One month after hosting the first CDI Langley of 2023, the Thunderbird equestrian park welcomed back familiar faces, albeit in small numbers. Several horse and rider partnerships continued their winning ways in Langley with an FEI ground jury led by the esteemed FEI 5* judge Stephen Clarke.
Grand Prix: Fortmuller Wins
Pia Fortmüller and Frieda are no strangers to the pressures of CDI competition.
Partnered since 2013, the Canadian rider and 2011 black Hanoverian mare sired by Furstenball first began touring the 20 x 60 m arena in 2015, methodically advancing from green horse to Grand Prix over the past decade. They’ve earned 18 CDI podium finishes since 2016, including nine wins.
On the first day of competition, the pair collected their most recent victory in the Grand Prix 3*. Fortmüller and Frieda bested the competition by over two percent, garnering a 68.457% score for their expressive trot tour and quality of movement. USA’s Jennifer Williams and Joppe K took second with a score of 65.913%. Canada’s Rochelle Kilberg and Florentino, third on 64.391%. There were only three riders in the big tour after Sara Pocock withdrew Connaisseur from the competition.
Now 12 years of age, Frieda is in her second year in the Grand Prix with Fortmüller. The pair made their Big Tour debut in Wellington, Florida in January 2022 and won their first CDI3* with an impressive 70.457% score.
“The first season, it’s always green,” said the rider. “And now the second season we’re starting to get in the groove of things. Of course, there’s still tons of things that we want to improve. But I’m really happy with how her confidence continues to grow.”
The Canadian rider credits their longtime partnership and early exposure to stadium atmosphere on the Young Horse Tour in Europe for their current success. Now a decade into their partnership, Fortmüller is focused on the journey with the striking black mare.
Grand Prix Special: Williams Trusts the Training
Williams and the nine-year-old KWPN gelding came out ahead in the Special in a head-to-head competition with Fortmuller, earning a score of 69.362% from the judges to Fortmüller’s 68.553%.
“I thought that the overall picture and harmony was better today [than on Friday]. He gave me a great feeling in the energy and yet remain very relaxed through most of the test. [He had] a lot of power in the extended canter, sat nicely in the pirouettes. He’s very obedient. He’s very correct in a lot of the things that he does. So I just had to really trust that training.”
Williams and the nine-year-old gelding have since been named to the U.S. Dressage short list for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games and said it would “be amazing” to ride for the senior team in Santiago.
As sole competitor in the Grand Prix kur to Music, Canada’s Rochelle Kilberg and Florentino danced to a score of 70.630% and the win on Sunday.
Prix St Georges: Shalley Lawder Cracks 70s
“We’ve been trying really, really hard to crack the 70s since March. And we finally did it!” smiled the Langley-based rider. Seven combinations took to the CDI ring for the Small Tour class. Lawder and Balancee were the only combination to break the 70 barrier, earning a 71.382% to claim victory in the Prix St. Georges. Stablemates Erin Silo (CAN) and Jett, who won the June CDI leg, took second on a score of 69.588%. Gloria Schriever (CAN) and Hilton finished third on 68.588%.
Lawder and the nine-year-old Westphalian mare sired by Bordeaux made their international debut only in June of this year, competing in a CDI1* in Sherwood, Oregon followed by the Touch of Class Dressage Show Langley CDI1* where they won the FEI Intermediate Freestyle CDI1*.
Lawder, who trains with Canadian Olympian Leslie Reid, is a laser focused competitor who is consistently in the ribbons and hopes to represent Canada in Santiago at the 2023 Pan Am Games.
Intermediaire I: Personal Best for Schriever
Gloria credits Hilton’s warmblood and Lusitano breeding — he’s sired by famed KWPN stallion Totilas and out of a Lusitano dam— for providing “the best of both worlds” in terms of his naturally aptitude for collection and extension, skills they showed off to good effect on Saturday.
“Because of his Portuguese influence, the pirouettes were easy and they were definitely one of our highlights. They’re quite solid, so I can usually go into the ring and I know he knows what to do when we go into the pirouette. The changes were also quite good today. The two [tempis], it almost felt like I could just sit back and he took those away from me in a good way. He knew they were coming and they were expressive. They were straight. He did very well on those.”
Inter I Kur to Music: Silo’s “Dance Monkey” Jett Scores PB
Canadian dressage rider Erin Silo put it all out there on the floor to the infectiously upbeat music featuring Tone and I’s “Dance Monkey” with her nine-year-old KWPN gelding Jett. The pair scored a win and a new personal best in the Intermediate I Freestyle.
Winning is becoming a habit for Silo and Jett at Thunderbird Show Park. In June, they scored a pair of personal bests at the Touch of Class CDI, winning both the Prix St. Georges and the Intermediate I. Sunday’s victory in the Freestyle completes their Small Tour trifecta.
Carol Robinson (CAN) and Lightfoot took second in the Freestyle on 70.090%. Amy Wellburn (CAN) and Dinamico TG finished third on 66.440%.
Text by Heather O'Hara, edited by Eurodressage
Related Links
Scores: 2023 CDI Langley
International Dressage Returns to Canadian Pacific Northwest Coast with 2023 CDI Langley