European Dressage News

CDI-W San Patrignano Starts Countdown for the Arrival of Dressage Champions

The countdown is started for the Italian stage of the FEI Dressage World Cup, which stops in Italy for the first time with the "three days" of San Patrignano. From January 25 to 27 will be indeed the San Patrignano Community (Rimini) to host this important event, organized in collaboration with the Italian Federation of Equestrian Sports.

There is great excitement for the competition, which will bring in Italy some of the best international combination of dressage challenging each other along the several contests which are part of the program, so offering an extraordinary show of highest technical level. The participation has been already confirmed by the strong Spanish riders Rafael Soto (13th in the world's FEI ranking) and Ignacio Rambla, who will be part of the show together with the Amazon Beatrice Ferrer-Salat (4th in the world's ranking), winner of the recent Mechelen (Belgium) stage of FEI Dressage World Cup. The competition will see also the participation of Daniel Ramseier from Switzerland, currently second in the World Cup general ranking and the British ace Richard Davison (currently 17th place in World Cup).

Also the best Italian combinations will be part of the show, including the two Amazons leaders of the Italian dressage: the italo-german Pia Laus and Laura Conz (pictured), Champion of Italy. It was right last November when Laura won the 2001 National Free Style Championship, right here in San Patrignano. "I'm very happy that this important competition will be held in San Patrignano - she commented with enthusiasm - the Community let us living a beautiful Italian Championship some months ago and I'm sure it will organize an unforgettable World cup's stage. For what it concerns me, I'll face this race with great commitment because it's a test of utmost importance for the beginning of the competitive season which is all projected toward the World Championship of next September in Jerez de la Frontera. In San Patrignano I will ride Fibrin and I'll carry out the same Free Style test (a Kur recovery with musical arrangements) which brought me the Italian Championship".

The competition's program is very intense and it foresees a qualification trial on friday, January 25th, which will determine the twelve duos admitted to the spectacular Grand Prix Free Style planned on sunday 27th in the afternoon as a closure of the whole event. The Grand Prix Free Style (which consists of a Kur category with music, an enchanting trial which proposes the dressage extreme technique accompanied by musical choreographies). Represents the most important race of the show being the valid trial to acquires scores for the FEI Dressage World Cup, currently headed by the German super-ace, Isabelle Werth, with 52 points. Three Italian Amazons are currently ranked into this placing: Pia Laus, 22nd with 16 points, Laura Conz, 23rd with 15 points; and Marina Bassetti 35th ex-aequo with 8 points. The one in program at San Patrignano will be the 6th stage of the European League, within the 2001/02 calendar of the World Cup, and the racers will certainly want to conquer precious score to be admitted at the 2001/2002 final of the FEI World Cup which will be held on March 21st - 24th in 's_Hertogenbosh (The Netherland).

In the meanwhile, the "fever" for the show is growing inside the Rimini's Community: "we are very happy that FEI and FISE chosen San Patrignano as a venue for the first stage of the dressage's World Cup which is hosted by our Country", commented Giacomo Muccioli, "and we realize as it will be a great occasion to spread, especially among youth, knowledge about equestrians sports and its specialties. The horses presence within the Community has, first of all, a therapeutic meaning and value. The relationship with animals, and especially with horses, along the years has demonstrated itself to be a very powerful tool in order to overtake the relationship's problems with themselves and with the others which are typical of the drug addiction. Furthermore, it offers to the Community's guests (who, at the end of their therapeutic path, will have to be reinserted into society) a very important opportunity for a professional education".

Related Link
www.sanpatrignano.org