Sunday February 9, 2003

Pan American Fever

The Pan Am Selection Trials, the upcoming US Freestyle Championship, the World Cup and the Athens Olympics are factors in the light turnout for the Grand Prix Championship qualifying classes this year. The USET Grand Prix Championship will be held at the Festival of Champions in Gladstone, New Jersey, June 19-23 — the same weekend as the prestigious Aachen show in Germany. Ransehousen noted, “Most of the top Grand Prix horses will be making their way to Europe because we are having grants for them. We have up to six grants to give, so those horses will be already gone. Several of the horses will be leaving to do two shows in advance of Aachen.”

Lamping noted that the reduced numbers of top Grand Prix horses at the Festival is an opportunity for newer pairs to compete in the Championship. “It’ will give the younger up-and-coming horses a chance.”

Brown pointed out that Williams’ performance at the Wellington show was a good warm-up for the US Freestyle Championship he is participating in, which takes place February 21-23 in Miami. “He did do a good job in the Grand Prix and I know his freestyle is very good. We can send three this year to the World Cup. Debbie [McDonald] is already wild carded in. We’ll have two going from the World Championships.”

George is not only aiming Rocher at the US Freestyle Championship, but also the World Cup in Goteburg, Sweden, March 27-30, 2003, as well as the 2004 Olympics. He pointed out her attributes as a team horse: “She is a very steady horse, a very consistent horse. She has outstanding gaits. When everything really comes together she can do an exceptional test.” Rocher, owned by Chuck and JoAnn Smith of Gypsy Wood Farm in Richwood, Ohio, is an 11-year-old Westphalian mare by Rolls Royce.