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Tuesday, May 13, 2007

On the Road to California: Lisa Wilcox and Naomi
By Lynndee Kemmet for DressageDaily.com

Lisa Wilcox and Naomi: A Relatively New Relationship

Lisa Wilcox and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare hooked up in May 2007. The 16.2-hand mare, sired by Zeoliet and with some Thoroughbred blood from Bold Runner on her mother's side, is owned by Janet Bell and Tom Benson. Wilcox already knew last summer that the mare was special and took her off to Europe in the fall to train with Ernst Hoyos and to compete. The goal of that trip was to prepare Naomi for a run for the 2008 Olympic Dressage Team. It was a successful trip with Naomi among the top 10 finishers at such competitive shows as the CDI-W in Odense, Denmark, where the pair was the top-placed Americans in the Grand Prix competition, and at the Oldenburg CDI.

Once back from Europe, Wilcox and Naomi continued their success on the Florida circuit, collecting some blue ribbons and watching their scores climb into the 70s. Wilcox has clearly been impressed with her partner calling her "phenomenal. She has an immense amount of expression. She has three top gaits. She's elastic. She has extension. She's light and elegant in her frame. She's beautiful in her halts. And, she has presence. That's everything that you're looking for in the international arena."

Wilcox believes all Naomi needs is more strength and time to confirm the Grand Prix. The mare had previously been in training with other riders, including Vera Barisone and Betsy Steiner, who started Naomi with the Grand Prix giving her the foundation to build on. What the mare was missing, Wilcox said, was mostly how to put all the movements together. Naomi also needed consistency and more show experience. 

Recently, Wilcox has been getting a helping hand from Olympian Robert Dover, who, she said, has helped her feel more confident that she's on the right track with Naomi. "As a trainer, you need feedback and as she's getting more confirmed in the Grand Prix, it's important to have that eye on the ground and reassurance from a good person like Robert. He tells me when it's okay and when it needs to be fixed. Robert is very positive and it's nice to have that. It's like having a buddy on the side and I feed off of it in a positive way."

Dover said that Wilcox and Naomi are a good match, but then added, "Lisa is an excellent rider and she's a good match for just about any quality horse." He's also optimistic that the pair will do well in California but admitted that making the Olympic Team is no easy task. "The Olympics are a tough selection process and the time is short and you've got only three riders and an alternate. It's very tough to get in there and we have a number of riders trying out who have been with their horses for much longer. But, Lisa is a top competitor and great rider and she's able to do what many riders can't do, which is bring a horse along quickly and make it look like it's been in the show ring for years."

Lisa Wilcox and Naomi Prepare New Freestyle for California