U.S. WEG Team Contenders Lisa Wilcox and Denzello Aim to Go Above and Beyond

Focus

Eurodressage F.O.C.U.S.

Twelve years after representing the United States at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, followed by the 2004 Olympic Games, Spain, American Grand Prix rider Lisa Wilcox is back in the spotlight, rapidly moving on up on the leader board astride Betty Wells' tall and mighty Denzello. Short listed for the U.S. WEG Team, Wilcox is meticulously preparing her mount for the first Europe based U.S. WEG selection trial in Fritzens, Austria, this weekend.

A recipient of the USEF Gold Medal of Distinction, Wilcox and the 11-year-old Hanoverian Denzello (by De Niro x Rhodiamant) proved that they are on the rise as strong team contenders after scoring solid seventy percentage marks in all three rounds of the 2014 U.S. Dressage Championships in Gladstone. With scores of 72.220% in the Grand Prix and 73.075% in the Kur to Music, the duo got promoted to the U.S. WEG Team short list and earned a trip to Europe to contest the two definitive team shaping qualifiers in Fritzens and Aachen.

"Denzello felt great at the national championships but I made some costly mistakes," Wilcox explained. "My hope and plan was to be in the top 8, it was close but I know that Denzello's full potential has yet to be tapped into. Dino, as we lovingly call him, is evolving daily. This week I feel we've moved up to another level of expression, he feels awesome, I'm looking forward to Fritzens!"

The Canadian owned Denzello is only a young Grand Prix horse, having performed his first Grand Prix less than a year ago. The long legged bright bay gelding has clearly been maturing this year, producing better results with each show this winter season at the Global Dressage Festival located at Lisa's home base in Wellington, Florida. The trip to Europe is the logical result of stand out performances and excellent form amongst her peers.

Wilcox and Denzello "Betty Wells is such an amazing owner," said Wilcox enthusiastically. "She has not only supported me by giving me the ride on Dino, but she is here with me as his groom! I'm incredibly thankful for her dedication to Dino and endless support of me. I am forever grateful!"

Currently based at stud farm De Begijnhoeve in Retie, Belgium, Lisa and Denzello are cherishing the peaceful surroundings and professional facilities made available by farm owner Rob van Puijenbroek. The camp is the ideal preparation for the exciting month ahead.

"I'm very much enjoying the training camp. Our host has been the "Host with the most"! The facility is beautiful and equipped with state of the art footing both in his amazing indoor and outdoor arena. The facilities are exceptional. We have a beautiful viewing room equipped with a kitchen and fancy coffee machine that make cappuccinos, espressos, cafe lattes, etc. We have wifi throughout the barn. Rob is spoiling us rotten, we love it! Rob has generously mapped out the local territory with regards to restaurants, shopping facilities, tack stores, and feed stores. He has also made himself available as our tour guide in Antwerp recently which I thoroughly enjoyed!"

Although the eight American Grand Prix riders now based in Belgium are each others' competitors for a team spot, the atmosphere is relaxed and supportive according to Lisa.

Lisa Wilcox "The team spirit is great, everyone is enjoying watching each other train during our working hours and then we enjoy dinner in the evening together where we get to know each other," she explained. "We all come from different regions of the US so most of us don't know each other very well. This has been a nice opportunity to change that."

Loyal to her long-time coach Ernst Hoyos, who was a rider at the Spanish Riding School for 29 years, Wilcox maintains a very structured training routine with her trainer regularly at her side.

"Ernst came for two days directly following Rotterdam and is here now for two days," she said. "We are continuing the same training program we had in Florida. We will meet up again on the day of the jog in Fritzens. We're concentrating primarily on the Grand Prix and Special for Fritzens. My goal is to get into the 70's in Fritzens with hopes of getting over the 72% that I had received in Gladstone. I feel Dino is improving daily and has since Gladstone moved up a level with regards to expression and consistency."