2004 Dressage at Devon - Performance Division

Leslie Reid and Mark, 2004 Devon Grand Prix Freestyle Champion

October 02 , 2004

Devon debutante Leslie Reid made a lasting impression on the sell out crowd of five thousand people that visited 2004 Dressage at Devon on Saturday evening for the Grand Prix Freestyle. Riding a correct, clean freestyle of a fairly high technical level, Reid received a generous score of 77.500% and had an almost 5% point difference to second placed Michael Barisone on Neruda.

Riding the dark bay gelding Mark, the Canadian Leslie Reid won the Grand Prix for Freestyle on Friday with 70.50%. Her kur to Music, which was based on flute music and Spanish castanet themes, was challenging for the horse as it included strings of collection and extension sections, demanding the highest degree of concentration and input from the horse.

In the freestyle, Mark's passage could have been a bit more collected as it e appeared to be rushed at times. One canter pirouette was a bit large and the extended walk could have shown more overtrack. However, overall Mark and Reid showed a very harmonious ride with no major mistakes.

Leslie Reid is pleased about her first Devon experience. "I'm very happy. I just came from the Olympics and there I had ridden too carefully. Here I wanted to step on the gas pedal," Reid confessed.

Reid praises her Mark for his great character. "He's very consistent and has good nerves." In both of Mark's ride, 'tension' was definitely not on the menu. He stayed calm, collected and focused in every single movement. "Only the piaffe and the passage still need some work," Reid explained, "they are a bit flat. He needs to develop more strength."

Canadian Leslie Reid has been training and competing in California in the spring, but added Dressage at Devon to her show calendar to gain World Cup points. "I need World Cup points to be able to ride the Canadian World Cup Finals in Toronto," Reid said. She also mentioned that there was a big difference between showing on the East and West Coast. "Here the atmosphere is more electric. The people are closer, it's more like an indoor show. In California there is more space, it is more open and it feels like an outdoor show."

Mark has been discovered and imported by Willy Arts of DG Bar Ranch and is currently owned by Daryl Andrews of Saint John's Fishing Lodge. Reid also has the black KWPN gelding Lanzar and the chestnut KWPN gelding Orion (by Jazz) in training.

Leslie is currently training on her own. "I want to find my own way," she said, "it's a little easier to do it on my own with all the transport going on. Next year I will get some help."

Text by Astrid Appels for Phelpsphotos.com

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