Canada's Megan Lane and Caravella Earn Top Call in FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 3*; Adrienne Lyle and Wizard Ace FEI Grand Prix Special CDI 5*; Chris Hickey and Ronaldo Win FEI Prix St. Georges

 

Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Wizard capped off an incredible AGDF season with another victory lap after winning the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI 5*. The pair earned a top score of 75.588% to earn the class by a substantial margin. Second place went to fellow American Michael Barisone, who rode Ellegria to a 69.392%. Cesar Parra completed an All-American top three with Van the Man. The pair earned a score of 69.078% for third place.

Friday afternoon's score was another personal best for the pair; Lyle described their performance as the perfect ending to a stellar season. "It's been a big changing season for him because he's been up and down and kind of all over the place [in previous years]," Lyle said. "To have the chance to come to a facility like this and show on a regular basis, and not have it be a huge ordeal [is fanastic]. You're not putting them through a ton of transport. The footing is great, the stabling is great, so I felt comfortable showing more than I maybe have in the past. I think that's starting to make it more workman-like and more routine."  Lyle admitted she would have loved to ride the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 5*, but was committed to making her long-term goals a priority. The pair needed to put in some practice in the Special leading up to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) selection trials in Gladstone, NJ.

 

"I felt less rusty than last time. I chose to do the Special because it is so important for Gladstone and for the WEG qualification. As much as I would have really loved the freestyle tonight, I had to keep our long-term goals in mind, and I'm really glad I did. To have a Special that solid under our belt is really helpful for both of our confidences," Lyle shared.  

 

Barisone was equally thrilled with Ellegria's performance, remarking that he never have imagined he would have the success he's experienced with her. "She's a wonderful horse. She's honest as the day is long. She's very simple to ride all the time. I just never thought we would be around 70%," Barisone expressed. He continued, "I watch my tape [of their rides] and I say there's at least five more percent there, at least. This is a dead green, eight grand prix under her belt horse, and I'm getting second to [Adrienne], who's been to the Olympics with her horse. I'm happy and proud to be in there, and I think she's got a really long way to go." After his two top grand prix mounts were sidelined with injuries right before the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Barisone admitted to getting a bit disheartened, but Ellegria has pulled him out of his funk. "She's saving me," Barisone smiled. "It is so easy, the disappointment when they get injured. All your hope is gone and you're like 'Why am I doing this?' I had the two best I've ever had in my life, and the two best got hurt the same week. It was awful. This thing pops up in my life, and she's putting the faith back in me." Barisone added that the AGDF has brought the first truly international dressage competition to North America, which he believes will put Americans on the fast-track to catching up with the Europeans. "It takes a village to get this done. The Europeans just have a really big, organized village. I think that it takes the owners, and the riders, and everybody. It takes this kind of effort and this facility. It's an incredible circuit. This [show] is going to be one of the things that propels us to being competitive with the Europeans. This is the village, right here," Barisone concluded.

 

Chris Hickey (USA) and Ronaldo finished first in the FEI Prix St. Georges presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty on a score of 71.842%, followed by second place finishers Denielle Gallageher-Legrif (CAN) and Argo Conti Tyme with a score of 69.781%. Third place went to Shannon Dueck (CAN), who scored 69.561% aboard Cantaris. Besides a few bobbles in the canter zig-zag and trot, Hickey was thrilled to see the eight-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding continue to flourish as the AGDF circuit comes to a close. "Ronaldo felt great. His tests are getting more and more solid," Hickey said. "He's a very big-moving, elastic horse, so it's hard to keep everything together sometimes. He's very immature for an eight-year-old, but I was very pleased with the test."

Hickey was especially happy that Ronaldo's owner, Cecelia Stewart, was able to attend the show, and even happier that she was able to see Ronaldo do so well. On top of that, the pair bested a field of 36 riders, making the win especially meaningful for Hickey.

"I think it's great for the sport. At the end of the season, for the last CDI to be the biggest, is just wonderful," Hickey commented. "I was really super happy with the results and how my horse went today." Ronaldo has been schooling all of the grand prix movements, but Hickey described him as far from ready to be competing at that level. He'll continue at the small tour with Ronaldo to gain strength and confidence to develop the young horse's talent. Hickey pointed out that Ronaldo shares a Don Schufro connection on his mother's side with Paragon, Heather Blitz's grand prix mount, and Hickey has noticed similarities between the two. "He's a big, gangly, young horse still in his body. He's not a short, smaller, really well-muscled horse. He is also [related to] Don Schufro, which is what Paragon is. If you look at him as a young horse, he was always skinny looking. Ronaldo has a long way to get strong and develop at the grand prix before he can get out and do it," Hickey explained. Pedigree is important to Hickey, but he believes choosing a favorable bloodline is not based on talent alone. Ronaldo has also inherited his sire, Blu Hors Romanov, and dam sire Don Schufro's remarkable temperament.

