Sunday, April 3, 2005

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

Seidel and Morse Finish Second, Third, and Fourth

The U.S. could have as many as four slots for the World Cup, with USEF applying for two wild card entries (for McDonald and Robert Dover). Seidel and Morse showed their top horses, aiming to compete in Las Vegas later this month.

Second to ride, Seidel scored 69.625 on Aragon. “I can rely on the piaffe and passage,” said Seidel about the gray Bavarian. Aragon held the lead in the class until Brentina's test.

Morse was third on Tip Top (69.292) and fourth on Kingston (69.250). “Tip Top is a wonderful horse,” she said. “He tries very, very hard. He finds it interesting to use his body, and I can count on him.”

She added that she matches the stallion's movement well, where Kingston is more of “a struggle. He is my nemesis. They show different aspects of who they are in the Freestyle.”

Steffen Peters and Floriano weren't far behind in the scores, ending in fifth place with 68.833. And right behind him was Carol Plough on Komo (67.667).

The Grand Prix placings don't affect the final rankings for the U.S. League Finals for the World Cup. Sunday's Freestyle will determine which U.S. riders do go to Las Vegas.