Organisers of the World Dressage Masters in Palm Beach have allowed extra starters into the five-star event, following some qualifying issues.
 Charlotte Dujardin's Valegro arrives at the WDM venue. © Susan Stickle
|
Ashley Holzer won Pop Art in the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3* grand prix, a qualifier for the World Dressage Masters, with American Heather Blitz on Paragon second.
Holzer, and third placed Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven of Sweden on Divertimento, are already competing in the WDM Palm Beach on other horses and are not permitted to enter with a second horse. Invitations were therefore extended to Blitz, and James Koford of the US, who finished fourth on Pharaoh.
Blitz, who won team gold and individual silver with Paragon at the 2011 Pan Am Games, is one of the two riders who would have been eligible to be invited for the 5* WDM Palm Beach, but she does not have the prerequisite two scores of 64% in a Grand Prix CDI to compete in the WDM 5* competition.
Additionally, WDM Palm Beach entries Carl Hester (GB) with Wie Atlantico and Yvonne Losos de Muñiz (DOM) with Liebling II, while nominated by their federations, are new combinations that also did not meet the five star qualification requirements.
But after extensive discussion among riders, ground jury and representatives of the FEI, competition organizer Wellington Classic Dressage and the WDM management decided that the only equitable solution would be to amend the schedule to reflect a four star FEI designation, while keeping the five star conditions intact. This solution was the most effective way to avoid a change in the line-up of the WDM Palm Beach.
This paves the way for both Blitz and Koford, along with Hester and Losos de Muñiz, to compete in today's WDM Palm Beach Grand Prix, along with the remaining field of international riders that was previously announced.
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach is North America's only CDI5*, and part of the richest dressage series in the world. Up to 20 of the world's top dressage stars will compete for €100,000 in prize money at Palm Beach.
• All horses presented at Thursday's FEI horse inspection were accepted as fit and ready to compete in the WDM Palm Beach CDI5*.
Defending 2011 WDM Palm Beach champions Steffen Peters of the US and Ravel will attempt to repeat their record breaking performances of last year. Among their stiffest rivals is Great Britain's Charlotte Dujardin, who was a member of Britain's gold medalist team at the 2011 European Championships riding the young but incredibly talented 10 year old gelding Valegro.
The WDM Palm Beach is a completely sold out event with 1,700 spectators filling the Jim Brandon Center to capacity over the next two days of competition.
Facebook
Twitter
HOME SITES 
