Florida Riders Tina Konyot & Calecto V Go 1st, Mikala Gundersen & My Lady Last in World Cup Grand Prix
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April 18, 2014
By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
Tina Konyot is not very happy being drawn first to go but is ready to to do her best in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Grand Prix Saturday while Mikala Münter Gundersen and My Lady think it’s fun to be the last right behind Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro that could put the judges in a good mood. Cesar Parra and Van the Man, 15th in the line up, is enjoying the “amazing cameraderie” of all the riders.
Tina of Palm City, Florida and the 16-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion that she has taken to the Olympics and the World Equestrian Games in the past four years and is making their debut in the annual global championships replied to a question about having drawn the unenviable first place in the order of go, ” I feel fine, ready to ride!”
Cesar Parra of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, a veteran of Olympics, World Games, World Cups and Pan American Games for the United States and his native Colombia, is 15th in the order on Van the Man.
The 12-year-old KWPN gelding (Obelisk x Landjonker) owned by Michael and Sarah Davis has, he said, “been really super.”
“It has been great, amazing cameraderie with all the riders,” and is “really looking forward” to the ride in an event whose organization and venue is terrific.
Mikala, who has been based in Wellington, Florida for the past decade, could be the sole Danish rider for Denmark from a lineup that initially included three. Lars Petersen, also living in Florida, had to scratch Mariett on whom he topped the World Cup North American League when the 16-year-old mare developed an abscess while traveling to Europe and Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Millibar didn’t pass the first veterinary inspection and have to go through it again Saturday morning.
Going last on My Lady, a 14-year-old Danish Warmblood mare by Michellino owned by Janne Rumbough of Palm Beach, is “awesome,” Mikala told dressage-news.com.
“It’s all kind of unreal to me still. I’ve been going to these shows for so many years and now I’m going to be in the sandbox myself. It’s very cool.
“Going after Valegro is fun. Then, I think the judges will be in a great mood.”
