Friday February 18, 2005

Top Riders Prevail on Day One of the Zada Enterprises, LLC Florida Dressage Classic

A Perfect 3 for 3 for Ashley Holzer

Ashley Holzer and Pop Art won the $1000 Open Prix St. Georges earlier in the day with a score of 67.375%, making her Wellington show record a perfect 3 for 3. She has won one or more of the FEI classes at all three of the major Dressage Shows held at the show grounds this season. We’ll continue to track her success story over the next three show days. Second to Holzer, was fellow Canadian, Julia Vysniauskas on Papillion with a score of 64.625%. Third was Mirja Block on Prince Charming with a score of 64.250%.

The $1000 AA YR Prix St. Georges brought both victory and heartache. During his impressive warm-up, Trae LaPorte riding Royal Midnight gave us the heads up that he was going to win the class. And he looked posed to do so as he entered confidently and saluted the judges from a perfectly square halt. But as he started his medium trot down the diagonal his horse appeared to take a misstep which quickly turned into an acute lameness. LaPorte pulled up and excused himself and took the horse home to meet with the veterinarian. This left Ariane Dierkes score of 64.917% unchallenged and she took the blue. Megan McKoy and Cavalier were second with a 62.333% and Amy Bradley and Gillian finished third with a 61.417%.