P.R.E. Horses Top the National Small Tour

National Small Tour Classes Topped by PRE Horses at the Global Dressage Festival

The United States PRE Association High Point contenders dominated the national Prix St George and Intermediare I classes at the 5 West Palm Beach Dressage show at the Global Dressage Festival last weekend The USPRE High Point contest is held at every show in the GDF series, but was never as competitive or successful as this past weekend in Wellington As the CDI 5 was a Grand Prix competition only and did not field a Small Tour, the national classes contained many of the participants in the upcoming Nation’s Cup CDIO in two weeks--a Small Tour competition featuring teams from more than 10 countries

On Friday, Endel Ots US Team Reserve for the Pan American Games won the Intermediare I with over 66% on Alexander Zilo’s Gorrion Penatoro Later in the day, avid Adult Amateur competitor Lily Zilo won the Intermediare I AA with her own Esmaltado IV with 64079%

[caption id="attachment_4310" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Endel Ots & Gorrion"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_4311" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="Lily Zilo & Esmaltado"][/caption]

In Saturday’s lineup, Argentine rider Mica Mabragana, on Hampton Green Farm’s Cuatrero IV, won the Open Prix St George with 714%, followed later in the day by Endel Ots who again won the Intermediare I with 675 on Gorrion

On Sunday, Mica took Second in the Intermediare I with Cuatrero with 68026%, while seasoned AA rider Janne Rumbaugh won the Intermediare I AA level with 68224% with Junior, a ten year old PRE gelding by Gaucho III

[caption id="attachment_4312" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="Mica Mabragana & Cuatrero"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_4313" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="Janne Rumbough & Junior"][/caption]

The United States PRE Association has held the High Point contests across the United States since it was founded in 2008, to encourage owners of PRE Horses Pura Raza Espanol to train and compete their horses in dressage “We have seen a marked increase in the number of professionals riding and competing PRE horses in the past two years,” says USPRE President Kimberly Boyer “Perhaps the achievements of Fuego and other good horses coming out of Spain have impressed on American riders the potential for success at the higher levels that these horses can offer The fact that a group of young horses is now moving very successfully into the FEI levels with top riders is very exciting for us as an organization It is the trajectory we have hoped for”

The PRE explosion on the Small Tour scene is not limited to Florida At last weekend’s Dressage in Santa Barbara, USPRE-sponsored rider Sabine Schut-Kery received a 70526% and a 71842% from Judge Hilda Gurney at the Prix St Georges both days with Rhea Scott’s Marques Sabine is preparing to bring 7-year old Marques up to the international ring in the near future

Global Dressage Festival 5 West Palm Beach High Point Winners were:

Janne Rumbaugh—High Point AA FEI

Mica Mabragana—High Point Open FEI

Lily Zilo—High Point AA FEI Honorable Mention