for the Canadian Olympic team in December 2011, his only problem was not having a Grand Prix horse.  Although Chevri’s Capital was an inexperienced, and, therefore, an unlikely candidate, Marcus took a chance and sent him to train with Robert Dover over the winter. Soon afterwards the pair was scoring well enough to be selected for the Canadian Olympic Team. And between last night and today they showed the audience that a talented, mature horse and dedicated rider can master Grand Prix movements together.   

We can’t wait to see what’s next for these three top riders.

Grand Riding

The FEI Junior Individual Test JR JAJYRC was won by Silver Label (Rambo x Nicca), ridden and owned by Nicholas Torres, with a score of 67.895.  The FEI Young Rider Individual Test was won by V.I.P. (Rousseau x Nastrade), ridden by Alexandra Reid and owned by Deborah Miculinic. 

The evening’s highlight, the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, was won D-Niro (D-Day x Alitalia), ridden by Jacqueline Brooks, and owned by Mary Brooks Brookhaven.  This brilliant ride before a sold-out audience was perfectly choreographed to all-Canadian music.

Second place was won by Lucky Tiger (Lucky Light x Teike) and owned and ridden by Pierre St. Jacques. Third place was won by Chrevi’s Capital (Chrevi’s Lavallo x Indira Gandhi), ridden by David Marcus and owned by Deborah Kinzinger.

Sunday

The competition continues with a focus on the stars of tomorrow.  The classes include the FEI Junior Freestyle, the FEI Young Rider Freestyle, FEI Individual Test Ponies, the USEF National Young Adult “Brentina Cup,” the FEI Olympic Grand Prix Special, the FEI Intermediare I Freestyle and USEF Fourth Level Tests II and III. Plus exhibitions by Guy McLean and the DVCTA Quadrille (Quad Squad).  And, of course, great shopping and great food!