The consistent rain didn’t bother Jocelyn Wiese and Lamborghini during the Brentina Cup competition today at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival Of Champions in Gladstone, N.J. The pair skipped around the puddles to win the class with a 66.41 percent.
“He has big feet; he’s a mudder,” Wiese, Keene, N.H., said with a laugh. “My ride went really well, it was very consistent, and my horse was extremely rideable in the arena. He was with me the whole time, and it was by far the best Brentina Cup test we’ve done all season. I wanted to go in and have a clean ride and come out confident, and we succeeded in that.”
While Wiese, 21, set the bar high for herself, she’s looking forward to Saturday, when the nine horse-and-rider pairs will perform the Young Rider Grand Prix test. The scores from both tests will be averaged to determine the overall winner.
“Our one-tempis were definitely not our highlight today,” she said. “We need to improve that for Saturday. There are 15 instead of 9, so we need to step up our game.”
Amanda Johnson and Pip were close behind in second place (65.89%), and Duvallier, with Kim Schisler, in the tack scored a 65.74 percent to grab third. Alyssa Eidbo on Johnny Cash, the top qualifier for the finals, finished a strong fourth (64.97%).
Wiese and Lamborghini are relative newcomers to the Grand Prix level, contesting only three qualifiers in Florida and one in New Jersey to get to Gladstone for their first attempt at the Brentina Cup. Before the championships, she spent two weeks training with Pam Goodrich of Boscawen, N.H., and credits much of her success to Renee Isler, a fellow rider and one of her sponsors.
“Renee made it possible for me to get to these championships,” Wiese said. “She’s been amazing, a great supporter and friend.”
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The Grand Prix and Prix St. Georges were supposed to take place after the Brentina Cup class, but due to a waterlogged arena and heavy rain, the riders voted to postpone until tomorrow.
Originally, 14 pairs were set to contest the Grand Prix championships, but Arlene (Tuny) Page did not present Wild One.
Revised Schedule
Friday
8:00 – Young Rider Team Test
10:20 – Grand Prix
1:30 – Junior Team Test
3:40 – Prix St. Georges
Saturday
9:00 — Intermediaire I
11:20 — Junior Individual Test
1:45 — Brentina Cup FEI Young Rider Grand Prix Test
3:15 — Driving Demonstration
3:30 — Vaulting Demonstration
4:00 — Paraequestrian Demonstration
4:30 — Grand Prix Freestyle
Sunday
8:00 — Young Rider Individual Test
10:10 — Grand Prix Special
1:00 — Intermediaire I Freestyle
