Reports -> Shows -> 2005 -> Las Vegas World Cup Finals -> R.E.S.P.E.C.T U.S.A.

2005 World Cup Finals

R.E.S.P.E.C.T U.S.A.

April 24, 2005

Standing ovations for Anky van Grunsven and Edward Gal and clapping and cheering throughout their rides, the atmosphere in Las Vegas was unique. However, the roaring of 12,000 wild Americans attending the freestyle when Debbie McDonald wrapped up her kur was incomparable.

McDonald and her Hanoverian mare Brentina (by Brentano II x Lungau) placed third with a score of 83.450% for the ride of a lifetime. "Brentina was the best i've ever seen her," Dove said. "she was just lovely; much better than at the U.S. League Finals. The three piaffe passage pirouettes were gorgeous. There was high quality everywhere and the transitions were out the wazoo. Debbie looked the happiest I've seen and scored in the 90s for artisticity." McDonald, who was the 2003 World Cup winner after Salzgeber's Rusty tested positive to doping, now ranked third in her home country.

Robert Dover and FBW Kennedy (by Tiro x Karat) also put down a personal best. His music was a compilation of all the freestyles he had ever ridden, from Federleicht to Kennedy, and featured "Hey Big Spender" (music for Rainier) as general theme in his music. "He has excellent music and choreography," Dove said. "Sometimes a little jerky and a little too busy in changes of music and movements, but technically he showed lovely piaffe passage and pirouettes." Dover scored 80.100% and placed fourth.

The third American that qualified for the freestyle was Leslie Morse with her KWPN stallion Kingston (by Voltaire x Burggraaf). "It's a good time to decide to peak at the World Cup," Dove noted. "Morse's music works, the two tempi's were in sync. The enter-halt-salute moved into a full pirouette from piaffe into passage and she did the best half pass I've ever seen them do. She did so many good pirouettes in canter and from canter into piaffe; it makes you wonder if there were any one tempi's," Dove joked, but she also added that "Morse nailed everything." Morse scored 78.475% and ranked sixth.

Guenter Seidel and his Bavarian gelding Aragon (by Abydos) were the fourth American pair making it to the freestyle final. Seidel finished 12th and did not have a brilliant ride. The 70.650% mark was generous of the judges. "Aragon had a helicopter tail throughout the test and did not look the happy athlete," Dove said. "He was short in front which led to a loss of connection and loss of rhythm. The test looked erratic and judge Axel Steiner gave them technically a 63%."

For Debbie McDonald, the 2005 show season came to an early climax, but the American has set her mind on more. With her new Aretha Franklin/R.E.S.P.E.C.T freestyle, the Sun Valley citizen wants to explore European territory again and see if she can earn the respect from the judges in Europe as well. Debbie has planned to show Brentina and her Prix St Georges horse Felix (by Fabriano) at the 2005 CDIO Aachen in August.

Text by Lita Dove and Astrid Appels - Photos copyrighted Dirk Caremans
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