2002 Wellington Dressage

Susan Dutta and Gumshoes off to Freestlye Championships

At the Gold Coast Opener two weeks ago at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, Dutta won the Grand Prix with Gumshoes, scoring 69.94%. "I didn't show in the Grand Prix at this show because I had done that one. I’m going to go all the way out to California for the Freestyle Championships; I leave February 14, and I don't want to put unnecessary mileage on my horse. I love that horse and I want him to last as long as possible." Dutta has owned the 11-year old gelding for five years. "I made the horse myself. He was a jumper. We bought him from Sam Edelman, a dear friend of ours. We took him as a sales horse and then I ended up really loving him, so I kept him."

Noting that the Grand Prix classes at this show had featured several rides in the 70 percentile, Dutta said of her Grand Prix freestyle, "I’m well aware that 68% in the freestyle is not high enough. That's why we're going to meet in a half an hour to figure out how I can get more points." After the Freestyle Championship in California, Dutta plans to return to the Florida circuit to qualify both horses for the Festival of Champions at Gladstone in June.

Mary Hilton for dressagedaily.com

Freestyle Championships Feb 23-24
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