Ashley Adams and Da Vinci Code lead after dressage in the Bromont CCI2*. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Ashley Adams and Da Vinci Code laid down a stunning dressage test this morning and their score of 43.5 stayed afloat throughout the afternoon to top the 2* leaderboard. The 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, owned by Joan Nichols, certainly has a “wow” factor about him and Ashley did a great job of channeling his big, flashy movement into a polished performance.
This pair is one of several who came to Canada looking for a bit of redemption. Their jumping record this spring has been a bit spotty — most recently, Ashley fell in the Intermediate at the Chattahoochee Hills International and in their outing before that, the Ocala CCI2*, they collected a couple stops. But Ashley is a experienced and tactful rider, and she’ll be looking to give this young horse a confident go around the cross-country on Saturday. If the horse is as dazzling over fences as he is in the sandbox, this is definitely a pair to keep an eye on for the future.
Ashley Adams and Da Vinci Code. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Close on Ashley’s heels are Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett, who trail just a sixth of a point behind on a 44.10. Meadowbrook’s Scarlett, like Like Da Vinci Code, is a precocious 7 years old but her age didn’t reveal itself; she kept her composure save a wiggle in the halt, and in typical Lauren fashion they squeezed every last point possible out of the test. This pair is fresh off a win in the CIC2* at Jersey Fresh and I’m definitely looking forward to watching them take a crack at their first CCI* course together here at Bromont.
Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Tied for third are Callie Evans/Glendening Avis and Lucia Strini/Sammy Jo, sharing a score of 48.20. Callie, of Ontario, and her big buckskin mare laid down a solid test that earned a “well-done” from Canadian coach Clayton Fredericks upon exiting the ring. Lucia Strini, based out of Plain Dealing Farm in Virginia, coaxed a flowing test out of her striking black Hanoverian mare.
Callie Evans and Glendening Avis, tied for 3rd in the 2* at Bromont. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Lucia Strini and Sammy Jo, tied for 3rd in the 2* at Bromont. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Andrew Palmer and the Trakehner stallion Tatendrang rounded out the top five on a score of 49.80. Andrew is a very quiet, lovely rider who seems to have worked out an agreement with the stallions he rides. They always try their best for him and Tatendrang was no exception — it was fun to watch Andrew finesse the stallion’s big presence into a workmanlike test.
Andrew Palmer and Tatendrang, tied for 5th after dressage. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
The first day of CCI1* dressage just wrapped up with Peter Barry and Long Island Tea leading the pack on a score of 41.0. Buck Davidson and Cartier are tied for second with Erin Sylvester and Sweet Rebellion on a 43.80.
Much more to come — stay tuned. Alléz Concours Complet!
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