Katherine Batson-Chandler and FBW Kennedy Win FEI Grand Prix at 4th Annual Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage at the National

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PHOTO CREDIT: Katherine Bateson-Chandler and FBW Kennedy, winners of the Grand Prix at 4th Annual Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage at the National.

PHOTO by Susan Stickle

Katherine Batson-Chandler and FBW Kennedy Win FEI Grand Prix at 4th Annual Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage at the National

Mirja Block Takes First and Second Place in FEI Prix St. Georges

WELLINGTON, FLORIDA - December 2, 2005 – The 4th Annual Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage at the National kicked off today at the 122nd National Horse Show and Family Festival in Wellington, Florida. Katherine Bateson-Chandler, 30, of Wellington, Florida, aboard FBW Kennedy, a three-time Olympic horse owned by Jane Forbes Clark, won the FEI Grand Prix, topping a field of 10 horses with a score of 68.958%. Lisette Milner aboard her stallion Eminence placed second with 68.333%. Arlene Page aboard her Wild One, earned third with a score of 66.146%.

Mirja Block of Germany claimed both first and second place in the FEI Prix St. Georges aboard Prince Charming and Attache, earning scores of 68.315% and 66.50% respectively to beat a field of 19.

Officiating at the FEI ring were Gary Rockwell at C and Gen. Jonathan Burton at B. Dressage action continues at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club through Sunday, December 4.

Grand Prix winner Bateson-Chandler took over the ride on FBW Kennedy from six-time Olympian Robert Dover in May 2005. Dover coached her in the warm-up prior to her ride today. She said her partnership with Kennedy is going “great” and she plans to participate in the Selection Trials for the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.

Bateson-Chandler highly praised her new partner. “I couldn’t have a nicer horse to ride,” she said. “He’s amazing. I’ve ridden a lot of nice horses, not necessarily gotten to show them, and he’s unlike any horse I’ve ever met. He’s highly intelligent. Of all the horses I’ve known, he’s like a person ‘smart’. You can talk to him and I think he understands you – and that sound ridiculous,” she grinned, adding, “but he’s so highly intelligent and has such a personality. He knows who he is, he knows what he’s done, and he’s very happy about his life. He’s just a happy, happy horse. Willing – all that good stuff.”

Bateson-Chandler has shown Kennedy five times, and logged two wins (69% and 73%) prior to today, in the New Jersey qualifiers for this year’s Devon. In today’s ride, she said, “He felt good coming into the ring and I got a little bit nervous because I thought I had too much horse. He’s a very hot horse. So I think I overrode sometimes. I should have just let things go a little more.” But she was pleased with their performance. “I loved the overall feeling. He comes in with so much expression, power, and so much energy. You don’t often get to feel that. He is just so there for you. Any mistakes you make in there are your own. He’s phenomenal that way.” She noted his best movements today, which helped her to the win, “I loved his extended trots. The pirouettes felt very good. I was happy to keep my zig zags come together.” Judge Rockwell at C gave the pair 70.208% and Judge Burton at B scored them at 67.708%, giving them the final winning average of 68.958%.

Though she qualified for the USEF Grand Prix Championship last year on Rainier, another Clark-owned Olympic mount, Bateson-Chandler considers 2005 as her first real year as a Grand Prix rider. “Jane’s given me the opportunity and I’m thrilled. It’s nice to be able to develop a partnership with a horse. I feel secure in that.”

Lisette Milner of Wellington was edged into second place in the Grand Prix by fractions, scoring 68.33% riding her 10-year-old Dutch stallion Eminence. “The horse has fabulous half-passes, really good pirouettes, and really good piaffe,” said Milner, “And he excels in his transitions. A lot of times he gets 9’s on piaffe.” For today’s competition, Milner noted that her mount was “a little bit fresh and cocky,” and she had to work on getting him to relax in the warm-up. “In the ring I was really working on getting him to swing and relax. He really does try and he listens. He was quite good in there actually.”

Mirja Block topped a field of 19 horses to claim the win in the FEI Prix St. Georges aboard Prince Charming. Prince Charming earned 65.5% from Judge Rockwell at C and 71.25% from Gen. Burton at B for a final average score of 68.375% and victory. Block also claimed second with a score of 66.50% place riding Attache.

Both horses are eight-year-old Hanoverian geldings that Block imported from Germany as four-year-olds. Block’s mounts are owned and trained by her father, Kurt Block.

“I’m really happy!” beamed Block, known as “Mimi,” who has not shown her string of horses for five months in order to give them a break. “Prince Charming was really forward. He had nice tempi changes, good trot extensions, and nice half-passes.”

Block’s second placed mount, Attache, a striking 17-hand black with four white socks, was showing in his first Prix St. Georges today. “He had really good trot extensions, a nice walk tour, and nice flying changes,” said Block. “I didn’t expect that he would be that confident already in his first time. He’s a really forward-going horse.” Judge Rockwell at C awarded the pair 63.750% and Judge Burton at B gave them 69.25% for a final average score of 66.50% and the red ribbon.

Block has shown at the Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage at the National since its launch four years ago and has been in the winner’s circle numerous times at the event. “It’s always a nice show and I always have good results here, so I’m happy!”

PHOTO CREDIT: Katherine Bateson-Chandler and FBW Kennedy, Grand Prix winners at 4th Annual Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage at the National.

PHOTO by Susan Stickle

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