The D at D folks know how to run a show, with the only glitch being the scoreboard that malfunctioned during the freestyle, frustratingly giving up in the middle of presenting Rocher's marks. Exhibitions offer a counterpoint to competition, from polocrosse (I liked the team named "Chick with Sticks") to a quadrille featuring four black Friesians and four gray Andalusians, all performing precision choreography.
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- Dressage at Devon's unique ring crew
- © 2005 by Nancy Jaffer
Even raking the arena is an event at D at D. The audience was howling with laughter as the all-male ring crew appeared in a front end loader wearing sports bras, wild wigs and stuffed horse toys strapped to their middles. As they did their jobs, they pranced around, making the horses' little legs swing. There's no dead time at this show.
There was so much going on at this six-day show that I can't offer every detail, but I should mention that there were two grands prix, one on the track for the freestyle (which George won with a 71.417 percent to Cindy's 68.333) and the other on the track for the Special. Former Danish team rider Lars Petersen won the latter on the appealing gray Success. Katherine Bateson and Kennedy, Robert Dover's Olympic ride, finished second in the Special with 71.040 percent, just behind Lars' 71.840 percent, moving way up from their 65.583 percent score for fourth place in the Grand Prix. This new combination is being watched with lots of interest.
Meanwhile, Robert is not standing idle. He is involved with producing a reality TV show to find the next dressage star, a combination of "American Idol" and "The Apprentice." Six riders were chosen from well over 400 applicants. This group will be tested and tested with the camera's eye on them. The winner will get lots of publicity and the opportunity to work as Robert's assistant for a year.
One of those selected, 28-year-old J.J. Tate of Wisconsin, actually rode in the freestyle, finishing sixth on Cambay and drawing lots of admiring comments from Judge Jennie.
In the Intermediare I, Julia Vysniauskas did the honors with Papillion, earning 70 percent to take the title, with Chris Hickey and Werbellin (69.75) settling for second. Papillion, despite his groom's attempt to restrain him, was very lively during the award ceremonies, keeping photographers hopping to stay out of the way of his heels.
You may know Julia as a Canadian rider, but she has a new nationality, Lithuanian, with a green, yellow and red flag stuck in her boot during the award ceremonies to show her colors. She is able to ride for that country because it was her grandparents' native land, and she was touted as the first person to represent Lithuania in international equestrian competition. But it made me think of another famous Lithuanian in the sport, Ulla Salzgeber's ride, Rusty. Remember him?
The only thing missing from D at D is a west coast contingent. It's a shame that Guenter Seidel, Debbie McDonald and Steffen Peters didn't come east for this show. I'm sure they'd get the same kick out of it that we all do, and it's the only thing that could make Dressage at Devon even more exciting than it already is.
