They say practice makes perfect. If so, then Elisabeth Austin and Olivier practiced their Grand Prix freestyle perfectly the first time because they never had a second. Fresh off their Brentina Cup victory, Austin and Olivier were the big winners in the CDI Grand Prix Freestyle at the Centerline Events CDI-W, held at the HITS-on-the-Hudson show grounds in Saugerties, New York.

Not a bad showing considering it was the first time they’d performed their freestyle in competition and only the second time they’re ridden it. “I’ve never done a freestyle with him before and we only practiced this one once. It was just so much fun,” Austin said.

Also taking a blue ribbon their first time out were Courtney King and Mythilus, winners of the CDI Grand Prix Special.

“It’s the first time he’s done the Special,” King said of the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Ferro that is owned by Richard Malloch. “It was so good to get that first Special out of the way. I think the judging at this show as been very strict. There’s an international, top-level panel so to get a 68 percent the first time out from that panel was a huge achievement. I was really happy and I know there are plenty of more points in there.”

The pair’s winning score was 68.560. Right on their heels in second was Jane Hannigan and the very handsome Maksymilian with a score of 65.680. King and Mythilus spent much of the winter season collecting blue ribbons at the Intermediaire level on the Florida circuit. The pair did their first Grand Prix just two weeks ago at the Windy Hollow Hung Dressage in New Jersey. They competed in Friday’s CDI Grand Prix but their efforts were thwarted by a bug.

“In the Grand Prix he had this huge horse fly attacking him and got totally fried,” King said. “So it was nice that coming into the Special he had this renewed confidence.”