[/caption]Devon, Pa., Oct. 3, 2005 -- Taking the Dressage at Devon crowd with her on a exhilarating joy ride, Rocher made history over the weekend as she and trainer George Williams became the first pairing ever to win the show's musical freestyle three times. While that's quite an achievement, it was even more impressive because the lop-eared black mare did it after skipping a year, and there were serious concerns she might not return after suffering a bout of tendinitis.
But she has come back better than ever, earning an impressive score of 77.85 percent on October 1 under the lights in an atmosphere so electric that it crackled with excitement and tension for every step of the freestyle.
Although she floats at the extended trot and her piaffe/passage performance is impressive, what really is special about Rocher's freestyle to Madonna tunes is that she's so into it, shaking her booty and feeling the rhythm. She "gets" what she's supposed to do and then some; Rocher has music in her head.
The black personality-plus mare, all 17 Westphalian hands of her, is dependable as well. She got 8s for rhythm, harmony, choreography and difficulty of her program, and 8.5 for her music.
It's been quite a season for Rocher, who took George to the national championship in June at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation's Gladstone, N.J., headquarters, and to Aachen in August, where they were part of the American team.
But George, the D at D freestyle winner in 2002 and 2003 noted, "In some ways, to bring her back here is more emotional for me than even going to Aachen or Gladstone."
After being mobbed by a post-competition crowd of autograph seekers, he seemed almost stunned, happily overwhelmed and most of all, grateful.
"How fortunate we are that she's back, she's such wonderful horse to ride. She's stronger than ever. Her carriage is much better, her elevation is much better."
George also noted that his last few months of work with Rocher have enabled him to finesse his riding strategy in order to get the most out of her. He even joked that by the time he finished Aachen, he felt as if he finally were ready for Aachen.
Everyone else must have realized they were riding for second even before the class began. Runner-up Cindy Ishoy of Canada certainly did, but gave it quite a go on Proton, who was third last year. This time, her ride was marked at 74.925 percent.
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- George Williams on Rocher
- © 2005 by Nancy Jaffer
"George's extended trot was amazing," said judge Jennie Loriston-Clarke of Great Britain. She observed that while Cindy's mount is "not quite as powerful a horse," the black gelding's turn to music that included a bit from rapper 50 Cent certainly impressed.
"He was very consistent all the way through with a very good carriage," said the no-nonsense judge about Proton, who is being aimed toward next year's World Equestrian Games, just like Rocher and third-place Galant du Serein (72.75), ridden by U.S.-based Cesar Parra of Colombia. By the way, Cesar's former mount, Pik-L, carried George's daughter, Nicole, to victory in the junior individual test with an impressive 73.128 percent. It's a small world, dressage, but you knew that, didn't you?
The judges seemed to have as good a time as the riders and the fans at the USA's liveliest dressage show.
"The atmosphere is something special," observed German judge Uwe Mechlem, who was making his last appearance abroad as an international official, having hit the mandatory retirement age of 70. "You don't find that in Europe; it's much more serious there."
The freestyle was the highlight of a Saturday night in which the area around the Dixon Oval was so packed with spectators that not a seat was to be had. (A word of advice: Reserve early for next year.) But D at D's magic extends beyond the competition to the fun of being with like-minded people and the opportunity to shop, shop, shop.
Dressage queens don't like the cheap stuff, and though there were possibilities to snag $10 sweatshirts and $10 reversible dog scarves, the high-end items were really a draw, if only for window shopping. I liked the $1,000 shadbelly with cameo buttons, and the $1,000 custom made top hats. But what caught my eye (because you couldn't miss the sparkle) was a gold chain set with diamonds ($3,500), from which to hang a diamond horse shoe ($2,700). It may sound like overkill to you, but trust me, it would be just the thing to match the $85 browband set with crystals that also caught my eye (and was actually within my pitiful price range). I had to settle for making the sweatshirt my big purchase, unfortunately.
