Almost Quarter Century on from Olympic team bronze, Michael Poulin Rides Thor to US Finals Grand Prix Freestyle Title-Championship Results
9 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Almost Quarter Century on from Olympic team bronze, Michael Poulin Rides Thor to US Finals Grand Prix Freestyle Title-Championship Results
LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Nov. 7, 2015–Almost a quarter century on from an Olympic team bronze medal, Michael Poulin on Thor M won the US Dressage Finals Grand Prix Freestyle Championships Saturday night at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Michael, 70 years old and battling Lyme disease, scored 72.583 per cent on Thor, one of two horses that he has returned to CDI competition in the past two years after a long break from international shows.
This event is a national championship of both adult amateur and open classes from combinations qualifying through nine regional championships.
Michael, based in Deleon Springs near Orlando in central Florida, placed second on the 15-year-old KWPN gelding in the Grand Prix championship Friday, behind his daughter, Gwen, who did not compete Saturday night.
Emily Miles, of La Cygne, Kansas, on Weltdorff, a Hanoverian gelding, placed second on 71.208 per cent with Heather Mason of Tewksbury, New Jersey on Zar placing third on 70.917 per cent.
Michael confessed after the championship that he had barely rehearsed the Freestyle routine featuring music from the Brave movie soundtrack, improvising movements as he went along, including 37 consecutive one-tempi changes.
“I really didn’t practice it at all,” he said. “I ride a freestyle by the numbers in that I do it by ear and by timing, counting the number of beats. That’s just the way I do it and it works for me. And tonight I also threw new things in the test and just said ‘let’s give it a whirl’.”
Thor is owned by Pineland Farms, a 5,000-acre (2,000Ha.) working farm in New Gloucester, Maine that is a unique combination of a business campus and educational and recreational venue that describes its mission as providing programs that “enriches the community by demonstrating responsible farming techniques, offering educational opportunities and encouraging a healthy lifestyle through recreation.”
“He’s quite a clever horse and a tremendous giver,” Michael said. “You have to treat him with respect and kindness because he’s hot and sensitive, but that’s what makes him great.”
Results:
1st Level Championship Open
Judges: H-Joan Darnell C-Jayne Ayers B-William Warren
Horse | Rider | H | C | B | Total | # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sternlicht Hilltop | Michael Bragdell | 73.824% (1) | 74.853% (1) | 74.412% (1) | 1 | ||||||
Furst Aurum | Stacey Hastings | 73.529% (2) | 74.265% (2) | 70.000% (7) | 2 | ||||||
Rapunzel Of Hillock | Kathryn Stoy | 72.941% (3) | 69.118% (10) | 72.647% (3) | 3 | ||||||
Sundancer | Lisa Giltner | 71.765% (4) | 72.647% (3) | 69.412% (9) | 4 | ||||||
Santino | Christine Landry | 71.471% (5) | 70.882% (5) | 70.882% (5) | 5 | ||||||
Dublin L | Mike Suchanek | 70.294% (9) | 69.559% (9) | 73.088% (2) | 6 | ||||||
Liberty | Elizabeth Landers | 70.882% (6) | 70.147% (8) | 70.882% (5) | 7 | ||||||
Lorelei | Lisa Giltner | 69.559% (13) | 70.588% (6) | 71.029% (4) | 8 | ||||||
Wiebekka | Mimi Benton | 70.735% (7) | 70.588% (6) | 69.118% (10) | 9 | ||||||
Franca Sympathica | Paige Peters-Windham | 69.706% (11) | 71.176% (4) | 67.353% (13) | 10 |
