2005 Dressage at Devon

Leopold, Pacino and Balmoral Win FEI Young Horse Classes

A special series of FEI Young Horse classes took place today at 2005 Dressage at Devon. The North American Breeders Futurity sponsored these FEI 4-year old, 5-year old and 6-year old classes and had a huge purse of prize money to offer for its winners and competitors. These NABF classes were only open to North American born dressage horses.

Winning the FEI 4-year old class were Jules Anderson and Leopold who received a 79.000% score from the judges' panel. The Hungarian judge Barnabas Mandi praised the 4-year old Hanoverian gelding for his quality basic gaits. "All three gaits are very nice and active," Mandi said. Placing second were Tara Celentano aboard the KWPN bred U Pearl Harbor (Indoctro out of Ikerros). They received 71.800% from the judges and referred Jessica Jo Tate on the KWPN Ukeegan to third place with 70.400%. The chestnut Ukeegan is a very rhythmical, flowing horse despite the fact that he could have had a more uphill conformation. "This is an attractive horse, with a clear correct rhythm and he keeps the tempo well in the lenghtenings," Mandi said.

First place in the NABF ranking at the NABF Finals for 4 year old horses at Dressage at Devon was French Henry by Frohwind, ridden by Sabine Schut-Kery, Cedar Hill, TX and owned by Sharon Zaidins, Coppell, TX. He was bred by Vanessa Carlson, Woodridge Farm, OK.

The 5-year old division was won by Tami Glover on Pacino, a Hilltop Farm bred gelding by Parabol. Glover scored a winning 75.00% and was praised for his clear rhythm in the trot work. The highlight of the test was the walk, which showed "nice overtrack and excellent relaxation," according to the judges' panel. The winners of yesterday's FEI class, Erin Sweeney and Reese, finished in second place today with a fantastic ride. Under Sweeney, the Marefield Meadows bred Reese (by Rienzi) showed a very cadenced trot with nice rhythm and swing. According to the judges, "the trot was elegant, light and with nice self carriage. The walk could have been more engaged, more ground covering. The canter is nice, upwards and always uphill." A hiccup in the two simple changes meddled with the score for submissiveness, pushing Sweeney back to second place with 72.8%.

In the 6-year old division, the Canadian bred Hanoverian Balmoral (by Belcanto) dominated. Under Jacqueline Brooks, Balmoral scored 78.000%. The elegant bay gelding, who is owned by Anne Welch, has a lovely cadenced trot, but was a bit slow behind in the extensions. This did get better after the canter work. The highlight of Brooks' test was without a doubt the canter in which Balmoral showed four outstanding flying changes. Brooks beat Lisa Blackmon on the KWPN bred Saint Simmon (by Rafurstinsels). The walk was good, but could have been more active, the trot showed a clear 2-beat rhythm but the horse lost some balance in the middle of the test. The judges stressed that Saint Simmon had "to take more weight on the hindlegs to give the shoulder more freedom." Blackmon and Saint Simmon scored 70.20%

by Astrid Appels

Back to the Index