Monday November 8, 2004

Dressage Night’s Continental Cup At Metropolitan National Horse Show

Cynthia Payne, High Scorer at Grand Prix

Individual ribbons were also awarded to the riders based on their individual scores. Cynthia Payne was the high score at Grand Prix. Gabriel Armando was the top scorer at Intermediaire I. Chelsea Allen won the blue for First Level (the tie with Isabelle Leibler was broken on the technical score).

“What I loved about my performance was that Laredo really rises to occasions like this,” said Cynthia Payne who rode to powerful orchestra music. “He really enjoys the spotlight and I love that. He gives 200% every time out and tonight was another 200% night. I’m very proud of him.”

The duo has been together for four years and came up through the ranks together from Fourth Level. They trained with Dutch Olympian Anky Van Grunsven and later with Bert Rutten, the coach of the Dutch Olympic Team. This was Payne’s first experience with the National Horse Show. “This has been a real treat. It’s a privilege to do this for a living and a privilege to be in such a great horse show,” she said.