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California Riding Magazine • May, 2009 The World Cup Finals by Kim F. Miller
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Steffen Peters and Ravel celebrating their World Cup victory When it comes to international championships, it’s usually dressage that seems to have a pre-ordained outcome. But things were topsy-turvy at this year’s Rolex FEI World Cup Finals when Steffen Peters and Ravel broke a 23-year European stranglehold to win dressage. In three days of show jumping that typically generates some surprises, Meredith Michaels Beerbaum fulfilled prevailing odds in her favor to take her third World Cup jumping title with Shutterfly. The fact that Peters is a German-born American and Michaels Beerbaum is an American-born German added a fun twist to results of the Finals, held in Las Vegas April 16-19. American show jumper McLain Ward got the red ribbon by just two seconds over the competition’s four rounds, while Rich Fellers and Flexible, who were reserve last year, dropped from a promising fourth after Thursday and Friday to 18th after two disappointing trips on Sunday.
Meredith Michaels Beerbaum and Shutterfly. The Peters Principle Peters and Ravel made history by becoming the first American pair to win the Dressage World Cup Finals. Debbie McDonald and Brentina are also American World Cup winners, but with the asterisk of being awarded the cup after 2003’s original victor, Ulla Salzgeber, was dethroned when her horse Rusty tested positive for drugs. The victory is the latest and greatest accomplishment in a 14 month competitive partnership that already includes a fantastic Olympic outing many thought deserved a bronze medal, rather than the fourth placed individual spot.
Ashlee Bond and Cadett 7, first timers at the World Cup - Peters unseated defending champion and nine-time Finals winner Anky Van Grunsven of the Netherlands, who finished third, and 2007 champion Isabell Werth of Germany, who finished second. Due to a back injury that prevented the Dutch star from qualifying her favored and more experienced mount Salerno, Van Grunsven brought the spectacular but less reliable Painted Black and a technically easier test than Peters’ or Werth’s. Even so, as a master of matching music and movements, Van Grunsven could not be discounted in a competition where only the Freestyle counts.
Richard Spooner and Cristalo making it look easy!
Richard Spooner and Cristalo - making it look not so easy!! Whoa! As always, Peters was confident but not cocky coming into the Finals. He and Ravel’s win of Thursday night’s Grand Prix boosted that, even though those results had no bearing on the final standings. Since the Olympics, Peters had fine-tuned the choreography but not tweaked any of the movements in the already difficult Freestyle he used in the Games. Ravel’s half-passes, including half-pass in passage and steeply angled canter segments, rivaled Werth’s horse Sachtmo’s hallmark move in extravagance, and his attention to his rider was unswayable even as the irrepressible crowd burst into applause several times during the six-minute ride, traditionally a taboo in dressage competition. Whether it was one-tempi lead changes on a bent line or canter pirouettes to piaffe transitions, Ravel’s elasticity and brilliance were rock steady throughout and complemented by infectious pop/rock music.
Todd Minikus and Pavarotti looking good over the The audience went crazy when Peters and Ravel entered the ring as the night’s ninth of 11 pairs. Four-time Olympic Werth and Satchmo had just left the arena with an 84.500%, a full three-and-a-half points above the rest at that point. At the press conference later, Peters admitted ambivalent feelings about the crowd’s cheering during his test. He absolutely loved it, he said, but was also worried it might distract Ravel. “At the beginning when were doing the quarter turns in piaffe, I was a little concerned. But Ravel’s ears were always tuned into me, so I knew it was alright. Honestly, I really appreciate it.” After scoring an 84.950%, the rider had a chance to make that abundantly clear during his victory laps, repeatedly pointing out to an audience filled with home-made declarations of affection for the pair. Second place finisher Werth ended her wonderful test with a one-handed half-pass, but Peters saved that trick for the victory lap, riding the level-headed 11-year-old Cantango son to one-handed one-tempi changes as he continued to salute the crowd.
