Adrienne Lyle Takes 2014 CDIO Wellington Grand Prix

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2014 CDIO Wellington

American Adrienne Lyle secured the provisional lead for Team U.S.A. 1 in the Nations' Cup in Wellington by winning the Grand Prix on Wednesday 19 February 2014. Aboard Perry Thomas' Oldenburg gelding Wizard (by Weltmeyer x Classiker), Lyle scored 71.600% and edged out team mate Tina Konyot on Calecto V.

The CDIO Nations' Cup Grand Prix in Wellington featured two of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team riders but with the state of dressage improving exponentially each year, Team U.S.A so far has been unable to show case top level dressage similar to what can be seen on the European continent at world cup qualifiers this winter show season.

Bringing back Wizard from an injury sustained in 2013, Lyle has her number one horse quite on form, but there are still too many issues to call today's Grand Prix ride a polished test. The trot work is lightfooted but an early break into canter in the first trot extension was the first mistake that tampered with the score. Wizard could have picked up his feet more in the rein back, but the passage work was overall very lightfooted. In the extended walk there should have been a bit more relaxation over the back, in the collected he was uneven behind in stride length. The two tempi's were lovely and the well executed zig zag was a highlight. The pirouettes were nice and small but on the final centerline the collection was lost in the passage and the piaffe at X lacked impulsion. The pair scored 71.600 but the judges differed in viewpoint. Judge MacDonald had Lyle on 68.400% and Bo Jena on 74.000%.

Tina Konyot and Calecto V Tina Konyot and her 16-year old Danish warmblood Calecto V were the 2010 U.S. Dressage Champions and 2012 U.S. Olympians, but in 2014 -- though still early in the season -- the duo has not yet found its groove in Florida. The first trot extension lacked ground cover and the first passage looked a bit around the edges. The extended walk was excellent. Calecto struggled to find a swinging rhythm in the second piaffe even though he took regular steps. There were mistakes in both the two and one tempi changes and one change in the zig zag was shorter behind. The pirouette right was outstanding. The final, third extended trot was barely executed. In the final passage the horse became croup high and irregular behind at the beginning of the center line and Konyot lost the collection at the end of the line. The pair still scored a generous 69.860%. Judge Torrente appeared more on the mark with his 67.100%.

Shelly Francis presented the 11-year old Oldenburg gelding Doktor (by Diamond Hit) in the Nations' Cup and showed much improvement since 2013, even though there was still much room for improvement in the Grand Prix test. The trot half passed were fantastic, but there was a slight contact issue in the left one. The extended walk was active with good relaxation, but in the collected the bay gelding became lateral. There was a loss of rhythm in the second piaffe, even though the horse showed fantastic sit and promise in that movement. The two tempi changes were nice, the zig zag had much ground cover, the ones were ok and the pirouettes were tiny. The one to the right had too much tension, though. In the final passage Doktor showed incredible potential but the regularity needed to improve. The last piaffe had great sit but the horse need to become more settled and confident in the exercise. The duo scored 69.640%.

Belinda Trussell on Anton The highest scoring non-American was Canadian Belinda Trussell who made her come back this season on the 14-year old Saxonian bred Anton (by Anteaus). After competing at the CDI Hagen in April 2011, the pair disappeared from the scene and did not come back until three years later! Trussell and Anton ace with their harmony and lightness. The sweet and rhythmical piaffe was an absolute highlight in the test but the duo definitely lost valuable points with the passage, that was consistently irregular behind. The tempi changes were good and the pirouettes tiny but could have had more lift in the forehand. They posted a score of 68.760% with marks ranging from 65.700 (Armando) to 70.700 (Torrente).

American Catherine Haddad-Staller has returned to the big time with the Oldenburg bred Hotmail (by Michellino x Havel). The slim and sporty looking 12-year old chestnut gelding was not entirely pushing evenly behind in the first extended trot. The half passes had great crossing of the leg but there could have been more bending to the left. The passage was elegant and lightfooted, the first piaffe was small and a bit forward. The horse could have stretched a bit more over the back and into the contact in the extended walk so that he would gain more overtrack. The two tempi changes were nice but in the ones he needs to cover more ground and he moved off the diagonal. The right pirouette was the best one of the two. The passage on the centerline was expressive, but the piaffe at X happened in two phases. Haddad-Staller scored 68.660%.

It was a tough day for Team Germany as Maria Kaldewei and Companero were elimated. The pair successfully completed the Grand Prix but were eliminated during the bit check as the chestnut had bitten its tongue and showed blood in the mouth. Kim Jesse was unable to compete Charming (by Champus) as the horse failed the re-inspection early in the morning.