Source:  News Releases/Helen Murray

 

 

 

 

U.S. Riders Produce Up-Beat Freestyles at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final

 

 

's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands- The United States' two representatives produced solid, fun Freestyle tests this afternoon at the Indoor Brabant in the final round of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final. Jan Ebeling and Shawna Harding utilized the lessons learned in Friday's Grand Prix to produced better performances; both riders witnessed improved marks from the Grand Prix to the Freestyle.

Jan Ebeling and Rafalca (Susan J. Stickle/PhelpsSports.com)

Ebeling (Moorpark, CA) put the mistakes of the previous day behind him and displayed an improved rhythm to score 69.875 for 15th place. Riding Amy Ebeling's Oldenburg mare, Rafalca, Ebeling stayed perfectly in tune with the up-tempo music throughout his ride. The pair had a dramatic finish to their test with piaffe on the centerline and culminating with one-handed paiffe into the salute. A slight spook following the two-time changes performed on the rail was one of few mistakes in a pleasing effort.

"I'm very happy with my test today, there were little mistakes in the twos but that's difficult on the rail there, there was a little spook. But it's not an Operating Room in there; it's a live arena. And we got more exposure and next time we'll be better."
Ebeling, competing in his third Finals, always enjoys the experience of these Championships and was pleased he was able to get improvement today.

"I was disappointed with yesterday. I really lost focus and she sensed that and made mistakes. Today we were able to redeem ourselves." Said Ebeling, "It's always an honor to be here and represent your country. These shows are unbelievable, the jumping, the audience are all great. It's really wonderful being here."

Shawna Harding (Aiken, SC) followed Ebeling into the ring with her own Come On III and performed an enjoyable Freestyle. The highlights of the test were a relaxed walk-tour and bold canter lengthenings performed to a selection of classic rock songs. They scored 68.821 for 16th place.

Holland's Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival defended their Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final title after scoring 86.250. Second was Germany's Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW with a score of 85.214, while Valentina Truppa and Eremo Del Castegno rode to a score of 81.232 for third place.

Both U.S. riders leave 's-Hertogenbosch with a wealth of experience and have benefitted from their 2012 Final experience.

Follow the 2012 U.S. Dressage Team at


Fellers Ends 25 Year Drought and Wins the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final for the U.S.


Rich Fellers, 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final Winner (Susan J. Stickle/PhelpsSports.com)
The 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final came to an exciting conclusion Sunday afternoon at the Indoor Barbant in the final competition, held over two rounds. Louis Koninck once again challenged riders over two stiff courses. However, a total of four rounds of competition were not enough to crown a winner of the 2012 Finals. Rich Fellers of the United States and Switzerland's Steve Guerdat remained tied on one fault following the conclusion of the second round. They would need to return to the ring for a final jump-off to decide a winner.
When Fellers (Sherwood, OR) and Harry and Mollie Chapman's Flexible entered the ring as the second combination in the jump-off the U.S. was amidst a 25 year drought of Rolex/FEI World Cup Finals winners.
No more. 
Fellers and the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion scorched to a clear round over the short course in a time of 25.97; besting Guerdat and Nino Des Buissonnets by .64 seconds. 
"I think it's great for the sport in our country (to have a World Cup winner)." Said Fellers, "Regardless of who won, it's great for our country."
Chef d'Equipe George Morris summed up the thoughts of all in the U.S. camp when he reflected about how it felt to have a winner for the first time since 1987. 
"Terrific, terrific, terrific." 
Fellers entered the second round of competition in a three-way tie for the lead after a fault free effort in Sunday's initial round. Just as he had done Thursday, on his way to winning the speed leg of the Finals, Flexible produced an efficient, tidy round over the 12 obstacle course. In the second round, the pair produced another clear round to force the jump-off. 
Heading into the final day of the championship, Fellers the runner-up in the 2008 Finals with Flexible, believed he could win with his partner of 10 years. 
"I went in there thinking; I've got to win this. I may not get another chance with Flexible and he's such a good horse." 
Listen to a complete interview with Fellers regarding the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Finals here
Fellers and Flexible (Susan J. Stickle/PhelpsSports.com)

Richard Spooner, Beezie Madden and Kent Farrington also landed in the top twenty of the overall standings for the United States. 
Spooner (Agua Dulce, CA) and Show Jumping Syndication International's Cristallo finished in 16th place after producing four and eight fault efforts in rounds one and two respectively. In addition to his World Cup finish, Spooner also enjoyed tremendous success in the CSI3* this week. With Molly Ohrstrom's Billy Bianca he won two speed classes; Friday's Brabants Dagblad Prijs and Sunday's VDL Groep Prijs. While on Saturday night he was third with Little Valley Farm's Apache in the Rabobank Grote Prijs. 
Madden (Cazenovia, NY) and Abigail Wexner's Cortes 'C' completed in 17th place, in the horse's first attempt in a Finals. In round one they lowered the height of fences at 10 and 12B for an eight fault total. In the second round, the U.S. team veteran recovered masterfully after experiencing difficulty in the triple, to jump an otherwise tidy round.
Finishing in 18th place was Farrington (Wellington, FL) and RCG Farm's Uceko. The pair had four and eight fault totals in the two rounds of Sunday's final competition.
The U.S. was also represented in the first round of today's final competition by Margie Engle (Wellington, FL) and Kirsten Coe (Johnston, SC).  
Finishing in second place overall in the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup was Guerdat, with Swiss countrymen Pius Schwizer with Carlina collected third place honors.
Follow the 2012 U.S. Jumping Team; http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2012Jumping/
 
Details about the Finals are available at http://www.indoorbrabant.com/

Barnmice News is brought to you by EnglishHabit.com, your complete online English tack shop.

 



Views: 28

The Rider Marketplace

International Horse News

Click Here for Barnmice Horse News

© 2024   Created by Barnmice Admin.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service