1st Level Championship AA
Judges: H-Natalie Lamping C-Lisolette Fore B-Christel Carlson
Horse | Rider | H | C | B | Total | # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Razmitaz | Catalina Sherwood | 69.118% (2) | 69.412% (1) | 68.824% (5) | 1 | ||||||
Hampton | Ashlee Watts | 67.647% (5) | 68.235% (4) | 68.971% (2) | 2 | ||||||
SS Seraphina | Heather Fultz | 66.324% (9) | 68.971% (2) | 68.971% (2) | 3 | ||||||
Fascination | Amy Itkin | 69.412% (1) | 65.882% (10) | 68.382% (6) | 4 | ||||||
Hallah GGF | Carol Ann Head | 66.176% (10) | 68.088% (5) | 68.971% (2) | 5 | ||||||
Clearly Sunshine | Sara McConnell | 66.471% (7) | 67.500% (6) | 68.382% (6) | 6 | ||||||
Asta Lindebjerg | Amelia Hellman | 64.118% (15) | 65.735% (11) | 72.353% (1) | 7 | ||||||
Laxwell | Birgitt Dagge | 67.353% (6) | 68.824% (3) | 64.853% (14) | 8 | ||||||
Kir Royal | Pam Hara | 67.941% (3) | 65.588% (12) | 65.588% (12) | 9 | ||||||
Fs Djambo | Andrea Jackson | 66.471% (7) | 66.912% (8) | 65.147% (13) | 10 | ||||||
Crown Of Fire | Michelle Calongne | 65.441% (11) | 65.441% (13) | 67.647% (8) | 10 |
2nd Level Freestyle Championship Open
Judges: H-Kristi Wysocki C-Axel Steiner B-Janet Foy
Horse | Rider | H | C | B | Total | # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HB Dschafar | Sara Schmitt | 80.500% (1) | 78.500% (1) | 73.833% (1) | 1 | ||||||
FWF Princess Juliana | Jonni Allen | 73.667% (2) | 70.667% (3) | 73.167% (2) | 2 | ||||||
August Rush | Morgan-Bailey Horan | 70.500% (3) | 74.167% (2) | 71.167% (3) | 3 | ||||||
Xenia fan Willow View | Linda Strine | 69.500% (5) | 69.333% (4) | 70.333% (6) | 4 | ||||||
Guateque IV | Stacey Hastings | 69.167% (6) | 68.333% (5) | 71.000% (4) | 5 | ||||||
Finian | Anthea Kin | 65.833% (12) | 68.000% (6) | 70.167% (7) | 6 | ||||||
Mirror Image | Shelley Van Den Neste | 66.833% (9) | 64.500% (12) | 71.000% (4) | 7 | ||||||
Sammy D sf | Elizabeth Gagliardi | 68.667% (7) | 64.667% (11) | 68.667% (8) | 8 | ||||||
Kiss-Me-Quick | Renee Peters | 69.667% (4) | 65.000% (10) | 66.500% (11) | 9 | ||||||
Devon F/T Friesian Connection | Stacy Posthumus | 68.000% (8) | 65.500% (8) | 66.500% (11) | 10 |
2nd Level Freestyle Championship AA
Judges: H-Kristi Wysocki C-Axel Steiner B-Janet Foy
Horse | Rider | H | C | B | Total | # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eye Candy | Amy Gimbel | 78.500% (1) | 73.833% (1) | 76.667% (1) | 1 | ||||||
Feinest Proof | Jamie Reilley | 65.833% (6) | 69.167% (2) | 72.000% (2) | 2 | ||||||
Rhiannon | Cariann Wlosinski | 71.167% (2) | 65.833% (6) | 69.667% (3) | 3 | ||||||
Remington | Sandra Cohen | 69.300% (3) | 68.333% (3) | 66.167% (6) | 4 | ||||||
I’m Full of Stuff | Jennifer Strauss | 67.500% (4) | 66.667% (4) | 68.333% (4) | 5 | ||||||
Hot-Royal Hit | Jean Rude | 64.933% (8) | 66.000% (5) | 67.833% (5) | 6 | ||||||
Point D’esprit | Rebecca Ruthberg | 65.000% (7) | 65.333% (7) | 65.500% (7) | 7 | ||||||
Laxwell | Birgitt Dagge | 66.000% (5) | 64.833% (8) | 64.833% (9) | 8 | ||||||
Lecartier | Amy Richwine | 64.000% (10) | 63.500% (10) | 65.333% (8) | 9 | ||||||
Belle Amie | Janet Hill | 64.667% (9) | 63.667% (9) | 61.500% (10) | 10 |
3rd Level Freestyle Championship Open
Judges: E-Jeanne McDonald C-Anne Gribbons M-Lois Yukins
Horse | Rider | E | C | M | Total | # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Griffindor | Brianna Zwilling | 73.000% (1) | 66.167% (6) | 77.833% (1) | 1 | ||||||
