McTaggart-Giuzio and Van den Bol hit the high point in the Cayman Islands
By Pamela Fowler From CIEF
Last weekend saw the last of the CIEF’s dressage shows for the current season. There were two elements to the show which stretched over two days, the Caribbean Equestrian Association’s Dressage Challenge and the last chance to earn points in the National Dressage Championship.
Record entries ensured plenty of healthy competition. Georgia resident, Cindy Thaxton, a long time dressage coach of Cayman’s riders, was in town to help put the finishing touches to many of the competitors’ tests.
The Cayman leg of the CEA Dressage Challenge is the last of five regional competitions. USA judge, Jeanne McDonald, travels to Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman, Jamaica and Trinidad to judge local riders riding their own ponies and horses in a variety of dressage tests. The best three children’s scores and the best three adults’ scores from each country are chosen as the ‘Team’ scores and then compared against the other countries for an overall winner.
Jessica McTaggart-Giuzio was the adult high point winner for the day with a score of 67.273% in the Third Level Test 1 on her horse Loris 7, and was joined by child high point winner, Ashley van den Bol, who scored 67.955 on Blue Ridge Dream On in the Children’s Training Level Test 3.
McTaggart-Giuzio and Loris 7 led the Cayman Adult Team and the other two spots on the adult team went to Amara Thompson on Teddy Bear (61.136%) and Juliette Forrester on Apollo (60.909%).
On the Cayman Children’s Team were Phoebe Serpell on Sunday’s Edition, Thea Millward on Partenon and Hannah Fowler on Seligkeit.
Both Cayman teams placed third overall in their respective divisions.
Other rides of note were Isabella Finlay and Flicka who took first place in the USDF B Test with 71.250% and Abbey Swartz on Pony Up who rode her way to the top spot in the USDF C Test with 67.250%.
Full results are attached.
Winners of the National Dressage Championship 2015 and the National Jump Series 2015 will be announced at the CIEF’s Annual Dinner on 20th June, 2015. Tickets are completely sold out.
