Canada and U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Teams Go One-Two at 2011 Dressage Affaire CPEDI3*

Del Mar, CA - Closing day of the 2011 Dressage Affaire (CDI3* W/Y/J & CPEDI3*) arrived at the beautiful Del Mar Horsepark on Sunday March 13, 2011. The Para-Equestrian Dressage riders could breath a sign a relief with the two qualifying days of the Team Test and Individual Championship Test now completed. Sunday was the day for each rider from the United States, Canada, and Mexico to be bold and showcase his or her exhilarating freestyle routines in front of FEI Judges Ulf Wilkin (SWE), Hanneke Gerritsen (NED), and Kathy Amos-Jacob (FRA). With the pressure off many of the riders excelled earning their highest scores over the weekend including three riders who attained scores over 70%. At the end of the day the championship team was announced and the overall winner for each Grade earned their rosettes.

Following two days of Para-Dressage competition scores from the Team Test were combined with scores from the Individual Championship Test to determine each country's overall team placing. Representing the United States of America was Jonathan Wentz and Ritcher Scale (Grade Ib), Eleanor Brimmer and Vadico Interago (Grade III), Donna Ponessa and Otto (Grade Ib), and Dena Pate aboard Imagine That (Grade IV). Representing Canada was Stephanie Ross aboard Wiesenblute (Grade III), Ashley Gowanlock with DonnyMaskell (Grade Ib), and Lauren Barwick with both Off To Paris and Ferdonia 2 (Grade II). Winning the 2011 Para-Equestrian CPEDI3* Dressage Affaire was the very talented Canadian Team followed by the United States Team. As "O Canada" played over the loudspeaker and the Canadian Flag was raised, the Canadian team relished in the moment because they had completed their first stop on the way to the 2012 Paralympics in London, England.

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Prior to the championship announcement the crowd pleasing freestyle competition began at 8:00 a.m. in the main arena. Para-Equestrians gave it their all resulting in the highest scores of the week. In Grade Ia Jody Schloss (CAN) and Inspector Rebus topped the division earning the blue sash for the duo. Schloss was also the overall winner for the Grade Ia division at the Dressage Affaire. One very exciting freestyle to observe was a composed piece of Celtic music played to Led Zepplin in the Grade Ib division. Jonathan Wentz (USA) was accurate and focused while riding to this music aboard NTEC Ritcher Scale earning a 73%, a 74.5%, and a 70.25% from each of the three judges. Wentz also captured the overall win for Grade Ib in front of Canadian Ashley Gowanlock and USA Para-Equestrian's Laurietta Oakleaf and Donna Ponessa.

Wentz exclaimed, "Ritcher was superb today; He was spot on with every move and I also felt that I rode the pattern well. Since WEG (World Equestrian Games) I have switched Grades so this was our first time riding this freestyle test and it was great."

He continued, "I was also very happy with Daytona today. She behaved really well and only whinnied once; I think she is getting used to this. Where she suffered was the fact that I was physically drained by the time I got to her test. She suffered a little because I couldn't support her with my body but even though I was tired she was wonderful. I think she will be a horse to watch in the future. After this weekend I would like to thank both my trainer Kai Handt for everything and I would like to thank the horse show for putting on a great show."

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In Grade II Lauren Barwick (CAN) rode each of her Oldenburg mares smashing her scores from yesterday while having two entertaining rides as well. Aboard Ferdonia, Barwick earned a freestyle total score of 75.167% and with Off To Paris a 73.333%. Barwick also obtained the overall win for Grade II with her outstanding test scores from the entire weekend.

"Freestyle Tests are what I love to ride," smiled Barwick. "I am usually pretty good at improv while I am in the ring so I can adjust my horses if I am ahead or behind. However, my CD's were not working last night so my iPod was utilized to play the songs. Unfortunately, when the music started I was aboard Paris and it was the wrong music. Paris is very sensitive and she is still learning to relax with me so I didn't want to stop, I just kept riding my pattern. Then when the music ended I wasn't anywhere near the centerline so I just had to smile. I was excited to hear my score but I would have loved to have seen the score with good artistic marks."

Barwick continued, "With Fergie, we rode music that did not match her more collected gaits so I was flying around the corner trying to catch the music. I let my horse down a little bit there but she did everything I asked of her and I couldn't be happier."

Barwick is a four-star Parelli Instructor residing with her horses at both the Parelli Ranch in Ocala, FL and the Parelli Ranch in Colorado. Barwick expressed, " Without the Parelli's I wouldn't be where I am today, they are remarkable. The biggest thing is that they help me with my horses physically and mentally. I truly want to thank everyone for their support in particular Team Parelli, Pat and Linda Parelli, Walter Zettl, and Team Canada. I would also like to thank the Dressage Affaire for putting on a fabulous show. They have been really accommodating, the prizes and rosettes are great, and I will definitely come back next year."

