Posted, March 16, 2006

Leslie Morse and Kingston Win FEI Grand Prix CDI 3* at Zada Enterprises, LLC WEF Dressage Classic CDI 3*/Y

Topping a field of 26 horses, Leslie Morse of Beverly Hills, California, riding Kingston won the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3* at the Zada Enterprises, LLC WEF Dressage Classic CDI 3*/Y in Wellington, Florida, today. Morse and her 14-year-old Dutch stallion by Voltaire out of Gisnette earned a score of 71.583%. Canadian Ashley Holzer of New York, New York, earned the same score on both of her stallions, 70.708%, to tie for second place with Gambol, an 11-year-old Dutch stallion owned by Dr. Diane Fellows and Holzer, and Imperioso, a 16-year-old Dutch stallion owned by Holzer who was her mount at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

All but one of the international panel of judges placed Morris first, with only the judge at E putting them third. Judging the FEI Grand Prix today were: Elizabeth McMullen (O) Canada at E; Stephen Clark (O) Great Britain at H; Angelika Froemming (I) Germany at C; Axel Steiner (O) USA at M; and Hilda Gurney (I) USA at B.

“I’m glad to be back in the ring,” said Morse. “Now I’ve got another test under my belt so that’s great.” Prior to today’s victory, in the past seven months Morse has only competed in one other show, the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI (March 3-5) in Loxahatchee, Florida, where Kingston placed second in the Grand Prix. Morse and Kingston are currently qualified to compete in the Selection Trials for the World Equestrian Games (June 15-18 at Gladstone, New Jersey) and are using the Wellington CDI as a preparation for the trials.

Photo by SusanJStickle.com