Nine riders will contest the U.S. Equestrian Federation National Grand Prix Freestyle Championships in Wellington, Fla. on March 17-18.
But only four of those riders will be vying for a spot in the FEI World Cup Final in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, April 20-23, even though the freestyle championships are also the U.S. League Final for the United States.
Many riders have decided to sit out this year\’s World Cup Final in hopes that they\’ll be chosen to represent the United States at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, instead in August. The WEG Selection Trials will be held in mid-June in Gladstone, N.J.
The combinations who are aiming for the World Cup are:
• Leslie Morse on Tip Top 962
• Arlene Page on Wild One
• George Williams on Marnix
• Karen Lipp on Caribi
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The top two from this group will qualify to compete at the FEI World Cup Final, as long as their scores exceed 68 percent in the Grand Prix and exceed 70 percent in the freestyle.
The five other pairs who\’ll challenge them for the U.S. freestyle title are:
• Michael Barisone on Neruda
• Pierre St Jacques on Lucky Tiger
• Jessica Jo Tate on Cambay
• Melissa Taylor Yee on Succes
• Karin Reid-Offield on Hexagon\’s Louisville
The competition will take place at night under the lights of the De Nemethy Arena at the Palm Beach Polo Club.
