Wellington, Fla.—March 31

As the U.S. team settled down in the VIP tent for the post-win press conference for the Wellington FEI Nations Cup, there was one pressing matter that had to be settled.

How to properly break in a new ball cap.

The U.S. team was presented with new hats, and they eagerly donned them, but not before molding them just right. And if you didn’t know how—as Arlene “Tuny” Page soon figured out—someone was there to help you (Kasey Perry-Glass was quick to inform her that she’d done it all wrong).

With that settled it was time to discuss the important things—their newly awarded gold medals.

In the second day of competition, teams completed either the Intermediaire I or the Grand Prix Special, with 1.5 added to each score coming from the Grand Prix. The U.S. team comprised of Laura Graves (Verdades), Shelley Francis (Doktor), Page (Woodstock) and Perry-Glass (Goerklintgaards Dublet) widened their lead from the first day of competition to finish on a 454.69 over Canada who finished on a 428.7. Perhaps more exciting was the tight race for third place when Spain edged out Denmark.

“The Nations Cup here in Wellington has been just a tremendous competition again this year, growing in quality each year,” said U.S. chef d’equipe Robert Dover.

“Nations Cups are always super fun, and to be invited to ride on a team is something you just don’t say no to,” said Graves. “I love that we’re able to put America on top of a podium, and that’s always a nice feeling having such a strong team to compete with, always feels secure. In fact it takes a lot of the pressure of competing off of yourself as an individual and you’re just riding as a team, and that’s a very different mindset and it’s something I really love to do.”

Laura Graves and Verdades. Photo by Kimberly Loushin

“You get a chance to stand on the highest podium; it’s a very good feeling,” said Page, who has spent plenty of time handing medals out as a representative of show sponsor Stillpoint Farm. “I was laughing yesterday that I really am tired of passing those medals up to other people. It’s much more fun to be getting one.”

Graves, who held the position of anchor rider for the team, turned in two personal bests with Verdades. The pair effectively conquered their demons in the Van Kampen arena, earning the top score in both tests over the two days.

“It’s been a long season for us. It’s going to be a long competition and I’ll be really pleased to take him home and give him a break before we go try to be even better in Europe,” said Graves.

Francis had a bit of a rough day with Doktor when she lost her way, turning too early to do the pirouette when she should have proceeded across the diagonal to perform tempi changes.

“I had a little tough ride yesterday, and I started off going gangbusters today, but then I had a blank moment, but otherwise it was really fun,” she said.

Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet. Photo by Kimberly Loushin

Overcoming Adversity
As the highest-ranked rider for second-placed Canada, Belinda Trussell was thrilled with Anton’s 72.4 percent performance, but for a minute she didn’t think they’d get there.

As Perry-Glass was heading down centerline ahead of her, Anton’s noseband broke and Trussell was left with a bit of a dilemma.

“My team went back to the barn, grabbed nosebands from any bridle that they had, ran out to the ring and I’m standing there going, ‘Turn down the centerline, track right,’ and without them I wouldn’t have been able to put a new noseband on—I had no idea if Anton even liked it—and he loved it. I think I’m actually going to stick with that one actually,” she said, earning a laugh.

“I’m pretty proud of the team for coming together like that, and I’ve been able to perform the way I did—except I couldn’t count on the centerline, but otherwise it was a really good Nations Cup for us.”

Comprised of solely small tour pairs, the team from Spain surprised, turning in a 414.42. Pathfinder for the team was young rider Juan Matute Jr., who turned in a personal best of 74.52 percent in the Intermediaire I with Dhannie Ymas.

“My team and I are very, very happy, thrilled with the results. It was very difficult for us to compete against Canada and the U.S. because of the difference between the small tour and the Grand Prix, plus the 1.5 added to the Grand Prix score, so it was very difficult, but we managed to get on the podium which was the goal and get a medal which is always nice—take the pictures with all the big ones, and we were very pleased.”

Additional photos from the Nations Cup can be found here.

Results from the Adequan Global Dressage Festival can be found here. Freestyles take center stage tomorrow night, so www.coth.com to see who walks away with the medals.

For an in-depth look at how the winning team made it to the top of the podium, be sure to pick up the April 25 issue of the Chronicle.