Laura Graves and Verdades
Wellington, Fla. — Feb. 24 2017 — It was Team USA who ruled the night in Adequan Global Dressage Festival’s Week 7 CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle sponsored by The Axel Johnson Group. Three bronze medalists from the 2016 United States Rio Olympic team swept the top three positions in the large Friday night competition. Laura Graves and her 15-year-old KWPN gelding claimed first place yet again with an 81.903 percent, followed by Kasey Perry-Glass and Steffen Peters.
“This horse does a fantastic job even when he’s hot and maybe a little spooky,” Graves said. “He never lets me down in there. He loves to go in–he gets really excited when he knows it’s about his turn and I love that about him.”
Despite feeling that Verdades was a little too hot for the freestyle, she was pleased with the test’s trot tour, in particular the passage half-pass into the trot half-pass, and felt improvements were made in difficult movements.
“This is now the second time I’ve tried the piaffe fan on our final centerline, and I think I was able to achieve a little more angle for difficulty,” Graves explained. “It feels nice to maybe have that under our belt.”
Laura Graves and Verdades
Fellow Team USA member Kasey Perry-Glass rode into second place on the 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Goerklintgaards Dublet with a 79.541 percent. Perry-Glass was thrilled with her mount’s performance in the ring, especially the entire piaffe and passage tour, and feels even more confident in his abilities.
“Debbie [McDonald] and I have been working tirelessly on his relaxation, and he proved it tonight,” Perry-Glass explained. “All of our hard work and dedication to that and his happiness in the ring — he just showed me tonight that he loves his job.”
Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet
Steffen Peters completed the top three of the night with Rosamunde, a 10-year-old Rheinlander mare, earning a 78.732 percent. He expressed how happy he was with “Rosie” in the freestyle, and feels confident that she will be ready for the World Cup in Omaha, Nebraska, if they are able to earn a spot.
“She did great,” Peters said. “She still had more energy than I was hoping for but it was controllable — what a good girl. She tried extremely hard, was so nice in the bridle and walked a little bit better, so nice steps ahead. We’ll just see what happens from here.”
Steffen Peters and Rosamunde
All three riders also reflected on how special it has been to compete together again after the 2016 Rio Olympics and earn the top three placings in the Grand Prix Freestyle.
“Its super fun to have everybody back here together,” Graves said. “We’re all out there riding for what we think are two spots for the World Cup, and yet it doesn’t affect our relationships outside of that. It’s just amazing to have friends that support you and you can still compete against each other and want the best for each other.”
“It’s always such great harmony in this team,” Peters explained. “What we did in Rio we’ll never forget. If we get a chance to do it again in the World Cup that would be awesome.”
Steffen Peters and Rosamunde
Only two spots in the North American League are guaranteed, however, Adequan Global Dressage Festival Director of Sport Thomas Baur gave hope that a third spot may be granted.
“From what we see now in the Western European League, I think that the chances are quite high to get an extra starting place for the North American League,” Baur explained. “That would be good for North America and Omaha. I really hope that is going to happen!”
Competition will resume on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 2:50 p.m. with the Grand Prix Special.
CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle Results
Rider/Country/Horse/Total Score
1.Laura Graves/USA/Verdades/81.903
2.Kasey Perry-Glass/USA/Goerklintgaards Dublet/79.541
3.Steffen Peters/USA/Rosamunde/78.732
4.Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven/SWE/Paridon Magi/76.918
5.Dawn White-O’Connor/USA/Legolas 92/76.291
6.Charlotte Jorst/USA/Kastel’s Nintendo/73.874
7.Jan Ebeling/USA/FRH Rassolini/73.779
8. P.J. Rizvi/USA/Breaking Dawn/72.855
9. Maria Florencia Manfredi/ARG/Bandurria Kacero/71.510
10.Jill Irving/CAN/Degas 12/69.796
11.Kelly Layne/AUS/Udon P/68.561
12.Jacqueline Brooks/CAN/D Niro/67.670
13.Devon Kane/USA/Destiny/66.431
14.Ellesse Tzinberg/PHI/Triviant 2/66.313
Laura Graves and Verdades
Laura Graves and Verdades
Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet
Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet
Steffen Peters and Rosamunde