The Dixon Oval at Devon can be a little intimidating for riders and horses that ride between the robin’s egg blue stands for the first time. But Wadamur found his courage on Sunday, Sept. 27, and won the Grand Prix Special with Sue Jaccoma in the tack.
“I was thrilled with my horse,” said Jaccoma, Kennebunk, Me. “During the Grand Prix test [on Friday] he was a little tense, but he really felt rideable today. The high point was his rideability.”
Wadamur, a 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding, posted a score of 66.20 percent to win his first freestyle at a CDI despite the muddy footing left by the rain that fell for most of the morning.
“My horse is a good mudder,” she said with a laugh. “I think he thought the footing was just fine.”
Jaccoma, 55, said that she took a little more time in her warm-up today in order to relax the horse and was pleased that he came through for her on such a big stage.
“My horse is like the Eveready bunny,” said Jaccoma. “He conditions himself, and he’s a little workaholic. I ride him five days a week and do a lot of hacking. I try to mix it up and be creative so he doesn’t get bored.”
Jaccoma plans on taking him down to Florida in November so she can continue to work with Lars Petersen and hopes to campaign him again in the spring.
“The long-term goal is to take him as far and wide as he takes me,” said Jaccoma. “He’s a fabulous horse and has international capabilities.”
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Naomi, Friday night’s winner, had a little bit of trouble with the footing, but she still performed admirably and posted a score of 65.62 percent for the red ribbon with Petersen.
“I rode her very conservatively,” he admitted. “She felt like she was a little unsure of the footing. She slid out around one of the corners, so I was a little bit careful.”
Petersen said that her tempi changes and pirouettes were improved from Friday, and he was also pleased with her passage tour.
“The piaffe I have to work on a little more,” he said. “But she felt more through today.”
Lucky Tiger and Pierre St. Jacques ended their weekend in third with 65.16 percent, and Melissa Jackson on Wellington were fourth with 62.45 percent. Tango and Cheryl Meisner finished fifth with 62.45 percent.
Olympia Scores A Hat Trick
Winning at Devon is an achievement in the world of dressage. Winning three times at Devon on the same horse three days in a row is something special.
“Today was a very emotional ride,” said Cesar Parra after he and Olympia won the Intermediaire I freestyle with 73.85 percent. “There’s something like having a hat trick that’s a bit of a myth. I did it before for Colombia and now I’ve done it as an American.”
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Parra and Olympia were flawless, but conservative in their joyful performance. The test highlighted the horse’s expressive gaits and pirouettes.
“There were no surprises. We planned to do the best we could, and it went as we planned,” said Parra.
Chris Hickey and Cabana Boy had a difficult freestyle that featured four pirouettes on the centerline, but a few mistakes kept them from the blue ribbon.
“I like my freestyles difficult,” said Hickey. “This horse has so much confidence and has such a strong personality and character. He’s so fun, and with a name like Cabana Boy we had to do beachy music. It really fits him.”
Heather Mason and Glen Emeril had another great ride to finish in third with 68.70 percent. Melissa Taylor and Chicco Roslev’s fun performance put them in fourth with 67.85 percent, and Jochen Hippenstiel on Sir Rocco rounded out the top five with 67.25 percent.
Devon Tidbits
-Caroline Roffman and Bulgari 5 won the Young Rider freestyle with 71.80 percent over Kassie Barteau and GP Raymeister (69.35%).
-Julia Burtt and Aaron VI won the Junior freestyle over Melanie Montagano and Ga Deva.