His Highness Crusador | Elizabeth Landers | 67.500% (7) | 74.500% (1) | 69.167% (6) | 2 | ||||||
Town and Country Elancourt | Reese Koffler-Stanfield | 71.000% (4) | 69.000% (4) | 70.333% (3) | 3 | ||||||
Maggio | Kathryn Stoy | 71.333% (3) | 70.333% (2) | 68.167% (9) | 4 | ||||||
Hollywood | Marline Syribeys | 69.167% (5) | 70.000% (3) | 68.333% (8) | 5 | ||||||
Denmark | Joni Abney | 71.833% (2) | 65.667% (7) | 69.667% (4) | 6 | ||||||
Rainier | Kathryn Stoy | 68.500% (6) | 67.333% (5) | 68.500% (7) | 7 | ||||||
Boegely’s Mauricio | Tillie Jones | 67.500% (7) | 64.833% (9) | 69.333% (5) | 8 | ||||||
Trijntje v.d. Bokkefarm | Stacey Hastings | 66.167% (10) | 64.667% (10) | 70.500% (2) | 9 | ||||||
Winterlilie | Elizabeth Gagliardi | 66.333% (9) | 65.000% (8) | 63.167% (12) | 10 |
3rd Level Championship AA
Judges: H-Lisolette Fore C-Natalie Lamping B-Christel Carlson
Horse | Rider | H | C | B | Total | # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Donneur | Katherine Lewis | 72.564% (1) | 67.051% (4) | 74.103% (1) | 1 | ||||||
Rhiannon | Cariann Wlosinski | 68.718% (4) | 67.949% (2) | 71.026% (2) | 2 | ||||||
Eye Candy | Amy Gimbel | 69.359% (2) | 69.231% (1) | 67.949% (3) | 3 | ||||||
Dartesch | Camilla Van Liew | 68.846% (3) | 67.051% (4) | 67.308% (5) | 4 | ||||||
Duchesse du Pre | Jennifer Huber | 68.462% (6) | 65.128% (14) | 67.564% (4) | 5 | ||||||
Devotion | Amy Schaaf | 68.718% (4) | 65.897% (9) | 65.128% (9) | 6 | ||||||
Sadira TWF | Amy Hedden | 67.308% (7) | 67.949% (2) | 64.103% (12) | 7 | ||||||
Wohltat | Amanda Silver | 67.051% (8) | 65.641% (12) | 66.154% (6) | 8 | ||||||
Donata | Antonella Bath | 67.051% (8) | 65.128% (14) | 65.897% (7) | 9 | ||||||
Crusedor | Gardner Bloemers | 66.154% (10) | 66.026% (6) | 63.590% (13) | 10 |
4th Level Freestyle Championship AA
Judges: E-Anne Gribbons C-Lois Yukins M-Jeanne McDonald
Horse | Rider | E | C | M | Total | # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Welt Erbe | Amalia Boyles | 72.333% (1) | 71.000% (2) | 66.500% (4) | |||||||
Be Cool Metall | Nelson Long | 68.000% (3) | 72.000% (1) | 65.833% (5) | 2 | ||||||
Zidane | Becky Shealy | 68.500% (2) | 67.667% (3) | 68.667% (3) | 3 | ||||||
Walk Of Fame | Birgitt Dagge | 67.333% (6) | 63.333% (7) | 71.667% (1) | 4 | ||||||
Teodor | Alexandra Tomson | 67.667% (4) | 63.667% (6) | 68.833% (2) | 5 | ||||||
Valentino | Terri Sue Wensinger | 66.667% (7) | 65.500% (4) | 65.667% (6) | 6 | ||||||
Talisman BHF | Torrey Wilkinson | 67.500% (5) | 64.333% (5) | 64.500% (7) | 7 | ||||||
Reliance | Susan Jones | 62.500% (8) | 61.167% (8) | 59.667% (10) | 8 | ||||||
Shamrock H | Lynda Chesser | 61.333% (10) | 61.000% (9) | 60.000% (8) | 9 | ||||||
Vin Diesel | Sarah Alder-Schaller | 62.500% (8) | 59.833% (10) | 59.833% (9) | 10 |
4th Level Championship Open
Judges: H-William Warren C-Joan Darnell B-Jayne Ayers
Horse | Rider | H | C | B | Total | # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Corenzo | Mike Suchanek | 68.778% (7) | 71.444% (1) | 72.000% (1) | 1 | ||||||
Faolan | Bridget Hay | 69.778% (3) | 70.000% (2) | 71.667% (2) | 2 | ||||||
Kynynmont Gunsmoke’s Gideon | Jessica Jo Tate | 70.222% (2) | 67.556% (9) | 71.222% (3) | 3 | ||||||
Floretienne | Emily Miles | 71.111% (1) | 66.444% (11) | 70.667% (4) | 4 | ||||||
Bright Lights | Jane Arrasmith | 67.667% (9) | 69.889% (3) | 69.444% (5) | 5 | ||||||
Romantic Man | Cyndi Jackson | 69.556% (4) | 69.111% (4) | 68.111% (7) | 6 | ||||||
Celtic Grace | Jonni Allen | 69.000% (5) | 67.778% (7) | 68.222% (6) | 7 | ||||||
