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Saturday, June 16, 2007

Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

Elisabeth Austin and Olivier Hold the Lead in the Brenina Cup Even After Going Off Course

Gladstone, NJ – June 15th, the second day of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, got underway with the Brentina Cup. Organized for young adults and named for Debbie McDonald's World Cup Champion mare, the Brentina Cup is open to riders 21-25 years of age.

Performing the Intermediaire II test, the horses in the Brentina Cup are developing their skills for the highest level of dressage competition.The second horse of the day filled up the ring with plenty of presence and caught the eye of the judges taking the early lead. Manhattan, a 13-year-old KWPN nearly white gelding showed lots of maturity with rider Jodie Kelly to pick up a score of 63.122%

"My ride today was not what I hoped it would be," said Kelly. "It was a pretty clean test but he was a little up." Their lead held until the second rider after the break when a very exuberant Nimbus bounded down the center line with former event rider Nicholia Zamora and took command of the ring.

From Irvine, CA Zamora, riding the 12-year-old KWPN gelding for Diane Morley, made an impression in her first trip to the Festival. Despite a few moments of inattentiveness, Nimbus' lively composition and flashy gaits made up for a little distraction early on. They landed on a score of 66.00%

"It was an honor to even come down the center line here," said Zamora. "Such a journey to get to this spot. A lot of stars have to be aligned to even get to this spot especially traveling all the way from California. So just getting to go in the ring was amazing and getting to have a good test was just icing on the cake. He's so much fun to ride."

Two riders later Vermonter Elizabeth Austin, a winner last year in the Brentina Cup returned to the Championship and put in a beautiful effort with the lovely moving Olivier. The 11-year-old KWPN tried very hard and his ability and panache were well rewarded. Their score of 67.317% pushed them ahead of Zamora.

"I schooled him in the morning just to see what I had," said Austin. "He felt really quite good to me. He can be a bit hot but he came out today totally on the job so that was good. I was unbelievably happy with him but not so happy with myself. He really saved me in a couple of spots and I went off course. I was here last year you think I would know better. I was super, super proud of him in the piaffe and passage. Compared to last year he has really matured in that. Aside from my mistakes the work feels more secure."

Owned by Madeline Austin, the very flashy gelding is by Idocus who is also competing at the Festival. The 17-year-old stallion was second in the Grand Prix Special with Courtney King. "I got to ride my test (last week) for Courtney," said Austin. "It was amazing she gave me a few real good pointers and its fantastic, She said, 'Oh I know where he gets that from.' I've looked up to her since I was 15 years old. To be here with her is kind of surreal."