Ashley Holzer and Pop Art were the big winners of the FEI Grand Prix at the $15,000 Wellington Dressage Classic CDI***, presented by the Chesapeake Dressage Institute, held March 15-18 at the Global Dressage Festival (GDF)Stadium show grounds in Wellington, FL.
Holzer and Pop Art garnered a sore of 71.447% from the five international judges, enough to hold off Tina Konyot and Calecto V, who scored 70.191% for second place.
The big chestnut gelding performed well and Holzer seemed to be enjoying the ride. This is one of a long list of wins for Pop Art and this mother of three, who does not consider herself a professional rider.
Holzer was on Canada's bronze medal team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and represented her homeland in the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the 2008 Beijing Games. She represented Canada in the first World Equestrian Games in Stockholm in 1990 then in Jerez, Spain in 2002, Aachen Germany in 2006 and the World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1989 and Las Vegas in 2009. She also won team gold at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba, and team silver at the 2003 Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo.
The Prix St. Georges class was won by Caroline Roffman and Pie, who, with a score of 68.789%, narrowly beat Shawna Harding on Riggo with 68.526%.
Harding was all smiles, even after coming in second. “This is the first time he has been at this venue,” she stated. “He was really energized. Overall I think his performance was really good. He tried to stay with me even though he was a little distracted. His movements are spectacular. He's a fantastic horse and he does really try.”
Riders from the United States and several nations will be competing at the GDF. International competition on Saturday, March 17 features the FEI Intermediare I in the morning, and the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle class which will once again be held under the lights in the evening. Sunday, March 18 features the FEI Olympic Grand Prix Special and the FEI Intermediare Freestyle.