Ashley Holzer and Valentine Conclude Week 5 at Adequan® Global Dressage Festival With Win in FEI Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3*

Ashley Holzer and Valentine in their winning freestyle test for the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3*, presented by Fair Sky Farm.©SusanStickle.com

Holzer had the last ride of the day and just barely slid into first place with a score of 76.917%, ahead of Tina Irwin (CAN) and Laurencio who earned a score of 76.750%.

“I think my mare had a very tricky warm-up. She was so tense in the warm-up because she’s never done a freestyle before with the music,” commented Holzer about her first freestyle ever with her nine-year-old Oldenburg mare by Sir Donnerhall. “We actually had to run and grab a bonnet because she was unfortunately upset by the noise.

“What is amazing to me is that I trot off, and right away she is looking, she’s attentive, but she’s so trying her very hardest,” continued Holzer. “When I’m in that trot tour I feel like I’m floating. She floats through the trot tour without hardly any aid whatsoever. So I think for me, sort of feeling a horse dance underneath you like that so easily, that’s a thrill no matter what class you’re in.”

Holzer made a last-minute change to her music and choreography choice, and luckily her student Brittany Fraser had kept Holzer’s Olympic partner Pop Art’s freestyle from 2004.

Holzer said, “I had a bit of a different pattern with different music, which we realized was too bold. So luckily Brittany is quite a hoarder, and she actually found my Pop Art small tour freestyle from 2004 and brought it. It’s got a nice flowing trot tour, and I rode Poppy’s 2004 freestyle!”

Ashley Holzer in her winning presentation with Judge at C Janet Lee Foy, and Lisa Goretta, FEI Chief Steward. ©SusanStickle.com

Earlier in the day in the FEI Young Rider Freestyle CDIY NAYC/USEF Qualifier, Benjamin Ebeling (USA) and Illuster Van De Kampert, a 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Spielberg owned by Nuvolari Holdings LLC, won with a score of 72.825%.

Benjamin Ebeling and Illuster Van De Kampert in their winning ride in the FEI Young Rider Freestyle CDIY NAYC/USEF Qualifier. ©SusanStickle.com

Second place went to Caroline Nicholson (USA) and Diozar, her 11-year-old KWPN gelding by Jazz. The pair earned a score of 70.925%.

Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Fleur de Lis L, a 10-year-old Hanoverian, by First Dance and Louise Leatherdale, earned a score of 70.400% to come in third place.

Benjamin Ebeling in his winning presentation with Judge at C Gotthilf Riexinger. ©SusanStickle.com

International competition at AGDF will resume for Week 7 from February 20-24, and features CDI-W and CDI 3* dressage competition. Helgstand Dressage will present the “Friday Night Stars” Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W on Friday, February 22. For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Final Results: FEI Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3*, presented by Fair Sky Farm

Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge H% – Stephen Clarke, Judge C% – Janet Lee Foy, Judge B% – Claudia Thaler, Total %

1.Ashley Holzer (USA), Valentine, nine-year-old Oldenburg mare by Sir Donnerhall x Renaissance owned by Ashley Holzer: 78.250%, 76.750%, 75.750%, 76.917%

2.Tina Irwin (CAN), Laurencio, 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Laurentio x Pasadena owned by Tina Irwin: 80.6250%, 76.000%, 73.625%, 76.750%

3.Leida Collins-Strijk (NED), Fellini, 9-year-old KWPN gelding by Ampere x Anouk owned by Leida Collins-Strijk: 73.500%, 73.125%, 71.875%, 72.833%

4.Belinda Trussell (CAN), Carlucci, 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Contendro I x Christin owned by Barbara Holden Sinclair: 74.625%, 71.750%, 70.750%, 72.375%

5.Michael Klimke (GER), Harmony’s Sanrino RHP, 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding by San Remo x Feldhit II owned by Harmony Sporthoses: 71.625%, 72.375%, 68.250%, 70.750%

6.Leif Aho (USA), Classy Sinclair, 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Sir Sinclair x Sacro Santa owned by Lisa Grossi: 71.500%, 68.750%, 70.750%, 70.333%