Lisa Slade

Sue Blinks first became a household name in the international dressage world with the expressive Flim Flam. Blinks and Flim Flam won team bronze at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and were part of the silver medal-winning team at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games (Spain).

Blinks, 55, and her current Grand Prix partner, Robin Hood, have won CDI Grand Prix classes in California, Quebec and Ontario. Based out of Leatherdale Farm West in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., Blinks is a popular clinician and trainer, in addition to her riding duties.

April 27—Gothenburg, Sweden 

Helen Langehanenberg and Adelinde Cornelissen traded wins throughout the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final qualifying season, and so it wasn’t too surprising to see them both at the top of the leaderboard today. But the order— Langehanenberg in first and Cornelissen and second—might have surprised a few who were expecting Cornelissen to take the World Cup title for the third year in a row. 

Gothenburg, Sweden—April 25

 Upsets don’t happen often in dressage, but the spectators at the Scandinavium arena saw one today. The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen, last year’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final winner, arrived in Sweden with Jerich Parzival, poised to win the Grand Prix on the way to defending her title. And for the first part of her test, it looked like Cornelissen might do just that.

Little did Ali Potasky know that when she pushed ‘Accept’ on a phone call from an unknown number that her life was about to change.

After one lesson with Morten Thomsen, Potasky’s phone rang. “I just answered the phone, and [Thomsen] was like, ‘Do you want to come to Denmark?’ I almost fainted. I thought for sure he was looking for someone else,” said Potasky. That one lesson led to a job offer for Potasky—in Denmark. Now the successful young Grand Prix rider is packing all her belongings and moving abroad.

Wellington, Fla.—April 7

The Danish national anthem played last night for Lars Petersen and Mariett, and then it was heard again this morning when Mikala Gundersen rode My Lady to the top of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CDI***** Grand Prix Special.

Wellington, Fla.—April 6

 There’s just something extra special about a night class, and tonight’s was no different. The promise of a star-studded line-up of eight riders in the $84,000 Adequan Global Dressage Festival CDI***** Grand Prix freestyle brought out loads of spectators keen to soak up the atmosphere—and eager for a showdown between top riders.

Wellington, Fla.—April 5

Jacqueline Brooks and Jaimey Irwin, both Canadians, will represent North America at the Reem Acra FEI Dressage World Cup Final, scheduled for April 25-28 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Brooks will ride D-Niro, a 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood (D-Day—Alitalia, Napoleon 625) owned by Brookhaven Dressage. D-Niro and Brooks earned the second-highest qualifying average in the North American League, a 72.60 percent. Canada’s David Marcus and Chrevi’s Capital, the top-ranked pair with a 73.97 percent, are opting not to make the trip this year.

U.S rider Tina Konyot was unable to obtain the second qualifying score she needed for the 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final after scratching from the final North American League World Cup qualifier. The IHS Champions Cup CDI-W was held in Loxahatchee, Fla., March 22-24, and Konyot was originally slated to ride Calecto V.

“I have a cut on my knee, and it turned into a small hematoma, and I couldn’t ride for five days,” said Konyot. “It’s the sixth day now, and I’m just sort of walking around.”

Thermal, Calif.—March 17 

The spectators waited and waited for a clear round in the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix—and then they waited some more. By the time 31 pairs, including experienced teams like McLain Ward on Antares F and Jill Henselwood on George, had left the ring after lowering at least one rail, even the announcer was sounding pessimistic.

“Looks like we’ll be jumping off these 4-faulters if we don’t get any clear rounds, folks,” he said.