Burbank, Calif.—Feb. 27

Guenter Seidel didn’t win yesterday’s Burbank CDI-W Grand Prix, but it could have been worse. His students Michelle Reilly and Anna Buffini were first and second, respectively.

“That was so funny yesterday!” said Seidel. “It wasn’t so great that I was third and had that score, but it was great for Anna to be in front of me and for Michelle to win. That made it actually really nice.” 

Seidel’s Grand Prix test (64.88%) had some mistakes, including in the tempis and the pirouettes, but he was much happier with the feeling in the freestyle. 

“He was much more relaxed than yesterday,” said Seidel. “Yesterday was a little bit of rider error too. I tried to push him a little bit more, and I overrode him a little bit yesterday. I rode him this morning too, and that helped a little bit.”

Zero Gravity, is owned by Charlotte Mashburn, the mother of Seidel’s student Erin Boddaert. Seidel took over the ride when Boddaert was pregnant with her third child with hopes of making a bid for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. 

Riding the Dutch Warmblood gelding (Royal Hit—Naica, Contango) came at a good time for Seidel; his former top Grand Prix mount Coral Reef Wylea had sustained an injury. The pair contested their first CDI Grand Prix together at this show one year ago. 

“He was really green in the piaffe and passage, more at shows than at home because he gets a little sensitive,” said Seidel. “He’s just a great, great horse. I love his temperament. He can get hot, but in general he’s a sweet horse who wouldn’t hurt a fly. He learns fast. He wants to do the right thing. It’s a really fun horse.”

(Guenter Seidel and Zero Gravity)

Seidel’s still aiming for Zero Gravity to earn a spot with the U.S. team this summer; eight riders will travel to Europe for observation trials in CDIs for the Olympics.

“I’ve had some not-so-good Grand Prix scores, so the standings might not look that good for me,” he said. “We’ll see which way it goes. But he’s only 12 this year, so if this is still a year to learn and progress, that’s fine too.” 

Reilly, who won yesterday’s Grand Prix on a 67.22 with her longtime partner Umeeko, was second in the freestyle with 71.72 percent. Her music is a mixture of a version of Eminem and Kings Of Leon, and the walk tour is set to Devotchka’s “How It Ends.” 

(Michelle Reilly and Umeeko)

“This year I would love to make the top 15 and go to the [USEF Dressage Festival Of Champions] especially because it’s on the West Coast this year,” she said. “I’ll keep going with the next three CDIs, and then he’ll have a little downtime until September.” 

See full results from the Burbank CDI-W.