Vilhelmson Makes Winning Debut on Esperance at 2017 CDI-W Palm Beach Derby

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2017 CDI-W Palm Beach Derby

Swedish Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) and her newest ride Esperance topped off a successful, winning debut weekend with a victory in the Intermediaire I Freestyle on Sunday 5 March 2017, the final day of competition at the 2017 CDI-W Palm Beach Dressage Derby.

Vilhelmson-Silfven and Esperance, a 2009 KWPN gelding (by Sorento x Rousseau) owned by Lövsta Stuteri, finished their week on a high note with a victory in the Intermediaire I as well as in the Inter I Kur to Music. The pair also took second place in Friday’s Prix St. Georges.

“Looking at the whole week, I’m so pleased with my horse,” said Vilhelmson-Silfven. “He went over the expectations, as I haven’t shown him before. I’ve only had him for eight or nine months, and he’s so intelligent and nice to ride. He has a super mind; he really wants to do his best. He still feels quite green because he is only eight, you can feel that in the ring. Still, he just tries and tries, and he’s so honest and ambitious. It’s going to be a lot of fun to continue with this horse.”

The pair bested a competitive class made up of 14 talented horse-and-rider combinations with a winning score of 76.292%.

Commenting on her music choices, Vilhelmson-Silfven continued, “I wanted to have music that was not too powerful, because I didn’t know how he would react. I chose music that was more calm and even, to try and make it easier for him. It is too early to do a big spectacle right now. I figured he should just have a good round and have a good experience from it.”

Vilhelmson's sponsor Antonio Ax:son Johnson acquired Esperance at Andreas Helgstrand's yard in Denmark. Under Bettina Jaeger the bay became the 2015 Danish Young Horse Champion in the 6-year old division. Before that the horse was ridden by German Stefanie Wolf in 2014 and by Dutch Maria Brouwer in 2013. The stallion was initially accepted at the 2012 KWPN Stallion Licensing but never did the KWPN stallion performance testing.

Second place in the Intermediaire I Freestyle was awarded to Jessica Rhinelander (CAN) and Dimanche, a 2008 KWPN gelding (by Spielberg x San Remo) scoring 74.417%. Third place went Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Harmony’s Duval, a 2008 KWPN gelding (by Rousseau x Riverman) owned by Kylee Lourie, with a score of 73.375%.