Tuesday July 13, 2004

Florencio and FBW French Kiss Win 2004 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses

Dorie Addy-Crow and Sir Sinclair Didn't Make the Cut

While Susanne Hassler shone at the Championships in Verden, there was mainly disappointment for the other American competitor, Dorie Addy-Crow. Aboard the KWPN stallion Sir Sinclair (Lord Sinclair x Flemmingh), Addy-Crow finished 21st out of 42 competitors in the first round. Though Sir Sinclair scored well on his gaits (trot 8.2, walk 8.0, and canter 7.5), the general submissiveness of the horse was not there during the ride.

In the first round Sir Sinclair showed off his very rhythmical movements, but he was leaning too much on the rider's hands and was not electric to the aids. "He was warmed up too long and simply wasn't there for Dorie in the test," trainer Belinda Nairn-Wertman said.

Knowing that Sir Sinclair, who is owned by Iron Spring Farm, has all the qualities to be a Finals' horse, Dorie Addy-Crow was very hopeful to finish in the top three of the consolation finals and qualify for the finals that way. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

In the consolation round the combination scored 7.32 and placed fifteenth. "We don't understand this and are very disappointed," Bill Wertman said. "The horse went so much better today and we were sure he would finish in the top three." Belinda Wertman added, "for 20 seconds we were so happy, until we saw the scores. I can't understand it."

It was hard for Camp Wertman-Crow to see the positive in the whole World Championship experience after a disappointing 15th place in the consolation final. "Mary Alice invested so much to bring this horse over here. It's not right to be so unfairly judged after all the time and money you have put into getting here," Bill Wertman said in frustration.

Sir Sinclair definitely has three very strong gaits. Hopefully next year he'll qualify again for the championship and prove the judges wrong!