Jessica Jo Tate capped a great weekend at the Tryon Fall Dressage FEI CDI-W at Tryon International Equestrian Center (N.C.) by winning the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI-W with Cayman V and the FEI Intermediaire I with Summersby.
Tate and Cayman V, a 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Comeback II—Damgaard’s Brunetee, Lobster), owned by Joseph Tate, ended their week of competition on a high note, finishing ahead of Alexandra Duncan of Canada and her own Vitall, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, in the Special.
“This was my first CDI with Cayman V,” said Tate. “I am just starting out with him in this kind of electric environment. On Friday [in the Grand Prix] I just didn’t have him quick enough and didn’t have him connected enough. The connection wasn’t as good as it can be, so, I went home and watched the video. Today I felt like we definitely improved that. He just tried his heart out for me, so I was really thrilled.”
J.J. Tate on Cayman IV. Photo by RBM Photography
Tate, of Landrum, S.C., purchased the horse with the idea of getting back into the Grand Prix CDI competition arena.
She continued, “It’s exciting that things are moving in the right direction with Cayman because he is still a beginner out here. We love coming to Tryon because it’s so close. It’s a great place to gain experience with an international feel.”
Tate also collected a victory in the FEI Intermediaire I presented by Adequan® piloting Summersby, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare (Sir Donnerhall—St. Pr. Hauptsutbuch Roxanne, Rosenthau), owned by Joseph Tate, on a score of 69.54 percent. “Summer was tired today, but I’ve just been incredibly proud of her this weekend. She’s 10 this year, and she can be pretty fiery and emotional. She just showed up this week and had her game face on. I was thrilled with her consistency and her quality, as well as her complete focus on me.”
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J.J. Tate on Summersby. Photo by RBM Photography
Young U.S. rider Molly Paris and her own Countess, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (Don—Compeed, Solos), rose to the occasion in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Adequan®, earning a 68.37 percent to achieve the victory.
“This is our first CDI-W Grand Prix together and it’s been so amazing!” said an exuberant Paris. “She’s an amazing horse. She’s been great all week.”
Molly Paris on Countess. Photo by RBM Photography
She continued, “I’ve had Countess for about two years, and we bought her simply because I needed a horse to move up on. We’ve done the Under-25 together and Chris Hickey said, ‘You have the horse, now go do the Grand Prix,’ so here we are!”
Paris, currently ranked at No. 29 with Countess on the FEI Youth Dressage U-25 list, is well known for her unique freestyle music, in which this edition features an alternative tune called “Move,” by Saint Raymond.
Moving forward, the 21-year-old plans to continue competing in the Under-25 division. Paris concluded, “I eventually want to come back to the Grand Prix, but we want to end up back at the U-25 championships first.”
Second place in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W presented by Adequan® was awarded to Elizabeth Austin and Steeped In Luck with third going to Debbie Hill and Zarcita.
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At the start of the weekend, Alexandra Duncan of Canada and Vitall captured the FEI Grand Prix presented by Adequan®, earning a 65.60 percent for the win.
Duncan and her own Vitall, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ferro—Jarelle, Aram) entered the CDI ring for the first time together in two years after the horse suffered an injury to his splint bone, which resulted in a lengthy surgery and rehabilitation.
Alexandra Duncan and Vitall. Photo by RBM Photography
“It felt good to be back,” commented Duncan. “I was pretty happy with him today. We had a few small mistakes. Today he had some highlights in the passage, the two-tempis were nice. I was pleased with the extended trot as well. Just the overall feel he gave in there today was great. He was really present and with me.”
Duncan, now based in Loxahatchee, Fla., purchased the gelding when he was a 5-year-old from Germany. The pair will continue on with competition in hopes of representing Canada at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 next September.
