Sunday, February 5, 2007

Super Sunday at Wellington Dressage Bails Out Wash Out

Charlotte Bredahl Baker A Close Second with a Close Friend's Horse

Barely edged into second place, Charlotte Bredahl Baker of California said of her finish in the Special today, “I couldn’t be happier with the horse. I was absolutely thrilled.” Baker is also aiming to compete in the World Cup Final and the World Equestrian Games. She plans to remain in Florida, compete in the upcoming CDIs, and qualify to compete in the USEF National Grand Prix Freestyle Championship/U.S. League Final, which could give her the U.S. slot for the World Cup. She’ll return to California after the Florida winter circuit, but intends to be back on the east coast in June to compete at Gladstone for a trip to the WEG.

Bredahl has had the ride on the 14-year-old Dutch gelding owned by Kathy Pavlich of Solvang, California, since July, taking over the reins from the horse’s long-time partner Carol Plough, who passed away. “I’ve been friends with both Carol and Kathy for at least 12 years, so when Carol passed away, the owner decided to send the horse to me,” Bredahl explained. “He’s just an awesome horse. I just love him.”

Bredahl and the 17-hand chestnut received 8s on their passage and a 9 on their piaffe in the USEF Grand Prix on Friday, taking third place with 68.056%. The score today in the Special was slightly higher at 68.733%. “Today I felt like he was so on. He felt great. It really felt like we had a good ride. I could not have been any happier,” beamed Bredahl. “In the Grand Prix I felt like in the canter work he got a little behind my leg, a little curled up and he didn’t feel as good. Today he felt really, really good. He felt super good today.”