Lynnette Wadsworth and Wietze G Claim Grand Prix Adult Amateur Freestyle Championship

© Annan Hepner : Lynette Wadsworth and Wietze GLynnette Wadsworth and Wietze G won the Grand Prix Freestyle Adult Amateur Championship. 

Lexington, Ky. – Nov. 13, 2016 – The highlight event of the US Dressage Finals, the Grand Prix Freestyle Championships, were held Saturday night in the Alltech Arena. For Lynnette Wadsworth of Saint Augustine, Florida, and her 17-year-old Friesian gelding Wietze G, her win in the Grand Prix Freestyle Adult Amateur Champion made the trip to Lexington an experience of a lifetime.

“I’m totally blown away and elated,” Wadsworth said. “I was not even supposed to be able to come because I was an alternate until just about two weeks ago. I really only had a little over a week to get ready. It’s awesome.”

The pair earned a score of 66.75 percent to win the championship with a freestyle designed by Wadsworth.

“I happened to be in my car listening to a symphonic medley of Queen,” she continued. “It was so gorgeous and I kept listening to it and imagining the freestyle. I started picking out pieces that fit him, then I did a lot of editing and made the choreography.”

© Annan Hepner : Lynette Wadsworth and Wietze GLynnette Wadsworth and Wietze G

Wadsworth attributes her success to her long partnership with Wietze G and her trainer of six years, Sharon Poulin. Poulin coached her daughter, Gwen, to win the Grand Prix Open Championship and her husband, Michael Poulin won the Grand Prix Open Freestyle Championship in 2015.

“We’ve had time to build a partnership because I’ve had him for eight years,” Wadsworth said. “He is my first Grand Prix horse and this is our third season showing Grand Prix together.”

While Wietze G has struggled with spooking on the centerline due to show nerves in the past, they nailed their test with highlights in their one tempis and piaffe-passage tour.

© Annan Hepner : Lynette Wadsworth and Wietze GLynnette Wadsworth and Wietze G

“He’s one in a million for me – he does it all,” Wadsworth explained. “I think more and more Friesians now have more rideability due to improved breeding. If he blocks you with the neck then you are toast, but I love his work ethic. He enjoys his work. He loves to go out and work each day, and we have developed a wonderful partnership.”

Phyliss Summer from Atlanta, Georgia, rode her 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Wilby, to earn the reserve champion with a 66.500 percent.

© Annan Hepner : Phyllis Sumner and WilbyPhyllis Sumner and Wilby

After a dominating win in the Grand Prix Open Championship on Friday evening, Chase Hickok was feeling confident heading down the centerline in the Grand Prix Freestyle Open Championship aboard Al Gruden’s Sagacious HF. The pair have had successful partnership over the past three years claiming the U25 ‘Brentina Cup’ in 2015 and earning top placings at Dressage at Devon and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.

“I am just ecstatic with the results from this weekend! It far exceeded our expectations. Our goal was to come here and have a positive experience in anticipation of moving up to the Open CDI Grand Prix during season. I was so happy with the tests and our performance, that the wins were just the icing on the cake! I really love the freestyle.”

© Annan Hepner : Chase Hickok and Sagacious HFChase Hickok and Sagacious HF

Her freestyle was designed for Sagacious a few years ago by Marlene Whitaker, but Hickok tweaked the choreography to better fit their style.

“It’s such a fun freestyle to ride and I think the music really suits Sagacious,” Hickok explained. “I love that it really highlights his strengths. The one tempis on the centerline are always a highlight for me. I was also really happy with the double pirouettes and all the piaffe-passage work, especially the last centerline. We just had a blast and it was such a nice
way to end our 2016 season!”

© Annan Hepner : Chase Hickok and Sagacious HFChase Hickok and Sagacious HF

Heather Mason won the reserve championship title aboard her own 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Warsteiner, with a score of 72.917 percent. The duo had topped the large Intermediate II Open Championship together earlier in the week.

© Annan Hepner : Heather Mason and WarsteinerHeather Mason and Warsteiner

Results: US Dressage Finals, Nov. 13 

Grand Prix Open Freestyle Championship
Rider/Horse/Total Score
1. Chase Hickok/Sagacious HF/74.167
2. Heather Mason/Warsteiner/72.917
3. Lauren Sprieser/Ellegria/69.875
4. Anna Whit Watkin/Oublette/69.458
5. Jim Koford/Don Principe/69.458
6. Kristine Howe/Loanshark/68.50
7. Jacqueline MacDonald Cuddy/Malcarat/67.083
8. Rebekah Wesatzk/G-Sharp/64.667
9. Allison Kavey/QueBa HM/62.708
10. Nicole Harrington/Fetichin/61.917

Grand Prix Adult Amateur Freestyle Championship
Rider/Horse/Total Score
1. Lynnette Wadsworth/Wietze G/66.750
2. Phyliss Summer/Wilby/66.500
3. Amy Grahn/Zabaco/65.708
4. Kristy Truebenbach Lund/Akvavit/65.375
5. Suzie Halle/Tennyson-ISF/62.958/
6. Kristin Herzing/Gentleman/62.750
7. Lauren Thornlow/Royal Konig/60.542
8. Jenifer Gaffney/Fabio/60.292
9. Lee Burton/Enebro XIV/55.500

No Comments Yet

Comments are closed