Team USA Reigns at 2016 Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations‘ Cup

Press release AGDF – Team USA dominated the 2016 Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations‘ Cup CDIO 3* at Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), handily winning the competition with a total team score of 454.698. Canada finished in second place with a total score of 428.708, while Spain rounded out the top three, collecting the bronze medal with a total team score of 414.421. The Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations‘ Cup CDIO 3* continues tomorrow with the FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle CDIO 3* at 4:30 p.m. and the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDIO 3* beginning at 8:30 p.m. as the final „Friday Night Stars“ Grand Prix Freestyle event of the 2016 AGDF season.

Shelly Francis, Laura Graves, Arlene „Tuny“ Page, and Kasey Perry-Glass each represented Team USA with class and poise, with two of the four team members earning personal best scores. Chef d‘ Equipe Robert Dover was pleased with the team’s accuracy and finish through the two days of competition and is excited for the continued expansion and growth of dressage in the United States.

„The Nations‘ Cup here in Wellington has been a tremendous competition and growing in quality each year,“ said Dover. „One, I’m so thankful to the sponsors of this show, Stillpoint Farm, and of course Adequan® who is incredible, and to the managers of this show at AGDF, which is making it the mecca that it is for our sport.“

„With regards to winning this competition, of course I’m extremely proud that the U.S. won this Nations‘ Cup again this year, but even more importantly, I was hoping for our riders to achieve personal bests and to do better than they have been doing this season, and with each class grow more confident as we head towards Europe and the Olympics. That’s what I’m seeing from the riders both in this Nations‘ Cup and the riders who were so wonderful in the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3*. I couldn’t be more proud of all of them.“

Laura Graves and Verdades continued their dominance in the competition this week, picking up another major victory in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDIO 3* with a score of 78.294%, which helped to solidify Team USA’s first place finish. The duo continues to near the elusive 80% mark and seemed confident and precise in the ring in the first two days of competition.

„To be invited to ride on a team is something that you just don’t say not to. I love that we’re able to put USA on top of a podium. It’s always a nice feeling to have such a strong team to compete with. It feels very secure and it takes a lot of the pressure of competing off of yourself as an individual. You’re just riding for the team,“ said Graves.

Watch Laura Graves and Verdades win the FEI Grand Prix Special CDIO 3* here!

„We had two personal bests in both of the tests that we just did, and I could not be more thrilled. It’s been a long season for us, and this is going to be a long competition,“ continued Graves. „I’ll be pleased to take him home and give him a break before we go try to be even better in Europe.“

Arlene Page and Woodstock have had a stellar season, solidifying their partnership and showing the potential the pair has together in Large Tour competition. Page, the owner of Stillpoint Farm, has been impressed with the expansion and development of the Nations‘ Cup class at AGDF over the course of the past four years and feels that it is invaluable to the circuit each year.

„I’m really proud of the season that Woodstock has had this year, and it’s been a bit of breakout year for him. We didn’t have a personal best here, but we’ve had two personal bests through the season and I’m proud of that,“ commented Page. „I was very proud to be selected to be on the team and very proud to sit amongst these women. It makes it very fun.“

„He was a bit more on his game today and was a little bit more up in his carriage and just in a very good place to develop a whole lot more power and expression. When you get to stand on top of the highest podium, it’s a very good feeling,“ she continued.

As the breakout stars for Team USA this season, Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet have surpassed all expectations for the pair’s first season debut in Large Tour competition. Perry-Glass represented the United States in last year’s Nations‘ Cup aboard „Dublet“, but in the Small Tour classes.

„I was really proud of Dublet. Yesterday was a little bit lacking expression than today, but I was able to push him harder today and (was) really working towards going for it and finding my grit,“ smiled Perry-Glass, as she looked at teammate Graves, who winked back at her. „I think that I have to remind myself that this is his first year, and he’s letting me have a conversation with him in the ring and push him more. I just want to keep him happy, and that’s my biggest goal.“

Francis and Doktor have been incredibly consistent this season, rarely straying from a top five finish. Francis is an experienced and veteran competitor for Team USA and discussed her performances with Doktor over the past two days, stating, „It’s always fun to do this type of competition as a team. I had a little bit of a tough ride yesterday and I started off going gangbusters today and then had a blank moment, but, otherwise it was still a great week and it’s exciting that we get to be in first place and go up there and get that medal.“

Team Canada, who finished in second place, was led by veteran pair Belinda Trussell and Anton, who have collected a number of wins this season at AGDF, continuously showing that they’re a reliable and competitive pair for the Canadian team.

