DressageDaily: Rain Didn't Damper Etienne and Traurig's Ride

Thursday, June 29 2000

Rain Didn't Damper Etienne and Traurig's Ride

When the "typical Dutch" weather moved in on Arnhem for CHampion Gelderland, for the duration, June 20-thru the 25th, most riders welcomed the change after a week of extremely hot weather.

For Christine Traurig and Etienne, the skies opened up in a torrential downpour during her Grand Prix Test, which was the first of the two final selection trials for a position on the USET Olympic Dressage Team for Sydney. The combination was oblivious to the elements as they performed a solid test finishing tenth with a 67.68% in a field of 45 starters.

Etienne, a Westfalian gelding is owned by Robert and Colleen Haas, who have another Olympic contender in the jumper ranks, with the KWPN Stallion Mr. Blue ridden by daughter Elise. On the same weekend in Gladstone New Jersey, Haas has qualified to move on to San Diego for the final selection trials for the Showjumping Team.

The Americans fared well in Arnhem, finishing second as a team behind the Netherlands. After a few days back in training camp, they now move on to Bad Honnef, Germany where the final trial begins on Friday.

Stay tuned as the DressageDaily and Euro-dressage team are "on the Scene" to cover this event.