Seidel and Equirelle Make First Freestyle Together a Winning One at 2021 CDI Wellington

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2021 CDI Wellington

Week three of the 2021 Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) concluded on Sunday, January 31, with victory for the USA’s Guenter Seidel and Equirelle in the Grand Prix Freestyle 4*, presented by U.S. P.R.E. Association.

In their first freestyle performance together, Seidel and Leatherdale Farms and Louise Leatherdale’s 2009 KWPN mare by Florett AS earned a 75.830% from judges to top the class.

First Freestyle

“It was our first freestyle,” he began, “so I was a little conservative and kept everything fairly easy. Our floor plan was fairly easy. She’s a very hot horse and has had her issues in the ring, so I wanted to use this test to give her some confidence out there. The more it went along the more secure she seemed to get, and she was really fun to ride. Most of the test was very pleasing. I know there’s quality in there, but sometimes that’s hard to show because she can get tight or scared, but it was nice to see that she is learning how to hold it together. It was not easy for her with the wind, but I was very happy with her.”

Seidel rode the mare to a freestyle he used with a previous horse, but noted his method for getting Equirelle more experience before they dive into creating a freestyle of their own. “The music is from a horse I’ve ridden before,” he explained. “I figured I’d get her feet wet in the freestyle before I created an entirely new one. I really like the music so it works well with her for now.”

"She Doesn't Want to Make Mistakes"

The partnership is only a few years old, and Seidel explained that his current plan with the mare is to help her gain experience throughout the remainder of the GDF circuit.

“I’ve had her for a couple of years,” he said, “and she is a very generous horse. She doesn’t want to make mistakes, but she gets hot. I think it takes time to get into a successful partnership with a horse like that at this level, but I feel like she will be a very good horse in a few years. I am going to use the shows here to get her seasoned and get her more confident in the ring. If it backfires and she starts to get nervous I will back off, but if she keeps going like this, we will keep competing.”

Judge at C, Anne Prain (FRA), praised Seidel’s plan with his mount and was impressed with the pair’s freestyle execution. She commented, “It was the first time I’ve had the pleasure of judging Guenter, and I like the way he speaks about his plan for the horse. It’s good to hear him explain that he kept his freestyle on the simple side to prepare his horse, and it’s what we judges expect. We don’t always expect the most complicated freestyle, because the horses can become over-ridden, so I think it’s much better for the horse to have something simple, but with a nice flow. To get 75% is not so easy, and his horse has a good quality about her.”

Canada’s Lindsay Kellock rode to second place with Sebastien, Kellock and Enterprise Farm Equestrian LLC’s 2006 Rhinelander gelding by Sandro Hit, earning 74.575%, while Michael Klimke (GER) claimed third place on Diablo, Harmony Sporthorses’ 2010 Hanoverian gelding by Desparados, with 73.850%.

Janne Rumbough from U.S. P.R.E. Association commented on the week saying, “We usually have a big week with the U.S. P.R.E. horses here. We showcase a lot of horses and show their ability and talent, and unfortunately because of COVID we couldn’t do that showcase this year. However, we were happy to be able to still show off a couple of the horses and were happy to see some of them competing here this week. We are thrilled to sponsor AGDF again this year, and we will look forward to continuing with that and hopefully we can showcase the U.S. P.R.E. in years to come.”

Ebeling, Parra, Kelly, Blais Tetreault Win

The Grand Prix Freestyle 3* awarded top honors to Jan Ebeling (USA) and Indeed, Vantage Equestrian Group LI, LLC’s 2008 Danish Warmblood mare by Gorklintgards Indeera, with a 72.550%. Second place went to Nora Batchelder (USA) and Sally Seaver’s 2003 American Warmblood mare, W Gangster Girl, by Sieger, earning a 70.525%. Cedar Potts-Warner (USA) took third place riding JP Orion, Jp Giacomini’s 2005 Andalusian gelding by Hipogrifo, with a 67.170%.

Cesar Parra (USA) and Mr. Bumblebee achieved another win this week in the FEI Intermediate-I Freestyle CDI3*. Parra and the 2008 Danish Warmblood gelding by Sting owned by Equiventure LLC and John and Karen Blank concluded with a 75.600% from judges. Second place was captured by Michael Klimke (GER) and Astro, Harmony Sporthorses’ 2013 Hanoverian gelding by Astrix, achieving a 69.775%. Third place was rounded out by Germany’s Sarah Stanuschewski and Aristo, European Equestrian Transfer Group’s 2005 KWPN gelding by Olivi, with a 67.960%.

Jodie Kelly-Baxley (USA) rode her own Grayton Beach to their second victory of the week, this time in the Intermediate-I 1*. Baxley and the 2011 KWPN gelding by Negro earned a 72.471% for their efforts. Second place went to Steffen Peters (USA) and Boreas FRF, a 2012 Oldenburg stallion by Bordeaux owned by Christina Vinios, with a 71.471%. Third place was awarded to Taylor Rowsey (USA) piloting Demetrios, a 2012 Rheinlander gelding by Diamond Hit, with a 71.118%.

In the Intermediate-II 3*, Canada’s Mathilde Blais Tetreault claimed first with Fedor, a 2009 KWPN gelding by Jazz, with a 66.647%. Second place went to Allison Kavey (USA) and Andrea Woodner’s Citha’s Utopia, a 2007 KWPN mare by Dayano, earning 61.500%.