Devon, Pa. – Oct. 1

In spite of the wind and rain, riders headed down centerline to contest the FEI Grand Prix CDI-W qualifier for the Grand Prix Special at Dressage At Devon (Pa.). Christlot Boylen and Drentano splashed to the win with a score of 67.86 percent.

“He’s such a trooper; he was very good,” said Boylen, 68. “He was a bit waterlogged towards the end; I had the feeling his tail was stuck between his hind legs a little, but until then he really played along and did his job.”

The 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding (De Niro – Brenda Lee, Brentano II) stepped up to the Grand Prix last winter in Wellington, Fla., and Boylen has used this year to solidify his skills at the level.

“He’s been training extremely well, getting better and better over the summer,” she said. “Of course the circumstances today stopped us from being able to get what I consider his normal score, which would be 70+, but it was just really difficult.

“It’s a good discipline thing for everybody now and then because, you know, the Olympics can happen and it might be pouring too, so it’s practice,” she continued.

Even with the rain preventing them from besting their previous scores, they finished the class on top and are looking forward to the rest of the weekend. “I just hope it isn’t raining!” she said.

Jill Irving was second in the class aboard Degas 12 with a score of 67.38 percent, and they were followed closely by Lean Wilson Wilkins and Fabian JS, who finished in third on their score of 67.12 percent.

The riders in the ring today weren’t the only ones affected by the inclement weather. Show officials made the decision to reschedule the qualifier for the Grand Prix Freestyle from Friday evening to Saturday, and moved the CDI Grand Prix Freestyle to Sunday, Oct. 4.