U.S. Dressage Team Earns Gold at FEI Nations Cup™ CDIO5* Rotterdam

Rotterdam, Netherlands – June 24, 2017 – In a tightly contested competition against seven countries, the United States Dressage Team won the fourth leg of the Nations Cup series at the CDIO5* in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Comprised of Laura Graves, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, Kasey Perry-Glass, Dawn White-O’Connor, and led by Chef D’Equipe, Robert Dover, the team finished strong. Based on the best three scores from the Grand Prix, the best two scores from the Grand Prix Special, and the best score from the Grand Prix Freestyle, the U.S. team won the Nations Cup gold over the Swedish and German teams with 446.442 points.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

On Thursday, the U.S. jumped to the lead in the overall standings after Laura Graves and her 15-year-old KWPN gelding Verdades won the Grand Prix with a 79.46 percent. The Netherlands’ Madeleine Witte-Vrees came in second aboard 10-year-old KWPN stallion Cennin with a 75.66 percent. Fellow American, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, rounded out the top three with a personal best of 74.58 percent on Lonoir, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Kasey Perry-Glass earned a 71.56 percent in the Grand Prix on Goerklintgaards Dublet, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. The fourth member of the team, Dawn White-O’Connor on 15-year-old Westphalian gelding Legolas 92, was eliminated due to unevenness.
On the final day of the Nations Cup in Rotterdam, LaGoy-Weltz and Lonoir finished in eighth in the Grand Prix Special with a score of 68.078 percent, and Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet placed third with a 71.784 percent. Graves competed Verdades in the Grand Prix Freestyle and the pair won with an 80.98 percent.

“I am once again so proud of our Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team for winning a major Nations Cup here in Rotterdam, “ said Dover. “This is a year of building depth in our team by introducing many fresh, new combinations, mixed with our fantastic veterans. I am looking forward to the rest of the season and applaud all of our athletes showing in Europe. I want to thank them, their personal trainers, owners, sponsors, the best grooms, USEF, the USET Foundation, Dr. Russillo, Andy Thomas, Tom Meyers, Hallye Griffin, and especially our fabulous and beloved horses. Go Team USA!”

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