SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA - While diners savored a luxurious brunch and looked on from the comfort of ringside seating in the California Dreaming Productions VIP tent, two of America's veteran Team members guided promising young mounts to FEI wins on the second day of competition at the Capistrano Dressage International CDI-W/Y/J/U-25, being held March 19 - 22 in San Juan Capistrano, Cal. 

The poise and talent of Four Winds Farm's Rheinlander mare Rosamunde (Rock Forever x First Lady by Fidermark) belies her young age of only eight years as she dominated the morning's CDI Grand Prix Special with 75.863% in the experienced hands of Steffen Peters. "She's so rideable, and the connection and sensitivity to the aids is so good that even though it's only her second Grand Prix Special test, we're not just riding the movements - the fascinating part is that I can actually start polishing the test now," said Peters of his mount, who is affectionately known as Rosie. "I've never had a horse this young be so confident in her work. This test can be tricky for a young Grand Prix horse but it worked out beautifully - the movements are almost easy for her. The way she does all this with such an amazing attitude is astounding, and it's an honor to ride her." FEI judge Michael Osinski (3* USA) was equally impressed. "It's exciting for our country to have such a phenomenal horse, and she's so young yet so good already," he explained. "Personally I have never seen a horse at this age make such a successful jump to Grand Prix. How lucky Steffen is to now have two top horses going at the same time." 

For the duration of the day, competition in the small tour was once again ferocious as Pan American Games hopefuls from both the U.S. and Canada fought for top marks in the Intermediaire I Test. As a result, the top four combinations all scored over 70%, and adding to excitement they finished within less than half a point of each other. In a fitting climax, Olympian Guenter Seidel won a tiebreaker at 70.500% to take the win with his own Rey del Mundo (Rock Forever x Fiona by Ferragamo) over Canada's Leslie Reid with Juliet Sears LeDorze's Westphalian gelding Fine and Smart (Fuerst Piccolo x Whoopy by Worldman). "I'm very pleased, especially because he's so green and I had no expectations when going in the ring," said Seidel of his leggy bay Westphalian gelding, who in addition to leading the victory lap also notched his first CDI victory. "At this point I'm really just trying to give him confidence. I think his trot work in particular was very good today, and I'm really happy with him."

 See complete competition results here. 

After winning yesterday's Young Rider Team Prix St. Georges Test, last year's NAYRC Team, Individual and Freestyle Gold Medalist Catherine Chamberlain once again found success with Avesto Van Weltevreden (Dutch gelding [Gribaldi x Tevesta by Krack C] owned by Kimberly Pribble) by earning a top score of 67.553% in the Young Rider Individual Test to barely edge out 2014 NAJYRC Region 7 team mate Cassidy Gallman and her Hanoverian gelding Grand Makana (by Goodman) with 67.526%. Meanwhile, Veronica West and her Hanoverian gelding Nobleman (Hatiello XX x Weira by Wenzel II) remain undefeated at the FEI Junior level, handily winning today's Individual Test with 69.053%.

See complete competition results here.  

Complete results are available on the California Dreaming Productions website, http://www.californiadreamingproductions.com. Expanded live video streaming coverage of Sunday's CDI Grand Prix and Intermediaire I freestyle classes with expert commentary by FEI judge Axel Steiner resumes at 9:00am PT on CDP Live, http://www.californiadreamingproductions.com/live-stream-test/.