Shelly Francis and Danilo won the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*.
Shelly Francis and Danilo score Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* win at World Equestrian Center
The World Equestrian Center Dressage III CDI3* continued over the weekend, with the highlight class of the week, the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, taking place on Saturday. With a bright routine set to the music of the television show “Glee” that received a score of 75.065%, Shelly Francis (USA) and Danilo landed atop the podium out of 13 entries in the class. In Small Tour, Kevin Kohmann (GER) and Five Star made it two in a row, winning the FEI Intermediate 1 CDI3*. The World Equestrian Center Dressage III CDI3* concludes on Sunday, April 18, 2021.
Francis and Danilo, a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding by De Niro 6 x Andiamo 28 owned by Patricia Stempel, helped the U.S. Dressage Team take the bronze medal at the 2019 Nations Cup CDIO5* in Aachen, Germany in 2019 and competed at the 2018 FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Paris. The pair took the 2020 competition year off not only due to COVID, but also because Danilo was recovering from injury.
After a few shows this winter, Francis brought the veteran to World Equestrian Center – Ocala to keep him fit, and it paid off.
“He was much better for the grand prix [yesterday], and I was really happy with him tonight,” she said. “He’s 17, so he’s older and it takes a little longer. He’s starting to feel like his old self. He feels happy and like he wants to do it, so I’ll keep going. Next year if he feels spunky like this, maybe I’ll make an attempt for World Cup again. I won’t push him hard, and he’ll let me know.”
While Francis has used this freestyle for many years, she did make adjustments such as new entry music and choreography changes.
“I added two double pirouettes to make it tough,” she explained. “He’s very handy. The music helps me and keeps me in rhythm too. He really likes the freestyles, and I have fun with them. I’ve had this music for a while, and I’ve changed it a lot over the years. I kept most of the choreography the same. It’s kind of unique, and I like that.”
While Francis has used this freestyle for many years, she did make adjustments such as new entry music and choreography changes.
“I added two double pirouettes to make it tough,” she explained. “He’s very handy. The music helps me and keeps me in rhythm too. He really likes the freestyles, and I have fun with them. I’ve had this music for a while, and I’ve changed it a lot over the years. I kept most of the choreography the same. It’s kind of unique, and I like that.”
Haddad Staller rode Frankie, a 12-year-old Hanoverian mare by Florencio 2 x A Jungle Prince that she owns and bred herself to a score of 73.530%. Through a pipeline training program in her stable, Haddad Staller had young riders learning to become professionals that worked with Frankie throughout the horse’s career, leading to many wins including the USEF Prix St. Georges Developing Championship in 2017. Haddad Staller took over the ride and in the last year, the mare has become a top competitor.
Third-place finishers Mikala Munter (USA) and Salsa Hit, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Samba Hit III x Riverman-ISF owned by Evi Strasser, were competing in their second freestyle ever and received a score of 71.945%.
Source: Jump Media press release
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