Madoc Gareth | Allison Cyprus | 67.667% (9) | 68.222% (6) | 68.111% (7) | 8 | ||||||
Barroco | Melissa Maclaren | 69.000% (5) | 67.778% (7) | 66.667% (10) | 9 | ||||||
Santiago SF | Kailee Surplus | 66.444% (12) | 68.444% (5) | 67.778% (9) | 10 |
Intermediate I Freestyle Championship Open
Judges: E-Lois Yukins C-Jeanne McDonald M-Anne Gribbons
Horse | Rider | E | C | M | Total | # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saphira | Heather Mccarthy | 70.250% (3) | 76.375% (1) | 72.750% (3) | 1 | ||||||
What Happen | Heather Mendiburu | 69.625% (6) | 73.125% (3) | 76.000% (1) | 2 | ||||||
Shakespeare RSF | Marcus Orlob | 71.250% (2) | 73.750% (2) | 73.125% (2) | 3 | ||||||
Risky Business | Cyndi Jackson | 70.125% (4) | 68.375% (4) | 70.000% (5) | 4 | ||||||
Romantico SF | Heather Mason | 70.000% (5) | 68.000% (6) | 68.000% (9) | 5 | ||||||
Rondo del Rey | John Mason | 69.375% (7) | 67.750% (9) | 68.000% (9) | 6 | ||||||
Un Ami | Shelley Van Den Neste | 66.125% (10) | 68.000% (6) | 69.750% (6) | 7 | ||||||
Police | Stacey Hastings | 64.125% (13) | 68.375% (4) | 69.125% (7) | 8 | ||||||
Zaida | Jennifer Conour | 65.000% (12) | 67.875% (8) | 68.250% (8) | 9 | ||||||
Casaro | Kristin Wasemiller-Knutson | 66.875% (9) | 63.750% (12) | 70.250% (4) | 10 |
Intermediate I Freestyle Championship AA
Judges: E-Lois Yukins C-Jeanne McDonald M-Anne Gribbons
Horse | Rider | E | C | M | Total | # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bonifaz S | Colene Stevens | 64.250% (3) | 65.750% (2) | 68.375% (1) | 1 | ||||||
Damani | Alexandra Krossen | 70.250% (1) | 62.250% (4) | 65.375% (2) | 2 | ||||||
Fabio | Jenifer Gaffney | 60.625% | 67.500% | 65.125% | 0 | ||||||
Festina | Holly Spencer | 66.000% (2) | 62.375% (3) | 59.000% (5) | 4 | ||||||
Lauren | Kristine Kuchinski-Broome | 62.375% (4) | 61.000% (6) | 62.750% (4) | 5 | ||||||
Decorus | Laurie McCullough-Leibfried | 55.750% (6) | 61.500% (5) | 58.500% (6) | 6 |
Grand Prix Freestyle Championship AA
Judges: E-William Warren C-Axel Steiner M-Kathy Rowse
Horse | Rider | E | C | M | Total | # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elfenfeuer | Alice Tarjan | 70.000% (1) | 72.750% (1) | 70.500% (1) | 1 | ||||||
Fynn*/*/*/*/*/ | Candace Platz | 69.000% (2) | 65.250% (2) | 66.000% (2) | 2 | ||||||
Wietze G | Lynnette Wadsworth | 59.875% | 61.750% | 63.000% | 3 | ||||||
Edykts Enchantres | Courtney Varney | 60.750% (3) | 58.000% (4) | 55.625% (4) | 4 |
Grand Prix Freestyle Championship Open
Judges: E-Axel Steiner C-Lisolette Fore M-Natalie Lamping
Horse | Rider | E | C | M | Total | # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thor M | Michael Poulin | 70.625% (3) | 73.875% (1) | 73.250% (1) | 1 | ||||||
Weltdorff | Emily Miles | 71.500% (1) | 72.000% (3) | 70.125% (2) | 2 | ||||||
Zar | Heather Mason | 71.375% (2) | 72.250% (2) | 69.125% (3) | 3 | ||||||
Ellegria | Lauren Sprieser | 68.250% (4) | 68.750% (4) | 68.000% (4) | 4 | ||||||
Bahai | Nora Batchelder | 68.250% (4) | 68.250% (5) | 62.750% | 5 | ||||||
Lamborghini | Tracey Amaral Olsen | 64.875% (6) | 66.125% (7) | 66.375% (6) | 6 | ||||||
Uiver | Terri Rocovich | 64.875% (6) | 64.750% (10) | 66.875% (5) | 7 | ||||||
Sandro Paix | Heather Mccarthy | 63.875% (8) | 65.125% (9) | 65.000% (9) | 8 | ||||||
Lou Bega | Andrea Manos | 63.875% (8) | 63.500% (11) | 65.500% (7) | 9 | ||||||
Catapult | Francesca Nicoletti | 63.000% (10) | 62.625% (12) | 65.250% (8) | 10 |
