Strong Start for Canadians During Week One of the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival

Canadian highlights of the week included Megan Lane of Loretto, ON winning the FEI Grand Prix Special with a score of 68.980% aboard her 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Caravella.

“I feel it was an amazing start to the season. My coach Oded Shimoni and I feel there is still so much more potential, so are really excited for the future,” said Lane, who moved up to the Grand Prix level with Caravella last year after a highly successful Junior and Young Rider career that included six medals from the FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC).

Lane and Caravella also earned a top 10 finish in the FEI Grand Prix, tying for eighth place with fellow Canadian Diane Creech of Caistor Centre, ON on a score of 65.880%.

“Florida is a great place to gain experience and exposure as there are so many top shows here and I am thrilled to be part of it,” continued Lane. “I was also encouraged by the feedback from the judges, which was all very positive. The next steps are set towards becoming a member of the Canadian dressage team to compete at the World Equestrian Games.”

In addition to her eighth place tie in the FEI Grand Prix, Creech and her long-time partner Devon L, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Louise and Doug Leatherdale, earned fourth place in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, scoring 72.300%. This marked yet another strong freestyle performance for the duo, who ended the 2013 season with a win in the Grand Prix Freestyle at the $20,000 Royal Invitational Dressage Cup at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON.

Coming in just below Creech in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle was two-time Olympian Jacqueline Brooks of Cedar Valley, ON. Riding her 2012 Olympic mount, D Niro, a 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Brookhaven Dressage Inc., Brooks scored 70.725% for fifth place. The pair also had a strong finish in the FEI Grand Prix, receiving 66.740% for seventh place.

Canadians riders had a strong showing in the FEI Intermediaire I class as well, with Jill Irving of Moncton, NB claiming third place on score of 68.895% with her 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Dio Mio. They also earned a score of 65.789% in the FEI Prix St. Georges for eighth place.

Chris Von Martels from Ridgetown, ON earned fourth place in both the FEI Intermediaire I and FEI Prix St. George classes, scoring 68.711% and 68.474%, respectively. His 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Zilverstar, was his partner.

Beiseker, AB native, David Ziegler contested the FEI Young Rider division, winning both the Individual and Team Eclasses with his 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Peninsula Top Man.

The international judging panel at the CDI-W/CDI-1* Adequan Global Dressage Festival 1 consisted of Sandra Hotz of the United States (FEI 3*), Natalie Lamping of the United States (FEI 4*), Thomas Lang of Austria (FEI 5*), Freddy Leyman of Belgium (FEI 4*), Hans-Christian Matthiesen of Denmark (FEI 4*), Gustav Svalling of Sweden (FEI 5*), and Christof Umbach of Luxembourg (FEI 4*).

Watch for further Canadian results from the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, which features 11 more consecutive weeks of top-level competition.

For more information on the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, and complete results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.net.