Entries were light in the high performance (HP) qualifying classes for the national intermediate and grand prix championships and 2006 World Equestrian Games, due to a date conflict with a three-star CDI (International show) in Ohio, and increasing pressure from the Florida circuit.
Most riders aiming for the national championships in Gladstone, N.J., next month have already met the qualifying criteria from earlier shows in Florida.
“I’m planning to drop the HP classes next year,” said show manager Kay Whitlock. “We’re going to keep the young rider qualifiers, and design the format around the amateurs and juniors.”
But strong entries in the open FEI classes kept the judges, one American, one Canadian and one German, busy all weekend. Jim Koford of Southern Pines rode the top Grand Prix horse. His 12-year-old black stallion, Donatelli 2, was bright and elastic, scoring 65- and 66-percent tests.
Score averages would have the pair ranked ninth in the country this year, easily qualifying for the national championships, but two scores were earned under the same foreign judge, and this was the last qualifier before Gladstone.
“It’s disappointing about Gladstone,” Koford said. “But I’m so happy with the way my horse is going, it’s encouraging to earn a 66 in front of an ‘O’ (FEI Official, the highest ranking) judge.”
Other local notables in the FEI ring were Nan Pieroni and Leigh Swanson. Pieroni, of Seven Lakes, and her Juneau won an Intermediate I class (62 percent) with an expressive and buoyant test. Swanson, of Southern Pines, placed fifth in the $500 Prix St. George sweepstakes class with her Dantzer.
The musical freestyle classes also claimed center stage in the main arena. Rhonda Dretel of Southern Pines and her Leander finished third in the $500 USDF freestyle class with a pleasing ride to music with a country twang.
“I only got the music last weekend,” Dretel said. “I was really sweating this test, but it was really fun.”
Dretel also won the $500 third-level sweepstakes class, and another open third-level class with scores in the upper 60s. In the same division, Cindy Paules and her General Grant won a large qualifying class (67 percent) and Martha Hall moved Isabella up to test three, and scored a personal best (60.2).
At fourth level, Nina Hatcher and her Ohwenn made their show ring debut to win an open class (62.7), and Rebecca Vick and Antares and Beth Daniels with Mozart were consistently in the top ribbons.
At second level, Clarence McLean’s Agathon won the $500 sweepstakes and a large qualifying class (62.7, 62.6) with Theresa Horne up.
At first level, Debbie Witson, Diana Hoberecht, Leigh Swanson and Arlene Bearak were all in the ribbons.
The training-level classes were huge, but Tina McKenzie and her Uprising managed to earn a blue (66.6), and Amy Bresky was in the top ribbons every time out, including a second place in the $500 sweepstakes, with her Lusitano gelding Victoriano IGS. Event pro Charlie Plumb was busy training in the white rectangle, and posted a fourth place (65) on Westerly.
Elizabeth O’Donnell was back in the ring with a lovely new horse, Trademark, who just came out of the traces from an earlier career as a driving horse.
For complete results, visit www.carolinadressage.com.
