Dressage-News

ANKUM, Germany, Oct. 6–Lisa Wilcox of the United States on Pikko del Cerro was the easy winner of the Ankum national Grand Prix Special Sunday a day after placing first on Pikko del Cerro and third on Denzello in the Grand Prix.

The competition kicked off the first European swing in six years for Lisa, based in Wellington Florida.

In the Special, she and Pikko del Cerro, both bred in America and owned by Horses Unlimted of Albuquerque, New Mexico scored 73.160 per cent in what Lisa described as “an awesome” performance.

Germany’s Stefanie Wolf on Sorento OLD was second on 68.681 per cent and Spain’s Borja Carrascosa Martinez on Famous Boy 2 third on 67.500 per cent.

Denzello, the other Grand Prix mount that Lisa is competing in Europe, was fourth on 67.014 per cent in the Special, not used to the trot extensions to passage transitions.

In the Grand Prix, Lisa and the 10-year-old stallion Pikko del Cerro, won with a score of 70.035 per cent and on Denzello placed third with 68.972 per cent.

The German-based Briana Burgess and the 15-year-old La Scala were on 68.972 per cent for second in the Grand Prix.

Lisa is one of about 20 American combinations who competed in Europe this year in a revitalized United State dressage program ahead of the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France next year.

The CDN Grand Prix, with three judges instead of five at a CDI, was a requirement for Denzello to be able to enter CDIs and was an indoor competition that Lisa used as a warmup for her competition schedule of three indoor events over five weeks.

“I’m very glad I have a chance to practice in the indoor before Odense (Denmark),” Lisa told dressage-news.com.

“The judges came to me after the test and are very impressed with both horses.

“Denzello was a very good boy. I rode conservatively as this was his very first indoor show.

“I’m thrilled to see that so far the Germans like my horses!”

Lisa will compete later this month at Odense, Denmark, the opening competition for the highly competitive World Cup Western European League, the CDI4* at Lyon, France and the prestigious German Masters at Stuttgart, Germany, another World Cup qualifier, in November before returning to the United States. As she has since she first moved to Europe 16 years ago Lisa is coached by the German trainer Ernst Hoyos.

Pikko del Cerro, a Hanoverian stallion (Pik L x Rohdiamant) bred and owned by Horses Unlimited of Albuquerque, New Mexico is one of the top graduates of the Born in the USA program created by Dressage at Devon 10 years ago.

The horse has been with Lisa since 2010 after taking over the ride from her friend Mikala Gundersen, a Danish rider based in Florida. Mikala rode the horse to the U.S. six-year-old championship title in 2009 then Lisa claimed the U.S. Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Championship in 2011 and the the Developing Grand Prix title last year.

Since their first CDI Grand Prix last winter, the pair posted three victories in six starts in the three CDIs they have competed in since starting their international Grand Prix career at this year’s Florida winter circuit.

Denzello, also a 10-year-old Hanoverian (De Niro x Rhodiamant) though a gelding and owned by Canadian Betty Wells, has been trained and competed by Lisa through national small tour to national Grand Prix.

Results:

Grand Prix Special

Grand Prix