2005 CDIO Aachen

Brink Soars to the Top in a Sensational Grand Prix Special

Steffen Peters Amongst the World's Best

American Steffen Peters continued to be the best performing American dressage rider in the CDIO Grand Prix Special, being the only American to enter the Main Stadium for the awards ceremony after the Grand Prix Special. Aboard Laurie and Stephen Browning's Westfalian gelding Floriano (by Florestan), he scored 73.840% and placed sixth. Peters rode as if he had nothing to lose and Floriano responded really well to his rider's boldness and courage. There were no mistakes in the test, the half passes were lovely as well as the flying changes.

Leslie Morse and her KWPN stallion Kingston (by Voltaire) placed 12th with 71.760% which was a major improvement to the Grand Prix. Kingston was more on the ball, showed a controled piaffe and passage in harmony with her ride. The tempi changes were ground covering, but the bay stallion did get a bit tight in the neck.

Morse was very pleased with her Special. "He felt really good and was super in the warm up. There is so much extended trot and passage in this test, so he felt tired at the end and he lacked a bit of steam, but I was really pleased with him." The Beverly Hills based Morse will be riding her Pirates of the Carribean freestyle tomorrow. "I rode the new one in Hagen, but the judges told me they liked the old one better, so we are going back to it. I will warm him up less for the kur to save enegery. I need more horse," she added.

Also appearing in the freestyle tomorrow are George Williams and Rocher. They just made the cut by finishing 15th in the Special with 70.680%. The extended trots were super and the half passes in canter were of high standard. "I'm very happy with her. There were several aspects that I liked better today, like the pirouettes and the canter half passes. A couple of times she was too low, but her carriage is improving."

Guenter Seidel and Aragon did not have the great ride they hoped for. The Bavarian gelding changed on the center line upon entering and there were errors in the one and two tempi changes. The piaffe and passage were delightfully rhythmical and the horse was alert and willing throughout the test.

"There were just too many mistakes," a disappointed Seidel said. "He warmed up great but he was tight going into the ring. It just didn't flow." Seidel and Aragon have been having a challenging year with fluctuating performances in Europe and the States. "You just go through it sometimes. I'm trying just as hard. We'll try for the World Equestrian Games next year and see if he settles in and gets more consistent by then."

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