Wellington, Fla.—Feb. 10   

Steffen Peters and Rosamunde, owned by Four Winds Farm, made an impressive jump to the top of the standings with a score of 75.38 percent in the FEI Grand Prix CDI***, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.

Peters and the impressive 9-year-old Rhinelander mare maintained their consistency with their performance at AGDF, as they have only competed on the West Coast so far this season. The AGDF Grand Prix had only the top three combinations break the 70 percent mark, with Peters and Rosamunde receiving a 75.38 percent. Shelly Francis and Danilo finished in second place with a 72.24 percent, while Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet collected third place honors with a 71.02 percent. 

“She felt great today,” said Peters. “She came into this show with some huge results from shows in California. There’s always that bit of pressure there, but she felt great today and probably was just as good as she was in L.A. I thought we had a very clean test. I saw a bunch of 8.5 and 9.0s in the test, which is exciting, but there is always room for improvement.”

While elaborating on the small improvements Peters would like to make with Rosamunde over the next few months, a few specific movements will be the main focus, including the one-tempis. He explained, “I think it’s clearly in the one-tempis. She still is swinging quite a bit. It’s interesting because when you watch the scoreboard, you can watch what the leader got as you’re watching other tests and she was at an 81 percent after the trot work and there again right before the one-tempis. Those are still expensive and you know, with her finding that perfect tempo for them. If it’s too forward, she’ll swing, and if it’s too collected, she does the same. It’s a bit tricky.

“At the end of the day though, we have to appreciate that they even do the one-tempis,” laughed Peters. “This will take a little bit of time, but there’s nothing wrong with a 75 percent for a 9-year-old horse. I’m very proud of her and honored that I get to ride a horse like her.” 

Francis and Danilo performed another beautiful test in the Grand Prix, riding late in the order and securing second place. She said, “Overall, from the last show to this show because I’m going show by show, he’s more in front of my leg in certain places. There are a few moments where I think he could be a bit more, but he’s trying really hard to keep up with me.

“Now that I’m making him more sensitive, I have to make sure that I’m making less mistakes myself,” noted Francis, who has seen consistent improvement from Danilo over the course of the past year and a half at the large tour.

“He feels really good. I had to squeeze a little bit in a few places, but he’s just improving, which is what I want him to continue doing,” she continued.

Shelly Francis and Danilo on their way to second place in the FEI Grand Prix CDI***. Photo by SusanJStickle.com

The 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding was a solid mount for Francis last year, but has come into his own in the Grand Prix over the past year, setting the her up nicely for a strong winter campaign alongside Francis’ top mount Doktor.

“It’s constantly about getting him fitter without overdoing it too much. I just steadily, two days a week, do a bit harder days with a day in between of lighter work. We do it week after week and he gets fitter, stronger, even more willing, and responsive,” said Francis. “You put the pressure on once or twice a week and then he just gets better and better.” 

Perry-Glass has also admittedly come leaps and bounds since taking the 2015 AGDF circuit by storm in small tour competition with “Dublet.” The pair has been extremely competitive in large tour competition so far this season, in just their first few international competitions so far this year.

“We really worked on that connection and throughness in the off season. Today we had a bit of an issue in the extensions. It started off a bit rough, but he came back to me so nicely and that’s also what we’ve been working on with Debbie [McDonald],” she explained. “It’s about getting his attention in a positive way and even if we make a mistake here and there, he always seems to come right back to me. We’re getting him stronger and more comfortable in the Grand Prix.”

Kasey Perry-Glass took third in the FEI Grand Prix CDI*** aboard Goerklintgaards Dublet. Photo by SusanJStickle.com

Perry-Glass has been working with McDonald since her recent permanent relocation from her original hometown of Orangeville, Calif., to Wellington. She and Dublet continue to display poise and control in the ring, and Perry has learned to continue riding through the mistakes that may arise during their tests, which has helped their scores tremendously. 

“Specifically right now we’re keeping him really happy. I feel like if he’s doing everything in training in a positive way,” she said. “We are working it day by day on that through-ness and connection. It’s about the balance. I’m riding with Debbie four days a week and having that consistency is really important for us,” she noted. “It’s more now about getting him focused in the arena and keeping him really connected with me in the ring.”

Final Results FEI Grand Prix CDI 3* presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total %

1. Steffen Peters (USA), Rosamunde, 2007 Rhinelander mare by Rock Forever x First Lady x Fidermark owned by Four Winds Farm: 76.200%, 76.800%, 74.600%, 73.800%, 75.500%, 75.380%

2. Shelly Francis (USA), Danilo, 2004 Hanoverian gelding by De Niro x Anabella x Andiamo owned by Patricia Stempel: 72.800%, 71.800%, 72.200%, 74.800%, 69.600%, 72.240%

3. Kasey Perry-Glass (USA), Goerklintgaards Dublet, 2003 Danish Warmblood gelding by Diamond Hit x La Costa x Olympic Ferro owned by Diane Perry: 71.200%, 72.800%, 70.600%, 69.500%, 71.000%, 71.020%

4. Anna Marek (USA), Unico G, 2001 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Negro x Kleora x Animo owned by Anna Marek: 70.900%, 68.700%, 68.000%, 70.200%, 69.900%, 69.540%

5. Charlotte Jorst (USA), Kastels Akeem Foldager, 2002 Danish Warmblood gelding by Akinos x Lobelia Foldager x Loran owned by Kastel Denmark: 68.200%, 67.700%, 66.800%, 69.500%, 72.600%, 68.960%

6. Sharon McCusker (USA), Wrigley, Dutch Warmblood gelding by Son De Niro x Pinomia x Rhodiamont owned by Sharon McCusker: 66.400%, 70.700%, 67.000%, 68.600%, 69.200%, 68.380%

7. Laura Tomlinson (GBR), Rosalie B, 2006 Westphalian mare by Rubin -Royal x Normaid x Newcastle owned by Dr. & Mrs. Bechtolscheimer: 71.400%, 66.000%, 65.100%, 65.700%, 71.300%, 67.900%

T-8. Laura Tomlinson (GBR), Unique, 2004 Holsteiner mare by Caspaccio x Grana x Lord owned by Dr. & Mrs. Bechtolscheimer: 69.000%, 69.200%, 67.300%, 67.700%, 65.000%, 67.640%

T-8. Beatrice Marienau (USA), Stefano 8, 1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Gribaldi x Gracia x Actueel owned by Beatrice Marienau: 65.200%, 68.200%, 66.900%, 69.000%, 68.900%, 67.640%