Source:  Cornerstone Event Management/Yellow Horse Marketing News Release (edited)

Significant Dressage Weekend at Burbank Festival of the Horse CDI

Day One 

For West Coast riders, there was no joking around on April Fool's Day as a huge field of competitors fought for the blue ribbon in the CDI Prix St. Georges Test at the Festival of the Horse CDI- W/Y/J at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. Officiating for Friday's class were FEI judges Linda Zang (5* USA), Cara Whitham (5* CAN), and Eddy de Wolff (4* NED). "The overall quality in the top group of this class was very good," said judge Eddy de Wolff. Emerging the hard-fought victor was Steffen Peters riding Jen Hlavacek's nine-year-old Westfalen gelding "Weltino's Magic", which de Wolff described as "a super horse". After impressive wins at last month's Mid-Winter Dressage Fair, this pair returned to Burbank to earn a first-day score of 75.395%.

In the CDI Grand Prix class, Jan Ebeling rode his long-time partner "Rafalca" to a decisive win with a score of 69.298%. Ebeling is using this competition as a final preparation for the Reem Acra/FEI World Cup Dressage Finals, and feels that his mount has become much stronger over the last year in order to better tackle the demands of the division. The ground jury agreed. "Rafalca is much more confirmed, consistent and at ease throughout her test than we've seen her before," noted judge Cara Whitham.

In the CDI Young Rider division, Brandi Roenick rode her own "Pretty Lady" to top the scoreboard with 66.974%, while Canada's Colby Dodd claimed the win in the Junior Team Test.

Day Two

Pan American Games qualifying heated up on the West Coast as the top four riders in Saturday's CDI Intermediaire I test earned scores over 70% from judges Jean Michel Roudier (5* FRA), Cara Whitham (5* CAN), and Jeanne McDonald (4* USA). Ultimately, Steffen Peters and "Weltino's Magic" continued to impress both the judges and the audience, earning the namesake of "super horse" from the judges and a dominant score of 77.237%. "It was really amazing. Everything in the test was so fluent, like from another world!" said judge Jean Michel Roudier. "There is no weakness with this horse, and he has such a nice harmony with the rider. It's wonderful to see." As a reward for the win, Peters was presented with a Prestige saddle by Prestige Italia's Roberto Rasia and LA Saddlery's Tabitha Knaub and Renee Connolly.

In the large tour, it was Shannon Peters' time to shine as she claimed the win for the CDI Grand Prix Special with Four Winds Farm's "Odyssey" (64.208%). "The feeling he gives me is so amazing," said Peters. "He always tries so hard, and gets better and better with each test. That's all I can ask for."

For the Young Rider division, Mackinzie Pooley rode "Jonkara" to a winning score of 66.053% in the Individual Test, while Rison Naness and "Kingsley" topped the Junior field with 61.228%.

Complete results are available at www.cornerstonedressage.com.