Martin and Shamwari Wow, Lead Dressage at WEG Prep Event
Boyd Martin and Shamwari 4 earned the top dressage score at the World Equestrian Games Preparatory Trials today at Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia.
On a penalty score of 42.0, Martin and Shamwari 4, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by the Shamwari Syndicate, led the field of American team riders and alternates. Canadian riders Jessica Phoenix and Selena O’Hanlon are also participating.
“I’m pleased with him,” Martin said of the horse, despite some exuberant moments in the flying changes. “Obviously there’s a couple parts of the test where we’ll be looking to improve come Normandy, but I think we’re at a good place now where we’re just smoothing out little details.”
Shamwari has very correct and quality pace, Martin said, and expects to produce a “smoking test” after a few more weeks of building their partnership.
Hannah Sue Burnett and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot were the first in the ring this morning and set the bar high with a score of 45.0
“We had a combined test [at Morningside Training Farm] on Wednesday and got to go over the test with Sandy [Phillips] afterwards,” Burnett said. “She pointed out a few things and I tried to really improve on those.”
Burnett felt like she asked too much on a couple of movements—Harbour Pilot jigged in the walk and missed a change. Nevertheless, Burnett and the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Cruising lie second on the leaderboard.
In third is Lynn Symansky and her Thoroughbred Donner. The pair scored their personal best at this level, 46.5.
“I was really impressed with him today,” Symansky said. “I did not expect him to be as mature as he was; he’s really grown up a lot a lot. There are not as many people here as at Kentucky, but it’s a very claustrophobic ring for some of them. He was fantastic… he stepped up to the plate today, I’m so proud of him.”
Overall, seven American pairs scored in the 40s and within six points of one another, an excellent showing just one month from the start of the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.
Chef d’Equipe David O’Connor was surely please with the first phase performances, but also with the spectator turnout. Speaking briefly with him on course this afternoon, he mentioned he was pleasantly surprised at the near 700 to 800 enthusiastic spectators and fans that came out for dressage.
Show jumping begins at 7:00 p.m. this evening prior to a bareback puissance and dance party. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the weekend.
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