Watching the Intermediaire I Freestyle at the 2015 CDI-W Burbank on Sunday 22 February 2015, one would never suspect that this was the very first CDI experience for Washington State natives Garyn Heidemann and Sigrid Wolff's Westfalian gelding French Kiss (by Florestan x Fruhling). Rookie Heidemann scored a winning 68.325% in the Kur, after a 64.289% in the Prix St Georges and 62.447% in the Inter I.
Heidemann's three-day journey to Burbank paid off as the pair's dramatic yet harmonious performance featuring music from "The Dark Knight Rises" earned them their first international and unanimous victory under all five FEI judges with a final score of 68.325% over Canada's Roanne Tyson and Seiltanz (by Sunny Boy x Royal Dance) with 66.325%.
"Up until this point I've only competed locally in Region 6, but we ended last season really well with regional and Northwest championships for both Intermediaire I and the freestyle, so I decided it was time to step it up and ride in a bigger pond," explained Heidemann. "French Kiss and I have only been together since last May when his owner offered me the ride in order for me to gain experience in the international arena, and I'm so grateful to her. He can be complicated because he's so intelligent and a little bit cocky, but he loves to show off and we feel like he's finally coming into who he is. It's a learning process, and I was very happy with him this weekend."
French Kiss' owner Sigrid Wolff from Germany campaigned her dark bay gelding once internationally herself in 2013 at the March CDI at San Juan Capistrano. She scored 57.588% in the Prix St Georges. The 33-year old Heidemann, who is based in Sedro Woolley, WA, and works at Cain Lake Stables. Less than two years ago she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which she has battled successfully.
"This has been a wonderful experience coming here in California," Heidemann said about her CDI victory. "The show was so well organized and the quality of horses down here is amazing. It was a big eye-opening experience. Now that we've done this and I realize what we need to do to have further success, we're going to go home and train and then look to returning next year even better."
Photo © Terri Miller
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