DressageDaily: Tina Konyot And Anna Karenina Win Grand Prix A At Florida Dressage Classic: An Answer to her Questions

Friday February 20, 2004

Tina Konyot And Anna Karenina Win Grand Prix A At Florida Dressage Classic

An Answer to her Questions

Tina Konyot and Anna Karenina “She's an incredible horse,” said Konyot.. “I'm developing more of a rapport with her and she's becoming my friend.” Konyot introduced the mare to her system of training and riding, which was new and different for the horse. “We went through changes. We all ride differently but I made her more of what I wanted as a Grand Prix horse, and what I expected of a Grand Prix horse. The piaffe was her weakness. That was the question whether she would be a grand prix horse or not.”

That question was answered today. Konyot received 8s on piaffe. “I got a lot of 8s and 9s on the test and I'm very proud of her,” said Konyot. “It's still a strength issue for her. She's a huge mover – lots of air-time off the ground. It takes a certain amount of time to develop the strength to be able to carry this big movement.”

Konyot has not committed to an Olympic quest yet with the mare. “One day at a time,” she said. “Yes she has the talent, there's no question about that. The best have seen her training and the best have made tremendous comments about her, that she is a tremendous, fabulous horse.

Tina Konyot and Anna Karenina Whether team now, it's hard to say. We have a lot of good horses in America, horses that have been competing for a longer time. But you just never know. I'm not pressuring her over what she's able to accept right now. I'm very, very proud of her and her owner is proud of her.”

In other competition today, Julia Vysniauskas of Canada riding Syntax won the Grand Prix B section scoring 64.514% in the class of 12 entries. Ashley Holzer fo New York, NY, won the third section of the PSG, earning 69.875% with Gambol over 20 horses. Michael Shondell of Kinnelon, NJ, won the Intermediaire I aboard Wallaby, scoring 71.250%, topping a class of 20.