Graves and Verdades Go Two for Two, Win Grand Prix Special 5* at 2016 CDI Wellington

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2016 CDI-W Wellington - GDF 5

The Grand Prix Special CDI 5*, presented by Diamante Farms, concluded CDI 5* competition on Saturday 13 February 2016 at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida. Laura Graves (USA) and Verdades added another win to their week, as the duo scored a 74.667% to best the class. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) and Benetton Dream finished in second with a 72.412%, while Belinda Trussell (CAN) and Anton captured third place receiving a 71.431%. In the Grand Prix Special 3* Steffen Peters (USA) and Rosamunde took home the victory.

Graves and Verdades topped the Grand Prix CDI 5*, presented by Diamante Farms, on Thursdayand chose to compete in the Grand Prix Special class. While their test was not as exact or powerful as may be typically expected from the duo, it was an example of an established partnership that is continuing to grow with time. The judges recognized the maturity of their effort, awarding it a 74.667% for the win. Graves reflected on the experience of coming back to the ring after their last difficult competition.

“Today I really wanted to ride him down and let him have another good experience. Tonight I felt like it was far from being our highest score, the most precise, and certainly not our most powerful, but he was 100% himself tonight and that was a really good feeling,” she explained. “What we did in the Grand Prix on Thursday really paid off and it’s good to feel like I have him back knowing that I could have ridden better.”

The pair seemed back to their usual selves during the Special, which Graves has noted is a strong test for Verdades. The pair, instead of focusing on accuracy and precision, decided to reach towards a more relaxed and harmonious test to continue boosting their confidence in the ring.

“This was a big confidence builder for me as a rider and a trainer, having (had a) first kind of low point since we’ve been successful. It’s always hard and it makes you question things, like what do we do and how do we move on. But it’s really true, if it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger and you learn,” she explained. “Now, I know this will happen again. It’s not the first time, and it’s not the last. This is life and this is the chance you take when you go into the arena with another living being. That’s the sport.”

Graves now plans to give Verdades some down time while she discusses his competition schedule with her team. He will enjoy a lighter work schedule for a few weeks, do some work in the fields, and continue his favorite part of their training regimen-a once a week bareback hack.

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Benetton Dream, ownd by Lövsta Stuteri, represented Sweden with excellent style, earning a 72.412% for a solid test that featured sweeping half-passes and a strong piaffe-passage tour. Vilhelmson-Silven noted that this is only the second time that the 12-year-old Hanoverian stallion has done the Special and was pleased with his performance.

“I’ve very, very pleased with my horse tonight. I’ve never had such a good feeling in the ring on him actually as we did today. He got really on when [the crowd] applauded Laura coming around the arena. He had much more power than [we] had before and it was a nice feeling. It was a nice feeling and he was going together with me in a nice way. Just a great feeling,” she said. “It was the second time that we’ve done the Special and it was the highest score that we’ve gotten so I’m happy. He got a little bit difficult when we did the trot extensions, especially when he’s that hot. He stumbled a bit because he went for too much, but other than that it was a good feeling.”

She reflected on the time it has taken to establish a partnership with her stallion, that came from an active breeding career in Germany and maintains a full studbook at Lövsta Stuteri in Sweden. She explained, “I had him here two years ago. He came from Germany and was a breeding stallion so he may seem a little bit further behind in his training for his age. He’s been breeding a lot in Sweden too, so he’s had double work. This year we’re going to decrease the breeding so that I can focus on showing him a little bit more.”

“He has a great feeling, but he’s a big horse and a stallion, so for sure he gets a little bit nervous and that can show in many ways, but that’s why I was happy with today because he wanted to go on my aids,” she commented. “We’ve been working with a lot of different things, but really most to get him stronger so that he can perform the movements but also getting him to want to work with me, not to have to put pressure on him to do it by himself. He’s really getting together with me and that’s the great feeling with him. That takes time and that’s what it takes to build confidence and get to know them.”

Belinda Trussell rode Anton, owned by Robyn Eames and Marc Trussell, to third place after an already successful campaign at AGDF so far this season. Trussell noted that Anton’s natural capacity for piaffe makes the Grand Prix Special a great test for him.

“Anton, his gift is his piaffe and it’s just a dream to ride it actually. I sit there and cluck and he piaffes. That’s his highlight, and he’s just so consistent. He loves to do it, so that is really nice and in the Special, going from walk to piaffe is not difficult for him. It’s a nice feeling. I feel confident with this test and I like it because it is so forward moving. It’s nice to ride.”

