Graves Leads Strong American Effort on First Day of Competition at CDI4* Fritzens

Laura Graves and three other members of the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team secured top results in the first day of competition at CDI4* Fritzens and qualify to contest Sunday's Grand Prix Special.

July 4, 2014 — U.S. riders kicked off both Big Tour and Small Tour competition on Friday at CDI4* Fritzens with strong performances in the Grand Prix and Prix St. Georges Tests. Four members of the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team, Laura Graves, Shelly Francis, and Caroline Roffman, and Lisa Wilcox secured top results for the United States in the Grand Prix for the Special to qualify to contest Sunday’s Grand Prix Special, while Steffen Peters started the day with a win in Small Tour competition.

“It was a great day for American Dressage here at the beautiful Fritzens CDI4*,” said Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover.

Leading the way for the Americans on Friday, were The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Reserve Champions, Graves (Geneva, Fla.) and her own Verdades. The 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood earned a mark of 73.380% to finish in second place among the field of 30.

Laura Graves and Verdades at the 2014 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp | SusanJStickle.com

Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) was the final U.S. entry of the day with Patricia Stempl’s 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Doktor. The pair scored 70.460% to finish in fifth place on Friday.

Roffman (Wellington, Fla.) her own Her Highness O were the first U.S. combination down the centerline on Friday afternoon, scoring 68.940% to finish the Grand Prix in 11th place.

Wilcox (Loxahatchee, Fla.) also contested the Grand Prix for the Special with Betty Wells’ 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding Denzello scoring 67.660% to earn a 16th finish.

Finishing in first place in the Grand Prix for the Special was Austria’s Victoria Max-Theurer and Blind Date with a score of 74.500%.

Reigning The Dutta Corp/USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Champions, Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Four Winds Farm’s seven-year-old Rheinlander mare Rosamunde proved unbeatable in the Prix St. Georges scoring 75.105% to top the field of 21. Also contesting Fritzens’ Small Tour competition, are Tina Konyot (Palm City, Fla.) and Bruce Grivetti’s Wyoming. On Friday the 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding scored 65.289% to finish in 17th place.

Competition at CDI4* Fritzens continues on Saturday with three U.S. Big Tour combinations performing the Grand Prix Test to qualify for the Freestyle and Peters and Konyot returning with their Small Tour horses in the Intermediaire I Test. In the Grand Prix for the Freestyle, the United States will be represented by Short Listed for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team riders; Peters and Four Winds Farm’s Legolas 92, Adrienne Lyle (Ketchum, Idaho) and Peggy Thomas’ Wizard, and Konyot with her own Calecto V.

Jan Ebeling (Moorpark, Calif.), who also is part of the Short List for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team, had originally been slated to ride Beth Meyer, Ann Romney, and Amy Ebeling’s Rafalca in Grand Prix competition at Fritzen. However, after the 2012 Olympic Games veteran sustained a minor injury it was decided it was in the best interest of the mare to withdraw her from the weekend’s competition, however the combinations still remains in contention for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Dressage Team.

Learn more about the CDI4* Fritzens here.

Follow the U.S. Dressage Team here.

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