Dressage-News

WELLINGTON, Florida, Feb. 23, 2019–The USA’s Katie Johnson and Paxton became the first double winner of the Iron Spring Farm Future Stars Performance Series with a victory Saturday in the developing Prix St. Georges at the Global Dressage Festival while nine riders from five nations have now qualified for the $10,000 final at the end of the Global winter circuit.

Katie and the eight-year-old Westfalen gelding were awarded 73.125 per cent, the highest score so far in the series with four American combinations, two Germans, an Australian, a Canadian and a Swiss rider qualifying in the series sponsored by Iron Spring Farm of Coatesville, Pennsylvania and supported by Cunningham & Cunningham Livestock insurance and Legacy Farm in Loxahatchee, Florida operated by Melissa Taylor and Lars Petersen.

The 30-year-old Katie Johnson and the Dante Weltino-sired Paxton owned by Kylee Lourie, owner of TyL (Thank you Lord) stables, are coached by Olympic and World Games competitor Adrienne Lyle.

Susanne Benne of Cocoa Beach, Florida and San Marino placed second Saturday to also qualify for the final.

The duo join Germans Marc Stanuschewski on Graciella and Christoph Koschel on Shakespeare, Diane Creech of Canada on Dublin L, Kelly Layne of Australia on Livio Fellugo, Franziska Seidle of Switzerland on Gucci and Americans Meagan Davis of Stone Ridge, New York and Wellington on Damocles HLF, Christopher Hickey of Edgemoor, South Carolina on Straight Horse Zackonik as well as Katie Johnson on Paxton.

Under the rules of the series, once the first two combinations in any competition qualify riders and horses next in line are offered an invitation to the final in the Global centerpiece International Arena.

Qualifying Future Stars Performance Series competitions remaining for this winter circuit are scheduled for:

-GDF8 Feb. 27-Mar. 3
-GDF9 Mar. 7-10
-GDF10 Mar. 13-17

Final: GDF12 Mar. 27-31-International Arena, Global Dressage Festival