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Saturday, June 16, 2007

Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

Bonnie Efird and Maggie Noir Best of the Juniors

The Juniors followed the Brentina Cup riders onto the stage in Gladstone and put forth consistent efforts throughout the division with lots of quality performances. Bonnie Efird, from Waxhaw, NC and Magie Noir ended up best of the bunch. Barring a mistake in a pirouette and a wobbly final centerline, the 13-year-old KWPN mare showed lots of class, good engagement and excellent flying changes. They were rewarded with a score of 65.4%.

"My goal was to just get here," said a smiling Efird. "I just bought this mare in October and I've been working on the Junior test with her. I plan on keeping her for awhile. I didn't think that it was my strongest ride I've ever had. Overall it was solid and I'm proud of her no matter what. I had a little trouble in the walk pirouettes and in the canter depart which are not things I usually have problems with."

Two horses later another mare gave Magie Noir a run for her money. Ghita carried Taryn Briones into the ring and put in a valiant effort. The adorable 9-year-old Hanoverian mare picked up a 10 in one of the half passes and exemplified very solid flying changes. All the way from Snohomish, WA , Briones made the trip worth it with her very polished performance slipping in just behind Efird with a score of 63.1%.

"I was happy with it," said Briones. "All the bobbles that happened were my fault. That always happen. I got done and could think that it was a good ride and I was happy with it and hope we just improve on Sunday. She's a good mare. I'm happy where she is right now."

Lora Kay Witterstaeter and Weltkaar, third in the ring held on for third. The 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding put in a very steady and consistent effort to score 64.6%.Witterstaeter has ridden at Jodie Kelly's barn since she was 5 years old and Weltkaar is a hand-me down horse from her coach. "He's really big so it's hard to keep him pizzazy throughout his test, but it was fun," said Witterstaeter.The Junior competition concludes on Sunday and each day accounts for 50% of the score.