Source: News Release
CHIO Aachen 2013 a "Dream Come True" for Canada's Pia Fortmuller
Ottawa, ON --- Pia Fortmuller of Priddis, AB, currently living and training in Germany with her coach, Olympic medalist Heiki Kemmer, contested among dressage's international equestrian elite at the World Equestrian Festival, CDIO5*/DCI4*/DCI-U25 CHIO Aachen 2013, held June 21-30, in Germany at the show grounds of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV).
Fortmuller and her partner Orion, a 17- year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by Jazz, took on a field of world class athletes under the lights in Saturday's Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4* test where their performance earned them a ninth place finish on a final score of 69.350%, bumping Denmark's duo, Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittengenstien and Fabienne (69.000%) down into the 10th place.
In Wednesday's CDI4* Grand Prix test, Fortmuller and Orion took on 22 of their talented peers to finish 14th with final score of 67.340%.
"It was an honor to be able to dance down the centerline with Orion in Aachen. It is such a magical competition because you really have to earn your invitation to be able to ride there. I was exceptionally proud of Orion in his Grand Prix test because it was one of our best Grand Prix performances ever and to be able to perform a clean test in such an atmosphere was a true team achievement. Our freestyle also had some great highlights but we unfortunately had a very expensive spook, as we were the first to go, and the strange looking tractor tread marks on the centerline really gave Orion a scare. But overall I could not be happier with how the competition went, being able to compete successfully in Aachen is a dream come true", commented Fortmuller, the second reserve for the Canadian team at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
PHOTO --- Canadian Equestrian Pia Fortmuller and Orion compete at World Equestrian Festival, CDIO5*/DCI4*/DCI-U25 CHIO Aachen (GER) 2013.
PHOTO CREDIT --- Shannon Brinkman Photo
The FEI judges for the event included President, Dr. Dietrich Plewa (GER), Susan Hoevenaars (AUS), Thomas Lang (AUT), Isabelle Judet (FRA), Francis Verbeek (NED), Andrew Gardner (GRB), Freddy Leyman (BEL), Christoph Umbach (LUX), Martin Richenhagen (GER) and Foreign Judge, Leif Tornblad (DEN).
About Dressage Canada
Dressage Canada, as a committee of Equine Canada, is the national governing body for dressage in Canada. Dressage Canada's objective is to foster the growth of dressage and the pursuit of excellence in the sport at the local, national and international levels. Dressage Canada provides support and guidance to both amateur and professional through the following programs: coaching education and programs, officials' education and programs, rules and qualifying criteria, sport development, and publications and awards. For more information about Dressage Canada, please visit the Dressage section of the Equine Canada site or connect with us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dressagecanada or Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/lp8cnd.
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