Ashley Holzer is proving herself to be simply unbeatable this winter, winning another hat trick of victories in the first two days of the CDI at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby in Loxahatchee, Fla., on March 3-5.
The field for the Grand Prix was enormous with 37 starters, but the Canadian Olympian topped them all aboard Imperioso (70.37%). The partnership between this practiced pair was obvious as they rode a clean test for the high marks.
“Peri’s” piaffes were strong, and both horse and rider looked confident throughout the test, despite the whipping winds.
Leslie Morse and Kingston finished a close second (69.33%), and judge Axel Steiner commented that the top four combinations were so close in talent and ability that it was merely a matter of who had the best form on the day when choosing a winner.
Kingston and Morse put together their usual impressive test with strong piaffes and canter pirouettes. But they seemed to lack a little bit of the pizzazz that would’ve moved them into the first spot, perhaps because they are a bit rusty in the show ring after a nice winter break in California.
Katherine Bateson-Chandler also made the top three with the Jane Clarke’s delightful FBW Kennedy (69.08%). This pair has gotten stronger with every competition since Bateson-Chandler took over the reins from Robert Dover last fall. At times Kennedy was strong in the test, but he looked relaxed and consistently through his back.
Holzer also grabbed fourth with her greener Grand Prix mount, Gambol (68.66%), and Morse rounded out the top five with Tip Top 962 (68.41%).
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Other notable rides in the Grand Prix included George Williams and Marnix. The bay gelding appears to have grown up this year, as he put in an attentive and accurate test for Williams to finish in seventh (66.70%) behind Colombia’s Cesar Parra and Galant du Serein (67.41%).
Melissa Taylor Yee also had her best Grand Prix to date with Succes. Yee cheerfully took the blame for any mistakes, admitting she still has a long way to go to really learn how to ride Lars Petersen’s horse. But she accomplished her goal of clean flying changes and rode a solid test for eighth place (66.54%).
It was a disappointing day for Bruno Greber when he cantered in, halted, and realized he’d forgotten to drop his whip aboard Carreras 6.
Holzer also dominated the small tour by winning the Prix St. Georges (72.65%) on Friday and the Intermediaire I (73.33%) on Saturday with her cheerful chestnut Pop Art. This little gelding has impressive and consistent impulsion putting him atop the standings time and time again.
Though Petersen rode two elegant and accurate performances aboard Yee’s Dacardo, he still couldn’t come within three percentage points of Holzer and “Poppy.”
Melissa Jackson grabbed third in the Intermediaire I with Welllington (68.83%) and placed fifth with him the previous day in the Prix St. Georges (67.15%).
Charlotte Bredahl Baker and Eskada tied with Michelle Gibson and Lex Barker (68.16%) for fourth place in the Intermediaire I. Gibson also placed fourth in the Prix St. Georges behind Nicole Bellah and Avant Garde (68.10%).
