Thursday, February 16, 2006

Zada Enterprises, LLC Florida Dressage Classic 2006

Ashley Holzer and Pop Art Win Prix St. Georges

Competition at the Zada Enterprises, LLC Florida Dressage Classic in Wellington, Florida, kicked off today with a win for Canada’s two-time Olympian Ashley Holzer riding Pop Art, her nine-year-old Dutch gelding in the FEI Prix St. Georges Open. Judging the FEI Prix St. Georges were Brenda Minor at C and Anita Owen at B. The stunning chestnut scored 70.125% to top a field of 20 horses. In second place, Charlotte Bredahl Baker, a member of the U.S. 1992 Bronze Medal Team in Barcelona, rode Eskada to a 68.00%. Taking third was Canadian Susan Dutt-Roth riding Rheirattack who earned 65.875%.

“This horse proves yet again how consistent he is in the ring,” said Holzer. The pair most recently claimed victories at the CDI3* Gold Coast Opener in Loxahatchee, Florida, where they won the Prix St. Georges, Intermediaire I, and the I-I Freestyle, and then went on to win the Open FEI Prix St. Georges at Wellington Dressage at the Winter Equestrian Festival two weeks ago. “I am still so pleased that with all that’s going on, he’s willing to work hard and pay attention to me in the ring,” Holzer added.

In the Prix St. Georges today, Holzer said that she was most pleased with Pop Art’s trot work, noting that, “The trot tour felt very rhythmic and steady.” Holzer was also very pleased with Pop Art’s four-tempi changes, as the horse has been schooling one-tempis (flying changes every stride) and anticipates that movement. “I’ve had some issues with, ‘Are we doing ones today? Are we doing fours today? Are we doing twos today?’ – so today, he really did wait for me in the ring and he listened to me for the fours even though he wanted to do the ones,” Holzer said. She is also schooling Pop Art in the piaffe/passage at home and explained, “So of course when you go in the ring he wants to piaffe now. I was very pleased that he was able to keep his lid on for the changes and do really nice clean, straight rhythmic, on-the-aids changes.”

“Poppy” was a six-year-old showing Second/Third Level when Holzer began working with him two-and-half years ago. She has trained him to his present level and plans to show him in the Grand Prix by the end of the season. She points out that Pop Art has been marking successes all the way up the levels in his career with her so far. “I don’t think he’s ever lost,” said Holzer. “For a long time now, he’s won every class he’s ever been in.”

“He’s awesome,” noted Eva Pracht, who coaches Holzer when they are both in Florida. Pracht lives in Canada and Holzer resides in New York. Pracht and Holzer were teammates on the 1988 Canadian Olympic squad that won the Team Bronze Medal in Seoul (Holzer also competed for Canada at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games). “Pop Art is just a wonderful, wonderful horse,” Pracht enthused.

Denielle Gallagher, Holzer’s barn manager and an accomplished rider, assists with the riding at home and is also a Pop Art fan. “He’s a fun, energetic, and kind horse,” she said.

Holzer, an official member of Dressage Canada’s Short List, brought 12 horses (both client-ridden and her own competition horses) to Zada Enterprises, LLC Florida Dressage Classic, including Imperioso and Gambol, the two horses she has declared as her candidates to qualify for the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

In other FEI competition today, Nancy Later riding Alexis-D won the Intermediaire II with a score of 68.934%. Julia Vysniauskas aboard Papillion placed second with 67.967%. Mikala Gundersen riding Pinochhio VI was third with 67.561%. Judging the class were Jessica Ransehousen at E; Jeanne McDonald at C; and Sue Madden Mandas at M.

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