Dressage-News

WELLINGTON, Florida, Mar. 16, 2018–Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Lonoir posted a personal best score to capture the Global Dressage Festival CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle Friday night, the fourth straight victory for the American team partnership.

Olivia and the 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding scored 76.600 per cent, to smash the previous high of 74.425 per cent set at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany last July while riding in the world’s premier Nations Cup event for the United States team silver medal.

Arlene “Tuny” Page of Wellington and her Woodstock placed second on 75.00 per cent.

Spain’s Juan Matute, Jr., based in Wellington, on Don Diego Ymas was third on

Olivia, who had won the Grand Prix a day earlier and a doubleheader two weeks earlier, said:

“The last time he (Lonoir) was in this setting he was epically airborne. The fact he stayed with me and was so rideable was exciting. When he’s waiting for me and we’re on the same page it’s pretty cool.

“There’s more to come which is really exciting.”

The ride to the music of “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” she quipped, was appropriate for Lonoir that is owned by Olivia of Haymarket, Virginia and Mary Anne McPhail.

“Tuny” Page said her freestyle was based on the theme of the movie “Amistad” but the current format using the degree of difficulty format that was “full of difficult sequences” designed to earn more points.

Their score, however, was the highest in two years for the pair, though she said, “I would have simplified it if I had to do it over.”

Results:

CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle