The Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions is a familiar haunt for Leslie Morse and Tip Top 962, but now they can add a blue ribbon to their collection of rosettes from the National Grand Prix Championships.
Last to go in today’s Grand Prix test on June 19, the veteran pair laid down a solid and correct performance to clinch the win with 72.00 percent.
“I wasn’t sure what the other scores were,” said Morse, Beverly Hills, Calif., “I was more focused on preparing Tip Top so when we entered the arena we would do the test he could do. I wanted to put in a solid, solid ride, and that’s what we did.”
Pierre St. Jacques and Lucky Tiger had the first ride of the morning, and they set a mark of 68.59 percent that no one met until Morse.
“He rose to the occasion and let me ride him,” said St. Jacques of the 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding. “He was really trying hard, we had one mistake [in the last piaffe] but there’s more in that horse, and he keeps getting better and better.”
St. Jacques said his horse had really settled after touring the country’s eventing scene with his girlfriend, Canadian eventer Samantha Taylor.
“I took him to a lot of events and just let him hang out,” said St. Jacques, Anthony, Fla. “He just chilled out. A lot of people, when they saw me schooling on the dressage day, were really scared, but I told them I would never make the time.”
Olympus, a new mount for Michael Barisone, placed third with 67.59 percent. Barisone had to leave his Olympic reserve horse, Neruda, home due to a health issue.
“This is only the third time I’ve competed him,” Barisone said. “I sort of don’t know what to expect from him; he couldn’t be any different than Neruda. He’s solid, he’s not flighty, he’s not spooky. I’m getting to know him a little bit now, and I have not asked him nearly what he’s capable of.”
Due to the soggy weather yesterday, the Grand Prix riders will ride the freestyle tomorrow on June 20 at 4:30 p.m. and will then do the Special on Sunday morning.
“I have a new freestyle, and I think it will be exciting and fun, surprisingly fun,” said Morse. “We tried different kinds of music, and I’m thinking that this is his music. It’s got a lot of Tip Top in it. Lots of beat, heart and soul, rhythm—it just makes him come alive.”
“Now it’s fun,” added St. Jacques with a smile. “In both the Special and the freestyle you can really go for it. They’re much more powerful tests. From now on it’s pedal to the metal and just go.”
Lauren Sammis and Sagacious HF, one of the favorites coming into the competition, had a few green moments during their test. The gelding anticipated the one-tempis and broke into the canter during the extended trot, but started and finished the test well.
An Outstanding Field
Fierce competition made the Prix St. Georges test the most exciting of the day. The top six pairs scored over 70 percent, and the quality of the class left many dressage enthusiasts excited about the future.
Dea II emerged at the top of the pack. The 9-year-old Hanoverian mare, ridden by Katherine Bateson-Chandler, rose to the occasion and scored 73.10 percent.
“She showed me that she’s a true international horse,” said Bateson-Chandler, Wellington, Fla. “She was great through the winter and had one bad show where she was intimidated by the environment, but she has shown me she’s grown up. Her extended trot has improved a lot, and overall she is just more secure with her tests. She’s a princess, she just thinks she’s queen of the world.”
Bateson-Chandler’s other ride, Rutherford, also put in a well-executed test to finish third (71.00%).
“My horses are both leggy movers, but other than that, they’ve got nothing in common,” she said with a laugh. “It’s great for me as a rider and trainer because I get to sit on something different when I get on each day. Rutherford is much more tight through his back and carriage. Dea is just a big, loosey goosey chestnut mare. He is a little more A—type and gets worried and looks to me for security, while she just wants to go in there and show them how it’s done whether she knows what she’s doing or not!”
Jan Brons and Teutobod, who have been practically unbeatable all spring, rode an excellent test for second place on 72.21 percent.
“I’ll try to beat her tomorrow,” Brons, also of Wellington, said with good humor. “Our horses are totally different animals so I can’t say if there’s an area I can get her. [Her ride] was beautiful, she totally deserved to win.”
Brons had a slight mistake in his left canter pirouette, but otherwise had a clean performance.
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Other standouts in the class included Arlene “Tuny” Page’s new mare Alina (70.84%), the PRE stallion Grandioso, who was ridden by Courtney King-Dye (70.68%) and Shannon Peters’ Flor de Selva (70.52%).
