Severo rode to victory in the FEI World Cup opener in Odense

The Spanish rider who trilled the audience with his spectacular freestyle at the Olympics in Rio, finishing fifth individually, is back in competition at the FEI World Cup dressage opener at Odense Horse Show sponsored by ECCO. With his 10 years old gelding Lorenzo by Lord Loxley he entered the arena as the very last rider in the FEI World Cup Grand Prix today. He knew, coming into the packed arena, that he had to beat the score of 72.3% set by Swedish rider Rose Mathisen riding the lovely stallion Zuidenwind by 00 Seven. Her fellow countryman, seven time Olympian Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén, rode Paridon Magi by Don Primero to a score of 72.24%.

Severo and Lorenzo scored high marks (9.5) in the half-passes and generally showed lovely trot work. He continued scoring high marks in the canter work, but made a mistake coming out of the first canter pirouette, dropping his potential high score. With a strong finish in extended trot, passage and piaffe at the centreline, he topped the leader board with a score of 74.44%.

– My mistake, not the horse’s fault, Severo commented after his ride. He will ride his spectacular freestyle in the FEI World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle tomorrow afternoon. He has created the choreography together with his trainer and employer Andreas Helgstrand, and has chosen music symbolizing his Spanish heritance – the exhilarating tones from the Spanish singer and song writer Santana.

Full results HERE