A Mix of Experience, Youth, Miscommunication Mark USA Grand Prix Results at Omaha World Cup

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Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper in the Omaha World Cup Grand Prix. © 2023 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

OMAHA, Nebraska, April 5, 2023–Steffen Peters on Suppenkasper was the highest placed American combination at the Omaha World Grand Prix, the 2009 champion of this event, while Anna Buffini on Davinia la Douce was one of the two youngest riders in what is her second championship and Alice Tarjan on the American-bred Serenade MF was in her first ever international championship.

Steffen was happy with much of the performance by Mopsie, as Suppenkasper is called, and for which the panel of seven judges awarded the rider and the 15-year-old KWPN gelding 74.581% and fifth place.

“Very energetic and, at the same time, relaxed for the walk tour,” he said later. “Unfortunately the right pirouette got a little big. It was not perfectly in the rider’s control. But overall a very good test.

“…to be fifth in this group is wonderful for our placing and for being the oldest rider here in this competition.

“After 50 years of being in the sport it’s still very exciting to be part of this, and I’m thrilled.”

The comments drew a big hurrah from Isabell Werth, who is younger but frequently questioned about her longevity in the sport in which she has become the most decorated equestrian in history.

 

 

Anna Buffini and FRH Davinia la Douce, the 16-year-old mare at Omaha. The pair competed in their first international championship at the World Cup in Leipzig, Germany in 2022. The sign behind them is for Betsy Juliano’s Havensafe Farm in Wellington, Florida and is the presenting sponsor of the dressage World Cup. © 2023 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

The score for the duo that made a last-minute flight across country from their base in San Diego, California to Wellington, Florida to make a successful bid to qualify for one of the three places in North America out of a total of 18 worldwide.

“Super happy with a clean test,” she told dressage-news.com. “Loved the energy from the home crowd. It was so special.”

Anna, who has a freestyle from the movie “Top Gun Maverick,” that is a celebration of her family’s long commitment to military service in the United States., was awarded a score of 70.047%.

Alice Tarjan and the American-bred 10-year-old mare Serenade MF showing off spectacular passage. © 2023 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, New Jersey made a spectacular start to the Grand Prix in which is the rider’s first ever international championship.

“I’m really pleased with our ride,” Alice said after the ride that scored 67.065%. “She felt that best she has all week

“Although it wasn’t maybe the result we wanted because of a miscommunication, I’m looking forward to the freestyle.”

The miscommunication occurred during the first passage-piaffe tour where two movements are double marks. The duo recovered for the remainder of the ride but very low marks from the seven judges pulled their score down from the mid-70s.