Kyna Thompson riding Monte Carlo produced the highest score with 65.518%, helping her team, Trinidad and Tobago lead the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) World Dressage Challenge which took place on February 16 at the Hidden Valley Stables, Santa Cruz. Thompson won the champion High Point trophy sponsored by San Antonio Farms. Cammila Garcia riding Miramis received the reserve champion High Point trophy, sponsored by La Vega Estate with a score of 65%.
The local contingent selected prior to the dressage challenge along with Thompson and Garcia, Chelsea Thomas (Zimbu Das Umbaranus), Patrice Stollmeyer (Claudio) and Alix Bovell (Waiting at the Gate).In second and third places at the end of the day were Barbados (63.573%) and Jamaica (63.335%).The purpose of the World Dressage Challenge is for developing nations to compete in an international equestrian event in their own country.
Among the teams were T&T, Barbados and Jamaica, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. Haiti had to pull out soon before the challenges commenced.On the day, 13 adults rode in the advanced, medium, elementary and preliminary classes, while two children took part in the preliminary children's' class.Present were official FEI International Dressage judges, Janine Rohr-Circurel from Argentina (President of the Ground Jury) and Ricardo Rojas from Costa Rica, who was also present last year. The judges expressed their pleasure with the standard and quality of riders and horses and that of the young riders. Rojas acknowledged an improvement in riders' handling of tests from last year.The judges then worked with the competitors and their horses on the following day, giving pointers and advice.Results of the competition on February 16 in Trinidad will go towards the final result.