Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) and Divertimento made easy work of the Week 9 FEI Grand Prix Special CDI-W, presented by Everglades Dressage at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival, taking the win in yet another Grand Prix Special this season.
The pair won the class scoring a 72.333%. Mikala Gundersen (DEN) took second place aboard My Lady receiving a 70.196% and Shelly Francis (USA) put in another solid performance with a 69.529% aboard Danilo.
The weather was uncooperative for much of the afternoon, as several pairs were caught in a steady downpour during their tests in the Grand Prix Special. Vilhelmson-Silfven who has been extremely consistent with Divertimento this season, is proud of the progress the pair has made at AGDF this season. “I think he has most certainly gotten better and better to ride each time. I was particularly happy with the Grand Prix on Thursday. It was the best feeling I have had,” she remarked.
“Tim” who is generally very hot in the ring for Vilhelmson-Silfven, has continued to gain confidence, which has made it easier to ride each movement. “I'm really happy that even though he was a little bit on the edge today he let me ride everything without mistakes. But that's just him, it wasn't the weather, maybe a bit the atmosphere, but it's getting better,” she noted.
Gundersen and My Lady are veterans on the circuit this season, having never placed lower than fifth in any of their classes at AGDF this year. The duo is well versed with their Grand Prix Freestyle routine, and the Grand Prix Special proved to be a new challenge for them today. “She's so good with the freestyle and we probably should have spent more time going through the Special,” commented Gundersen. “She was very hot for me today and I think being under the lights revs her up for the Freestyle and today it was a different test, which proved to be more difficult for us.”
Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (USA) and Rassing's Lonoir had another beautiful performance giving them two wins so far in the AGDF 9 Small Tour presented by Peacock Ridge. The duo continues to add solid scores to their resume as they work towards a run at the Pan American Games later this summer. The pair received a 72.711% in a very competitive class to take first with Kimberly Herslow (USA) and Rosmarin in second with a 71.553% and Tina Konyot (USA) and Wyoming in third with a 71.026% for yet another American sweep.
“Everyday is about evaluating what type of horse you have. He really thrives in the hot weather, which is odd. It's like he's a Bikram horse. He finds his zen in the hotter weather,” joked LaGoy-Weltz when describing the routine she uses to determine the type of ride is appropriate for “Lono”. “I didn't have him quite as boxed in today as I had him on Wednesday night and that's the challenge. Everyday he needs a different ride, and it's my job to figure out how to accomplish that.”
Final Results for FEI CDI-W Grand Prix Special
1. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE), Divertimento, 2002 Westphalian gelding owned by Lövsta Stuteri, Di Versace x Fatima x Farragamo: 71.078%, 73.627%, 74.706%, 70.882%, 71.373%, 72.333%
2. Mikala Gundersen (DEN), My Lady, 2000 Danish Warmblood mare owned by Janne Rumbough, Michellino x Marion x Ritterstern: 72.353%, 69.314%, 69.412%, 60.510%, 70.392%, 70.196%
3. Shelly Francis (USA), Danilo, 2004 Hanoverian gelding owned by Patricia Stempel, De Niro x Annabella x Andiamo: 67.255%, 70.196%, 71.863%, 69.314%, 69.020%, 69.529%
4. Alice Tarjan (USA), Elfenfeuer, 2007 Oldenburg mare owned by rider, Florencio x Elfensonne x Sion: 67.353%, 65.392%, 66.961%, 66.176%, 66.667%, 66.510%
5. Jill Irving (CAN), Degas 12, 2002 Hanoverian gelding owned by rider, De Niro x Rosana M x Regazonni: 66.667%, 66.078%, 65.294%, 66.765%, 66.078%, 66.176%
6. Adrienne Pot (USA), Something Special C, 2000 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Elizabeth Bramsen, Ferro x Gicara II x Beaujolais: 66.863%, 64.804%, 65.098%, 64.216%, 63.922%, 64.980%
7. Megan Lane (CAN), Caravella, 2001 Dutch Warmblood mare owned by rider, Contango x P.Riveriera x Riverman: 63.824%, 65.000%, 66.471%, 65.588%, 63.824%, 64.941%
8. Juan Matute, Jr. (ESP), Tarpan Ymas, 2000 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Cristina Daguillecourt, Waterman x Iriantha: 62.941%, 64.020%, 66.569%, 66.176%, 64.314%, 64.804%