Lars Petersen and Succes, a 12-year-old Danish Warmblood by Blue Hors Silvermoon out of Wapeti, are up against some tough competition for the $10,000 Grand Prix prize. Petersen said winning the prize money “would be great, but it won’t be so easy. There are some other really good horses competing.” And sure enough, Lisa Wilcox with Naomi and Ashley Holzer and Pop Art were right on his heels in Grand Prix competition.

Petersen has represented Denmark internationally for more than 10 years, including at the Olympic Games, three World Equestrian Games, two World Cup Finals, and three Continental Championships. He was also named Danish National Champion five times. This year, Petersen is aiming to represent his native Denmark at the 2008 Olympics, but notes it won’t be an easy process. “We don’t qualify a team. You must qualify three riders individually and that’s tough.” When asked what most needs improvement in Succes, Petersen said, “the canter work. He hadn’t shown since Devon and this weekend we mostly had trouble in the canter, particularly in the zigzag.” On a good day, Petersen said Succes can easily score a 75 percent and that’s what he’ll be aiming for as the winter show season moves along.

Shawna Harding and Amy Stuhr were both Prix St. Georges winners. “Because the size of the Prix St. Georges class was so large, it was split and according to the FEI rules the class was awarded two winners. This is very exciting and we wish them both success!,” Flanagan said. Unfortunately for Stuhr, she’s an adult amateur on a two-month sabbatical from her job as a bank loan officer in Kansas City and will be returning to Kansas before the next Wellington Classic Dressage show. In addition to her Prix St. Georges win, Stuhr and her partner, the 13-year-old gelding Dinar, won the FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle Open GAIG/USDF Qualifier with a score of 71.50 percent.
 
Harding had a good weekend all the way around at the first show of the Wellington Classic Dressage series. She won four classes, including the Prix St. Georges class with Come On III that put her in the running for the $5,000 championship prize. In addition to the Prix St. Georges win, Harding and Come On III, an eight-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Come Back II, won Sunday’s FEI Intermediaire I Open GAIG/USDF Qualifying class with a score of 71.00 percent. Susan Jaccoma finished right behind her taking both second and third in that class. She was second with Wadamur and a score of 70.00 percent and third with Donatella and a score of 69.75 percent.    

When asked of her chances of winning the final $5,000 prize money, Harding joked, “I hope really good because I need the money.” She’s put in her entry for the next Wellington Classic show and if she wins the Prix St. Georges there, she’ll definitely be at the third. She’s not too worried about the pressure of winning three in a row. “I’m pretty good under pressure.”

Harding had nothing but great things to say about the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I. “It’s the first time I’ve competed here and it’s a beautiful show grounds. It’s extremely well-run, the footing is nice, there is good stabling, they got scores of up quickly and there are even enough bathrooms. It’s great.” Harding was, not surprisingly, very pleased with Come On III’s showing. She had intended to use this first show in the series as a warm-up for his winter season and was a bit surprised at how great he did in both the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire competition. If the season goes well, Harding and Come On III might aim for the National Intermediaire championships in California this year. Harding and Come On III were the Reserve Champions at the USEF National Developing Horse Championship sponsored by PSI Sales, and the Dutta Corporation held at the Kentucky Horse Park in September 2007.

“If Come On is on his game and channeling his energy in the right direction, he’ll do well. He’s grown up a lot over this year.” That growing up has included getting some CDI wins this past year, clearly showing that he’s got what it takes to be an international caliber horse.

In commenting on this first show in the series, Flanagan said, “I thought that the show was a resounding success, thanks to our show staff, experienced competition management team and especially our competitors who support our show series.” He said Wellington Classic Dressage was pleased to offer the championship program and is hopeful that more prize money will be available to dressage competitors in the future.

“I think that there should be more prize money in the sport and I think the competitors would agree. Earlier in the week we announced a new title sponsor in Collecting Gates Farm. Sponsorship is very important to the sport of dressage and offers an excellent opportunity for companies to showcase their brands in the fastest-growing equestrian sport.

For additional show information visit www.wellingtonclassicdressage.com. For sponsorship, contact jflanagan@wellingtonclassicdressage.com.