Friday January 24, 2003

Dressage In Florida Kicks Off 2003 Season

With Wellington’s Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club as its hub, the dressage community in Florida continues to expand in numbers and depth, marked this year by more international caliber competitions, clinics, and symposiums than ever before, as well as an ever-broadening base of riders, trainers, and fans who come from around the globe to participate in the Winter Equestrian Festival and events at the Horse Park at Equestrian Estates.

Starting off the season January 11-12, the Palm Beach Dressage Derby Series held The Derby Series Kickoff at the Horse Park at Equestrian Estates in Loxahatchee. Olympian Carol Lavell on her Much Ado topped the Prix St. Georges class on Saturday with a 67%. On Sunday, Olympian and World Equestrian Games Team Silver Medalist Sue Blinks and Flim Flam performed a Grand Prix Freestyle that earned 75%.

After a five-day break, dressage competition continued January 17-19, at Gold Coast Dressage Association’s Gold Coast Opener Festival, a CDI (Concours de Dressage Internationale) at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club. On Friday, Denmark’s Lars Peterson, who topped international Grand Prix competitions aboard Blue Hors Cavan and now resides in the US, rode Dansko’s Success to win the FEI Prix St. George B Open/Qualifier scoring 71.250%.

Another international star now residing in the US, Dr. Cesar Parra of Columbia, won the CDI Prix St Georges with 71% on Pik-L, with Cathy Morelli on Be Se’ ahead of Parra in the Intermediare I with a 70.167%. Sunday has become freestyle day at PBPEC, and kurs were performed from First through Fourth Level and in the FEI classes at Intermediaire I and Grand Prix.