February 17, 2006

Grand Prix at Zada Florida Dressage Classic

Michael Barisone Riding Neruda Claims Second Grand Prix Victory at Wellington

In the afternoon FEI Grand Prix, Michael Barisone and Neruda scored 70.417%, tallying up a total of 1,014 points. Taking second place was Arlene Page of Wellington with her Wild One, who was awarded 999 points for an average of 69.375%. Separated by one point, Canada’s Holzer riding her own Imperioso earned 998 points and third place, scoring 69.306%.

“I thought it was better than two weeks ago,” Barisone said, referring to his win at the USEF High Performance Grand Prix at the Wellington Dressage show where the pair won on a score of 69.292%. “It was more complete. I thought I rode a little clearer and with a little more purpose.”

Barisone pointed out that he is consistently asked now if his goal is qualifying Neruda for the WEG or the World Cup, and that he has a consistent answer. “I say, ‘You know what I learned after all these years? I learned that all I want to do is ride better today than I did yesterday’,” Barisone said, adding, “And I did that today.”

Known for his lofty passage/piaffe and canter work, today Neruda exhibited such lofty suspension in his one-tempis that he appeared to hesitate mid-air in the changes. Barisone explained that Neruda’s canter is “so big and so expressive that that makes it a little hard for him to get those ones if everything’s not perfect. I tried to ride him a little quicker and better and I rode it a little bit wrong on the entry and then about number six I got him stabilized out. He got too big and he hung and he needed to be more forward.”

Judges Mandas, Ransehousen, and Minor also presided over this Grand Prix. Ransehousen and Minor both awarded the victory to Barisone (344 and 339 respectively) with Mandas putting him in second place (331 points) and Page and Wild in first (338).

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