Day Two of Selection Trials for the FEI World Equestrian Game Conclude

Wayne, IL-June 27, 2010- It was another beautiful day at the Lamplight Equestrian Center where the USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials are occurring for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Riders and their top mounts entered the arena in front of spectators, their peers and international judges. The three judges included Chris Porterfield (GBR), Lillian Iannone (ARG), and Carlos Lopes (POR). Saturday was the individual competition, which will be counted alongside Friday's team tests, and Sunday's freestyle tests. Consistency has been the weekend's theme with Rebecca Hart earning the blue ribbon and the second place ribbon in the short course test, and Robin Brueckmann earning first place honors in the long course test. Both riders earned the top ribbons in Friday's competitions as well.

In Saturday's long course individual test Robin Brueckmann and Raison d'Etre earned the top honors with a combined score of 66.667%. Most of the competitors Saturday had an increase in their score percentages as Brueckmann did going from Friday's 65% to Saturday's 66.667%.

Earning the second place ribbon behind Brueckmann was Susan Treabess with her long-time mount Moneypenny. The pair increased their scores Saturday earning a 65.054% compared to Friday's 64.688%.

Rounding out the third position was Holly Bergay and Grand Ballerina with a score of 64.946%. Jennifer Baker and Duel moved into fourth place, fifth was given to Mary Jordan and Paxton Abbey and sixth place went to Brueckmann and Radetzky.

Brueckmann is looking forward to the prospect of competing at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) however; she has another goal in mind this weekend. Brueckmann noted, "It is very important to me to be able to maximize the performance of my horses while at the selection trials. It is also nice to get a clear idea of were are scores line-up under international judges prior to WEG."

The first horse Brueckmann rode was Radetzky who was also the mount she took to Hong Kong in 2008. "I really wanted to get Radetzky more steady and active today and I was successful in doing that," smiled Brueckmann. "I was very pleased with him; He is such a spectacular horse. I felt like I was on a Ferrari today, I stepped on the gas and he went. He has super transitions and we were able to demonstrate that because the test I rode requires us to do a lot of transitions. We got a score of 8 on our simple changes, extension and transitions."

Brueckmann continued, "My horses have completely different temperaments and different ways of moving. Radetzky is Trakehner, has lots of action, and has very flamboyant markings, where as Rais thinks a lot of himself. My function on Rais is to facilitate his showing off. He is narcissistic, has a big ego and thinks he rules the world. With his ego aside it would be nice to qualify for WEG with him because it would be a hometown show for Rais; he was bred in Lexington, KY at Dream Time Farm."

When Brueckmann is not showing she is traveling in between her home and Aiken, SC to ride her mounts. Brueckmann could not thank Elly Schobel enough to have the opportunity to ride Raison d'Etre, who is owned by Schobel. "Elly and I like to share and help each other during the year," said Brueckmann. "I help her with her horses and she helps me with mine we have a great relationship. We have been friends for a long time and it is nice to share this common goal that we both want to get to WEG."

In Saturday's short course test, Rebecca Hart once again did a wonderful job on her tests earning the top spot with Kazan and the second place ribbon with Norteassa. Hart maintained her scores from Friday with Kazan earning a 68.889% overall and with Norteassa, the duo received a 67.937%.

In third place was Laura Goldman aboard Carlingford JD and in fourth place was Jonathon Wentz and NTEC Richter Scale. Earning the fifth place ribbon was Wendy Fryke and Lateran and in sixth was Kim Decker and Dasher's Destiny.

Sunday's freestyle tests will be the last day of the USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™.

For more information contact: Joanie Morris at jmorris@usef.org

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