Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

WELLINGTON, Florida, Feb. 24, 2015–A pair of victories by Mikala Gundersen in the $120,000 CDI4* put the Florida-based Danish World Games rider atop the money earning standings midway through the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, according to standings compiled by dressage-news.com and presented by Cunningham & Cunningham Livestock insurance.

Riding the Danish Warmblood mare My Lady, Mikala earned $3,600 in the CDI4* Grand Prix and $21,485 in the Freestyle that boosted her total for the circuit to $54,825 and move ahead of Danish team mate Lars Petersen whose total remained at $52,760 as he took a break from competition.

Lars and Mikala topped the 2014 rankings.

The Dutta Corp. CDI4* and accompanying international events led to some major changes after the fourth of seven CDIs at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s Stadium complex.

Steffen Peters, the American national champion, remained in the third spot with the $28,320 won in the previous CDI while Shelly Francis of neighboring Loxahatchee, Florida moved up to fourth place with total earnings of $27,875.

The top 10 placings reflected the international tenor of the Global circuit.

Canada’s World Games rider Karen Pavicic stood at No. 5 with $26,455 with compatriot Belinda Trussell in the seven spot with $20,840.

German team rider Christoph Koschel was sixth with $25,720 while Spanish Olympian José Daniel Martín Dockx was eighth with prize money of $20,100.

American amateur Kasey Perry of Orangeville, California filled the ninth slot with $16,795.

Sweden’s top rider, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén rounded out the top 10 with $15,040 in her fourth year on the Florida winter circuit.

More riders are winning more prize money than in the first three years of the Global circuit as the total purse for seven CDIs has grown to more than $650,000, making it the richest non-championship lineup in dressage anywhere in the world.

The Global Dressage Festival prize winning list is compiled by dressage-news.com, and is not an official ranking. The list is presented by Cunningham & Cunningham Livestock, an equestrian insurance agency.

RANK RIDER NATION $ TOP 60
1. Mikala Gundersen DEN 54,825
2. Lars Petersen DEN 52,760
3. Steffen Peters USA 28,320
4. Shelly Francis USA 27,875
5. Karen Pavicic CAN 26,455
6. Christoph Koschel GER 25,720
7. Belinda Trussell CAN 20,840
8. José Daniel Martín Dockx ESP 20,100
9. Kasey Perry USA 16,795
10. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén SWE 15,040
11. Kathleen Raine USA 14,000
12. Jacqueline Brooks CAN 12,335
13. Juan Matute, Jr. ESP 12,005
14. Arlene Page USA 9,730
15. Charlotte Jorst USA 9,245
16  Lisa Wilcox USA 8,240
17. Megan Lane CAN 7,240
18. Susan Dutta USA 7,200
19. Michael Klimke GER 5,480
20. Kelly Layne AUS 5,450
21. Catherine Haddad-Staller USA 5,300
22. Allison Brock USA 4,480
23. Michael Barisone USA 4,400
24. Caroline Darcourt SWE 4,300
25. Jill Irving CAN 4,220
26. Kimberly Herslow USA 3,850
27. Diane Creech CAN 3,210
28. Carrie Schopf ARM 3,080
29. Anna Marek USA 2,320
30. Katharina Stumpf AUT 2,200
31. Devon Kane USA 2,100
32. Heather Blitz USA 2,050
33. Shannon Dueck CAN 2,020
34. Janne Rumbough USA 1,880
35. Gabriela Stumpf AUT 1,800
36. Olivia LaGoy-Weltz USA 1,630
37. Mary Bahniuk-Lauritsen USA 1,470
38. Lauren Sammis USA 1,370
39. Sharon McCusker USA 1,330
40. Chris Von Martels CAN 1,300
41. Laura Tomlinson GBR 1,200
42. Tina Konyot USA 1,170
43. Dawn White-O’Connor USA 980
44. Adrienne Pot USA 930
45. Barbara Davis USA 920
46. Karin Persson SWE 900
47-T. Sylvia Gugler USA 800
47-T. Chase Hickok USA 800
49. Christilot Boylen CAN 750
50. Danielle Gallagher-Legri CAN 640
51-T. Alice Tarjan USA 620
51-T. Tanya Strasser-Shostak CAN 620
53-T. Asia Ondaatje Rupert USA 560
53-T. Camille Bergeron CAN 560
55. Tom Dvorak CAN 520
56. Felicitas Hendricks GER 500
57-T. Franziska Seidl SUI 480
57-T. Ayden Uhlir USA 480
59. Silva Martin USA 460
60-T. Tina Irwin CAN 420