2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and CPEDI3* Continues at NEDA Fall Festival of Dressage

Saugerties, NY - The 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and CPEDI3* continued at the 2011 New England Dressage Association (NEDA) Fall Festival of Dressage. The Catskills created a beautiful backdrop for Saturday's 31 musical freestyles. Para-Equestrians from U.S.A., Ireland, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda competed in Grades Ia, Ib, II, III, and IV. For the United States today's freestyle scores represented 20% of their final score for the 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships. The competition was intense with two riders, Jonathan Wentz and Dale Dedrick closing the gap from Friday and equestrian Rebecca Hart who brought in another high score in the Freestyle.
 
During Friday's Team Test Grade Ib rider Jonathan Wentz from Texas dominated Ring 6 earning the highest score of the day 71.515% with NTEC Richter Scale. Saturday Wentz did it again earning a 71% aboard NTEC Richter Scale and a 70.917% aboard NTEC Jabriel, owned by Rachel Zent. Dale Dedrick of Ann Arbor, Michigan also grabbed the judge's attention earning a 70.079% with Bonifatius on Friday and a 71.833% in the freestyle. Both riders have Sunday's Individual competition where each Wentz and Dedrick hope to continue their consistency.

Jonathan was happy with both days of dressage competition especially with his new mount, NTEC Jabriel. Wentz explained, "I want to thank Rachel Zent and Kai Handt at the NTEC for allowing me to ride such great horses. We thought Richter would be done with Para-Equestrian competitions by now but he is like a fine wine. He just keeps getting better as time goes on. Friday Richter was great especially for the Team competition he is just a solid horse.  Gabe was great too but we had a better ride today in the Freestyle and my scores reflected that. I wish his owner could be here to see what a phenomenal horse Gabe has been."

Wentz continued, "Our team is overall looking good, there are a lot of new horses and the rides are quite consistent. I am looking forward to the Individual Test Sunday to get the U.S. a big win and to compete for the National Championships.  It all comes down to Sunday since the scores are all pretty close."
 
Like Wentz, 2010 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship winner Rebecca Hart also rode a precise freestyle test Saturday with Lord Ludger, owned by Jessica Ransehousen, earning a 71.833%.
 
After a very exciting 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Rebecca Hart retired her talented mount, Norteassa. "After retiring Norteassa, Jessica (Ransehousen) very generously gave me "LoLu" to ride," smiled Hart. "He is a super talented 19-year-old Holsteiner gelding who has always been ridden by professional able-bodied riders.  It has been a little transition but he has been a great partner to work with." Hart has been riding Lord Ludger for six months and the CPEDI3* is their first show together. Hart noted, "I was really happy with LoLu this weekend.  After the first day the judges wanted to see more forward and more power so we worked on that for the Freestyle competition. He is a consistent horse that needs a little bit of support down the centerline. Overall I was please with everything this weekend."
 
In January, Hart plans to make the trip down to Wellington, Florida where the first CPEDI3* event will be hosted at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. Without support like the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, the Dressage Affaire in Del Mar, and NEDA these Para-Equestrian events would not be possible. Hart commented, "This facility at the Fall Festival of Dressage is beautiful.  We love being here and we want to thank NEDA for putting on this show for us and we want to thank all of the volunteers who have donated their time to the horse show."
 
Each Grade had superb results in the Freestyle competition on Saturday like Rebecca Hart in Grade II who earned the same score of 71.833% as Dale Dedrick. Following Dedrick was Maria Fernada Otheguy of Mexico aboard One Night Stand and Elizabeth Pigott with Whitney's Willow for fourth.
 
In Grade Ia Donna Ponessa went one-two with Western Rose in first and Otto in second.  Jody Schloss (CAN) took home the third place ribbon while Robyn Andres (CAN) garnered the fourth place finish. Jonathan Wentz with NTEC Richter Scale captured grade Ib in first, NTEC Jabriel in second, and Laurietta Oakleaf taking home the third and fourth place ribbons.
 
In Grade III, Erin Alberda from the USA took the top spot with fellow USA competitor, Wendy Fryke on Lateran. Stephanie Ross of Canada earned the third spot, and Eleanore Brimmer rounded out her division with Carino H and Vadico Interagro.

James Dwyer of Ireland who earned a 73.667% aboard Orlando won the Grade IV competition.  Mary Jordan (USA) earned second place aboard P. Sparrow Socks, and Frisbee with Lynne Poole of Canada in the irons earned the third place ribbon.
 
For the CPEDI3* United States team members Jonathan Wentz and NTEC Richter Scale, Wendy Fryke and Lateran, Rebecca Hart and Lord Ludger, and Mary Jordan with Sebastian, Sunday will define the champion between Canada and the U.S. for the 2011 NEDA Fall Festival of Dressage CPEDI3*. Team competition for the CPEDI3* consisted of the same scoring style as the Paralympics, the Team and Individual score of each team rider will be combined and averaged.  The lowest averaged number will be dropped from each team's score and a final tally will be conducted. 
 
Sunday's Individual Test represents 40% of the 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships.  Combining Friday's 40% Team score and Saturday's 20% Freestyle score will give a total percentage to determine what rider will earn the 2011 National Championship.
 
The 2011 NEDA Fall Festival of Dressage and 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship held at the HITS on the Hudson facilities in Saugerties has offered Para-Equestrians many opportunities.  This is the first CPEDI3* event for NEDA and the Para-Equestrian Dressage riders could not be more thankful. Organizations and show managers like NEDA are the reason the number of Para-Equestrian participants has grown exponentially in a short period of time.
 
