Monday, March 11, 2002

Betsy and Rainier Blows 'Em Away
at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby - page 1

The Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI****/CDIY was held March 1, 2 and 3 at The Horse Park at Equestrian Estates in Loxahatchee, Florida. Competitions included qualifying classes for the USET Grand Prix Championship and World Equestrian Games Selection Trials to be held at Gladstone in June. Thirty mile per hour winds on Friday and Saturday had horses and riders battling their way upwind, but despite weather that would give most mounts a day off, competitors showed an international panel of judges that WEG hopefuls can stand up to a challenge.

Betsy Steiner and Rainier won the Grand Prix on Saturday with a score of 71.24%. The pair also won the Grand Prix Special on Sunday with a 70.60%. They were awarded the High Point Grand Prix Trophy for the combined scores of their two CDI classes. Mary Anne and Walter McPhail, who hosted the show at their facility, presented the trophy. Shauna Baur awarded Steiner and Ranier the Gifted Memorial Trophy for their Grand Prix Special.

"I was shaking with excitement when I got the [Grand Prix] test back and found two 9s for two different piaffes," said Steiner. "Throughout his entire piaffe/passage in the Grand Prix he got 8s for the piaffe/passage transitions." According to Steiner, above and beyond the thrill of high scores and awards, she appreciated how her relationship with Rainier became more solid at this show. "This past weekend it felt to me like the beginning of a real partnership." She described the point in her Grand Prix test when she had to let go of the reins for the extended walk in wind that was bending the palm trees around the ring. She said she mentally asked Rainier how he would be " … and he said back to me, 'Come on, trust me, it's okay, you can believe in me.' And I did, and it was this wonderful bonding moment. Throughout the rest of the test, (he said) 'trust me', and I kept saying, 'ok you can trust me too'. There were moments when I felt like one with him … that kind of feeling, it's what you work your whole career for."