Laura Graves and Verdades Dance to Another Win in CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle

© Annan Hepner: Laura Graves and VerdadesLaura Graves and Verdades

Wellington, Fla. — Feb. 10, 2016 — U.S. Olympic bronze medalist Laura Graves and Verdades, her 15-year-old KWPN gelding, took the victory in Friday night’s CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle during Adequan Global Dressage Festival’s Week 5 sponsored by Diamante Farms. The pair earned a total score of 82 percent with their exciting freestyle performance under the stadium lights and won $36,400 in prize money.

“He was great — he really feeds off the atmosphere and he’s a high sensitivity horse,” Graves explained. “He never lets me down. We tried a couple of new things [in the freestyle]. We had a stumble in the two’s which was unfortunate going in, but we tried a little bit of a new piaffe fan at the end and it’s just about getting comfortable.”

Graves aims to qualify Verdades for the FEI World Cup in Omaha and she is utilizing the competitions during the Wellington season to prepare properly. The pair is scheduled to compete in the next CDI-W competition of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival at the end of February.

© Annan Hepner: Laura Graves and VerdadesLaura Graves and Verdades

“We’re preparing for World Cup and we don’t have an indoor environment to do that,” Graves explained. “But we have this awesome Adequan Global Dressage Festival that we can pack on Friday nights and still get a huge atmosphere for our horses to practice in. It’s a very lucky thing we have here.”

“It’s not so much a difference in him [due to the environment] but it is me learning to cope with those differences and learning that every time he’s a little different that I have another tool in my bag to handle it and ride better,” Graves continued. “And thanks to my awesome coach Debbie McDonald who says, ‘Hey you know what? That’s what you’ve got so you have to learn to ride it!’ She’s tough on me when I need it that’s for sure.”

© Annan Hepner: Laura Graves and VerdadesLaura Graves and Verdades

Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven of Sweden and the 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding Paridon Magi earned a total score of 77.450 percent, landing them in second place for the night.

“I was much more pleased today than yesterday with the feeling of Paridon Magi,” Vilhelmson Silfven said. “He had a super warm up and I never had that great of a feeling on him. I think when you get in this arena and atmosphere, it’s just fun to ride and it brings everybody up — Overall in my view, I’m very pleased.”

© Annan Hepner: Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven and Paridon MagiTinne Vilhelmson Silfven and Paridon Magi

American rider Steffen Peters and 10-year-old Rheinlander mare Rosamunde rounded out the top three with a 77.325 percent with music mixed from Ravel’s freestyle. Peters was thrilled with his ride on Rosamunde, and explained that his confidence in the mare is growing after her stellar performance in the packed stadium.

“I had my doubts after the Grand Prix if she could handle an atmosphere like she would have to at the World Cup,” Peters said. “Tonight she really proved that she might be ready if she qualifies, so I’m stoked.”

© Annan Hepner: Steffen Peters and RosamundeSteffen Peters and Rosamunde

FEI Judge Gary Rockwell agreed that the positive atmosphere of the venue made the night a special one. “I thought this freestyle was fun because it was a variety of music,” he explained. “I think everybody had a good performance and was happy, so we enjoyed judging it. When the horses are good, the quality is good and the judging is easy — It was fun for us.”

CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle Results
Rider/Country/Horse/Total Score
1. Laura Graves/USA/Verdades/82.000
2. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven/SWE/Paridon Magi/77.450
3. Steffen Peters/USA/Rosamunde/77.325
4. Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu/CAN/All In/70.550
5. Jan Ebeling/USA/FRH Rassolini/70.375
6. Jacqueline Brooks/CAN/D Niro/70.200
7. Jill Irving/CAN/Degas 12/69.825

© Annan Hepner: Laura Graves and VerdadesLaura Graves and Verdades

© Annan Hepner: Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven and Paridon Magi
Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven and Paridon Magi

© Annan Hepner: Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven and Paridon Magi
Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven and Paridon Magi

© Annan Hepner: Steffen Peters and Rosamunde
Steffen Peters and Rosamunde

© Annan Hepner: Steffen Peters and Rosamunde
Steffen Peters and Rosamunde

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