Lina Uzunhasan Does the Triple at the 2017 CDI Sint-Truiden

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2017 CDI Sint-Truiden

The Turkish born American dressage rider Lina Uzunhasan did the triple at the 2017 CDI Sint-Truiden on 12 - 15 April 2017 winning all three Young Riders classes aboard her 9-year old Dutch warmblood mare Donna Ray. German Sophie Stilgenbauer was her greatest competitor that Easter weekend.

Uzunhasan and her United x Negro mare Donna Ray won the team test with 70.658%, the Individual with 72.675% and the Kur to Music with 75.933%. Her horse showed good flow in the trot tour, but lacked bending in the voltes. The canter work was very solid but overall the horse needs to develop more self carriage so she can move more off the forehand.

"We made a one tempi on the short side of the arena. Despite that it went well and we got the first place," said Lina of her team test. "The last two days were really good. She did the pirouettes super good and for me the canter work was an overall highlight during the last two tests. In the freestyle I used my Inter I music from Indoor Brabant that I had to adapt to the Young Riders and it worked really well."

Uzunhasan has been competing for Turkey since she made her CDI debut in 2011 as a Children's rider on Sjonnie. In 2014 she moved to junior riders' level with Donna Ray and Sjonnie and represented Turkey at the 2014 and 2015 European Junior Riders Championships and 2016 European Young Riders Championships. In 2017 she switched nationality to the U.S.A.

At the 2017 CDI Sint-Truiden the American national anthem played for her the first time. "At that moment it was as if everything fell in place. It really feels as ‘my’ anthem'," she added.

Sophie Stilgenbauer on Scharon Three times, Uzunhasan felt the most competition from the German pair Sophie Stilgenbauer on the 14-year old Westfalian bred Scharon (by Show Star x Ars Vivendi) who finished second three times throughout the Easter weekend. The black gelding produced very straight tempi changes and good pirouettes but the canter work could have been a bit more closed and collected in the frame. The trot work was fluent and accurate, especially in the individual test.

For Stilgenbauer the CDI Sint-Truiden turned into a great birthday present as she celebrated her 20th birthday on 17 April 2017.

"I'm very happy and it was a super start of the outdoor show season," said birthday girl Sophie.

Eurodressage photographer Astrid Appels took photos of all combinations competing at the CDI Sint-Truiden. Contact us if you are interested in prints or digital files for social media of your photos!