„We’re thrilled to be second again and in great company. It’s wonderful to have a CDIO in North America with as many countries that are involved here. It is a gift that we have it in our continent and haven’t had that in the past,“ said Trussell. „It’s developing each year and getting stronger, and that’s exciting. My team was great, and we felt proud to have four Grand Prix horses on the team. It was a really good Nations‘ Cup for us.“

Watch Juan Matute Jr. and Dhannie Ymas win the FEI Intermediaire I CDIO 3* here!

As the high point rider for the Small Tour portion of the FEI Nations‘ Cup competition, Juan Matute Jr. led Spain to a third place finish. Piloting Dhannie Ymas to two high scores, Matute Jr. feels confident with the progress the pair has made over the course of this season, mostly competing in the FEI Young Rider division offered at AGDF.

„My team and I are thrilled with the results. We managed to get on the podium which was always the goal,“ he said. „As for Dhannie and I, I’m very pleased with the results. It’s been a great season and this week has been a great highlight for us. A 74.5% is a great score and a personal best for us. I’m super pleased and looking forward to the future.“

Competition continues at AGDF tomorrow with the FEI Intermediaire I CDI 1*, presented by YellowBird Farm, as well as individual competition in the Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations‘ Cup CDIO 3*, with the FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle CDIO 3* starting at 4:30 p.m. and the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDIO 3*, the final „Friday Night Lights“ of the 2016 AGDF circuit, beginning at 8:30 p.m. For more information please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Final Team Results for Stillpoint Farm FEI Nations‘ Cup CDIO 3*:
1. USA: 454.698
2. Canada: 428.708
3. Spain: 414.421
4. Denmark: 408.465
5. Costa Rica: 391.028
6. Australia: 259.497

Final Results FEI Grand Prix Special CDIO 3*, presented by Stillpoint Farm
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total %

1. Laura Graves (USA), Verdades, 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Florett AS x Liwilarda x Goya owned by Laura Graves: 78.235%, 76.176%, 76.667%, 80.686%, 79.706%, 78.294%

2. Kasey Perry-Glass (USA), Goerklintgaards Dublet, 2003 Danish Warmblood gelding by Diamond Hit x La Costa x Olympic Ferro owned by Diane Perry: 75.588%, 73.824%, 76.667%, 74.412%, 73.922%, 74.882%

3. Mikala Gundersen (DEN), My Lady, 2000 Danish Warmblood mare by Michellino x Marion x Ritterstern owned by Janne Rumbough: 76.176%, 73.725%, 74.902%, 75.784%, 72.647%, 74.647%

4. Belinda Trussell (CAN), Anton, 2000 Sachsen Warmblood gelding by Anteaus x Shirley x Melit owned by Robyn Eames and Marc Trussell: 72.353%, 73.137%, 72.745%, 74.412%, 69.412%, 72.412%

5. Arlene Page (USA), Woodstock, 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Havel x Mirania x Contango owned by Arlene Page: 70.490%, 71.176%, 72.255%, 71.667%, 69.020%, 70.922%

6. Megan Lane (CAN), Caravella, 2001 Dutch Warmblood mare by Contango x P.Riviera x Riverman owned by Megan Lane: 69.510%, 70.588%, 69.412%, 71.667%, 67.157%, 69.667%

7.  Shelly Francis (USA), Doktor, 2003 Oldenburg gelding by Diamond Hit x Gurena x Renoir I owned by Patricia Stempel: 69.373%, 70.255%, 70.451%, 70.843%, 67.020%, 69.588%

8. Karen Pavicic (CAN), Don Daiquiri, 2002 Oldenburg gelding by Don Cardinale x Nedstatte II x Rubinstein I owned by Jayne Essig: 67.745%, 70.000%, 70.294%, 70.490%, 69.118%, 69.529%

Source: Press release AGDF