Young Horses Show Their Potential in Final Day at IHS Champions Cup CDI-W

Loxahatchee, FL - The International Horse Sport Champions Cup CDI-W’s Sunday class offerings attracted a number of promising young horses whose riders hoped to give them experience in preparation for a move up the ranks. Local and international competitors alike persevered through windy weather to put in strong performances at Equestrian Estates’ IHS Champions Park in Loxahatchee. Evi Strasser and daughter Tanya Strasser-Shostak both rode 9-year-old horses to wins in the Freestyle classes. Strasser started the day off by scoring 69.042% aboard Rigaudon Tyme to take the honors in the Intermediaire 1 Freestyle CDI1*, and Strasser-Shostak followed up on her mother’s effort with a score of 64.208% on Deluxe Tyme in the Young Rider Freestyle. “I was very happy with it,” Strasser said of her ride. “He was trying very hard. It’s getting better and better. We’re going to do a couple more small tour events in the middle of the season and continue training him to the Grand Prix level,” she added. “This is just a way to go out in the ring and get confident. Once we know that he’s not worried about the ring any more, that he’s consistent in it, then we’ll go up. That’s the plan.”

Strasser-Shostak was pleased with Deluxe Tyme’s effort in his first freestyle competition. “I was happy that he dealt with the music well,” she commented. “I was disappointed that I missed the changes, but I hope I can get them better by the next show.”

Strasser-Shostak just recently took over the ride on Deluxe Tyme from her mother. “I’ve only ridden him for probably three and a half weeks, so it’s kind of a really big rush!” she said. “I want to continue getting him used to the ring. Two shows ago, he was just terrified of everything, so I’d say he came a long way already. I just want to get some mileage on him and then see how things go from there!”

Several other riders mentioned their hopes for the future with their talented young horses. “We are going all the way,” said Hans Werner Dressler, who scored 60.500% with Lotario to win the USEF Fourth Level Test of Choice. “This was his second show – we just had one show at First Level before this.” Lotario has already more than paid back on his owner’s investment: Dressler purchased the stunning gray gelding from Shelly Francis for just one dollar.

The USEF Third Level Test 3 pitted Maya Markowski on Diego against Chris Sanders on Lyric, and the two combinations battled it out for the win, each earning high scores from the judges. Sanders edged Markowski to take first, scoring 70.577% to Markowski’s 69.167%.

“He’s really sweet to ride and tries so hard,” Sanders said of the 7-year-old Lyric. “Last year we did First Level, when he was 6. I did my first Third Level a month ago. He doesn’t have that much show experience yet – we’re just trying to get him out and see what he’s like.”

Markowski was happy with her performance with Diego, although disappointed that she went off course at one point. “He was good! Except for my Alzheimer’s,” she laughed. She plans to compete Diego at the Prix St. Georges level in Canada this year.

USEF First Level Test 3 winner Gabriel Meyer was thrilled with the 6-year-old Drum Major, who earned a 10 for his walk en route to a score of 76.774%. “He’s just a young boy – he just turned 6, and this is his first real season,” Meyer said. “He’s a wonderful, wonderful horse and it’s all about the miles at this point.”

Also scoring high were Holger Bechtloff and Clapton JP, who achieved an impressive 82.600% in the Young Horse Test for 6-Year-Olds.

“My ride was great,” Bechtloff said. “The horse always performs very, very well. He is so smart, intelligent and willing.”

“We are hopefully going to the 6-year-old championship,” he added.

The FEI or Equivalent Test of Choice class capped the day, providing a preview of several horses ready to make their marks in CDI competition. United States Dressage Federation President George Williams had the highest score of the class, riding Betsy Juliano’s Riccidoff to earn 66.118%. Riccidoff was the sales topper at the 2010 Performance Sales International (PSI) Auction in Ankum, Germany.

“I was pleased with him and with the things we’ve been working on,” Williams said. “He was very good and obedient with the wind. Overall I was very pleased with his attitude and how he tried in there. Right now we’ll continue with the Prix St. Georges and possibly do the Developing Horse later in the season.”

Megan Glynn put in a strong effort in her first Intermediaire 1 test to place second, earning 64.539% with Tyto. “The test went very well,” Glynn said. “This was my first I-1. I remembered it! Thank God!” she laughed. “We’ve been doing St. Georges all season, and we’re going into our first CDI in two weeks. Ramping it up – I’m really excited!”

Louisa-Marcelle Eadie finished third with Odin on 62.961% and sixth with Roseview’s Donna Classica on 61.649%. “We had a windswept ride!” she said after Odin’s test. “So we had to get his concentration back a little bit.” She noted that Odin is just turning 8 and was competing in only his second Prix St. Georges.

“I’m happy with him,” she added. “He’s schooling a lot of the Grand Prix now, but obviously he needs a lot more show experience. We’ll work on a lot of the small tour things for now and continue to work on his Grand Prix at home.”

Fourth-placed Carmen Elisa Franco was bringing Top Gun back to the show ring after a short hiatus. “We haven’t been to a show in a couple of months and it was really good coming back with him,” Franco said. “We are going to keep showing small tour this season and then go from there. He’s doing really well.”

Marta Renilla, who traveled from Texas to compete in the Champions Cup Grand Prix classes with Presumido, rode Wec’s Mistico to fifth place with 61.842%. Renilla has trained the 7-year-old Wec’s Mistico since he was 5. “I’m very pleased with him,” she said. “He’s still very green but he listened to me and he was responsive.” Renilla added that she thinks the young horse has a bright future.

Sunday’s classes closed out a successful weekend of Champions Cup competition, highlighted by double wins by Lars Petersen and Mariett in Friday’s Grand Prix and Saturday’s Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W.

For more information about International Horse Sport, log onto ihspb.com.

Results – International Horse Sport Champions Cup CDI-W
Sunday, March 24, 2013

FEI Intermediaire 1 Freestyle CDI1* USEF HP GAIG/U $1000
1. Evi Strasser – Rigaudon Tyme - 69.042%

FEI Young Rider Freestyle NAJYRC
1. Tanya Strasser-Shostak – Deluxe Tyme - 64.208%

FEI YH Test for 6-Year-Olds
1. Holger Bechtloff – Clapton JP - 82.600%

USEF First Level Test 3 O,AA,J/Y GAIG/USDF Qualify
1. Gabriel Meyer – Drum Major – 76.774%

USEF Third Level Test 3 O,AA,J/Y GAIG/USDF Qualify
1. Chris Sanders – Lyric – 70.577%
2. Maya Markowski – Diego – 69.167%

USEF Fourth Level Test of Choice Open
1. Hans Werner Dressler – Lotario – 60.500%

FEI or Equivalent Test of Choice Open GAIG/USDF Q
1. George Williams – Riccidoff – 66.118%
2. Megan Glynn – Tyto – 64.539%
3. Louisa-Marcelle Eadie – Odin – 62.961%
4. Carmen Elisa Franco – Top Gun – 62.829%
5. Marta Renilla – Wec's Mistico – 61.842%
6. Louisa-Marcelle Eadie – Roseview's Donna Classica – 61.649%