United States “A” Team Takes the Lead in CDIO U25 Nations Cup FEI Intermediate II 16-25

CDIO U25 Nations Cup Teams

CDIO U25 Nations Cup Teams

Wellington, Fla. – March 22, 2017 – The first CDIO U25 Nations Cup class held in North America kicked off Wednesday morning with the CDIO U25 FEI Intermediate II 16-25* class as part of the CDIO3* and CDI3* presented by Stillpoint Farm. The United States Team A took the win on the first day with a score of 137.763, followed by the United States Team B with 134.315 and Canada’s U25 team with 132.079.

Juan Matute Jr. of Spain and Don Diego Ymas, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding, clinched the highest percentage of the class as an individual with a score of 71.026 percent. Matute Guimon was pleased with his mount’s performance and the overall feel of his test this morning.

Juan Matute Guimon and Don Diego Ymas
Juan Matute Guimon and Don Diego Ymas

“It wasn’t necessarily a single movement — I think the attitude of the entire test was very energetic, and we were really riding for the points,” Matute explained. “Our goal is to work on better contact and more activity in the hind legs for the passage and piaffe.

“I think that overall we had a pretty good test,” Matute Guimon continued. “The judges’ scores were pretty even so that’s always a good sign. The changes were nice and uphill and we made no mistakes. It was a mistake free test that can of course be improved, but I was quite pleased.”

He was also thrilled to be able to take part in the first CDIO U25 Nations Cup in North America, and believes it is a great start to creating more international competition opportunities for U25 riders.

“I think it’s amazing,” Matute Guimon said. “It’s a great idea. It’s a pity there wasn’t more of a variety of teams, but I think the initiative is outstanding and I hope they keep doing this. I’m very happy and thankful for all the sponsors and organizers to put this together and hopefully they keep doing this every year.

Kerrigan Gluch and HGF Brio
Kerrigan Gluch and HGF Brio

The riders who comprised the winning United States Team A expressed the same sentiments about the new expansion. Kerrigan Gluch, 20, explained that this is her second experience riding on a team, and she earned a 62.158 percent on the 12-year-old Andalusian stallion, HGF Brio.

“It’s amazing,” Gluch explained. “You have people your own age supporting you and riding with you, which is a really good thing in the dressage world. It’s cool to be able to be on a team that has the exact same goals and aspirations as you.”

Anna Buffini, Sundayboy
Anna Buffini and Sundayboy

Anna Buffini, 22, has also loved the experience of being surrounded by like-minded teammates for her first Nations Cup. She earned the second highest score of the class with Sundayboy, her own 18-year-old KWPN Oldenburg gelding, with 70.5 percent.

“This is my first team experience,” Buffini said. “One of the main reasons we came out to Wellington was to do Nations Cup, so we set a goal to come here. My dad always says, ‘A goal is a dream with a deadline,’ so we set this goal and achieved that dream today. It’s like nothing else!”

The second day of CDIO U25 competition will begin Thursday, March 23 at 2:35 p.m. with the CDIO U25 FEI Grand Prix 16-25.

CDIO U25 Intermediate II Results

1. United States Team A
Anna Buffini/Sundayboy/70.5
Sean Sierra Keasler/Lux Stensvang/67.263
Kerrigan Gluch/HGF Brio/62.158
Total: 137.763

2. United States Team B
Kaitlin Blythe/Don Principe/68.026
Molly Paris/Countess/66.237
Genay Vaughn/Donarweiss GGF/66.289
Total: 134.315

3.Team Canada
Tanya Strasser-Shostak/Action Tyme/64.579
Mathilde Blais Tetreault/Utah/67.5
Total: 132.079

4. Individual
Juan Matute Guimon/ESP/Don Diego Ymas/71.026

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