Mirja Block and Asarhaddon Win Grand Prix Freestyle At 2nd Annual Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage at the National

WELLINGTON, FL - December 1, 2003 - Mirja 'Mimi' Block, 26, of Wellington, Florida, and Asarhaddon owned by her father Kurt Block, danced their way to victory, earning 69.458% in the Grand Prix Freestyle on Sunday, November 30, at the 2nd Annual Zada Enterprises, LLC Dressage at the National. The freestyles and awards presentations wrapped up the three-day dressage show held in conjunction with the 120th National Horse Show at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club show grounds in Wellington, FL.

Block was performing the freestyle for the first time - and did a bit of improvising in the ring with Asarhaddon. "We don't have music made up for him yet," said Block, who entered the class that morning when a slot opened up due to a scratched ride. "We want to make a new freestyle for him next season, so I took my old freestyle music and I just rode and waited for the transitions from the music. We rode a little bit of his old freestyle, but we changed it a little bit." Block's music was a medley of classical instrumentations.

Originally from Germany, Block relocated to Florida three years ago. She has been partnered with the 12-year-old bay Hanoverian gelding for seven years and trained him to Grand Prix herself. "He had really good piaffe and passage today," said Block. She included two piaffe pirouettes in her choreography, which Asarhaddon performed with ease. "He likes doing it. He's really good in piaffe, so the pirouettes just come easy for him." Block and her mount also were impressive with two extended canters that both ended in a double canter pirouette. "He's such a good boy," Block beamed. "He's so good." The judges agreed - Lorraine Stubbs at H scored the ride at 13.875; Gary Rockwell at C awarded 13.65; and Joan Humphrey at B marked 14.15.

High Score Awards for the show were announced in a ceremony following the freestyles. The High Score of the show went to Robert Dover and FBW Kennedy who earned 69.700% in the Grand Prix Special on Saturday. Dover also won the Leading Rider Award; FBW Kennedy won the Leading Horse Award; and FBW Kennedy's owner Jane Clark won the Leading Owner Award. The high score riders for First through Fourth Level and Young Riders also earned honors. The winners were: First Level, Michael Shultz and Wahla, 69.118%. Second Level, Bent Jensen and Rockefeller, 66.579%. Third Level, Mirja Block and Prince Charming, 65.333%. Fourth Level, Mette Petersen and Juneau, 68.768%. Young Rider, Suzanne La Porte and Wittus, 66.444%

For complete results visit www.nhs.org or www.stadiumjumping.com

Media contact: Mason Phelps, Jr. or Beverly Lake Wilkes of Phelps Wilkes & Associates, Inc. at 561.753.3389 or at info@phelpswilkes.com.

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