Lars Petersen (DEN) and Mariett have become familiar faces in the winner's circle at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), and Thursday evening was no exception. Petersen topped the FEI Grand Prix 4* presented by The Dutta Corp. with Marcia Pepper's 16-year-old Danish Warmblood mare with a score of 70.960%. For his win in Thursday's class, Petersen was also presented with the Champion Equine Insurance Dressage Style Award.
Adrienne Lyle was the top finishing American rider, finishing second with Wizard on a score of 69.600%. Mikala Munter Gundersen (DEN) and My Lady rounded out the top three with their score of 69.460%.
Petersen's win kicked off competition for the AGDF 5 CDI 4*/3* competition, presented by The Dutta Corp. and Havensafe Farm, which runs through February 9 at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The feature class for the week will be the “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle 4* presented by The Dutta Corp. (7-9 pm) and 3* (3:20-5:20 pm) in the afternoon and evening of Friday, January 7.
Petersen admitted that while they topped the class today, it was not the best test he and Mariett have executed.
“She was very hot today. I don't think I've ever had her that hot! She really wanted to go, so there were [a few mistakes] here and there, but overall, you know what, when they get a little older and they want to go like that, that's actually a good thing,” Petersen remarked.
Petersen has high hopes for Mariett, who he hopes to compete with at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games for his home country of Denmark before potentially changing his citizenship to the United States in 2015. With such a strong start to 2014, Petersen will be carefully choosing which CDIs to contest with the mare.
“She's going to do two more shows and that's it. She's done enough,” Petersen noted.
Having an experienced partner affords Petersen the ability to give Mariett plenty of well-deserved time off, since there's no need for much more than a tune-up in between shows.
“When they get older, and they know everything, it's not so much like you're drilling things every single day. If you're smart, it doesn't have to be harder to go to a show. Actually, it's less [difficult], often. It's keeping them happy and supple and in condition,” Petersen detailed.
While Petersen felt he had to deal with too much horse during his test, second place finisher Lyle confessed she had to contend with the suddenly hot and sticky weather in Wellington.
“I was really happy with parts [of our test]. I think we ran out of gas in the warm-up. Last time we showed it was really cold – we were in down jackets – and I tried to pare down my warm-up time [this week], and I think I need to do half of that still,” Lyle commented.
Lyle was especially satisfied with their canter work and is thrilled to see her long-time partner coming back into work well.
“I think he feels great. Physically, mentally, he seems really good. We don't know our exact plan yet going forward, so I think we'll reconvene and figure out where we want to go [with the rest of the season], so we can get enough experience in the ring without wearing him out, which is always the fine line, the balance, you have to find,” Lyle explained.
Lyle and Wizard, a 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Peggy Thomas, have been together for nine years and have worked their way up the ranks together as they both learned the grand prix.
“For better or for worse, we know each other really well. Sometimes I think that's harder when you know the horse so well that you kind of second-guess some stuff, but he's a super horse. I'm very lucky to have him,” Lyle expressed.
Lyle is also grateful for the opportunity to have a circuit of such high caliber as the AGDF. Not only is the competition convenient, there's no other place that Lyle has the capability to witness so many grand prix rides first-hand.
“I think it's wonderful. It's not a huge stress to bring [Wizard] here. It's not like you're hauling him ten hours to a show and that wipes him out for the next week. If you think you're ready, you just pop on over. And I think getting to watch the rides is huge for me. To watch that many grand prix (rides) for the last few shows, I've learned so much already,” Lyle detailed.
Munter Gundersen and My Lady are another familiar pair that have seen top three rankings throughout the AGDF circuit so far. Munter Gundersen was also pleased with her mare, a 14-year-old Danish Warmblood owned by Janne Rumbough.
“I think I had a really good ride today. I wanted to be polite to Lars, so I stopped counting in the one [tempis]. Actually, I never started counting,” Munter Gundersen laughed.
She continued, “I had some pretty good one [tempis] going, and I forgot to count. Other than that, I had very little things. I was really, really happy with her.”
Like Petersen's ride, My Lady was extra spicy for Munter Gundersen during their test, but Munter Gundersen was relieved to see her light up after the mare seemed a little dull earlier in the morning. By the afternoon, My Lady was raring to go.
“I took her out this afternoon for the [test] and she was hot and ready to go. I'm so, so happy with the mare. She really didn't make any mistakes in there; the mistakes were all mine. I think we are on a really good roll,” Munter Gundersen explained.
Earlier on Thursday, Kathrine Bateson Chandler (USA) rode Wellnetta to the top of the FEI Grand Prix 3* class. The pair won with a 69.280% while Australian rider Kelly Layne narrowly finished second with a 69.240% on Udon P. Michael Barisone (USA) rounded out the top three on Ellegria. The pair finished with a 67.200%.
Final Results: FEI Grand Prix 4*, presented by The Dutta Corp.
1 Lars Petersen, DEN, Mariett: 70.500%, 71.400%, 70.900%, 70.500%, 71.500%, 70.960%
2 Adrienne Lyle, USA, Wizard: 66.900%, 72.400%, 68.000%, 72.400%, 68.300%, 69.600%
3 Mikala Munter Gundersen, DEN, My Lady: 68.700%, 68.900%, 69.700%, 70.200%, 69.800%, 69.460%
4 Shelly Francis, USA, Doktor: 68.200%, 69.500%, 69.400%, 68.300%, 70.800%, 69.240%
5 David Marcus, CAN, Chrevi's Capital: 68.00%, 70.200%, 69.200%, 68.200%, 68.100%, 68.740%
6 Karen Pavicic, CAN, Don Daiquiri: 68.900%, 71.200%, 67.600%, 65.900%, 69.900%, 68.700%
7 Cesar Parra, USA, Van the Man: 68.000%, 69.400%, 66.900%, 66.000%, 70.200%, 68.100%
8 Jacqueline M. Brooks, CAN, D Niro: 67.200%, 68.200%, 66.100%, 68.300, 67.300%, 67.420%
Final Results: FEI Grand Prix 3*, presented by The Dutta Corp.
1 Kathrine Bateson Chandler, USA, Wellnetta: 70.500%, 69.400%, 68.300%, 68.300%, 69.900%, 69.280%
2 Kelly Layne, AUS, Udon P: 70.600%, 69.700%, 69.400%, 68.100%, 68.400%, 69.240%
3 Michael Barisone, USA, Ellegria: 66.900%, 65.800%, 67.400%, 66.600%, 69.300%, 67.200%
4 Michael Barisone, USA, HF Victor: 66.900%, 66.400%, 67.400%, 67.200%, 67.100%, 67.000%
5 Kim Jesse, GER, Charming 8: 63.200%, 71.100%, 66.100%, 63.700%, 64.800%, 65.870%
6 Shawna Harding, USA, Come On III: 64.800%, 65.500%, 64.900%, 65.900%, 66.800%, 65.580%
7 Susan Dutta, USA, Currency DC: 65.000%, 64.700%, 64.900%, 65.900%, 65.800%, 65.260%
8 Gary Vander Ploeg, CAN, Degas: 63.700%, 64.900%, 66.800%, 63.800%, 64.600%, 64.760%