European riders are on a roll in Florida sweeping the board at the national show in Wellington held last weekend 31 January - 2 February 2014. With action going on now stop at the Wellington show grounds, the national shows provide a stepping stone and learning experience for pairs who are preparing for their next CDI at the same venue.
German expatriate Marcus Orlob and Equestricons Et Voila, an 8-year old Hanoverian gelding (by Earl x Matcho AA x Pik König) owned by Et Advanture Inc, proved strong form and won the Intermediaire B test with 74.881%. Et Voila was competed by Finnish Emma Kanerva and Henri Ruoste in 2012 but taken over by Orlob in 2013. A former student of Hubertus Schmidt and Johan Zagers, Orlob runs Elite Expression Dressage with partner Shannon Davis at their newly bought farm in Annondale, New Jersey. The pair reclaimed victory in the same class the next day with 71.429%.
Orlob also won the Open Prix St Georges on Mo Swanson's 10-year old Hanoverian stallion Shakespeare RSF (by Sandro Hit x Arrian) with a score of 71.184%. He referred U.S. based German Kevin Kohmann on Suzanne Dansby-Phelps' 10-year old Zephyr (by ) to second place with 70.658%. Kohmann came to America to work for Dr. Cesar Parra and the last few years has been working with Israeli Oded Shimoni. Danish Rikke Poulson rode Anne Sparks' Pikk Elena (by Pik L x Don Primero) to a sixth place in the class with 65.789%.
The brand new Intermediaire B test only featured three riders and Dutch Leida Collins-Strijk placed second on Westside, an 11-year old Dutch warmblood by Florett As x Equador. They scored 74.167% and were narrowly edged out by Orlob.
Leida's student and former Dutch Young Rider team medallist Danielle Houtvast joined her employer on her adventure in Florida and is gaining ring experience on the 17-year old KWPN gelding Palermo (by Kigalo x John u to Berry). As sole competitors in the class, Houtvastwon the Intermediaire B test for adult amateurs with 72.381%.
Danish Lars Petersen won the open Grand Prix on Saturday in a field of seven riders. Aboard the 12-year old Danish bred gelding Willano (by Willemoes x Aleksander). The long-time American resident, who is taking U.S. citizenship soon, scored 71.300% and referred German Maria Kaldewei to second place.
Kaldewei has joined Russian junior Daria Marchenko on the plane to Florida with their trainer German former WEG team rider Christoph Koschel in tow. Kaldewei sadled the dark bay Oldenburg mare Die Süsse (by Diamond Hit x World Cup II) and finished second with 70.600%.
British born Joanne Vaughan, who previously rode for Estonia but is now declared for Georgia, brought her two Grand Prix horses Prego and Elmegardens Marquis to Florida for some sun, fun and showing. Coached by Canadian Grand Prix rider Alexandra Duncan, Vaughan placed fourth in the Open Grand Prix with Marquis, a 15-year old Danish gelding by Michellino x Lucky Light. The former British team 2011 European team gold medal winning Marquis (under Emile Faurie) scored 66.400%. With the 17-year old Dutch bred Prego (by Zazou x Ulft), she was 6th with 62.300%.
Two riders contested the Open Grand Prix on Sunday and the class was won by Italian Silvia Rizzo on the 15-year old Lusitano licensed stallion Sal (by Mississipe x Golega). The brand new pair has been improving show after show as they continue to gel as a combination. They won the test with a personal best score of 69.100% and left Colombian Marco Bernal on the Westfalian Rossini (by Royal Dance x Sandro) far behind them in second place with 66.900%.
Complete scores here.
Photos © Sue Stickle - Daria Marchenko
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