Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025

Wet Weather Won’t Stop Corrigan At BLM Championships

As the rain fell on Oct. 7-9, Kelly Corrigan and her mount, Wenzel Lad, rose to claim the Intermediaire I championship and Prix St. Georges reserve championship at the Garden State Classic Dressage and 23rd Annual Col. Bengt Ljungquist Memorial Championships in Allentown, N.J.

Wenzel Lad and Corrigan, of Centreville, Md., were unaffected through the sloppy footing. "[Wenzel Lad] didn't think twice about the rain or the mud," said Corrigan, who scored 67.12 percent in the Intermediaire I and 65.50 percent for the Prix St. Georges.

PUBLISHED
WORDS BY

ADVERTISEMENT

As the rain fell on Oct. 7-9, Kelly Corrigan and her mount, Wenzel Lad, rose to claim the Intermediaire I championship and Prix St. Georges reserve championship at the Garden State Classic Dressage and 23rd Annual Col. Bengt Ljungquist Memorial Championships in Allentown, N.J.

Wenzel Lad and Corrigan, of Centreville, Md., were unaffected through the sloppy footing. “[Wenzel Lad] didn’t think twice about the rain or the mud,” said Corrigan, who scored 67.12 percent in the Intermediaire I and 65.50 percent for the Prix St. Georges.

The 10-year-old Danish Warmblood and Corrigan have been competing together since Wenzel was 3. Training with Bent Jensen has been paying off as Wenzel’s performance in the ring noticeably steps up.

“When he’s in the show ring, he really seems to turn on,” said Corrigan. “We’ve been working on the Grand Prix movements, and hopefully this winter we’ll be able to push him on a little bit and get him to the Intermediaire II.”

Before Wenzel, Corrigan owned and competed a Grand Prix horse called Marsaelis, whom she rode for nine years. “We started at first level and moved on up,” said Corrigan. “That’s what I’m hoping for now with Wenzel Lad.”

Marsaelis, now 15, is owned and ridden by one of Corrigan’s students, Robin Shehan. Marsaelis and Shehan finished as reserve champions in a division of the fourth level senior final.

Corrigan also brought her 5-year-old Danish Warmblood, Robinson. The pair bolstered the weekend’s ribbon count with victories in the open show in training level, test 4 (67.69%), and open first level, test 1 (74.07%).

ADVERTISEMENT

Corrigan and Robinson have been training together for two months, with BLM being his second show. Though his greenness occasionally shows, Corrigan is optimistic about the young horse’s potential.

“He actually snuck out of the ring during one test,” Corrigan said with a laugh. “He picked up the canter and decided he wanted to go visit everybody else. But he definitely did well in the other classes.”

As for Wenzel Lad, Corrigan plans to take him to Florida in January where the pair will train with Jensen.

Lord Of The Dance StepsTo Victory
Fred Weber’s Lord Of The Dance performed in harmony with the exotic sounds of a Caribbean steel band in the third level freestyle championship. The finals were held on Friday, allowing the pair to ride their test before the weekend’s rain.

“I thought the classes for the freestyle were somewhat small,” said Weber. “I would have liked to see more riders in the class, but there were talented horses and riders there for sure.”

Lord Of The Dance, casually known as “Louie,” is a 10-year-old, Holsteiner stallion by Lordship, and owned by Ray and Fran Selvy of Bluemont, Va. Weber has competed with Louie for six years.

“He’s been competitive in all levels,” said Weber. “We’ve shown in first, second and third level, and we’re at fourth level now.” Louie has also earned Holsteiner All-Breed year-end awards.

ADVERTISEMENT

Louie’s freestyle movements easily fell into rhythm with the music. “Louie’s owner actually found the music. It really seemed to fit the horse,” said Weber. Judges agreed and awarded the pair a score of 68.85 percent for the win.

Beyond the dressage ring, Louie’s mellow temperament and love of jumping and eventing have made him a well-rounded horse. “We have a cross-country course behind the farm that I take him out to. We do some small jumps to keep his mind sharp,” said Weber. “Years ago we also did some eventing together, so he gets to see a variety of work. Some of my students get to ride him once in awhile too.”

Weber, of Frederick, Md., hopes to bring Louie out at Prix St. Georges next year. “We’ve still got a few months yet, and he’s coming along just fine,” said Weber.

Mason Wins With Respekt
Heather Mason, of Lebanon, N.J., and her up-and-coming gelding, Respekt, also took home two BLM championships, in the fourth level freestyle (69.58%) and in one of the senior fourth level divisions (68.14%).

 “He handled very well in the wet weather,” said Mason. Her leggy, 17-hand, black gelding performed with the movement and consistency Mason initially fell in love with. “I had originally imported him for resale. Once I started riding him I discovered how well he moved and decided, ‘This one is mine!’ “

The Dutch Warmblood, by Inspekteur, arrived to Mason four years ago, unbroken at the age of 3. Since then, the two have been training and competing, making progress with each stride.

“He’s very elastic and smooth in the ring,” said Mason. “He has a nice and consistent canter but is still a bit bouncy in the trot. But I think he’ll grow out of the springiness as he continues to mature.”

Respekt’s long legs also lifted the pair to victory in a Prix St. Georges class in the open show (68.50%). “I see this horse going all the way once he

Categories:

ADVERTISEMENT

EXPLORE MORE

Follow us on

Sections

Copyright © 2025 The Chronicle of the Horse