Mill Spring, NC – September 16, 2017 – Day two of the Tryon Fall Dressage FEI CDI-W continued today at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), featuring both Small Tour and Large Tour competition in the George H. Morris Arena. Molly Paris (USA) and her own Countess, a 2002 Danish Warmblood mare (Don x Compeed x Solos), rose to the occasion in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Adequan®, earning a 68.375% to achieve the victory. Competition continues tomorrow, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and highlighting the FEI Grand Prix Special presented by Adequan® at 1:30 p.m. in the George H. Morris Arena.

“This is our first CDI-W Grand Prix together and it’s been so amazing!” said an exuberant Paris. “She’s an amazing horse. She’s been great all week. It was a great place to win. We are from Charlotte, so we absolutely love competing in Tryon!”

She continued, “I’ve had Countess for about two years, and we bought her simply because I needed a horse to move up on. We’ve done the U-25 together and Chris Hickey said, ‘You have the horse, now go do the Grand Prix,’ so here we are!”

Moving forward the 21-year-old plans to continue competing in the Under 25 division. Paris concluded, “I eventually want to come back to the Grand Prix, but we want to end up back at the U25 Championships first.”

Jessica Jo Tate (USA) and Summersby, a 2007 Hanoverian mare (Sir Donnerhall x St. Pr. Hauptsutbuch Roxanne) owned by Joseph Tate, bested the competition in the FEI Intermediaire I presented by Adequan® with a 68.526%.

Competition at TIEC also welcomed the FEI CPEDI 3* presented by Adequan®, featuring riders from around North America and running in conjunction with the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships sponsored by Deloitte.

Top honors in the Grade V Para-Individual Test was earned by Katie Jackson (USA) and Royal Dancer, a 2005 Westphalian gelding owned by Kai Handt, on a score of 66.746%. Second place was awarded to Mary Jordan (USA) on her own Rubicon 75, a 2005 Oldenburg gelding (Royal Hit x Edelkarin x Absinthe) scoring 65.714%.

The Grade IV Para-Individual Test was won by Angela Peavy (USA) aboard her own Royal Dark Chocolate, a 2008 Oldenberg mare, owned by Rebecca Reno, with a 70.122%. Peavy was also third place aboard Lancelot Warrior, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding (Londonderry x Waroness x Warkant) owned by Rebecca Reno, with a score of 67.480%.

Commenting on her successful rides thus far, Peavy said, “I’ve been very happy with both horses these past two days. The first day Lancelot Warrior felt so focused. He really listened to me and was so supple. He’s fifteen-years-old this year, so I thought that the Paralympic Games in Rio would be it for him, but he had some time off and now he’s just come back even better.”

This is Peavy’s first time competing at the venue and commented, “I absolutely love it here. I always thought that Global Dressage Festival was amazing, and it is, but this is just incredible. All of the shops, the restaurants, it’s all so good for the horses too because it all has such an international feel.”

“The arena is wonderful and the footing is perfect. I want Cocoa to be my next FEI World Equestrian Games™ horse, so this is incredible experience for her,” concluded Peavy.

Katie Shoemaker (USA) captured second place with a 69.350% aboard her own Solitaer 40, a 2007 Hanoverian gelding (Sandro Hit x Dynastie x De Niro).

Rebecca Hart (USA) clinched yet another win, this time in the Grade III Para-Individual Test, riding Rowan O’Riley’s El Corona Texel, a 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Wynton x Urieta Texel), as the pair finished on a 68.275% for their second winning score of the week. Riley Garrett (USA) took second place with Piston, a 2003 Canadian Warmblood owned by Garrett, on a score of 66.716%. Third place was collected by Meghan Benge (USA) and Zoey, a 2007 Welsh mare (The Key x Kurbaums Future), on a 62.108%.

Laurietta Oakleaf and Niekele Fan Busenitz

First place in the Grade II Para-Individual Test was Laurietta Oakleaf (USA) aboard Niekele Fan Busenitz, a 2004 Friesian stallion (Sape 381 x Wemke H x Fetse 349), earning a 68.529%. Coming in second to Oakleaf was Sharon Buffitt (CAN) and Elektra II, a 2005 Canadian Warmblood gelding (Radjah z x Nikita x Rastar) owned by Buffitt, with a score of 66.225%. Third place was awarded to Jason Surnoski (CAN) aboard Bella de la Noche, a Warmblood mare, receiving a score of 64.755%.

The Grade I Para-Individual Test was won by Margaret McIntosh (USA), aboard her own Heros, a 2004 Danish Warmblood mare (Blue Hors Hertug x Lotus x Lucky Light), with a score of 70.476%. Second place went to Roxanne Trunnell and NTEC Daytona Beach, a 2002 Westphalian mare (Don Bedo x Weindame) with a score of 70.476%. Third place was captured by Winona Hartvikson (CAN), and Ultimo, a 2007 PRE gelding (Invasor iii x Gala xxi x Teodoro), receiving a score of 69.286%.

Competition concludes tomorrow, Sunday, September 17, with a full schedule of classes including Para Freestyle CPEDI 3* tests, while the FEI CDI-W classes will highlight the FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle and FEI Grand Prix Special, both presented by Adequan®. To learn more about Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), please visit www.tryon.com.

FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W presented by Adequan® Results
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total %

1. Molly Paris (USA), Countess, 2002 Danish Warmblood mare by Don x Compeed x Solos, owned by Molly Paris: 69.375%, 68.125%, 66.625%, 67.250%, 70.500%, 68.375%

2. Elizabeth Austin (USA), Steeped In Luck, 2003 Irish Draught stallion by Mount Diamond Flag x Steeple View, owned by Keith Douglas: 65.625%, 68.125%, 67.250%, 68.625%, 67.125%, 67.350%

3.  Debbie Hill (USA), Zarcita, 2004 Dutch Warmblood mare by Parcival x Sarita x Ahoy, owned Leslie Waterman: 66.375%, 67.125%, 64.500%, 66.250%, 68.375%, 66.525%

4. Kim Gentry (AUS), Leonardo, 2007 Danish Warmblood gelding by Landtinus x Rambala x Rambo, owned by Kim Gentry: 61.125%, 60.750%, 61.000%, 60.375%, 61.000, 60.850%

Photo Credit ©RichardMalmgren. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release.