Anne Gribbons Takes another Win on Final Day of the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II

 

Anne Gribbons continued to enjoy her break from her busy schedule as an FEI "O" judge and U.S. Dressage Team Technical Advisory by taking another win on the final day of the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II. The win came in Fourth Level Test 3 with Maxine Tabas' Dante. Gribbons and Dante had also won Friday's FEI or Equivalent Test of Choice. The seven-year-old Dante, sired by Donnerhall and out of a mare sired by Pik Bube, has been in training with Gribbons for about two years. This weekend's show, held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, was only his third. "I've ridden both of the stallions in his bloodlines and they are wonderful and Dante is also a fabulous horse," Gribbons said.

"He's incredibly intelligent and he learns so fast that it's scary." She said the biggest challenge in training Dante has been trying to keep him amused without moving him along too quickly. "He gets bored quickly so you have to amuse him by teaching him new things. You don't want a smart horse to get bored, but you have to be careful."

Gribbons was pleased with her final day win, but admitted that Dante didn't have as much steam as he did when he won on Friday. "He's young so he comes charging out the first day and wasn't quite so up and ready the last day. That's typical of a young horse," she said. It wasn't the best of weather for the Challenge II with rain and wind making it at times rather unpleasant for horses and riders. However, it was clear that Gribbons was so happy to be showing that she didn't mind the weather and gave Wellington Classic Dressage much credit for good show management in difficult weather conditions.

Gribbons doesn't know when she'll be back in the show ring. With the 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games coming up this fall, she's busy in her role as Technical Advisor helping to get the U.S. team chosen and ready. She'll be heading to the West Coast in a few weeks to work with the top West Coast-based riders. "I love to show, but I have to fit it in when I can," she said. "Right now, I'm just very happy to have my Grand Prix horse, Alazan, and Dante to ride. Alazan loves to show and is better all the time. And Dante will be another Grand Prix horse for sure. He's nicely built, a good mover and sane in the ring."