Rodrigo Pessoa and Rufus during round one only had the Bellagio fence down. Peters’ accomplishment offset disappointments for West Coast dressage fans. Leslie Morse and Jan Ebeling were given Wild Card invitations to Las Vegas, but Morse was excused from the Grand Prix on Thursday when the judges deemed Kingston unsound. Ebeling had an uncharacteristically spooky effort from Rafalca, which left them below the cut-off for Saturday’s Freestyle. Following Peters, Werth and Van Grunsven in the standings were Hans Peter Minderhoud and Exquis Nadine of the Netherlands; Ashley Holzer and Pop Art of Canada; Monica Theodorescu and Whisper of Germany; Jeanette Haazen and Nartan of the Netherlands; Michal Rapcewicz and Randon of Poland; Jan Brink and Bjorsells Briar of Sweden; Heath Ryan and Regardez Moi of Australia; and Marco Bernal and Diamore of Columbia. The brilliant Swedish Warmblood stallion Bjorsells Briar seemed to protest his pending retirement as he competed one last time. He showed off his dramatic suspension and highly articulated gaits, but was naughty in several spots, which knocked down his scores in the harmony department. The crowd loved the 18-year-old international superstar, nonetheless, giving Briar a warm ovation when he returned for a final goodbye before the prize giving ceremonies. Eight nations were represented in the Final round, and each country had a rooting section. The Dutch wore unmissable bright orange, the Swedes, light blue, and the Columbians waved their flags for first time Finalist Marco Bernal. All in all, a real treat for Americans who rarely get to see first hand how dressage is done in other countries.
Meredith Beerbaum and Shutterfly couldn't be caught! California Girl Just as she did when she won the 2005 World Cup, Meredith Michaels Beerbaum came to Las Vegas as the number one ranked show jumper in the world. She and her 16-year-old Hannoverian, defending champions, were simply unbeatable from the get-go and won every round of the competition to finish without a single fault. “This was a big win for me,” said Michaels Beerbaum. “McLain left me no room for error,” she said of Ward and Sapphire, who were also clean through the week, but were a second slower in Friday’s jump-off and the same amount behind in Thursday’s opening speed class. “This was my most perfect win over all three days,” the California-born rider continued, describing Shutterfly as her horse of a lifetime. She began working with Shutterfly when he was 4 and she said they are “now like an old married couple, we know each other so well.”
Rich Fellers and Flexible over the Bellagio jump.
Rich Fellers and Kilkenny Rindo win the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Ward was the first to compliment the victor, who last year prevented Fellers and Flexible from ending America’s now 23-year absence from the top of the World Cup marquee. “If I had to do it all over again I wouldn’t do anything differently,” Ward commented. “I am proud of myself and my horse and I can only take my hat off to Meredith.” Third placed finishers Albert Zoer and Oki Doki of the Netherlands were also without a rail down throughout the three days. The veteran rider and his big and buoyant-strided Dutch Warmblood finished sixth in the speed class and third after Friday’s jump-off.
Mandy Porter and San Diego, a fairly new team,
Mandy Porter and San Diego sail over the guitar jump. Following these leaders came Christina Liebherr of Switzerland, Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, Ludger Beerbaum of Germany, Ben Maher of Great Britian, Steve Guerdat of Switzerland and Thomas Velin of Denmark tied for ninth, and Daniel Etter of Switzerland and Marcus Ehning of Germany tied for 10th. Behind Ward, Beezie Madden was the second highest placed American with her 12th place aboard Danny Boy. Richard Spooner, Mandy Porter, Rich Fellers, Hillary Dobbs and Christine McCrea made for an American block in the 16th through 20th spots.
Richard Spooner and Ace make it look easy over the huge Rolex Triple Bar. The rigorous nature of this championship was most evident during Sunday’s last of two rounds over course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio’s route. The first 10 horses of that day’s 23 brought down 21 rails and three retired before finishing. A clean go did not come until the 11th to ride, from Steve Guerdat on Tresor. Six more clears followed in the second half of the field, including the suspenseful build-up as the last four went fault-free, leaving it Michaels Beerbaum’s to lose with a single rail or time fault. But Shutterfly was foot perfect throughout to win the day. She confirmed afterwards that the World Cup victory, in many ways, made amends for her near miss of individual Olympic bronze in Hong Kong, which she missed by two-thirds of a second. “Most of all I wanted that for Shutterfly,” she commented. “I think he deserves an Olympic medal.” Good Sports Rich Fellers’ place at the World Cup came in an usual way. Although Flexible was in top form, the qualifying season did not play out as hoped and the pair wound up sixth in the West Coast League, which was only entitled to send its top four to Vegas. In a wonderful show of sportsmanship, Olympian Will Simpson and Jill Humphrey, who sat fourth and fifth in the rankings, volunteered to give up their spots so Fellers and Flexible could go. With the support of their horses’ owners, Simpson and Humphrey felt it was right to make way for the pair with a stronger chance of victory. No doubt Fellers was disappointed not to be able to return the kindness with a big win.