September 17, 2011 CPEDI Para-Equestrian Dressage Freestyle Competition Results:
 
Judges: C-Anne Prain (France)  H- Kjell Myhre (Norway), B- Carlos Lopes (Portugal)

Grade Ia: Name, Country, Horse, Total Score
1.Donna Ponessa, USA, Western Rose, 68.5%
2.Donna Ponessa, USA, Otto, 66.750%
3.Jody Schloss, CAN, Inspector Rebus,64.417
4.Robyn Andres, CAN, Fancianna, 62.333%
5.Alexander Mitchell, BER, Guiness Maskell, 61.583%
6.Kim Decker, USA, Dasher's Destiny, 59.917%
7.Brenda French Wyss, USA, NTEC Manchada, 59.833%
8.Laura Goldman, USA, NTEC Daytona Beach, 55.417%
 
Grade Ib: Name, Country, Horse, Total Score
1.Jonathan Wentz, USA, NTEC Richter Scale 71.000%
2.Jonathan Wentz, USA, NTEC Jabriel, 70.917%
3.Laurietta Oakleaf, USA, Niekele Fan Busenitz, 60.417%
4.Laurietta Oakleaf, USA, Quimerico KF, 55.750%
 
Grade II: Name, Country, Horse, Total Score
1.Rebecca Hart, USA, Lord Ludger, 71.833%
2.Dale Dedrick, USA , Bonifatius, 71.833%
3.Maria Fernada Otheguy, MEX, One Night Stand, 67.917%
4.Elizabeth Pigott, USA, Whitney's Willow, 65.083%
5.Charlotte Bathalon, USA, Sportsfield Twist, 64.167%
 
Grade III: Name, Country, Horse, Total Score
1.Erin Alberda, USA, Pavalina, 69.333%
2.Wendy Fryke, USA, Lateran, 68.083%
3.Stephanie Ross, CAN, Wiesenblute, 66.833$
4.Eleanor Brimmer, USA, Carino H, 58.500%
5.Eleanore Brimmer, USA, Vadico Interagro, 56.250%
 
Grade IV: Name, Country, Horse, Total Score
1.James Dwyer, IRL, Orlando, 73.667%
2.Mary Jordan, USA, P. Sparrow Socks 66.833%
3.Lynne Poole, CAN, Frisbee, 68.000%
4.Mary Jordan, USA, Sebastian 68.083%
5.Robin Brueckmann, USA, Radetzky, 66.833%
6.Madison Lawson, CAN, McGuire, 63.167%
7.Frederick Win, USA, Kaboom, 55.417%
 
TEAM STANDINGS AS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

USA:
Jonathan Wentz and NTEC Richter Scale-71.515%
Wendy Fryke and Lateran-66.728%
Rebecca Hart and Lord Ludger-65.317%
Mary Jordan and Sebastian-64.219%

CANADA:
Robyn Andrews and Fancianna-63.922%
Madison Lawson and McGuire-62,188%
Stephanie Ross and Wiesenblute-61.914%
Jody Schloss and Inspector Rebus-64.902%

September 16, 2011 CPEDI Para-Equestrian Dressage Team Competition Results:
 
Judges: C- Carlos Lopes (Portugal), E- Kjell Myhre (Norway), M- Anne Prain (France)

Grade Ia: Name, Country, Horse, Total Score
1.Donna Ponessa, USA, Otto, 66.765%
2.Donna Ponessa, USA, Western Rose, 65.196%
3.Robyn Andrews, CAN, Ravallo Son, 65%
4.Jody Schloss, CAN, Inspector Rebus,64.902
5.Robyn Andres, CAN, Fancianna, 63.922%
6.Alexander Mitchell, BER, Guiness Maskell, 60.588%
7.Kim Decker, USA, Dasher's Destiny, 60.392%
8.Laura Goldman, USA, NTEC Daytona Beach, 59.608%
9.Brenda French Wyss, USA, NTEC Manchada, 59.118%

Grade Ib: Name, Country, Horse, Total Score
1.Jonathan Wentz, USA, NTEC Richter Scale 71.515%
2.Jonathan Wentz, USA, NTEC Jabriel, 64.697%
3.Laurietta Oakleaf, USA, Niekele Fan Busenitz, 57.652%
4.Laurietta Oakleaf, USA, Quimerico KF, 55.455%

Grade II: Name, Country, Horse, Total Score
1.Dale Dedrick, USA , Bonifatius, 70.079%
2.Maria Fernada Otheguy, MEX, One Night Stand, 66.825%
3.Rebecca Hart, USA, Lord Ludger, 65.317%
4.Elizabeth Pigott, USA, Whitney's Willow, 65.079%
5.Charlotte Bathalon, USA, Sportsfield Twist, 62.381%

Grade III: Name, Country, Horse, Total Score
1.Wendy Fryke, USA, Lateran, 66.728%
2.Erin Alberda, USA, Pavalina, 62,901%
3.Stephanie Ross, CAN, Wiesenblute, 61.914$
4.Eleanor Brimmer, USA, Carino H, 53.580%
5.Eleanore Brimmer, USA, Vadico Interagro, 51.852%

Grade IV: Name, Country, Horse, Total Score
1.James Dwyer, IRL, Orlando, 69.271%
2.Lynne Poole, CAN, Frisbee, 64.271%
3.Mary Jordan, USA, Sebastian, 64.219%
4.Robin Brueckmann, USA, Radetzky, 63.438%
5.Mary Jordan, USA, P. Sparrow Socks 62.552%
6.Madison Lawson, CAN, McGuire, 62.188%
7.Frederick Win, USA, Kaboom, 55.260%