OCALA, Fla.--In the second-ever dressage show at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, held Jan, 22-24, Anne Gribbons of Orlando, Fla., rode Let’s Dance to win Saturday’s FEI Grand Prix in the Open division on a score of 67.174 percent.
Anne Gibbons on Lets Dance (Photo by Andrew Ryback)The show featured competition from USEF Training Level through Grand Prix that offered GAIG/USDF qualifying.
Gribbons is one of the most well-known and accomplished figures in the sport of dressage in the U.S.
She has brought almost 20 horses to the grand prix level as a rider and another 20 as a trainer.
She is a licensed USEF Senior judge and an FEI 5* judge, and she was the head of the ground jury at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon in 2018.
She was the US Equestrian Technical Advisor and coach for dressage and was a member of the FEI Dressage Committee.
At 74 years old, she remains active in the sport by riding every day, teaching students, including Anna Marek, a winner at the WEC Dressage VI show, giving clinics, and judging.
AS GRIBBONS doesn't compete as frequently as she once did, she appreciated the opportunity to show one of her favorite horses.
“I admire and like Lilo Fore, and she happened to be my judge,” said Gribbons. “She didn’t miss a thing. It’s nice input. You can ride around at home and pat yourself on the back all you want, but unless you’re out there and someone else is criticizing you that you respect, you don’t really know. That’s the benefit of showing, because now I can go home and train better.”
It has been a long and winding road for Gribbons and Let's Dance, her 14-year-old Brandenburger gelding by Laurentio out of Grandseigneur.
Gribbons imported him from Germany as a 3-year-old, and they steadily moved through training to the grand prix level when an injury in 2017 forced Let’s Dance into a year-long break where Gribbons could not ride him.
With the help of her farrier and veterinarians, Gribbons was eventually able to put a saddle on him again, and it took another year of solid work before he was back in grand prix condition.
With the pandemic in 2020, plans were again put on hold, but Gribbons feels lucky to be in the show ring again.
“I feel totally blessed every day I sit on him," she said. "It’s like a gift I never expected. I feel delighted at this point in his life and in mine, that we can go out and have a good time, just enjoying being out there. He loves being the center of attention. It’s been a long haul, and I really feel so lucky that he is now up and running and it seems to be okay. Every time I go somewhere to show, I remember how it could have ended.”
Having been in the sport for decades, Gribbons has been to every major equestrian facility in the world and deems World Equestrian Center in Ocala as the most “fabulous” she has seen.
“It is breathtaking,” she said. “The planning and the way it is thought out for horses is just amazing. The detail is incredible. It is very nice to have all these restaurants and things for the fun of the competitor; it’s a very welcoming atmosphere. The footing is perfect, the stalls are amazing. It’s certainly a facility that is going to awe anybody who visits.”
NORA BATCHELDER of Williston, Fla., won Friday’s FEI Prix St. Georges on Dondolo on a score of 76.471 percent and on Saturdayshe competed in the FEI Intermediate-I class earning a score of 69.118 percent.
Nora Batchelder on Dondolo (Photo by Andew Ryback)Batchelder and Dondolo started together two and a half years ago, when Batchelder gained the ride in order to teach the young horse its flying changes.
Although his owner Jill Vonderhaar then started riding him, Dondolo returned to Batchelder six months ago to continue training and working toward the Prix St. Georges level.
“Jill has been very generous to let me show him,” said Batchelder of the horse. “He’s been a really fun horse to show. We are hoping to get him to Intermediate-II grand prix and want to get him more show experience.”
In the FEI Intermediate-2 test on Friday, Batchelder captured another win, this time with her own Fifi MLW on a score of 73.971 percent.
Batchelder bought Fifi as a 5-year-old, and this class was the mare’s first time ever competing in the Grand Prix.
“We are getting her feet wet at this level,” said Batchelder. “She’s a big, powerful girl and is learning how to collect herself. She scores well on canter pirouettes. Her piaffe needs to get better, but she’s getting there. She has a big, powerful trot, so to get that smaller has taken some effort. I’m proud of her; she’s figuring it out and solving that puzzle as she continues to develop as a grand prix horse.”
