Day 1: HSBC FEI World CupTM Qualifier at Rebecca Farm
Kelly Prather and Ballinakill Glory Top the Leader Board After DressageKALISPELL, MONT. -- The 2009 Event at Rebecca Farm got underway today in beautiful Kalispell, Montana with 14 horses contesting the HSBC FEI World CupTM Qualifier. Kelly Prather and Andrea Pfieffer's Ballinakill Glory performed a relaxed and accurate test to take the lead on a score of 45.60. The Irish mare gave Prather the best ride of her career and was particularly expressive in her extensions.
"My horse gave me an amazing ride today," said Prather. "Her work in her extensions was the best she had ever done and scored eights from the judges. I am absolutely thrilled with her performance."
Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister are close behind on a score of 47.00. The eight-year-old Ringwood Magister has had a successful season at the advanced level this year with Coudray following a gold team medal at the 2008 North American Young Riders Championships in Parker, Colorado. The pair put in a lovely, flowing and forward test to really impress the judges.
Scores were fairly high for the first half of the competition as many horses were charged with excitement leading to some interesting tests. Only Prather and Coudray were able to break into the 40's. Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe on The Good Witch scored a 51.4 from the judges and is lying in third place. The mare is an experienced advanced horse and Wooten-Dafoe has been working hard on the horses flat work which paid off today.
Weather conditions in Montana's Flathead Valley bode well for an excellent day of cross-country and the riders are eager to face the challenges of this Capt. Mark Phillips designed course. With a field that includes Olympian Amy Tryon and former top young rider Sarah Mittleider, as well as 1992 US Olympian Jill Walton, there will be some strong competition. Rider's eyes will be on qualifying not only for a trip to the World Cup Final in Poland in August, but also with the FEI World Equestrian Games just over a year away, riders will be also hoping to impress the selectors.
The HSBC FEI World CupTM Eventing boasts nine qualifiers in nine different countries from which the top-ranked riders will be selected to take part in the HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing Final in Strzegom, which lies in south-western Poland, Aug. 21-23. Sponsored by HSBC, the prestigious series which unites all corners of the international Eventing community, kicked off in April in the southern Hemisphere with the first qualifier held at Kihikihi in New Zealand. The series includes competitions in Australia, Europe, United States and Canada.
Results after Dressage:
1. Kelly Prather, Ballinikill Glory, 45.6
2. Tiana Coudray, Ringwood Magister, 47.0
3. Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe, The Good Witch, 51.4
4. Kate Gillespie, Renegade Reno, 52.8
5. Amy Tryon, Leland, 54.0
6. Sarah Mittleider, El Primero, 55.2
7. Barbara Crabo, Eveready II, 57.0
8. Karen Shull, Just My Style, 58.4
9. Kristi Nunnink, R-Star, 58.8
10. Debbie Rosen, The Alchemist, 62.4
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