The WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3* presented by Today's Equestrian & Fellows at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued today with classes for the Large Tour and Small Tour. Susan Dutta and Currency DC won the FEI Grand Prix Special, while Kim Herslow and Rosmarin won their second class in a row in the FEI Intermediaire-1. The CDI 3* and National competition wrap up with tomorrow's classes. The next show for the AGDF is the Wellington CDI 5* presented by Diamante Farms on April 4-7, 2013.
The judges for today's FEI Grand Prix Special were: Carlos Lopes at E, Janet Foy at H, Sandy Phillips at C, Ulrike Nivelle at M, and Bo Ahman at B.
Dutta and Currency DC won the class with a score of 69.396%. Coming in second place was Susan Jaccoma (USA) on Wadamur with a score of 66.063%. Jill Irving (CAN) and Degas 12 were third after they received a score of 65.083%.
Dutta has ridden Currency DC, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Clintino x Classiker, since she bought him as a two and a half year old. The long journey has also been one of learning.
Dutta explained, “It's getting much better. It's not without effort; I'm always trying to ride better. I have fabulous trainers and we know we have a good horse. It's just a matter of trying to ride it well. First we had to get him going well, this takes time, and then get us together in the ring, and me confident. I have to really believe. This horse has only been ridden by me. Now I'm starting to believe in myself. I think he really likes me now and likes the way I'm riding him. There's more in there. This is a super horse. I just have not ridden him to his potential, but I'm getting there. That feels really good. To me, this is a huge step in the right direction.”
Dutta trains with Juergen and Christoph Koschel when she travels to Europe in the summer and when they can come to the U.S. She noted, “I knew I needed a grounds person in America. I'm working with Nicholas Fyffe. I owe him a big thank you.”
The pair started at the grand prix level three years ago, but there were a few bumps in the road with injuries since then. “This is the first season that he's starting to look like a real grand prix horse,” Dutta said. “He doesn't look green anymore. It takes time.”
Of her test today, Dutta described, “The beginning is so amazing with the passage, extended, passage, extended. I knew I got some points there. I knew I was going to need them. That's my history is to get way ahead there. It's a numbers game, so that if my walk wasn't good or if I made a little canter mistake, I still was higher in the score. I knew in the beginning when he was so easy and on my aids that it was good. I knew he felt good. He was good out here (in the warm-up). I wasn't nervous. I'm feeling more confident. I think that's transferring to him.”
Speaking of her victory, she said, “For me, winning is great. More than anything though, just riding him well and getting the points was important to me. Confidence builds on confidence and I'm hoping I can layer myself with more confidence and ride really well.”
Final Results: FEI Grand Prix Special
1 Susan Dutta (USA) Currency DC: 69.167, 71.250, 69.167, 69.792, 67.604, 69.396
2 Susan Jaccoma (USA), Wadamur: 66.250, 67.708, 66.667, 65.000, 64.688, 66.063
3 Jill Irving (CAN), Degas 12: 66.146, 64.479, 64.167, 67.396, 63.229, 65.083
4 Cesar Parra (USA), Van the Man: 67.188, 66.146, 63.021, 64.063, 64.896, 65.063
5 Evi Strasser (CAN), Action Tyme: 65.208, 65.104, 63.021, 65.521, 65.000, 64.771
6 Diana Mukpo (USA), Pascal: 63.958, 62.188, 65.104, 64.792, 65.000, 64.208