Posted, February 9, 2007

Christopher Hickey and Regent Dominate in High Performance Prix St. Georges at Cosequin Wellington Dressage

In the USEF High Performance Prix St. Georges $1,000, which is a qualifier for the USEF Festival of Champions National Championships and the Pan American Games Selection Trials in Gladstone, NJ, Christopher Hickey and Brenna Kucinski 's Regent brought home the blue ribbon with a score of 71.583 percent. Hickey commented on his test, noting that it “was really smooth.” For not having shown since last June in Gladstone, the pair had quite the performance today.

“He’s a seasoned Prix St. George horse. He was (at Gladstone) as an 8-year-old – there were only two 8-year-olds at Gladstone in the (Intermediaire) National Championships,” Hickey explained. “So now at 9, he feels stronger, and that work is a lot easier for him. He’s really consistent, confirmed and produces even a higher quality.”

He has been partnered with the big bay Dutch Warmblood (x Flemingh) for a few years, and the horse is now schooling at the Grand Prix level. Hickey noted that for this year, he would like to be invited to Gladstone again for the USEF Festival of Champions National Championships, as well as make a bid for the Pan Am Games in July in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Regarding his test today, Hickey said that the strong points were the pirouettes. “He is really good and strong in the canter pirouettes, and also, the changes were good and really…forward and expressive and uphill. He has such an uphill, rolling canter and uphill appearance with natural balance so it makes the canter very nice.” He also thanked his sponsor Dietrich Insurance, and Hilltop Farm, his employer.

Taking second place in the high performance Prix St. George was Courtney King and Rendezvous 3, who were edged out of the top spot by Hickey. King earned a 71.083 percent, which was about half of a percentage point less than Hickey. Melissa Taylor and Schumacher earned a 69.92 percent, which put the pair in third place.

In the FEI Prix St. Georges class, about 25 horse and rider combinations turned out to compete. However, it was Lars Petersen and the 8-year-old gray gelding Dacardo, owned by Taylor, who rode last and won the class with a 70.167 percent. The combination of Michael Shandel and Silver Label took second place with a 69.250 percent, and Lauren Sammis and Sagacious HF rounded out the top three with a 67.750 percent.

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