Saturday April 2, 2005

Olympians Win at Festival of the Horse CDI***-W

By Charlene Strickland

Five Olympic riders took the top three places in the first CDI classes of the Festival of the Horse. With a large contingent of Canadians competing at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, two Olympians placed first and third in the CDI Grand Prix.

Leslie Reid and Mark won the Grand Prix (68.667). First to go in the class of six horses, Mark showed his suppleness and power.

About the Dutch gelding's continued improvement at this level, Reid said she was working on “Just strengthening him. Basically he knows how to do the test, so it's making everything stronger and more expressive.”

Their test was marred with a single transition error, which Reid termed as a “miscommunication.” She'd been working on the walk to passage transition, to make it less flat. “I didn't think he was as fresh as he was. I went to prepare him for that one walk-passage transition at H, and he jumped in the air and scared himself.” Two of the judges scored Mark at 70, giving him good marks for his lightness and willingness.

Earning second place was Steffen Peters on Lombardi II (66.75). And in third was Evi Strasser, on Quantum Tyme, with 64.50. Both Peters and Strasser are German-born, with Peters based in San Diego, California, and Strasser in Quebec.