Sunday, March 20, 2005

Zada Enterprises, LLC WEF Dressage Classic, CDI
Saturday March 19, 2005

Michelle Gibson and Lex Barker Top Competitive Field in the CDI Prix St Georges

Thursday’s sloppy wet weather was a distant memory as the sun shone brightly for day three, Saturday March 19, of the Zada Enterprises, LLC WEF Dressage Classic CDI. The drama was high in the intensely competitive $1000 Intermediaire-I that ran from mid-morning throughout the day in Ring 1. The victor was Olympian, Michelle Gibson riding Elite European Sport Horse, Inc.’s, Lex Barker. This was only Gibson and Lex Barker’s fifth Intermediaire-I class and they looked stronger and more confident than ever as they circled the arena.

Despite a few mistakes in the ride, the judges were in agreement that Gibson and Lex Barker deserved big rewards for their effort. Their combined score of 71.300% put them at the top of the leader board, where they remained unchallenged. Preparing for her victory gallop in the awards ceremony, Gibson had this to say about Lex Barker, “He’s a star. This is his first year on the small tour and I couldn’t ask for anything more of him!” Gibson has her sights set on Gladstone for the Intermediaire Championships in June with the big gelding and at this point dressage followers would be surprised not to see them there this summer.

Second in the class was yesterday’s Prix St. Georges winner, Ashley Holzer and her amazing, Pop Art with a score of 70.650%. Third place was bittersweet for good-natured Michael Shondel riding Wallaby. The pair put in a spectacular performance, and would have had the winning score had they not lost 2 points when they went off course in the walk work. The deduction cost them and they ended up in third place with a score of 70.400%. Shondel took the error in stride and said with humor, “I simply don’t know the alphabet”.