Saturday, March 20, 2004

Lars Petersen And Dansko’s Success Win Grand Prix Special, CDI*** At WEF

Denmark’s Lars Petersen, 39, of Loxahatchee, FL, riding his own Dansko’s Success won the Grand Prix Special, CDI*** at the Zada Enterprises WEF Dressage Classic CDI***/Y in Wellington, FL, today, scoring 71.720%. Tina Konyot riding Anna Karenina for owner Sally Miller placed second on judges’ marks of 70.080%. Robert Dover of Wellington and Southampton, NY, aboard Rainier for Jane Forbes Clark earned third place with 69.60%. Ten horses competed in the class, a qualifying competition for the 2004 USET Foundation Grand Prix Championship and the Olympic Selection Trials.

Today’s competition was the debut of Dansko’s Success in the Special. “I thought he was a little better than yesterday actually,” said Petersen, who placed second to Dover on FBW Kennedy in the Grand Prix on Thursday. “Very fresh in the beginning, also in the warm-up, but that’s good. I like it that he’s still fresh. After three days here – he still has that much energy, that’s great.” Petersen notes that the 10-year-old, 17-hand gray gelding by Blue Horse Silvermoon is a playful horse. “He can buck – there’s a lot of people that don’t want to get on him in the barn. I love it because a good international horse has to be like that. They have to have this fire otherwise in three years they don’t think it’s fun anymore.”

In today’s test, Petersen pointed out that his mount’s best movements were the passage and the half passes. “I don’t think he does anything bad, it’s just that he needs a little more mileage. He piaffes super but he goes a little bit forward. Of course it has to be on the spot, which I can’t do yet with him, but his technique in it is really good.”

Petersen has permanently relocated to the United States from his native Denmark. “We have a farm here in Loxahatchee and my wife Mette’s parents live in this country, they’re Americans, so we like it.” He noted that if he does decide to compete in the Olympics, he would have to go to Europe to campaign. A member of the Danish team for nine years, Petersen rode Uffe Korshojgaard in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and Blue Hors Cavan at the 2002 World Equestrian Games

Today’s win had special meaning for Petersen. “It was great, especially with these judges that are here because they know. They are really good judges and that’s more important for me really. You can go some place and win but these guys see the best riders almost every weekend.”

The international panel officiating was: Mariette Withages (O) Belgium; Beatrice Buerchler-Keller (O) Switzerland; Uwe Mechlem (O) Germany; Axel Steiner (O) United States; and Lois Yukins (I) United States.