She was pleased that Anton settled down a bit from his anxiety during the Grand Prix. Unlike Vilhelmsom-Silfven’s mount Benetton Dream, who gains energy and enthusiasm from applause, Anton can become tense, which can negatively impact his performance.

“He was difficult this week and was pretty nervous from the Grand Prix. I really am happy that he went in there and was more relaxed tonight than he was earlier in the week,” she continued.

Steffen Peters and Rosamunde Top Grand Prix Special CDI 3*

Steffen Peters (USA) and Rosamunde continued their dominance in Large Tour competition at AGDF, earning top scores in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI 3*, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, to take the class with a 73.333%. Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) and Goerklintgaards Dublet earned another top finish, adding a second place collection for the week, while young talent Juan Matute, Jr. (ESP) and Quantico Ymas earned third place with a 69.059%.

Peters and Rosamunde have taken the dressage world by storm as he and the stunning 2007 Rhinelander mare, owned by Four Winds Farm, continue to make a strong statement with their efficiency in the ring.

Steffen Peters and Rosamunde “She’s clearly improving and the one-tempis were already straighter. The weak parts were better today and we just had silly little things. She anticipated the two-tempis a bit and then at the end, the final halt, she stepped a little bit back. Silly little things, but expensive things,” noted Peters. “The collected wasn’t quite as relaxed, but things that were very difficult for her are better. Those are minor little things and are easier to polish.”

Rosamunde has progressed quickly through the beginning of her young career and Peters plans to keep her feeling comfortable, but confident, through their training at home.

“The good thing with Rosie is that I don’t have to push her. She wants to go. There are so many situations, especially in the first few extended trots, where I’m holding her back a little bit. At home, it is just very comfortable and not stressful so she just offers so much,” he explained. “I don’t think it’s really about what you’re doing in the show arena, it’s more of what you’re doing in the warm-up and how much work you have to do at home. That’s the main thing. I always believe in keeping them mentally just as healthy as they are physically healthy.”

As the combination heads back to California to test the rest of the season before the pressure begins to rise with the qualifications and selections for the 2016 Olympic Games, Peters is confident that “Rosie” will continue to improve during the duration.

“Rosie needs to get stronger, and we have a nice fitness program laid out for her. We’re skipping the next CDI in California, but we’ll show her again in late March. It’s always easy to think about improving, but it’s also equally important to think about maintaining what we have. I believe in bubble-wrapping them when they’re good.”

Perry-Glass has shot through the national rankings at the Grand Prix level with Goerklintgaards Dublet over the course of the past month and the combination continues to show improvements in their tests together with each outing.

“He felt really good in the warm up, probably the best I’ve ever felt him. He was really focused and relaxed, but hot at the same time. When I went into the ring, I felt he got a little bit hotter. There were a few mistakes in the test, but that was probably the most focused and in front of my leg that I’ve ever felt him,” commented Perry-Glass. “That was the positive thing for today. It’s just a matter of pilot errors on my end. It’s me getting used to him in the ring, and we’re going to continue working on that.”

With two horses competitive at the Grand Prix level, Perry-Glass has found herself learning more about her own riding and technique under the watchful eye of trainer Debbie McDonald. Gaining more experience in the international arena is a priority for Perry and “Dublet” who are still solidifying their partnership together at the Grand Prix.

“We are entered into the CDI-W at the end of the month and then possibly skip the Palm Beach Derby, but have put in our application for the CDIO Nations Cup and see where it goes from there,” explained Perry of her future plans with “Dublet”. “If Scarlett doesn’t get into the top eight for the traveling tour to Europe, we’re possible going to breed her because she’s such a good mare. That’s her plan and then we’re shooting for that top eight with Dublet.”

The young Juan Matute, Jr. found himself among some of the best in the Grand Prix Special CDI 3*, but that did not deter him from riding a beautiful test aboard Quantico for third place.

“It’s the details of the tests. I think we have all of the relaxation and the movements. I’ve been riding him now for three years. This was our first CDI Grand Prix so I was very happy with the results and really proud of our progress and our journey,” he explained. “It’s a horse that is very sensitive. He’s from a jumping line by Fighting Fit so he’s a horse that has really made me work everyday and analyze my basic concepts of riding. He has a lot of talent. He’s ambitious in the ring, which helps, but today was very good.”

Ever so early in his career, Matute has found success in the inner workings of the basic movements, which has helped to increase scores and create a more secure partnership with Quantico.

“We always begin working on the passage and piaffe when they’re young, maybe five or six years old, to start developing that power from behind little by little. He’s always been a talented passage horse because he likes to sit a lot. We’ve been working little by little on our way up to Grand Prix, but really only over the past year did we start to consider moving him up to the Under 25 division and then to the Grand Prix.”