WELLINGTON, Florida, Mar. 26, 2023–Bianca Berktold rode 10-year-old Imperial to victory in the Lövsta Future Challenge Final Young Horse Grand Prix at the Global Dressage Festival Sunday. The Buffalo Wild Wings Prix St. Georges was won by JJ Glory Day ridden by Marcus Orlob.
Glory Day was ridden by Marcus for a score of 73.705%. Marcus, who splits his time between Annandale, New Jersey and Loxahatchee, Florida said it was only the second St. Georges competition for the horse, at seven the youngest in the class for horses age seven to nine.
The stallion (Kastel’s Grand Galaxy Win x Deemster) is owned by Alice Tarjan, one of her string of mounts from international Grand Prix to youngsters.
“I’ve had this horse for three years and since then I’m quite amazed by him,” said Marcus. “Every time I ride him it’s a joy. He wants to work. I thought a couple weeks ago I would do this just for fun and he was really afraid the first time.
“Now I think he did quite a clean test and the judges seemed to like it, so I’m really happy. The changes are more confirmed, and he was more mature, with better balance and straighter.”
Ashley Holzer of Wellington and the nine-year-old gelding Francis (Franziskus x Weltmeyer) placed second on 71.617%. The horse is owned by P.J. Rizvi who will take over the ride as she heals from a broken leg.
Andrea Woodard, also of Wellington, and the eight-year-old Kaliber (Franklin x Rubin Royal) was third on 71.382%
Bianca, who owns the 10-year-old mare Imperial (Charmeur x Vivaldi) that won the Lövsta Future Challenge, joked that she had not realized the competition was for the young horse Grand Prix.
“It’s smart to read the emails they send you thoroughly because I thought I was doing a regular Grand Prix, and last night at 8pm I realized it was a young horse Grand Prix and that I’d never ridden a young horse Grand Prix myself and I had to Google it. But Imperial showed up and went in and was amazing.”
Bianca, who has trained Imperial up through the levels at her farm in Loxahatchee, Florida, scored 69.973% for the win.
Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, New Jersey and Jane, a nine-year-old KWPN mare (Desperado x Metall) placed second on 68.262%.
Results:
Lövsta Future Challenge Final Young Horse Grand Prix
| Judges: | Michael Osinski | Hans Voser | Maria Colliander | Kari McClain | Hans-Christian Matthiesen | ||||||||
| Place | Score | Nation | Athlete | Horse | E | H | C | M | B | ||||
| 1. | 69.973 | USA | Bianca Berktold | Imperial | 68.552 | 70.921 | 70.394 | 69.736 | 70.263 | ||||
| 2. | 68.262 | USA | Alice Tarjan | Jane | 70.263 | 66.052 | 67.500 | 70.789 | 66.710 | ||||
| 3. | 66.867 | USA | Ali Potasky | Inxs | 66.315 | 66.315 | 66.184 | 66.052 | 69.473 | ||||
| 4. | 66.815 | USA | Emily Miles | Sole Mio | 67.500 | 68.157 | 63.684 | 65.657 | 69.078 | ||||
| 5. | 64.183 | USA | Emily Miles | Daily Show | 64.473 | 63.815 | 64.210 | 62.368 | 66.052 | ||||
Buffalo Wild Wings Future Challenge Final Prix St. Georges
| Michael Osinski | Hans Voser | Maria Colliander | Kari McClain | Hans-Christian Matthiesen | |||||||||
| Place | Score | Nation | Athlete | Horse | E | H | C | M | B | ||||
| 1. | 73.705 | USA | Marcus Orlob | JJ Glory Day | 74.852 | 73.823 | 70.441 | 75.294 | 74.117 | ||||
| 2. | 71.617 | USA | Ashley Holzer | Francis | 73.529 | 73.235 | 68.088 | 71.176 | 72.058 | ||||
| 3. | 71.382 | USA | Andrea Woodard | Kaliber | 72.647 | 70.882 | 70.735 | 71.176 | 71.470 | ||||
| 4. | 69.470 | USA | Charlotte Jorst | Federle | 70.000 | 70.882 | 68.088 | 68.676 | 69.705 | ||||
| 5. | 69.087 | USA | Charlotte Jorst | Straight Horse Cosmo | 68.823 | 68.235 | 68.823 | 68.823 | 70.735 | ||||
| 6. | 67.705 | AUS | Kelly Layne | Living Diamond | 68.823 | 68.676 | 65.735 | 68.676 | 66.617 | ||||
| 7. | 67.470 | GER | Michael Klimke | Harmony’s Fado | 69.411 | 67.205 | 65.735 | 68.088 | 66.911 | ||||
| 8. | 67.058 | USA | Sylvia Gugler | Vulkano 14 | 68.382 | 64.852 | 68.382 | 66.764 | 66.911 | ||||
