Monday, February 21, 2005

High Scores and High Spirits at the Zada Enterprises, LLC Florida Dressage Classic

Heather Bender and Winwood Dance to the Beat

In the $1500 FEI Intermediaire Musical Freestyle the victor was Heather Bender riding her 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Winwood. Bender rode to an upbeat jazz medley that earned her the winning score of 73.792%. Coincidently, Bender, a former Californian, grew up with Leslie Morse. Just recently, Bender purchased Windridge Farm in Palm City and is now permanently settled in Florida. Despite this, her music is produced in Hollywood, California. “I do my own choreography with help from Carol Lavell and Michael Poulin,” Bender told us, “but Eric Birkales, a friend and professional musician from Hollywood, scores all my freestyles.”

Second in the Intermediaire Freestyle went to Karen Lipp who matched her music stride for stride riding Kayce Redmond’s Danish gelding, Lipton, for a score of 71.333%. Third place again went to Shannon Dueck, this time riding her eye-catching Dutch gelding, KRS Pegasus, to a score of 68.583%.

The USDF Freestyle winner was Olympian, Bent Jensen riding his stallion, Rockefeller to a 73.333% in a very fun and forward Fourth Level Freestyle. Jensen and Rockefeller had the judges nodding their heads to their lively music and it is easy to see why this pair has been cleaning up all season with their musical freestyle. Janne Rumbough and Gorron earned second place with a score of 65.208 %, followed by Hadley Tolliver and Daveed who finished third with a score of 64.722%.