Rich Fellers and Flexible. Fellers’ fortunes were better in the $75,000 Las Vegas Grand Prix staged on Saturday afternoon. He and up and comer Kilkenny Rindo beat an international field comprised of 24 riders who had either brought a second horse or dropped out of the World Cup race, plus invited local contenders. After the five horse jump-off, Fellers was followed by HRH Prince Abdullah Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, Gerco Schroder of the Netherlands, American Laura Teodori and Geir Gulliksen of Norway. The Extra Stuff As has become the Las Vegas tradition, there was much more than intense competition to enjoy throughout the weekend. Friday featured a wonderful pas de deux class and the emotional retirement ceremony for Debbie McDonald’s celebrity mare Brentina.
Debbie and Brentina during an emotional Friday afternoon retirement ceremony. The pas de deux paired Olympians with their students: McDonald with Adrienne Lynne, Charlotte Bredahl-Baker with Charlotte Nielson and Guenter Seidel with Elizabeth Ball. Each performance was fun to watch, but Seidel and Ball’s romantic Phantom Of The Opera routine was the hands-down favorite, so much so that they performed an encore on Saturday night. Seidel wore black riding apparel and the Phantom’s white half-mask, while Ball rode in a wedding gown with the train pinned to the saddle pad. In closing they trotted down centerline, clasping hands and a rose between them.
Guenter Seidel and Elizabeth Ball’s Phantom of the Opera pas de deux. The Young Horse Exhibition was another Friday highlight. American judge and Finals Ground Jury president Linda Zang explained that the Young Horse tests exist to promote correct training with demands appropriate to the horse’s mental and physical capabilities as 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds. Steffen Peters and Zidane, Edward Gal and Wynton, Willy Arts and Valeska DG and Marisa Festerling and Big Tyme demonstrated the tests in those age groups as Zang commented on each horse’s strengths and weaknesses.
Olympic show jumping gold medalist Will Simpson dons his western gear Saturday featured an equally fun reining challenge, carrying on the Las Vegas tradition of Americans taking on foreign riders that began in 2003 with barrel racing and continued in 2005 and 2007 with the Hunter Rider Challenge. Good sport Rodrigo Pessoa led the international team along with reigning reining world champion Ann Fronck of Belgium (also a dressage competitor) and Van Grunsven, who owns and rides reiners herself. Team gold Olympic show jumper Will Simpson looked a natural in Wranglers and cowboy hat as he led the American team to victory with help from dressage Olympian Bredahl-Baker and National Reining Horse Association president and champion Rick Weaver.
Rutherford Latham manages to get back in the saddle The main demonstration here was how beautifully a well-trained rider and a well-trained horse communicate, no matter the tack or discipline. Insiders arrived at the Finals with the sad prospect that this might be the last time the World Cup Finals will be held in Las Vegas, but they left on a happier note when Blenheim EquiSports president and the jumping competition’s manager Robert Ridland announced during Sunday’s closing press conference that his company will bid to host the Finals in Las Vegas in 2014. It had been hoped that Las Vegas Events, whose staging of the Finals in 2000 and the odd years from 2003 on was deemed a super success by all participants and fans, would continue to host the event every other year. Those hopes dissolved this spring when Las Vegas Events withdrew its bid for 2011 and 2013, presumably in response to current economic conditions. Especially these days, it cannot be easy to make any profit with half a million dollars in prize money on offer and hosting expenses that include transportation for all the competitors’ horses. But Ridland was able to end things on a bright note. “This has been too good to give it up. We hope to see you here in five years.” Indeed!
Rodrigo and Rufus put in a clear go for round 2.
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