Strong U.S. Showing in the Exquis World Dressage Masters Finale in Hickstead
RELEASE: July 30, 2009
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Leah Oliveto
The United States contingent was a force to be reckoned with at the Exquis World Dressage Masters finale in Hickstead, Great Britain. The CDI*** and CDI***** events took place July 23-26, running concurrently with the Longines Royal International Horse Show. Thursday saw the start of grand prix action with the CDI*** Grand Prix taking center stage. The U.S.’s Catherine Haddad and Kenneth Dryby put in dominant performances, finishing first and second respectively. Haddad’s winning ways continued on Friday with her 12-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Cadillac putting in another impressive effort in the CDI*** Grand Prix Special. With a score of 69.66% Haddad and Cadillac topped second-place finisher Sarah Millis of Great Britain by more than three points; Dryby finished fourth.
Fresh off their U.S. grand prix title, Leslie Morse and Tip Top narrowly beat out Hans Peter Minderhoud to take top honors in the CDI***** Grand Prix Special; the pair finished seventh in the CDI***** Grand Prix. Also representing the U.S. in the CDI***** was Haddad and veteran grand prix partner Maximus. The pair finished 19th in the grand prix and eighth in the grand prix special.