Dressage-News

WELLINGTON, Florida, Feb. 25, 2022–Hope Cooper rode Hot Chocolate to victory in the Global Dressage Festival CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle Friday in only the second Big Tour competition since moving up from the Under-25 division this year.

Hope of Concord, Masschusetts and the 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding were awarded 73.925% for the win, beating their debut musical performance result of 72.725% two weeks ago. The pair placed second in the Grand Prix Thursday behind Kathjerine Bateson-Chandler on Alcazar that lost a chance of a double victory by riding 2 1/2 pirouettes instead of two.

The 25-year-old Hope and Hot Chocolate, whose partnership began six years ago, had a highly successful Under-25 career from 2019 through 2021.

Susan Dutta of Wellington, Florida debuted Don Design DC at Freestyle to place second on 72.320%. Susan and the 12-year-old Hanoverian were third in the Grand Prix.

Colombia’s María Alejandra Aponte González on Duke de Niro were third on 70.345%, the first score above 70% for the pair in three years of international competition in the Under-25 division and moving up to senior Grand Prix a year ago on this same date.

“It’s like crazy and really surreal, and honestly, not something I thought that would happen this year, but I’m so proud of him,” Hope said.

“He feels so good, and he puts really a hundred and twenty million percent into anything I ask him, so I just thought maybe first year in the grand prix, we’ll take our time. And to have this as the second time we’ve done the freestyle, and the first grand prix start is like just unbelievable to me.”

Results:

CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle