Sunday, March 5, 2006

Caroline Roffman and Bulgari 5 Claim Double Victory in FEI Young Riders at Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI***/CDIY

Caroline Roffman, 17, of Wellington, Florida, riding her Bulgari 5 claimed two victories in two days of FEI Young Rider competition at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI***/CDIY in Loxahatchee, Florida. Roffman won the FEI Young Rider Team Test yesterday (March 3) with a score of 67.185% and came back today to win the FEI Young Rider Prix St. Georges with a score of 65.167%. Roffman also rode her gray gelding Rigaudon to fifth place both days in the FEI Young Rider classes, scoring 61.481% in the Team Test and 61.917% in the Prix St. Georges. Roffman is aiming to qualify both horses for the 2006 North American Young Riders Championships (NAYRC). The awards ceremony for both classes was held today, with riders receiving ribbons to sixth place.

Roffmann, a senior in high school, has been riding for nine years and has been in training with Silke Rembacz for the past five years. She competed as a Junior for two years and moved up to Young Riders this year. The Palm Beach Dressage Derby is her second show at the new level.

Roffman has had the ride on Bulgari 5, a Hannoverian gelding by Baryshnikov, for two years. Assessing her win in the Young Riders Team Test, Roffman said, “He’s a very electric horse and the last couple of shows we’ve been battling that a little bit. I was really happy with this show because he was really ride-able and it was a very consistent and steady test. The issues that have been going on seem to have gone away.”

The judges awarded the duo 8s in both the rider and gaits categories. Roffman stated that the test was the best yet in her Young Rider career. “He had really nice extended trots, not necessarily easy to ride because he gets so huge and he loses his rhythm a little bit, but basically the extended trots were good. The extended canters were good, the canter half passes, and the walk work were good – I was really happy with him!” she enthused.

Following Roffman’s first place in the Team Test was Leah Wilson aboard Amusanat who scored 65.037% for second. Jocelyn Wiese riding Lamborghini earned 64.148% for third. Kayce Redmond and Cheval 5 received 62.148% for fourth. Roffman and her Rigaudon were fifth with 61.481%. Laura Noyes and Syncro earned 61.259% for sixth.