August 14, Gladstone, N.J.
Drawing the No. 1 spot isn’t usually considered lucky in dressage competition, but Kayce Redmond made it work to her advantage when she earned the highest score (64.76%) of the nine-horse class aboard Latino in the Brentina Cup Test at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions.
“I was really happy with it. He was really honest in there,” said Redmond, 24. “I had some mistakes I’m not used to having, like in the changes. The twos felt great, and then the ones started, and then they stopped. I was a little bit surprised there because that’s not normal. That was unfortunate.”
Nicholia Zamora, 28, rode Ramsgate D into second place (64.05%) ahead of Kassandra Barteau, 22, on BeSe (63.02%).
Latino, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood (Leandro—Madonna), competed to Grand Prix with Redmond’s trainer and mentor Karen Lipp. Lipp imported the gelding with Michael and Dian Deimler, and when the time came to sell him, they decided to market him as a Brentina Cup mount.
“I just started riding him at the end of April, but I’ve known him and watched Karen ride and train him for a couple of years,” said Redmond. “I knew him, but it’s a new riding partnership.”
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Redmond admitted the pairing was likely to be brief since Latino is for sale, but she had nothing but gratitude toward the Deimlers and Lipp for giving her the opportunity to ride him.
“I’ve worked for Karen for 10 years. She’s been great about helping my business and promoting my business. I work for her in the mornings, and then in the afternoon I travel around the area in Alpharetta, Georgia, and teach my own lessons,” said Redmond.
Zamora first contested the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Young Adult “Brentina Cup” Championship in 2007 aboard Nimbus, where she placed second.
She was the oldest rider in the competition then, and she was thrilled when the U.S. Equestrian Federation extended the age limit to 28 last year, so she could return. She got a late start in dressage, as she began her riding career in eventing and was long listed for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Zamora currently runs her own training business in Murrieta, Calif., and trains with Kathleen Raine and David Wightman.
Although she joked about being the “grandma” of the competition, because she’s one of the oldest competitors, Zamora showed earnest appreciation for the opportunity to ride in the Brentina Cup.
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“It doesn’t get any easier to get a horse to that level,” said Zamora. “I was grateful the first time. It’s not common that a horse can get to that level, let alone with somebody who’s also learning to train it to that level. It’s a very magical, fortunate thing. I’m very appreciative that I’ve had the opportunity to do that. It’s only because of my work with David and Kathleen that that’s even possible.”
Zamora has ridden Sharolyn Naftel’s “Ramsay,” a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Monaco—Emma) gelding for the last three years.
Like Redmond, Barteau has only had the ride on BeSe for a short term. She spent the winter as a working student for Cathy Morelli in Florida, and Morelli generously let her ride the 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Flemmingh—Wabatsje). However, Barteau returned to her home in Maple Park, Ill., in March and just started riding BeSe again last week.
The pair made some mistakes, such as breaking to canter in the first extended trot, which Barteau blamed on herself.
“I overrode him in the beginning. I didn’t have my reins short enough and up and out to the bridle,” she said. “It’s really me and my timing and staying connected to him again. I think I know what I need to work on for tomorrow. I’m happy with him always. This is an awesome opportunity.”
Full results on www.foxvillage.com.