"For an FEI horse, being a fancy mover as a young horse is not what I want. I want a horse that is going to take the work and develop and get stronger and have the gaits become more expressive and flamboyant as the horse is trained. This horse has a super temperament and a super character and a willingness to work. He goes to work and does his job every day. To me, that's also a huge piece of what the breeding is," Hickey explained. Hickey is excited to see what the future holds for Ronaldo, who he believes possesses all the features of a great FEI competitor. The pair will contest the FEI Intemediaire-1 and the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle of the AGDF 12 CDI 3*.  

 

Rider, Country, Horse, Breeding, Age: Judge E%, Hudge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total %

 

1 Megan Lane, CAN, Caravella, 13-year-old KWPN Mare owned by rider, P. Riviera x Contango: 71.750%, 71.500%, 69.875%, 73.250%, 71.625%, 71.600%

 

2 Laura Graves, USA, Verdades, 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by rider, Liwilarda x Florrett As: 67.125%, 70.750%, 71.500%, 70.250%, 71.625%, 70.250%

 

3 Gary Vaner Ploeg, CAN, Degas, 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Jean & Gary Vander Ploeg, Pretty Lady x Donnerhall: 68.750%, 68.750%, 66.375%, 69.000%, 68.875%, 68.350%

 

4 David Marcus, CAN, Don Kontes, 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding own by Deborah Kinzinger-Miculinic, Knotessa x Don Schufro: 64.520%, 68.375%, 67.625%, 68.500%, 69.375%, 67.625%

 

5 Silvia Rizzo, ITA, Sal, 15-year-old Lusitano stallion owned by Silvia Rizo & Hof Marabunta, Maia x Mississipe: 62.250%, 67.250%, 66.250%, 64.875%, 65.000% 65.125%

 

6 Joanne Vaughan, GEO, Prego, 17-year-old KWPN stallion owned by rider, Evelien x Zazou: 62.250%, 66.250%, 62.625%, 58.625%, 65.750%, 63.100%

 

7 Jose Luis Padilla Moreno, MEX, Donnersberg, 17-year-old Rheinlander gelding owned by rider, Cinderella x Don Primero: 64.375% 62.750%, 59.000%, 57.625%, 60.750%, 60.900%

 

 

Rider, Country, Horse, Breeding, Age: Judge E%, Hudge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total %

 

1 Adrienne Lyle, USA, Wizard, 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Peggy Thomas, Pica x Weltmeyer: 74.510%, 78.333%, 73.922%, 74.510%, 76.667%, 75.588%

 

2 Michael Barisone, USA, Ellegria, 13-year-old Westphalian mare owned by Lauren Sprieser, Patrizia x Ehrentanz I: 67.451%, 70.784%, 68.529%, 69.706%, 70.490%, 69.392%

 

3 Cesar Parra, USA, Van the Man, 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Michael Davis, Lady x Obelisk: 68.333%, 67.745%, 69.902%, 70.196%, 69.216%, 69.078%

 

4 Susan Dutta, USA, Currency DC, 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by rider, Cinderella x Clintino: 67.941%, 69.902%, 68.725%, 67.647%, 67.745%, 68.392%

 

5 Tom Dvorak, CAN, Viva's Salieri W, 13-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Augustin Walse, Salinja x Viva Voltaire: 63.922% 65.490%, 68.333%, 66.863%, 66.863%, 66.294% 

 

 

Rider, Country, Horse, Breeding, Age: Judge E%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Total%

 

1 Christopher Hickey, USA, Ronaldo, 8-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding owned by Cecelia Stewart, Trøstplund's Scarlet x Blue Hors Romanov: 74.737%, 71.316%, 69.474%, 71.842%

 

2 Denielle Gallageher-Legrif, CAN, Argo Conti Tyme, 12-year-old Oldenburg Springfrede gelding owned by rider, Alina x Argentius: 69.605%, 68.158%, 71.579%, 69.781%

 

3 Shannon Dueck, CAN, Cantaris, 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Elizabeth Ferber, Egida x Complement: 68.684%, 70.132%, 69.868%, 69.561%

 

4 Christilot Boylen, CAN, Drentano, 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by rider, Brenda Lee x De Niro: 69.737%, 67.895%, 69.211%, 68.947%

 

5 Kasey Perry, USA, Goerklintgaards Dublet, 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding owned by Diane Perry, La Costa x Diamond Hit: 68.289%, 67.763%, 70.263%, 68.772%

 

6 Chris Von Martels CAN, Zilverstar, 10-year-old KWPN gelding owned by rider, Hutricia x Rosseau: 68.684%, 68.947%, 67.895%, 68.509%

  

7 Christlot Boylen, CAN, Florencia 22, eight-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Jill Irving, Walencia x Florencio I: 69.079%, 68.684%, 66.316%, 68.026%

 

8 Sara Spofford, USA, Lagrima, 12-year-old Wurttemberger mare by Lantnano owned by Doris Newcomb: 68.158%, 68.816%, 66.974%, 67.982%