After this weekend Barwick will head back to Florida where she will travel to 3 or 4 more national shows and then she will make her yearly trip to Colorado. In July Barwick and her teammates will head over to England to show in two shows including the Hartpury Festival of Dressage.

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Folllowing Barwick was Mexico's first Para-Equestrian Erika Baitenmann. She commented, "I was really happy with my mare Casablanca she is spectacular. Sandor is still very young but he will be immature when he is 20 or 30. The first day of competition I had been in the sun for quite a while so I didn't do as well then but I think overall it was a fantastic show. The judges were very good, the competition was great, and I would come back next year.

Baitenmann continued, "I want to thank my coach Antonio Rivera, my daughter, my mother, and all of the other Mexico riders that came here. This was the first time that we had so many people here from our team; it was wonderful to have this much support."

In Grade III, Stephanie Ross (CAN) and Wiesenblute topped today's freestyle competition in addition to earning the overall win for her division. This was Ross's first international competition as a Para-Equestrian. Earning another great score today behind Ross was Eleanor Brimmer (USA) aboard Vadico Interagro.

Eleonore Elstone (CAN) grabbed the win for not only today's freestyle competition but she also earned the top overall score for Grade IV. Elstone rode Why Not G to score a 71.917% and Donatello to score a 71.667%. Earning the third place ribbon in Grade IV was Dena Pate (USA) and Imagine That.

Elstone noted, "This weekend was a positive weekend all around. Both horses gave me their best and this was a fabulous show. I am really grateful to all of the people who support me in this venture. I am thankful to the student that is gracious enough to loan Donatello to me and I am really grateful to my husband, my daughter, my family, my friends, Equine Canada, and Sport Canada."

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Following this weekend's competition will be a very important clinic for the Para-Equestrian Dressage riders. On Monday and Tuesday, Para-Equestrian's will have the opportunity for a one-on-one clinic with Olympian Debbie McDonald and esteemed judge Hanneke Gerritsen (NED). Each Para-Equestrian will have the opportunity to showcase their skills, ask questions, and discuss their plan for this year.

March 13, 2011 Freestyle Scores for Para-Equestrian at 2011 Dressage Affaire CPEDI3*

Judges:
E: Ulf Wilkin (SWE)
C: Hanneke Gerritsen (NED)
M: Kathy Amos-Jacob (FRA)

Grade Ia Team Test:
Name-Horse (Country)-Judge E- Judge C- Judge M- Score%
1. Jody Schloss (CAN)-Inspector Rebus-67.750%-64.750%-67.000%-66.500%

Grade Ib Team Test:
1. Jonathan Wentz (USA)-NTEC Ritcher Scale-73.000%-74.500%-70.250%-72.583%
2. Ashley Gowanlock (CAN)-DonnyMaskell-67.500%-66.750%-66.500%-66.917%
3. Jonathan Wentz (USA)-NTEC Daytona Beach-62.750%-63.250%-63.500%-63.167%
4. Laurietta Oakleaf (USA)-VPRH Pegasus VOM Niehous-HOF-64.500%-59.250%-60.750%-61.500%
5. Donna Ponessa (USA)-Otto-57.250%-51.750%-61.250%-56.750%

Grade II Team Test:
1. Lauren Barwick (CAN)-Ferdonia 2-74.750%-76.000%-74.750%-75.167%
2. Lauren Barwick (CAN)-Off To Paris-75.750%-74.2000%-70.250%-73.333%
3. Erika Baitenmann (MEX)-Casablanca-65.000%-68.000%-68.000%-67.000%
4. Erika Baitenmann (MEX)-Sandor-67.000%-63.000%-68.000%-66.000%

Grade III Team Test:
1. Stephanie Ross (CAN)-Wiesenblute-65.500%-64.250%-67.750%-65.833%
2. Eleanor Brimmer(USA)-Vadico Interagro-61.000%-61.250%-64.750%-62.333%

Grade IV Team Test:
1. Eleonore Elstone(CAN)-Why Not G-75.250%-71.000%-69.500%-71.917%
2. Eleonore Elstone(CAN)-Donatello-72.500%-73.750%-68.750%-71.667%
3. Dena Pate(USA)-Imagine That-53.000%-56.750%-54.500%-54.750%

March 12, 2011 Preliminary Scores for Para-Equestrian at 2011 Dressage Affaire CPEDI3*(Individual Championship Test)

