DressageDaily: Lisa Wilcox and Relevant

Sunday, June 30, 2002

Lisa Wilcox and Relevant Fourth In Aachen Grand Prix Freestyle

For Lisa Wilcox and the Oldenburg stallion Relevant (by Rubinstein) Aachen was to be an important part of their USET selection trial, and an important test of nerves and talent. "I must admit, I am glad it's over," she said, after her fourth place finish in the Grand Prix Freestyle, behind Germany's Nadine Cappelmann and Farbenfroh, Ulla Salzgeber and Rusty and Spain's Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and Beauvais. "This is Aachen, and there is nothing like it, no other competition can compare."

It wasn't an easy week, as Relevant, who was trying so hard to please, became a bit overwhelmed in the piaffe work. During the Grand Prix, Wilcox attributed his confusion to their work on the Freestyle. "He has a long piaffe-passage movement in the freestyle, in the very spot we perform it in the Grand Prix, and he was anticipating that.

"After it happened again, during the Grand Prix Special, in what was otherwise a beautiful test, Wilcox knew what her strategy would be on Sunday.

"The arena just reved him up, so instead of going into the arena with an extended trot, we walked, and I could feel him breathe!" 'OK, I trust you now' he seemed to say." The strategy worked and the lovely pair performed the test the judges were waiting to reward, with a 78.72. With one more competition to go, the scores will be reviewed and the final selection of the USET Dressage Team for The World Equestrian Games will be determined. American Guenter Seidel and Nikolaus 7 finished eighth with a 75.41