Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K
New York City, NY – September 24, 2016 – Judy Reynolds’ goal of testing herself against the best in dressage has led her to Germany, for 15 years of training in a foreign country; to Rio de Janeiro, for her Olympic debut; and most recently to the heart of New York City for her debut on American soil, which paid off with double CDI victories.
Reynolds and Vancouver K, the 14-year-old KWPN gelding owned by the rider’s parents, produced a beautifully flowing performance under the lights Saturday night to capture the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle at the Central Park Horse Show. This was Reynolds’ first time winning both classes at a CDI, as she also took first place in Friday’s Grand Prix.
“It’s kind of surreal, really,” Reynolds said. “I was probably a little bit more nervous tonight because I wanted to win again and I knew we had the capability of doing it. I wanted to produce the performance of the night, so I put more pressure on myself. But I think it’s just fantastic. I certainly didn’t think this was going to happen.”
Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K
The Irish athlete has achieved many historic firsts for her country since making the decision to base herself in Germany to further her education in the sport of dressage. She started out as a child hunting and showing ponies, and when she had some ponies that were less talented jumpers, she gave dressage a try.
“That just progressed to taking some lessons and very quickly becoming hooked,” Reynolds said. “I loved the fact that there was so much to learn and so much to train. Essentially you never stop learning. Every day you still learn something new with these horses.”
Her time in Germany proved to be the challenge she needed to get to the next level.
“You were just against the best of the best, and it just forced you to get better – get better or quit, so I kept going,” she said.
Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K
She shared the stage Saturday with the most dominant horse and rider combination of recent years: Charlotte Dujardin and the recently retired Valegro, who performed a freestyle exhibition. The CDI4* Freestyle also featured plenty of top international competitors. Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven rode Paridon Magi to second place, while Denmark’s Mikala Munter Gundersen and My Lady took third.
Paridon Magi, who is more often ridden by Lovsta Stuteri’s Caroline Darcourt, stepped up his game in his return to Central Park.
“I was actually very proud of him today. I thought he was really working with me and right on the aids,” Vilhelmson-Silfven said. “I was spot on the music where I wanted to be, so I had a great feeling and a great ride. I have been riding him in competition for a year, and I get to know him more and more. I am learning how to warm him up and how to make myself ready with him. Today was the first time I felt like I had a really good feeling.”
Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Paridon Magi
Gundersen and My Lady were making their Central Park debut, and their burlesque freestyle was a perfect fit for the setting.
“I was just so excited to be here,” Gundersen said. “I really enjoyed the whole thing, and the venue, and I am so excited to be in this horse show. My goal was to go in there and have fun. My Lady was a little rusty – we haven’t shown for a while. She was a little sucked back, but other than that I am proud of her for going in there and doing so well.”
Mikala Munter Gundersen and My Lady
CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle Results
1. Judy Reynolds//Vancouver K/IRL/77.75
2. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven/Paridon Magi/SWE/76.65
3. Mikala Gundersen/My Lady/DEN/72.40
4. Karen Pavicic/Don Daiguiri/CAN/70.325
5. Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu/All In/CAN/68.625
6. Evi Strasser/Renaissance Tyme/CAN/67.152
7. Inna Logutenkova/Hetman Sahaydachniy/UKR/65.40
Judy Reynolds
Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K
Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Paridon Magi
Mikala Munter Gundersen and My Lady
Mikala Munter Gundersen and My Lady
Mikala Munter Gundersen and My Lady
Karen Pavicic and Don Daquiri
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and All In
Evi Strasser and Renaissance Tyme
Inna Logutenkova and Hetman Sahaydachniy
Evi Strasser and Renaissance Tyme