On location with Sara Lieser

Of the 47 horses who started cross-country yesterday, only 37 were left to present in the Sunday jog. Young rider Bonner Carpenter did not present Acapulco Jazz.

Hildago de L’Ile was the only international horse held, but France’s Nicolas Touzaint was able to breathe a sigh of relief when he was passed upon re-inspection.

Both Ralph Holstein’s Arctic Dancer and Jan Byyny’s Syd Kent were held. Syd Kent was passed on re-inspection, but unfortunately Arctic Dancer was spun.

Craig Thompson headed up a group of riders from the Professional Riders Organization in a press conference at Rolex Kentucky to get the word out about the new group.

Allison Springer, Phillip Dutton, Buck Davidson and Leslie Law were among the riders who joined Thompson to promote the new organization. “We asked ourselves what could we do as riders to make our sport better at every level,” said Thompson.

Michael Barisone had a tough decision to make yesterday. His fifth-placed finish in the Grand Prix was good enough to give him a choice of whether to ride in the freestyle or the Grand Prix Special at the Exquis World Dressage Masters in Wellington, Fla. The glory was in the big evening class, but Barisone knew that if he chose the freestyle, then Anky van Grunsven would have to ride in the Special.

Canadian Olympic eventer Peter Gray had a secret. While eventing was his first love, he’d always secretly harbored a desire to try out the highest levels of dressage.

“I love show jumping too,” he admitted. “I love all types of riding. In the late ‘80s I was living in England, and at the point Carl Hester was still eventing. I helped him with his jumping, and he helped me with my dressage.”

Luiza Tavares Almeida represented Brazil at the Pan American Games at the mature age of 16. She was the youngest equestrian competitors there, and now two years later she’s proving herself in the Grand Prix with her Lusitano Samba. On Friday, Jan. 30, she won the Grand Prix freestyle in the Wellington CDI*** over Catherine Morelli and Be Se.

In the small tour, Jan Brons once again emerged victorious with Teutobod. The pair debuted their Intermediaire freestyle to win over Marco Bernal with Halbgott and Peter Gray with Collo 5.

Ravel brought his “A” game to Wellington, Fla., for the Exquis World Dressage Masters and proved he’s only getting better with time. He and Steffen Peters put in their best Grand Prix test to date and came away the winner over some of Europe’s best riders with 75.57 percent.

Canada’s Ashley Holzer showed that the North Americans really can compete by placing second with Pop Art (71.31%) over the Netherlands’ Hans-Peter Minderhoud with Exquis Escapado (71.14%) and Edward Gal on Interfloor Next One (70.17%).

Jan Brons is on a roll with Teutodbod. He and "Teddy" won both their small tour classes last week at the GCDA Festival Opener CDI, and they did it again this week at the Wellington CDI***. The pair put in a polished and flowing Intermediaire I test today, Jan. 29, to beat out Colombia's Marco Bernal, who placed second with Halbgott and third with Putphyr-Inshala.

Canada's Peter Gray grabbed fourth place aboard Collo 5 over Yvonne Losos de Muniz of the Dominican Republic with San Piko and Shannon Dueck on S Infinity.

Isabelle Leibler may only be 13 years old, but she knows what she wants, and she’s not afraid to go for it. This petite pony rider plans to ride Grand Prix one day, and she’s starting her journey by tearing up the FEI pony circuit in Florida.
   

One of the most exciting dressage competitions in the United States began quietly with a quick and successful jog. Every horse presented passed with no issue. A few last-minute substitutions did change the roster slightly. George Williams and Rocher replaced Joe Sandven, and Canada's Tina Irwin and Amicelli replaced Jacqueline Brooks.

Riders were allowed to school in the International Arena after the jog was completed. The show kicks off at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, with the Grand Prix test.

Editorial staffer Sara Lieser is off to Wellington, Fla., for the Exquis World Dressage Masters competition. This is the first time a five-star dressage show has been held in the United States. The European stars are flying in to see if they can beat the Americans on their own turf. Check back daily for photos, stories, interviews and more.