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June 20, 2007

Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

Young Riders Have Their Time to Shine at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

Austin Repeats in Brentina Cup

Elisabeth Austin and Olivier left no question that they were dominant in the Brentina Cup division scoring straight 7s and 8s throughout the test barring the pirouettes where the marks dropped off slightly. The 11-year-old KWPN stallion followed in his father's (Idocus – who won the Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday) footsteps and put in another stellar performance. Overall their score of 69.3% was much the best of the division and they were the champions for the second year in a row.

"I really wanted to do the Grand Prix here," said Austin. "But at the first qualifier he didn't feel totally secure. He felt a little tentative. The thing about him is that if he's confident I know he can answer any question."

The decision paid off and Austin rode her mother's horse confidently on Sunday.

"I wanted to ride well," she said. "I didn't ride well on Friday. I watched the video to see where I was giving away points. The piaffe and passage on him is the most fun thing I've ever ridden."

Austin was fortunate to travel to Germany last year after her Brentina Cup win and train with the US Team Coach Klaus Balkenhol. She hopes to repeat the experience this year. She plans on returning to the Grand Prix with an eye on the World Cup qualifier at the Saugerties CDI. "I know he's special," said Austin about Olivier. "He will be as good as I can make him."

Nicholia Zamora and Nimbus put in another expressive performance going last in the Brentina Cup and maintained their overall second place standing despite a third place finish in the second round. The 12-year-old KWPN gelding picked up lots of 7s throughout his test, performed very solid pirouettes and a good piaffe early in the test. Nimbus made a mistake in the one tempi changes and in the final centerline to keep his marks down from the standard of day one. He and Zamora ended on 63.949% on Sunday for a two day score 64.9%.

"So many things had to go right in order to get here and so many generous people helped me to raise the money," said Zamora. "It cost $4900 each way to fly him."

Zamora, from Irvine, CA had a fundraiser sponsored by Ketel One Vodka and a silent auction to help fund the trip for her owner Diane Morey. They were both determined to make it happen and Zamora made the trip worthwhile. "I'm so honored to be here," said Zamora of her owner. "I'm very grateful to have her generosity behind me."

Jodie Kelly and Manhattan remained third overall despite splitting the top two on the day. Mostly picking up 6s and 7s, they improved their score by more than a point from Friday. Overall their score of 63.6% was good enough to hold their spot.