Judges:
E: Kathy Amos-Jacob (FRA)
C: Ulf Wilkin (SWE)
M: Hanneke Gerritsen (NED)

Grade Ia Team Test:
Name-Horse (Country)-Judge E- Judge C- Judge M- Score%
1. Jody Schloss (CAN)-Inspector Rebus-67.000%-67.250%-65.000%-66.417%

Grade Ib Team Test:
1. Jonathan Wentz (USA)-NTEC Ritcher Scale-68.478%-65.217%-68.261%-67.319%
2. Jonathan Wentz (USA)-NTEC Daytona Beach-69.565%-68.261%-56.957%-64.928%
3. Ashley Gowanlock (CAN)-DonnyMaskell-63.478%-66.522%-62.391%-64.130%
4. Laurietta Oakleaf (USA)-VPRH Pegasus VOM Niehous-HOF-62.391%-62.609%-63.043%-62.681%
5. Donna Ponessa (USA)-Otto-56.739%-55.870%-59.565%-57.391%

Grade II Team Test:
1. Lauren Barwick (CAN)-Off To Paris-72.381%-74.286%-71.429%-72.698%
2. Lauren Barwick (CAN)-Ferdonia 2-70.238%-71.190%-69.524%-70.317%
3. Erika Baitenmann (MEX)-Casablanca-61.667%-66.667%-65.238%-64.524%
4. Erika Baitenmann (MEX)-Sandor-65.714%-63.810%-58.571%-62.698%

Grade III Team Test:
1. Stephanie Ross (CAN)-Wiesenblute-61.833%-61.333%-58.833%-60.667%
2. Eleanor Brimmer(USA)-Vadico Interagro-57.000%-54.333%-56.333%-55.889%

Grade IV Team Test:
1. Eleonore Elstone(CAN)-Donatello-64.667%-69.032%-70.000%-67.903%
2. Eleonore Elstone(CAN)-Why Not G-66.774%-65.000%-66.452%-66.075%
3. Dena Pate(USA)-Imagine That-49.516%-50.968%-50.000%-50.161%

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March 11, 2011 Preliminary Scores for Para-Equestrian at 2011 Dressage Affaire CPEDI3*(Team Test)

Judges:
E: Hanneke Gerritsen (NED)
C: Kathy Amos-Jacob (FRA)
M: Ulf Wilkin (SWE)

Grade Ia Team Test:
Name-Horse (Country)-Judge E- Judge C- Judge M- Score%
1. Jody Schloss (CAN)-Inspector Rebus- 62.941%-62.353%-59.706%-61.667%

Grade Ib Team Test:
1. Jonathan Wentz (USA)-NTEC Ritcher Scale-65.909%-69.545%-70.000%-68.485%
2. Donna Ponessa (USA)-Otto-65.455%-67.045%-58.182%-63.561%
3. Jonathan Wentz (USA)-NTEC Daytona Beach-57.273%-65.682%59.545%-60.833%
4. Ashley Gowanlock (CAN)-DonnyMaskell-57.727%-64.091%-58.636%-60.152%
5. Laurietta Oakleaf (USA)-VPRH Pegasus VOM Niehous-HOF-60.455%-61.136%-58.636%-60.076%

Grade II Team Test:
1. Lauren Barwick (CAN)-Ferdonia 2-66.429%-71.905%-74.762%-71.032%
2. Lauren Barwick (CAN)-Off To Paris-70.952%-68.333%-70.952%-70.079%
3. Erika Baitenmann (MEX)-Sandor-64.762%-61.429%-64.286%-63.492%
4. Erika Baitenmann (MEX)-Casablanca-65.952%-64.762%-58.571%-63.095%

Grade III Team Test:
1. Stephanie Ross (CAN)-Wiesenblute-60.926%-62.963%-58.148%-60.679%
2. Eleanor Brimmer(USA)-Vadico Interagro-59.630%-60.556%-57.407%-59.198%
3. Beth Levine(USA)-Prince Hopefull-0%-0%0%-E

Grade IV Team Test:
1. Eleonore Elstone(CAN)-Donatello-65.000%-66.563%-64.063%-65.208%
2. Eleonore Elstone(CAN)-Why Not G-61.406%-67.188%-66.563%-65.052%
3. Dena Pate(USA)-Imagine That-53.125%-55.313%-55.625%-54.688%

For more information about The Dressage Affaire please contact Keenan Productions & Events by phone 866-933-SHOW, or Kim Keenan-Stordahl kkeenan@dressageevents.com or visit www.dressageevents.com. All Photos taken by Lindsay Y McCall for the United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA)