Shelly Francis and Danilo Victorious in Wellington

Shelly Francis and Danilo (Photo: ©SusanJStickle)

Wellington, FL -Week ten continued on Thursday, March 16, at the 2017 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL, with a win for Shelly Francis (USA) in the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3*, presented by The Dutta Corp.

AGDF 10 takes place from March 15-19 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and features the CDI 4* and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by Havensafe Farm; CDI 3*, presented by The Dutta Corporation; and CDI 1*, presented by CaptiveOne. The week also features a National Show and the 2017 Florida International Youth Dressage Championships.

Francis and Danilo, a 2004 Hanoverian gelding (De Niro x Annabella x Andiamo) owned by Patricia Stempel, took the winning spot earlier in the day in the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3*, presented by The Dutta Corp, earning a score of 70.020%.

Anna Marek and Dee Clair (Photo: ©SusanJStickle)

Commenting on her ride, Francis said, "I've really been working with this horse because he's always had so much talent, but always has these little bobbles in the ring where he gets a little behind the leg or he gets nervous. I'm trying to keep him calm, and reminding him to get a little in front of the leg has been tricky. He is kind of evening out now; I've been working him a lot so that he gets more comfortable with giving me a better piaffe. Last year, he would quit frequently; this year he feels much more honest, and even though the piaffe is not as expressive as what he can really do, he stayed there steadily. I want to be able to get him comfortable enough in the arena where I can press him a little more and ask him to be more expressive throughout the test."

The pair have been making steady progress this season at AGDF, continuously working their way up the leaderboard. "Overall I'm happy with how he is coming along," continued Francis. "He's been consistent so far this season with trying to stay more honest for me in the ring."

PJ Rizvi and Breaking Dawn (Photo: ©SusanJStickle)

Second place in the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3*, presented by The Dutta Corp, was awarded to P.J. Rizvi (USA) and her own Breaking Dawn, a 2001 KWPN gelding (Akribori x Eveline x L. Ronald), with 68.200%. Third place went to Anna Marek (USA) and Dee Clair, a 2008 KWPN mare (Sir Sinclair x Rolls Royce) owned by Diane Morrison, with a score of 68.020%.

Competition at AGDF will continue tomorrow with a full schedule of classes, including the FEI Junior Rider Team Test, presented by The Axel Johnson Group, the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 3*, presented by The Dutta Corp, and the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 4*, presented by Havensafe Farm. For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Final Results: FEI Grand Prix CDI 3*, presented by The Dutta Corp
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total %

1. Shelly Francis (USA), Danilo, 2004 Hanoverian gelding by De Niro x Annabella x Andiamo, owned by Patricia Stempel: 71.600%, 70.700%, 70.200%, 68.700%, 68.900%, 70.020%
2. P.J. Rizvi (USA), Breaking Dawn, 2001 KWPN gelding by Akribori x Eveline x L. Ronald, owned by P.J. Rizvi: 69.800%, 69.000%, 68.200%, 67.600%, 66.400%, 68.200%
3. Anna Marek (USA), Dee Clair, 2008 KWPN mare by Sir Sinclair x Rolls Royce, owned by Diane Morrison: 69.900%, 67.300%, 67.500%, 67.000%, 68.400%, 68.020%
4. Yvonne Losos De Muniz (DOM), Aquamarijn, 2005 KWPN mare by United x Toermalijn x Gribaldi, owned by Yvonne Losos De Muniz: 67.100%, 66.800%, 66.100%, 65.300%, 66.700%, 66.400%
5. Karen Lipp (USA), Whitney, 2005 Hanoverian mare by White Star x Hauptstutbuch Grace x Grand Cru, owned by Kathleen Oldford: 67.100%, 66.200%, 64.400%, 64.800%, 63.700%, 65.240%
6. Ellesse Tzinberg (PHI), Triviant 2, 2000 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Ellesse Tzinberg: 66.500%, 64.900%, 65.100%, 62.900%, 66.500%, 65.180%
7. Christopher Hickey (USA), Ronaldo, 2006 Danish Warmblood by Blue Hors Romanov x Trostruplunds Scarlet x Blue Hors Don Schufro, owned by Cecelia Stewart: 66.400%, 63.400%, 65.200%, 65.400%, 65.000%, 65.080%
8. Susan Dutta (USA), Currency DC, 2000 Oldenburg gelding by Clintino x Cinderella x Classiker, owned by Susan Dutta: 63.700%, 63.400%, 62.600%, 63.100%, 66.200%, 63.800%