Ocala, FL – On the final day of international para dressage competition sponsored by Hampton Green Farm and Discover Dressage at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC), four-time U.S. Paralympian Rebecca Hart swept the Grade III division with Floratina owned by Rowan O’Riley on Sunday, March 31.
After winning Friday’s Test A and Saturday’s Test B with Floratina, Hart returned to the ring for her freestyle, which gained a personal best score of 79.744%.
Ellie Wooley (USA) and Deucalion, her 10-year-old KWPN gelding (Dimaggio x Sandro Hit), placed second in the Grade III FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CPEDI3* with a score of 68.856%. Marta White (USA) and Aniko, an 18-year-old American-bred Oldenburg gelding owned by Lisa Hellmer, finished third on 67.467%.
Hart is based in Wellington, FL, and she won team bronze in her fourth Paralympic appearance for the U.S. at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. She won individual silver and bronze at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG) in 2018 and competed in two other WEGs. In 2022, the U.S. Para Dressage Team won team bronze and Hart won individual bronze at the FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark.
She and Floratina, a 16-year-old Hanoverian mare by Fidertanz 2 x Rubin Royal OLD, have shown at the CPEDI level since June of 2023 in their debut in Austria. They had two more outings in 2023 in Hungary and Tryon, NC, then showed twice this winter in Wellington, FL. The pair has won 11 of their 15 CPEDI3* classes together.
Before Hart took over the ride, Floratina was a top international dressage horse in able-bodied competition with Canadian Olympian Lindsay Kellock, who rode Floratina to team gold in the 2019 Pan American Games at the Small Tour level.
Fan Tastico H, a seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding Fuerstenball OLD x Weltmeyer owned by Karin Flint, returned to the winner’s circle with U.S. Paralympian Roxanne Trunnell in the Grade I FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CPEDI3* with a score of 77.422%.
Second place in Grade I with a score of 76.667% went to Marie Vonderheyden (FRA) on her own Bombastic d’Arion, a 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Benicio x Baroncelli. Sydney Collier (USA) and Bell Bottoms, a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare by Benetton Dream x Fidertanz owned by Diamante Farms and Going for Gold LLC, were third with 71.544%.
With the highest score of the CPEDI3* at WEC – Ocala this week of 79.922% in the Grade II FEI Para Grand Prix Freestyle CPEDI3*, Fiona Howard (USA) and Diamond Dunes, a 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by De l’Or x Wolkentanz owned by Hof Kasselmann, swept the Grade II division. Beatrice de Lavalette (USA) and Sixth Sense, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Sir Donnerhall I x Florencio I owned by Elizabeth and Nicolas de Lavalette, finished second with a score of 74.444%. Eleanor Brimmer (USA) and My Moment, a 14-year-old Hanoverian mare by Furst Romancier x Hotline owned by Annette Grant, scored 64.744% for third place.
Cynthia Screnci (USA) and For Memory 4, her own seven-year-old Hanoverian gelding (For Dance x Destano), scored 70.350% in the Grade V FEI Para Grand Prix Freestyle CPEDI3*.
Full Show Results and Ride Times
International dressage competition returns to WEC – Ocala on April 10-14 with CDI3* as well as national competition.
The WEC – Ocala 2024 dressage schedule includes:
April 10-14: CDI3*/USEF/USDF competition
May 22-26: CDI3*/USEF/USDF competition
July 13-14: USEF/USDF competition
August 23-25: Two USEF/USDF competitions
September 19-22: Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 3 Dressage Championships
October 19-20: USEF/USDF competition
November 14-17: CDI-W/USEF/USDF competition
December 11-15: CDI-W/USEF/USDF competition
All prize lists, ride times and results will be posted and published on the 2024 dressage schedule page HERE. For all questions regarding upcoming dressage competition, contact Teresa.Uddo@wec.net.