Sunday, April 3, 2005

World Cup League Finals at the Festival of the Horse CDI***-W
Text and photos by Charlene Strickland

Brentina Returns to Competition

Burbank, California, April 2, 2005. The Olympic arena was the last place she competed—and Brentina pleased her fans in her return to showing. The popular pair of Brentina and Debbie McDonald won the FEI Grand Prix, the first phase of the World Cup League Final (73.208).

The chestnut mare performed a reliable test, and she looked like the Brentina who's won so many times in the arena at the L.A. Equestrian Center. Both her performance and condition were excellent.

“She showed me she's in good, fit form. She feels really strong,” said McDonald. She added, “It was a hard year last year with the injury. Everything is good right now. She feels just as good as ever.”

Responding to a question about riding a cautious test, McDonald said, “She feels quite powerful enough under me.”

And for Sunday's Freestyle, she promised a show, that will “rock the audience. It should be fun,” she said about the music and choreography of her new freestyle.

Nine horses competed, including two Californians on the 2004 Olympic team, Guenter Seidel and Steffen Peters. Both Seidel and Morse rode two horses.