WELLINGTON, Fla.--Sweden's Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén on Hyatt won individual gold in the FEI Nations Cup CDIO3* Grand Prix Special on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Global Dressage Festival.
Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén on Hyatt (Photo by Susan Stickle)After leading the Swedish team to bronze on Thursday in the opening leg of the Nation Cup series, Vilhelmson Silfvén scored 73.638%, a new best in this test, for the win.
Jemma Heran of Australia rode her Totilas gelding Total Recall to win the silver medal with 68.489%.
At this show last year, Heran’s trainer Frederic Wandres won team gold for Germany and the individual freestyle bronze riding Total Recall.
Wandres’ partner Lars Ligus of Germany on Santiango won the bronze on 67.404%.
Erin Nichols was the top finishing U.S. rider, placing fourth with 67% on Elian Royale.
Vilhelmson Silfvén on Hyatt has won three of her four starts at the Festival and finished second in the other.
“I’M SO HAPPY it went well this weekend too, because after the great first weekend we had, after a competition break of seven months, there was pressure for it to go well, and it went even better,” said the seven-time Olympian and Festival regular. “She was a bit spooky in the grand prix, but today, she was perfect and that special test is a perfect test for her."
“It’s really special to represent your country and, being so far away from home, it’s a big responsibility, and there were some extra nerves as a result,” she said. “Today, I could trust that I could have Hyatt’s power on without her looking at a flower or the people opening and closing doors. She was so focused on me that I could put in a lot of energy. She’s so ambitious; I just have to breathe, and she does it.”
Hyatt’s next show is the CDI5* during week 10 of the Festival, followed by the summer in Europe and possibly the Nations Cup competition in Lier, Belgium, in mid-May.
“Hyatt is a sensitive horse and it’s a responsibility when they’re so willing and want to do so much,” said Vilhelmson Silfvén, who heads the team at Lövsta Stuteri. “She goes in the paddock and out on hacks. Yesterday, I only walked her and let her eat grass. I like to spend a lot of time with my horses so they trust me—that’s so important—and you can show that in the test.”
Kasey Perry-Glass on Heartbeat WP won the CDI3* FEI Grand Prix Special sponsored by Iron Spring Farm of Coatesville, Pa., scoring 72.362% for her second win of the week and setting yet another personal high score this week.
Dutch-bred KWPN horses placed first through fourth in the Special.
All but one of the riders in the class represented the U.S., but Great Britain’s Susan Pape placed second with 70.851% on Harmony’s Giulilanta.
Caroline Roffman on Libertee was third with 68.617%.
“The last centerline was a tricky spot for us last year, and in the grand prix he got really hot," said Perry-Glass. "I love to be able to show that final ‘Wow!’ on the final centerline and ‘Heart’ gave it to me today. It’s nice to have a horse with that energy."
“Over the past few months, I’ve been leaning on my core group of girls and feeling like I can hone in on my ride." she said. "For a long time, I’ve felt like a pilot up there, and now I’m starting to be able to slow down the test in my mind and really start to produce more.”
“Heart is like a toddler,” said Perry-Glass. “He’s a ‘people horse’ and he’s attached himself to me and his groom Meghan Laffin. He’s used to being outside all day, so here at the show we get him out of his stall to walk every hour or two."
“I planned to start the season a bit late. I feel this horse doesn’t need a whole lot of miles over the season and I’d really like to go to Europe if that’s on the cards, so I’d like to keep the energy and the spark,” said Perry-Glass, who is aiming for the CDI5* in Festival 10 as Heartbeat’s next show.
