Dressage-News

WELLINGTON, Fl;orida, Feb. 14, 2021–Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and All In posted a career high Grand Prix Freestyle score a fraction off 80% to capture the Global Dressage Festival World Cup musical performance and put the Canadian partnership in contention for an invitation to the Final in Sweden in April. Ashley Holzer, her coach and four-time Olympian, rode Valentine that was a gift from her husband on the namesake day six years ago, to runner-up in their debut Big Tour Freestyle also for a career high result.

Brittany and the 16-year-old KWPN gelding were awarded 79.330%–two of the five judges gave scores above 80%–just two days after the partnership posted a career beating Grand Prix result. The pair’s previous best was 78.720% set in the March 2020 Global Nations Cup at this same Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Ashley, based in Wellington, and Valentine scored 78.365% for second place. Anna Buffini of San Diego, California and FRH Davinia la Bouce scored 75.505% in only the second Freestyle for the pair since the horse was acquired last year from Germany’s Anabel Balkenhol.

Both centerpiece Big Tour events at this fifth week of the winter-long Global circuit were won by Canadians–Brittany and All in the Grand Prix Freestyle and Lindsay Kellock and Sebastien the Grand Prix Special, both riders Pan American Games medalists.

“This is like a dream come true, to be back here,” said Brittany, 32 years old, mother of a 19-month-old boy and who owns All In with her husband. “We are so fortunate that we are able to have so many shows in such a safe environment.”

She said that after great performances on this same circuit a year ago before the coronavirus pandemic “you hope that it’s going to be the same, but after 10 months I was a little nervous. You want to keep those scores and keep hitting personal bests.

“All In has come out this season and really has proven that he knows his job so well, he tries his heart out for me every time we go down centerline, and I just have to hang on for the ride. I’m ecstatic with him.

“I thought my extended trots today were nice, my changes and pirouettes, I was very happy with. I felt that the whole freestyle really flowed today, I wanted to go mistake free again today… the whole test flowed nicely, and sometimes that last extended trot is exuberant, but everything worked really well today.

“I think Canada is really strong right now, maybe the strongest we’ve ever been, and we’re getting great marks and are all so supportive of each other. If Tokyo happens, I think we will have a very strong team for Canada.”

Under new World Cup rules for North America that is assigned two of the 18 starting places in the Final, Brittany earned 13 points for the win but has another qualifying chance later this circuit ahead of the Final in Gothenburg, the first week of April. Charlotte Jorst of Reno, Nevada with Kastel’s Nintendo is atop the standings with Carly Taylor-Smith of Somis, California on Rosalut NHF standing second.

Ashley Holzer, who rode at four Olympics for Canada but now competes for America, said after the freestyle on the 11-year-old Hanoverian mare she owns with Diane Fellows, “I have to say that was one of my favorite rides I’ve ever had in my whole life. Just to feel her start to dance with me… I’ve had her since she was so young; she came over before she was even four.”

She laughed as she quipped, “It’s been quite a journey; I’m not going to say it wasn’t a journey, a heck of a journey at times. But to feel a horse like that in the ring… I’m honestly speechless; one of the happiest moments I’ve had coming out of the ring.

“I think her future is incredibly bright.”

She said in the honor round alongside Brittany and All In Valentine felt like “she was wearing Nikes, flying off the ground, she doesn’t pull, she’s lovely to ride, she’s just a lovely animal. I’m very bonded with her. I love all my horses dearly. But when you’ve had the journey and the journey hasn’t always been smooth, you’ve had a few heart to hearts, to feel what I felt in the ring. She started to come together with me more and more in there. Pretty exciting.”

Results:

CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle