2003 Dressage at Devon

Suzanne LaPorte and Team Independence Go Gold at 2003 USAE Junior Riders Championships

Sixteen-year old Suzanne LaPorte of Loxahatchee, FL and Team Independence have won the individual and team gold medal at the 2003 USAE Junior Riders Championships, which were held at 2003 Dressage at Devon. Twelve Junior Riders from across the United States qualified to compete in these Finals and were divided into three teams based on scores: Team Freedom, Team Independence and Team Liberty

Team Independence, consisting of Caitlin Masiel on Melvino, Natalie Perry on Rubina, Tyler Haney on Phoenix and Emma Gaskell on Figaro gathered a total average of 63.151% based on their Team Test and Individual Test performances.

Team Liberty, which featured Suzanne LaPorte on Wittus, Kelsey Bullock on Highlander, Jessica Kissel on Numerique and Leigh Romano on Domino's Jongleur, were good for an average of 61.858%

Team Freedom came in third. Jennifer Dainer on Gable, Jocelyn Wiese on Chopin, Sarah Mason on Celestin and Taryn Yates on Orisis collected a 60.185% team average.

Suzanne LaPorte was the strongest junior rider throughout the entire championships. LaPorte and her Danish warmblood Wittus won all three classes: the preliminary test with 65.286%, the team test with 62.906% and the individual test with 67.744%.

Wittus is a very electrical horse and was well on the aids. His lateral movements were outstanding, but there were a few tact errors in the extended trot as he almost broke into canter. Totally going for the individual gold, LaPorte took risks in her final ride and it paid off.

LaPorte is trained by Bent Jensen, and was in Europe with Lisa Wilcox and Ernst Hoyos for three months. LaPorte and Wittus improved considerably there, but returned to the U.S. to compete at Devon. "It's my last junior test with him because I want to move up to Young Riders," LaPorte said.

by Astrid Appels

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