Canada’s Mathilde Blais Tétreault Brings Home the Win in the CDIO U25 Nations Cup

Wellington, Fla. – March 23, 2017 – Canada’s Mathilde Blais Tétreault and her own Utah, a 16-year-old KWPN gelding, topped the field on Thursday afternoon to win the CDIO U25 Nations Cup with a score of 68.279 percent in the Grand Prix 16-25 test. She was thrilled with her win as she and Utah are a new combination having only been together for about four months. The pair improved on their Intermediate II score, which was a 67.5 percent, from the previous day during the team competition.

“It’s a great feeling to win!” Tétreault said. “I didn’t really expect it coming here because my horse and I are such a new combination. I’m really happy that we have progressed so fast.”

Stormy weather caused issues for some competitors but Tétreault was happy with how Utah handled the conditions.

“I was a little bit nervous because my horse does not like the rain,” she said. “Usually something splashes on his face and it’s over. But he was pretty good with it today.”

The second place spot went to Anna Buffini and her 18-year-old Sundayboy, her own 18-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, with a score of 68.093 percent. This week’s Nations Cup competition will be the final show for the gelding before he retires.

“It’s always a blessing to be able to come out here and compete against such amazing competitors,” Buffini said. “I didn’t quite ride my best today but I was so proud Sundayboy backed me up and was able to come out with second place.”

Rounding out the top three was Molly Paris and her own Countess, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, with a score of 65.721 percent.

“Today was, awesome — my mare is fantastic,” Paris said. “She comes out everyday one hundred percent willing to do it all. I’ve only had her for a year and we’ve just been getting better and better everyday and I couldn’t be happier with her.”

One of the judges Dr. Evi Eisenhardt was impressed with the caliber of the competitors in the U25 Nations Cup.

“I was astonished by the quality of the rides,” she said. “The three riders at the top were those who who did the best piaffe and passage. There were some small mistakes but I think it was a really high level. I was judging last year at the U25 level in Europe and I think this was very close.”

Nations Cup competition will continue on Friday with the CDIO U25 Grand Prix Freestyle.

CDIO U25 Nations Cup
Rider/Country/Horse/Total Score