California's Brian Hafner has developed an impressive resume of dressage success in the Young Rider, Brentina Cup, and Grand Prix divisions with his long-time partner Lombardo LHF, including a win in last month's Grand Prix Freestyle at the CDI-W Burbank. On the final day of the 2014 CDI-W San Juan Capistrano, Hafner may have been mistakenly considered by some to be a long shot to triumph over veteran riders
of past U.S. Olympic and World Equestrian Games Teams, but today he emerged victorious to earn his second straight World Cup-qualifying freestyle victory on a score of 71.800%.
Dramatic music from the movie Iron Man 3 set the stage for Hafner's "go for it" attitude in today's freestyle as he and his 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding (b yLondonderry x Werther) demonstrated breathtaking extensions balanced with consistency and steadiness.
"I'm a little surprised by how well we did because there are big names here and stiff competition," said Hafner. "But I feel like we fixed a lot of what we needed to after Burbank, and it proved successful today. We had a couple small mistakes but overall it was much more solid than our last outing. I'm really proud of my horse and how far we've come." As a recent recipient of a $25,000 Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize from The Dressage Foundation, Hafner is now looking forward to a possible trip to the Festival of Champions in June, as well as taking Lombardo LHF to Europe to work with Johann Hinnemann.
Finishing second with 70.775% in the Grand Prix Freestyle was 2012 U.S. Olympic Team member Jan Ebeling aboard an exciting new mount in the impressive 10-year-old Hanoverian stallion FRH Rassolini (by Rubioso N x Silvano). Purchased and imported just under a year ago by the Vintage Equestrian Group, Ebeling knew the 2010 Nürnberger Burgpokal champion had talent, and was happy to show it off today.
"This weekend was our first time away from home together, and we're still figuring everything out," Ebeling explained. "Our warm-up was shorter today than in Saturday's Grand Prix, and that worked out much better. This is his first season at this level and we're still figuring it all out, but I think he's an exciting horse and there's a lot of potential there. I'm thrilled."
Rounding out the CDI freestyles in the Olympic Arena was Hannah Beaulieu (CAN) who earned her second win of the weekend with Nancy Olson's Rhinelander gelding Pharoah (by Fidermark), this time in the Junior Freestyle on a score of 66.575%. Meanwhile, Mackinzie Pooley continues to rack up solid scores in the CDI Under 25 division, and today she added to her expanding resume with a score of 67.930% in the CDI Grand Prix 16-25 Test aboard the Dutch gelding Partous (by Juventus x Hemingway).
Text by Jennifer Keeler, edited by Eurodressage
Photos © CDP - Terri Miller
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