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Sunday, February 17, 2008

Wellington Classic Spring Challenge Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm

Shawna Harding Has All-Around Good Day at Wellington Classic Spring Challenge

Shawna Harding is now clearly in the running for the $5,000 prize because in addition to this weekend’s win, she and Come On III won at the Jan. 12-13 Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge competition. That now gives them wins at two of the three shows they need for the Challenge of Champions prize. Harding said she and Come On III, an eight-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Come Back II, are ready to face the third challenge, which will be the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II on March 8-9.

"The pressure is on and I like it," she said. Harding was definitely pleased with her winning ride. Her problem area was the voltes, but his lateral work received many 8s. "And he didn’t stand for the entrance, yet again, so we got a 6 for that," she said. "In the medium trot he was a little bit rushed. I felt there wasn’t enough energy in extension so pushed too much in medium. But, he got a 9 for his halt and salute. He’s always good about that. And 8s on his trot half passes."

For Harding, opening day of the Wellington Classic was was just a really good day. She brought along to the show a new addition to her barn, Richman, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion by Mantovani, that just arrived from Europe. "He’s fresh out of quarantine," Harding said. The stallion is owned by Kathleen Broughan. He didn’t compete, but rather, Harding used the show as an opportunity to school him in the show environemnt.  

With Rigo, a six-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Rotspon and owned by Tonya Rowe, she earned a 72.093 percent in Second Level Test 3. Harding also used the show as an opportunity to get some show grounds experience for her four-year-old Contreau, a Danish Warmblood gelding by Kanudos XX out of Tarifa. "He’s only been under saddle for four months. This is his first show experience. It was a really good atmosphere to get him out and have him around a lot of horses but in a controlled environment."

Petersen, who rides for Denmark, had his Grand Prix win with Succes. Petersen and the 12-year-old Danish Warmblood by Blue Hors Silvermoon out of Wapeti were actually late entries. But what an entrance they made. Their winning score was a 77.917 percent in the FEI Grand Prix de Dresage Open GAIG/USDF qualifying class. There was quite a gap between that score and the second place score of 70.417 percent, earned by Christopher Hickey and his Pan American Gold Medal mount, Regent. Michael Barisone and Neruda were third with a score of 68.125 percent.

Petersen’s winning score was also the high score of the day. Although, very close to it was that of Debra Hill and River Side Lady. They earned a 77.60 percent in the FEI Test for 5-Year-Old horses. And right behind them were Dorie Addy-Crow and Rissa with a score of 75.652 percent for their Training Level Test 1 win.

Saturday's Results