DressageDaily:

Sunday, March 18, 2001

WEF Dressage Classic: Extrem and Impressario Do the Grand Prix

Humbertus Schmidt and Suzanne Ericsson's Extrem

Suzanne Ericsson's Extrem, a 12-year-old Danish gelding ridden by Hubertus Schmidt, won the Grand Prix Freestyle with 69.38%. They also placed third in the Grand Prix de Dressage with a 62.93%. Schmidt flew in from Germany and had a few days to ride before the show, but said, "It was difficult that I only had three days before the show to prepare him," said Schmidt. "In Germany we would have had scores in the seventies. I can't say that we should have had higher scores today, because we didn't have the preparation."

Schmidt , from a small town near Warendorf, has been coming to America to train Ericsson, and showed Extrem for her this weekend. He also showed the horse at the last Zada show, winning his class then as well. Schmidt rode Extrem for four years, taking him from training level to Grand Prix, and the pair won numerous big shows in Germany. Extrem came to America last October and Ericsson has been riding him since then, with Schmidt showing him to give him some experience in America. In March Ericsson and her horses will move to Virginia.

Lynda Alicki-Gilchrist of Wellington rode Impressario, an impressive dark brown KWPN gelding by Darwin out of Elina, to win the Grand Prix with 67% and place third in the GP Freestyle. The pair have had a successful season, winning the USET Grand Prix qualifier at the last Zada show with a 63%.

Text by Amber Heintzberger for Dressagedaily.com

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